So, the first real chapter! I've got a few others already written, but I won't update too often because it takes time to write and to edit.
Anyway, I hope you'll like it!
Despite all her nervousness during the first quarter-moons, Blossomstar thought that she wasn't doing that badly. Even if there were many things to improve, of course.
Save for Snaildapple and herself, all the Clan still had to learn the limits of their new territory and get used to it, which meant that the two of them often had to go on patrols – sometimes twice a day – to make sure everything was alright. There weren't any other Clans around, Blossomstar had made sure of it when she chose the place, but up a few Twolegs had nests up north and they kept at least one dog; there was also a thunderpath on the eastern side of their territory so she couldn't help but worry. The small number of apprentices troubled her endlessly too, but it wasn't like these things could be rushed.
Worst of all was the lack of a special place to communicate with StarClan. She had known that it would be difficult, they had made it obvious that she was going to be on her own after granting her the nine lives; but she hadn't measured the extent of that penalty. Blossomstar hadn't had a single dream or vision since they had left, more than a moon ago. Maybe the young ones didn't care, but it wouldn't be long until she would be able to see the doubt creeping up in the older generation who, no doubt about that, would be upset by the absence of contact between their leader and their ancestors, a link that they had always taken for granted.
Blossomstar hadn't had the nerve to ask Pricklesong if she knew anything. It would have been a too important weakness to show to her medicine cat with her leadership so new and fragile. Not that she distrusted her friend, but she wanted to settle before openly admitting such major issues. Later, she promised herself, later she would talk about it with the medicine cat, and maybe even with her deputy. For now, she would do without the presence of her ancestors even if she felt that, as respectful of their rules and teachings as she was, she didn't deserve such a harsh treatment.
She shook her head and came out of her den – a crevice under the Flatrock led to a hidden cave and even though it made her feel like a fox sometimes, it was the best place they had found – to join the rest of the Clan to eat. She grabbed a vole and looked around, trying to decide which group she should join.
Bluestripe and Snaildapple were sharing a mouse, pressed against each other, and she resolved to leave them be. On the other side of the camp, Alderwhisper, being the youngest warrior, was talking animatedly with the apprentices – they had shared a den for moons before her warrior naming ceremony – while Hootkit clambered all over Webpaw who, with stars given patience, only flicked his ears with her tail when he dug his short claws too deep.
But something else caught her attention and sealed her choice to join the group formed by Grasslilac, Flipspot and Pricklesong. She sat a whisker-length away from the medicine cat and greeted everyone before tearing into her meal. Blossomstar listened distractedly for a while, waiting for a lull in the conversation to put a word in, but it didn't come until much later, when Flipspot had begun grooming her and she was scrunching up her nose at each too hard tug of her former mentor's tongue on her fur. So much for looking like a dignified leader, especially with Pricklesong snickering on her left.
"How old is Mumblepaw?"
"Twelve moons or so," answered Grasslilac. "Why? Do you think he's ready? I thought about it, but with everything…"
"You're his mentor, you tell me. It's just seeing him next to Alderwhisper…" Her eyes flickered back to the lively group. "He's taller than her."
"Well, she's on the smaller side," Flipspot piped up. "It's not that great of an achievement if you ask me."
"Oh hush, smart-ears. She's not even that small, not everyone is as tall as a fox. You know what I meant, he looks all grown up. What do you think about assessing him tomorrow, Grasslilac?"
"It's a bit on short notice, we were supposed to go one the dawn patrol with Bluestripe…"
"Don't worry, I'll change it. Assess his hunting skills tomorrow, then train him to lead a patrol and find the time to check his fighting skills too. Tell me how he did in six or seven sunrises, when you'll have tested him on everything."
They kept on talking for a while before Blossomstar got up to inform the involved cats of the upcoming patrol changes. When she went back to her nest that night, her worries had given way to an unexpected – but not unwelcome – elation thrumming in her blood. She didn't doubt for a second that she would soon hold her first warrior ceremony.
The first warrior ceremony of MistClan.
If she stayed up all night thinking about names and showed up dead on her paws to the dawn patrol with Bluestripe and Webpaw, it was nobody's business but her own.
Having Grasslilac in her den to report that his apprentice was indeed ready and recommend him officially was nothing but expected and still, it managed to be nerve-wracking. Maybe one day she would be used to it; she wouldn't be jittery all day, anticipating the Clan meeting she would call later. But for now, Blossomstar reasoned, she was a young leader and she allowed herself to feel that the ceremony would be very special for her and Mumblepaw. They would both deserve congratulations.
She waited until it was just before moonrise and jumped on the Flatrock, almost trembling with excitement.
"Let all the cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Flatrock for a Clan meeting!"
From the corner of her eyes, she saw Webpaw holding back Hootkit in the nursery, wrestling him into it until he begrudgingly accepted to watch from there, and she held back a laugh. Once everyone was settled, Blossomstar took a moment to remember the traditional words then focused all her attention on the light brown tom.
"Mumblepaw, come stand in front of us."
She heard his breath catch as he got up to join the empty space, right in front of her. She blinked her eyes reassuringly.
"I, Blossomstar, leader of MistClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in turn. Mumblepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
At first, she feared that the stress had made him too tongue-tied to answer, but finally, his voice sounded in the clearing, a bit unsteady but clear nonetheless.
"I do."
"Then, by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Mumblepaw, from this moment on you will be known as Mumblepond. StarClan honors your courage and your dedication, and we welcome you as a full warrior of MistClan.
She jumped down and rested her muzzle on his bowed head then, as soon as he had shyly licked her shoulder, she sat with her tail around her paws and immediately began chanting his new name with the rest of the Clan.
"Mumblepond! Mumblepond!"
She watched Grasslilac congratulate his former apprentice and lead him away to guard the camp during his silent vigil. She didn't miss the sideways glances the new warrior threw towards Alderwhisper.
When Hootkit barrelled into her side babbling about his future apprenticeship, she was purring lightly, praising herself on her observation skills. After all, Blossomstar had been far enough to hear the voices properly when Mumblepond's new name had been called.
Just far enough to know that Alderwhisper's had been the loudest.
She began grooming the kit, and when he managed to escape her vigorous licks, she happily watched him run back to the nursery. It was still the beginning of newleaf; it wouldn't be too bad to have a few more like him wrecking havoc around the camp.
Thanks for reading! The POV changes begin in the next chapter, see you then.