Chapter 8

Moon 28 | Hay

It didn't take long for Gingerpaw to be free from her heatstroke. In light of this new development, Weevildusk took greater care in keeping to the shade and taking more breaks while teaching her. Obviously, her mentor felt guilty, but she didn't hold him accountable to it at all. She wanted to, on some level, but she promised herself that it wouldn't solve anything at all in that case.

However, Gingerpaw had noticed how Lowpaw was quite close with Seedblur. Obviously, she was old enough to start thinking about tomcats in a new way, but it made her feel isolated. She had to focus on training before she could even think about having kits of her own. Yet, she was sure the two just had a better relationship than she ever could with them.

It was isolating, but Gingerpaw knew she had to suck it up and try to not take it personally. After all, it was her own fault to not notice the heat was getting to her until it was too late. She had no one to blame except herself. Thankfully, Miyun had been gentle and willing to hear out Gingerpaw's problems. The strange older she-cat was like an aunt to her, always listening to her problems and doing her best to help her see it in another way.

It got to the point that Gingerpaw ended up befriending the older she-cat so much easier than anyone else. She felt guilty, but it wasn't like Lowpaw would ever notice how alone Gingerpaw truly was. Miyun was gentle and caring, providing comfort that she couldn't get from her own parents.

Then again, it was very hard to tell them such things. It would be far too embarrassing in Gingerpaw's mind to even try.

Moon 29 | Sturgeon

Miyun had suggested trying to show how mature she was so Lowpaw would become her friend. So, during a shared training session at the tide pools, Gingerpaw swiped a paw into the pool to try and catch whatever prey that could be hiding within it. However, her balance was off and she fell face first. She sputtered and coughed, climbing back out of the tide pool drenched to the skin.

Lowpaw laughed at her, but still attempted to try and help her dry off. Gingerpaw, with all the shame and hurt pride, shook her off. She didn't want any help, she just wanted to be alone. Weevildusk escorted her back to camp where she was seen to by Sleetcrash who reported no injuries other than some possible bruising.

Embarrassment flared in her ears as she looked away. Gingerpaw went to her nest early that day, much too embarrassed to face the rest of the Clan who must have eventually heard of her watery faceplant by now.

.

A half-moon later, Lowpaw and Rustyfeather stood before Rainstar in the center of the clearing before the Slanted-deck. Gingerpaw watched, still feeling a bit bashful after her mistake no matter how much time had passed. Weevildusk was beside her, his ears twitching impatiently. She could tell he wished it was them up there already. Not that Gingerpaw could blame him. It was her fault that she skipped a moon's worth of training.

"I, Rainstar, call my ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. She had learned the ways we follow beneath the Sea of Stars. Lowpaw, do you promise to uphold all you have learned and protect StormClan even at the cost of your life?"

Lowpaw's head raised proudly. "I do."

"Then, with the powers of the Sea of Stars bestowed upon me, Lowpaw, your warrior name shall be Lowshard. We honor your vigilance and you will hold to the tradition of a silent vigil so we may all rest well. Rustyfeather or the first warrior to rise at dawn will relieve you of your position."

"Thank you." Lowshard dipped her head as Rainstar leapt down and rested her chin upon her head, in return the newly made warrior rasped her tongue over their leader's shoulder.

Gingerpaw was suddenly all alone. She was the only apprentice left in the Clan without any kits to follow her. Now, she knew, deep down, that there was a lot at stake for the Clan. The future of it was hanging precariously. Without kits there were no more new warriors to be had. Without new warriors, the Clan could easily perish.

Suddenly, Gingerpaw was certain that Lowshard had noticed this the moon before and that was why she began to look for a cat to spend the rest of her life with so early. Who would she have as her own mate? And, even if she did, would they even have kits at all?

Moon 30 | Harvest

Leaves fell in the forest beyond the beach. Darkwhisper had gone on a walk, vanishing into the depths of the forest. Gingerpaw waited with the rest of the Clan, the silence deafening as the elderly tom didn't return for several days. When he returned, his yellow eyes dull from whatever adventure he had gone on. Slowly began holding himself back up in his den, troubled by something that no cat could help him with.

Not long after, Rainstar took Gingerpaw out to help give her extra training tips. Gingerpaw attempted to talk about the lack of kits in the Clan, to which the leader comforted her the best she could.

"Do not worry about what the Clan lacks." She told her earnestly. "Focus on your training little one. It is for me and your mom to worry about, not you."

"Do you think Lowshard worried about it too?" She asked.

"Perhaps, but all cats worry about things." Rainstar informed her gently, "Now, I'll show you some of my tricks so you can pass your assessment to become a warrior."

"Thank you." She mewed, feeling a little better that she wasn't too different from the other cats.

For the first time in a while, Gingerpaw was able to focus on her training.

.

The full moon was rising when Rainstar's yowl echoed through the camp. "Let all cats old enough to fish and swim gather beneath the Slanted-deck for a Clan meeting!"

Weevildusk nudged Gingerpaw along, as the cats gathered, their eyes glowing as the full moon rose higher and higher.

"Weevildusk, has Gingerpaw proven herself to be a competent warrior?" She asked.

Weevildusk nodded earnestly, "She has."

"Then, I ask the Sea of Stars to look down upon this apprentice. She has worked hard to understand our ways and the noble cause of protecting our Clan." Rainstar spoke the familiar words, her gray eyes blazing like the pinpricks of stars above them. "Gingerpaw, do you promise to uphold everything that we believe in even at the cost of your life?"

Her heart was racing. "I do." She answered, her voice coming out much stronger and steadier than she expected.

Rainstar leapt down from her perch, padding up to her. "Then, by the power bestowed upon me from the Sea of Stars, your warrior name will be Gingerleaf. We honor your flexibility."

Gingerleaf felt a little dizzy as she dipped her head respectfully, feeling the chin of her leader rest on the curve of her head. Her heart was still racing out of excitement and fear, even as she managed to rasp her tongue on her leader's dark gray pelt. She was no longer an apprentice and was now a full fledged warrior of StormClan. She was born here, raised as though she was one of the first sea-cats to step foot on these sandy beaches.

Yet, as she looked into Rainstar's eyes, she saw sorrow and grief.

Perhaps, she was even thinking of Hazelstar who now watched over them from the Sea of Stars. The era had changed with a new leader to take the den and even now Gingerleaf wasn't sure how she could ever live up to the reputation of her mothers, let alone to make Hazelstar proud.

Moon 31 | Hunter

The familiar border between StormClan and the rest of the land had been peaceful before Gingerleaf and the rest of the patrol heard a yowl of terror and vicious barking. Peakstreak's black and white fur puffed out in fear, but determination shone in her heather blue eyes. Without waiting any longer, Peakstreak followed the yowling cries, the rest of the patrol following suit.

"What's the plan, Peakstreak?" Caveswoop asked loudly between puffs.

The patrol leader flicked her tail up. "We need to see how big that dog is first and then attack it from as many different sides as possible to drive it off."

Slopecall nodded grimly. "Sounds like a good plan, Gingerleaf, stick close to me. We can take on the far side of the dog while Peakstreak and Caveswoop take on the closest side. We have to get that cat free from that dog!"

"Right!" She answered, following Slopecall's lead as they parted away from the other half of the patrol.

The cat continued to scream and yowl in terror, this time it was growing louder and louder as they exploded out of the undergrowth in their respective positions. Peakstreak let out the most furious screech as she slammed into the dog's hindquarters, digging her claws into their flesh. Caveswoop viciously bit into the dog's leg with a snarling growl, causing the dog to yelp in pain and shock.

The dog started to stumble back before its dark eyes spotted Slopecall and Gingerleaf leaping out from the bushes with enraged yowls. The dog hesitated, fear-scent filling the air as the dog shook off Peakstreak and Caveswoop before lumbering away as quickly as its legs could go. It's whining and yelping echoing through the forest.

Peakstreak panted, flicking her tail at Caveswoop. "Let's make sure that lumbering fool left the territory!" She ordered.

Caveswoop nodded and began to run while calling over her shoulder. "We'll be back as soon as we can!"

Gingerleaf struggled to breathe, the stench of the dog and its fear was all over the place, almost choking her. Slopecall padded to the frightened cat to make sure they were alright. Her eyes rounded with sympathy as she spoke up.

"Hey, the dog's gone, are you alright-?" Slopecall's voice changed as the salty scent of blood filled the air with the startled yowl of the patrol leader.

Gingerleaf rushed over, checking Slopecall's pelt and face, seeing the slash of torn flesh and blood oozing from the wound. Terror filled her as she looked after the cat that bolted, their dark brown pelt bushed out in fear as they vanished into the foliage.

"I'll get you back to camp." Gingerleaf promised, leaning against Peakstreak to offer support. "We need to report this to Rainstar and fast."

"N-not without Caveswoop and Peakstreak." Slopecall managed to hiss out.

Gingerleaf nodded, searching around for anything to help with the bleeding. Not long after, Caveswoop and Peakstreak returned, panting from their run before fear overcame them. Slopecall was wounded and they swiftly made their way back to camp.

Once there, Sleetcrash took over as Gingerleaf padded up to Rainstar and began the report to let the others rest from their own shock.

"That dog has been a nuisance." Hissed Rainstar, her gray eyes cold. "We'll have to do something about that flea-brain before they terrorize the entire beach and forest!"

"I suppose so, but Peakstreak and Caveswoop got a good hit in, maybe it will take the hint now?" She suggested.

Rainstar rolled her eyes. "It's a dog, they never get the hint and we helped a loner to just get one of our own hurt. Honestly, I don't think any peace we are making with the rogues and loners is working anymore either."

"Lowshard was a loner." Gingerleaf reminded her leader sharply, "And the kits you took in were also once loners, right? It was a one time thing, I'd met a moon of dawn patrols that it is!"

"I'll keep that in mind." Rainstar conceded, "We'll just have to be more careful from now on."

.

Slopecall was curled up in the medicine den, Sleetcrash working diligently to care for the young cat. Gingerleaf peered in as worry made her whiskers twitch. She didn't want to disturb Sleetcrash or make her lose her concentration. With a deep breath, she backed out and padded away. She had to hope that they came home in time. After all, Slopecall's life was on the line from such a powerful strike of a frightened cat.

Allegiances (as of Moon 31)

Leader: Rainstar - long-furred dark gray tabby she-cat with gray eyes

Deputy: Rustyfeather - dark ginger tabby she-cat with pale blue eyes

Healer: Sleetcrash - long-furred pale gray and white tabby she-cat with pale green eyes

Warriors:

Haillaurel - pale cream ticked tabby she-cat with hazel eyes

Miyun - long-furred unusually spotted pale silver she-cat with warm gray eyes

Weevildusk - long-furred gray and white tabby tom with pale yellow eyes

Peakstreak - long-furred speckled black and white she-cat with heather blue eyes

Seedblur - long-furred gray ticked and white tom with slate gray eyes

Slopecall - long-furred brown ticked and white she-cat with bright gray eyes

Caveswoop - long-furred white and black tabby tom with heterochromia eyes (one cobalt, the other emerald)

Lowshard - long-furred golden tabby she-cat with bronze-colored eyes

Gingerleaf - dark ginger tabby she-cat with pale green eyes

Elders:

Darkwhisper - long-furred dark gray and white tabby tom with yellow eyes

Cats Outside the Clan

Sweet Leon - medium-furred unusually spotted dark brown and white loner she-cat with pale blue eyes

Author's Note:

StormClan has grown and now more danger is on the horizon. Time to see where this will go.

Thank you for reading, have a fantastic morning, day, evening, or night~! - NightSky