Chapter 10: Visitors: Thunderclan
It was just after dawn when Father woke me. We had to hunt ourselves some food. Father and I padded out to find something when a familiar cat made an appearance. It was Stonestep carrying two birds. I could already hear a purr from him as he approached us.
"Smudgefoot! Darkpaw! I'm so happy that you both are alright. When Firestar got back, he announced that there was something going on that required you to leave the clan. We didn't get all the details, but Firestar assured us that what you did was necessary for the safety of the forest. Of course, he let me know that I could find you here. Seeing as the meeting you guys had was late evening, I assumed you didn't have anything for the morning. Here. I caught them on the way." Stonestep mewed, placing the prey by our paws.
"You know, you could get in trouble for feeding someone not in your clan." Father teased.
"That's a load of mouse dung, and you know it! So what if you need to pretend to not be Thunderclan for a while? You're still acting on the interests of Thunderclan. You placed an interim deputy instead of a permanent one. You and my apprentice are still Thunderclan, and I'll fight anyone that says otherwise." Stonestep rebutted.
Father shook his head with a small smile. "I can't fault you on that. To kind of explain the situation for now, I am to act as an intermediary between the clans. For that reason, I cannot show favoritism to any one clan. Thus, I'll be living here for the time being. Darkpaw, along side Brambleclaw, will be setting out on a long-term mission. Hopefully by the end of it, I'll be able to rejoin Thunderclan."
"But… things won't be the same without you and Darkpaw. The reason I joined Thunderclan was the kindness you showed me. What brings joy to my day is training Darkpaw and chatting with you. Smudgefoot, I want to say this before I lose the nerve. I still love you. I have ever since you saved me from Tigerstar. I was just afraid to say anything since you looked so happy without me when you got Darkpaw. I couldn't chance ruining that." Stonestep confessed.
Father brushed up against Stonestep affectionately. "You're a fool Stonestep. I've been waiting for this confession for a long time. I was willing to accept you the day after the battle of Bloodclan, and I am still willing to accept you now. You're definitely foolish, but at least you're my fool now. Unfortunately, due to what is going on, we can't do anything currently. I can't leave Fourtrees, but I wouldn't mind someone visiting me, say, just after the last Shadowclan patrol when the moon is halfway up in four days' time? I also wouldn't mind a visit from Ravenfeather if you catch my drift."
Stonestep happily pranced in place at the request. "I'll be there! Expect me to come by tomorrow with more food." He excitedly mewed before bolting off, clearly to let others know the good news about their relationship.
As Stonestep vanished off into the distance, Dad came trotting out. "Rather sweet of you to accept him now. I thought you'd put it off until this threat was done."
"I'm older now and am coming to realize there's not an unlimited amount of time in the world. I decided to take it before it was gone." Father replied.
Dad nodded at Father's statement before turning to me. "Don't go thinking I forgot you. I never would. I've heard about this Journey from Firestar after some pressure. I know this is going to be difficult for you. I won't be there to wake you from those dreams. If I could, I'd be out there with you every step of the way. I can't do much for you but let you know that I love you. I'll be thinking of you every day that you are gone, and I'll be waiting for you when you get back along side your Father and… What did you call him? Pa?" Dad teased.
My ears burned at the question. I didn't think Dad would hear about that, but I honestly should have expected it. Stonestep has a tendency to run his mouth when it comes to something he is either happy about or excited for, which means their new relationship was about to become the talk of the camp. That made me smile a bit as I came up with a comeback. "Well, you better go catch Stonestep before he blurts out what you're going to do in four nights."
Dad's eyes shrank to pinpricks as the realization sank in. "I've got to go catch Stonestep, but I'll be back." He called over his shoulder as he tore off.
Father sat himself beside me saying, "It's nice to be reminded that others still care for us. Speaking of…" Father mewed before turning his attention to a but that I could see a bit of orange through. "You aren't fooling anyone Squirrelpaw. Get out here already."
Squirrelpaw slank out of the bush, her ears flat at being caught. "Mousedung. I thought I was hidden pretty well." She complained.
Father seemed amused by her answer. "Maybe you would have been if you hadn't crept forward when I accepted Stonestep's confession."
"Drat. What did that mean anyways? Why was Stonestep so excited to see you at night?" Squirrelpaw queried, which got me curious as well.
Father froze at the question, clearly pondering how to answer. Slowly, he opened his mouth to speak. "Well, it's something we have medicine cats explain when apprentices are close to becoming warriors. Needless to say, it is something very intimate that one usually only does with their mate. Either way, it isn't something you need to know right now."
Squirrelpaw looked annoyed at the lack of an answer, but she clearly was here for a purpose. She turned to me. "Thought you could just go on a grand Journey without me, right? Well, I'm not having it. I'm going to follow you and Brambleclaw tomorrow and make you let me join." She mewed confidently before suddenly remembering that Father was right here. Her eyes drifted up to his fearfully. Father, meanwhile, just looked upon her amused.
"If I were the deputy, I'd definitely be reprimanding you for so blatantly defying orders, but I'm not Thunderclan at this moment. Nor should I mention that there's a thin part of the bramble barrier just to the left of the medicine den that an apprentice could slip through. I suppose I also shouldn't mention that the journeying cats will be meeting here at dawn tomorrow. No. I certainly shouldn't say anything about that." Father theatrically mewed.
Squirrelpaw seemed to catch Father's drift. "So, I definitely didn't hear from you how to slip out of camp and how to follow the Journey cats?"
"Nope." Father answered with a smile.
"Then I definitely won't see you tomorrow Darkpaw." She replied before running off, likely to get chewed out by Dustpelt for running off.
I turned to Father after she left sight. "Why did you tell her all that, Father?"
"Because you need a friend. The journey you will embark on will be long. While Brambleclaw is a part of Thunderclan, you aren't exactly close with him. Squirrelpaw was likely going to make the attempt to join anyways, given her spirited nature. She'll help ground you if your nightmares get bad out there. Just remember to keep her safe." Father explained.
"I will Father. I guess we should eat up now before any other visitors decide to show up." I replied, tucking into my bird as Father did the same.