|
|
Post by applefeather on May 10, 2017 0:13:10 GMT -5
~ The Story ~Prologue: StarClan must be angry, Fernsong thought, her chest sinking in worry. With this sunrise, it marked a moon since the skies had been covered with thick, brooding clouds that hung over the camp. Only limited light filtered into the camp, making it hard for the elders to see and move around. Fernsong had an influx of complaints from achy elders that she couldn't fill. Cats were paranoid to leave camp for long, much less to search for herbs.
“Fernsong,” a voice called from inside the den Fernsong had been pacing outside of. She saw the outline of Icestar's snowy white tail ushering her inside.
“I have had no dreams from StarClan,” Fernsong confessed before Icestar spoke.
“Yes, I know. I think it's obvious what's happening,” Icestar began, looking at Fernsong expectantly. She continued on when Fernsong remained silent, “StarClan has abandoned us.”
Fernsong stared blankly at her leader. It took her a few mouselengths to realize the entirety of what Icestar had said.
“No, StarClan hasn't left us. This is something else...Something...” she trailed off, unsure of where she was going.
“It's plain to me that we are on our own. It is up to us to continue living without the guidance of StarClan. I have told Swiftfoot to organize herb-collecting patrols to fill your store. I'm sorry it's taken this long but-”
“Icestar!” Fernsong shouted, unable to contain her shock. She ducked her head when she realized the tone she had taken with her leader. She softened her voice and said, “It is unreasonable to assume StarClan left. What reason would they have for that? We've been very good lately. They wouldn't leave us. Berrypelt wouldn't leave us, you know he wouldn't!” Icestar's face clouded at the mention of her dead mate. “And Rosestar! Foxclaw! Deerleap and her kits! They wouldn't!”
“Silence!” Icestar demanded, glaring at Fernsong who shrunk underneath the look. “What else are we supposed to think? The clouds tell us everything we need to know.”
Fernsong was speechless, debating what she could even say in reply when a panicky Mudfur raced into the den. His fear-scent alerted both she-cats to forget their previous argument.
“Petalfur is kitting!”
“Now?” Fernsong asked, mouth agape in surprise. “It's three sunrises too early!”
The earliness wasn't very drastic at all but Fernsong was hoping to get her stores up before the kitting. She didn't even listen to what Mudfur said next before rushing off to the nursery. Sure enough, Petalfur was writhing in pain, groaning loudly.
“Okay Petalfur, I feel your first kit. Just one big, strong push and he'll be out. You can do this.” Oftentimes during kittings Fernsong reassured herself while encouraging the she-cats. Since Deerleap's tragic kitting two moons ago, she found herself anxious and on edge when cats revealed their pregnancies, which was usually a good sign from StarClan.
There were more kits than Fernsong had expected in Petalfur's litter, but the kitting was easy in comparison. Each kit seemed to be born faster than the next; it was probably the shortest kitting Fernsong had ever done, and definitely contained more kits. Five kits in one litter wasn't completely unbelievable, but it had been awhile since ThunderClan had received such a number.
Mudfur rushed into the den swishing his tail. His eyes were dark with worry, but upon seeing the kits and his mate, they cleared into wondrous love.
“Five kits!” he exclaimed, looking at them incredulously. “My five beautiful kits! Oh, what will we name them, Petalfur!”
Petalfur looked exhausted, but she purred at Mudfur's enthuaism. She pointed with her tail to the biggest kit, a black tom. “Eaglekit. Doesn't he seem like an Eaglekit?”
Mudfur nodded in agreement. Fernsong wasn't sure what how the kit resembled an eagle, but the happy couple seemed nonplussed.
Soon they had all the names picked out. Eaglekit was the biggest of the litter and already asserting his place, a smaller, more reserved kitten was named Mintkit, a scrawny brown tom named Harekit, a kit with striking amber eyes called Applekit, and a bushy brown tom named Berrykit, after Mudfur's father. The family was curled together in an affectionate huddle, so Fernsong took this as her signal to leave.
As she walked outside, a sliver of sunshine caught her eye. She blinked, her eyesight faltering for a moment. She could hardly believe her eyes when she saw that the clouds had disappeared! Once more ThunderClan was under the eye of StarClan! Icestar was wrong!
She looked around for the snowy leader. She saw her emerge from her den and look up at the sky in wonder. Fernsong searched her gaze for some kind of relief, but instead, all she saw was numbness.
“Icestar! The skies!” she said, bounding over to her leader. “And Petalfur had a successful kitting! Five kits! The clan has many warriors to come!”
“More mouths to feed for leaf-bare,” Icestar mused, not looking as pleased as Fernsong would have liked.
“Kits are always a good signs. And the clouds cleared. Clearly these kits are a good sign.”
“Or the calm before the storm,” Icestar added. Fernsong froze. Had Icestar heard something from StarClan? Those words... Fernsong couldn't place it, but she was sure she'd heard them before somewhere.
“Beware the calm before the storm.”
“I-Icestar?” Fernsong meowed hesitantly, her fur sticking straight up. Icestar's face had gone slack, her bright blue eyes paling. As if the leader didn't even hear her, Icestar turned away and padded back to her den, saying no more.
Fernsong's hope disintegrated just as quickly as it had formed. The Clan was still in danger, and these kits could be the root of it all. It was as Icestar had said, these kits could be five more warriors for the clan, or just five more mouths to feed. Which was worse at this point, Fernsong had no idea.
A ray of sunshine peeked into the nursery, illuminating the inhabitants of the den as they slept. The air had gotten cooler, but the sun was relentlessly bright, shining down onto the camp basically as soon as it came up. Applekit didn't mind, however, since she always woke up early anyway. She thought there was something nice about being one of the only cats awake and having the whole camp to herself.
She was always careful not to wake up anyone in the nursery, especially Petalfur and Goldenpelt. Goldenpelt was so round with kits, Applekit figured she could have the kits at any moment, which especially made her want to keep away. It would be nice to have new denmates, but with four siblings, the nursery was going to be really full.
At five moons old, Applekit knew she had a moon until she could become an apprentice. Yet that didn't stop her and her brothers from constantly begging the older apprentices and warriors to teach them battle moves. Her sister Mintkit usually seemed more interested in sleeping.
“Applekit!” a voice meowed from across the clearing. She turned excitedly to see her father Mudfur padding up to her. “Up early as usual I see!”
She nodded, looking up at her father. He stopped by the nursery every day to see his kits, but it was nice to have him to herself for once.
“Why are you up this early?” she asked, tilting her head.
“Oh I'm on the dawn patrol with Swiftfoot, Rockclaw, and Larkpaw,” he replied, looking around the clearing, “but it seems that I'm the first awake.”
“I wish I could come,” Applekit mewed wistfully. She wanted nothing more than to hunt with her father someday and maybe even become a better warrior than him. She knew that was a tall order; Mudfur was one of the most loyal, strongest cats of the clan. Applekit would have to work hard to achieve his level of skill.
“Soon, Applekit!” he purred. Suddenly the moss covering the entrance to Icestar's den swished, revealing Swiftfoot and Icestar who seemed deep in chatter. Both looked solemn and talked in low, serious voices. Applekit couldn't decipher what they were saying, and by judging Mudfur's reaction, Applekit figured neither could he.
“Mudfur! Are you ready?” Swiftfoot called to him, signaling for him with his tail.
“Yes Swiftfoot! I'm coming!” he licked Applekit's head affectionately and nodded to her. “I'll be back later. I'll try to pick up a vole for you! It's your favorite right?”
Applekit nodded even though that wasn't true. Eaglekit was the one who loved vole, Applekit preferred mouse, but she didn't have the heart to tell her father. He tried so hard, all the kits could see that, so little things like that didn't bother them. Sometimes Applekit wished she was an only kit, but that would be cruel to her siblings. Regardless, it'd probably be lonely.
She watched Mudfur and the rest of the patrol gather together then leave through the camp entrance. Mudfur nodded to her as he left much to her delight.
Strangely, Applekit felt a pair of eyes on her. She turned to see Icestar staring at her coldly, a hostility in her eyes. She flinched under the look, and Icestar relaxed, turning away back into her den. Applekit always had a strange feeling about her leader's attitude toward her and her siblings. Icestar never ever spoke to them, except to chastise Eaglekit when he almost wandered out of camp once. Applekit figured she was just busy, but it seemed like more than that.
It wasn't too much longer when one of Applekit's denmates, Eaglekit joined her in camp. He yawned widely, exposing his sharp teeth. His thick, black fur was matted down. Applekit knew when Petalfur woke up she'd make him get a washing, which Eaglekit and all of her siblings, including herself, absolutely hated.
“How'd you sleep?” she asked, looking at the groggy tom.
“Fine. It would've been better if Harekit wasn't kicking me all night! He must've been dreaming about catching hares.”
“I know what you mean. Berrykit's stupid tail kept tickling my nose! I sneezed so much I thought I'd wake the whole camp!”
The two purred together, lapping up the moment. Applekit loved all of her siblings, but she and Eaglekit were closer, more alike. She figured when she became leader, Eaglekit would make a fine deputy.
“Really though, I'm so ready to get out of that crowded den,” Eaglekit spoke, sighing. “I can hardly move anymore! Once Goldenpelt has her kits, it'll be stuffed!”
“She's not due for another moon. We'll be apprentices by then, I'm sure of it!”
“We better be!” Eaglekit affirmed eagerly.
“Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath Highledge for a Clan meeting!” Icestar's voice echoed across the camp. Applekit began to make her way back to the nursery when Eaglekit stopped her.
“Aren't you curious as to what Icestar has to say?” he asked, looking at ThunderClan's leader curiously.
“We aren't old enough,” she replied, looking anxiously back at the nursery.
“So what? We'll be old enough soon. Plus, wouldn't it be amazing to see the others' faces when they find out we watched a Clan meeting?”
Applekit nodded, following Eaglekit to a grove of bushes on the outskirts of camp. She slipped in, the branches uncomfortably prickling at her pelt.
“Swiftfoot says a RiverClan patrol was spotted dangerously close to our border. With the animosity between ThunderClan and RiverClan, I have decided more patrols need to stick to that area. Swiftfoot will organize more, but I need all cats on high alert.”
The cats nodded solemnly, muttering amongst themselves. Applekit heard the outraged mew of Barkpelt shouting, “Those fishbreaths won't get away with this!”
“And also, I'd like to advise the Clan to be watchful of curious kits,” she mewed, glaring at the direction of Applekit and Eaglekit. “Curiosity is a virtue, but in the paws of kits, it can quickly become a vice.”
The two crawled out of the bush, embarrassed. Applekit heard the amused purrs of her Clanmates, fueling the humiliation.
“Let this serve as a reminder that sneaking and deceiving your Clanmates gives you no respect in the Clan,” Icestar stated coldly.
“Applekit! Eaglekit!” Petalfur rushed over to them, concern in her eyes. “Why are you all covered in dirt and branches? Oh! Come back to the nursery for a proper washing.”
Applekit huffed. Looks like Eaglekit isn't the only one getting washed today, she thought, ashamed. She turned back to Highledge to see Icestar still glaring at her and Eaglekit. She quickly looked away, silently scolding herself. How could she be so mousebrained in front of Icestar who she was trying so hard to impress? At this rate Icestar would never like her, and she would be a kit forever, stuck in the crowded nursery with Petalfur.
At least I'll have my siblings, she thought, looking at Eaglekit and the others. A warmness grew in her chest at the sight of her littermates. Yeah, at least I'll have my siblings.
It was too hot of a day to play. That was the excuse Harekit gave this time to a very energetic Eaglekit, Applekit, and Berrykit. He knew his siblings would catch onto Harekit's dislike for playing warrior, but he really didn't feel like pretending to have fun.
Harekit was fearful for his future. He knew he would make a horrible warrior. He never could get the hang of the hunting crouch the way Applekit, Berrykit, and Eaglekit did nor any of the battle moves Mudfur taught. He never understood the animosity between the Clans. Why couldn't everyone just get along?
But he pretended. He would play warrior with his siblings most of the time, even if he'd rather be sleeping. He attended all of Mudfur's lessons, knowing he would fail, so usually barely trying. He felt hopeless.
Mintkit was similar to him in not wanting to play. He remembered the way Petalfur and Mudfur worried over her when they were tiny kits, around two moons old. They thought she was just sick all of the time, and Harekit and his other siblings were even moved to the elder's den for awhile in case. But Fernsong confirmed that Mintkit was fine, just a bit lazy at worst.
“You be a smelly RiverClan warrior, and I'll be the ThunderClan warrior!” Eaglekit told Berrykit, who shook his head.
"No way! I'm Berrystar, leader of ThunderClan for sure!” he replied, crouching down, his fur bristling.
“Fine! Applekit can be the RiverClan warrior,” Eaglekit decided, turning to his sister.
“Okay, but only because I was ThunderClan last time. Berrykit has to be RiverClan next time though!” she demanded, glaring at Berrykit who shrugged.
“We'll see,” was all Berrykit said in reply.
“Harekit this would really be easier if you would come play! That way we would be able to have two pairs instead of just Berrykit and Eaglekit versus me!” Applekit called to Harekit.
“Oh, er... I don't know. My paw kind of hurts from last time...” he trailed off.
“What are you scared Applekit?” Eaglekit taunted. “You definitely can't take both me and Berrykit for sure!”
“Oh yeah? I'm as strong as Firestar! No doubt!” Applekit meowed in return, pouncing at a surprised Eaglekit.
Harekit watched the scuffle for a few heartbeats before he had to turn away. He hated it when his siblings fought. He was always worried someone would get hurt.
Suddenly Mudfur came out of nowhere, startling Harekit, and scooped up Applekit by her scruff. He playfully dropped her and put a paw on her chest, pinning her down.
“Applekit is the enemy warrior, right?” Mudfur asked, to which Berrykit and Eaglekit nodded excitedly.
“We win!” Eaglekit purred, poking Applekit with his claw.
“You wouldn't have won if I didn't show up,” Mudfur replied, letting Applekit up. “Considering there were two of you, Applekit was holding her own pretty well.”
Harekit watched Applekit gleam with satisfaction, licking her chest proudly.
“No way! We had her!” Berrykit protested, swishing his tail.
“If you say so,” Mudfur purred.
Eaglekit opened his mouth to protest when Mudfur got a panicked expression on his face. He lifted his head up and stared at the entrance to the camp.
“Go in,” he hissed at the kits, motioning to the nursery. “I smell RiverClan!”
Harekit jumped up anxiously, moving toward the nursery. However, the three other kits blocked his path.
“We want to watch!” Applekit said, standing straight up. Eaglekit nodded beside her.
“We can fight! You just saw us!”
Mudfur swept the kits behind him just as the entrance to the camp rustled to reveal five strange cats.
The air of the camp shifted in an instant from peaceful to hostile. Cats emerged from their dens, already bristling.
“Where is Icestar?” the cat at the head of the patrol asked. Looking at him, Harekit didn't think he looked all that dangerous. He was skinny, with a sleek black pelt and light brown eyes. Had his pelt been a bit more ruffled, he could've been a ThunderClan cat. Well, that and the smell.
“I can smell the fish from here! They reek!” Eaglekit commented, wrinkling his nose.
“Quiet!” Mudfur hissed, silencing Eaglekit.
“I am right here Pebbleheart,” Icestar mewed, padding up to the patrol. Swiftfoot stood beside her, glaring at the intruders.
“Your border patrols are rather unobservant. Seems like no one sensed us coming for footsteps,” a tom beside Pebbleheart mewed mockingly. Pebbleheart turned and glared at the tom before looking to Icestar once more.
“Toadstar sent us,” he explained, looking around the camp. “We need Fernsong. RiverClan cats are sick with some sort of sickness. Minnowpelt needs a certain type of herb that only Fernsong has seen.”
“Then where is Minnowpelt?” Icestar asked, scanning the patrol. “And why do you need five warriors for this?”
“To show RiverClan is as strong as ever!” the tom beside Pebbleheart exclaimed, staring down the whole camp.
“What Smokefur means is that you can never be too careful anymore,” Pebbleheart clarified. “Please, where is Fernsong? Minnowpelt isn't here because she too has the sickness.”
Icestar said nothing, staring at the patrol. She still hadn't said anything before Fernsong came rushing into the clearing, herbs in her mouth.
“So it's true,” she mewed, placing the flowers down. “Minnowpelt is sick. StarClan was right.”
“You had a dream about us?” Pebbleheart asked curiously.
“Yes. I dreamt of sick cats with aching stomachs and horrible coughs. Cats who were thirsty all of the time, a thirst that water could not quench.”
“We have quite a lot of water,” Pebbleheart commented, “and yet, so many thirsty cats.”
Icestar looked at the pile of flowers at Fernsong's feet.
“Well, if these are the herbs, please take it all. What sort of Clan would we be if we denied you help,” Icestar mewed, nodding to the patrol.
Pebbleheart bowed his head to Icestar. “RiverClan thanks you for this.”
“Now leave our territory and see to it that you don't enter ThunderClan camp under any circumstances again,” Icestar growled, narrowing her eyes. Harekit was shocked by the sudden change in his leader. It was almost instantaneous. “Swiftfoot, Snaketail, Frogleap, and Mousepaw will escort you out.”
The cats flanked the RiverClan cats, escorting them out rather forcibly.
“I would've flayed them for stepping a foot into ThunderClan territory!” Berrykit announced, puffing out his fur.
“Me too! How dare they?” Applekit agreed.
“Now, now kits,” Mudfur chided gently, “they needed our help. And StarClan told Fernsong to get the herbs.”
“Dreams straight from StarClan,” Harekit said aloud, mostly to himself. “That must be so amazing.”
“Fighting those cats off would've been better,” Eaglekit added, unsheathing his claws threateningly.
“Hey, look at Icestar!” Applekit whispered eagerly. “I think she's talking about us!”
“ThunderClan does need new warriors,” Icestar mewed to Milkpelt. “But is it really time for them?”
Milkpelt nodded, glancing at the kits. “They're about to be six moons, now wouldn't be a bad time. Cats need the pick-me-up.”
“I suppose,” Icestar mused, sighing as she leapt onto Highledge. “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath Highledge for a clan meeting!”
Harekit felt his siblings' excitement beside him, but all he felt was fear. Now he would have to show the clan his lousy warrior skills. He would let down all of his siblings, and worse...Petalfur and Mudfur. Now he had no choice but to become the lousiest apprentice in ThunderClan history!
Chapter Three Berrykit bounded up to his siblings and mother, the latter who was trying to frantically clean her kits as quickly as she could. Berrykit narrowly avoided a swoop of his mother's tongue headed straight for his head.
“It is time we name five new apprentices to ThunderClan!” Icestar announced, causing the Clan to cheer in excitement. Berrykit could hardly contain his enthusiasm, the cheering was for him!
“Applekit, until your warrior ceremony you will be known as Applepaw. I have chosen Snaketail to be your mentor. Snaketail, you are a fine warrior, and I know you will train this warrior to be her best,” Icestar mewed, motioning for mentor and apprentice to touch noses.
Applepaw's eyes shined as she basked in the moment. Berrykit couldn't wait for his turn, he was sure to be next!
“Mintkit, it is time for you to be named...” Berrykit stopped listening. He was far too excited to be named! Why couldn't he have gone first?
After Mintpaw was apprenticed to Lightstep and Eaglepaw to Swiftfoot, it was finally time for Berrykit's turn.
“Berrykit, from this point on you will be called Berrypaw. I have chosen Milkpelt to be your mentor. Milkpelt, you are a strong warrior, and I am confident in giving you your first apprentice now. I trust in your ability to pass on all you know to Berrypaw.”
Berrypaw couldn't help but feel disappointed. Milkpelt had come to the clan as a kittypet, apprenticed at an older age. He had often heard Petalfur complaining of her laziness, and some of the other apprentices talking about how Milkpelt was a lousy hunter. Eaglepaw had gotten the Clan deputy as his mentor, and Berrypaw got an ex-kittypet! That wasn't fair at all!
Still, he touched noses with the white she-cat who looked kindly at him. He felt guilty in doubting her mentoring skills, but couldn't stifle the worry that was filling his chest. Berrypaw wanted to become the best warrior in ThunderClan, not the softest!
“Harekit-” Icestar began, getting cut off as a figure burst through the camp entrance. The Clan jumped up, bristling their fur at the intrusion. Berrypaw realized that it was a rabbit! A rabbit in the camp?
The rabbit raced straight into Fernsong's den, ignoring the cats gathered by Highledge. Snaketail raced into the medicine den, emerging a heartbeat later with a rabbit in his jaws.
“A sign!” Fernsong meowed, looking up at the sky. “An apprentice for me at last!”
“What do you mean Fernsong?” Icestar asked, staring blankly at the she-cat.
“Harekit! A hare raced right into my den during his naming. It has to be a sign from StarClan! Harekit must be a medicine cat!”
Icestar seemed dubious but nodded at Fernsong.
“If you say so,” she mewed. “Well then, Harekit, you will now be known as Harepaw and will train under Fernsong as medicine cat. This is a very important honor, but I trust Fernsong to teach you well.”
Harepaw seemed to shrink under the words “important honor” but still touched noses with Fernsong who was brightly beaming. Berrypaw wasn't sure how to feel about his brother's position. On one paw, Harepaw had never seemed keen to join in their warrior games, but on the other, now Harepaw would never know the life of a warrior. Berrypaw couldn't imagine just sifting through herbs all day...How boring!
The Clan meowed their names loudly, some still obviously shocked from the rabbit incident. Five new apprentices was already an oddity, but the addition of such an obvious sign from StarClan was even rarer.
“Berrypaw!” Applepaw called, racing over to him after the ceremony. “Snaketail and Swiftfoot are taking me and Eaglepaw to explore the territory! You should come too!”
Berrypaw nodded eagerly and turned to Milkpelt who gently shook her head.
“Today Berrypaw and I will be tending to the elders, but thank you for the invitation,” Milkpelt mewed. Berrypaw looked at his mentor in disbelief, but she ignored him.
“Oh, okay,” Applepaw replied, a little off-guard. “Well er... Have fun?”
Berrypaw looked sourly at her as she ran off. Tending to the elders? Couldn't Mousepaw or Bluepaw do that? He wanted to explore the territory too!
“Mintpaw and Lightstep will be joining us,” Milkpelt told him as they walked to the elder's den. Great, Mintpaw! The softest of his siblings! Maybe after they'd tell kit-stories to each other until bed!
“Hello Berrypaw,” Mintpaw mewed, walking beside him. “Isn't this exciting? We're apprentices now! It feels like only sunrises ago we opened our eyes!”
“Yeah. It feels great,” Berrypaw replied sarcastically, but Mintpaw seemed to miss the sarcasm.
“I can't believe what happened to Harepaw! I always knew he was special, I swear! Remember when I scratched my paw and he pressed on it to make it stop bleeding? It's like he knew!”
“Yeah it's amazing,” Berrypaw agreed numbly. Why was every cat except him and his mentor so amazing?
“Oh and I'm so excited to help the elders today! They're are so cool! Featherpelt and Barkpelt have been in so many battles! The stories they tell are amazing!”
Well, Berrypaw thought to himself, maybe this won't be so bad! Listening to warrior stories is way better than just sitting around cleaning moss!
But as they padded into the elder's den and both elders were snoring loudly smelling a lot like old crowfood, Berrypaw returned to his previous cynicism. Maybe being an apprentice wasn't so great.
No! Being an apprentice is great! Berrypaw corrected himself silently. Being Milkpelt's apprentice is what wasn't so great.
And as he picked burrs from old moss, awhile later he heard a very excited Applepaw and Eaglepaw bound into camp, discussing their venture outside of camp. The sour feeling returned to Berrypaw's chest, where it remained until he fell asleep in his nest that night, curled up between a snoring Eaglepaw and a twitchy Mintpaw. |
|
