The newleaf sun bathed down Scorchstar's back as he studied Hawkkit and Redkit from where he sat on top of the Tall Branch. Redkit sat with his paws tucked under his chest, and a bittersweet pang hit Scorchstar's heart as he realized that Mallowkit wasn't there to participate in the ceremony he was about to perform.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather underneath the Tall Branch for a Clan meeting!" Scorchstar yowled. The day was warm, with the winds blowing Scorchstar's way as pale blue clouds overcast the newleaf sky. Hawkkit and Redkit raced from the nursery towards the center of the camp, and Scorchstar let out a heavy sigh. It was a habit they never broke.
Russetstripe licked her thick ginger fur as she sat next to Harewhisker. Skypaw wrapped her tail around her paws, and Sedgepaw joined her sister. Sedgepaw was shaping up to be a fine medicine cat – she did not talk much, but she had an odd connection with the world around her that was unlike any other medicine cat. Scorchstar wanted to ask Violetheart about it, but if he was honest, the otherworldliness of Sedgepaw frightened him. Do I trust her to be my medicine cat when Violetheart is gone?
Brambledusk sat at the foot of the Tall Branch. Scorchstar studied him. When he had first become leader, he had appointed Brambledusk deputy because Brambledusk trusted him the least – and he wanted to prove himself to him. Granted, Scorchstar didn't trust him at all either. Now as the moons progressed, Scorchstar found himself trusting his deputy more and more – just as leader should to his deputy. But Scorchstar would be lying if he said he had forgiven Brambledusk for his implication in Adderstripe's plot. However, he was close. So close.
Scorchstar tried to look for Wildheart, but the only other cats who left the nursery were Waspberry and Frostkit. There was no sign of his mate. She's with Mallowkit, I guess, he thought. He couldn't blame her. I'll check on her after the ceremony. Mallowkit was still small and sickly. She was now the size Hawkkit and Redkit were when they were three moons old – yet Mallowkit was six moons, just like them. She hadn't said a word yet. Is she going to be like this forever? Wildheart was fiercely protective of the little kit. If any cat so much looked at Mallowkit the wrong way, Wildheart would whirl on them and unleash the lion inside of her. Just like me.
"Today is a very special day," Scorchstar meowed when the cats gathered under him. "I am ready to make two apprentices." His heart throbbed with affection as he saw Hawkkit and Redkit's eyes widen with shock. "My kits."
"Wow, really?" Hawkkit gasped out. "Right now?"
"Right now." Scorchstar purred. "Hawkkit, Redkit, come here."
Hawkkit leaped over several warriors' paws and nearly knocked Sandfall out of the way as she scrambled underneath the Tall Branch. Redkit followed her, his dark green eyes glittering with excitement. Scorchstar focused on them. He had thought long and hard about mentors. Hawkkit would need some cat who could keep up with her energy and vigor, while Redkit would need a cat who could teach him what he was capable of if he put his mind to it. I have the perfect mentors for them.
"Hawkkit, Redkit, you two have reached the age of six moons." Scorchstar sighed. "I only wish Mallowkit was here with you." Hawkkit and Redkit's gazes flashed with sorrow. "She will be, though. Soon."
"Yeah…" Redkit sighed.
"Hawkkit, from this day forward you will be known as Hawkpaw." Scorchstar looked down as Hawkpaw, who was trembling with excitement. He looked around camp and focused his gaze on the cat he had chosen for Hawkpaw's mentor. Yes. "Blackdove will be your mentor from now on." The she-cat was calm and patient, fazed by virtually nothing. She had also done excellent work with Seedfur – and Harewhisker. Just as Scorchstar thought about the dead warrior, grief made the back of his eyes sting. Blackdove had grieved tremendously over her dead apprentice, and Scorchstar wondered if she blamed herself for her death. She deserves another try.
Blackdove's green eyes widened with shock, and another emotion – something Scorchstar couldn't quite grasp, but for some reason, it stung at his heart – flashed through her gaze. But it was gone in seconds as the she-cat straightened her shoulders and walked over to the new apprentice, touching noses with her. Hawkpaw's tail waved with excitement.
Pride swelled in Scorchstar's heart as Hawkpaw padded away. He turned to look down at Redkit. Even though the ginger kit was alone in the clearing, it didn't kill the confidence in his eyes. "Redkit, from this moment you will be known as Redpaw. Your mentor will be Heathercloud." Heathercloud was a strong and brave senior warrior, serving Swiftstar closely and now Scorchstar. She was one of the cats Scorchstar could always rely on for advice, and possibly the most distinguished warrior in WindClan.
Heathercloud's blue eyes glowed with excitement as she walked over to Redpaw and touched noses with the apprentice. Redpaw's fur fluffed up as he followed her back into the crowd, and the cats broke out into a chorus of, "Hawkpaw! Redpaw! Hawkpaw! Redpaw!"
Scorchstar knew the cheering was louder – and warmer – because they were the Clan leader's kits, but frankly, it didn't matter to Scorchstar. He was proud of his apprentices, and he knew they'd be great warriors. But I'm never going to forget Hawkpaw following me and Brambledusk to WindClan. Ugh. Scorchstar leaped off the Tall Branch and followed his kits before they could leave with their mentors. Hawkpaw and Redpaw turned around to face him.
"I'm very proud of you two," Scorchstar told them. "Especially you, Hawkpaw. You didn't get into any trouble after the WindClan expedition, and you got to be an apprentice."
Hawkpaw purred loudly. "Thank you!"
"What about me, Dad?" Redpaw asked, leaning into Scorchstar. "Are you proud of me, too?"
"Of course I am." Scorchstar licked Redpaw's head. "Both of you. Just don't give your mentors a hard time, all right?"
"Done!" Hawkpaw flicked her tail across her head as if saluting Scorchstar. Scorchstar let out a laugh.
"We know all the battle moves, anyway," Redpaw remarked.
"We do?" Hawkpaw echoed, baffled.
"Yes." Redpaw leaped on top of Hawkpaw, bowling her over across the clearing. Hawkpaw gasped as Redpaw sat on top of her, refusing to let her move. Hawkpaw flailed underneath him, but Redpaw didn't budge.
"Redpaw!" Scorchstar barked up, anger fizzling in his pelt. "Get off her right now!"
Redpaw jumped off Hawkpaw, and the ginger-and-white she-cat scrambled to her paws, anger blazing in her green eyes as she glared at her brother. Fear made Scorchstar's heart pound as he stared at both of his children. Was a rivalry already developing between them? Would they start to drift apart? Would they see training as a competition, like his father had forced Wildheart and Russetstripe to see it as? Scorchstar opened his mouth to speak, but Heathercloud's voice cut him off.
"Redpaw!" Heathercloud called out. "Let's go on a tour of the territory. We have much to discuss."
"So do we," Blackdove said as she walked over to Hawkpaw. "The day's not getting any early, so come on." There was a stiffness as Blackdove moved, and although there was genuine kindness in her green eyes, the same emotion Scorchstar had seen during the ceremony was prominent. He could notice a flicker of sorrow, but there was something else in there… something that Scorchstar couldn't quite make out. Just as he tried to study her more, she turned around with Hawkpaw behind her and the two cats left the camp, their paws leaving prints in the snow.
Whatever it is, I hope she's okay, Scorchstar thought. Memories of his first day as an apprentice flashed through his mind. Berrysplash had taken him on a tour of WindClan territory, and he had felt as if he was on top of the world. He had vowed to become the best warrior he could – and to impress his father. Scorchstar suddenly stopped. Wait… does Hawkpaw think she's going to have to impress me, just like I thought I had to impress my father?
Scorchstar decided to talk to Wildheart about it as he walked over to the nursery and shoved himself through the gorse bush. He saw his mate curled up, her yellow eyes focused on Mallowkit. Scorchstar gazed at his tiny daughter – her blue eyes were open, and they were staring at nothing. Her fur was clean and sleek, no doubt a result of Wildheart's incessant grooming. But other than that, she sat at the curve of Wildheart's belly, barely reacting.
"You missed Hawkpaw and Redpaw's apprentice ceremony," Scorchstar murmured as he sat next to her.
Wildheart's head snapped towards Scorchstar. "Don't you think I know that?" she snapped at him. "But if I leave Mallowkit, Waspberry tells me she starts to mewl and cry!"
Scorchstar stared at his mate. He hadn't meant to make her upset. He licked Wildheart's ears roughly and said to her, "I'm sorry. I know you're trying your best."
"Who are their mentors?" Wildheart asked.
"I gave Hawkpaw to Blackdove and Redpaw to Heathercloud," Scorchstar replied.
Wildheart's yellow eyes narrowed. "Why did you give Hawkpaw to Blackdove?"
Scorchstar tilted his head. "Because Blackdove is kind and patient, and Hawkpaw's a ball of energy. She'll be able to tame her down. Brambledusk told me that when the kits are apprenticed, it's up to their mentors to raise them for a while. I think Blackdove will do a good job with that. Why?" The hostility on Wildheart's face unnerved Scorchstar. "Is there something wrong?"
"No." Wildheart turned her head away. "Nothing. Just keep an eye on her."
"I trust Blackdove," Scorchstar meowed. "Why don't you?"
"She's fine," Wildheart growled. "I just want Hawkpaw to be safe." But, even as Wildheart denied any animosity towards Blackdove, Scorchstar could hear the hint of a lie in her voice. He decided it wasn't worth it to keep pressing the issue.
"How is Mallowkit?" Scorchstar asked.
"I honestly don't know," Wildheart sighed. "Violetheart tells me she's growing at her own pace. But I haven't heard her say so much as a word. I don't know what she sounds like. Scorchstar, what if…" Her voice trailed off, but moments later, she found the strength to speak again. "…What if she's like this forever?"
"She can't be," Scorchstar murmured, nuzzling Wildheart. "Violetheart said she wouldn't be, right?"
Wildheart nodded.
"So trust Violetheart." Scorchstar touched Wildheart's ear. "Mallowkit will grow, she will talk, and she will turn into a great cat. We just need to wait. As you said, we need to let her work at her own pace."
"I sure hope so," Wildheart sighed. "It's killing me. I just realized that I've spent so much of my time as a mother with Mallowkit, and not with Redpaw or Hawkpaw. Maybe that's why Hawkpaw got in so much trouble, or Redpaw doesn't have the energy he should."
"Oh." Scorchstar bit his lip. "About that…"
"What?" Wildheart asked.
"It's Redpaw and Hawkpaw." Scorchstar sighed. "They seem to have some sort of rivalry going on… and it's their first day."
Wildheart flinched, and Scorchstar knew she was thinking about her rivalry with Russetstripe just as much as Scorchstar was. It was worse because Redpaw and Hawkpaw were siblings. It had to be stopped immediately. Wildheart dipped her head. "I'll try to talk to them."
"I will, too," Scorchstar promised Wildheart. "I don't want them to fight. They're family, they need to be there for each other."
"Family is the most important thing," Wildheart said.
"Exactly." Scorchstar nodded. "Family." Just like my father taught me. He sat down and tucked his paws under his chest, focusing his gaze on Mallowkit. She's so small. Gods, I hope she'll make it. He sent a silent prayer to his father, hoping he would watch Mallowkit. Please, Father. You told me to pray to you when you died, and here I am. Keep a watch on Mallowkit.
The entrance of the den rustled, and Scorchstar lifted his head, wondering who was coming in. Sedgepaw's soft brown head was right at the mouth of the den, and she slipped her way in, holding a bundle of herbs in her mouth. She dropped them right next to Wildheart, examining Mallowkit with keen, sharp green eyes. Scorchstar watched the small medicine cat, the ethereal aura that she gave off prodding at his heart.
"Is Mallowkit going to be okay?" Wildheart asked Sedgepaw.
"She will be fine," Sedgepaw replied. "She must grow at her own pace, just as Violetheart told you."
"She's been so small since she was born in leaf-fall," Wildheart said. "I keep hearing that, over and over. Why hasn't she spoken?"
"Let's see." Sedgepaw padded over to Mallowkit and shut her eyes. With her eyes still closed, she touched her head to Mallowkit's nose. Sedgepaw stood still, not even moving a muscle. Wildheart and Scorchstar exchanged anxious glances, and when Sedgepaw finally opened her eyes, she rubbed Mallowkit's throat with her small paw. Then the tabby looked down at Mallowkit. "Dear one. I am Sedgepaw. Who are the cats around you?"
Mallowkit gazed at Sedgepaw, her blue eyes wide. Wildheart held her breath, but Scorchstar was utterly confused. How did Sedgepaw think that simply staring at Mallowkit and asking her to talk would work? They had been trying that! Is she out of her mind?
"Speak." Sedgepaw's words were firm, but calm. "Who are the cats around you?"
Silence. Scorchstar sighed in despair. "It's no use, Sedgepaw. She—"
"Mother." The voice was tiny and small and came in the form of a mewl.
What? Scorchstar looked around to see who it came from – it couldn't be Mallowkit. But when he realized the den was empty, he turned back to Mallowkit, who was staring at Sedgepaw. Sedgepaw did not react as Mallowkit said her first word.
"And?" Sedgepaw pressed.
"Father." Mallowkit's voice was slightly stronger than her first word, and Scorchstar felt as if he was about to burst into two. Mallowkit had spoken! I can't believe it! I thought she'd never talk! Her voice was so gentle, so soft, and it warmed Scorchstar to his core. He could hear his daughter! Scorchstar walked over and rasped his tongue around Mallowkit's ear, purring so loudly he was sure the ground was shaking. Wildheart pressed against Scorchstar, her purr just as loud as his as she gazed lovingly at her daughter.
"How did you…?" Scorchstar looked up at Sedgepaw.
"She could always talk," Sedgepaw said. "You all spoke to her as if she couldn't talk. So she believed that, and lived her life that way, with no cat expecting her to speak."
"But you talked to her with the expectation that she would talk," Wildheart said. "And that's what got her to talk."
Sedgepaw nodded. "Yes." She looked down at Mallowkit. "So, little one, what is your name? Do you know it?"
"M-Mallowkit," the silver tabby she-kit finally said. Her voice was still small, like it came from a one moon old rather than a six, but she was talking! Pride made Scorchstar want to jump up and down on his paws like a kit. My beautiful daughter! Joy was fizzling deep inside his pelt, and it took all the strength in his body to not yowl his happiness and relief to the sky.
"Good." Sedgepaw dropped the herbs in front of her. "Then, Mallowkit, eat these herbs for me so you can grow strong."
"Can she be an apprentice, now?" Scorchstar asked her.
Sedgepaw shook her head. "No. She is still too small. It was not the talking that prevented her from being apprentice – it is her size. Give her a few moons to grow, and then it will be fine. She should be an apprentice by green-leaf."
"Okay." Scorchstar nodded, although his jaw clenched as he thought about his daughter being in the nursery for over a year. She'll be so behind… "Thank you, Sedgepaw." Genuine gratitude was thick in his voice. "Really."
Sedgepaw gave the two cats a curt nod before disappearing from the den. Scorchstar watched her go. Wow. I had doubts about her, but… Now he had seen the full strength of Sedgepaw's abilities. She had made a mute kit talk in seconds. I can't believe it. He looked over at Wildheart. Joy was glowing in her amber eyes as she looked at Mallowkit.
"Say 'Mother' again," she cooed at the young kit.
"Mother." Mallowkit repeated the word slowly.
"Oh, Scorchstar!" Wildheart cried out, glancing over at Scorchstar. "This is incredible!"
Scorchstar nodded at her, a smile breaking out on his face. He had been so worried for Mallowkit's future – he had worried she would never talk and would never be able to grow as a warrior. But thanks to Sedgepaw, she could speak now, and he had faith she would grow to be just as big as her denmates and join them in the apprentices' den. I'm so relieved.
Mallowkit was okay.