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Dawnwhisper(Guest): Thank you so much! I'll be updating this fic probably at least once every week. And for DustXBlossom, yeah, probably later in the story there will be some affection…:)
This chapter is going to start with the Unknown POV from the last chapter, but it'll switch back to Blossomkit really soon.
Continuing with the story…
Chapter 5
Unknown POV
"We really should go back right now and get those two young she-cats," the tom beside me pleaded. Now both of us were bathing in the sunshine of the setting sun in our sanctuary, his black fur had a shine to it that almost blinded me, "They'll be a great asset to the clan."
"How could you be so stupid?" I snapped at him, "Those she-cats don't have shining fur nor strong muscles. They won't be accepted by anyone."
"They can help us," the tom mewed, looking on dreamily, "Look how our recently gotten Duskkit—"
"Dusk," I reminded him.
"—Dusk worked out. Sorry, I miss the clans and their names."
"This is a clan," I snapped at him, "The best clan there is. And stop drooling. Don't make me run back to Riverclan territory to fetch that stick again."
He rubbed his nicked ear, the one I nicked with that stick, "Ouch. That really hurt. Shouldn't you be nicer to your mate?" I shook my head smugly without even turning toward him.
"They could help us," he persisted, continuing with our previous conversation, "Really, they could."
I shook my head again, "Do you want to get into trouble again? It isn't worth it. Besides, those aren't the ones Master wants," I said, grooming a stray tuft of fur back into place, "I've seen that she-cat. Fur as soft as silk, Master will be pleased."
The tom frowned. "What about the tom? I don't see a reason for another slave owner. We have enough already."
I shrugged. "Don't question Master's orders. He must have a reason." I fixed my gaze toward the sunset. It promised good things. Maybe even the hope that may never come.
"And I know we'll get them," I mewed finally.
Blossomkit's POV
Bright new-leaf sunshine warmed the camp at early dawn, giving the reeds a particular shine to them, streaming into every den and, eventually, waking up everyone like a mini Vipersong screaming "Wake up! Dawn patrol!". And Vipersong? She was doing the exact same thing! Trees swayed along with warmest breezes, and the seemingly peacefulness made it seem like everything was fine. And was everything fine? Well, that depends how you define 'fine'.
Shimmerstar and Vipersong have sent out many search patrols for the next quarter moon, but Hawkpaw and her captors still haven't been found. To make things worse, now Briarthorn and Swiftflight have been captured, and like Hawkpaw, there were no signs of them, not even a scent. That was bad. Really bad.
I flopped down next to Stormkit, Owlkit, and Leopardkit (Streamkit was yet again not allowed to come near me. I could literally see Creekflower glaring at me with her laser eyes, daring me to glare back. Of course I didn't. It wouldn't make her love me more,) in a sunlit spot near the nursery, watching as yet another search patrol, consisting of Swallowheart, Petalfur, Fidgetleap, and Hissingstep, trotted out of camp. Their heads were lowered and their steps were dull. I hoped that they would find Hawkpaw, Swiftflight, and Briarthorn, but knowing their chances, they were probably going to come back empty handed. Most of us have given up the hope of finding them, but I haven't.
But mostly, I wanted us to find the mysterious cats capturing our cats. They would just keep kidnapping us if we didn't do anything (But then, we probably have a one percent chance of actually finding them.) Dustpaw claims that he saw them, but I bet one mouse that Dustpaw was fibbing to get attention. Yes, that was like him.
"You know," Leopardkit mewed, pawing at a stray piece of grass, "Most cats would expect us to be playing now. Actually, most kits would be playing right now."
I rolled onto my back, "Well, I guess we're the batch of lazy kits here." He snorted in laughter.
Meanwhile, Owlkit was slowly edging toward me. Yes, I know you love me, but I don't feel the same, so stop trying, I thought irritatedly. Every time he tried to creep toward me, I would scoot away from him. We continued this several times.
"Hey!" Stormkit called, sounding amused, "Where are you two going? Somewhere secret so Leopardkit and I can't hear you flirting?" He winked at Owlkit, then me.
Owlkit blushed and I scowled at Stormkit. "Why would I flirt with him? It's not like we'll be mates one day."
Owlkit's face fell. "We might," he offered awkwardly. I ignored him and scooted beside Stormkit. Owlkit took his place beside Leopardkit and buried his face into his fur. Leopardkit gave a comforting lick on his head.
"You know, you could be more gentle on him. You know he loves you," Stormkit mewed quietly into my ear, "Though he did make it very clear today."
"I'll be nicer if he leaves me alone," I mumbled back. I think I made it really clear that I didn't have a crush on him. I would rather take Stormkit as a mate instantly than him.
I fixed my gaze on the entrance of camp again, where the patrol's scents still lingered. I knew that I could find Hawkpaw, Swiftflight, and Briarthorn if they let me, but no one would even let me try.
And if I think about it, could I consider it true? I have no idea.
It was about sunset, when the sky was painted with the prettiest colors it could wear, when the search patrol came back. Just as we all probably predicted, they came back empty handed. Not even a faint scent, they reported to all of those who asked. By now, their tails have drooped down even farther, their paws were now dragging on the ground, and they seemed really disappointed (But, of course, who wouldn't be? Failing so many times.) Quietly, they slunk into Shimmerstar's den to report the bad news.
They stayed there for a long time, and I could hear disappointed murmurs and the scuffling of paws. Outside, the camp was quiet and a sad aura filled the air. It was certain that they've all given up hope. Even us kits were silent for a few moments. And that's really rare, considering that embarrassing moment when Stormkit laughed out loud when we were doing a vigil because one of our former elders, Skygazer, died. Yikes.
Finally, Shimmerstar padded out of her den, with the patrol trailing behind her. I noticed, for the first time, Shimmerstar looked old and tired. Gray fur flecked her muzzle, and her steps were slow and wavering. She trotted across camp and leaped onto Highstump. I blinked. So now she was calling a meeting? "Let all cats old enough to swim gather to hear my words!"
The whole clan (at least, what was left of us,) even us kits, trotted to sit beside Highstump. Shimmerstar sighed. "As you all know, some cats have decided to capture our clanmates. Apprentices, and even warriors! Who knows how strong these cats are?" A quiet murmur spread throughout camp.
"They have threatened the whole clan with promises to weaken us. They have taken so many cats from us, who knows if, or when, they will take our kits?" I perked my ears up. Now this was interesting.
"So as a result, I have decided to make our remaining kits into apprentices a little earlier, so they would know at least a few moves to defend themselves," Shimmerstar continued. Now I was really interested, and really excited too. I could even feel Streamkit brighten up from all the way across camp.
Before Shimmerstar could say anything else, Whitesong stepped forward, "But Shimmerstar, these kits aren't yet six moons. Aren't they too young?" I groaned inside. Don't ruin this for us, Whitesong!
Shimmerstar twitched her ear in acknowledgement. "I understand your concern, Whitesong, but making them apprentices now is better than waiting, so they'll have more defense skills when the rogues, or whatever they are, attack. I have consulted my deputy, medicine cat, and senior warriors, and they agreed." Whitesong nodded reluctantly and stepped back.
Shimmerstar straightened up and maybe she looked happier, but I was too excited myself to notice. "Stormkit, Owlkit, Leopardkit, Streamkit, and Blossomkit. Please step forward."
We all eagerly did.
"Stormkit, you have almost reached the age of six moons, and it's time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Stormpaw. Your mentor will be Fernleaf. I hope that Fernleaf will pass down all he knows to you," Shimmerstar turned to Fernleaf, who looked as happy as Stormkit —err— paw, "Fernleaf, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have received excellent training from Hissingstep, and you have shown yourself to be loyal and a hard-worker. You will be the mentor of Stormpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to Stormpaw." They eagerly touched their noses.
"Owlkit, you have almost reached the age of six moons, and it's time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Owlpaw. Your mentor will be Russetleap. I hope that Russetleap will pass down all she knows to you. Russetleap, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have received excellent training from Vipersong," Vipersong puffed out her chest and did a little dance around Highstump, causing Shimmerstar to shake her head in amusement and almost the whole camp exploded with giggles, "and you have shown yourself to be brave and kind. You will be the mentor of Owlpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to Owlpaw." Owlpaw bounced up like an immature kit before padding up to Russetleap.
"Leopardkit, you have almost reached the age of six moons, and it's time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Leopardpaw. Your mentor will be Sweetthistle. I hope that Sweetthistle will pass down all she knows to you. Sweetthistle, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have received excellent training from Skygazer," Shimmerstar's eyes grew misty. Stormpaw shuffled his paws, "and you have shown yourself to be intelligent and dedicated. You will be the mentor of Leopardpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to him."
"Streamkit," Streamkit shared an excited glance with me, "you have almost reached the age of six moons, and it's time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Streampaw. Your mentor will be Dawnstep. I hope that Dawnstep will pass down all she knows to you. Dawnstep, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have received excellent training from Fidgetleap, and you have shown yourself to be brave and a good hunter. You will be the mentor of Streampaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to Streampaw."
"Blossomkit."
I stepped forward earnestly, barely keeping my legs from bouncing up and down in excitement.
"You have almost reached the age of six moons, and it's time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Blossompaw," Blossompaw! Is this really happening? "Your mentor will be Swallowheart. I hope that Swallowheart will pass down all he knows to you. Swallowheart, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have received excellent training from Pouncefoot, and you have shown yourself to be kind and enthusiastic. You will be the mentor of Blossompaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to Blossompaw."
Swallowheart stepped up to me and we touched noses, his lively yellow eyes shining with warmth. "We'll start training tomorrow," he whispered. When we retreated back to the crowd, I decided that I really liked Shimmerstar's choice.
"Stormpaw! Owlpaw! Leopardpaw! Streampaw! Blossompaw!" The clan cheered. I basked in the cheers before taking my place beside Stormpaw. His eyes were shining with pride.
"You are all dismissed," Shimmerstar mewed, before leaping off Highstump and retreating back into her den. The drag in her steps returned, and the excitement in camp quickly faded as everyone returned back to their duties.
"I got to go," Stormpaw whispered in my ear, "Dawnstep said that we will be touring the territory."
"Swallowheart gave me a day off," I mewed back, but inside I felt a twinge of disappointment. I kinda wanted to go out too, "I'll be exploring the apprentice den."
"Actually," a smooth silky voice meowed. I pricked my ears up. Wasn't that… "I wanted to talk to her. Congratulate her. In private, please."
Stormpaw looked up at Creekflower, his eyes narrowed, but when he saw my pleading eyes, he reluctantly backed off, "Okay… But be careful, Blossompaw. I don't trust her." Then, he slid away into the crowd.
I turned to Creekflower, eager for some kind of acknowledgement or praise that I had long wanted, but I took a step back when I saw the cold look in her eyes. Suddenly, she grabbed me by the shoulders. "Stay away from my son," she hissed, "Or else…" Creekflower let me go and trotted into the warriors den.
I shakily trotted toward the apprentices' den, disappointment filled up to the brim.
A/N: Yay! They're apprentices!
QOEFC: Do you think Shimmerstar is a good leader, and how many lives do you think she has left?
See you!
Ravenyfrost.