Chapter 84: Good News and Bad News
I woke in a slightly confused state. At first, I just couldn't figure out why my field of view was so narrow until I remembered I had a patched over eye. It was lucky that the wound only split my eyelid. It'd scab over pretty soon and seal together with scar tissue. Cinderpelt let me know yesterday that she could pull off the poultices in a week and check how it healed up. The end result would likely only be cosmetic damage as well as this week period of monocular vision.
Cinderpelt, knowing what today meant for me, let me leave with only the order to not take up border patrols or anything that may reopen that eye wound. Not that I'd actually risk myself like that. Monocular vision meant I had a massive blind spot on my left side. I didn't want to be caught in a fight with this weakness, though, I am an opportunistic cat, and I did lecture Brackenfur and Snowkit about the values of using all your senses. I could use this as a training opportunity.
Of course, to prove my point, Ravenfeather pressed into my left side, startling me. I may or may not have let out a bit of a yelp, which most certainly did not send some cats who happened to be watching into a giggling fit. I set to grooming myself, pretending I hadn't just embarrassed myself to the entire clan. Thankfully, there was one cat who hadn't laughed at my misfortune. It was Ravenfeather, who set himself to grooming my left side, taking particular care to not muss up the bandaging that lay over my eye.
It wasn't long before Bluestar made her appearance from her den. I will admit that she still looked a bit shellshocked about Tigerstar from a few nights ago, but overall she still had her facilities. Fireheart soon met her up there, knowing fully well what she was up to. It was then that she made her announcement.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting." She yowled out, drawing near every cat out of their dens. She looked down upon us with keen eyes before speaking. "Cloudpaw, Ashpaw, step forward." She commanded.
Ashpaw stepped into position and thrust his chest out proudly, siting firm and looking every bit the warrior I taught him to be. Cloudpaw positioned himself beside my apprentice, looking equal parts ready for what was to come, but I detected an amount of wariness from the apprentice. It wasn't all that surprising. Cloudpaw, Brightpaw, and Swiftpaw were close. They likely dreamed of holding their warrior ceremonies together, but instead he was out here with Ashpaw. Those two were also close but only in a friendly rivalry sort of way. I positioned myself behind my apprentice as Fireheart leapt down to do the same. Meanwhile, Bluestar looked down upon the two apprentices and their mentors with pride. Finally, she began the ceremony.
"I, Bluestar, leader of Thunderclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warriors in their turn." She stated before focusing on Cloudpaw. "Cloudpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?" She queried.
"I do." Cloudpaw responded.
"And Ashpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?" She asked my apprentice.
With firm determination, Ashpaw gave his response. "I do."
Bluestar gave a soft smile before continuing. "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Cloudpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Cloudtail. StarClan honors your kindness and determination. Ashpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Ashfur. StarClan honors your loyalty and creativity. We welcome you as a full warriors of Thunderclan."
I made sure to chant Ashfur's name the loudest. He was my apprentice after all, and he was a source of my pride. Of course, Bluestar went over the rest of the general parts of the warrior ceremony, reminding the two new warriors that they would sit a silent vigil tonight, but that wouldn't actually start until sunset, so they had some time to be congratulated.
Ashfur made his way over to me with a happy swagger. This was a moment he'd been waiting for. He'd graduated from my mentorship and was now his own cat. I had to let him know he made me feel. "Ashfur, I remember since the moment I first saw you that you'd become an important part of my life. I once thought I was just meant to guide you away from a path I thought for sure you'd take. I never knew how attached to you I'd get. You were more than just my apprentice. You are like the son I never had. Seeing you with your warrior name fills me with pride, and I am glad to have been the one to get you there. I hope you know that even though you are no longer my apprentice, I will always be there if you need a guide or some help." I mewed, having to keep my own voice from wavering.
Ashpaw pressed himself into me, clearly overcome by his own emotions as well. "I'm proud to have had you as a mentor as well. I know there are still things I want to learn from you, and I don't want our connection to fade. You said I was like a son to you, but you were also like a father to me. I still plan to remain by your side, but maybe our roles have changed. We'll be equals, and I can't help looking forward to it."
We embraced each other for a couple moments longer before we had to pull away. An emotional silence hung over us before Ashfur decided to break it. "You know, I'd been kind of hoping my name would have been Ashfoot instead, named after you, but I guess Ashfur rolls off the tongue a little better." He joked.
I let my apprentice depart to get his congratulations from his mother and the rest of the clan, but it wasn't long before some cat pulled me aside with Fireheart. We were situated in a gap between the warriors den and the apprentices den. It was out of sight, and since most cats were milling about congratulating the new warriors, out of earshot. It was Longtail, who had been on an early dawn patrol.
"I have some dire news. Something big is living at Snakerocks. I don't know what it is, but there were rabbit carcasses scattered about. I briefly heard something that sounded like barking, but I also thought I smelled Tigerstar. I didn't brave checking it out on my own, but I believe there is more than one there. I thought I'd let you know as soon as I could." He mewed urgently.
For as long as I knew Longtail, he'd never been a flighty cat. He was one of the last ones to retreat in a fight, even if he was outclassed. Thus, this report raised my hackles. Those supposed dogs were not to be taken lightly if they were capable of warding Longtail off without even seeing him. While Fireheart went to report to Bluestar, I found the cats who were to be on patrol today and warned them away from entering Snakerocks. It was too big of a threat without more information. We'd run an investigation tomorrow.
Eventually, I was tucked into my nest in the medicine den so Cinderpelt could make sure I didn't mess up my bandage in my sleep. I'd probably only caught an hour or two of sleep before someone gave me a shove. It was near pitch black out, and it took a moment for my eyes to adjust. Above me stood Ashfur, clearly concerned about something.
"Ashfur, report. You wouldn't break the silence of a vigil for no reason." I commanded.
"Two cats just left the camp via the dirtplace. I had Cloudtail remain on watch, but I think those two were headed out towards Snakerocks. I know you were telling cats not to go there for some reason, so I thought I'd let you know." He answered.
"…You did well to let me know Ashfur. We've now got a potential emergency on our paws." I mewed, rising to my paws and rushing out of the den.
"Come with me. I need a runner in case things escalate. Hopefully those fools don't get themselves killed!" I mewed urgently before hightailing it out of the camp with Ashfur by my side.