Rainbow
Pandean
Ferncloud Deserves Better
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Post by Pandean on Aug 13, 2016 22:39:22 GMT -5
So this is posted on Fanfiction too but I thought I'd post it here as well.
The Summary: WindClan has never been the focus of any prophecies and the aftershocks of the Great Battle and Storm still rock the Clan. When WindClan's deputy, Harespring, is found dead and curled around a young kit, traitors will be exposed and dark secrets will be revealed. Who is Flightkit, exactly, and why was WindClan's loyal deputy found dead by her side that fateful night?
I'll post the prologue and first two or so chapters and if anyone wants more, let me know, and I'll continue with what I have. Cool?
I'll put post/page numbers on wherever the chapters are, too.
Redemption:
Prologue: Main Thread Original Post
Chapter 1: Page 1
Chapter 2: Page 1
Chapter 3: Not Posted/On Fanfiction
Chapter 4: Not Posted/On Fanfiction
Chapter 5: Not Posted/On Fanfiction
Chapter 6: Not Posted/On Fanfiction
Chapter 7: Not Posted/In Progress
Prologue
The moonlight filtered through the trees on the island, guiding the way for the cats trekking home from the Gathering. For once, no threats or arguments broke up the night and no clouds covered the sky. StarClan's peace had been held, though Onestar himself was still smarting over the fact that ThunderClan was involved in a new prophecy. ShadowClan too, now that they'd claimed the other kit.
He supposed it wasn't something that could be helped. ThunderClan was the apple of StarClan's eye and it looked to him like they'd stay that way. Perhaps it was his Clan's destiny to go unnoticed, undetected-they were more invisible than the ShadowClan warriors that stalked in the night when it came to their ancestors.
Onestar lifted his tail, signaling for his cats to climb across the Tree-Bridge. His Clan was strong, even if it wasn't in the spotlight. Back in camp, his daughter was nursing her newborn kits, his deputy was keeping watch vigilantly in case of a nighttime raid. He had that to be grateful for, at least. Even if he thought his reign was marked with bad luck ever since Mudclaw's failed coup, he couldn't deny that WindClan were doing quite well lately.
He hopped up on the Tree-Bridge, purring with amusement as he saw Breezepelt kneading the worn bark with his paws as he slowly made his way across. "Eager to get back to camp?" he called.
Breezepelt almost fell off the log, eliciting purrs from the other WindClan cats. The smoky black cat lashed his tail and hissed, but for once his barbed tongue was quiet. Onestar had noticed a slight change in him ever since his mate-Onestar's daughter-had kits. He feared at first for Smokekit and Brindlekit-their father was a willing accomplice to the Dark Forest and though Onestar had kept him close instead of exiled him like many of his council argued, he always kept one eye on the dark tom. He would he know what type of father he'd be? Of course, Onestar couldn't exactly blame him. The disaster that was Crowfeather and Nightcloud's relationship wouldn't exactly make for a well-adjusted cat. Everyone in WindClan could see through Crowfeather and Nightcloud's relationship-it was obvious every time some cat caught Crowfeather staring across the border and whenever Nightcloud cast a sad glance toward the nursery.
The WindClan cats crowded at the end of the log, their fur fluffed up in the cool leaf-fall air. The anticipation between them was almost tangible-waiting until everyone was finally off so they could run as fast as the wind itself until they were back home. Onestar yowled his go-ahead and the Clan raced forward, their pelts blurring in the night.
At camp Kestrelflight was giving Heathertail another dose of borage. Her milk was coming as well as it could for her newly born kits, but the crisp leaf-fall air would slowly turn into frigid leaf-bare and he'd seen himself how the fresh-kill pile dwindled into nothing once the rabbits went below ground. Heathertail would need all the milk she could make for her kits then.
The she-cat winced at the taste. "I don't think I'll ever get used to that," she said.
Whitetail, an elder and the young queen's mother, purred. "I said the same when I had you! It's worth the taste though."
Heathertail gazed at her two kits with eyes full of love. "Anything for these little ones." Smokekit wandered a bit from her mother's belly and Heathertail gently guided the she-kit back with her tail. "She's going to be a stubborn little thing, like her father."
Kestrelflight's gaze darkened. He hoped to StarClan neither of the kits took after their father. He'd been vocal about his opinion about Breezepelt. A cat who willingly fought for the Dark Forest could never properly be with his Clan again. But by the time it came to a vote, Heathertail was already pregnant with the tom's kits and the majority of the senior warriors thought it'd be too cruel for them to grow up without a father. It'd most likely be the opposite. He thought.
"Both are fine kits," he said. That at least was true.
A caterwaul made the medicine cat run outside. "Kestrelflight!" The yowl of his leader had the medicine cat's spotted hackles raise. StarClan, please let it be okay! He raced out of the nursery as the party from the Gathering crowded in the small clearing and the sleeping cats woke up and padded out to find them.
A anguished cry went out from one of the she-cats. The WindClan deputy, Harespring, lay dead in the hollow. His brown-and-white fur covered in blood. Onestar stood with his head bowed. "We found him by the border with RiverClan, already dead."
Cries of outrage filled the night air. "They dare kill our deputy on the night of the truce?" Nightcloud yowled. "We should attack at once!"
Other cats meowed in agreement. "Make them pay!"
"Fox-hearts!
"Fish-faced, crowfood eaters!"
Kestrelflight padded up to Harespring's steadily cooling body. There was no smell he recognized on it-not a fox or badger or RiverClan's fishy stink. He screwed his eyes in concentration...something was there...but could it be?
Onestar raised his voice. "We have no cause to believe RiverClan killed Harespring." He raised his tail to stop the arguments springing up from the crowd of hissing cats. "But suffice to say, as soon as we have the evidence we need, Harespring will be avenged!"
"He was killed on the RiverClan border!" Crowfeather yowled. "Who else could it be?"
"Those fish-faces can't let us have a moon of peace! I told you they crossed the scent line the other day!" Breezepelt's claws made furrows in the dirt.
Crowfeather cuffed his son over the ear. "That was an apprentice, moron!"
Breezepelt turned toward his father, fur on end, spitting with fury. "You just blamed RiverClan yourself, hypocrite!"
"Do something," Kestrelflight whispered to Sedgewhisker, who stood beside him. The she-cat thrust herself in between the bickering toms.
"Be quiet and listen to what your leader says!" she hissed.
Onestar, used to Crowfeather and Breezepelt by now, felt a swell of appreciation for the she-cat. "There are other matters about Harespring's death that we must discuss."
The cats who stayed in the camp eyed each-other uneasily as Gorsetail stepped forward, a small kit swinging between her jaws. It couldn't have been more than a quarter-moon old. She placed the kit next to Harespring, where it proceeded to press itself against the dead deputy's belly, wailing.
"The kit was found with Harespring. He was curled around her when we found him. It seemed...like he was protecting her." Onestar said.
Emberfoot, a newer warrior, stepped up to the kit, poking it with a dark paw. The she-kit mewled weakly and pressed itself closer to Harespring. "She looks a little like him," he mused. "They're the same shade of brown, though only her tail-tip is white."
"You dare accuse our deputy of being in a forbidden relationship?" Nightcloud hissed.
Emberfoot twitched his ear at the furious she-cat. "Well, it's not like it's a new thing. We all know about Crowfeather's kits."
Crowfeather thrust his way into the center of squabbling cats. "I am loyal!"
"Everyone!" Onestar jumped up on the Tallrock, yowling for his clanmates to be quiet. "The wind carries our voices. If an enemy has murdered Harespring, they can not hear us arguing and causing chaos amongst ourselves! Whatever secrets Harespring left have died with him. All we can do is carry on and hope justice will be served."
Heathertail padded from the nursery, blinking sleepily. "What about the kit?" she said. "She'll die without any milk. I have plenty, I could take her."
"Heathertail-" Breezepelt started but the queen slapped her tail across his mouth.
"Don't be stupid, Breezepelt. She's done nothing. Wherever she's from, no kit should feel unwanted." Heathertail padded up to where Harespring and the kit lay. The she-kit quivered in fright as Heathertail gave it a few, warming licks. "There now, shhh. It'll be okay." The queen gazed at Onestar. "I offer to take in this kit. She was with Harespring for a reason-he might've even died for her. Kin or not, I will honor that."
Onestar nodded, pride in his gaze. His daughter was growing into a formidable young cat. "Of course, Heathertail."
Whitetail came next to her daughter and helped her lick the dried blood off the kit's fur until it shone golden-brown. "She does look a lot like Harespring," she murmured. "Ears especially."
"Harespring always hated his large ears," Heathertail purred. "He was worried he'd be named Hare-ear!"
The cats of WindClan let the two she-cats through to the nursery, where Heathertail placed the young kit beside her own daughters. The kit pressed against the queen's belly and began to suckle.
Before the WindClan cats dispersed, Onestar had a final announcement. "It pains me to do this so soon, but the moon is waning. I say this before StarClan, so the spirits of Harespring may hear and approve my choice. The new deputy will be Sedgewhisker!"
Sedgewhisker bowed her head. "I am honored and I accept. Thank you. I promise to make Harespring's spirit proud."
The WindClan cats began to disperse, mewing to each other about the way the night had turned. The few cats closest to Harespring pressed their nose against the deputy, sharing tongues for the last time. Before he could join them, Onestar looked into the nursery where his daughter had settled with her kits. "She needs a name," he said. He couldn't help but think if this kit was Harespring's. Her fur was a similar shade of brown and her larger-than-normal ears were almost identical to the former deputy. He did remember the young Harepaw begging him before his warrior ceremony to name him anything-anything-besides Hare-ear. But she was skinny-even for WindClan and long-limbed for such a little kit. He thought he knew his deputy well enough to know if something was going on. Surely, he'd know if Harespring had been with a she-cat. There were obvious signs! It wasn't like he stole away during the night like Crowfeather used to-like his daughter had admitted one tearful night after the battle with ThunderClan and the cat who stole the sun. He shook his head. StarClan help us through this. Let us figure this out, please. Harespring, wherever you are, answer our pleas. He was suddenly wondering if this was how ThunderClan felt all the time, with all their prophecies and drama.
"I've named her Flightkit," Heathertail said. "Clanborn or not, she'll have the speed of the wind in her name."
Onestar nodded and went out to join his vigil.
Kestrelflight stared at the stars, a little ways away from the vigil. Was it his imagination, or was one of the stars a deep red color? A bad feeling grew in his belly, churning it like an old, tough mouse. Voices blew on the wind, all nameless. This is only the beginning.
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Rainbow
Pandean
Ferncloud Deserves Better
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Post by Pandean on Aug 13, 2016 22:39:42 GMT -5
An: This is the first chapter of Redemption! Please let me know how I'm doing and thanks to everyone who has read/faved/etc. so far! This is my first Warriors' Fic and I'm really excited to write it.
Allegiances:
WINDCLAN
Leader:
Onestar—brown tabby tom
Deputy:Sedgewhisker—light brown tabby she-cat
Medicine Cat(s):
Kestrelflight—mottled gray tom with white splotches like kestrel feathers
Warriors:
Nightcloud—black she-cat
Gorsetail—very pale gray-and-white she-cat with blue eyes
Crowfeather—dark gray tom
Apprentice, Fernpaw (dark brown she-cat)
Leaftail—dark tabby tom, amber eyes
Emberfoot—gray tom with two dark paws
Breezepelt—black tom with amber eyes
Furzepelt—gray-and-white she-cat
Larkwing—pale brown tabby she-cat
Slightfoot—black tom with white flash on his chest
Oatclaw—pale brown tabby tom
Featherpelt—gray tabby she-cat
Hootwhisker—dark gray tom
Queens:
Heathertail—light brown tabby she-cat with blue eyes (mother to Smokekit, a gray she-kit, and Brindlekit, a mottled brown she-kit, foster mother to Flightkit, a golden brown she-kit with a white-tipped tail, long legs, large ears, and amber eyes)
Elders:
Whitetail—small white she-cat
Flightkit couldn't sleep. Her sisters were beside her and her mother was snoring gently. Featherpelt, who'd joined the nursery a moon ago was mewing in her sleep. Something about Hootwhisker, she heard. Flightkit heard a lot of things-she heard the warriors snoring in their dens, Onestar talking quietly to his deputy in the hollow. At times she wanted to cover her ears and burry her head in the dirt. Everything was so loud.
Heathertail said it would make her a good hunter when she was an apprentice, but she wasn't. She was just a kit-a kit who was finding it very hard to sleep with all the noise. She knew she wasn't allowed out of the nursery at night, but the other warriors sometimes slept outside under Silverpelt. WindClan were special like that-they were the closest to their ancestors and were brave enough to sleep with them under the stars. Of course, this would make it hard to sneak out without accidentally treading on one of them. The last time Flightkit had gone out of the nursery by herself, she'd stepped on Crowfeather's tail and earned a furious hiss from him. After that she'd avoided the grumpy warrior whenever she could. No wonder Breezepelt couldn't stand him. Though, Breezepelt couldn't really stand a lot of cats. Not even his own kits, it seemed, since when they tried to play with him he always made an excuse. But he did give them presents every once in a while, so maybe he wasn't that bad.
Carefully, Flightkit picked her way across the den, trying not to step on her sisters or Featherpelt's long, gray fur. Outside, the night was chilly, but the first snows of leaf-bare were far off. She'd heard Featherpelt fretting about it to Heathertail once when they thought she and her sisters were asleep.
"I'm such a mouse-brain," Featherpelt had said. "Kits and Leaf-Bare isn't far off! How could I be so stupid."
Heatherpelt had stroked the queen's back with her tail and said. "If anyone's stupid, it's Hootwhisker for pressuring you. But don't worry, kits have been born in Leaf-Bare many a time before. And we have a while yet."
Flightkit didn't know how a cat could be pressured into having kits but she made it a point to find the softest piece of wool on the moor when her mother took the three of them out for a walk and give it to Featherpelt for her nest. Seeing the she-cat's expression had been worth the night of sneezing though she was sure Smokekit and Brindlekit felt differently.
She opened her mouth, scenting the night air. Besides the sleeping WindClan cats, the air tasted of rabbit and the bushy moorland grass. Before her, Onestar and Sedgewhisker had their heads bowed deep in discussion. Flightkit tasted the air again, trying to make sure she was upwind of them. Sedgewhisker had a nose like a rabbit and could smell anything.
The little kit crept forward and winced when she stepped on a twig. Onestar and Sedgewhisker whipped around, eyes on her.
"Flightkit!" Onestar said in surprise. "What are you doing?"
Flightkit couldn't bear her leader's stare and dropped her gaze to the ground. "I couldn't sleep. Heathertail snores and Featherpelt talks in her sleep."
Onestar's whiskers twitched in amusement, but his gaze stayed hard. "You know you're not supposed to leave camp without your mother or a warrior."
Flightkit pinned her ears back. "I wasn't going to leave camp. Just find a quieter place." She yawned. "I'm so-so sleepy."
Sedgewhisker murrow'd with laughter. "You look like you're going to collapse any minute. Try going back to your den, Flightkit."
"Am I in trouble?" the she-kit asked.
"Not as much as you would've been if Heathertail woke up to find you gone!" Onestar exclaimed.
Tail drooping, Flightkit went back to the nursery and curled up beside her sisters. Paws over her ears, she closed her eyes and tried to sleep.
Morning light streamed into the nursery when Flightkit woke up. It's sunhigh already! She thought. Smokekit and Brindlekit were nowhere to be found. Probably playing already!
"Good morning, Flightkit," Heathertail's voice made the young kit freeze.
"Good-good morning, Heathertail." Does she know I tried to sneak out last night? The she-kit fretted, tail-tip twitching.
"You must've been tired. Onestar told me about your little escapade."
Flightkit bowed her head. "I'm sorry. Am I going to be in trouble?"
"You know the rules," Heathertail chided.
"Well, technically I didn't leave camp."
Heathertail looked unamused. "That's not the point Flightkit. You could've been hurt."
"By what? A rabbit? Very scary," the she-kit said, sarcasm dripping from her voice.
"What if you wandered by the Horseplace and the dog got you-or the horses!" Heathertail retorted. "I swear, I don't know where you got this recklessness from."
Featherpelt whose tail covered her nose, mumbled. "Reckless disrespect for the code? Must've been a rogue. I swear, Harespring-"
Heathertail growled. "Do me a favor, Feathertail, close your mouth. If someone is going to scold my kit, it'll be me."
Flightkit cocked her head to the side. What must've been a rogue? She knew what they were-in concept, she'd never met one of course-but the rest of it didn't make sense. And Harespring? All she knew was he was the deputy before Sedgewhisker. "What about a rogue?" she asked.
"It's nothing, Flightkit. How about you go to the elder's den and help Whitetail with her ticks? I think that's punishment enough."
Flightkit wrinkled her nose. Ticks? Yuck! But at least it was Whitetail. WindClan had only one elder and she was nice. Not grumpy like the other clans' must've been. She could only imagine what would happen if she'd been sent to take care of ThunderClan's elders! They had so many cats, half of them had to be elders. At least, that's what Breezepelt said once after a Gathering.
Sighing, she padded out into the bright sunlight. She fluffed up her thin pelt, it wasn't as warm as it'd been a few days ago and the grass was brownish now instead of green. Near the edge of the hollow, by the gorse walls, Smokekit and Brindlekit were playing moss-ball. She mewed a greeting to her sisters that had them both up and running.
"Flightkit!" Smokekit danced around her. "I heard you tried to sneak out and got into trouble! Why didn't you wake us! We could've all gone together?"
"What, and then we'd also get in trouble?" Brindlekit retorted. "I don't want them delaying our ceremonies!"
Flightkit snorted. "You're such a worrywart, Brindlekit."
Brindlekit cuffed her sister over the ear gently. "Well, you don't worry enough."
"Brindlekit's just worried Kestrelflight won't let her be his apprentice if she gets into too much trouble!" Smokekit exclaimed.
"Well it's true! Who'd want a medicine cat who always breaks the rules?"
"A medicine cat?" Flightkit gasped. "Gross! You want to take care of sneezy cats and fuss around with herbs all day? Do you want to check Whitetail for ticks instead of me?"
Brindlekit flicked the tip of her tail. "That's your punishment. When I do it, it'll be an actual job. And it's not all just herbs! There's StarClan and saving lives and being connected to your ancestors!"
"But you could never take a mate!" Smokekit argued.
"Not every cat wants a mate! Some have other ambitions."
"I'd like to be leader, one day," Flightkit mused.
Smokekit purred. "What, you? You'd need stop being so mouse-brained first! You'd be the first clan leader to declare war on the horses."
Flightkit sniffed. "Well, how hard would it be? They let twolegs on their backs."
"There's like a million fox-lengths bigger than us!"
A yowl came from the nursery and Flightkit's eyes widened. "I gotta go! Whitetail's ticks won't do themselves...unless...?" she shot a hopeful glance at Brindlekit.
Brindlekit giggled. "See you later, Flightkit."
Flightkit sighed dramatically but went off to find Kestrelflight. Was Brindlekit serious? She wanted to be a medicine cat? That would make them so far apart from each other! Smokekit and her would be training to be warriors and Brindlekit would be all alone. Or, well, she'd have Kestrelflight. But that wasn't the same as her having her sisters!
"Kestrelflight?" she poked her head in his den. "I need mouse bile for Whitetail's ticks."
Kestrelflight was busy sorting herbs. "Hmm, her ticks you say? Give me a moment."
Flightkit padded into the medicine den to wait, happy to get out of the chilly air for the moment. A array of herbs were laid on the floor of the medicine den. They all looked the same to her, but she could recognize the smell of borage. Heathertail used to eat it when she and her sisters needed milk more often. She sat as far away from the pile as she could as to not disturb it, waiting for the medicine cat.
Kestrelflight came back with a bit of moss hanging of a twig. "Try not to get it on your paws," he warned. "Or in your mouth. It'll taste nasty for days."
The she-kit nodded and gingerly took the twig. Bracing herself to go back into the cold, clear air, she started toward where Whitetail lay. How the old queen could lay outside and doze in the chilly air still amazed Flightkit, who much preferred the warmth of the nursery, even if it was loud, but maybe all WindClan cats were that tough once they became warriors.
Whitetail opened one eye as Flightkit approached her. "Hello, Flightkit." she meowed. "I heard about your little adventure last night. Here to do my ticks?"
The she-kit nodded.
"Well, I have a pretty big one on my shoulder. You can start with that."
Flightkit nodded again and got to work.
From across the clearing, Onestar sat with his tail wrapped around his legs. The chill in the air meant Leaf-Bare was coming soon and he wanted to make sure the cats of his clan were well fed and protected when the time came. Kestrelflight was already going to collect herbs, especially precious catmint, every day until he had a sufficient stock, and the warriors were hunting to make sure they had some prey in a cache before the snows scared the rabbits to ground. He watched Heathertail's two kits play moss-ball. Smokekit was a natural pouncer while Brindlekit carefully thought out every move before she struck. Flightkit was helping Whitetail with her ticks-a small punishment for trying to leave camp. He sighed, there was something so restless about the she-kit. Every time Heathertail brought them out of the nursery and showed them different spots on the moor the young kit would race out ahead of them, then dart back, until they had caught up to her. This wasn't the first time she'd come outside at night and looked at the stars, though she thankfully tried to sneak out of camp less. Once he'd found her curled up right on the spot where Harespring was buried.
The deputy's death had been three moons ago, yet Kestrelflight couldn't locate the tom in StarClan. Onestar refused to believe he was in the Dark Forest-his deputy was loyal until the end. But then again, where else could he have been? It gnawed at his insides the way hunger would. His cats wanted whoever killed Harespring to pay. They wanted answers to why he'd been found curled around Flightkit. They were getting restless too and Onestar had no way of giving them what they wanted. He'd dreamed at the moonpool twice and there'd been nothing. Kestrelflight looked himself, but he'd found nothing too. Something was wrong and Onestar felt it in his gut. He just wished he knew what it was.
The medicine cat padded up to him. "You look worried."
"I'm just remember what you told me when we found Flightkit?"
"The star?" Kestrelflight asked. "I wish I could be more helpful. StarClan has been silent. It's almost as if even they don't know where Harespring is." He looked up to the sky. Even during sunhigh the bloody star was dark in the sky. "I wish I knew what it meant."
"It's not your fault," Onestar said. "No one expects you to know everything. If StarClan has been silent, it's not anything you can change."
"I have a bad feeling, though." Kestrelflight said. "That star, it means something bad will happen. It's not a coincidence that it appeared on the night of Harespring's murder. I fear for what it could mean for us, for Flightkit."
"She still doesn't know she's not Heathertail and Breezepelt's kit."
"Heathertail told me that Featherpelt had made a comment about it. Saying her mother must've been a rogue."
"In Flightkit's earshot?"
"Where isn't Flightkit's earshot," Kestrelflight deadpanned. The little kit had incredible hearing. He supposed it was the large ears. "But yes. She didn't seem to notice any of it though."
"We'll need to tell her soon. The Clan knows and when she goes to her first Gathering, it'll be obvious. When I announced Heathertail's kits, I mentioned only two. Flightkit can't be the last to know. We've seen how that plays out."
Kestrelflight was brought back to the disastrous death of Ashfur and the reveal a broken Hollyleaf spoke of at a Gathering long ago. It shocked the Clans to the core when they found out who Squirrelflight's kits really were, but he suspected their reactions were nothing compared to the black she-cat's. "We are not ThunderClan." he said.
"She needs to know." Onestar said, this time with more force behind his voice.
"I know. I just wish we had more answers."
Onestar sighed. "We'll get them soon. I have to believe that. Have faith in StarClan." Kestrelflight nodded, Onestar's words reaching him. Onestar wished he could have as much faith in their ancestors as his medicine cat did. So many cats died in the Great Battle and then again in the flood. Even now, with the prophecy of shadows, WindClan seemed to be the least involved when it concerned StarClan. Were their ancestors even watching over them still? If they were, why couldn't they find Harespring? His patience was wearing thin.
Alone on a cold moor, a white and brown tomcat struggled through the snow. "Hello?" he called. "Is anyone there?" He'd been on the moor forever or at least it felt like it. Where was his ancestors, where was StarClan? All there was was the cold, grey moor with brown stalks blowing in the wind. "Hello?" he called again. "Anyone?"
But his voice was lost in the wind.
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Rainbow
Pandean
Ferncloud Deserves Better
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Post by Pandean on Aug 13, 2016 22:40:03 GMT -5
The three moons before Heathertail's kits were apprenticed went by faster than Onestar could believe. It was if one moment he was seeing them suckle with their mother, venturing out of their warm nursery with tentative mews and in the next the three of them were romping in the light dusting of snow that covered the hollow. He sighed as Flightkit sprang up and bowled over her sisters, though it was two-on-one, Flightkit's muscular back legs were giving her the advantage-until she reared up with too much speed and toppled over on her back, yowling.
Heathertail raced from her spot beside the nursery, furiously licking her kit.
"I'm alright, I'm alright." Flightkit shook the worried queen off. "Stupid rock. I couldn't see it under the snow."
"Too bad you can't hear rocks," Brindlekit commented.
"Hear rocks?" Flightkit's ear twitched and she ran a paw over it self-consciously. Onestar winced; he'd seen Harespring do the same thing many a time. He still had yet to tell Flightkit her origins. They would be apprentices today; he couldn't afford to wait. Yet something held him back, like the ghost of a cat was blocking his way, stepping on his throat whenever he managed to be alone with the young kit.
And Kestrelflight still had no signs from StarClan. The young medicine cat wasn't as spirited as usual. His fur was dull and ungroomed, his eyes went straight to the ground, his tail made a line in the snow. Onestar worried, but there was nothing he could do if Kestrelflight did not want to tell him.
With a sigh, he sprang up to the HighRock, shuffling a bit before he managed to gain hold on the snow-covered boulder. Stunned, he whipped his head around but no one had seen him stumble. I'm getting old. He thought. I was a warrior when Firestar was just a 'paw. Onestar shook himself. Mistystar was still going strong and she was older than him. So what if he only had four lives left? He couldn't possibly lose them all in one go to old age, could he? The only time he remembered that happened was the first death of Tigerstar, long ago.
"Let all cats old enough to run with the wind gather around the HighRock to hear my words!" he yowled with no trace of doubt.
Flightkit perked up from where she was tumbling with her sisters in the light snowfall. She'd never seen snow before and even though Kestrelflight said it could be dangerous, all she found was fun. She loved to spring up high and then land in a big pile, spraying snow at anyone in the area. Maybe that could be a battle move! But Onestar was calling now-they were going to be apprenticed!
Heathertail looked at her dirty kits with widened eyes and quickly started to groom their fur. "You can't go out looking like a mess, can you?" She said as Brindlekit tried to pull away.
"Heathertail," the mottled brown kit complained.
"Listen to your mother," Breezepelt started grooming Smokekit with quick, brisk strokes of his tongue. "All three of you should look your best. I see you slinking off, Flightkit!"
Flightkit stopped in her tracks. She thought she'd been rather stealthy but Breezepelt seemed to have eyes on the back of his head. She groaned as he finished with Smokekit and made a quick job of her. She knew better than to pull away. Her mother once told her of how their father was treated as a kit and how it took him having his own kits to heal inside. Flightkit might've been annoyed but she wanted Breezepelt to be happy. She saw how Crowfeather treated him-them-even now. She was convinced her grandfather did not like her, nor did her grandmother. Why, she did not know.
"Okay, okay, I'm done! We're going to miss Fernpaw's ceremony!" Flightkit twisted away from Breezepelt and dashed off into the clearing along with her sisters.
Breezepelt made a face. "Kits. Always in a hurry."
Heathertail twined her tail with his. "We were like that too, once."
"A long time ago," he replied. "How are Featherpelt's kits doing?"
Heathertail looked back into the nursery, worry in her gaze. She'd seen the queen grow thin and depressed despite four healthy kits. She supposed it was like that; Featherpelt had confided in her how she wanted to wait a bit longer, but gave into Hootwhisker's pressure one night. The tomcat was ready for a family, but it was Featherpelt who was bearing the brunt of the work. "Rabbitkit, Morningkit, Redkit, and Duskkit are fine, I'm more worried about Featherpelt."
Breezepelt nodded. "Well, we have a ceremony to watch."
"Yes we do."
Meanwhile, Flightkit and her sisters crowded around near the edge of the circle, waiting on paw's ends for Fernpaw's ceremony and their own to begin. Brindlekit stared at Kestrelflight with hopeful eyes while Smokekit quivered in excitement. Flightkit did what she did best-listen.
"Today I am able to do not one but two of my favorite ceremonies for the Clan." Onestar said. "Fernpaw, please step forward."
The gray she-cat stepped forward, looking like a shadow next to her dark furred mentor.
"Crowfeather, do you believe Fernpaw is ready to become a warrior?"
"Yes, Onestar." Crowfeather nodded. "She has trained well."
"Fernpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and pledge loyalty to your clan, even at the cost of your life?"
Fernpaw nodded solemnly. "I do."
"Then by the powers vested in me by StarClan, Fernpaw, you shall be known as Fernshadow. The Clan honors your compassion and your dedication and welcomes you as a full member of WindClan."
"Fernshadow! Fernshadow! Fernshadow!"
Flightkit watched as Fernshadow stepped forward and licked her leader's shoulder. One day, that'll be me. She wasn't sure if she was referring to the newly-made warrior or the older leader, she just knew one day, that would be her. It had to be.
Onestar leapt back up onto the HighRock. "And now, Heathertail's kits have come of age. The three of them have learned the ways of WindClan from the wisdom of our queens and elders and now will step forward to take their own place."
Murmurs broke out into the crowd but before Flightkit could get a sense of what they were saying, Onestar called for silence.
Kestrelflight stood up from where he sat beside the HighRock and came to the front of the circle. "As you all know, I won't be around forever. Luckily I found a wonderful cat to take my place when I'm old and gray. Brindlekit will be your next medicine cat!"
Smokekit and Flightkit shoved their sister good-naturedly. "See," Smokekit whispered, "I told you not to worry."
"Brindlekit, step forward." Onestar said and waited as the small brown she-kit stepped into the center of the circle. there was a slight tremble in her legs. Onestar recalled his own apprentice ceremony and the nerves that went with it. He imaged it must've been double for a medicine cat apprentice. "Are you ready to enter the mysteries of StarClan and take your place as a medicine cat?"
"I am." For all her shaking, Brindlekit's voice was clear and strong.
"Then at the next half moon you shall go to the Moonpool to be accepted by StarClan. Kestrelflight, Barkface taught you well. Teach everything you know to young Brindlepaw."
The two cats went to touch noses and then returned to where Kestrelflight had stood.
"Smokekit, step forward." Flightkit's ear twitched in agitation. She was going to be last! What if she got a bad mentor? There weren't as many warriors in the Clan anymore, not after the Great Battle. "Sedgewhisker, you were mentored well by Whitetail. Pass on what you know to Smokepaw."
Flightkit couldn't believe her ears-now she was really jealous of Smokepaw. She got the deputy as her mentor. Still, she watched as the two cats touched noses and felt pride for her sister hiding amongst the jealousy. I don't need to train with the deputy to be the best warrior. I can do it with any cat.
"Flightkit, please step forward." Finally! Flightkit sprang forward in a mighty pounce, spraying the snowdrift on a few cats too near to get away in time. A few shocked mrrows came from the crowd and Breezepelt's careful grooming came undone, but Flightkit didn't notice.
Onestar sighed. Her mentor would have a pawful with her. He just hoped he chose correctly. "Emberfoot, you were a wonderful mentor to Sunstrike, who now rests in StarClan. I hope you can teach Flightpaw just as well."
Emberfoot bowed his head. "I will do everything in my power to make her a warrior WindClan can be proud of."
Flightpaw heard a sharp hiss come from Nightcloud but she didn't pay it any mind. Nightcloud always acted like someone put crowfood in her freshkill. She bounded up to her new mentor and touched noses.
Fur standing on end with excitement, Flightpaw bounced around her new mentor. "What are we going to do first? Hunt? Fight? Gather moss?" she rather hoped it was the first two. As much as she loved Whitetail, she'd spent quite a bit of her kithood cleaning out her den.
"We're going to travel the territory," Emberfoot said. "Sedgewhisker and Smokepaw will come with us. That way we can have a patrol."
Breezepelt stepped forward. "I'd like to join, if that's okay."
Emberfoot purred. "Not ready to let your daughters leave the nursery just yet, Breezepelt?"
Flightpaw groaned but Breezepelt had that determined set in his amber eyes that made her believe that he would not take no for an answer. So without any other words, the five of them set off at a slow trot.
Despite her longer-than-average legs, Flightpaw found it hard to keep up with the warriors as they went at a brisk pace through the snow. Outside the camp the snow was almost up to her belly; behind her Smokepaw was leaping over and over just to keep her head above. "Is it always going to be this cold?" she shivered.
"No," Sedgewhisker purred. "In Leaf-Bare it gets this cold but once Green-Leaf comes you'll completely forget that it was ever anything but warm. You kits are lucky, apprenticed in late leaf-bare. You'll have all of new-leaf and green-leaf to hone your skills."
The group of them stopped as the ground became less solid under their feet. From close before them, Flightpaw thought she heard the sound of thunder, only to see a horse racing across the field with a twoleg on it's back. It didn't look like it was having much fun, but it wasn't knocking the twoleg off like a smart cat would do. WindClan could definitely take them on in a fight. Probably.
"This is the Horseplace," Emberfoot said. "The marshes beyond are the border with RiverClan. They use the marshes to hunt."
"For what?" Smokepaw asked, wrinkling her nose. "I can't smell any rabbits."
"All I smell is RiverClan," Flightpaw shook her head as she tried to get rid of the nasty scent in her nostrils. It was thick and fishy, pungent enough that she could almost taste it herself."
"Frogs, toads, the small fish that live in the marshes." Sedgewhisker responded. "Their main prey is fish, but they will also eat land prey if they need to."
"They can keep the frogs," Flightpaw cringed. How awful would it be to eat frogs and fish? She much preferred the warm taste of rabbit.
Emberfoot flicked his tail. "Just so, come. We've still got a long way to go."
All went fine for a while. The new apprentices traveled through the territory and even watched as Breezepelt quickly caught a rabbit with Sedgewhisker. Flightpaw had never seen teamwork used to catch prey before, but her mentor promised they would learn soon enough. She was proud of her father-he was so fast! Almost as fast as her! Both of them had the wind in their names.
But as the group approached the ThunderClan border, they slowed and Flightpaw smelled a new scent. Not just the muskiness of the ThunderClan scent markers or the sharp sweetness of the stream, but something unrecognizable that came off as hostile.
"This is the Moonpool stream," Emberfoot said, "We share the border here with ThunderClan."
"This is where Brindlepaw will go next half-moon, right?" Smokepaw asked.
"Very good, Smokepaw!" Sedgewhisker praised. "Yes, they'll go up the stream until they reach the Moonpool."
"Will ThunderClan let them?" Flightpaw asked.
"Medicine cats follow different rules than ours," Breezepelt said. His eyes seemed far, far away. "Your sister chose a harder path, but she also gains much from it."
Smokepaw and Flightpaw purred at the thought of their sister, a mighty medicine cat saving the lives of their Clanmates. Perhaps one day, Flightpaw would be leader, Smokepaw would be deputy, and Brindlepaw would be the medicine cat. The thought struck Flightpaw and she purred harder. Yes, they would be an unbeatable team of sisters.
She didn't notice Breezepelt and Emberfoot's hackles raise or the small growl coming from Sedgewhisker's throat. But by then it was too late to do anything and the two apprentices stood in stunned silence as a ThunderClan patrol came by.
Flightpaw's eyes widened. These cats were huge and fat. Or at least, they looked that way compared to Sedgewhisker, Breezepelt, and Emberfoot's skinny, muscular bodies. Smokepaw shook beside her and she pressed her pelt against her sister's as the big, golden cat up front came to a stop. Behind him trailed three others; a cream colored tom who strangely only had a stump of a tail, an older white-furred she-cat, and a black tom that looked to be a few moons older than them.
"Breezepelt," the golden tom meowed. Something about him set Flightpaw's fur on end. She ran a paw over her ear, thinking as her father responded to the golden tom, the same muted hostility in his tone.
"Lionblaze."
"What are your cats doing so close to the border?" the cream colored tom cut in.
Sedgewhisker betrayed no aggression or fear in her voice. "Calm down, Berrynose. We're only showing new apprentices the border."
"New apprentices, really?" Lionblaze peered at Flightpaw and Smokepaw. Smokepaw reeled back to avoid the tom's amber gaze but Flightpaw, emboldened by something she couldn't name stared right back. "I didn't think Featherpelt's kits were ready yet."
Breezepelt growled. "They're my kits, mouse-brain. Mine and Heathertail's."
Lionblaze cocked his head to the side, like he couldn't quite believe what he was hearing. Flightpaw flicked her tail in annoyance. Could they just go already? No one was crossing any border, they all made that clear. What was the big deal?
"Lionblaze looks like he wants to shred Breezepelt," Smokepaw whispered in her ear.
"Breezepelt would shred Lionblaze first," Flightpaw said. "If it comes to a fight we have the numbers."
"But we don't know how to fight!" Smokepaw hissed.
"I'll protect you," Flightpaw curled her tail around her sister's shoulders. Inwardly, she hoped a fight didn't start. Though anyone who looked at her father like that deserved a good shredding, she didn't know any fighting moves and wasn't sure how she could protect her sister other than grabbing her by the scruff and hauling her away as fast as she could. Still, she pressed herself beside Smokepaw. It's not 'cause I'm afraid. It's for her. But she couldn't help her eyes from wandering down to the golden tom's unsheathed claws.
"Congratulations," Lionblaze said, not sounding very congratulatory at all. "I didn't know you had kits."
"You must've missed the Gathering where they were mentioned," Breezepelt replied curtly. "Now, we have a lot of territory to cover and little sunlight left. If you'll excuse us, we'll be on our way."
Smokepaw and Flightpaw scurried to follow their father but suddenly the black apprentice bounded forward and splashed across the river, standing nose-to-nose with Flightpaw. "I know who you are!" He crowed. "you're the rogue kit that they found on the RiverClan border! I remember Shadepaw mentioning it last Gathering! She saw it from the reeds!"
"Larkpaw!" the white she-cat hissed, "Get back to our side of the border! Now!"
"But Whitewing, she's a rogue! We can chase rogues!"
Flightpaw stared at the black apprentice, trying to figure out what in StarClan he was talking about. A rogue? Something Featherpelt whispered back in the nursery a long time ago flashed back into her mind along with the memories of stares and whispers for the first few moons of her life. But she couldn't-she couldn't be a rogue, could she? She was Flightpaw. Daughter of Breezepelt and Heathertail. A pure, proud WindClan cat.
"I thought WindClan was obsessed with keeping bloodlines pure," Lionblaze murmured.
"Because you would know all about pure bloodlines, hmm?" Breezepelt hissed, stepping in front of Flightpaw. She shivered from underneath his belly. "Leave my kit alone and get your apprentice back to the other side of the border or I'll shred his ears."
The cream warrior-Berrynose-snorted. "Make sure she stays on her side of the border or we'll shred her ears!"
"Because you would know all about borders," Flightpaw muttered. "Which border did you cross to end up with a stump for a tail?"
"Flightpaw!" Emberfoot hissed.
Berrynose's stumpy tail waggled. "You watch it, kit." He bounded off into the underbrush, Larkpaw and Whitewing following behind him.
Lionblaze stayed however and stared at Breezepelt and the apprentice hiding under his belly. "Next time this happens, I'll tell Bramblestar."
"Tell him what?" Smokepaw surged forward, coming to her sister's rescue. "That your warrior was insulted by a new apprentice and threatened her before running away? I'm sure he'll be very impressed."
"Smokepaw!" Sedgewhisker mewed in shock.
Lionblaze huffed. "Maybe they are your daughters after all." Flightpaw watched the golden warrior run off into the underbrush. It was only then did she realize she was shaking.
Breezepelt gave both his kits a few licks. "It's alright. ThunderClan is just full of themselves."
"You shouldn't have insulted them like that," Sedgewhisker scolded. "Flightpaw, Smokepaw, what were you thinking?"
"ThunderClan have been insulting us for a long time," Emberfoot said. "Maybe it's time they got a taste of their own dirt."
"And that exactly is why I'm deputy, not you," Sedgewhisker said. "Come on, let's go before the sun is down." She nudged Smokepaw and waved her tail at Emberfoot. Flightpaw began to slink out from under Breezepelt's belly when Sedgewhisker stopped her. "Flightpaw, I think it's best if you talk to Breezepelt for a bit."
Anxiety churned like rotten fresh-kill in Flightpaw's stomach. Was she going to be in trouble for what she said to Berrynose? Or was it worse-did she somehow not belong in this Clan at all? She wasn't a rogue. She refused to believe it. Her earliest memory was suckling right alongside Smokepaw and Brindlepaw, getting badger rides from her father, having her mother fuss over her.
The two cats were quiet for a long time. "Am I in trouble?" Flightpaw finally asked.
Breezepelt shook his head. "No, you aren't."
"Then what's wrong?"
Breezepelt stood, shaking the snow from his fur. "Let's walk and talk. That way we don't freeze to death."
Flightpaw realized she could barely feel her own paws and she followed Breezepelt silently.
"Flightpaw," Breezepelt began, "Before I say anything I want you to know that Heathertail and I love you very much and we consider you as much of our daughter as Smokepaw and Brindlepaw."
The dreaded feeling was growing worse. "But I'm not, am I?"
Breezepelt shook his head and sighed. "It's time you learned about Harespring."
Brindlepaw trotted after Kestrelflight. The sun had gone down rather quickly and the half-moon was rising in the sky. Over the past few days she sensed a difference in her sister. She'd moved her nest to the far side of the apprentice's den, away from her and Smokepaw, and she didn't seem to respond to anyone, not even her mentor. Even their parents couldn't get her to come out of the den. Onestar and Kestrelflight visited on one occasion and Brindlepaw worried for until moonhigh that Flightpaw was sick with something terrible. But when she asked, all she got was silence.
But Brindlepaw felt her sister's pain like it was her own-it was a deep, aching feeling in her chest. Like she was standing on top of a rabbit hole right before it collapsed and buried her alive. "Are you sure Flightpaw's alright?" she asked for what must've been the hundredth time.
"She'll be fine in time." Kestrelflight said.
"What's wrong with her?"
"Nothing is wrong with her."
Brindlepaw's fur stood up. Usually Kestrelflight was friendly and helpful, but lately he'd been snapping at everything she said. Part of the reason she wanted to be a medicine cat was because Kestrelflight had to be the nicest, most knowledgable cat in the entire clan. Now...she wasn't so sure.
"Don't talk about it at the Moonpool," he warned as they descended down the spiral stones. They were the last ones to come, with Mothwing and Willowshine, Alderpaw and Jayfeather, and Leafpool and Puddlepaw with them. Brindlepaw recognized the fishy and musky scents of RiverClan and ThunderClan, but Leafpool's scent was muddled with pine. Kestrelflight bent down and whispered. "Littlecloud was ShadowClan's medicine cat, along with Flametail, but both of them died before they could get a new apprentice so Leafpool offered to train one. ThunderClan didn't need three medicine cats."
Brindlepaw looked at the brown-and-white she-cat and the gray tabby tom chatting beside her. "This is my new apprentice," Kestrelflight said. "Brindlepaw."
The gray tomcat turned and Brindlepaw stiffled a gasp when she saw his cloudy eyes. "Is she Breezepelt's kit, Kestrelflight? Lionblaze was going on and on about it last night. You would've thought someone put live bees in his fresh kill. Berrynose was going on about indignant kits for ages."
"Yes," Kestrelflight said. "But the one who insulted Berrynose was Flightpaw, not Brindlepaw, Jayfeather."
Jayfeather snorted. "Well, as much as I hate to say it, Berrynose needs to be knocked down a few branches."
Leafpool cleared her throat. "Shall we dream?"
The small ceremony for Brindlepaw whizzed past her in a blur and she finally stepped to the banks of the Moonpool. The spirits of StarClan whispered at her paws and the pelts of many cats brushed past her. She lapped at the water and waited as a deep sleep took over.
No one noticed Jayfeather drinking last, his sightless eyes locked on Brindlepaw.
(AN: Hey so I hope you liked the chapter! Part of Redemption is to show different sides of the characters we have seen, so Onestar and Breezepelt along with other characters are shown in different lights. However, they still aren't without their flaws as we'll see in the next chapter. I thought it would be interesting for ThunderClan to be the aggressors for once.
Question(s) of the Day: Who is your favorite character so far? Which of Heathertail's three kits (Smokepaw, Brindlepaw, and Flightpaw) do you like best? Who do you think Flightpaw's parents are?
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