Hello, everyone, and welcome to the next chapter of Waspeye's Story. I hope you all have been enjoying it so far, but if not please let me know. I cannot improve without your feedback. Thank you for your time.
More than a moon and a half had passed since their apprentice ceremony, and Wasppaw and Brownpaw had been hard at work learning all they could from their mentors. Foxear had eventually stopped giving all four of them dirty looks any time they were in close proximity. None of them paid the looks any mind or reacted to them, which had initially irritated the orange and white tom but after a time had seemed to take away whatever positive feeling he felt in doing it.
Wasppaw and Brownpaw currently found themselves practicing their hunter's crouch under Lakesplash's guidance while Brackenfur escorted Ivytail to search the edges of the territory for patches of herbs. They'd already gone on the evening patrol and returned, but Lakesplash still wanted to get some extra practice in before sundown.
"Wasppaw, lower your tail," the gray tom instructed, and he did as instructed. "Brownpaw, your steps are too heavy. Slow down. A mouse would have felt you coming the heartbeat you took your first step." Brownpaw froze mid step, then slowly lowered his paw.
Lakesplash fell silent. The two young toms seemed like natural hunters, beginning mistakes aside. Wasppaw was almost unbearably light and fast on his paws, and Brownpaw had some of the sharpest senses and instincts Lakespash had ever seen. They'd taken down a rather large rabbit thanks in part to his ability to think on the spot and plan out a prey drive. Even Jaystar had been impressed.
Brownpaw froze suddenly, ears swiveling and nose twitching. His tail flicked to the side and rested on Wasppaw's flank, which made the red and black tom freeze too. Lakesplash didn't move or make a sound, taking a moment to focus.
There. The sound of a squirrel moving through leaves to their right, behind a tree some tail-lengths away. Two two young toms moved silently once they were sure the squirrel wasn't within eyesight, peeling in opposite directions for more cover. Lakesplash lost Brownpaw behind a bramble bush and Wasppaw behind a different tree surrounded by holly.
Wasppaw moved into position, unblinking. He hadn't even heard the squirrel until he'd begun approaching, but he trusted Brownpaw implicitly. He saw it, digging through leaves for nuts, as he rounded the tree and nestled into the holy bush. The young tom could just make out Brownpaw's eyes looking at him from a bramble bush on the opposite side of the squirrel, and it took him a moment to realize his friend was slowly shaking his head. Wasppaw frowned, then saw his gaze shift and followed it. He saw a second squirrel approaching, and realization dawned.
The first squirrel noticed then, pausing its search and watching the second squirrel intently. The two chattered back and forth, then launched at each other. The two young toms sprinted from their hiding places as the squirrels left the ground, leaving them unable to flee as they collided with each other. One squirrel kicked, sending the other to the ground as it twisted in the air. Brownpaw slapped his paws down on the first, killing it with a bite to the neck. Wasppaw leapt up and over him, twisting and snagging the second squirrel by the tail with a claw. It squeaked in alarm, then went silent as Wasppaw jerked it back and slammed a paw down, breaking its neck.
"That was very impressive," Lakesplash said, approaching the 'paws with a warm smile. "Good planning, Brownpaw, and remarkable patience. Wasppaw, that leap was perfect. I know Brackenfur will be very proud once I tell him about this." His gaze drifted back to Brownpaw as he said it.
"No need," said Brackenfur as he padded out from the same holly bush Wasppaw had hidden in. The young tom blinked in shock, Brownpaw smiling excitedly. "Ivytail's back in camp. We found a small crop of catmint only a short walk past the abandoned twolegplace, and he wanted to take it back immediately. I came out this way the moment he reached the camp entrance. That was an absolutely amazing bit of teamwork."
"Thank you, Brackenfur," Brownpaw said, his excitement turning to embarrassment at the praise. He licked his chest nervously.
"Thank you, Brackenfur," Wasppaw said as well.
"The gathering is tonight," the older brown tom said. "And I think it's about time we introduce the clans to you two. What do you say, Lakesplash?"
Both young toms blinked in shock. They'd missed the previous one because Brownpaw had eaten a bad vole, and Wasppaw hadn't wanted to leave him behind as the only apprentice.
Lakesplash chuckled softly. "You know, I think that's a wonderful idea," he answered. "I know quite a few cats who've been very interested in meeting them these last few moons."
"Really?" Brownpaw asked, seeming confused. "What's so special about us?"
"Well, Wasppaw mostly, but we all know you come as a pair," Lakesplash replied. "We wouldn't dream of separating you."
Brackenfur rolled his eyes and shook his head, chuckling quietly. "Okay, Lakesplash, not everything needs a silver tongue."
"No, but it hasn't hurt yet," the gray tom replied. "Is there anything you want them to practice, or shall we let them rest for the journey?"
"Let's let them rest," Brackenfur said with a nod. "Don't want them falling asleep on the island."
"We wouldn't," Wasppaw said with a frown.
"Lakesplash did once," Brackenfur replied. "Ended up falling into the lake."
The gray tom groaned as the two 'paws looked at him in shock. "It was one time, and it was the night after my warrior ceremony," he said. "It's not my fault I was young and dumb enough to think I could handle staying up all day to do my warrior duties."
"That was entirely your fault," Brackenfur replied simply, and Lakesplash simply grunted before standing and flicking his tail for Wasppaw and Brownpaw to follow, the four of them heading back to camp. Once there the two young toms deposited their squirrels and grabbed a mouse each, carrying them back towards the apprentice den and sitting down to eat. Once done they disposed of the carcasses, then retreated into the den to rest.
The pair were awoken some time later by Brackenfur, Wasppaw groaning quietly as he stood up first and shook himself free of any moss. Brownpaw did the same, the two 'paws exiting the den to find the rest of the Gathering patrol milling around near the camp entrance. They hurried over, and Jaystar stood, turning and leading everyone out of camp. Foxear watched them leave, his expression unreadable. Fernpelt looked over her shoulder as she exited camp, and Foxear huffed to himself before going back to the warriors' den.
Lakesplash walked beside Wasppaw and Brownpaw as the group made their way along the lake shore, Wasppaw slowly growing more and more excited as they walked and he got closer and closer to his first Gathering. His excitement only got all the stronger when they crossed the border and saw the Windclan patrol ahead of them. Brownpaw's own excitement was more subtle, though no lesser.
They came to the fallen tree that marked the path to the island just as the last Windclan cat crossed, Wasppaw and Brownpaw silent as they waited for their turns. Lakesplash stayed behind in last place to help them if one or both 'paws fell. Wasppaw let the other young tom go first, taking a deep breath to steady himself before hopping up onto the log. He stumbled slightly, though didn't fall. It didn't keep his heart from leaping into his throat as he looked down at the waves under the log. He wasn't scared of the water, he'd even practiced swimming a little more despite Lakesplash's reservations with how cold it was getting, but he was finding rather suddenly that he did not like the idea of falling even such a short distance.
Feeling bile rise, the young tom closed his eyes and raised his head to avoid looking down, taking another deep, steadying breath before he opened his eyes and slowly padded forward. His legs shook as he hopped down on the other side, though he quickly settled himself and followed Brownpaw through some bushes.
Stepping out into the other side, both 'paws stood with wide eyes and mouths agape in shock. They'd never seen so many cats, and the scents that mingled and flowed together were almost overwhelming. Cats weaved between each other as they all milled around, conversing amongst themselves as they all waited for the Gathering to start.
"Hey, Wasppaw!" Moorpaw called excitedly, bounding over to greet him with a smile. She glanced at Brownpaw, the smile faltering into more of a grimace briefly before it returned as she looked back to Wasppaw. Wasppaw brushed it off, thinking she was probably just a little shy or something since she and Brownpaw hadn't interacted when they'd met a few days prior.
"Hey, Moorpaw," the red and black tom said, returning the smile. Her own smile grew, eyes shining with excitement.
"It's Moorwind now," the older she-cat said, almost shaking in excitement. Wasppaw's eyes widened, not having realized she had been so close to becoming a full medicine cat. He'd thought she was younger. She certainly wasn't as big as some of the other cats he saw walking around.
"Congratulations," he said earnestly.
"Thank you, Wasppaw," she said with a warm smile. Brownpaw glanced between them, confused why they seemed so friendly. "Hey, follow me. Wanna show you something before the Gathering starts."
"Oh, okay," he said, interest piqued. "Come on, Brownpaw." He started to follow Moorwind.
"Oh, uh...I was hoping to just show you," the older she-cat said, which made Wasppaw tilt his head in confusion. He looked to his friend, and after a moment Brownpaw simply dipped his head to show he was fine with it even if he wasn't sure why Moorwind was so interested in the younger tom. Surely she couldn't still be caught up in their first meeting.
Wasppaw hesitated a moment, then nodded and followed the older she-cat. She led him tot he other side of the island, moving through some bushes and coming to the shore. He noticed some nuts on the ground, which he assumed had been collected either by squirrels or dropped by birds.
"Watch this," she said, then flicked one of the nuts with a paw into the water. A few heartbeats passed before there was a small splash, a flash of silver, and the nut was gone. Wasppaw blinked. "It's a carp. They eat nuts and other plant stuff."
"Oh, I think Lakesplash mentioned those before," the young tom said. "Sorry, but I don't understand why Brownpaw couldn't come too."
"I...I don't like being around too many cats at once," Moorwind said after a moment. "I much prefer one on one stuff, you know? It's how I found out there are carp here, two Gatherings ago. Felt overwhelmed, and walked around the shore to clear my head."
"And yet you became a medicine cat," Wasppaw said playfully, lightly nudging her with his shoulder. She chuckled softly.
"Well, you know. I started as a warrior apprentice, but it turns out I like hurting things even less, not to mention killing," she said with a shrug. "Couldn't bring myself to kill a rabbit, first time I went hunting. It got away, I got a scolding, and I decided then and there that my life was better suited towards helping those in need. Healing cats rather than hurting them if there was ever a battle."
Wasppaw looked at her in surprise. A part of him understood not wanting to hurt other cats, but prey?
Moorwind huffed softly. "Yeah, that's about how everyone else looked at me," she said, and he blinked.
"Oh, I'm sorry," he said quickly, only for the she-cat to chuckle and place her tail on his back comfortingly.
"No, it's okay," she said. "I know it seems weird, a cat who can't kill prey. But I just...I don't know. A part of me wonders if they have something like we do. Clans of their own, families. Maybe they talk and we just can't understand them. Then I wonder if other creatures do too. Dogs. Horses."
"Foxes and badgers," Wasppaw said only somewhat teasingly. Moorwind laughed softly.
"Yeah, I suppose it does sound stupid when you put it that way," she replied.
"No, I think it's really interesting!" Wasppaw exclaimed, eyes widening enthusiastically. Moorwind turned to look at him, head tilting and a curious look to her face. "What?"
"You're the first cat who hasn't said I got bees in my brain," she said with a small, warm smile. "I appreciate that."
"Well, I guess I can see how they might think that. I mean, it is a little weird to just think about, you know?" Wasppaw said with a shrug. "But it does make a...a weird sort of sense, I think. I mean, we know twolegs talk to each other. Makes sense other creatures would be able to, whether we understand them or not."
Moorwind opened his mouth to respond, only to get cut off by the announcement the Gathering was starting. They both turned, surprised, before looking at each other and heading back to the others.
"Hey," Moorwind said suddenly, making him stop and look at her curiously. "It was great seeing you, Wasppaw."
"Yeah. You too," he said, smiling and dipping his head before turning and stepping through the bushes. Lakesplash sat on the other side, startling the younger tom. His mentor's expression was unreadable.
"What were you talking about?" he asked, tone even and not giving anything away.
"She...she was just showing me some carp who were close to shore," Wasppaw said, confused by his mentor's question. They'd only been talking, he had to know that. Wasppaw couldn't even figure out what else they could have been doing. "Well, she also told me how she decided to become a medicine cat."
"Keep it that way, alright?" Lakesplash instructed, Wasppaw blinking in confusion. "She's a medicine cat."
"Yeah, I know," Wasppaw said, now even more confused and feeling a little angry for some reason. He realized where it came from quickly. "Lakesplash, what are you accusing me of?"
"I'm not accusing you of anything, Wasppaw. I'm just trying to keep you out of trouble," the older, gray tom said reassuringly.
"'Out of trouble'? What trouble could I possibly get into being friends with one of the Windclan medicine cats?" Wasppaw questioned, and Lakesplash took a moment of silence, which is all Wasppaw needed to put two and two together. "We're just friends, Lakesplash. Barely even, at that! I know I'm young, but I'm not stupid!"
"I don't think you are," Lakesplash said sternly. "But you are young, and young cats make decisions they can't fully comprehend the consequences of. And they are very easy to push towards something and made to think they want it."
"Why do you even care?" Wasppaw asked angrily. "I'm your apprentice, you have to look out for me, I get that. But you have friends in other clans. Half of Thunderclan, if not more, have friends in other clans."
"Because-" Lakesplash's anger spilled out briefly, a rage that Wasppaw hadn't expected nor could barely comprehend him even possessing, before he stopped and leaned back onto his haunches, taking a deep breath. "Because I watched Fernpelt and Foxear become as close as they have, and it has tore me apart. Sagepatch brought her as well as Lionheart into this world, a blessing I have never felt worthy of, and I've had to watch as she drifts further and further away from us and into the badger's den without even claws to defend herself with. And over the last moon and a half I've trained you, you've become like another son to me. I just want to keep you safe, and I have an awful feeling that she isn't." He cast his gaze towards Moorwind, who sat with the other medicine cats now.
Wasppaw sat in stunned silence for a long moment. "Lakesplash, I...I didn't know you felt that way," he said quietly. "I'm sorry. I'll stay away from her, if that's what you want."
"I want to feel like a paranoid fool," the older tom said with a shake of his head. "I just...I can't help but see her draw you away and isolate you from your closest friend and not see Foxear doing the same. I know it's...stupid, and that she's a medicine cat, so why would I ever worry about this like I am, but…" Lakesplash sighed. "I don't have a right to tell you not to talk to someone you call friend. Just be careful."
"I will," Wasppaw said with a nod. He smiled warmly, then extended his head and bumped the older tom in the shoulder. "And for what it's worth, if I got to choose, I think I'd be alright with you being my father."
Lakesplash's smile faltered slightly, the tom briefly overtaken by emotion, before it returned and he dipped his head. "Come on," he said, voice cracking slightly. "Don't want you missing your first Gathering."
"Oh, yes, that would make for a miserable night," Wasppaw said playfully, making Lakesplash chuckle.
"If you're just gonna tease the way I talk, I can always have Graypelt escort you back to camp," the older tom said with a playful glare. Wasppaw, who'd opened his mouth to say something else, paused and quickly closed it. "Much better. Now go on."
Wasppaw dipped his head and turned to walk back to the others, then saw Jaystar step forward to take her turn speaking.
"I know I announced their apprenticeships last Gathering, but I am proud to say that Brownpaw and Wasppaw have made it to this one," she said. Heads turned to look for them, and Wasppaw froze at the idea of so many eyes on him and Brownpaw. He glanced at Lakesplash, who dipped his head, and when he looked back he saw Jaystar looking for him among the crowd as well. The young tom took a breath, then padded forward.
"Sorry, Jaystar," he called as he sat down beside Brownpaw. "I saw a wasp near the bushes and decided to make the other eye match."
He heard several cats gasp out a laugh, a sudden, harsh sound that was clearly one of shock. He saw Jaystar tense up to hold one of her own back, one of the other leaders turning their head away, body shaking ever so slightly. Wasppaw found that he rather liked making others laugh like that.
"I'm sure," Jaystar said after a moment to get her amusement under control. "I'll have Ivytail check it when we return to camp."
"Hey, isn't Wasppaw that half rogue kit?" a voice suddenly called, and any happiness Wasppaw was feeling suddenly evaporated. Jaystar's gaze turned to the sound, a dark tom who sat a full head above most other cats on the island.
"He is," she said simply. "Will that be a problem for you, Mousewhisker?"
A few heads turned to look at the addressed tom, and with a start Wasppaw realized that some of them looked angry. Had such a simple joke endeared him to so many cats just like that?
Mousewhisker, as if realizing he was far from the most popular cat on the island in that moment, wisely said nothing and simply lowered his gaze.
"Good," one of the other leaders said. "We will discuss your outburst at camp." Wasppaw assumed that was Rosestar. Which meant the brown tom must be Moorstar, the silver she-cat must be Pikestar, and the brown tabby must be Beechstar. The deputies, Brackenfur, Brindlestripe, Snowthroat, Cinderpelt, and Cherryface all sat at the foot of the stump.
"Wasppaw! Brownpaw!" a voice called from the direction of the fallen tree, as if some cat had known exactly what the young tom needed and was determined to give it to him. The call quickly grew louder as more and more cats joined in. Wasppaw assumed they had likely already done it at the previous Gathering, but if so he wasn't going to argue against the repetition.
Wasppaw smiled faintly, and eventually the call died down, and the Gathering proceeded as normal. Nobody else said anything regarding the two young 'paws, separately or as a whole, and the Gathering ended a short time later.
Wasppaw had to admit, it was a little underwhelming, all things considered, but that didn't mean he didn't enjoy himself during it.
When they arrived back at camp, Lakesplash gestured for Wasppaw to wait outside the camp entrance with him, letting all the other cats go in first. Brownpaw hesitated, but nonetheless entered the tunnel when Wasppaw dipped his head reassuringly.
A moment of silence passed.
"I shouldn't have put all of that on you," Lakesplash said suddenly. "What I said at the Gathering. About you, Moorwind, or Foxear and Fernpelt. I am grateful for what you said, but you shouldn't have been in a position to say it. My problems are not your own. I shouldn't have made you feel like they were. It wasn't appropriate. Nor was my questioning Moorwind's intentions."
"It's like you said. It's your job to protect me-"
"No, it is my job to prepare you for the life of a warrior," Lakesplash interrupted with a shake of his head. "Telling you of my burdens does not do that. It only serves to distract the both of us."
Wasppaw stared at his mentor in confusion, not understanding where this was coming from. That moment on the island had been nice. Why was he trying to ruin it like this?
"Look," Lakesplash said, "I just mean that you shouldn't be worrying over my life or what goes on in it. It won't do either of us any good. I can't take it back, nor can I tell you to not think about it, but just let me worry about it. Okay?"
Wasppaw was silent a moment. "If you have things to say, say them," he eventually said. "Whether other cats like it or not." With that, the young tom stood and walked through the camp entrance.
"Hey," Brownpaw said, waiting on the other side. "What was that about?"
"He's just looking out for me," Wasppaw said. "Worried I'll make young cat mistakes. You know how it is."
Brownpaw shrugged. "I guess," he said simply. "Hey, come on. There's a juicy vole on the pile just begging for you to eat it."
Wasppaw chuckled. "I appreciate the thought, Brownpaw, but I should see if Ravenpelt wants it. It's cold out, and he's the only elder. Probably hard to keep warm even with all the insulation. You go to the apprentice's den. I'll be right there."
Brownpaw paused, then nodded. He turned and padded towards the elder's den, Wasppaw approaching the fresh-kill pile and searching for the vole. He found it after a few heartbeats. Brownpaw had been right, it did look juicy. His stomach growled, but he ignored it. He could eat something after sunrise.
Wasppaw picked up the vole, turning to pad towards the elder's den. He ducked inside, dropping the vole. "Hey, Ravenpelt, sorry to bother you but I thought you might like this," he said. The old, black cat didn't budge. Wasppaw tilted his head. "Hey, you okay?" He reached out a paw to nudge the elder, only to feel the cold and stiffness. He went still, staring at the frozen tom. His paw trembled and he pulled it back, a numbness settling over his body and mind. The world and all it's sounds and smells faded away.
Wasppaw wordlessly picked up the vole, then turned and padded out of the den. He dropped it back on the fresh-kill pile, standing there in silence. He was unaware of Jaystar approaching, didn't hear her words, barely felt though didn't register the poke of her paw to get his attention. Jaystar noted where he stood, head turning towards the elder's den. She looked to Wasppaw again, then back to the den, and took a couple steps before stopping and turning back to him, as if torn on whether to take care of him or check on Ravenpelt. He vaguely heard her call for Ivytail before she finally decided, turning and running for the elder's den.
Whatever happened next, Wasppaw didn't know. He was only aware of a blur of movement and sounds, which got further away as Ivytail lead him to the medicine cat den. Eventually the young tom fell asleep, though it would not be a restful night.