☼WindClan: Home of the Swift and Loyal |☾ ☼ ϟ ≈ ☁| ☼

Ashsong shook her head and kept moving, “Thank you Thorndash. But enough about me. How are you doing lately?” She asked, wanting to change the subject.

Swiftstar let out a deep breath, frustrated that this was so hard for him to talk about, but also that he hadn't said anything sooner. "The cough...the cough I got during the fire...it hasn't gone away." He cleared his throat to clear the nervousness from his mind. "I'm sure it's nothing, but I thought it would have cleared up by now."


Silverspirit nodded, "yeah but you're so young! Think about how wise and how great of a deputy you'll be once you're Blacktail's age! You'll be the best deputy in the forest....I can't wait to see the look on dad's face when you tell him." She dropped her voice near the end of the sentance.

Swiftstar flattened his ears. "The clan has more to worry about than their leader with a cold." He said. "Not to mention I thought it would be gone by now." The second sentence was said somewhat sheepishly. He watched Eclipsesky's face as he listened to his chest. "Lucky for them, I have my own den." He said.

Silverspirit shrugged. "There are a million white cats in the clans. You could be the long lost kit of any of the other deputies up there" she said with a reassuring smile. "I'm sure it'll be fine"

"And?" Slushfur questioned, looking at Cobblepaw and Rookpaw. "You can still say that your father was the deputy. His name will go down in Clan history."

"But having Blacktail be the deputy was the best," Gustpaw complained. "It would only be better if he were leader!"

Silverpaw shot an annoyed glance at Gustpaw. "It's a bit disappointing, but it doesn't bother me much."

“Come now. I would have been far too old for leadership for that to ever happen.” Blacktail mused, flicking Gustpaw’s ears with his tail as he spoke to his kits. “One’s rank should never be their sole trait. I could be a deputy or a kit, and my place in the clan is equal to anyone else’s. I am no more deserving or worth more than Sagefoot. She will be a good deputy, perhaps better than I was. Which is more than okay.”

“Better than you? Impossible.” Cobblepaw puffed stubbornly, though he did glance towards Sagefoot thoughtfully.

Jasmineheart let out another sniff, making herself seem small next to her brother "Doesn't that mean we'll end up in the dark forest though? I-I don't want to be there forever." 

Larkpaw pressed against Juniperpaw, her smile never leaving her face. "You and I both love learning about the tunnels, I just can't imagine us not knowing them by heart by the time we're warriors! I am confident that we will both be great tunnelers and you can let my confidence carry both of us until you're confident in yourself too." 

“No, we...” Splashstone hesitated, thinking of that place. The training had made him feel stronger, the forest seeming to leech onto his misery and make it stronger. Meadowbrook’s betrayal had opened his eyes. She had been so confident and strong, so understanding of his feelings towards Starclan...but now, he was even more confused and alone. He didn’t want to be in the Dark Forest either.
“We don’t need either. There has to be another place. And if we do end up there, I...I have a feeling that we can survive there. A strong feeling.” He assured.

“Thank you, Larkpaw.” Juniperpaw looked at her sister with deep appreciation. “You always know what to say to make me feel better. I have the best littermate in all the clans.” She giggled.

Jasmineheart sighed, but gave Splashstone a weak nod. "If you're sure. Do you think father will be there too?" she asked quietly. "I haven't spoken to him in a while, I hope he's alright."

Larkpaw purred, unable to contain the happiness she felt when she was with Juniperpaw. "You're the best sister I could ask for too. We're going to be best friends forever!" ( I love them)

"...If Starclan doesn't accept mother, they won't accept him either, surely...I suppose then we'll finally all be together, huh?" Splashstone mumbled, suddenly feeling his anger drain into exhaustion. He glanced at Jasmineheart, croaking out. "I'm sorry if I've scared you, I...you and Furyflame and Sunstep are the good things that came out of this whole ordeal. If Starclan doesn't want us, then at least I'll still have you, and you'll have me...right?" He asked.

(Me too, they're so sweet)

Juniperpaw purred softly, bumping her shoulder against her sister's. "Best friends forever. There's nothing else we could be!...Do you think mama will put us on big patrols?" She asked, a hint of excitement filling her gentle voice as she glanced at their father. Stonepath seemed to be waiting patiently, in no rush to interrupt Sagefoot and her siblings. He was always so patient, it made Juniperpaw want to be that patient too.

"...Maybe we should just go tunneling or something. Get our minds off all this...stuff..." Splashstone sighed after he took a moment to calm himself down. He blinked once, before he sighed again. "Sometimes I wish Furyflame was a tunneler too. She always seems to confident, even when she's on her own."

"Oh no. Does this mean that she's going to have to sit where Blacktail sat at the next gathering? What if the other clans think she's not good enough? Would they be that cruel?" Juniperpaw fretted suddenly, thinking of how big and busy and frightening the last gathering had been. Would their mother be able to handle such a big crowd?

“She doesn’t like how “closed up” it is. I swear, I don’t get how she thinks, but I guess I won’t pester her about it.” Splashstone scoffed, before he finally stood to his paws and nodded. “Alright then...has anything been going on for you lately?” He asked.

“I sure hope so. I would defend Sagefoot with my life but...could I do it in front of so many cats if it comes down to it? I wish the other clans didn’t make me so nervous...” Juniperpaw frowned.

“I...don’t think I’d want any she-cat mooning over me, at least, they probably shouldn’t. I’m not...I’m probably not the kind of cat that they’d enjoy very much.” Splashstone shook his head with a light shrug, not fond of the thought of dragging a mate into all of his doubts and problems.

“...Well. Dreampaw and Whisperpaw were pretty nice. Skyclan seemed to be doing pretty well.” Juniperpaw admitted, feeling a little more at ease. “Hopefully at the next gathering we won’t be the youngest apprentices.”

Jasmineheart flicked her tail, not phased by her brother's answer. "That's too bad. You're a handsome tom." she mewed simply as they slipped into the tunnels. She let out a purr as she began to weave through the darkness. "I don't know how anybody could not love it down here. It's so quiet and peaceful."

Larkpaw shook her head, "There's no way we'd still be the youngest! I'm sure there have been new apprentices in several clans. Then we can show the newbies what to do." she mewed with a giggle. "It'll be fun!"

Swiftstar nodded. "I don't doubt that Eclipsesky, I would just rather be over cautious than have a misunderstanding. You're a fine medicine cat, and I have no doubt in your loyalties." Swiftstar stood and began to pad out of the medicine cat den. "I'll see you in a couple days." He said with a flick of his tail as he bounded out, giving a heavy sigh as soon as he was out of earshot of the small tom.