NEW BLOOD-Breaking The Rules WWF Potluck Tale- New Poll!
Feb 9, 2019 16:43:44 GMT -5
Mosspool and ~Sapphire~ like this
Post by phantomstar57 on Feb 9, 2019 16:43:44 GMT -5
NEW BLOOD -
BREAKING THE RULES
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POT LUCK - Valentine's Tale
“Indipaw, come on,” Demonpaw called out. “You have to come.”
“Do I have to?” she complained, flattening her ears against the idea of strange cats jostling her.
“Yes,” Kyemama’s growl echoed in the den. “If I have to go, you have to go.”
With a growling groan, Indipaw rose and ambled out, then stood outside the apprentices' den, waiting, as excited Clan members gathered, ready to brave the brisk chilly night to attend the Gathering. Above, the moon shone full, and washed the land in silver light, turning the frosty ground as white as snow. The wind ruffled her white ruff, and her dark brown tabby britches. She twitched her tall ears, as her siblings joined her, careful not to jostle her.
“Why do I have to go?” Her breath condensed in the cold air before the breeze whisked it away. “Too many cats around.”
“Afraid one might accidentally brush your tailtip?” Phantompaw teased, his own thick dark silver tabby ruff fluffing against the wind. “I look forward to this.”
“Me, too,” Gentlepaw added, shaking his golden brown tabby pelt.
“You like everyone, and don’t care if someone invades your space,” Indipaw scoffed, baring her fangs briefly.
“Come, let’s move.” Bramblestar commanded, stopping the exchange, and led his clanmates out of the hollow. Indipaw trotted along with her siblings, who knew to give her space to walk without touching them. Squirrelflight trotted beside her mate, in front of their mother, Kyestorm, a huge red tabby Maine Coon. Indipaw raised her bushy dark tail, pride in her breeding flashing through her. She planned to train and become the best warrior the Clans have ever seen, and already she stood as tall or taller than many full grown warriors.
“It shall be a great gathering,” ThunderClan’s deputy insisted, breaking Indipaw’s musings. “Every clan has apprentices this moon. Concentrate on that.”
“I’ll try,” Kyemama mewed, staying beside her father, black-smoke Demonstone, who loped along, swaying from side to side like a log floating downstream in rough water. Indipaw hoped she grew huge like Demonpoppa. They reached the lake shore, and Indipaw uttered a mew of surprise when ice crackled beneath her paws. Frost coated the ground, looking like snow cover. She heard her mother and Spiderleg’s banter, flattening her own ears.
“Ice?” Spiderleg muttered. “Not good. It’s too early.”
“It’s going to be a wicked Leaf Bare,” Kyemama remarked, glancing at the lanky black tom. “Your fur is getting thick. You look almost normal.”
“Oh, funny, coming from a giant red puffball,” Spiderleg retorted, a chuckle in his voice. “Even your big ears are so fuzzy you look like a rabbit!”
“Ha!” Kyemama mrrrowed. “Let WindClan mistake me for one! Especially that mouse-brain, Harespring.”
“Kyemama!” Smokepaw, Indipaw’s black-smoke sister, exclaimed. “What would you do?”
“She’d smush him under those enormous things she calls paws!” Spiderleg replied with a humorous snort, as the clan traversed the shoreline along WindClan territory. He glanced up the windswept hill. He blinked a grin, baring the tips of his fangs. “I’m just teasing, Smokepaw. Don’t look so shocked. Your mother and I have an understanding.”
“Oh, here they come,” Kyemama growled.“Yes, Spiderleg, I’d love to flatten that fool.”
Indipaw spied WindClan moving down the hill.
“Let any of them touch me,” Indipaw growled under her breath. “I’d shred them to furry rags.”
“Who? The red tabby tom?” Demonpoppa asked, alert, his coat rising. He lashed his tail.
“No, the brown and white one. The red tabby is Onestar. Harespring is his deputy. Look at Furzepelt! Prancing like I never knocked her brain loose,” Kyemama answered, her voice dropping to a growl. Indipaw’s hackles rose, and she wished to slap anyone who angered her Kyemama.
“Oh my, that was funny!” Spiderleg’s guffaw tempered Indipaw’s rising anger. His voice rose with mirth. “I bet she had a headache for days!”
Everyone around them laughed, and Indipaw joined them. Bramblestar quickened the pace. They skirted the water, avoiding the marshes and sandy shallows.. They traversed close enough to crackle freezing water beneath Indipaw’s well-insulated paws. The crunch of ice echoed across the lake.
“Crazy goofy Maine Coons,” Spiderleg guffawed. “Lucky are you with all that fur around your toes.”
“Something I wish I had,” Bumblestripe said, staying well up on shore. “I hate cold wet paws.”
“Most of us do,” Berrynose meowed, as the Clan neared the tree bridge., Indipaw gazed around in wonder, intrigued with this new place. Her clanmates crossed the log, wary of the water below. Demonpoppa moved cautiously but with confidence, his thick muscular legs keeping him steady. Indipaw waited, hissing once as Spiderleg brushed past her.
“Such a jumpy gal aren’t we?” the lanky tom chided her, humor in his tone. “How do you train if you don’t let anyone touch you?”
“Training is different,” Indipaw mumbled, which caused Spiderleg to chuckle as he made his way down the massive log. Indipaw pondered the thought, but realized she hated anyone touching her in battle, too, but in fights, she need not hold back her desire to shriek, snarl and claw. She moved closer to the down old tree that served as a bridge to the island.
Demonpaw and Phantompaw raced along the trunk, leaving Berrynose and Lionblaze glancing at each other in disbelief. Smokepaw danced across on nimble long legs, while Cloudtail hung back, grumbling. Bluepaw trotted quickly, looking down into the cold water with no fear. Whitewing flattened her ears, waiting for the apprentice to jump free before walking across. Indipaw leaped up,feeling no fear and pranced along the log, batting at old branch nubs, delighted in the experience. Her mentor, Thornclaw, who followed his apprentice at a distance, looked back at Kyemama.
“Your kits are insane,” he grumbled, before walking across. Indipaw leaped from the log, following older clamates to a grand old tree, where an older silvery blue she-cat stood, waiting.
“Be polite,” Kyemama’s voice mewed from behind her, and gestured with her tail. "RiverClan Leader Mistystar, and ShadowClan Leader Rowanstar. Onestar of Windclan follows us.”
Mistystar stood below the Great Tree with her clanmates, and her feathery tail rose in greeting.
“Hallo! Oh my, Kyestorm! Your kits are big and beautiful. Glad to see you all!”
“Hallo!” Bramblestar called out, as ThunderClan cats took their place, next to RiverClan. Indipaw bristled involuntarily at the close proximity of so many strangers. She sat next to Thornclaw, as Onestar led WindClan across the fallen tree. Onestar scowled at ThunderClan. His eyes roved over Indipaw, her parents, and her siblings, his expression softened, becoming thoughtful. Indipaw noticed his eyes rested on Smokepaw, who stood tall and proud, her vivid golden eyes braving the Clan leaders scrutiny. He nodded at her, jumping up into the Great Tree. The other leaders followed suit. Indipaw wondered why the leader looked that way at her sister.
“Greetings to all,” Bramblestar called out. “I am excited to announce new apprentices. As you see, we have eight this moon! Please welcome Demonpaw, Phantompaw, Indipaw, Smokepaw, Bluepaw, Rainpaw, and Greypaw! And of course, our medicine cat apprentice, Gentlepaw.”
Joyous congratulations and greetings rippled around the Gathering, but Rowanstar glowered. Indipaw stared at the ShadowClan leader, and scowled back at him.
Bramblestar continued, breaking her gaze. “We are in debt to Kyestorm, for birthing her kits with ThunderClan, raising them as Clan, and saving the lives of Greypaw and Rainpaw, by becoming their milk-mother. Lilyheart’s kits will apprentice next moon!”
“Kyestorm we know,” Onestar said gruffly. “Who is the huge tom beside her?”
“Please welcome Demonstone, Kyestorm’s mate.” Bramblestar stood up on his branch with excitement. “He . . .” Bramblestar paused when Brackenfur stood, and waved his tail, eyes bright. “Please, warrior. Speak!”
“I wish to speak on behalf of Demonstone, for despite his injuries and kittypet past, he has become a huge asset to our Clan. There has never been such a builder of barriers and dens as he.” Brackenfur’s golden brown tabby coat rippled with his conviction, and Indipaw puffed with pride. “His strength and abilities in fortifying our dens and barrier has just been phenomenal. I want to formally welcome him into the Clans. Demonstone?”
“Greetings,” Demonpoppa stood up. His long fur ruffled in the cold breeze. Love and pride filled Indipaw’s heart, as her father moved to stand beside Brackenfur, dwarfing the old warrior. His bright gold eyes shone as he respectfully nodded to each Clan Leader.“I am happy to be here, and to finally meet other Clans.”
Surprised muttering and cheers went up from the gathered cats. Brackenfur stepped back, and Demonpoppa returned to Kyemama’s side. Bramblestar waved his tail.
“We have a new warrior as well, Sparkfire. Alderheart is now a full medicine cat,” Bramblestar finished. Squirrelflight and Bramblestar’s kits stepped forward. Both sported their father’s broad shoulders, but only Alderheart’s eyes shone the same color as his father’s, while Sparkfire’s eyes gleamed jade green. Both stood proud and quiet. Alderheart quietly left his sister’s side to join the medicine cats. Bramblestar continued, his voice full of pride and love. “Prey runs well despite the cold, and, we are ready for Leaf Bare. We also hope for more kits next New Leaf. That is the news from ThunderClan. I hope everyone else has good news to share.” Bramblestar sat down.
“We, too, have two apprentices this moon!” Mistystar announced. “Come forward Silverpaw and Troutpaw!”
Two silver-white long-haired cats stepped forward, a she-cat and a tom. Black tipped their long hairs, giving them lighter, more silvery pelts than Indipaw's smoke siblings. The young tom’s coat darkened more around his legs, face and tail and along his back, while the she-cat’s pelt glistened lighter, with just a blush of shadings in those same areas. Indipaw heard someone inhale sharply and glanced to her side at her sister. Bluepaw’s blue eyes locked onto the RiverClan apprentices. Kyemama slapped her kit with a big bushy tail.
“What, Kyemama? They have such pretty coats!” Bluepaw hissed in annoyance, then raised her voice to join others. “Silverpaw! Troutpaw!”
“We, too, have apprentices this moon,” Rowanstar announced. “Snowpaw and Pinepaw. And Puddlepaw is training to be a medicine cat. Littlecloud finally has an apprentice.”
The entire Gathering cheered their names, and Indipaw watched the two warrior apprentices come forward. Snowpaw and Pinepaw stood together, touching, tails up.
“Ugh they are leaning into each other so much,” Indipaw muttered. “How do they stand it?” Indipaw eyed white Snowpaw’s black ears, tail, and mask. His eyes met hers, and her haughty disdain sagged under unexpected curiosity. Her ears rose, and she met his gaze. She suddenly wanted to go say hello. She shook herself and sneezed at the alien emotion. Onestar rose to his feet, distracting her.
“We also have a new apprentice, Fernpaw. We also have new warriors, Slightfoot, Feathershine, Hootflight, and Oatclaw!” The five stepped forward, and Indipaw raised her voice with the others in congratulations. The young brown she-cat stood proud, yet quiet, her green eyes shining. Three of the new warriors nodded politely. Oatclaw, a pale brown tabby with jet-black stripes stepped forward. His white paws quivered with the effort to keep still, and Indipaw noticed Smokepaw eyeing him with interest. She snorted, knowing her sisters found the strange toms attractive. She thought about snuggling next to a potential mate and shivered. No, nobody will ever touch me, she thought, even as she locked eyes with Snowpaw again. He nodded to her, tail up in greeting. She impulsively returned the tail gesture. Rowanstar stood up, his voice full of contempt, breaking the moment.
“Nobody mentioned the coyotes. The howling still continues, yet nothing has happened. Perhaps this nonsense about four Clans will be one shall never be needed.”
“You can’t know that,” Kyemama blurted out. “Blackstar said to tell your Clan he sent us, too. He was there when we saw Firestar. Why would he care about enormous warriors to be if you all didn’t need us one day?”
“You saw Blackstar?” Rowanstar stared, taken aback, then he scowled. “And you wait six moons to tell me this?”
“I had forgotten in all the chaos,” Kyemama answered. Rowanstar’s yellow eyes blazed, and his ginger coat bristled. Indipaw growled deep in her chest, ready to defend her Kyemama.
“How convenient,” he growled. “You lie now just to make yourself look good.”
“She does not lie,” Demonpoppa surged forward, and stood, coat flat, gold eyes calm, and held his bottlebrush tail over his back. “Please, Clan Leader, my mate speaks the truth. We did see Blackstar, a huge white tom with black feet and yellow eyes. We come on his behalf as well as other members of StarClan.”
Indipaw relaxed, proud of her father, when Rowanstar stared, his fur flattening, his eyes roving over Demonpoppa’s enormous form, then sat down.
“Very well,” he grumbled. “But we have seen no coyotes or strange wild dogs. They do not pass the horseplace. Tawnypelt and I have kits on the way. ShadowClan prospers with many kits and apprentices.” Rowanstar’s voice rang with pride. “And we will get them through Leaf Bare with no problems.”
“Congratulations! A reason to enjoy this Gathering, for who knows what Leaf Bare may bring,” Onestar spoke up, his golden-copper eyes calm. “If all news has been shared, let’s mingle and enjoy.”
“I concur,” Bramblestar said, glancing at Onestar with a befuddled expression. Indipaw turned her head to peer across the space at Snowpaw. He watched her, and she felt a stab of longing, wanting to go talk to him. She stepped forward, paused, then walked toward the young tom, eager to speak to him. He met her gaze, tail up, his face breaking into an expression of delight. Enraged words destroyed the moment and Indipaw whipped her head around at Harespring's yowling.
“I don’t! This queen and her kits are just kittypets! Weak and fluffy. Drive them out!”
“I’ll show you weak and fluffy, mouse-brain!” Kyemama hissed, and Indipaw bared her fangs, her long dagger claws kneading the hard ground.
“We aren’t weak, mousebrain,” she impulsively snarled in retort. Harespring ignored her, glaring at Kyemama, and she growled. To Indipaw’s shock, he accepted her mother’s unspoken challenge, and leaped at her. She rushed to meet him, rearing up as he tried to slash her throat. His claws came away only with hunks of red hair from her ample ruff. She struck him, one paw on his face, the other on his shoulder, and slammed him to the frozen frosty ground. She held firm, even as he twisted under her grasp. His rear claws pummeled her flank, but she moved aside, and his flailing claws caught just more thick red fur. She held his face to the ground, clawtips just pricking past his pelt to his skin. He struggled to curl his hind feet around to rip her body, but his claws only swished through cold air. She pushed down with a firm grip, flexing her claws and toes. Indipaw glanced at the moon, which continued to glow unimpeded.
“Oww! You’re pushing a rock in my eye!” Harespring hissed. “Sand’s going up my nose!”
“Give me an excuse to squash your pathetic skull, you mouse-brained lump of crow food!” Kyemama snarled, and glared at Furzepelt, who crouched, ready to pounce. “Want some of this? I’ll rattle your brain so hard you’ll need someone to help you find fresh kill for the rest of your life.”
Indipaw quivered in place wanting to pounce on Furzepelt and drill her head into the dirt. A growl rumbled deep in her chest. Harespring yowled in pain, and he went limp. Only his tail twitched and slapped the hard ground. Furzepelt’s eyes widened and she slunk behind another warrior.
“Stop,” Onestar commanded. “Kyestorm, please, let him up. Harespring! Don’t make me sorry about my choice of deputy.”
Kyemama sprang back, and she released Harespring. He scurried over to sit under the Great Oak Tree, shaking his head.
“Cowards” Indipaw rumbled, stifling the urge to attack both of them. Kyemama looked up at the moon, which still shone bright in clear skies. Silverpelt sparkled.
“StarClan isn’t angry with me?” Kyemama finally managed to squeak. Indipaw stared with amazement, then felt smug, knowing StarClan approved of her mother's actions.
“No, nor am I,” Onestar broke the tension with a rare hearty mroow of laughter. Someone else tittered.
“Wish I had done that,” another cat meowed. Indipaw caught sight of a dark grey tail vanishing into the crowd of cats, as laughter echoed in the glade. Even Rowanstar looked amused, and Tawnypelt purred with mirth. A feline grin of pure delight spread over Mistystar’s face. Bramblestar looked ready to roll off his branch, his body shook so much with suppressed laughter. Demonpoppa looked ready to pop with pride, and Indipaw’s siblings and milk brothers gaped in pleased surprise. Harespring shook himself, and groomed his face, looking at the ground. He glanced Kyemama’s way with pure hatred,
“You have a way of getting the point across,” Brackenfur bumped Kyemama with his head. “That was splendid!”
“Well done,” whispered a dark gray tom, walking past Kyemama without looking her in the face. “I’ve wanted to do that for many seasons.”
Indipaw flattened her fur, and watched the mingling cats. Oatclaw met up with Smokepaw. His green eyes danced with delight, and hers sparkled in return. She thought about Snowpaw. The Clans frowned on inter-Clan relationships, and clearly Smokepaw did not care. Indipaw growled.
“Well, if she can, so can I.”
Indipaw turned her attention to the mingling Clans, and shivered. Cats greeted each other, purring and mrrowing in good spirits, sharing tongues, The young apprentice from ShadowClan stalked proudly up to Kyemama and Indipaw. His long white pelt puffed against the wind, and Indipaw stood, mesmerized by his black-patched head and the black spots on the apprentice’s tail, head, and ears.
“Hallo! I’m Snowpaw.” His gaze fell on Indipaw, and his yellow eyes widened briefly. “Who’s your daughter?”
“I’m Indipaw,” Indipaw answered for herself, and not a shred of animosity burned in her body. Snowpaw looked up at Indipaw, and like Oatclaw, only blinked, then purred delight. Indipaw stood rooted to the ground, suddenly wanting him to reciprocate. She inhaled deeply, drinking in his scent, not caring he smelled of ShadowClan.
“Hallo, Indipaw. I’m Snowpaw. Will you walk with me?”
“S-S-sure,” Indipaw stuttered, and they ambled over to the ShadowClan contingent, stopping in front of a black she-cat whom Indipaw recognized as Pinepaw.
“My sister, Pinepaw,” Snowpaw announced, and she gave Indipaw a feline grin.
“Glad you agreed to walk with him,” she chortled. “He’s been ogling you since you crossed the log bridge.”
“Really?”
“Yes,” Snowpaw answered, impulsively rubbing his head on her shoulder. Gasps went up from Indipaw’s siblings and clanmates. She convulsed, ready to snap and claw, but he raised his face to hers, and the urge to slap him into the next moon vanished like a puff of fog on a windy morning. She glanced at her fellow apprentices, all who paused to gape in shock. A small argument broke out, but Indipaw heard nothing of it. Greypaw trotted toward her, and she felt her muscles tense. He purposefully walked past her, rubbing his body against hers. She reacted without thought, hissing with a scream, and leaped sideways, slapping his flank with one of her huge white paws. Snowpaw gaped, backing up a step.
I’m, I’m sorry!” he stuttered. “I didn’t know you hated contact.”
“Don’t be sorry,” Indipaw’s heart suddenly pounded with the realization she may have alienated this sweet tom. She glared briefly at Greypaw, then turned back to Snowpaw, who turned away, his tail down, ears flat in obvious disappointment.
“I love to share tongues and to snuggle when sleeping,” he mewed. “You will never do that with me.”
“I, I, . . . “Indipaw stuttered then scowled. “You act like we’re going to be mates. We’re in different Clans.”
“I know,” Snowpaw agreed, then flattened his ears. “I don’t care. You’re the only she-cat I’ve ever had interest in."
“True,” Pinepaw guffawed, then sobered. “But she is a ThunderClan cat.”
“So?” Snowpaw retorted. “Tawnypelt came from that Clan.” Snowpaw lowered his head. “Doesn’t matter. You hate contact.”
“But I didn’t strike you!” Indipaw protested, leaping after him, suddenly not caring he came from ShadowClan. “Don’t you like me?”
“I do,” Snowpaw’s voice quivered and his black tail dragged behind him. “You had to really fight not to hit me, didn’t you.”
“No! That is it, I didn’t!” Indipaw trotted after him, easily caught up, and rubbed her body against his, She felt no inclination to strike or hiss. “See?”
“But what if I touch you?” Snowpaw mewled like a sad kit.
“Touch me,” Indipaw pleaded. “Here, I’ll sit with my back to you. You and Pinepaw, touch me but don’t tell me who. Just do it.”
“Come on, Snowpaw, let’s do this,” Pinepaw groused. “Or you’ll be pining all night.”
Indipaw sat, facing away from them. She twitched her tail, and looked up at the moon.
“Please, StarClan,” she whispered. “Let this be true.”
A paw rested on her back and she exploded, whirling, uttering a screaming hiss, paw raised to strike, coming face to face with Pinepaw. She sagged inwardly, lowered her paw, and trying to ignore Snowpaw’s wide woebegone gold eyes, she sat down again. Another paw swiped her back, and she spun around with a bared fangs, facing a white she-cat.
“Who are you?” Indipaw snarled.
“Needletail.” The silver-white she-cat scowled. “Pinepaw asked me to join this experiment. Great StarClan, you really can’t handle being touched.”
“No, I can’t, never could,” Indipaw replied, drawing a long quavering breath. She met Snowpaw’s golden gaze, and sat down again, her back turned to him. Sadness and disappointment welled up, but when another paw rested on her shoulder, she leaped sideways with a scream, smacking Rainpaw with a big paw. She flattened her fur immediately, and sat down.
At the next touch, she spun and almost slapped a plump white apprentice in the face. Her green-gold eyes dilated with dread.
“Who are you?” Indipaw asked, her anger dropping like a stone, as she eyed the she-cat, noting her black ears.
“Beepaw, Snowpaw and Pinepaw’s sister.”
“I’m sorry,” Indipaw mumbled, biting her tongue so she did not wail like a kit. Beepaw waddled off quickly.
“Hopeless,” Snowpaw muttered, fear and disappointment in his voice. Indipaw sat back down, head down, her heart full of dismay. A paw stepped on her lower back, and to Indipaw’s shock, she merely turned her head, coming face to face with Snowpaw’s golden eyes.
“I didn’t flip out!” Indipaw exclaimed, joy flashing through her. She pushed her face against his. “I didn’t! Only you can touch me.”
Snowpaw gaped at her, and she licked his face. Gasps, exclamation and a few titters rippled though the cats who watched. Smokepaw and Oatclaw nodded, and Bluepaw and Troutleap flashed her grins. Needletail sauntered away, tail waving.
“Good luck, Snowpaw. Don’t get so attached. Remember after the gathering, you’re enemies again.”
Indipaw ignored the remark, rubbing her body along Snowpaw’s. He slowly relaxed.
“So you can tolerate me touching you, but nobody else?” Snowpaw’s eyes grew round and wide.
“Yes, furball! Yes!” Indipaw danced in place. “And I like it!”
She pressed herself against him, and purred. His touch did not annoy her, and she took pleasure in the warmth of his body.
“That makes me happy!” Snowpaw head butted her, and she licked his ear. Needletail headed straight for her, and merely tapped Indipaw’s back with her tail.
“Don’t touch me,” Indipaw snarled. “Only Snowpaw can.”
Over the next few days, as the light snow melted into the ground, Indipaw thought about Snowpaw every waking moment, faltering in her training, and missing kills. One morning, after she slipped and missed an easy catch, allowing the squirrel to scamper up a tree, Thornclaw sat down, scowling at her.
“Focus,” he growled. “You’re far better than this.”
“Sorry,” Indipaw apologized.
“Just concentrate and stop thinking of someone you just met,” Thornclaw reprimanded her with a harsh growl and curl of lip. “You’re the best apprentice I’ve ever trained. Act like it.”
“I am?” Indipaw perked up at the praise.
BREAKING THE RULES
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POT LUCK - Valentine's Tale
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PART ONE
The full moon shone in clear skies, and a cold wind whistled through the forest, ripping down leaves from trees readying for Leaf Bare slumber. A cover of heavy frost already whitened the ground. Indipaw curled in her nest, listening to the wind, and her clanmate’s excited chatter about the upcoming gathering. Bare dirt floor circled her nest, separating hers from the rest. The nests belonging to her siblings, Smokepaw, Bluepaw, Demonpaw, Gentlepaw, and Phantompaw, and her milk brothers, Rainpaw and Greypaw, ringed hers, all touching each other, but gave hers space. “Indipaw, come on,” Demonpaw called out. “You have to come.”
“Do I have to?” she complained, flattening her ears against the idea of strange cats jostling her.
“Yes,” Kyemama’s growl echoed in the den. “If I have to go, you have to go.”
With a growling groan, Indipaw rose and ambled out, then stood outside the apprentices' den, waiting, as excited Clan members gathered, ready to brave the brisk chilly night to attend the Gathering. Above, the moon shone full, and washed the land in silver light, turning the frosty ground as white as snow. The wind ruffled her white ruff, and her dark brown tabby britches. She twitched her tall ears, as her siblings joined her, careful not to jostle her.
“Why do I have to go?” Her breath condensed in the cold air before the breeze whisked it away. “Too many cats around.”
“Afraid one might accidentally brush your tailtip?” Phantompaw teased, his own thick dark silver tabby ruff fluffing against the wind. “I look forward to this.”
“Me, too,” Gentlepaw added, shaking his golden brown tabby pelt.
“You like everyone, and don’t care if someone invades your space,” Indipaw scoffed, baring her fangs briefly.
“Come, let’s move.” Bramblestar commanded, stopping the exchange, and led his clanmates out of the hollow. Indipaw trotted along with her siblings, who knew to give her space to walk without touching them. Squirrelflight trotted beside her mate, in front of their mother, Kyestorm, a huge red tabby Maine Coon. Indipaw raised her bushy dark tail, pride in her breeding flashing through her. She planned to train and become the best warrior the Clans have ever seen, and already she stood as tall or taller than many full grown warriors.
“It shall be a great gathering,” ThunderClan’s deputy insisted, breaking Indipaw’s musings. “Every clan has apprentices this moon. Concentrate on that.”
“I’ll try,” Kyemama mewed, staying beside her father, black-smoke Demonstone, who loped along, swaying from side to side like a log floating downstream in rough water. Indipaw hoped she grew huge like Demonpoppa. They reached the lake shore, and Indipaw uttered a mew of surprise when ice crackled beneath her paws. Frost coated the ground, looking like snow cover. She heard her mother and Spiderleg’s banter, flattening her own ears.
“Ice?” Spiderleg muttered. “Not good. It’s too early.”
“It’s going to be a wicked Leaf Bare,” Kyemama remarked, glancing at the lanky black tom. “Your fur is getting thick. You look almost normal.”
“Oh, funny, coming from a giant red puffball,” Spiderleg retorted, a chuckle in his voice. “Even your big ears are so fuzzy you look like a rabbit!”
“Ha!” Kyemama mrrrowed. “Let WindClan mistake me for one! Especially that mouse-brain, Harespring.”
“Kyemama!” Smokepaw, Indipaw’s black-smoke sister, exclaimed. “What would you do?”
“She’d smush him under those enormous things she calls paws!” Spiderleg replied with a humorous snort, as the clan traversed the shoreline along WindClan territory. He glanced up the windswept hill. He blinked a grin, baring the tips of his fangs. “I’m just teasing, Smokepaw. Don’t look so shocked. Your mother and I have an understanding.”
“Oh, here they come,” Kyemama growled.“Yes, Spiderleg, I’d love to flatten that fool.”
Indipaw spied WindClan moving down the hill.
“Let any of them touch me,” Indipaw growled under her breath. “I’d shred them to furry rags.”
“Who? The red tabby tom?” Demonpoppa asked, alert, his coat rising. He lashed his tail.
“No, the brown and white one. The red tabby is Onestar. Harespring is his deputy. Look at Furzepelt! Prancing like I never knocked her brain loose,” Kyemama answered, her voice dropping to a growl. Indipaw’s hackles rose, and she wished to slap anyone who angered her Kyemama.
“Oh my, that was funny!” Spiderleg’s guffaw tempered Indipaw’s rising anger. His voice rose with mirth. “I bet she had a headache for days!”
Everyone around them laughed, and Indipaw joined them. Bramblestar quickened the pace. They skirted the water, avoiding the marshes and sandy shallows.. They traversed close enough to crackle freezing water beneath Indipaw’s well-insulated paws. The crunch of ice echoed across the lake.
“Crazy goofy Maine Coons,” Spiderleg guffawed. “Lucky are you with all that fur around your toes.”
“Something I wish I had,” Bumblestripe said, staying well up on shore. “I hate cold wet paws.”
“Most of us do,” Berrynose meowed, as the Clan neared the tree bridge., Indipaw gazed around in wonder, intrigued with this new place. Her clanmates crossed the log, wary of the water below. Demonpoppa moved cautiously but with confidence, his thick muscular legs keeping him steady. Indipaw waited, hissing once as Spiderleg brushed past her.
“Such a jumpy gal aren’t we?” the lanky tom chided her, humor in his tone. “How do you train if you don’t let anyone touch you?”
“Training is different,” Indipaw mumbled, which caused Spiderleg to chuckle as he made his way down the massive log. Indipaw pondered the thought, but realized she hated anyone touching her in battle, too, but in fights, she need not hold back her desire to shriek, snarl and claw. She moved closer to the down old tree that served as a bridge to the island.
Demonpaw and Phantompaw raced along the trunk, leaving Berrynose and Lionblaze glancing at each other in disbelief. Smokepaw danced across on nimble long legs, while Cloudtail hung back, grumbling. Bluepaw trotted quickly, looking down into the cold water with no fear. Whitewing flattened her ears, waiting for the apprentice to jump free before walking across. Indipaw leaped up,feeling no fear and pranced along the log, batting at old branch nubs, delighted in the experience. Her mentor, Thornclaw, who followed his apprentice at a distance, looked back at Kyemama.
“Your kits are insane,” he grumbled, before walking across. Indipaw leaped from the log, following older clamates to a grand old tree, where an older silvery blue she-cat stood, waiting.
“Be polite,” Kyemama’s voice mewed from behind her, and gestured with her tail. "RiverClan Leader Mistystar, and ShadowClan Leader Rowanstar. Onestar of Windclan follows us.”
Mistystar stood below the Great Tree with her clanmates, and her feathery tail rose in greeting.
“Hallo! Oh my, Kyestorm! Your kits are big and beautiful. Glad to see you all!”
“Hallo!” Bramblestar called out, as ThunderClan cats took their place, next to RiverClan. Indipaw bristled involuntarily at the close proximity of so many strangers. She sat next to Thornclaw, as Onestar led WindClan across the fallen tree. Onestar scowled at ThunderClan. His eyes roved over Indipaw, her parents, and her siblings, his expression softened, becoming thoughtful. Indipaw noticed his eyes rested on Smokepaw, who stood tall and proud, her vivid golden eyes braving the Clan leaders scrutiny. He nodded at her, jumping up into the Great Tree. The other leaders followed suit. Indipaw wondered why the leader looked that way at her sister.
“Greetings to all,” Bramblestar called out. “I am excited to announce new apprentices. As you see, we have eight this moon! Please welcome Demonpaw, Phantompaw, Indipaw, Smokepaw, Bluepaw, Rainpaw, and Greypaw! And of course, our medicine cat apprentice, Gentlepaw.”
Joyous congratulations and greetings rippled around the Gathering, but Rowanstar glowered. Indipaw stared at the ShadowClan leader, and scowled back at him.
Bramblestar continued, breaking her gaze. “We are in debt to Kyestorm, for birthing her kits with ThunderClan, raising them as Clan, and saving the lives of Greypaw and Rainpaw, by becoming their milk-mother. Lilyheart’s kits will apprentice next moon!”
“Kyestorm we know,” Onestar said gruffly. “Who is the huge tom beside her?”
“Please welcome Demonstone, Kyestorm’s mate.” Bramblestar stood up on his branch with excitement. “He . . .” Bramblestar paused when Brackenfur stood, and waved his tail, eyes bright. “Please, warrior. Speak!”
“I wish to speak on behalf of Demonstone, for despite his injuries and kittypet past, he has become a huge asset to our Clan. There has never been such a builder of barriers and dens as he.” Brackenfur’s golden brown tabby coat rippled with his conviction, and Indipaw puffed with pride. “His strength and abilities in fortifying our dens and barrier has just been phenomenal. I want to formally welcome him into the Clans. Demonstone?”
“Greetings,” Demonpoppa stood up. His long fur ruffled in the cold breeze. Love and pride filled Indipaw’s heart, as her father moved to stand beside Brackenfur, dwarfing the old warrior. His bright gold eyes shone as he respectfully nodded to each Clan Leader.“I am happy to be here, and to finally meet other Clans.”
Surprised muttering and cheers went up from the gathered cats. Brackenfur stepped back, and Demonpoppa returned to Kyemama’s side. Bramblestar waved his tail.
“We have a new warrior as well, Sparkfire. Alderheart is now a full medicine cat,” Bramblestar finished. Squirrelflight and Bramblestar’s kits stepped forward. Both sported their father’s broad shoulders, but only Alderheart’s eyes shone the same color as his father’s, while Sparkfire’s eyes gleamed jade green. Both stood proud and quiet. Alderheart quietly left his sister’s side to join the medicine cats. Bramblestar continued, his voice full of pride and love. “Prey runs well despite the cold, and, we are ready for Leaf Bare. We also hope for more kits next New Leaf. That is the news from ThunderClan. I hope everyone else has good news to share.” Bramblestar sat down.
“We, too, have two apprentices this moon!” Mistystar announced. “Come forward Silverpaw and Troutpaw!”
Two silver-white long-haired cats stepped forward, a she-cat and a tom. Black tipped their long hairs, giving them lighter, more silvery pelts than Indipaw's smoke siblings. The young tom’s coat darkened more around his legs, face and tail and along his back, while the she-cat’s pelt glistened lighter, with just a blush of shadings in those same areas. Indipaw heard someone inhale sharply and glanced to her side at her sister. Bluepaw’s blue eyes locked onto the RiverClan apprentices. Kyemama slapped her kit with a big bushy tail.
“What, Kyemama? They have such pretty coats!” Bluepaw hissed in annoyance, then raised her voice to join others. “Silverpaw! Troutpaw!”
“We, too, have apprentices this moon,” Rowanstar announced. “Snowpaw and Pinepaw. And Puddlepaw is training to be a medicine cat. Littlecloud finally has an apprentice.”
The entire Gathering cheered their names, and Indipaw watched the two warrior apprentices come forward. Snowpaw and Pinepaw stood together, touching, tails up.
“Ugh they are leaning into each other so much,” Indipaw muttered. “How do they stand it?” Indipaw eyed white Snowpaw’s black ears, tail, and mask. His eyes met hers, and her haughty disdain sagged under unexpected curiosity. Her ears rose, and she met his gaze. She suddenly wanted to go say hello. She shook herself and sneezed at the alien emotion. Onestar rose to his feet, distracting her.
“We also have a new apprentice, Fernpaw. We also have new warriors, Slightfoot, Feathershine, Hootflight, and Oatclaw!” The five stepped forward, and Indipaw raised her voice with the others in congratulations. The young brown she-cat stood proud, yet quiet, her green eyes shining. Three of the new warriors nodded politely. Oatclaw, a pale brown tabby with jet-black stripes stepped forward. His white paws quivered with the effort to keep still, and Indipaw noticed Smokepaw eyeing him with interest. She snorted, knowing her sisters found the strange toms attractive. She thought about snuggling next to a potential mate and shivered. No, nobody will ever touch me, she thought, even as she locked eyes with Snowpaw again. He nodded to her, tail up in greeting. She impulsively returned the tail gesture. Rowanstar stood up, his voice full of contempt, breaking the moment.
“Nobody mentioned the coyotes. The howling still continues, yet nothing has happened. Perhaps this nonsense about four Clans will be one shall never be needed.”
“You can’t know that,” Kyemama blurted out. “Blackstar said to tell your Clan he sent us, too. He was there when we saw Firestar. Why would he care about enormous warriors to be if you all didn’t need us one day?”
“You saw Blackstar?” Rowanstar stared, taken aback, then he scowled. “And you wait six moons to tell me this?”
“I had forgotten in all the chaos,” Kyemama answered. Rowanstar’s yellow eyes blazed, and his ginger coat bristled. Indipaw growled deep in her chest, ready to defend her Kyemama.
“How convenient,” he growled. “You lie now just to make yourself look good.”
“She does not lie,” Demonpoppa surged forward, and stood, coat flat, gold eyes calm, and held his bottlebrush tail over his back. “Please, Clan Leader, my mate speaks the truth. We did see Blackstar, a huge white tom with black feet and yellow eyes. We come on his behalf as well as other members of StarClan.”
Indipaw relaxed, proud of her father, when Rowanstar stared, his fur flattening, his eyes roving over Demonpoppa’s enormous form, then sat down.
“Very well,” he grumbled. “But we have seen no coyotes or strange wild dogs. They do not pass the horseplace. Tawnypelt and I have kits on the way. ShadowClan prospers with many kits and apprentices.” Rowanstar’s voice rang with pride. “And we will get them through Leaf Bare with no problems.”
“Congratulations! A reason to enjoy this Gathering, for who knows what Leaf Bare may bring,” Onestar spoke up, his golden-copper eyes calm. “If all news has been shared, let’s mingle and enjoy.”
“I concur,” Bramblestar said, glancing at Onestar with a befuddled expression. Indipaw turned her head to peer across the space at Snowpaw. He watched her, and she felt a stab of longing, wanting to go talk to him. She stepped forward, paused, then walked toward the young tom, eager to speak to him. He met her gaze, tail up, his face breaking into an expression of delight. Enraged words destroyed the moment and Indipaw whipped her head around at Harespring's yowling.
“I don’t! This queen and her kits are just kittypets! Weak and fluffy. Drive them out!”
“I’ll show you weak and fluffy, mouse-brain!” Kyemama hissed, and Indipaw bared her fangs, her long dagger claws kneading the hard ground.
“We aren’t weak, mousebrain,” she impulsively snarled in retort. Harespring ignored her, glaring at Kyemama, and she growled. To Indipaw’s shock, he accepted her mother’s unspoken challenge, and leaped at her. She rushed to meet him, rearing up as he tried to slash her throat. His claws came away only with hunks of red hair from her ample ruff. She struck him, one paw on his face, the other on his shoulder, and slammed him to the frozen frosty ground. She held firm, even as he twisted under her grasp. His rear claws pummeled her flank, but she moved aside, and his flailing claws caught just more thick red fur. She held his face to the ground, clawtips just pricking past his pelt to his skin. He struggled to curl his hind feet around to rip her body, but his claws only swished through cold air. She pushed down with a firm grip, flexing her claws and toes. Indipaw glanced at the moon, which continued to glow unimpeded.
“Oww! You’re pushing a rock in my eye!” Harespring hissed. “Sand’s going up my nose!”
“Give me an excuse to squash your pathetic skull, you mouse-brained lump of crow food!” Kyemama snarled, and glared at Furzepelt, who crouched, ready to pounce. “Want some of this? I’ll rattle your brain so hard you’ll need someone to help you find fresh kill for the rest of your life.”
Indipaw quivered in place wanting to pounce on Furzepelt and drill her head into the dirt. A growl rumbled deep in her chest. Harespring yowled in pain, and he went limp. Only his tail twitched and slapped the hard ground. Furzepelt’s eyes widened and she slunk behind another warrior.
“Stop,” Onestar commanded. “Kyestorm, please, let him up. Harespring! Don’t make me sorry about my choice of deputy.”
Kyemama sprang back, and she released Harespring. He scurried over to sit under the Great Oak Tree, shaking his head.
“Cowards” Indipaw rumbled, stifling the urge to attack both of them. Kyemama looked up at the moon, which still shone bright in clear skies. Silverpelt sparkled.
“StarClan isn’t angry with me?” Kyemama finally managed to squeak. Indipaw stared with amazement, then felt smug, knowing StarClan approved of her mother's actions.
“No, nor am I,” Onestar broke the tension with a rare hearty mroow of laughter. Someone else tittered.
“Wish I had done that,” another cat meowed. Indipaw caught sight of a dark grey tail vanishing into the crowd of cats, as laughter echoed in the glade. Even Rowanstar looked amused, and Tawnypelt purred with mirth. A feline grin of pure delight spread over Mistystar’s face. Bramblestar looked ready to roll off his branch, his body shook so much with suppressed laughter. Demonpoppa looked ready to pop with pride, and Indipaw’s siblings and milk brothers gaped in pleased surprise. Harespring shook himself, and groomed his face, looking at the ground. He glanced Kyemama’s way with pure hatred,
“You have a way of getting the point across,” Brackenfur bumped Kyemama with his head. “That was splendid!”
“Well done,” whispered a dark gray tom, walking past Kyemama without looking her in the face. “I’ve wanted to do that for many seasons.”
Indipaw flattened her fur, and watched the mingling cats. Oatclaw met up with Smokepaw. His green eyes danced with delight, and hers sparkled in return. She thought about Snowpaw. The Clans frowned on inter-Clan relationships, and clearly Smokepaw did not care. Indipaw growled.
“Well, if she can, so can I.”
Indipaw turned her attention to the mingling Clans, and shivered. Cats greeted each other, purring and mrrowing in good spirits, sharing tongues, The young apprentice from ShadowClan stalked proudly up to Kyemama and Indipaw. His long white pelt puffed against the wind, and Indipaw stood, mesmerized by his black-patched head and the black spots on the apprentice’s tail, head, and ears.
“Hallo! I’m Snowpaw.” His gaze fell on Indipaw, and his yellow eyes widened briefly. “Who’s your daughter?”
“I’m Indipaw,” Indipaw answered for herself, and not a shred of animosity burned in her body. Snowpaw looked up at Indipaw, and like Oatclaw, only blinked, then purred delight. Indipaw stood rooted to the ground, suddenly wanting him to reciprocate. She inhaled deeply, drinking in his scent, not caring he smelled of ShadowClan.
“Hallo, Indipaw. I’m Snowpaw. Will you walk with me?”
“S-S-sure,” Indipaw stuttered, and they ambled over to the ShadowClan contingent, stopping in front of a black she-cat whom Indipaw recognized as Pinepaw.
“My sister, Pinepaw,” Snowpaw announced, and she gave Indipaw a feline grin.
“Glad you agreed to walk with him,” she chortled. “He’s been ogling you since you crossed the log bridge.”
“Really?”
“Yes,” Snowpaw answered, impulsively rubbing his head on her shoulder. Gasps went up from Indipaw’s siblings and clanmates. She convulsed, ready to snap and claw, but he raised his face to hers, and the urge to slap him into the next moon vanished like a puff of fog on a windy morning. She glanced at her fellow apprentices, all who paused to gape in shock. A small argument broke out, but Indipaw heard nothing of it. Greypaw trotted toward her, and she felt her muscles tense. He purposefully walked past her, rubbing his body against hers. She reacted without thought, hissing with a scream, and leaped sideways, slapping his flank with one of her huge white paws. Snowpaw gaped, backing up a step.
I’m, I’m sorry!” he stuttered. “I didn’t know you hated contact.”
“Don’t be sorry,” Indipaw’s heart suddenly pounded with the realization she may have alienated this sweet tom. She glared briefly at Greypaw, then turned back to Snowpaw, who turned away, his tail down, ears flat in obvious disappointment.
“I love to share tongues and to snuggle when sleeping,” he mewed. “You will never do that with me.”
“I, I, . . . “Indipaw stuttered then scowled. “You act like we’re going to be mates. We’re in different Clans.”
“I know,” Snowpaw agreed, then flattened his ears. “I don’t care. You’re the only she-cat I’ve ever had interest in."
“True,” Pinepaw guffawed, then sobered. “But she is a ThunderClan cat.”
“So?” Snowpaw retorted. “Tawnypelt came from that Clan.” Snowpaw lowered his head. “Doesn’t matter. You hate contact.”
“But I didn’t strike you!” Indipaw protested, leaping after him, suddenly not caring he came from ShadowClan. “Don’t you like me?”
“I do,” Snowpaw’s voice quivered and his black tail dragged behind him. “You had to really fight not to hit me, didn’t you.”
“No! That is it, I didn’t!” Indipaw trotted after him, easily caught up, and rubbed her body against his, She felt no inclination to strike or hiss. “See?”
“But what if I touch you?” Snowpaw mewled like a sad kit.
“Touch me,” Indipaw pleaded. “Here, I’ll sit with my back to you. You and Pinepaw, touch me but don’t tell me who. Just do it.”
“Come on, Snowpaw, let’s do this,” Pinepaw groused. “Or you’ll be pining all night.”
Indipaw sat, facing away from them. She twitched her tail, and looked up at the moon.
“Please, StarClan,” she whispered. “Let this be true.”
A paw rested on her back and she exploded, whirling, uttering a screaming hiss, paw raised to strike, coming face to face with Pinepaw. She sagged inwardly, lowered her paw, and trying to ignore Snowpaw’s wide woebegone gold eyes, she sat down again. Another paw swiped her back, and she spun around with a bared fangs, facing a white she-cat.
“Who are you?” Indipaw snarled.
“Needletail.” The silver-white she-cat scowled. “Pinepaw asked me to join this experiment. Great StarClan, you really can’t handle being touched.”
“No, I can’t, never could,” Indipaw replied, drawing a long quavering breath. She met Snowpaw’s golden gaze, and sat down again, her back turned to him. Sadness and disappointment welled up, but when another paw rested on her shoulder, she leaped sideways with a scream, smacking Rainpaw with a big paw. She flattened her fur immediately, and sat down.
At the next touch, she spun and almost slapped a plump white apprentice in the face. Her green-gold eyes dilated with dread.
“Who are you?” Indipaw asked, her anger dropping like a stone, as she eyed the she-cat, noting her black ears.
“Beepaw, Snowpaw and Pinepaw’s sister.”
“I’m sorry,” Indipaw mumbled, biting her tongue so she did not wail like a kit. Beepaw waddled off quickly.
“Hopeless,” Snowpaw muttered, fear and disappointment in his voice. Indipaw sat back down, head down, her heart full of dismay. A paw stepped on her lower back, and to Indipaw’s shock, she merely turned her head, coming face to face with Snowpaw’s golden eyes.
“I didn’t flip out!” Indipaw exclaimed, joy flashing through her. She pushed her face against his. “I didn’t! Only you can touch me.”
Snowpaw gaped at her, and she licked his face. Gasps, exclamation and a few titters rippled though the cats who watched. Smokepaw and Oatclaw nodded, and Bluepaw and Troutleap flashed her grins. Needletail sauntered away, tail waving.
“Good luck, Snowpaw. Don’t get so attached. Remember after the gathering, you’re enemies again.”
Indipaw ignored the remark, rubbing her body along Snowpaw’s. He slowly relaxed.
“So you can tolerate me touching you, but nobody else?” Snowpaw’s eyes grew round and wide.
“Yes, furball! Yes!” Indipaw danced in place. “And I like it!”
She pressed herself against him, and purred. His touch did not annoy her, and she took pleasure in the warmth of his body.
“That makes me happy!” Snowpaw head butted her, and she licked his ear. Needletail headed straight for her, and merely tapped Indipaw’s back with her tail.
“Don’t touch me,” Indipaw snarled. “Only Snowpaw can.”
Needletail sauntered away, tail up. Smokepaw and Oatclaw waved their tails, and Indipaw’s heart swelled with delight. The moon filled the island with silver light. Cold winds blowing across the lake sang in the trees, and nobody complained, not even Harespring, who joined Onestar on a lower branch in the Great Tree. Snowpaw and Indipaw stayed together, talking, and shared tongues. Indipaw took delight in his attentions, and she reciprocated.
“I wouldn’t get so friendly with another clan’s cat,” someone growled right in her ear. Indipaw snarled and leaped up away from the speaker. She immediately flattened her fur, and dipped her head, recognizing Rowanstar. Snowpaw gazed, startled, but pride sparkled his gold eyes.
“My apologies, Leader.” she mewed.
“Accepted,” Rowanstar nodded, but scowled. “You do understand cross clan relationships are taboo.”
“We know,” Snowpaw answered. “But we really like each other.”
“I won’t abide by a empty-headed fluffbrain in ShadowClan.” He bared the tips of his fangs.
“I’m not empty-headed,” Indipaw retorted, raising a paw, spreading her long toes. realizing she met the leader straight in the eyes. “I’m excelling in training!”
“Perhaps,” Rowanstar slanted back his ears, but tilted his head, eyeing her muscular body. He turned away, whipping his tail. “But you’re still a fluffhead.”
“No. . .” Snowpaw wrapped his tail around her head and mouth. She shivered, but only looked at him.
“I saw the way he sized you up,” Snowpaw explained. “You made an impression.”
“Somehow I doubt it,” Indipaw replied, shaking out her pelt.
“Forget him for now,” Snowpaw leaned into her. “It’s such a wonderful night. Let’s enjoy the time together.”
“Alright,” Indipaw agreed, and pushed Rowanstar’s disdain to the back of her mind. Her heart and mind opened up to the tom she towered over, and his touch told her he reciprocated the feelings. They found a spot to sit, share tongues, and talk.
Because of the jovial atmosphere, the Gathering broke up later than usual, but for Indipaw, it ended all too soon. Everyone said their farewells while the moon hung low over the lake.
“See you soon,” Indipaw mewed, touching noses with Snowpaw, losing herself in his golden gaze. She whirled away and followed her Clan home, filled with excitement.
“Amazing, sister,” Phantompaw meowed. “I’ve never known you to allow that much contact, not even when we still nursed off Kyemama.”
“I know,"Indipaw prattled on to her siblings. “I was close to striking, then he looked at me, with that sweet smile, his whiskers so far forward, his eyes blinking at me, and the urge just went away.”
“I know Oatclaw is for me. But I never imagined you getting close to anyone,” Smokepaw meowed.
“Do you really want to run the moors with him?” Indipaw asked. “I want to be with Snowpaw so badly, but ShadowClan frowns on inter-clan relationships.”
“I love Troutleap, and Mistystar is so nice!” Bluepaw interjected. “I’d go if they let me.”
“Why do you want to leave ThunderClan? Our Clan is always open to newcomers. Maybe all your beaus should come to our Clan.” Demonpaw spoke up. “Glad my beau is already here.”
“So I’m yours?” Sparkfire snorted, bumping him. “Did I ever agree to be seen with a mere apprentice?”
“You love me,” Demonpaw meowed with feigned outrage. “You love me! Can’t stay away.”
The two chortled, moving ahead, and talk among Demonpaw, Sparkfire, Phantompaw, Rainpaw and Greypaw turned to training and winning the competitions at the next Gathering. Indipaw bristled with jealously as Demonpaw and Sparkfire jostled each other, tails twined.
“Why do Clans frown on cross clan love?” Indipaw complained.
“Its been that way forever,” Greypaw answered her, glancing backward. “Part of the Warrior code.”
“Just seems wrong,” Indipaw mumbled. She barely acknowledged Gentlepaw grilling Jayfeather about his future trip to the Moonpool. Greypaw, Rainpaw, Demonpaw and Phantompaw rambled on and on about future training, and meeting their new friends again next Gathering for friendly competitions.
Indipaw moved along, taking pleasure in the crunching ice under her paws. Lake water lapped the shore, freezing with each wave. The ice patches grew larger and the crunch turned to loud cracking. As they crossed the stream into ThunderClan territory. Indipaw gazed across the lake toward ShadowClan’s territory, her thoughts only for Snowpaw. They turned up the hill to camp, and Indipaw missed him already.
“How can I miss him so much?” she wailed, approaching the apprentice’s den. “We just met.”
“I’ve been besotted with Sparkfire for as long as I can remember,” Demonpaw answered. “She said she felt the same since the day I was born. Some things are meant to be.”
“But he’s in ShadowClan, and Rowanstar doesn’t think I am good enough for Snowpaw,” Indipaw lamented.
“He’s an idiot,” Phantompaw exclaimed. “It’s why Kyemama smacked him at the last Gathering she went to. And StarClan did not get angry with her.”
“Maybe Snowpaw will come to ThunderClan,” Smokepaw suggested. “I hope Onestar will let me be with Oatclaw. I love the moors. You can run so fast and not worry about obstacles.”
“I think he’s hoping you go to WindClan,” Indipaw grumbled. “I saw the way he looked at you two.”
“Kyemama won’t like it,” Smokepaw murmured. “She may say no, and Bramblestar may not let me go either.”
“If it ever comes to be,” Smokepaw said. “We must promise to never ever hurt each other in inter-Clan battles.”
“I promise,” Bluepaw agreed.
“So do I,” Indipaw replied with a gusty sigh. She entered the apprentice’s den first and went to her nest. She curled up into it, wishing to feel Snowpaw’s body beside hers. The other apprentices found their nests and dropped into them. Indipaw covered her face with her ample dark brown tabby tail. As her eyes closed, and her mind drifted into dreams of running with Snowpaw in the glade, a cry from the sentry broke into her slumber.
“Snow!” She recognized Molewhisker’s voice. “Its snowing!”
She tucked up her paws, and buried her nose in her tail. The wind whistled over the den, and cold seeped through the few gaps the builders missed. Indipaw wondered if she could ever leave ThunderClan to be with Snowpaw. Smokepaw already knew her mind and heart, but Indipaw harbored some doubts, especially with all the cross clan taboos some liked to drill into her ears. Indipaw slipped into slumber, with all her thoughts on Snowpaw of ShadowClan.
“I wouldn’t get so friendly with another clan’s cat,” someone growled right in her ear. Indipaw snarled and leaped up away from the speaker. She immediately flattened her fur, and dipped her head, recognizing Rowanstar. Snowpaw gazed, startled, but pride sparkled his gold eyes.
“My apologies, Leader.” she mewed.
“Accepted,” Rowanstar nodded, but scowled. “You do understand cross clan relationships are taboo.”
“We know,” Snowpaw answered. “But we really like each other.”
“I won’t abide by a empty-headed fluffbrain in ShadowClan.” He bared the tips of his fangs.
“I’m not empty-headed,” Indipaw retorted, raising a paw, spreading her long toes. realizing she met the leader straight in the eyes. “I’m excelling in training!”
“Perhaps,” Rowanstar slanted back his ears, but tilted his head, eyeing her muscular body. He turned away, whipping his tail. “But you’re still a fluffhead.”
“No. . .” Snowpaw wrapped his tail around her head and mouth. She shivered, but only looked at him.
“I saw the way he sized you up,” Snowpaw explained. “You made an impression.”
“Somehow I doubt it,” Indipaw replied, shaking out her pelt.
“Forget him for now,” Snowpaw leaned into her. “It’s such a wonderful night. Let’s enjoy the time together.”
“Alright,” Indipaw agreed, and pushed Rowanstar’s disdain to the back of her mind. Her heart and mind opened up to the tom she towered over, and his touch told her he reciprocated the feelings. They found a spot to sit, share tongues, and talk.
Because of the jovial atmosphere, the Gathering broke up later than usual, but for Indipaw, it ended all too soon. Everyone said their farewells while the moon hung low over the lake.
“See you soon,” Indipaw mewed, touching noses with Snowpaw, losing herself in his golden gaze. She whirled away and followed her Clan home, filled with excitement.
“Amazing, sister,” Phantompaw meowed. “I’ve never known you to allow that much contact, not even when we still nursed off Kyemama.”
“I know,"Indipaw prattled on to her siblings. “I was close to striking, then he looked at me, with that sweet smile, his whiskers so far forward, his eyes blinking at me, and the urge just went away.”
“I know Oatclaw is for me. But I never imagined you getting close to anyone,” Smokepaw meowed.
“Do you really want to run the moors with him?” Indipaw asked. “I want to be with Snowpaw so badly, but ShadowClan frowns on inter-clan relationships.”
“I love Troutleap, and Mistystar is so nice!” Bluepaw interjected. “I’d go if they let me.”
“Why do you want to leave ThunderClan? Our Clan is always open to newcomers. Maybe all your beaus should come to our Clan.” Demonpaw spoke up. “Glad my beau is already here.”
“So I’m yours?” Sparkfire snorted, bumping him. “Did I ever agree to be seen with a mere apprentice?”
“You love me,” Demonpaw meowed with feigned outrage. “You love me! Can’t stay away.”
The two chortled, moving ahead, and talk among Demonpaw, Sparkfire, Phantompaw, Rainpaw and Greypaw turned to training and winning the competitions at the next Gathering. Indipaw bristled with jealously as Demonpaw and Sparkfire jostled each other, tails twined.
“Why do Clans frown on cross clan love?” Indipaw complained.
“Its been that way forever,” Greypaw answered her, glancing backward. “Part of the Warrior code.”
“Just seems wrong,” Indipaw mumbled. She barely acknowledged Gentlepaw grilling Jayfeather about his future trip to the Moonpool. Greypaw, Rainpaw, Demonpaw and Phantompaw rambled on and on about future training, and meeting their new friends again next Gathering for friendly competitions.
Indipaw moved along, taking pleasure in the crunching ice under her paws. Lake water lapped the shore, freezing with each wave. The ice patches grew larger and the crunch turned to loud cracking. As they crossed the stream into ThunderClan territory. Indipaw gazed across the lake toward ShadowClan’s territory, her thoughts only for Snowpaw. They turned up the hill to camp, and Indipaw missed him already.
“How can I miss him so much?” she wailed, approaching the apprentice’s den. “We just met.”
“I’ve been besotted with Sparkfire for as long as I can remember,” Demonpaw answered. “She said she felt the same since the day I was born. Some things are meant to be.”
“But he’s in ShadowClan, and Rowanstar doesn’t think I am good enough for Snowpaw,” Indipaw lamented.
“He’s an idiot,” Phantompaw exclaimed. “It’s why Kyemama smacked him at the last Gathering she went to. And StarClan did not get angry with her.”
“Maybe Snowpaw will come to ThunderClan,” Smokepaw suggested. “I hope Onestar will let me be with Oatclaw. I love the moors. You can run so fast and not worry about obstacles.”
“I think he’s hoping you go to WindClan,” Indipaw grumbled. “I saw the way he looked at you two.”
“Kyemama won’t like it,” Smokepaw murmured. “She may say no, and Bramblestar may not let me go either.”
“If it ever comes to be,” Smokepaw said. “We must promise to never ever hurt each other in inter-Clan battles.”
“I promise,” Bluepaw agreed.
“So do I,” Indipaw replied with a gusty sigh. She entered the apprentice’s den first and went to her nest. She curled up into it, wishing to feel Snowpaw’s body beside hers. The other apprentices found their nests and dropped into them. Indipaw covered her face with her ample dark brown tabby tail. As her eyes closed, and her mind drifted into dreams of running with Snowpaw in the glade, a cry from the sentry broke into her slumber.
“Snow!” She recognized Molewhisker’s voice. “Its snowing!”
She tucked up her paws, and buried her nose in her tail. The wind whistled over the den, and cold seeped through the few gaps the builders missed. Indipaw wondered if she could ever leave ThunderClan to be with Snowpaw. Smokepaw already knew her mind and heart, but Indipaw harbored some doubts, especially with all the cross clan taboos some liked to drill into her ears. Indipaw slipped into slumber, with all her thoughts on Snowpaw of ShadowClan.
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
PART TWO
Over the next few days, as the light snow melted into the ground, Indipaw thought about Snowpaw every waking moment, faltering in her training, and missing kills. One morning, after she slipped and missed an easy catch, allowing the squirrel to scamper up a tree, Thornclaw sat down, scowling at her.
“Focus,” he growled. “You’re far better than this.”
“Sorry,” Indipaw apologized.
“Just concentrate and stop thinking of someone you just met,” Thornclaw reprimanded her with a harsh growl and curl of lip. “You’re the best apprentice I’ve ever trained. Act like it.”
“I am?” Indipaw perked up at the praise.
“Come on. Your mother is leading a patrol. We’ll join her.”
“Where?”
“ShadowClan border,” Thornclaw answered, his scowl giving way to an understanding smile. Thorclaw lead her to Kyemama, who welcomed them, and they set off. Eagerness trembled Indipaw’s legs. They reached the border, near the stream, and Indipaw heard movement across the border. Tigerheart poked his head past a clump of bushes.
“What do we have here? A fuzzball patrol?”
“I’ll show you fuzzball,” Kyemama snarled, but her eyes danced with more mirth than anger.
“My fuzzhead!” The familiar voice jerked Indipaw’s ears alert, and her heart beat furiously as Snowpaw stepped up next to Tigerheart. Indipaw raced to the stream edge and stretched her neck.
“Snowpaw!”
The ShadowClan apprentice hurried to his side of the stream and copied her. They touched noses, stretching across the stream, forepaws in their own territories. Both patrols groaned. Someone behind Tigerheart tittered.
Screeches of war erupted from WindClan territory, shattering the moment. A shriek from Smokepaw reverberated under the trees.
“Help! Help WindClan!” Smokepaw’s words turned inarticulate. Indipaw spun away from Snowpaw, fear for he sister pounding her heart. Her sister’s shrieks echoed out over the lake. Indipaw answered with a strident cry of defiance.
“We have to help my sister and WindClan!” Indipaw cried.
“ThunderClan! ATTACK!” Kyemama bellowed, and raced across the territory to Smokepaw’s aid. Tigerheart cried out, and he leaped after her. Snowpaw darted forward, running at Indipaw’s side. Smokepaw’s yowl of rage echoed across the land, spurring everyone for more speed. Kyemama led the charge, voice raised in wildcat yowls of outrage.
They burst onto the scene, just at the border between WindClan and ThunderClan to see a huge group of rogues, fighting WindClan’s warriors. The rogues outnumbered them, and appeared bent on killing all of WindClan. A big white tom with black spotting rolled on the ground with Onestar, his black tail puffed and lashing to and fro in fury. The WindClan’s leader’s eyes shone with shock, and Indipaw picked up a few snarled words here and there about mother, kit, and son, but paid little mind to what it meant. The rogues attacked relentlessly and with not a shred of honor. Kyemama bellowed like a wild cat of myth. The rogues paused, and all gaped for one shocked moment at Kyemama and her enraged daughters, before they fought back. They converged on the patrols, but Kyemama’s huge wicked claws kept them at bay. Indipaw joined her mother, taking pleasure in tearing into these strangers that dare invade her sister’s beau’s Clan’s land.
ThunderClan warriors, along with Bluepaw, Phantompaw and Demonpaw, dropped into the fight, plowing over the small ridge along the stream. Alderheart, running just behind Sparkfire, recognized the leader, and gestured at him with his tail.
“That’s Darktail!” Alderheart yowled in anger. “The evil rogues we fled from in the abandoned gorge! They’re here to kill us all!”
“Attack!” Bramblestars’s voice commanded, echoed by Rowanstar, and Mistystar, who raced up the hill into the fray. The rogues barely knew what slashed into their midst. Blood and fur flew from under wicked huge paws.
“Die invaders!”Indipaw yowled, and slapped aside a snarling long-haired black she-cat, flinging her several foxlengths along the ground. The she-cat screamed, unable to get up.
"Raven!" one of the rogues cried in distress. Raven thrashed until she lost strength, and went silent. Bluepaw grabbed a big brown tabby tom by the neck, and she and Troutleap drowned him in the stream, using a well-known RiverClan trick. Phantompaw pounced on Darktail, thrusting him off Onestar.
“This is between me and my father,” Darktail screeched, but Phantompaw ignored his words and rammed him against a tree trunk, snapping his neck like a twig.
“Help!” a cry came from the stream edge, where Furzepelt lay, hurt, unable to defend herself against her attacker.
“Rain!” Alderheart’s angry cry rang out. “Leave her be!”
Demonpaw and Berrynose charged at Rain, a large long-furred grey tom, perhaps the second in command, and saved Furzepelt’s life. They attacked from opposite sides, and Demonpaw tore gaping wounds in the tom’s flanks while Berrynose attacked the exposed throat. Demonpaw dragged the mortally wounded screaming tom to the stream and flung him in the icy water. He sank under and never resurfaced.
Snowpaw’s yowl of pain whirled Indipaw around, and the ShadowClan apprentice battled with a large brown tabby with spiky long fur.
“Nettle!” Alderheart yowled and hurried to assist Snowpaw, but Indipaw launched herself at the large tom. She smashed into him, chest to chest, latching the claws of her huge paws into the tom’s neck. He raked her with his claws, but only tore out chunks of her thick pelt. She shoved him backward, screeching inarticulately with rage. Her claws ripped into his throat and neck, and his retaliatory swipes grew weaker and weaker. He fell over, and she pounced on him, holding him down, claws digging deep into flesh. The tom uttered one gurgling yowl.
“Nobody hurts my Snowpaw!” she shrieked at the dying tom, who stared at her in shock. His mouth worked, but no words came forth, only blood. His eyes glazed over, and he went limp. Indipaw stood a moment, catching her breath, then returned to the ShadowClan apprentice. She licked Snowpaw’s face.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes,” Snowpaw sat up. “I thought I was going to die.”
“Not on mt watch.” Indipaw turned to hiss at the body of Snowpaw’s attacker, then rubbed her big head all over him. Her siblings and clanmates stared in amazement. Rowanstar gazed at her, then nodded.
“Well done, apprentice,” he said. Commotion turned Indipaw’s attention to her leggy sister. Smokepaw leaped on a silver-grey tom’s back.
“Roach! No!” The same rogue that wailed Raven’s name screamed the tom’s name before someone thumped the stranger to the ground. Indipaw saw Bramblestar standing over the wirey grey and white tom, who lay inert and silent. Bramblestar glanced at Indipaw, battle light blazing in his amber eyes. Smokepaw’s voice turned her head.
“Roach? its what you are!” Smokepaw screamed. “You dare touch Oatclaw!”
The tall black-smoke apprentice slashed Roach’s flanks and sinking her teeth into the rogue’s neck. She crushed him under her weight on top of a stone, and broke his back. He shrieked his pain to the cold sky. The battle ended before it barely started. The remainder of the rogue band fled, lucky to escape with their lives. They scattered, disappearing into the undergrowth, abandoning whatever diabolical plan Darktail chained them with. The patrols stood, heaving for breath, and Onestar shook his bloodied pelt, as WindClan gathered.
“Thank you.” He dipped his head. “I am sorry this happened. It’s my fault, but I’ll wait for another time to explain.”
“It’s not all your fault,” Alderheart interjected. “They trailed me from the old Gorge where I searched for SkyClan.”
“Only because they knew you were a Clan cat, far from home,” Onestar replied. “Please don’t blame yourself.”
“Let’s allow WindClan to heal,” Bramblestar spoke up. “We’ll know in time what the root cause of this attack was. ThunderClan, retreat”
The other leaders followed suit. Indiclaw twined tails with Snowpaw in a quick farewell. As they trotted back to camp to rest and tend wounds, Indipaw wondered if anyone else heard Darktail call Onestar his father. Nobody mentioned it, so she kept silent, but she felt the actions taken this day averted some great disaster.
In the days that followed, a few cats in WindClan grew ill, but with quick thinking and proper treatment everyone recovered. One cat in ThunderClan developed some symptoms, but Leafpool quarantined him to the medicine den. Indipaw and her kin never caught the illness, and she surmised somehow the quick intervention by her mother and siblings put up a barrier to the mysterious sickness. Kyemama explained the custom two legs used in vaccinating cats against horrible diseases. Indipaw understood how Kyemama passed some resistance to Indipaw and her siblings through her body as she carried them to term and her milk while they nursed. Indipaw briefly wondered about this mysterious SkyClan, why the leaders never spoke of them, and what happened to them. Gentleoak obviously knew more than he let on, but she vowed not to pry or break his confidence. Somehow, the problem fell to Alderheart to solve. Indipaw pushed the thoughts from her mind, her heart returning to Snowpaw, as she went about her duties, hoping to go to the next Gathering.
A moon passed since the Gathering, and Indipaw snuggled in the apprentices' den, as sunrise slanted light into camp. A cold wind blew, roaring in the trees, and she twitched her ears. She looked past her denmates, and beyond the den’s entrance, sparkling snow covered the hollow.
After those first flurries the night of the last Gathering, two late Leaf Fall snowfalls buried the lake and Clan territories. The lake surface froze early, thawed and froze again a quarter moon later, before staying frozen the last half moon. Indipaw listened to the wind, her desire to hunt and run in the snow battling her wish to stay warm in the den. She thought of the battle with the rogues that attempted to take out the Clans before the snow flew, and inhaled with pride and satisfaction. Rowanstar actually greeted her at the border with cool civility whenever her patrol met his.
“Come on, lazy tails!” Thornclaw and Cloudtail meowed. “We need to hunt and patrol.”
Growling and groaning filled the spacious warm den. Indipaw raised her head and yawned, and reluctantly uncurled her body. She stood up, and shook herself. She allowed her fellow apprentices file out before she sauntered out into the snow. Warriors poured from the Warrior’s den, ready to get to the day’s tasks.
Out in camp, Squirrelflight organized the patrols. Demonstone and Brackenfur hurried to work, checking dens for wind damage, breaking trails through the snow. Briarlight’s rock lay buried, and Indipaw knew she stayed in the medicine cat’s den, playing with Twigkit, one of two kits Alderheart found on his last journey. Larkkit, Honeykit and Leafkit apprenticed last moon. Lilyheart stayed in the nursery for Twigkit’s sake, but the little one spent a lot of time with Briarlight. Indipaw flicked her tail, wondering if Twigkit might choose to be a medicine cat upon apprenticing. Maybe ShadowClan took the wrong kit, she mused, ThunderClan had four medicine cats already. Indipaw scowled, wondering why ShadowClan needed to take a kit at all.
“Come,” Thornclaw said. “I think a training session is in order.”
“Really?” Indipaw groaned. “What more do I need to learn? Can’t we patrol ShadowClan’s border?”
“Hunting in deep snow is a skill you should practice,” Thornclaw admonished her. Indipaw jerked her head alert as distant yipping echoed over the frozen lake.
“The coyotes,” she muttered.
“Try not to worry,” her mentor said. “Let’s hunt.”
“Okay,” Indipaw agreed, following Thornclaw out of camp and into the deep snows up the hill. Indipaw rolled in the snow, camouflaging her dark back. Thornclaw nodded approval. Ahead, a squirrel dug around for hidden tree nuts. Indipaw froze, and crept up only when the animal faced away from her. She gathered her strong legs beneath her and leaped, but the squirrel bolted up the nearest tree, chittering at her.
Mousedung!” Indipaw swore, attacking the spot with dagger claws, flinging snow and leaves behind her.
“You twitched your tail tip,” Thornclaw said.
“I’m becoming horrible,” Indipaw hissed, her entire coat bristling with a mix of shame and frustration. “I wasn’t thinking of Snowpaw then and I still missed.”
“Come,” Thornclaw turned and trotted back toward camp. “We can try again after a snack and rest.”
They entered the hollow, and Indipaw hurried to her nest, feeling undeserving of anything from the fresh kill pile.
“Indipaw, you should eat something!” Thornclaw called after her. She merely flattened her ears, and entered the empty apprentice den. She flopped in her nest, huffing with her frustrations, but fell asleep after a few minutes.
“Fresh kill! Lionblaze’s patrol brought home HUGE fresh kill!” the sentry, Dewnose, yowled with excitement. Indipaw roused herself from her nap, and hurried out into camp, curiosity killing what remained of her ill-feelings. Excitement thrummed the air. Indipaw stared in amazement, forgetting her own disappointment in her failure, as her mother grabbed a doe by the back of the head. She dragged the body through the entrance while her patrolmates pushed. Indipaw stared in amazement. Cats swarmed around them, meowing and yowling in amazement. Demonpoppa pushed forward, his eyes gleaming.
“Such a small deer! I never thought I’d eat venison again!” he meowed with delight. He grabbed a foreleg, then using all the strength in his massive musculature, hauled backwards. They dragged the prey to the center of the camp, just as Bramblestar returned with his patrol, empty-jawed and looking tired. Indipaw sympathized. Demonpoppa trotted to the medicine cat den to fetch Briarlight.
“What under StarClan is going on?” Bramblestar demanded, but gaped in shock when cats parted to allow him through. “A Roe deer? How? It wasn’t crow-food, was it?”
“No!” Berrynose answered, his stub tail shaking with delight. “Our patrol caught it. It was Kyestorm’s idea to use our tree technique to hunt and it worked! Kyestorm dropped on this doe and held it down! Lionblaze and I attacked from the front and our apprentices from the side, and Demonpaw delivered the kill bite!”
“The kill was quick and efficient,” Lionblaze added. “I’m still shocked we caught a deer. But Kyestorm seemed so excited. She said she’d never seen such small deer before and wanted to taste venison again!”
“Well done!” Bramblestar meowed, pride ringing in his voice. He gazed pointedly at Kyemama. “I’ve never regretted taking you and your mate in, and you’ve paid us back with more than I ever expected. We’ll all feast before it freezes!” Bramblestar tapped a haunch. “Take this to the Elder’s den.”
”No. I’m thinkin’ we feast t’gether, like lions o’ ancient times!” Purdy strolled out of the Elder’s den, eyes alert, nose twitching. Graystripe and Millie followed. Indipaw gazed at Purdy fondly. “Fine catch, youngin’! I knew yer instincts ran true.”
“Amazing. This will feed all of us today!” Leafpool said, as the medicine cats joined the crowd around the prey. Indipaw hung back, hating the thought of being bumped.
“This is truly a gift.” Bramblestar looked skyward. “We thank StarClan for this abundance of food, and for the cat and her kin who think outside Clan convention, who caught this meal for her clan. Elders first, kits, then the medicine cats and Briarlight, then we all feed. There is more than enough for all of us.” Bramblestar turned to Kyemama. “You take my place, and the first meal, Warrior, for without your extraordinary thinking, we’d not have this bounty.”
Kyemama obeyed her Clan leader, and settled in by the doe’s belly. She tore it open with one pass of a large forepaw, and the scent and taste of venison filled Indipaw’s senses. Though she drooled with anticipation she joined her fellow apprentices in carrying large portions to the Elders, Medicine cats, Twigkit, Briarlight and Daisy, before taking their own meals. Indipaw forgot everything as the tasty meat filled her mouth. Good-natured banter echoed in the hollow even as jaws tore meat off of the enormous fresh kill.
The entire Clan hung in camp that afternoon, taking bites from the enormous fresh kill when trips to the dirt place made more room in bulging stomachs. As the sun sank in the western sky, the satiated Clan pulled even more meat from the carcass, until only skin and bone littered the ground. Indipaw sprawled on patch of ground swept clean of snow by the wind, crunching on a rib bone. He siblings and milk brothers ringed her, as always to give her space.
“This is a feast I will never forget,” Thornclaw said, sitting down beside Smokepaw.
“Aye!” Purdy called from just outside the Elder’s den. “Tis feastin’ fit fer kings! Or queens. Great red queen, I hope yer prowess brings more deer meat o’r Leaf Bare.”
A cheer went up from the entire Clan, and Indipaw tried to eat one more morsel, but her stomach rumbled in warning. She licked her lips.
“Don’t dare throw up,” Phantompaw teased.
“Never, but I can’t stuff myself, unlike you,” Indipaw snapped. “Kyemama says you’re like a two leg machine that sucks up things and never pops.”
Laughter, yowling and purring filled the camp, and by time the moon rose, only the fur and skin remained of the little doe. Berrynose and Thornclaw trotted to the entrance, taking up sentry duty.
“Come on, Indipaw, help us!” Demonpaw called out. She nodded, and grabbed up the tail. The apprentices dragged the deerskin out of camp, leaving it down by the lake shore, by the stream. Phantompaw dragged it on a big rock, and marked it.
“Come on, we all must. WindClan surely will find this and be so jealous.”
Indipaw went along with the caper, but she thought only of her nest. She followed her fellow apprentices, led by Demonpaw, Greypaw,and Larkpaw, back to camp. They headed to the apprentice’s den, meowing and laughing. Indipaw chortled in spite of herself, and sauntered to her nest. The other youngsters gave her room to get to her nest. She dropped into it, drifted off to sleep, dreaming of shocked WindClan patrols as they discovered the impossible item, with Snowpaw at her side.
“INDIPAW!” The screech jerked Indipaw out of her dreams. She jumped up, and exploded out of the den, not caring who she stepped on. The moon hung low in the western sky, and Indipaw barreled out into the snow, knowing she just heard Snowpaw scream. She barely noticed her fellow apprentices rushing out into camp.
“ShadowClan intruder!” Birchfall’s voice echoed in the hollow. He stood by the entrance, bristling with indignation. Indipaw launched herself across camp, followed by her siblings, and fellow apprentices. She stopped, poised for action, legs trembling. Her ears twitched and as she opened her mouth to call her beau, his voice reverberated in the cold air.
“HELP! HELP INDIPAW!” The desperate shrieking drew closer. Indipaw heard someone pelting headlong up the slope from the lake. Twigs snapped, rocks bounced, and ice crackled under the paws of the incoming cat. She knew Snowpaw scrambled up the slope. Birchfall moved to intercept the intruder.
“Snowpaw! Are the rogues back?” Indipaw responded, running to the entrance just as Snowpaw barreled in, She shoved her body between a bristling Birchfall and the wild-eyed terrorized apprentice. “Please, Birchfall! Don’t attack! He’s alone!”
Screeching of cats echoed across the lake, followed by howling and yelping. Indipaw’s heart leaped into her throat. No, not rogues! Coyotes! Indipaw became aware of her mother and clanmates swarming around her and Snowpaw. Bramblestar leaped down from his den, Squirrelflight at his heels.
“What under StarClan is going on out here?”
“Please! Bramblestar! Kyestorm! Indipaw! Please help us!” Snowpaw yowled in misery. “Coyotes attacked! My Clan’s in danger! Warriors are hurt and dying! Please come! They’re destroying us!”
“You ran instead of staying to fight?” Thornclaw asked, his voice soft, taking the sting out of the question.
“Someone had to!” Snowpaw wailed in anguish. “I think they killed my sister! Please! Help us! I don’t care what our leader thinks. We’ll all die if you don’t help!”
“Warriors!” Bramblestar’s yowl reverberated off the cliff. “We fight to help ShadowClan! Two Clans will be ONE!”
He leaped forward. Indipaw followed, as did all the warriors. Snowpaw surged to the front, leading them down the slope to the lakeshore. Indipaw followed on his heels. They skirted the shoreline, cutting across the ice at the mouth of the stream into ShadowClan territory. The desperate screeching of cats and the sharp yelps of the invaders filled the air.
“Hurry!” Snowpaw wailed. “Tawnypelt’s kits!”
“NO!” Indipaw yowled, as ThunderClan charged into ShadowClan’s camp. Indipaw’s heart skipped a beat as the scene spread out before her. Three coyotes, two adults and a half grown pup, ravaged the camp. Warriors clawed and tore at the canines, slowing them down. One young apprentice lay a fox length away, bleeding and Indipaw recognized Pinepaw. Her heart swelled with angst. She spotted Beepaw crawling into the Medicine cat den, trying to shield Littlecloud with her body. Blood stained her white pelt.
Warriors ranged in front of the nursery and Elder’s den, as the yellow-eyed canines snapped at them, trying to get the terrified kits and helpless queens. Rowanstar fought like a tornado with claws, and Tawnypelt stood just inside, striking at any muzzle that neared the entrance. The big male coyote reached its head forward, braving Tawnypelt’s wails and claws and grabbed a two moon old kit. Indipaw’s heart pounded, but her mother’s thunderous shriek of outrage startled her.
“NOOOO! DROP THAT KIT!” Kyemama bellowed, her voice loud and booming, and she plunged at the male coyote. She launched herself at him, and landed on the coyote’s face. Kyemama sank her monstrous claws into his head and slashed in a fury. He howled and dropped the kit, who shrieked in terror. Snowpaw grabbed the kit, and returned him to the nursery. Indipaw followed him, just as the coyote scrambled to his feet and bolted, trying to shake Kyemama free. She let go and dropped to the bloody, churned up snow. The coyote raced out of camp, sporting ripped ears, one clawed eye, furrowed bloody face, and many deep slashes on his flanks and belly.
Indipaw, Snowpaw, and Smokepaw attacked the female, along with Thornclaw, Spiderleg and Bumblestripe. Her fellow fighters bumped her and she funneled her reactions into the enemy, sinking her large claws deep, ripping flesh with all her strength.The female leaped up, and followed her mate, yelping as if the hounds of hell nipped her tail. Indipaw put her rage into one last swipe that tore a chunk out of the canine’s haunch The apprentices harried the youngest coyote.The pup rolled over, his body covered in wounds, and flew after its parents, kiyiing his terror to the moon.
All the warriors stopped, and faced ShadowClan, most of whom lay injured. Rowanstar stood in front of the nursery, yellow eyes wide, heaving for air, bite marks riddling his shoulders. Indipaw realized in a flash of horror Rowanstar lost a life protecting his kits and mate. Tawnypelt moaned, and the three kits wobbled out and pressed against their mother, unhurt. The one the coyote grabbed sat, wet with drool with a few chunks of missing pelt, but no wounds. Bramblestar hurried to his sister’s side, and Tawnypelt leaned into him, holding a foreleg clear of the ground. Indipaw thought she saw Violetkit huddled at the back of the den. The remaining elders crept out of their den past Crowfrost, Tigerheart, and Scorchfur. Rowanstar shivered, then leveled his gaze on Snowpaw. The blood-spattered apprentice dipped his head. Indipaw moved to his side, ready to defend him.
“You ran away, not from fear, but to bring help,” Rowanstar murmured, his voice hoarse.
“Yes. I knew Indipaw would help, and if she did, so would her mother and siblings, and all of ThunderClan.” Snowpaw answered. Indipaw licked blood from his fur. Rowanstar turned and gazed at Kyemama.
“You saved my family, my clan, by agreeing to come with our apprentice,” Rowanstar nodded. “This night, like the day the rogues attacked, two Clans truly became one. I shall not forget this.”
“I could never refuse to help,” Kyestorm mewed. Indipaw hung her head, leaning into Snowpaw. His body shook with grief. Snowpaw’s sister, Pinepaw, lay silent, and two older apprentices lay sprawled near the elder’s den. Strikepaw, Jarrowpaw, Sleekpaw and Juniperpaw sat vigil beside them already, unsure of what to do. An Elder lay prone just outside the den, eyes unseeing, teeth bared in fury. A silver-white she-cat lay nearby, struggling to her feet, and Indipaw recognized Needletail. Alderheart hurried to her side. Gentlepaw raced over to the medicine cat den as Puddlepaw sagged to the ground. Behind him, inside, Littlecloud lay, eyes wild, and he panted, his breath harsh and ragged. Beepaw tried calming him despite her own injuries, by sharing tongues, and Indipaw felt more fondness for Snowpaw’s little chubby sister. Indipaw inhaled sharply, seeing a shimmer appear beside Rowanstar. The StarClan cat turned piercing yellow eyes to Kyemama, and nodded. Rowanstar glanced at the starry apparition, and dipped his head in acknowledgment.
“I’m sorry we didn’t get here sooner.” Kyemama mewed, and Blackstar’s form glittered, his body becoming translucent. Gasps and startled meows went up from the battle weary cats.
“Don’t be,” Rowanstar sat down, his body trembling.
“They died with honor and your arrival prevented them from becoming Coyote food.” Blackstar argued. “You have passed the second test of your destiny, and you honor me by what you did here this night.”
Blackstar’s form swirled and he vanished. Rowanstar stared for a long time at the empty air.
“Kyestorm, I wish I’d listened to you that long ago Gathering. I’m happy you’re on our side. Snowpaw, I am sorry about your sister. She defended me with everything she had while I lost a life.”
“She’s alive!” Gentlepaw meowed, joy in his voice, his cry breaking the sad moment. Puddlepaw, and Gentlepaw worked on Pinepaw. Indipaw watched in amazement as Gentlepaw skillfully treated Pinepaw. She leaned into Snowpaw.
“My brother is saving her life.” When Pinepaw opened her eyes, Gentlepaw left Pinepaw in Puddlepaw’s care to tend other injured.
The little black she-cat moaned, bringing Indipaw back from her thoughts. Snowpaw sank to his sister’s side. Indipaw followed, as if glued to his flank. Rowanstar bowed his head, as Kyemama, Bramblestar and others gathered together. He sagged to the ground.
“I think we need help.”
“Agreed,” Bramblestar said. “I’ll leave a few warriors who wish to stay, behind.”
Sudden pawfalls echoed in camp, and Mistystar and a large patrol of RiverClan’s best warriors burst into view. They stopped short, and Mistystar gaped.
“We’re too late!” Mistystar glanced at Kyemama, and took in the scene. “How did you get here so quickly?”
“Snowpaw alerted us and we came at his request. If not for him, we’d have gotten here way too late,” Bramblestar answered. “We were all dead asleep, stuffed to our teeth in deer meat.”
Pinepaw moaned again, returning Indipaw’s attention to Snowpaw’s sister. He rushed forward to nuzzle her and lick her wounded head. Indipaw lay on her chest next to him, only minutely aware of the conversations going on between the others. She heard Onestar arrive and Harespring’s hateful remarks but she cared only for Snowpaw and his sister. She barely acknowledged Kyemama when she left camp, leading a hunting patrol into ShadowClan’s territory. Snowpaw and Indipaw shared tongues with his sister, careful not to disturb any of Gentlepaw’s work with poultices and cob-webbing.
“We thought you died,” Snowpaw mewled.
“So did I,” Pinepaw whispered, and shivered. “I’m so cold.”
“We’ll keep you warm,” Indipaw declared, and rested her thick-furred body along Pinepaw’s back. Snowpaw lay against her belly. Together they kept Pinepaw warm, dozing, until the hunting party returned to camp, dragging their bounty. Indipaw jerked alert, scenting venison.
“Muntjac deer?” Mistystar exclaimed. “They’re so fast! How’d you catch them?”
“Well done!” Bramblestar called out. Kyemama dragged the prey to the center of camp, and looked at Rowanstar.
“This should help you all regain strength.” she said quietly, and stepped back. Demonpaw, Phantompaw and Lionblaze did likewise, though Phantompaw gazed wistfully at the fresh kill.
“Two-leg pig,” Demonpaw guffawed. Phantompaw only lashed his tail, and hitched his shoulders in a shrug, but his sea-green gaze never left the prey. Indipaw exchanged glances with Snowpaw.
“Yes, my brother is a glutton.” Indipaw purred.
Snowpaw laughed. ShadowClan warriors descended on the fresh kill, tearing it in pieces to give to injured warriors, elders and Tawnypelt and her kits. Rowanstar staggered to the fresh kill, and stared at it a long moment, then looked at Kyemama.
“Many thanks, and well done, Warrior.” Rowanstar gazed a moment at her, respect shining in his eyes, and took a chunk of meat, then gestured with his tail. “Take some yourself.”
“Thank you, Rowanstar,” Kyemama replied, and took a tiny bite.
“Come on,” Rowanstar scoffed. “There is plenty here for everyone.” He glanced at Onestar and Mistystar. “Including all of you.”
“Many thanks,” Mistystar dipped her head. “We feasted earlier this night and are full of fish, but I wish to try deer meat!”
“As do I,” Onestar said, moving to the second deer. Everyone ate a generous chunk, though ThunderClan cats took less, still full from the big meal earlier that night. Phantompaw carried a big chunk to Snowpaw and Indipaw.
“Make her eat some even if you have to chew it up for her. Gentlepaw’s orders,” he meowed, then hurried back to the kill. Snowpaw took big bites, filling himself, while Indipaw only ate what he politely offered. When her stomach balked, she chewed a few large chunks and lowered her head to Pinepaw’s muzzle.
“Eat.”
“Mmmm.” Pinepaw opened her mouth, and took the softened food. She gulped it down. “Is there more?”
“Sure is,” Indipaw answered, and together, she and Snowpaw fed her the ample morsels of fresh kill. They snuggled in to keep her warm, watching until Bramblestar’s voice rang over the camp.
“I need a few warriors to stay, and help in case those beasts return,’ Bramblestar yowled the command. “Who will stay?”
“I will,” Lionblaze stepped up. Birchfall moved next to Lionblaze.
“Me, too.”
“I will, too,” Thornclaw said, glancing at Indipaw.
“Of course I will,” Indipaw yowled back.
“I will,” Dovewing stood beside Birchfall, glancing at Tigerheart. Indipaw noticed the look that passed between the injured ShadowClan warrior and Dovewing. Both looked woebegone. Indipaw scowled, but kept her opinion on that relationship to herself. Pinepaw stirred.
“I think I’m too warm now.” She slowly rolled over and lay on her stomach. At that moment Phantompaw lead Indipaw’s siblings to her.
“Come on. Let’s check out those tracks.”
“Good idea, “ Indupaw stood up. Snowpaw rose with her.
“I agree. We can learn the scent of the enemy.”
Indipaw, Snowpaw, Demonpaw,and Phantompaw trotted to the back of camp where the coyotes barreled through the meager barrier of pine boughs. They examined the coyote tracks. drinking in the scents. Other warriors joined them, and learned the odor of the enemy. Phantompaw and Demonpaw took inhaled deeply, muzzles over the bloody tracks left by the coyote invaders.
“Weak weak defenses,” Demonpaw scoffed. He pointed with his bushy back tail. “Boulders there with briars anchored there and strung through the boughs may have stopped them.”
Phantompaw and Demonpaw agreed, gesturing with paw and tail.
“There, vines and briars anchored with stones make a fine blockade. Set up barriers on trails leading into the camp.” Demonpaw tapped a small boulder next to a small pine. “Then wrap the vines around the tree trunk woven with briars.”
Indipaw listened, sniffing the tracks left by the enemy, committing it to memory, while her brothers used their skill to fortify ShadowClan’s camp. Snowpaw sniffed the tracks.
“I will always hate this scent,” he growled. “Your brothers sure know their stuff.”
“Thanks to Brackenfur and my Demonpoppa, they sure do,” Indipaw agreed, turning her head briefly as the other Clans took their leave. She waved her tail, then returned to the work at hand. Demonpaw’s dexterous toes already weaved threatening barrier across the breach in the camp’s defenses. A moan from Pinepaw drew her attention. Snowpaw whirled and ran to her. Indipaw followed.
“Cold again,” she mewled, her teeth chattering. Without hesitation Indipaw draped over her back, and Snowpaw lay against her stomach. Pinepaw groaned with delight. Indipaw blinked, feeling sleepy, when Rowanstar padded up to them with a noticeable limp.
‘Thank you for staying,” ShadowClan’s leader purred, his words ragged.
“You’re more than welcome,” Indipaw purred back, glancing around at the tall pines. “Its nice here.”
“I’m sorry I was rude at the last gathering.”
“Don’t apologize.” Indipaw yawned. “I understand the rules.”
“But it doesn’t stop you from loving a cat from another clan.” Rowanstar sat down. “I think you and your sisters have a destiny beyond our code.”
“What do you mean?” Indipaw bristled with suspicion.
“You have your mother’s spunk all right,” Rowanstar said, then coughed, blood and spittle spraying the snow.
“You’re really hurt!” Indipaw interrupted in dismay.
“I’m healing,” Rowanstar assured her. “But both of your sisters are besotted with toms from other Clans. Perhaps this is meant to be. What remains now is where you decide to live.”
“What?” Indipaw resisted the urge to sit up.
“You must decide what Clan you will raise your kits in.” Rowanstar stood up.
“My kits?” Indpaw hissed, causing Rowanstar to utter a raspy laugh.
“Yes, yours and Snowpaw’s,” Rowanstar paused, turned and padded away, glancing back once. “That is inevitable”
“He’s speaking in riddles.” Snowpaw sneezed, hiding his head against Pinepaw, who shook with silent mirth.
“Worse than an old StarClan prophecy,” Indipaw spat, annoyed. “I’m not having kits. I want to be a warrior before that happens.”
“Me too, but it would be nice to live in the same Clan.” Snowpaw yawned. “Let’s sleep. We can talk about what we want in the morning.”
“Sure,” Indipaw laid her head beside Pinepaw’s, and closed her eyes. Leave ThunderClan? Could she? She inhaled a deep breath, letting it out slowly, realizing she allowed two cats to not only touch her, but snuggle with her to keep warm. The scent of pine filled her sinuses and she found it pleasant, soothing. Did she belong here?
The next day, work began to help ShadowClan rebuild and recover. Indipaw left Pinepaw’s care to Gentlepaw, who moved Pinepaw to the medicine cat den. She assisted her brothers with the building and fortifying of barriers. For two sunrises, she worked, hunted and slept, Snowpaw and her brothers at her side, feeling content, until the night her brothers and other ThunderClan warriors left for home. She hung back, thinking to stay, but feeling the tug of her birthplace. She inhaled the pine scent and listened to the wind singing in the boughs of the trees.
“Stay if you wish,” Thornclaw said. “Just come home soon to resume training.”
“I will,” Indipaw meowed, and as her clanmates and siblings left, she joined Snowpaw in the apprentice den, Many regarded her warily, and she saw old clan distrust in many eyes. The walls of the den closed in on her, and the distance from her nest to the next narrowed to nothing. To her dismay, even Beepaw’s blue eyes drilled into her. Her pelt bristled, and she thought all of them sought to touch her, even slap her. Indipaw suddenly felt a stab of severe homesickness. She never before felt such anxiety and longing, not even when she left Kyemama’s side to join the apprentices after her ceremony. She shivered against Snowpaw, but his presence failed to allay her rising dread. Waves of fear, anger and longing choked her, and she jumped up. Her heart pounded, she trembled all over, and sweat broke out on her paws. She hissed.
“Don’t touch me!”
“Indipaw?” Snowpaw queried.
“What’s wrong?” Strikepaw asked, his expression turning to surprise.
“Who dares touch you?” Yarrowpaw queried.
“I’m sorry. I have to go home,” she said to Snowpaw, leaping out of the den.
“Why?” Snowpaw followed her out into the snow.
“I miss my family,” she explained in a quavering meow, omitting how his clanmates made her feel very unwelcome, even after all that occurred the last few days.
“I thought you’d stay with me,” Snowpaw mumbled.
“Me, too.”Indipaw mewled. “I like it here but, but . . .” Indipaw paused, then brightened. “Come with me?”
“I can’t leave my sister,” Snowpaw whimpered. “Please don’t go.”
Annoyance flashed through Indipaw, but before Snowpaw noticed, she spun away, panic racing her heart, pouring sweat from her pawpads into the snow. She wanted nothing more than to curl up with Kyemama, but knew that kittenish impulse impossible, so her own nest beside her brothers and sisters suited her just fine.
“I have to. I’m sorry,” she cried, head down, as she dashed for home, feeling like a cowardly mousebrain.
“Indipaw!” Snowpaw’s anguish cut into her heart, but did not reduce the homesickness and angst that throttled her like a twisting vine.
“I’m sorry,” she wailed, her heart squeezing. She dared not look back. She raced across the snowy land, leaped the stream at the border and headed for camp.
“Indipaw?” Cloudtail queried from the sentry’s perch.
“Don’t ask!” Indipaw snarled, and dashed for the apprentice’s den. She scurried in, nimbly avoiding touching anyone, She dropped into her nest, quivering, inhaling the scent of her nest, trying to calm this alien emotion that roared though her body.
“Indipaw?” Smokepaw asked softly. “Are you all right?”
“No,” Indipaw sniffled through her nest. “I tried to sleep over with Snowpaw in the apprentices’ den, and I got so homesick, it scared me.”
“But you were fine the last few nights,” Smokepaw whispered.
“Yeah, but,” Indipaw paused, feeling like stupid kit. “You were not there.”
“Relax and sleep. You’ll feel better come morning,”
Indipaw curled up, and the familiar scents and sounds soothed her to sleep. She woke abruptly just before sunrise, and looked around the den, memories of the previous night flooding her mind, She scowled. Why did she act like such a scared kit? She thought of Snowpaw and her heart jumped with remorse, and she realized his fellow clanmates never showed her animosity, only curiosity. She recalled Beepaw’s reaction and her wide blue eyes showed disappointment, not disdain. She remembered the smell of pine, the deep shade, and the comforting touch of Snowpaw’s body. She imagined waking up beside Snowpaw, and his sister, ready to tackle a new day together, and she blew the chance to actually stay with Snowpaw forever. She wished she never fled and come home.
She rose, left the den, and slipped out of camp, passing the sentry, and nodded a silent thank you. Kyemama merely nodded understanding, a haunted look in her eyes.
“Kyemama,” Indipaw whispered, and her mother shook her head, ears drooping. Indipaw blinked a kiss to her mother, not wanting to hurt Kyemama. She trembled, seeing the deep resigned sadness in her mother’s eyes.
“I. . .” Indipaw mewed, but Kyemama shook her head again, flattening her tall ears to her skull.
“Just go, Daughter,” she muttered. The very thought of hurting Kyemama made Indipaw want to yowl to the fading stars, but she clenched her jaw, and hurried across the territory to ShadowClan’s border. She crossed the stream, sat on the shore, and waited. The sun sent rays over the hill, and Indipaw heard a patrol moving toward her.
“Don’t fret,” someone said. “She’ll be back.”
Indipaw recognized Needletail’s voice.
“I hope so,” Snowpaw’s mumble answered.
“She just freaked a little, in a strange place without her family.” Stonepaw’s reply floated to her ears. “But, she’s too independent to not follow her heart.”
“Snowpaw!” Indipaw yowled, deciding to announce her presence. “I’m sorry!”
“Why did you run?” Snowpaw poked his head out of the brush.
“I’m not sure,” Indipaw touched noses with him. “I panicked, and had to go home, but, this morning, I feel so bad that I left you.”
“You do?”
“Yes, I should’ve stayed, and snuggled with you. The feeling may have just passed. I’m a mousebrain,” Indipaw murmured.
“I do forgive you,” Snowpaw mewed, and Indipaw’s heart filled with joy. “I understand, but, we do have to decide. I think Rowanstar would accept you, if you chose to come here permanently.”
“I want to, but, Smokepaw desperately wishes to go to WindClan. She and Oatclaw sneak out on the moors to run at night. Bluepaw is learning to swim,” Indipaw fought to keep her voice down. “If I go too, Kyemama will be so upset. I can’t do that to her. It breaks my heart that she will be hurt.”
“She has your brothers,” Snowpaw reminded her.
“You could come to ThunderClan,” Indipaw suggested.
“No. We need you,” Snowpaw mewed softly. “You have to follow your heart, and you’re perfect for ShadowClan, and me.”
“I know, “ Indiclaw murmured, understanding he spoke the truth. Her heart longed to sleep with him under the pines, but she dreaded breaking her mother’s heart. “Can I think about it more? I’ll know by the Gathering.”
“Sure,” Snowpaw purred. “I’ll wait as long as you need me to.”
“I have to go now.” Indipaw glanced over her shoulder. “Thornclaw will be looking for me.”
“See you at the next Gathering.” Snowpaw waved his tail.
“Of course!”
Indipaw whirled and hurried back home. She crept into camp, acknowledging her mother who still sat sentry duty.
“All okay?” Kyemama asked.
“Yes,” Indipaw answered. “Thanks for not alerting everyone.”
“You needed to do this,” Kyemama said, her voice betraying nothing of the feelings Indipaw knew lurked there. “Better get ready for your mentor.”
“I will.” Indipaw trotted to the apprentice den where her clanmates stirred. Thornclaw met her at the entrance.
“Ready?”
“Yes,” Indipaw answered.
“We tree train today.” Thornclaw announced. “I am not great with it, but I think you will be.”
“Alright,” Indipaw nodded. She followed her mentor, her mind on Snowpaw. She practiced hunting from the trees and found she loved it. She imagined herself in ShadowClan’s majestic pines, hidden, ready to plummet onto unsuspecting prey, supplying her Clan with incredible bounty.
As the days passed, she longed more and more for the pines across the stream. By time the Gathering loomed, she finally made her decision.
The moon rose in clear cold skies, sending silver-gold light into the hollow. Frigid air blew over the lake, sending small snow twisters over snow-covered ice. Indipaw shivered, her thick coat billowing out to block the wind, as she, Kyemama and Thornclaw brought in a Roe fawn fresh kill. Over the last moon, the technique of dropping from the trees worked as a very efficient strategy for hunting the swift wary creatures, keeping the Clan fed during the harsh Leaf Bare, where tracking and stalking in the unusually deep snows proved quite difficult. Indipaw excelled in the tree drop, and enjoyed the hunt.
“Well done!” Bramblestar called out, returning with his patrol, who, with Phantompaw and Lionblaze, carried home a small young yearling Roe deer.
“This tree diving technique works great for hunting,” Bramblestar said. “I am concerned that it’s getting harder to find these creatures. They used to be everywhere.”
“Any scent of other predators that might be hunting out territory?” Demonpoppa asked, coming up alongside Kyemama “Are we making them more skittish?”
“No, I don’t think so, but this prey roams well beyond our territories,” Bramblestar replied, halting to allow his patrol to place their fresh kill in the center of camp by the rounded rock where they ate the first venison meal.
“I have no doubts coyotes might hunt these creatures, too. Another reason to deal with them. They compete with us for those deer.”
“It never mattered before, but now that we can catch them, the competition is a problem. We have a lot to discuss at tonight’s Gathering,” Squirrelflight said. “The howls have begun again just past the horseplace. I don’t like it at all.”
“Certainly we hurt them bad enough that they won’t return,” Kyemama said, her fur bristling. “They didn’t get anyone that night as a meal.”
“Maybe not, but will it prevent them from trying in other territories?” ThunderClan’s deputy glanced worriedly eastward. “They can come in from any direction.”
“Then we will prepare,” Kyemama said firmly. “Our tree diving technique should work great in battling them. Their only real weapons are those long jaws and big teeth!”
“I can climb well enough now,” Demonpoppa growled. “Let me drop on a few of them. They’ll not dare trouble us any more.”
“Such optimists, but I am glad you’ll be able to join us in battle, Demonstone,” Squirrelflight sighed. “Let’s eat. The Gathering is at moonhigh.”
Indipaw eyed her father, realizing how much he developed his own special skills over the moons. Climbing rocks and logs in his work increased his musculature, and she knew he gained weight and power during his time here. He might not run fast, but in close quarters, Demonpoppa battled with the best. As large and heavy as a big male badger, he possessed many fighting techniques reminiscent of that enemy. She imagined his bulk landing on a coyote head, smashing it to the ground. He padded over, in his rocking gait, carrying Briarlight with ease.
Indipaw joined the Clan as they milled around the Feasting Rock, awaiting Bramblestar’s first tearing open of the prey, a new tradition born of the size of the meals these creatures supplied. The Elders crowded the entrance of the Elder’s den, eagerly awaiting their share, but unwilling to brave the bitter winds. Briarlight rode Demonpoppa’s back, sliding off at her place by the bulging stone. All of her clanmates, including the Elders, brimmed with health and vigor, thick-furred, bright-eyed, and muscular, in contrast to the hungry cats in other Clans.
Half a moon ago, Indipaw worried for Snowpaw. Every time she met him on patrol, he looked thinner. Smokepaw fretted over Oatclaw’s deteriorating condition, as prey ran sparse on the moors.. The apprentices all met one cold night and agreed to do the right thing, and it commanded the utmost secrecy.
“Clanmates,” Bramblestar meowed, his voice flicking away Indipaw’s thoughts. “We are about to enjoy another Leaf Bare feast. We thank StarClan for this bounty, and as always, for our Clanmates sent to us by StarClan so many moons ago, who taught us to catch such prey. Let the feast begin!” Bramblestar hooked his claws into the belly of the fresh kill and tore it open. He spilled the guts and organs out onto the snow.
“Elders first!” he called out. The youngest Warriors walked forward, and took chunks of organ meats to the Elders. The apprentices came forward next. Greypaw and Rainpaw carried portions to Briarlight, who showered her younger brothers with thanks and love. Phantompaw, Indipaw, Smokepaw, Bluepaw and Demonpaw carved gargantuan hunks from the carcass, and brought them to the Elder’s den.
“Eat it all,” Phantompaw’s voice carried out of the den. “Or I’ll be back and eat it for you!”
“No need, youngin’” Purdy’s laughter followed. “I kin eat up as much o’the two o’you. Yer wastin’ yer time.”
“Oh, Purdy,” Indipaw replied, her meow shaking with mirth. “You know my brother’s a glutton!”
“Yer sibling won’t find anythin’ left to eat when we’re done,” Purdy retorted in good humor. Indipaw only laughed and left the den.
“Medicine cats next!” Bramblestar called out. Decreed by new ritual, the medicine cats came forward to claim their meals. Gentlepaw marched to the fresh kill, and tore off large portions, honoring his mentors as he gave the servings to them. Alderheart, Leafpool and Jayfeather thanked him. Daisy stepped forward with Cherryfall, who glanced at Stormcloud, then her Clan Leader.
“Everyone knows,” Kyemama guffawed. “Eat for you and your kits!”
Cherryfall took a large chunk of leg meat, and hurried back to her mate. Bramblestar nodded at his warriors and apprentices. The Clan filed past, in complete organized precision, and sliced their meals from the carcass. Paired warriors went first. Cloudtail and Brightheart took their share, followed by Lionblaze and Cinderheart, Poppyfrost and Berrynose, Whitewing and Birchfall, and Lilyheart and Snowbush. Kyemama followed Demonpoppa, tearing off their portions, then Bramblestar and Squirrelflight took theirs. The rest of the warriors followed, and Indipaw watched them file by, taking big meals, laughing and chatting, noting they walked past by seniority. Brackenfur, Thornclaw, Mousewhisker, Rosepetal, and Spiderleg lead the line, with Dovewing, Ivypool, Blossomfall, Molewhisker, and Bumblestripe, then the younger warriors; Lilyheart, Dewnose, Snowbush, Ambermoon. Hollytuft, Sorrelstripe, Fernsong and Sparkfire.
The apprentices took their meals, laughing and goofing around. Sparkfire scowled as Phantompaw, Smokepaw, Bluepaw,, Rainpaw, Larkpaw, Leafpaw, Honeypaw, and Greypaw slapped at each other like kits. Indipaw joined in the fun, lancing at Demonstreak and Sparkfire. Both twitched their whiskers.
“Keep your heads,” Indipaw murmured. Demonpaw stood behind Sparkfire, glaring at his siblings. Gentlepaw took his meal and joined his mentors. Indipaw guffawed when Phantompaw snatched the last piece of organ meat, added a huge hunk of shoulder meat, and carried the gargantuan serving to his spot beside his siblings. Feline laughter pealed from the group as the apprentices teased Phantompaw, who only grinned, baring all four fangs before wolfing down his meal. Indipaw joined the laughter, but flicked her tail with nervous anticipation. They needed to lull everyone into ignoring flighty apprentices. Kyemama watched them carry extra meat to their little circle on the other side of camp.
“Do you think Kyemama knows what we’re doing?” Smokepaw asked.
“So far, she thinks we’re pranking on each other,” Phantompaw answered, his expression serious. “Or pulling pranks on WindClan apprentices.”
“We should pay attention to the ceremony and get some marrow,” Indipaw meowed, salivating at the thought.
“Right,” Bluepaw said. “Put the meat there and let’s go.
“Honeypaw, Larkpaw, Leafpaw,” Indipaw admonished the younger apprentices. “Remember your tasks.”
“We will,” Honeypaw replied, and Indipaw approved of the youngster’s bravery in standing up to her reprimand.
“Meet back here after everyone finishes that big meal. Remember the gathering is tonight.” Indipaw reminded them.
Demonpoppa and Bramblestar performed the bone breakage over the Feasting Rock once the Clan licked the bones clean. Demonpoppa balanced himself over the first leg bone, as Bramblestar stood beside him.
“We thank StarClan for this wonderful bounty. Demonstone, proceed!”
The snap of bone echoed over camp when Demonpoppa broke the leg. The prior ritual repeated, as Clan members took their share of bones to crunch. Phantompaw graciously gave Purdy and the Elders chunks of large leg bones before taking one for himself. Demonpoppa cracked rib bones, his favorite, while Kyemama gnawed a foreleg fragment. Indipaw cranched her piece, a long hind leg bone. The bitter wind swirled around the camp, but not one cat complained.
Soon everyone rested, digesting the big meal. Indipaw stood up and with a tail lash, alerted her fellow apprentices. Demonpaw rose slowly, careful on to obviously.disturb Sparkfire, but the young warrior flicked her tail with acknowledgment.. Gentlepaw glided over, and the others hurried over. Indipaw and Smokepaw led the group to the meat pile.
“Ready?” Indipaw asked. “We have to be fast.”
“Let’s do it,” Phantompaw said. “Meet back here.”
Indipaw watched Smokepaw lift a huge chunk of meat and race off toward WindClan terrirtory. Honeypaw, Larkpaw and Leafpaw picked up meat and hurried after Smokepaw. Rainpaw, Greypaw and Bluepaw took large pieces and headed off toward RiverClan. Indipaw grabbed a chunk, along with Phantompaw and Demmonpaw, while Gentlepaw carried precious organ meat. They glided through the territory to the stream. Puddlepaw’s head peeked out of the brush. Gentlepaw stretched his neck across the stream
“Give this to Littlecloud.”
“I will. Many thanks.” Puddlepaw took the heart, and vanished.
“Hurry, dump your gifts.” Indipaw hissed.
Her brothers tossed the meat onto the far shore, then turned and dashed back to camp. Indipaw flung her chunk over, and uttered a low mew.
“Got it,” came a soft reply and she recognized Snowpaw’s voice. “Thank you.”
“See you later,” Indipaw mewed and raced after her brothers. They entered camp, and settled back into their original resting spot, and started laughing and tussling. Indipaw sat, watching, relieved the task went well. Melancholia drooped her whiskers, when she realized the consequences of her decision, and time now ran down to nothing. But her heart told her the true path which lay ahead for her, and though bittersweet, she knew she must walk that trail.
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
PART FOUR
As Moonhigh approached, the Clan rose from their rest, prepared for the Gathering. Indipaw felt eager to be off, various emotions flooding her body. Bramblestar stood up and stretched, then eyed Kyemama and Demonpoppa.
“You and your kits will attend,” he stated, a twinkle in his eye. Indipaw puffed with pride and anticipation. Anxiety nibbled around the edges but she pushed it aside. Kyemama feigned distaste before returning the grin. Indipaw danced in place with impatience, as cats going to the Gathering joined her by the entrance. Thornclaw, Bumblestripe, Spiderleg, Sparkfire, Lionblaze, Cinderheart, Dovewing, Squirrelflight, Leafpool, Alderheart, Snowbush, Liliyheart, Larkpaw, Honeypaw and Leafpaw completed the party. Bramblestar gazed at Cloudtail and Brackenfur.
“ I trust you to keep things in order while we’re gone?”
“Of course,” Cloudtail glanced at Brackenfur. “We won’t fail you.”
“I know,” Bramblestar nodded, and raised his voice. “Let’s move!”
Bramblestar led the procession out of camp and down the hill to the Lake. Kyemama trotted behind him and Squirrelflight, Demonpoppa at her side. Indipaw shook with excitement, eager to see Snowpaw again.
“I hope Troutpaw is there,” Bluepaw meowed, lashng her big silvery grey tail.
“Oatclaw will be,” Smokepaw stated. “Onestar will make sure of it if he wants me to be with them.”
Indipaw listened to Phantompaw, Greypaw and the gaggle of apprentices eagerly anticipate competing with their fellow apprentices in games they created. Demonpaw trotted with Sparkfire, tails entwined, eyes only for each other, and Indipaw knew without a doubt their bond ran even deeper than the one Kyemama shared with Demonpoppa. Indipaw wondered if Sparkfire approved of their food sharing escapades. Her bond with Demonpaw surely made it difficult for either of them to keep secrets, but Sparkfire never mentioned anything about it.
As they neared the stream mouth, Indiapaw noticed the pile of snow-covered deerskins on an open stretch of rocky beach. Pawprints crisscrossed the snows on the other side of the brook, and only two sets crossed the stream. Indipaw recognized them as her mother did. Kyemama bared her teeth, realizing who one set belonged to.
“Harespring dare crosses here?” Kyemama paused and sniffed the stiff hides. “These are still ours.”
“If they keep drying out like that, they may be great to line the floors of the dens with them,” Demonpoppa commented, then marked the snows around the hides. Kyestorm and Thornclaw followed suit, remarking the hides. “We won’t know for certain until New Leaf.”
“Too bad we can’t let them dry in camp then,” Thornclaw commented. “But they stink.”
“That’s why we left them by the lake. That spot gets sun all day.” Indipaw spoke up, glancing back, as the group crossed the stream out of ThunderClan territory. “And we keep watch on them, too”
“Harespring doesn’t come here anymore,” Smokepaw flicked her tail, ducking her head. “He crossed over and I had to slap him. I promise I kept my claws sheathed! But now Crowfeather patrols down here. He asked us to take the skins elsewhere but I said no. They’re drying out well here. He accepted it.”
“WindClan dare not touch them,” Kyesmama added, and eyed her daughter. Indipaw slapped Smokepaw with her tail. Smokepaw said nothing more. The Clan moved quickly along the lake, and Indipaw tested the ice.
“They probably are very confused by what we’re doing,” Bramblestar meowed, and increased his pace. Indipaw looked up the hill and saw Onestar crest the open moor. Harespring appeared next. WindClan moved slow, traversing old paths filled in with fresh snow.
“One of these days, he’s going to get what he deserves,” Demonpoppa said quietly.
“Just because he’s awful, doesn’t mean the rest are,” Smokepaw interjected. Kyemama shot her an annoyed look, and Indipaw wanted to hiss at her sister. She glared, and Smokepaw flicked her tail.
Bramblestar led them across the sandy spit, then paused at the frozen marsh. Kyesmama stepped on the ice, bounced once, then nodded. Bramblestar took the lead and crossed the frozen swamp to the head of the fallen tree. Indipaw trotted across the log, tail up, her eyes roving the gathered cats for Snowpaw.
“Hallo!” Mistystar greeted them, a look of surprise on her face. “Brave for ones who fear the water.”
“You forget,” Bramblestar guffawed, his voice full of mirth. “We have water happy Maine Coon crazies in our midst.” He sobered. “Kyestorm and her mate have uncanny knowledge and instincts about ice, and I’ve learned to trust them.”
“Crazy,” someone muttered, and Indipaw saw Rowanstar standing below the Great Oak Tree. His eyes flashed with humor. Indipaw noted the absence of Tawnypelt and felt a pang of concern. She glanced around at the gathering Clans, and all of them looked gaunt, despite the food she and her fellow apprentices siphoned off to them, though RiverClan less so. Even Beepaw looked thin. She loved her food, always reminding Indipaw of Phantompaw in that respect. Onestar led his Clan over the fallen tree, and his clan looked downright skeletal. He glanced at Bramblestar and shook his head. The leaders sprang up into the tree, as others greeted new and old friends.
Demonpaw walked with Sparkfire, tails tightly entwined, bodies pressed together, eyes shining, leaving no doubts in anyone’s mind about their status. Indipaw weaved through the throng of cats, and found Snowpaw. She rubbed face and body with him, and twisted his fluffy tail in hers.
“Greetings!” Bramblestar’s voice rang out, starting the official Gathering. The moon shone bright from clear skies, and not a single wisp of cloud marred the night sky. Silverpelt glittered, unusually bright, despite the full moon. Bramblestar continued. “ All is well in ThunderClan. Prey is running light, but we’ve been very successful in catching larger prey this Leaf Bare. No greencough, no illness. I hope all have fared well this hard season. We have a lot to discuss about the coyote threat.”
“We’re fine. Despite the cold, the fishing is good,” Mistystar said. “We’ve been supplementing with the occasional Muntjac deer that come to the stream to drink.”
“We’ve learned to ambush them at night,” Rowanstar said, “but it is very difficult. It takes a large patrol to take one down. Our kits thrive, despite the coyotes. And we’ve only seen white cough.”
“We’ve had it rough,” Onestar said, standing up. “Those deer are impossible to catch on the moors, but, someone, uh, or something, has left fresh kill just inside our territory. If not for that. . .” Onestar trailed off, eyes widening as if he knew he said too much. The other three leaders stared at him. Mistystar and Rowanstar exchanged worried glances. Bramblestar scowled, and Indipaw’s heart raced in her chest.
“Near our deerskins?” he asked, bristling. He suddenly locked eyes on Smokepaw. “What have you apprentices been up to?”
“I’m sorry!” Smokepaw jumped forward and stood before her Clan leader. Her black smoke coat remained flat, but the wind parted her fur, revealing its pure white roots. Her gold eyes locked onto her Clan leader’s amber gaze
“I, well, we, have been sharing our excess. We, well, we apprentices, we’ve been giving some of our deer to Oatclaw.”
“What?” Bramblestar snarled with sudden outrage. “Are you completely fluff-headed?”
“Wait,” Onestar interrupted. “Please, don’t be angry. If not for them, many of us would have starved. Rabbits are in semi -hibernation. We’ve never seen this kind of thing. This has been a terrible Leaf Bare for us. We have failed to catch any Roe or Muntjac deer roaming our open moors. They are, as always, too fast and even if we manage to snag one, they kick and hurt us, then leap and get away. We don’t have the weight and size to take one down.”
“I concur,” Rowanstar jumped in. “Indipaw, Demonpaw, and Phantompaw have given us deer meat as well. Gentlepaw gave Puddlepaw rich organ meat for Littlecloud. Our kits would have starved because Tawnypelt’s milk failed and we have no other nursing queens. I will never forget your apprentices’ generosity and I made sure they weren’t taking away from anyone in your clan. Indipaw assured me it was extra and you had plenty. They saved the kits’ lives. Tawnypelt’s milk returned.”
“We didn’t take the meat Bluepaw, Rainpaw, and Greypaw brought,” Mistystar said. “We gave it to Tawnypelt. But we asked Bluepaw to help us hunt the Muntjac deer. Please, Bramblestar, in a Leaf Bare such as this, your apprentices helped all of us,” Mistystar’s voice sharpened. “We are still four Clans to be One under StarClan. The coyote threat is still out there.”
Bramblestar stared, teeth bared with outrage, his broad shoulders trembling. Indipaw’s heart hammered in her chest, watching the battle in his eyes between his good nature and the old traditions of separate Clans and the warrior code. His brown tabby coat slowly flattened, and he covered his fangs. He nodded at his apprentices.
Blood roared in Indipaw’s ears, but she faced her leader with defiance, eyes wide, but she and her fellow apprentices knew they saved lives with their actions. Alderheart and Sparkfire sat with them, bravely facing their father. Indipaw realized Sparkfire knew all along, her attitude just a facade. She wrapped her tail tightly to Snowpaw’s.
“I wish you would have come to me with your plan,” Bramblestar growled at the knot of youngsters. “I probably would have agreed if you presented the arguments I just heard from my fellow Clan Leaders. Though I commend you actions, you still must suffer punishment for doing this without my permission. You will stay in camp, cleaning the Elders dens, attending the Elders meticulously, and assist Demonstone and Brackenfur with den repair. You will assist the medicine cats with chores. No patrolling or hunting for a moon.”
“Yes, Bramblestar,” Indipaw and her fellow apprentices murmured. Bramblestar leveled his gaze on his own offspring.
“Sparkfire, you will concentrate on bringing home fresh kill for the Elders, without the help of Demonpaw and his siblings.” Bramblestar stated, and they exchanged glances of alarm. Without Demonpaw or Phantompaw or their sisters, downing even a small deer might be downright impossible for Sparkfire, forcing her to hunt smaller much more difficult prey. Indipaw briefly met Sparkfire’s bright green eyes, before she lifted her head, and met her father’s gaze. Sparkfire nodded. Bramblestar turned his attention to his son and Gentlepaw. “Your punishment I leave to Jayfeather and Leafpool.”
Gentlepaw and Alderheart exchanged resigned glances, offering not even one mew of dissent.
“But, we really did the right thing,” Indipaw protested. Bramblestar’s amber eyes darkened and narrowed. Indipaw shivered, and Snowpaw’s tail wrapped her’s tight in support.
“Clan Leaders,” Rowanstar’s voice broke the tension. “Bramblestar, please? I think it’s time we dealt with the inevitable. Indipaw? Please come forward. Speak now, young apprentice, if what you told Snowpaw is true.”
Bramblestar’s expression turned to surprise. His eyes widened, then narrowed again, but he nodded at Indipaw. Indipaw stepped forward, and the entire gathering silenced until only the wind whispered in the trees.
“Speak your mind, apprentice,” Bramblestar said, his voice calm, belying his expression.
“Clan Leaders, “ Indipaw began, then paused, her green eyes wide with uncustomary nerves. Her tabby and white coat rippled down her body. Snowpaw leaned into her, entwining his black fluffy tail with her tabby bottlebrush of a tail. Bramblestar’s eyes glimmered with understanding.
Indipaw drew a deep breath, and continued. “Snowpaw and I love each other. We want to be together, so one of us has to join the other’s Clan. I think of how we came to be here and just know my place is with Snowpaw, and ShadowClan. My time there after the attack proved it. If all the leaders approve, I’d like to go to ShadowClan and complete my training there, with Snowpaw’s mentor. I expect to serve out my punishment there, too”
Murmuring rippled through the Gathering, and a few cheering yowls erupted from ShadowClan cats. Needlepail and Pinepaw gazed at her, joy in their eyes. Rowanstar nodded, flicking his ears.
“I accept, with Bramblestar’s. . .” Rowanstar raised his voice, until Harespring jumped up and cut him off.
“No! It’s wrong! Very wrong! Mixed Clan cats are wrong!” The disgruntled WindClan deputy’s red-brown and white coat bristled all over like a hedgehog.
“Yes, we are of ThunderClan,” Bluepaw meowed firmly, her blue-smoke fur puffing out revealing even more silvery highlights. Her vivid blue eyes sparkled. “But we’re Maine Coons, and we’re supposed to spread to other Clans. Firestar said so. StarClan said we’re important to all the Clans, not just one. If RiverClan will have me, I want to be with Troutpaw.”
Indipaw saw resignation on her parents’ and brothers’ faces, as if they knew all along this might occur. Onestar stood up, and Indipaw knew what came next.
“Smokepaw, you are welcome in WindClan, if that is your desire. I’ll not oppose it at all, especially after what you’ve done to help my Clan during this brutal Leaf Bare. We all know about you and Oatclaw.” Onestar actually smiled, and Indipaw saw another side to the gruff, pompous Clan Leader, something that always hid beneath a facade. Onestar’s confidence in his leadership shone through, and peeled away that old mask he erected in trying to prove himself over the seasons.
“She trespassed,” Harespring snarled. “Sneaking here to run with her consort.”
“Smokepaw!” Kyemama exclaimed in a shocked yowl.
“Her secret is out,” Indipaw whispered.
“What have you done?” Bramblestar glared at the young apprentice. Smokepaw shrank down onto her belly, flattening her ears.
“I’m sorry, I am, but I love the moors! Always have, and I love Oatclaw!” Smokepaw wailed like a scared kit, but her eyes glittered golden fire. “If not for that, we’d have never gotten deer meat to those who needed it!”
“She ran our territory!” Harespring glared at Onestar, protesting with a snarl. “And you never punished her? You ignore the Code. We aren’t like ThunderClan to accept every rogue and kittypet that comes along!”
“Oh, shut up, Harespring! I’m not a kittypet! I was born in ThunderClan!” Smokepaw protested.
“You’re abominations,” Harespring hissed.
“We aren't!” Smokepaw retorted. “It’s because you don’t want me to be with Oatclaw! You hate me because I run faster than you, and I saved your Elders and other Clanmates with our spare deer meat!” Smokepaw leaped to her feet. “Because I have no problem slapping you down just like Kyemama does!”
Indipaw wanted to cheer, but kept her mouth shut. She felt Snowpaw trembling in efforts to keep silent.
“You break the code running our territory.” Harespring retorted, eyes blazing, but he stepped backward. He spun to face Onestar. “And you show weakness by allowing it.”
“You dare question my decisions?” Onestar stood up on his limb, claws unsheathed, tabby pelt bristling, fangs bared in fury. “Even after you ate as much of that deer meat as any of us? If Smokepaw wants to join WindClan, so be it! She has my permission, if she has Bramblestar’s. She belongs here.” Onestar growled, his voice low, his eyes spitting fire. “Perhaps it is time to relieve you of your duties?”
“You can’t,” Harespring snapped. “I‘m your deputy! I’ll be Leader of this Clan one day and things will change!” Harespring sprang at Smokepaw, landing in front of her. “And in my Clan, you’d never be!”
“I will be! Onestar said yes! You can’t stop this.” Smokepaw defied the WindClan deputy, her thick black smoke coat fluffing out. She bared her fangs, standing tall and menacing, towering over Harespring, who reared up to attack her, hatred in his eyes. Indipaw tensed, growling, ready to pounce on the WindClan deputy if he so much as raked a claw in Smokepaw’s fur.
“STOP!” Onestar leaped down from his branch, dropping between Smokepaw and Harespring, his tabby coat puffed up. Harespring spun away from his leader, and dropped to the snow, teeth bared in a silent snarl of defiance. The wind suddenly roared in the trees, and Indipaw looked up at the skies. The moon shone bright, but a wisp of cloud appeared just above the horizon. Indipaw’s heart raced, and not one cat moved. Bramblestar, Mistystar and Rowanstar exchanged shocked glances.
“I see things clearly now. I’m not clouded by indecision, or broken old friendships anymore. This stops now! I obviously chose poorly when Ashfoot died.” Onestar roared with anger, then glared up at the moon. “Forgive me, StarClan, but this must be done now.”
“What?” Harespring’s expression changed to one of astonishment.
“I say these words before the spirits of all StarClan, before all Clan Leaders, at moonhigh, that they may hear and approve my choice!” Onestar’s voice rang over the island, rising above the wind. “Crowfeather will be the new deputy of WindClan!”
After a moment of complete silence, WindClan cats yowled their affirmation. The other Clans joined in enthusiastically.
“Crowfeather! Crowfeather!”
Crowfeather walked to stand beside Onestar, his eyes wide with surprise.
“Thank you, Onestar. I will never let you down. I’ll support you, and offer advice, but never defy or usurp you.”
“You can’t do this to me! I’ve been a faithful deputy!” Harespring stepped toward Crowfeather and Onestar, and wailed, ears flat, eyes full of rage. “ Crowfeather broke the code consorting with a medicine cat! He’s not fit to be deputy!”
Before Onestar opened his mouth to reply, a gust of wind whistled through the trees, moaning in the leafless branches of the Great Oak.
“What have we done?” Indipaw moaned, then gaped, as the starry figure of a black and white tom partially solidified in front of Onestar, standing beside Smokepaw. Smokepaw started, but then stood proud, towering over the StarClan cat. He looked at her, a brief flare of delight crossing his features, before he looked at Harespring.
“Tallstar!” erupted from the throats of older cats. The starry apparition glared at Harespring.
“You defy StarClan at every turn by rejecting Smokepaw and her family. She fulfills her destiny this night under StarClan. Onestar chooses a new deputy. So be it!” Tallstar yowled at Harespring. “We want no question that we approve. The future of the Clans will NOT SUFFER for your intolerance.”
Harespring stared, his anger turning to fear, as Tallstar stepped up to him, standing nose to nose with him. Indipaw watched with astonishment, as other starry shapes joined Tallstar, and she assumed Bluestar, Blackstar, and Firestar walked amongst them. Harespring shank back from the outrage blazing from their eyes.
“Forgive me,” he mewled. “I only tried to keep to the code.”
“And forgot the most recent addition,” Blackstar snarled at him. “Go back to your Clan, but realize you are no longer deputy.”
Harespring scurried to hide behind his clanmates, most of whom scowled at him. Furzepelt nodded at him, and he sat beside her. Tallstar raised his tail.
“Carry on,” Tallstar meowed, and in a swirl of stars vanished. A starry white tom with black legs gazed at Rowanstar before looking at Snowpaw.
“Blackstar,” Snowpaw whispered reverently. Blackstar and his fellow StarClan mates followed Tallstar, but he glanced back at Indipaw and Snowpaw, nodding approval before he disappeared into the wind. Indipaw stared. Silence hung over the clearing, until Rowanstar sneezed, and spoke.
“As I was going to say, I accept, with Bramblestar’s blessings, Indipaw into ShadowClan.”
“You have it, since StarClan has already blessed what will occur here this Gathering,” Branmblestar gazed at Indipaw and Snowpaw, then Smokepaw and Bluepaw, and nodded. “May StarClan light your paths, always.”
Indipaw and her sisters glanced at each other, then impulsively ran to Kyemama and Demonpoppa. She trembled as Phantompaw, Gentlepaw, Greypaw, Rainpaw, and Demonpaw joined her, pressing against her. She took comfort in their touch, for once feeling no desire to slap her brothers for the audacity.
“We love you, Kyemama,” Indipaw mewed. “But these are the lives we’re meant to live.”
“Never, ever forget how much your father, brothers, and I love you,” Kyemama whispered. “I will never raise a claw to you in battle, never.”
“Don’t worry, Kyemama,” Smokepaw murmured. “We all decided never to hurt each other. We can pretend to be angry, but we all know it’s not for real.”
“Do your new Clans proud, and always use your heads before your claws,” Kyemama mewed softly, her voice shaking.
“We promise,” Indipaw meowed and impulsively licked Kyestorm’s cheek. Smokepaw and Bluepaw copied their sister, before moving off to mingle with their new Clans. Indipaw shuffled over to Snowpaw, watching her family, her heart melting at the resigned sadness in her mother’s eyes. Indipaw moved with Snowpaw to mingle with ShadowClan, and all greeted her with varying degrees of delight. Pinepaw, and Beepaw bounced with joy, and Striekpaw blinked at her. Needletail waved her tail. Scorchfur, Snowpaw’s mentor, nodded approval.
Mixed emotions knotted her stomach, and she already missed her parents and siblings, but looked forward to her new life with Snowpaw. The acceptance by the Clan which disdained cross clan relationships surprised and pleased her.
“Come, let’s enjoy this Gathering. Everyone is happy, and friendly,” Snowpaw urged. She decided to enjoy the Gathering, and she mingled. Smokepaw hooked tails with Oatclaw, while chattering with Onestar, who wore a pleased, genuinely delighted expression. Bluepaw joined Troutpaw and Silverpaw, her blue eyes shining. Mistystar greeted her new Clanmate, utterly delighted.
“We’ll see each other,” Bluepaw meowed, joy in her voice.
“I know,” Indipaw purred. “We have chosen our destinies, and StarClan approves.”
Bramblestar uttered a piercing yowl and Indiclaw jumped with a hiss, careening into Snowpaw. The noisy Gathering silenced. Everyone faced the Great Tree. Kyemama stood up, balancing on the branch, tail up. Indipaw stared.
“Esteemed Clan Leaders, warriors, apprentices, elders, I say this under StarClan, so everyone hears my words. The night Demonstone and I escaped the fire, ready to bear my precious kits, I did not understand all of what StarClan wished from us.” Kyemama’s voice strengthened, and the moon glowed. “The Maine Coons of ThunderClan are meant to be the Maine Coons of all the Clans, to help us build our strength for the battles to come. As my daughters seek their destinies, I truly hope we stay, under StarClan, four Clans as One, to preserve the Four, because I fear if we don’t, the coyote menace will destroy us.” Kyesmama finished, and Indipaw swelled with pride for her mother.
A moment of quiet hung over the Gathering, then Mistystar raised her voice.
“If StarClan approves, so do I. I welcome Bluepaw into our Clan. I’m delighted to have her here.” Mistystar’s blue eyes grew solemn. “We have to find a way to deal with the coyote problem. We must devise a call or alarm that will carry over the lake, so other clans know when trouble approaches.”
“That sounds like a good idea,” Rowanstar agreed, his yellow eyes bright.
“We’ve been experimenting,” Lionblaze spoke up. “Maybe something like this.” Lionblaze pointed his muzzle at the moon and uttered a fine imitation of a coyote howl, and followed that with piercing warrior’s battle shriek.
“That might work very well,” Rowanstar spoke up. His ears twitched. “Hear how it reverberates over the lake?”
“We also have to make sure we have more than one sentry,” Bramblestar added. “We don’t want them sneaking up on any of us again.”
“They caught us by surprise,” Rowanstar admitted. “By time our sentry yowled out a warning the coyotes already plowed into camp. If it happens again, we will be better prepared.”
“We also must suspend borders once that alarm goes up so help may take the shortest route,” Mistystar added. The other three Clan leaders nodded affirmatives.
“We should run a test upon returning to our camps. Call and wait for the reply, so we are certain we will hear any Clan’s call.” Onestar suggested.
“Good idea,” Bramblestar looked up at the skies. “We should adjourn, then do this test. It grows late.”
Indipaw noticed how low the moon hung in the western sky, and yawned. The other leaders agreed, and the Gathering broke up. Indipaw walked with her new Clan, trying not to look back, but caught a glimpse of Kyemama, who plodded across the ice. She spun away, looking ahead, pressing against Snowpaw, and met Rowanstar’s gaze. He nodded.
“Welcome to ShadowClan, young Warrior.”
“But I’m not a warrior,” Indipaw meowed, meeting her new Leader’s gaze, realizing she stood as tall as he. Rowanstar’s eyes blinked in a brief smile.
“You will be, sooner than you think,” Rowanstar said, then turned to lead his Clan home. He glanced back at her. “In my eyes, you already are.”
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
EPILOGUE
“Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here!” Rowanstar’s yowl reverberated through camp, and Indipaw jerked alert.
“Is he really going to do it?” Pinepaw squeaked with excitement, as the dozen apprentices leaped to their feet and hurried out into the cold camp. The rising sun sent rays through the pine boughs, illuminating Rowanstar’s ginger pelt. They gathered with the rest of the Clan, under their Leader, who perched on a rock below a large pine bough.
“I’m so glad you’re with us,” Beepaw purred, looking at Indipaw. Indipaw held back a laugh, glad Beepaw no longer looked thin. Ample deer meat put the weight back on Beepaw’s frame. “My brother could not have chosen a more perfect mate.”
“I am happy here,” Indipaw mewed, flashing the plump she-cat a feline grin.. “I love the pines, and I excel hunting in them.”
“We have all benefited from your prowess,” Sleekpaw, a pale ginger she-cat said.
“Teaching us to hunt the deer has been so great,” Strikepaw, a brown tabby tom remarked. “But without your strength, we might never have pulled one down.”
“You deserve this,” Yarrowpaw, a striking red tabby she cat, said with a nod.
“Today, we shall add new warriors to our ranks!” Rowanstar’s voice rang out. “Now, Snowpaw, Pinepaw, Beepaw, and Indipaw, please come forward.”
Indipaw rushed to sit in front of the gathered cats. Snowpaw, Beepaw, and Pinepaw flanked her. Rowanstar’s voice rolled on.
“I, Rowanstar, leader of ShadowClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon these young apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warriors in their turn”
Indipaw trembled with excitement, though the absence of her brothers and parents trickled disappointment into her mind and heart.
“Pinepaw,” Rowanstar continued. “Do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?”
“I do!” The small black she-cat answered, and Indipaw eyed the thin white scar running down her flank, a testament to her bravery defending her leader.
“Then by the power of StarClan, I give you the warrior name Pineshadow, recognizing your swiftness and stealth in mind and heart, and bravery in the face of incredible danger. From this moment you will be known as Pineshadow! Welcome to ShadowClan new Warrior!” Rowanstar announced, his yellow eyes sparkling with delight.
“Pineshadow! Pineshadow! Pineshadow!!” erupted from all throats.
“Snowpaw,” Rowanstar looked at Indipaw’s beau. “Do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?”
“I do!” he answered, and Indipaw watched with pride.
“Then by the power of StarClan, I give you the warrior name Snowsquall, recognizing your swiftness of mind, and bravery in the face of incredible danger, going for help, unafraid to cross borders to do so. From this moment you will be known as Snowsquall! Welcome to ShadowClan new Warrior!” Rowanstar announced, his yellow eyes shining.
“Snwsquall! Snowsquall! Snowsquall!”
“Beepaw,” Rowanstar continued. “Do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?”
“I do!” she answered, and Indipaw watched the plump she cat sit up, her eyes full of shock and delight.
“Then by the power of StarClan, I give you the warrior name Beeheart, recognizing your bravery in the face of incredible danger in protecting Littlecloud. From this moment you will be known as Beeheart! Welcome to ShadowClan new Warrior!” Rowanstar announced, his eyes full of respect for the rotund little she-cat.
“Beeheart! Beeheart! Beeheart!!” everyone yowled.
“Now, last but not least, Indipaw,” Rowanstar dipped his head to her. “Do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?”
“I do!” she answered, trembling with awe and excitement.
“Then by the power of StarClan, I give you the warrior name Indiclaw, recognizing your warrior spirit in the face of incredible danger, and your good heart knowing when to do the right thing in the face of rebuke. From this moment you will be known as Indiclaw! Welcome to ShadowClan new Warrior!” Rowanstar announced, his yellow eyes meeting hers, and in them she saw his deep gratitude.
“Indiclaw! Indiclaw! Indiclaw!” everyone yowled, and high pitched mews rose above the din and Indiclaw glanced below her leader, where his and Tawnypelt’s kits sat beside their mother, calling her name with all their vocal strength.
“Now that this is done, let’s get on with the day’s tasks. Crowfrost has the patrol schedules. Meeting adjourned.” Rowanstar leaped down from the rock, landing in front of Indiclaw.
“Welcome to ShadowClan, “ Rowanstar touched noses with her, then let a smile close his eyes. “I do expect, in the future of course, more giant fluffheads in our ranks.”
“Uh, yes, Rowanstar,” Indiclaw gaped at him, feeling a bit confused. A few cats tittered and Indiclaw recognized a guffaw from Pinenose. Indiclaw glanced at the queen, who sat in the entrance of the Warrior den. Her kits, Lionpaw, Birchpaw, and Slatepaw, joined their mother in laughter. Puddlepaw glanced her way, a smile on his face as he nodded at his littermates.
“Come now, Indiclaw,” Snowbird spoke up. “You’ll take Pinenose’s place in the Queen’s den and grace us with big fluffy warriors.”
“No!” Indiclaw hissed in alarm. “I’m a warrior, and not having kits!”
“Maybe not now,” Snowbird said, her expression turning serious. “But it’s inevitable.”
Indiclaw gaped, and Snowsquall stood beside her and nuzzled her.
“You don’t want my kits?” he mewed.
“Of course I do,” Indiclaw scoffed. “But I’m not even nine moons yet!”
“You’ll change your mind one day,” Snowsquall said with confidence, and trotted off after Scorchfur. Indiclaw stared after him a moment, and realized they were right. She loved Snowsquall, and eventually, wanted to bear his kits, but, not until she showed enemies of her Clan her warrior prowess, and possessed experience and knowledge to pass down to her future kits.
“Come new warrior, the border by the twoleg place needs strengthening. You’ll accompany Scorchfur, Snowbird, Sowsquall, Stonewing, Pinepaw, Sleekpaw and Birchpaw.”
“Thank you,” Indiclaw joined her patrol, baring the tips of her fangs, eager to visit the twoleg place nearby and teach those obnoxious kittypets a lesson. She thrust having kits to the back of her mind.
“Where?”
“ShadowClan border,” Thornclaw answered, his scowl giving way to an understanding smile. Thorclaw lead her to Kyemama, who welcomed them, and they set off. Eagerness trembled Indipaw’s legs. They reached the border, near the stream, and Indipaw heard movement across the border. Tigerheart poked his head past a clump of bushes.
“What do we have here? A fuzzball patrol?”
“I’ll show you fuzzball,” Kyemama snarled, but her eyes danced with more mirth than anger.
“My fuzzhead!” The familiar voice jerked Indipaw’s ears alert, and her heart beat furiously as Snowpaw stepped up next to Tigerheart. Indipaw raced to the stream edge and stretched her neck.
“Snowpaw!”
The ShadowClan apprentice hurried to his side of the stream and copied her. They touched noses, stretching across the stream, forepaws in their own territories. Both patrols groaned. Someone behind Tigerheart tittered.
Screeches of war erupted from WindClan territory, shattering the moment. A shriek from Smokepaw reverberated under the trees.
“Help! Help WindClan!” Smokepaw’s words turned inarticulate. Indipaw spun away from Snowpaw, fear for he sister pounding her heart. Her sister’s shrieks echoed out over the lake. Indipaw answered with a strident cry of defiance.
“We have to help my sister and WindClan!” Indipaw cried.
“ThunderClan! ATTACK!” Kyemama bellowed, and raced across the territory to Smokepaw’s aid. Tigerheart cried out, and he leaped after her. Snowpaw darted forward, running at Indipaw’s side. Smokepaw’s yowl of rage echoed across the land, spurring everyone for more speed. Kyemama led the charge, voice raised in wildcat yowls of outrage.
They burst onto the scene, just at the border between WindClan and ThunderClan to see a huge group of rogues, fighting WindClan’s warriors. The rogues outnumbered them, and appeared bent on killing all of WindClan. A big white tom with black spotting rolled on the ground with Onestar, his black tail puffed and lashing to and fro in fury. The WindClan’s leader’s eyes shone with shock, and Indipaw picked up a few snarled words here and there about mother, kit, and son, but paid little mind to what it meant. The rogues attacked relentlessly and with not a shred of honor. Kyemama bellowed like a wild cat of myth. The rogues paused, and all gaped for one shocked moment at Kyemama and her enraged daughters, before they fought back. They converged on the patrols, but Kyemama’s huge wicked claws kept them at bay. Indipaw joined her mother, taking pleasure in tearing into these strangers that dare invade her sister’s beau’s Clan’s land.
ThunderClan warriors, along with Bluepaw, Phantompaw and Demonpaw, dropped into the fight, plowing over the small ridge along the stream. Alderheart, running just behind Sparkfire, recognized the leader, and gestured at him with his tail.
“That’s Darktail!” Alderheart yowled in anger. “The evil rogues we fled from in the abandoned gorge! They’re here to kill us all!”
“Attack!” Bramblestars’s voice commanded, echoed by Rowanstar, and Mistystar, who raced up the hill into the fray. The rogues barely knew what slashed into their midst. Blood and fur flew from under wicked huge paws.
“Die invaders!”Indipaw yowled, and slapped aside a snarling long-haired black she-cat, flinging her several foxlengths along the ground. The she-cat screamed, unable to get up.
"Raven!" one of the rogues cried in distress. Raven thrashed until she lost strength, and went silent. Bluepaw grabbed a big brown tabby tom by the neck, and she and Troutleap drowned him in the stream, using a well-known RiverClan trick. Phantompaw pounced on Darktail, thrusting him off Onestar.
“This is between me and my father,” Darktail screeched, but Phantompaw ignored his words and rammed him against a tree trunk, snapping his neck like a twig.
“Help!” a cry came from the stream edge, where Furzepelt lay, hurt, unable to defend herself against her attacker.
“Rain!” Alderheart’s angry cry rang out. “Leave her be!”
Demonpaw and Berrynose charged at Rain, a large long-furred grey tom, perhaps the second in command, and saved Furzepelt’s life. They attacked from opposite sides, and Demonpaw tore gaping wounds in the tom’s flanks while Berrynose attacked the exposed throat. Demonpaw dragged the mortally wounded screaming tom to the stream and flung him in the icy water. He sank under and never resurfaced.
Snowpaw’s yowl of pain whirled Indipaw around, and the ShadowClan apprentice battled with a large brown tabby with spiky long fur.
“Nettle!” Alderheart yowled and hurried to assist Snowpaw, but Indipaw launched herself at the large tom. She smashed into him, chest to chest, latching the claws of her huge paws into the tom’s neck. He raked her with his claws, but only tore out chunks of her thick pelt. She shoved him backward, screeching inarticulately with rage. Her claws ripped into his throat and neck, and his retaliatory swipes grew weaker and weaker. He fell over, and she pounced on him, holding him down, claws digging deep into flesh. The tom uttered one gurgling yowl.
“Nobody hurts my Snowpaw!” she shrieked at the dying tom, who stared at her in shock. His mouth worked, but no words came forth, only blood. His eyes glazed over, and he went limp. Indipaw stood a moment, catching her breath, then returned to the ShadowClan apprentice. She licked Snowpaw’s face.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes,” Snowpaw sat up. “I thought I was going to die.”
“Not on mt watch.” Indipaw turned to hiss at the body of Snowpaw’s attacker, then rubbed her big head all over him. Her siblings and clanmates stared in amazement. Rowanstar gazed at her, then nodded.
“Well done, apprentice,” he said. Commotion turned Indipaw’s attention to her leggy sister. Smokepaw leaped on a silver-grey tom’s back.
“Roach! No!” The same rogue that wailed Raven’s name screamed the tom’s name before someone thumped the stranger to the ground. Indipaw saw Bramblestar standing over the wirey grey and white tom, who lay inert and silent. Bramblestar glanced at Indipaw, battle light blazing in his amber eyes. Smokepaw’s voice turned her head.
“Roach? its what you are!” Smokepaw screamed. “You dare touch Oatclaw!”
The tall black-smoke apprentice slashed Roach’s flanks and sinking her teeth into the rogue’s neck. She crushed him under her weight on top of a stone, and broke his back. He shrieked his pain to the cold sky. The battle ended before it barely started. The remainder of the rogue band fled, lucky to escape with their lives. They scattered, disappearing into the undergrowth, abandoning whatever diabolical plan Darktail chained them with. The patrols stood, heaving for breath, and Onestar shook his bloodied pelt, as WindClan gathered.
“Thank you.” He dipped his head. “I am sorry this happened. It’s my fault, but I’ll wait for another time to explain.”
“It’s not all your fault,” Alderheart interjected. “They trailed me from the old Gorge where I searched for SkyClan.”
“Only because they knew you were a Clan cat, far from home,” Onestar replied. “Please don’t blame yourself.”
“Let’s allow WindClan to heal,” Bramblestar spoke up. “We’ll know in time what the root cause of this attack was. ThunderClan, retreat”
The other leaders followed suit. Indiclaw twined tails with Snowpaw in a quick farewell. As they trotted back to camp to rest and tend wounds, Indipaw wondered if anyone else heard Darktail call Onestar his father. Nobody mentioned it, so she kept silent, but she felt the actions taken this day averted some great disaster.
In the days that followed, a few cats in WindClan grew ill, but with quick thinking and proper treatment everyone recovered. One cat in ThunderClan developed some symptoms, but Leafpool quarantined him to the medicine den. Indipaw and her kin never caught the illness, and she surmised somehow the quick intervention by her mother and siblings put up a barrier to the mysterious sickness. Kyemama explained the custom two legs used in vaccinating cats against horrible diseases. Indipaw understood how Kyemama passed some resistance to Indipaw and her siblings through her body as she carried them to term and her milk while they nursed. Indipaw briefly wondered about this mysterious SkyClan, why the leaders never spoke of them, and what happened to them. Gentleoak obviously knew more than he let on, but she vowed not to pry or break his confidence. Somehow, the problem fell to Alderheart to solve. Indipaw pushed the thoughts from her mind, her heart returning to Snowpaw, as she went about her duties, hoping to go to the next Gathering.
A moon passed since the Gathering, and Indipaw snuggled in the apprentices' den, as sunrise slanted light into camp. A cold wind blew, roaring in the trees, and she twitched her ears. She looked past her denmates, and beyond the den’s entrance, sparkling snow covered the hollow.
After those first flurries the night of the last Gathering, two late Leaf Fall snowfalls buried the lake and Clan territories. The lake surface froze early, thawed and froze again a quarter moon later, before staying frozen the last half moon. Indipaw listened to the wind, her desire to hunt and run in the snow battling her wish to stay warm in the den. She thought of the battle with the rogues that attempted to take out the Clans before the snow flew, and inhaled with pride and satisfaction. Rowanstar actually greeted her at the border with cool civility whenever her patrol met his.
“Come on, lazy tails!” Thornclaw and Cloudtail meowed. “We need to hunt and patrol.”
Growling and groaning filled the spacious warm den. Indipaw raised her head and yawned, and reluctantly uncurled her body. She stood up, and shook herself. She allowed her fellow apprentices file out before she sauntered out into the snow. Warriors poured from the Warrior’s den, ready to get to the day’s tasks.
Out in camp, Squirrelflight organized the patrols. Demonstone and Brackenfur hurried to work, checking dens for wind damage, breaking trails through the snow. Briarlight’s rock lay buried, and Indipaw knew she stayed in the medicine cat’s den, playing with Twigkit, one of two kits Alderheart found on his last journey. Larkkit, Honeykit and Leafkit apprenticed last moon. Lilyheart stayed in the nursery for Twigkit’s sake, but the little one spent a lot of time with Briarlight. Indipaw flicked her tail, wondering if Twigkit might choose to be a medicine cat upon apprenticing. Maybe ShadowClan took the wrong kit, she mused, ThunderClan had four medicine cats already. Indipaw scowled, wondering why ShadowClan needed to take a kit at all.
“Come,” Thornclaw said. “I think a training session is in order.”
“Really?” Indipaw groaned. “What more do I need to learn? Can’t we patrol ShadowClan’s border?”
“Hunting in deep snow is a skill you should practice,” Thornclaw admonished her. Indipaw jerked her head alert as distant yipping echoed over the frozen lake.
“The coyotes,” she muttered.
“Try not to worry,” her mentor said. “Let’s hunt.”
“Okay,” Indipaw agreed, following Thornclaw out of camp and into the deep snows up the hill. Indipaw rolled in the snow, camouflaging her dark back. Thornclaw nodded approval. Ahead, a squirrel dug around for hidden tree nuts. Indipaw froze, and crept up only when the animal faced away from her. She gathered her strong legs beneath her and leaped, but the squirrel bolted up the nearest tree, chittering at her.
Mousedung!” Indipaw swore, attacking the spot with dagger claws, flinging snow and leaves behind her.
“You twitched your tail tip,” Thornclaw said.
“I’m becoming horrible,” Indipaw hissed, her entire coat bristling with a mix of shame and frustration. “I wasn’t thinking of Snowpaw then and I still missed.”
“Come,” Thornclaw turned and trotted back toward camp. “We can try again after a snack and rest.”
They entered the hollow, and Indipaw hurried to her nest, feeling undeserving of anything from the fresh kill pile.
“Indipaw, you should eat something!” Thornclaw called after her. She merely flattened her ears, and entered the empty apprentice den. She flopped in her nest, huffing with her frustrations, but fell asleep after a few minutes.
“Fresh kill! Lionblaze’s patrol brought home HUGE fresh kill!” the sentry, Dewnose, yowled with excitement. Indipaw roused herself from her nap, and hurried out into camp, curiosity killing what remained of her ill-feelings. Excitement thrummed the air. Indipaw stared in amazement, forgetting her own disappointment in her failure, as her mother grabbed a doe by the back of the head. She dragged the body through the entrance while her patrolmates pushed. Indipaw stared in amazement. Cats swarmed around them, meowing and yowling in amazement. Demonpoppa pushed forward, his eyes gleaming.
“Such a small deer! I never thought I’d eat venison again!” he meowed with delight. He grabbed a foreleg, then using all the strength in his massive musculature, hauled backwards. They dragged the prey to the center of the camp, just as Bramblestar returned with his patrol, empty-jawed and looking tired. Indipaw sympathized. Demonpoppa trotted to the medicine cat den to fetch Briarlight.
“What under StarClan is going on?” Bramblestar demanded, but gaped in shock when cats parted to allow him through. “A Roe deer? How? It wasn’t crow-food, was it?”
“No!” Berrynose answered, his stub tail shaking with delight. “Our patrol caught it. It was Kyestorm’s idea to use our tree technique to hunt and it worked! Kyestorm dropped on this doe and held it down! Lionblaze and I attacked from the front and our apprentices from the side, and Demonpaw delivered the kill bite!”
“The kill was quick and efficient,” Lionblaze added. “I’m still shocked we caught a deer. But Kyestorm seemed so excited. She said she’d never seen such small deer before and wanted to taste venison again!”
“Well done!” Bramblestar meowed, pride ringing in his voice. He gazed pointedly at Kyemama. “I’ve never regretted taking you and your mate in, and you’ve paid us back with more than I ever expected. We’ll all feast before it freezes!” Bramblestar tapped a haunch. “Take this to the Elder’s den.”
”No. I’m thinkin’ we feast t’gether, like lions o’ ancient times!” Purdy strolled out of the Elder’s den, eyes alert, nose twitching. Graystripe and Millie followed. Indipaw gazed at Purdy fondly. “Fine catch, youngin’! I knew yer instincts ran true.”
“Amazing. This will feed all of us today!” Leafpool said, as the medicine cats joined the crowd around the prey. Indipaw hung back, hating the thought of being bumped.
“This is truly a gift.” Bramblestar looked skyward. “We thank StarClan for this abundance of food, and for the cat and her kin who think outside Clan convention, who caught this meal for her clan. Elders first, kits, then the medicine cats and Briarlight, then we all feed. There is more than enough for all of us.” Bramblestar turned to Kyemama. “You take my place, and the first meal, Warrior, for without your extraordinary thinking, we’d not have this bounty.”
Kyemama obeyed her Clan leader, and settled in by the doe’s belly. She tore it open with one pass of a large forepaw, and the scent and taste of venison filled Indipaw’s senses. Though she drooled with anticipation she joined her fellow apprentices in carrying large portions to the Elders, Medicine cats, Twigkit, Briarlight and Daisy, before taking their own meals. Indipaw forgot everything as the tasty meat filled her mouth. Good-natured banter echoed in the hollow even as jaws tore meat off of the enormous fresh kill.
The entire Clan hung in camp that afternoon, taking bites from the enormous fresh kill when trips to the dirt place made more room in bulging stomachs. As the sun sank in the western sky, the satiated Clan pulled even more meat from the carcass, until only skin and bone littered the ground. Indipaw sprawled on patch of ground swept clean of snow by the wind, crunching on a rib bone. He siblings and milk brothers ringed her, as always to give her space.
“This is a feast I will never forget,” Thornclaw said, sitting down beside Smokepaw.
“Aye!” Purdy called from just outside the Elder’s den. “Tis feastin’ fit fer kings! Or queens. Great red queen, I hope yer prowess brings more deer meat o’r Leaf Bare.”
A cheer went up from the entire Clan, and Indipaw tried to eat one more morsel, but her stomach rumbled in warning. She licked her lips.
“Don’t dare throw up,” Phantompaw teased.
“Never, but I can’t stuff myself, unlike you,” Indipaw snapped. “Kyemama says you’re like a two leg machine that sucks up things and never pops.”
Laughter, yowling and purring filled the camp, and by time the moon rose, only the fur and skin remained of the little doe. Berrynose and Thornclaw trotted to the entrance, taking up sentry duty.
“Come on, Indipaw, help us!” Demonpaw called out. She nodded, and grabbed up the tail. The apprentices dragged the deerskin out of camp, leaving it down by the lake shore, by the stream. Phantompaw dragged it on a big rock, and marked it.
“Come on, we all must. WindClan surely will find this and be so jealous.”
Indipaw went along with the caper, but she thought only of her nest. She followed her fellow apprentices, led by Demonpaw, Greypaw,and Larkpaw, back to camp. They headed to the apprentice’s den, meowing and laughing. Indipaw chortled in spite of herself, and sauntered to her nest. The other youngsters gave her room to get to her nest. She dropped into it, drifted off to sleep, dreaming of shocked WindClan patrols as they discovered the impossible item, with Snowpaw at her side.
“INDIPAW!” The screech jerked Indipaw out of her dreams. She jumped up, and exploded out of the den, not caring who she stepped on. The moon hung low in the western sky, and Indipaw barreled out into the snow, knowing she just heard Snowpaw scream. She barely noticed her fellow apprentices rushing out into camp.
“ShadowClan intruder!” Birchfall’s voice echoed in the hollow. He stood by the entrance, bristling with indignation. Indipaw launched herself across camp, followed by her siblings, and fellow apprentices. She stopped, poised for action, legs trembling. Her ears twitched and as she opened her mouth to call her beau, his voice reverberated in the cold air.
“HELP! HELP INDIPAW!” The desperate shrieking drew closer. Indipaw heard someone pelting headlong up the slope from the lake. Twigs snapped, rocks bounced, and ice crackled under the paws of the incoming cat. She knew Snowpaw scrambled up the slope. Birchfall moved to intercept the intruder.
“Snowpaw! Are the rogues back?” Indipaw responded, running to the entrance just as Snowpaw barreled in, She shoved her body between a bristling Birchfall and the wild-eyed terrorized apprentice. “Please, Birchfall! Don’t attack! He’s alone!”
Screeching of cats echoed across the lake, followed by howling and yelping. Indipaw’s heart leaped into her throat. No, not rogues! Coyotes! Indipaw became aware of her mother and clanmates swarming around her and Snowpaw. Bramblestar leaped down from his den, Squirrelflight at his heels.
“What under StarClan is going on out here?”
“Please! Bramblestar! Kyestorm! Indipaw! Please help us!” Snowpaw yowled in misery. “Coyotes attacked! My Clan’s in danger! Warriors are hurt and dying! Please come! They’re destroying us!”
“You ran instead of staying to fight?” Thornclaw asked, his voice soft, taking the sting out of the question.
“Someone had to!” Snowpaw wailed in anguish. “I think they killed my sister! Please! Help us! I don’t care what our leader thinks. We’ll all die if you don’t help!”
“Warriors!” Bramblestar’s yowl reverberated off the cliff. “We fight to help ShadowClan! Two Clans will be ONE!”
He leaped forward. Indipaw followed, as did all the warriors. Snowpaw surged to the front, leading them down the slope to the lakeshore. Indipaw followed on his heels. They skirted the shoreline, cutting across the ice at the mouth of the stream into ShadowClan territory. The desperate screeching of cats and the sharp yelps of the invaders filled the air.
“Hurry!” Snowpaw wailed. “Tawnypelt’s kits!”
“NO!” Indipaw yowled, as ThunderClan charged into ShadowClan’s camp. Indipaw’s heart skipped a beat as the scene spread out before her. Three coyotes, two adults and a half grown pup, ravaged the camp. Warriors clawed and tore at the canines, slowing them down. One young apprentice lay a fox length away, bleeding and Indipaw recognized Pinepaw. Her heart swelled with angst. She spotted Beepaw crawling into the Medicine cat den, trying to shield Littlecloud with her body. Blood stained her white pelt.
Warriors ranged in front of the nursery and Elder’s den, as the yellow-eyed canines snapped at them, trying to get the terrified kits and helpless queens. Rowanstar fought like a tornado with claws, and Tawnypelt stood just inside, striking at any muzzle that neared the entrance. The big male coyote reached its head forward, braving Tawnypelt’s wails and claws and grabbed a two moon old kit. Indipaw’s heart pounded, but her mother’s thunderous shriek of outrage startled her.
“NOOOO! DROP THAT KIT!” Kyemama bellowed, her voice loud and booming, and she plunged at the male coyote. She launched herself at him, and landed on the coyote’s face. Kyemama sank her monstrous claws into his head and slashed in a fury. He howled and dropped the kit, who shrieked in terror. Snowpaw grabbed the kit, and returned him to the nursery. Indipaw followed him, just as the coyote scrambled to his feet and bolted, trying to shake Kyemama free. She let go and dropped to the bloody, churned up snow. The coyote raced out of camp, sporting ripped ears, one clawed eye, furrowed bloody face, and many deep slashes on his flanks and belly.
Indipaw, Snowpaw, and Smokepaw attacked the female, along with Thornclaw, Spiderleg and Bumblestripe. Her fellow fighters bumped her and she funneled her reactions into the enemy, sinking her large claws deep, ripping flesh with all her strength.The female leaped up, and followed her mate, yelping as if the hounds of hell nipped her tail. Indipaw put her rage into one last swipe that tore a chunk out of the canine’s haunch The apprentices harried the youngest coyote.The pup rolled over, his body covered in wounds, and flew after its parents, kiyiing his terror to the moon.
All the warriors stopped, and faced ShadowClan, most of whom lay injured. Rowanstar stood in front of the nursery, yellow eyes wide, heaving for air, bite marks riddling his shoulders. Indipaw realized in a flash of horror Rowanstar lost a life protecting his kits and mate. Tawnypelt moaned, and the three kits wobbled out and pressed against their mother, unhurt. The one the coyote grabbed sat, wet with drool with a few chunks of missing pelt, but no wounds. Bramblestar hurried to his sister’s side, and Tawnypelt leaned into him, holding a foreleg clear of the ground. Indipaw thought she saw Violetkit huddled at the back of the den. The remaining elders crept out of their den past Crowfrost, Tigerheart, and Scorchfur. Rowanstar shivered, then leveled his gaze on Snowpaw. The blood-spattered apprentice dipped his head. Indipaw moved to his side, ready to defend him.
“You ran away, not from fear, but to bring help,” Rowanstar murmured, his voice hoarse.
“Yes. I knew Indipaw would help, and if she did, so would her mother and siblings, and all of ThunderClan.” Snowpaw answered. Indipaw licked blood from his fur. Rowanstar turned and gazed at Kyemama.
“You saved my family, my clan, by agreeing to come with our apprentice,” Rowanstar nodded. “This night, like the day the rogues attacked, two Clans truly became one. I shall not forget this.”
“I could never refuse to help,” Kyestorm mewed. Indipaw hung her head, leaning into Snowpaw. His body shook with grief. Snowpaw’s sister, Pinepaw, lay silent, and two older apprentices lay sprawled near the elder’s den. Strikepaw, Jarrowpaw, Sleekpaw and Juniperpaw sat vigil beside them already, unsure of what to do. An Elder lay prone just outside the den, eyes unseeing, teeth bared in fury. A silver-white she-cat lay nearby, struggling to her feet, and Indipaw recognized Needletail. Alderheart hurried to her side. Gentlepaw raced over to the medicine cat den as Puddlepaw sagged to the ground. Behind him, inside, Littlecloud lay, eyes wild, and he panted, his breath harsh and ragged. Beepaw tried calming him despite her own injuries, by sharing tongues, and Indipaw felt more fondness for Snowpaw’s little chubby sister. Indipaw inhaled sharply, seeing a shimmer appear beside Rowanstar. The StarClan cat turned piercing yellow eyes to Kyemama, and nodded. Rowanstar glanced at the starry apparition, and dipped his head in acknowledgment.
“I’m sorry we didn’t get here sooner.” Kyemama mewed, and Blackstar’s form glittered, his body becoming translucent. Gasps and startled meows went up from the battle weary cats.
“Don’t be,” Rowanstar sat down, his body trembling.
“They died with honor and your arrival prevented them from becoming Coyote food.” Blackstar argued. “You have passed the second test of your destiny, and you honor me by what you did here this night.”
Blackstar’s form swirled and he vanished. Rowanstar stared for a long time at the empty air.
“Kyestorm, I wish I’d listened to you that long ago Gathering. I’m happy you’re on our side. Snowpaw, I am sorry about your sister. She defended me with everything she had while I lost a life.”
“She’s alive!” Gentlepaw meowed, joy in his voice, his cry breaking the sad moment. Puddlepaw, and Gentlepaw worked on Pinepaw. Indipaw watched in amazement as Gentlepaw skillfully treated Pinepaw. She leaned into Snowpaw.
“My brother is saving her life.” When Pinepaw opened her eyes, Gentlepaw left Pinepaw in Puddlepaw’s care to tend other injured.
The little black she-cat moaned, bringing Indipaw back from her thoughts. Snowpaw sank to his sister’s side. Indipaw followed, as if glued to his flank. Rowanstar bowed his head, as Kyemama, Bramblestar and others gathered together. He sagged to the ground.
“I think we need help.”
“Agreed,” Bramblestar said. “I’ll leave a few warriors who wish to stay, behind.”
Sudden pawfalls echoed in camp, and Mistystar and a large patrol of RiverClan’s best warriors burst into view. They stopped short, and Mistystar gaped.
“We’re too late!” Mistystar glanced at Kyemama, and took in the scene. “How did you get here so quickly?”
“Snowpaw alerted us and we came at his request. If not for him, we’d have gotten here way too late,” Bramblestar answered. “We were all dead asleep, stuffed to our teeth in deer meat.”
Pinepaw moaned again, returning Indipaw’s attention to Snowpaw’s sister. He rushed forward to nuzzle her and lick her wounded head. Indipaw lay on her chest next to him, only minutely aware of the conversations going on between the others. She heard Onestar arrive and Harespring’s hateful remarks but she cared only for Snowpaw and his sister. She barely acknowledged Kyemama when she left camp, leading a hunting patrol into ShadowClan’s territory. Snowpaw and Indipaw shared tongues with his sister, careful not to disturb any of Gentlepaw’s work with poultices and cob-webbing.
“We thought you died,” Snowpaw mewled.
“So did I,” Pinepaw whispered, and shivered. “I’m so cold.”
“We’ll keep you warm,” Indipaw declared, and rested her thick-furred body along Pinepaw’s back. Snowpaw lay against her belly. Together they kept Pinepaw warm, dozing, until the hunting party returned to camp, dragging their bounty. Indipaw jerked alert, scenting venison.
“Muntjac deer?” Mistystar exclaimed. “They’re so fast! How’d you catch them?”
“Well done!” Bramblestar called out. Kyemama dragged the prey to the center of camp, and looked at Rowanstar.
“This should help you all regain strength.” she said quietly, and stepped back. Demonpaw, Phantompaw and Lionblaze did likewise, though Phantompaw gazed wistfully at the fresh kill.
“Two-leg pig,” Demonpaw guffawed. Phantompaw only lashed his tail, and hitched his shoulders in a shrug, but his sea-green gaze never left the prey. Indipaw exchanged glances with Snowpaw.
“Yes, my brother is a glutton.” Indipaw purred.
Snowpaw laughed. ShadowClan warriors descended on the fresh kill, tearing it in pieces to give to injured warriors, elders and Tawnypelt and her kits. Rowanstar staggered to the fresh kill, and stared at it a long moment, then looked at Kyemama.
“Many thanks, and well done, Warrior.” Rowanstar gazed a moment at her, respect shining in his eyes, and took a chunk of meat, then gestured with his tail. “Take some yourself.”
“Thank you, Rowanstar,” Kyemama replied, and took a tiny bite.
“Come on,” Rowanstar scoffed. “There is plenty here for everyone.” He glanced at Onestar and Mistystar. “Including all of you.”
“Many thanks,” Mistystar dipped her head. “We feasted earlier this night and are full of fish, but I wish to try deer meat!”
“As do I,” Onestar said, moving to the second deer. Everyone ate a generous chunk, though ThunderClan cats took less, still full from the big meal earlier that night. Phantompaw carried a big chunk to Snowpaw and Indipaw.
“Make her eat some even if you have to chew it up for her. Gentlepaw’s orders,” he meowed, then hurried back to the kill. Snowpaw took big bites, filling himself, while Indipaw only ate what he politely offered. When her stomach balked, she chewed a few large chunks and lowered her head to Pinepaw’s muzzle.
“Eat.”
“Mmmm.” Pinepaw opened her mouth, and took the softened food. She gulped it down. “Is there more?”
“Sure is,” Indipaw answered, and together, she and Snowpaw fed her the ample morsels of fresh kill. They snuggled in to keep her warm, watching until Bramblestar’s voice rang over the camp.
“I need a few warriors to stay, and help in case those beasts return,’ Bramblestar yowled the command. “Who will stay?”
“I will,” Lionblaze stepped up. Birchfall moved next to Lionblaze.
“Me, too.”
“I will, too,” Thornclaw said, glancing at Indipaw.
“Of course I will,” Indipaw yowled back.
“I will,” Dovewing stood beside Birchfall, glancing at Tigerheart. Indipaw noticed the look that passed between the injured ShadowClan warrior and Dovewing. Both looked woebegone. Indipaw scowled, but kept her opinion on that relationship to herself. Pinepaw stirred.
“I think I’m too warm now.” She slowly rolled over and lay on her stomach. At that moment Phantompaw lead Indipaw’s siblings to her.
“Come on. Let’s check out those tracks.”
“Good idea, “ Indupaw stood up. Snowpaw rose with her.
“I agree. We can learn the scent of the enemy.”
Indipaw, Snowpaw, Demonpaw,and Phantompaw trotted to the back of camp where the coyotes barreled through the meager barrier of pine boughs. They examined the coyote tracks. drinking in the scents. Other warriors joined them, and learned the odor of the enemy. Phantompaw and Demonpaw took inhaled deeply, muzzles over the bloody tracks left by the coyote invaders.
“Weak weak defenses,” Demonpaw scoffed. He pointed with his bushy back tail. “Boulders there with briars anchored there and strung through the boughs may have stopped them.”
Phantompaw and Demonpaw agreed, gesturing with paw and tail.
“There, vines and briars anchored with stones make a fine blockade. Set up barriers on trails leading into the camp.” Demonpaw tapped a small boulder next to a small pine. “Then wrap the vines around the tree trunk woven with briars.”
Indipaw listened, sniffing the tracks left by the enemy, committing it to memory, while her brothers used their skill to fortify ShadowClan’s camp. Snowpaw sniffed the tracks.
“I will always hate this scent,” he growled. “Your brothers sure know their stuff.”
“Thanks to Brackenfur and my Demonpoppa, they sure do,” Indipaw agreed, turning her head briefly as the other Clans took their leave. She waved her tail, then returned to the work at hand. Demonpaw’s dexterous toes already weaved threatening barrier across the breach in the camp’s defenses. A moan from Pinepaw drew her attention. Snowpaw whirled and ran to her. Indipaw followed.
“Cold again,” she mewled, her teeth chattering. Without hesitation Indipaw draped over her back, and Snowpaw lay against her stomach. Pinepaw groaned with delight. Indipaw blinked, feeling sleepy, when Rowanstar padded up to them with a noticeable limp.
‘Thank you for staying,” ShadowClan’s leader purred, his words ragged.
“You’re more than welcome,” Indipaw purred back, glancing around at the tall pines. “Its nice here.”
“I’m sorry I was rude at the last gathering.”
“Don’t apologize.” Indipaw yawned. “I understand the rules.”
“But it doesn’t stop you from loving a cat from another clan.” Rowanstar sat down. “I think you and your sisters have a destiny beyond our code.”
“What do you mean?” Indipaw bristled with suspicion.
“You have your mother’s spunk all right,” Rowanstar said, then coughed, blood and spittle spraying the snow.
“You’re really hurt!” Indipaw interrupted in dismay.
“I’m healing,” Rowanstar assured her. “But both of your sisters are besotted with toms from other Clans. Perhaps this is meant to be. What remains now is where you decide to live.”
“What?” Indipaw resisted the urge to sit up.
“You must decide what Clan you will raise your kits in.” Rowanstar stood up.
“My kits?” Indpaw hissed, causing Rowanstar to utter a raspy laugh.
“Yes, yours and Snowpaw’s,” Rowanstar paused, turned and padded away, glancing back once. “That is inevitable”
“He’s speaking in riddles.” Snowpaw sneezed, hiding his head against Pinepaw, who shook with silent mirth.
“Worse than an old StarClan prophecy,” Indipaw spat, annoyed. “I’m not having kits. I want to be a warrior before that happens.”
“Me too, but it would be nice to live in the same Clan.” Snowpaw yawned. “Let’s sleep. We can talk about what we want in the morning.”
“Sure,” Indipaw laid her head beside Pinepaw’s, and closed her eyes. Leave ThunderClan? Could she? She inhaled a deep breath, letting it out slowly, realizing she allowed two cats to not only touch her, but snuggle with her to keep warm. The scent of pine filled her sinuses and she found it pleasant, soothing. Did she belong here?
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
PART THREE
The next day, work began to help ShadowClan rebuild and recover. Indipaw left Pinepaw’s care to Gentlepaw, who moved Pinepaw to the medicine cat den. She assisted her brothers with the building and fortifying of barriers. For two sunrises, she worked, hunted and slept, Snowpaw and her brothers at her side, feeling content, until the night her brothers and other ThunderClan warriors left for home. She hung back, thinking to stay, but feeling the tug of her birthplace. She inhaled the pine scent and listened to the wind singing in the boughs of the trees.
“Stay if you wish,” Thornclaw said. “Just come home soon to resume training.”
“I will,” Indipaw meowed, and as her clanmates and siblings left, she joined Snowpaw in the apprentice den, Many regarded her warily, and she saw old clan distrust in many eyes. The walls of the den closed in on her, and the distance from her nest to the next narrowed to nothing. To her dismay, even Beepaw’s blue eyes drilled into her. Her pelt bristled, and she thought all of them sought to touch her, even slap her. Indipaw suddenly felt a stab of severe homesickness. She never before felt such anxiety and longing, not even when she left Kyemama’s side to join the apprentices after her ceremony. She shivered against Snowpaw, but his presence failed to allay her rising dread. Waves of fear, anger and longing choked her, and she jumped up. Her heart pounded, she trembled all over, and sweat broke out on her paws. She hissed.
“Don’t touch me!”
“Indipaw?” Snowpaw queried.
“What’s wrong?” Strikepaw asked, his expression turning to surprise.
“Who dares touch you?” Yarrowpaw queried.
“I’m sorry. I have to go home,” she said to Snowpaw, leaping out of the den.
“Why?” Snowpaw followed her out into the snow.
“I miss my family,” she explained in a quavering meow, omitting how his clanmates made her feel very unwelcome, even after all that occurred the last few days.
“I thought you’d stay with me,” Snowpaw mumbled.
“Me, too.”Indipaw mewled. “I like it here but, but . . .” Indipaw paused, then brightened. “Come with me?”
“I can’t leave my sister,” Snowpaw whimpered. “Please don’t go.”
Annoyance flashed through Indipaw, but before Snowpaw noticed, she spun away, panic racing her heart, pouring sweat from her pawpads into the snow. She wanted nothing more than to curl up with Kyemama, but knew that kittenish impulse impossible, so her own nest beside her brothers and sisters suited her just fine.
“I have to. I’m sorry,” she cried, head down, as she dashed for home, feeling like a cowardly mousebrain.
“Indipaw!” Snowpaw’s anguish cut into her heart, but did not reduce the homesickness and angst that throttled her like a twisting vine.
“I’m sorry,” she wailed, her heart squeezing. She dared not look back. She raced across the snowy land, leaped the stream at the border and headed for camp.
“Indipaw?” Cloudtail queried from the sentry’s perch.
“Don’t ask!” Indipaw snarled, and dashed for the apprentice’s den. She scurried in, nimbly avoiding touching anyone, She dropped into her nest, quivering, inhaling the scent of her nest, trying to calm this alien emotion that roared though her body.
“Indipaw?” Smokepaw asked softly. “Are you all right?”
“No,” Indipaw sniffled through her nest. “I tried to sleep over with Snowpaw in the apprentices’ den, and I got so homesick, it scared me.”
“But you were fine the last few nights,” Smokepaw whispered.
“Yeah, but,” Indipaw paused, feeling like stupid kit. “You were not there.”
“Relax and sleep. You’ll feel better come morning,”
Indipaw curled up, and the familiar scents and sounds soothed her to sleep. She woke abruptly just before sunrise, and looked around the den, memories of the previous night flooding her mind, She scowled. Why did she act like such a scared kit? She thought of Snowpaw and her heart jumped with remorse, and she realized his fellow clanmates never showed her animosity, only curiosity. She recalled Beepaw’s reaction and her wide blue eyes showed disappointment, not disdain. She remembered the smell of pine, the deep shade, and the comforting touch of Snowpaw’s body. She imagined waking up beside Snowpaw, and his sister, ready to tackle a new day together, and she blew the chance to actually stay with Snowpaw forever. She wished she never fled and come home.
She rose, left the den, and slipped out of camp, passing the sentry, and nodded a silent thank you. Kyemama merely nodded understanding, a haunted look in her eyes.
“Kyemama,” Indipaw whispered, and her mother shook her head, ears drooping. Indipaw blinked a kiss to her mother, not wanting to hurt Kyemama. She trembled, seeing the deep resigned sadness in her mother’s eyes.
“I. . .” Indipaw mewed, but Kyemama shook her head again, flattening her tall ears to her skull.
“Just go, Daughter,” she muttered. The very thought of hurting Kyemama made Indipaw want to yowl to the fading stars, but she clenched her jaw, and hurried across the territory to ShadowClan’s border. She crossed the stream, sat on the shore, and waited. The sun sent rays over the hill, and Indipaw heard a patrol moving toward her.
“Don’t fret,” someone said. “She’ll be back.”
Indipaw recognized Needletail’s voice.
“I hope so,” Snowpaw’s mumble answered.
“She just freaked a little, in a strange place without her family.” Stonepaw’s reply floated to her ears. “But, she’s too independent to not follow her heart.”
“Snowpaw!” Indipaw yowled, deciding to announce her presence. “I’m sorry!”
“Why did you run?” Snowpaw poked his head out of the brush.
“I’m not sure,” Indipaw touched noses with him. “I panicked, and had to go home, but, this morning, I feel so bad that I left you.”
“You do?”
“Yes, I should’ve stayed, and snuggled with you. The feeling may have just passed. I’m a mousebrain,” Indipaw murmured.
“I do forgive you,” Snowpaw mewed, and Indipaw’s heart filled with joy. “I understand, but, we do have to decide. I think Rowanstar would accept you, if you chose to come here permanently.”
“I want to, but, Smokepaw desperately wishes to go to WindClan. She and Oatclaw sneak out on the moors to run at night. Bluepaw is learning to swim,” Indipaw fought to keep her voice down. “If I go too, Kyemama will be so upset. I can’t do that to her. It breaks my heart that she will be hurt.”
“She has your brothers,” Snowpaw reminded her.
“You could come to ThunderClan,” Indipaw suggested.
“No. We need you,” Snowpaw mewed softly. “You have to follow your heart, and you’re perfect for ShadowClan, and me.”
“I know, “ Indiclaw murmured, understanding he spoke the truth. Her heart longed to sleep with him under the pines, but she dreaded breaking her mother’s heart. “Can I think about it more? I’ll know by the Gathering.”
“Sure,” Snowpaw purred. “I’ll wait as long as you need me to.”
“I have to go now.” Indipaw glanced over her shoulder. “Thornclaw will be looking for me.”
“See you at the next Gathering.” Snowpaw waved his tail.
“Of course!”
Indipaw whirled and hurried back home. She crept into camp, acknowledging her mother who still sat sentry duty.
“All okay?” Kyemama asked.
“Yes,” Indipaw answered. “Thanks for not alerting everyone.”
“You needed to do this,” Kyemama said, her voice betraying nothing of the feelings Indipaw knew lurked there. “Better get ready for your mentor.”
“I will.” Indipaw trotted to the apprentice den where her clanmates stirred. Thornclaw met her at the entrance.
“Ready?”
“Yes,” Indipaw answered.
“We tree train today.” Thornclaw announced. “I am not great with it, but I think you will be.”
“Alright,” Indipaw nodded. She followed her mentor, her mind on Snowpaw. She practiced hunting from the trees and found she loved it. She imagined herself in ShadowClan’s majestic pines, hidden, ready to plummet onto unsuspecting prey, supplying her Clan with incredible bounty.
As the days passed, she longed more and more for the pines across the stream. By time the Gathering loomed, she finally made her decision.
The moon rose in clear cold skies, sending silver-gold light into the hollow. Frigid air blew over the lake, sending small snow twisters over snow-covered ice. Indipaw shivered, her thick coat billowing out to block the wind, as she, Kyemama and Thornclaw brought in a Roe fawn fresh kill. Over the last moon, the technique of dropping from the trees worked as a very efficient strategy for hunting the swift wary creatures, keeping the Clan fed during the harsh Leaf Bare, where tracking and stalking in the unusually deep snows proved quite difficult. Indipaw excelled in the tree drop, and enjoyed the hunt.
“Well done!” Bramblestar called out, returning with his patrol, who, with Phantompaw and Lionblaze, carried home a small young yearling Roe deer.
“This tree diving technique works great for hunting,” Bramblestar said. “I am concerned that it’s getting harder to find these creatures. They used to be everywhere.”
“Any scent of other predators that might be hunting out territory?” Demonpoppa asked, coming up alongside Kyemama “Are we making them more skittish?”
“No, I don’t think so, but this prey roams well beyond our territories,” Bramblestar replied, halting to allow his patrol to place their fresh kill in the center of camp by the rounded rock where they ate the first venison meal.
“I have no doubts coyotes might hunt these creatures, too. Another reason to deal with them. They compete with us for those deer.”
“It never mattered before, but now that we can catch them, the competition is a problem. We have a lot to discuss at tonight’s Gathering,” Squirrelflight said. “The howls have begun again just past the horseplace. I don’t like it at all.”
“Certainly we hurt them bad enough that they won’t return,” Kyemama said, her fur bristling. “They didn’t get anyone that night as a meal.”
“Maybe not, but will it prevent them from trying in other territories?” ThunderClan’s deputy glanced worriedly eastward. “They can come in from any direction.”
“Then we will prepare,” Kyemama said firmly. “Our tree diving technique should work great in battling them. Their only real weapons are those long jaws and big teeth!”
“I can climb well enough now,” Demonpoppa growled. “Let me drop on a few of them. They’ll not dare trouble us any more.”
“Such optimists, but I am glad you’ll be able to join us in battle, Demonstone,” Squirrelflight sighed. “Let’s eat. The Gathering is at moonhigh.”
Indipaw eyed her father, realizing how much he developed his own special skills over the moons. Climbing rocks and logs in his work increased his musculature, and she knew he gained weight and power during his time here. He might not run fast, but in close quarters, Demonpoppa battled with the best. As large and heavy as a big male badger, he possessed many fighting techniques reminiscent of that enemy. She imagined his bulk landing on a coyote head, smashing it to the ground. He padded over, in his rocking gait, carrying Briarlight with ease.
Indipaw joined the Clan as they milled around the Feasting Rock, awaiting Bramblestar’s first tearing open of the prey, a new tradition born of the size of the meals these creatures supplied. The Elders crowded the entrance of the Elder’s den, eagerly awaiting their share, but unwilling to brave the bitter winds. Briarlight rode Demonpoppa’s back, sliding off at her place by the bulging stone. All of her clanmates, including the Elders, brimmed with health and vigor, thick-furred, bright-eyed, and muscular, in contrast to the hungry cats in other Clans.
Half a moon ago, Indipaw worried for Snowpaw. Every time she met him on patrol, he looked thinner. Smokepaw fretted over Oatclaw’s deteriorating condition, as prey ran sparse on the moors.. The apprentices all met one cold night and agreed to do the right thing, and it commanded the utmost secrecy.
“Clanmates,” Bramblestar meowed, his voice flicking away Indipaw’s thoughts. “We are about to enjoy another Leaf Bare feast. We thank StarClan for this bounty, and as always, for our Clanmates sent to us by StarClan so many moons ago, who taught us to catch such prey. Let the feast begin!” Bramblestar hooked his claws into the belly of the fresh kill and tore it open. He spilled the guts and organs out onto the snow.
“Elders first!” he called out. The youngest Warriors walked forward, and took chunks of organ meats to the Elders. The apprentices came forward next. Greypaw and Rainpaw carried portions to Briarlight, who showered her younger brothers with thanks and love. Phantompaw, Indipaw, Smokepaw, Bluepaw and Demonpaw carved gargantuan hunks from the carcass, and brought them to the Elder’s den.
“Eat it all,” Phantompaw’s voice carried out of the den. “Or I’ll be back and eat it for you!”
“No need, youngin’” Purdy’s laughter followed. “I kin eat up as much o’the two o’you. Yer wastin’ yer time.”
“Oh, Purdy,” Indipaw replied, her meow shaking with mirth. “You know my brother’s a glutton!”
“Yer sibling won’t find anythin’ left to eat when we’re done,” Purdy retorted in good humor. Indipaw only laughed and left the den.
“Medicine cats next!” Bramblestar called out. Decreed by new ritual, the medicine cats came forward to claim their meals. Gentlepaw marched to the fresh kill, and tore off large portions, honoring his mentors as he gave the servings to them. Alderheart, Leafpool and Jayfeather thanked him. Daisy stepped forward with Cherryfall, who glanced at Stormcloud, then her Clan Leader.
“Everyone knows,” Kyemama guffawed. “Eat for you and your kits!”
Cherryfall took a large chunk of leg meat, and hurried back to her mate. Bramblestar nodded at his warriors and apprentices. The Clan filed past, in complete organized precision, and sliced their meals from the carcass. Paired warriors went first. Cloudtail and Brightheart took their share, followed by Lionblaze and Cinderheart, Poppyfrost and Berrynose, Whitewing and Birchfall, and Lilyheart and Snowbush. Kyemama followed Demonpoppa, tearing off their portions, then Bramblestar and Squirrelflight took theirs. The rest of the warriors followed, and Indipaw watched them file by, taking big meals, laughing and chatting, noting they walked past by seniority. Brackenfur, Thornclaw, Mousewhisker, Rosepetal, and Spiderleg lead the line, with Dovewing, Ivypool, Blossomfall, Molewhisker, and Bumblestripe, then the younger warriors; Lilyheart, Dewnose, Snowbush, Ambermoon. Hollytuft, Sorrelstripe, Fernsong and Sparkfire.
The apprentices took their meals, laughing and goofing around. Sparkfire scowled as Phantompaw, Smokepaw, Bluepaw,, Rainpaw, Larkpaw, Leafpaw, Honeypaw, and Greypaw slapped at each other like kits. Indipaw joined in the fun, lancing at Demonstreak and Sparkfire. Both twitched their whiskers.
“Keep your heads,” Indipaw murmured. Demonpaw stood behind Sparkfire, glaring at his siblings. Gentlepaw took his meal and joined his mentors. Indipaw guffawed when Phantompaw snatched the last piece of organ meat, added a huge hunk of shoulder meat, and carried the gargantuan serving to his spot beside his siblings. Feline laughter pealed from the group as the apprentices teased Phantompaw, who only grinned, baring all four fangs before wolfing down his meal. Indipaw joined the laughter, but flicked her tail with nervous anticipation. They needed to lull everyone into ignoring flighty apprentices. Kyemama watched them carry extra meat to their little circle on the other side of camp.
“Do you think Kyemama knows what we’re doing?” Smokepaw asked.
“So far, she thinks we’re pranking on each other,” Phantompaw answered, his expression serious. “Or pulling pranks on WindClan apprentices.”
“We should pay attention to the ceremony and get some marrow,” Indipaw meowed, salivating at the thought.
“Right,” Bluepaw said. “Put the meat there and let’s go.
“Honeypaw, Larkpaw, Leafpaw,” Indipaw admonished the younger apprentices. “Remember your tasks.”
“We will,” Honeypaw replied, and Indipaw approved of the youngster’s bravery in standing up to her reprimand.
“Meet back here after everyone finishes that big meal. Remember the gathering is tonight.” Indipaw reminded them.
Demonpoppa and Bramblestar performed the bone breakage over the Feasting Rock once the Clan licked the bones clean. Demonpoppa balanced himself over the first leg bone, as Bramblestar stood beside him.
“We thank StarClan for this wonderful bounty. Demonstone, proceed!”
The snap of bone echoed over camp when Demonpoppa broke the leg. The prior ritual repeated, as Clan members took their share of bones to crunch. Phantompaw graciously gave Purdy and the Elders chunks of large leg bones before taking one for himself. Demonpoppa cracked rib bones, his favorite, while Kyemama gnawed a foreleg fragment. Indipaw cranched her piece, a long hind leg bone. The bitter wind swirled around the camp, but not one cat complained.
Soon everyone rested, digesting the big meal. Indipaw stood up and with a tail lash, alerted her fellow apprentices. Demonpaw rose slowly, careful on to obviously.disturb Sparkfire, but the young warrior flicked her tail with acknowledgment.. Gentlepaw glided over, and the others hurried over. Indipaw and Smokepaw led the group to the meat pile.
“Ready?” Indipaw asked. “We have to be fast.”
“Let’s do it,” Phantompaw said. “Meet back here.”
Indipaw watched Smokepaw lift a huge chunk of meat and race off toward WindClan terrirtory. Honeypaw, Larkpaw and Leafpaw picked up meat and hurried after Smokepaw. Rainpaw, Greypaw and Bluepaw took large pieces and headed off toward RiverClan. Indipaw grabbed a chunk, along with Phantompaw and Demmonpaw, while Gentlepaw carried precious organ meat. They glided through the territory to the stream. Puddlepaw’s head peeked out of the brush. Gentlepaw stretched his neck across the stream
“Give this to Littlecloud.”
“I will. Many thanks.” Puddlepaw took the heart, and vanished.
“Hurry, dump your gifts.” Indipaw hissed.
Her brothers tossed the meat onto the far shore, then turned and dashed back to camp. Indipaw flung her chunk over, and uttered a low mew.
“Got it,” came a soft reply and she recognized Snowpaw’s voice. “Thank you.”
“See you later,” Indipaw mewed and raced after her brothers. They entered camp, and settled back into their original resting spot, and started laughing and tussling. Indipaw sat, watching, relieved the task went well. Melancholia drooped her whiskers, when she realized the consequences of her decision, and time now ran down to nothing. But her heart told her the true path which lay ahead for her, and though bittersweet, she knew she must walk that trail.
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
PART FOUR
As Moonhigh approached, the Clan rose from their rest, prepared for the Gathering. Indipaw felt eager to be off, various emotions flooding her body. Bramblestar stood up and stretched, then eyed Kyemama and Demonpoppa.
“You and your kits will attend,” he stated, a twinkle in his eye. Indipaw puffed with pride and anticipation. Anxiety nibbled around the edges but she pushed it aside. Kyemama feigned distaste before returning the grin. Indipaw danced in place with impatience, as cats going to the Gathering joined her by the entrance. Thornclaw, Bumblestripe, Spiderleg, Sparkfire, Lionblaze, Cinderheart, Dovewing, Squirrelflight, Leafpool, Alderheart, Snowbush, Liliyheart, Larkpaw, Honeypaw and Leafpaw completed the party. Bramblestar gazed at Cloudtail and Brackenfur.
“ I trust you to keep things in order while we’re gone?”
“Of course,” Cloudtail glanced at Brackenfur. “We won’t fail you.”
“I know,” Bramblestar nodded, and raised his voice. “Let’s move!”
Bramblestar led the procession out of camp and down the hill to the Lake. Kyemama trotted behind him and Squirrelflight, Demonpoppa at her side. Indipaw shook with excitement, eager to see Snowpaw again.
“I hope Troutpaw is there,” Bluepaw meowed, lashng her big silvery grey tail.
“Oatclaw will be,” Smokepaw stated. “Onestar will make sure of it if he wants me to be with them.”
Indipaw listened to Phantompaw, Greypaw and the gaggle of apprentices eagerly anticipate competing with their fellow apprentices in games they created. Demonpaw trotted with Sparkfire, tails entwined, eyes only for each other, and Indipaw knew without a doubt their bond ran even deeper than the one Kyemama shared with Demonpoppa. Indipaw wondered if Sparkfire approved of their food sharing escapades. Her bond with Demonpaw surely made it difficult for either of them to keep secrets, but Sparkfire never mentioned anything about it.
As they neared the stream mouth, Indiapaw noticed the pile of snow-covered deerskins on an open stretch of rocky beach. Pawprints crisscrossed the snows on the other side of the brook, and only two sets crossed the stream. Indipaw recognized them as her mother did. Kyemama bared her teeth, realizing who one set belonged to.
“Harespring dare crosses here?” Kyemama paused and sniffed the stiff hides. “These are still ours.”
“If they keep drying out like that, they may be great to line the floors of the dens with them,” Demonpoppa commented, then marked the snows around the hides. Kyestorm and Thornclaw followed suit, remarking the hides. “We won’t know for certain until New Leaf.”
“Too bad we can’t let them dry in camp then,” Thornclaw commented. “But they stink.”
“That’s why we left them by the lake. That spot gets sun all day.” Indipaw spoke up, glancing back, as the group crossed the stream out of ThunderClan territory. “And we keep watch on them, too”
“Harespring doesn’t come here anymore,” Smokepaw flicked her tail, ducking her head. “He crossed over and I had to slap him. I promise I kept my claws sheathed! But now Crowfeather patrols down here. He asked us to take the skins elsewhere but I said no. They’re drying out well here. He accepted it.”
“WindClan dare not touch them,” Kyesmama added, and eyed her daughter. Indipaw slapped Smokepaw with her tail. Smokepaw said nothing more. The Clan moved quickly along the lake, and Indipaw tested the ice.
“They probably are very confused by what we’re doing,” Bramblestar meowed, and increased his pace. Indipaw looked up the hill and saw Onestar crest the open moor. Harespring appeared next. WindClan moved slow, traversing old paths filled in with fresh snow.
“One of these days, he’s going to get what he deserves,” Demonpoppa said quietly.
“Just because he’s awful, doesn’t mean the rest are,” Smokepaw interjected. Kyemama shot her an annoyed look, and Indipaw wanted to hiss at her sister. She glared, and Smokepaw flicked her tail.
Bramblestar led them across the sandy spit, then paused at the frozen marsh. Kyesmama stepped on the ice, bounced once, then nodded. Bramblestar took the lead and crossed the frozen swamp to the head of the fallen tree. Indipaw trotted across the log, tail up, her eyes roving the gathered cats for Snowpaw.
“Hallo!” Mistystar greeted them, a look of surprise on her face. “Brave for ones who fear the water.”
“You forget,” Bramblestar guffawed, his voice full of mirth. “We have water happy Maine Coon crazies in our midst.” He sobered. “Kyestorm and her mate have uncanny knowledge and instincts about ice, and I’ve learned to trust them.”
“Crazy,” someone muttered, and Indipaw saw Rowanstar standing below the Great Oak Tree. His eyes flashed with humor. Indipaw noted the absence of Tawnypelt and felt a pang of concern. She glanced around at the gathering Clans, and all of them looked gaunt, despite the food she and her fellow apprentices siphoned off to them, though RiverClan less so. Even Beepaw looked thin. She loved her food, always reminding Indipaw of Phantompaw in that respect. Onestar led his Clan over the fallen tree, and his clan looked downright skeletal. He glanced at Bramblestar and shook his head. The leaders sprang up into the tree, as others greeted new and old friends.
Demonpaw walked with Sparkfire, tails tightly entwined, bodies pressed together, eyes shining, leaving no doubts in anyone’s mind about their status. Indipaw weaved through the throng of cats, and found Snowpaw. She rubbed face and body with him, and twisted his fluffy tail in hers.
“Greetings!” Bramblestar’s voice rang out, starting the official Gathering. The moon shone bright from clear skies, and not a single wisp of cloud marred the night sky. Silverpelt glittered, unusually bright, despite the full moon. Bramblestar continued. “ All is well in ThunderClan. Prey is running light, but we’ve been very successful in catching larger prey this Leaf Bare. No greencough, no illness. I hope all have fared well this hard season. We have a lot to discuss about the coyote threat.”
“We’re fine. Despite the cold, the fishing is good,” Mistystar said. “We’ve been supplementing with the occasional Muntjac deer that come to the stream to drink.”
“We’ve learned to ambush them at night,” Rowanstar said, “but it is very difficult. It takes a large patrol to take one down. Our kits thrive, despite the coyotes. And we’ve only seen white cough.”
“We’ve had it rough,” Onestar said, standing up. “Those deer are impossible to catch on the moors, but, someone, uh, or something, has left fresh kill just inside our territory. If not for that. . .” Onestar trailed off, eyes widening as if he knew he said too much. The other three leaders stared at him. Mistystar and Rowanstar exchanged worried glances. Bramblestar scowled, and Indipaw’s heart raced in her chest.
“Near our deerskins?” he asked, bristling. He suddenly locked eyes on Smokepaw. “What have you apprentices been up to?”
“I’m sorry!” Smokepaw jumped forward and stood before her Clan leader. Her black smoke coat remained flat, but the wind parted her fur, revealing its pure white roots. Her gold eyes locked onto her Clan leader’s amber gaze
“I, well, we, have been sharing our excess. We, well, we apprentices, we’ve been giving some of our deer to Oatclaw.”
“What?” Bramblestar snarled with sudden outrage. “Are you completely fluff-headed?”
“Wait,” Onestar interrupted. “Please, don’t be angry. If not for them, many of us would have starved. Rabbits are in semi -hibernation. We’ve never seen this kind of thing. This has been a terrible Leaf Bare for us. We have failed to catch any Roe or Muntjac deer roaming our open moors. They are, as always, too fast and even if we manage to snag one, they kick and hurt us, then leap and get away. We don’t have the weight and size to take one down.”
“I concur,” Rowanstar jumped in. “Indipaw, Demonpaw, and Phantompaw have given us deer meat as well. Gentlepaw gave Puddlepaw rich organ meat for Littlecloud. Our kits would have starved because Tawnypelt’s milk failed and we have no other nursing queens. I will never forget your apprentices’ generosity and I made sure they weren’t taking away from anyone in your clan. Indipaw assured me it was extra and you had plenty. They saved the kits’ lives. Tawnypelt’s milk returned.”
“We didn’t take the meat Bluepaw, Rainpaw, and Greypaw brought,” Mistystar said. “We gave it to Tawnypelt. But we asked Bluepaw to help us hunt the Muntjac deer. Please, Bramblestar, in a Leaf Bare such as this, your apprentices helped all of us,” Mistystar’s voice sharpened. “We are still four Clans to be One under StarClan. The coyote threat is still out there.”
Bramblestar stared, teeth bared with outrage, his broad shoulders trembling. Indipaw’s heart hammered in her chest, watching the battle in his eyes between his good nature and the old traditions of separate Clans and the warrior code. His brown tabby coat slowly flattened, and he covered his fangs. He nodded at his apprentices.
Blood roared in Indipaw’s ears, but she faced her leader with defiance, eyes wide, but she and her fellow apprentices knew they saved lives with their actions. Alderheart and Sparkfire sat with them, bravely facing their father. Indipaw realized Sparkfire knew all along, her attitude just a facade. She wrapped her tail tightly to Snowpaw’s.
“I wish you would have come to me with your plan,” Bramblestar growled at the knot of youngsters. “I probably would have agreed if you presented the arguments I just heard from my fellow Clan Leaders. Though I commend you actions, you still must suffer punishment for doing this without my permission. You will stay in camp, cleaning the Elders dens, attending the Elders meticulously, and assist Demonstone and Brackenfur with den repair. You will assist the medicine cats with chores. No patrolling or hunting for a moon.”
“Yes, Bramblestar,” Indipaw and her fellow apprentices murmured. Bramblestar leveled his gaze on his own offspring.
“Sparkfire, you will concentrate on bringing home fresh kill for the Elders, without the help of Demonpaw and his siblings.” Bramblestar stated, and they exchanged glances of alarm. Without Demonpaw or Phantompaw or their sisters, downing even a small deer might be downright impossible for Sparkfire, forcing her to hunt smaller much more difficult prey. Indipaw briefly met Sparkfire’s bright green eyes, before she lifted her head, and met her father’s gaze. Sparkfire nodded. Bramblestar turned his attention to his son and Gentlepaw. “Your punishment I leave to Jayfeather and Leafpool.”
Gentlepaw and Alderheart exchanged resigned glances, offering not even one mew of dissent.
“But, we really did the right thing,” Indipaw protested. Bramblestar’s amber eyes darkened and narrowed. Indipaw shivered, and Snowpaw’s tail wrapped her’s tight in support.
“Clan Leaders,” Rowanstar’s voice broke the tension. “Bramblestar, please? I think it’s time we dealt with the inevitable. Indipaw? Please come forward. Speak now, young apprentice, if what you told Snowpaw is true.”
Bramblestar’s expression turned to surprise. His eyes widened, then narrowed again, but he nodded at Indipaw. Indipaw stepped forward, and the entire gathering silenced until only the wind whispered in the trees.
“Speak your mind, apprentice,” Bramblestar said, his voice calm, belying his expression.
“Clan Leaders, “ Indipaw began, then paused, her green eyes wide with uncustomary nerves. Her tabby and white coat rippled down her body. Snowpaw leaned into her, entwining his black fluffy tail with her tabby bottlebrush of a tail. Bramblestar’s eyes glimmered with understanding.
Indipaw drew a deep breath, and continued. “Snowpaw and I love each other. We want to be together, so one of us has to join the other’s Clan. I think of how we came to be here and just know my place is with Snowpaw, and ShadowClan. My time there after the attack proved it. If all the leaders approve, I’d like to go to ShadowClan and complete my training there, with Snowpaw’s mentor. I expect to serve out my punishment there, too”
Murmuring rippled through the Gathering, and a few cheering yowls erupted from ShadowClan cats. Needlepail and Pinepaw gazed at her, joy in their eyes. Rowanstar nodded, flicking his ears.
“I accept, with Bramblestar’s. . .” Rowanstar raised his voice, until Harespring jumped up and cut him off.
“No! It’s wrong! Very wrong! Mixed Clan cats are wrong!” The disgruntled WindClan deputy’s red-brown and white coat bristled all over like a hedgehog.
“Yes, we are of ThunderClan,” Bluepaw meowed firmly, her blue-smoke fur puffing out revealing even more silvery highlights. Her vivid blue eyes sparkled. “But we’re Maine Coons, and we’re supposed to spread to other Clans. Firestar said so. StarClan said we’re important to all the Clans, not just one. If RiverClan will have me, I want to be with Troutpaw.”
Indipaw saw resignation on her parents’ and brothers’ faces, as if they knew all along this might occur. Onestar stood up, and Indipaw knew what came next.
“Smokepaw, you are welcome in WindClan, if that is your desire. I’ll not oppose it at all, especially after what you’ve done to help my Clan during this brutal Leaf Bare. We all know about you and Oatclaw.” Onestar actually smiled, and Indipaw saw another side to the gruff, pompous Clan Leader, something that always hid beneath a facade. Onestar’s confidence in his leadership shone through, and peeled away that old mask he erected in trying to prove himself over the seasons.
“She trespassed,” Harespring snarled. “Sneaking here to run with her consort.”
“Smokepaw!” Kyemama exclaimed in a shocked yowl.
“Her secret is out,” Indipaw whispered.
“What have you done?” Bramblestar glared at the young apprentice. Smokepaw shrank down onto her belly, flattening her ears.
“I’m sorry, I am, but I love the moors! Always have, and I love Oatclaw!” Smokepaw wailed like a scared kit, but her eyes glittered golden fire. “If not for that, we’d have never gotten deer meat to those who needed it!”
“She ran our territory!” Harespring glared at Onestar, protesting with a snarl. “And you never punished her? You ignore the Code. We aren’t like ThunderClan to accept every rogue and kittypet that comes along!”
“Oh, shut up, Harespring! I’m not a kittypet! I was born in ThunderClan!” Smokepaw protested.
“You’re abominations,” Harespring hissed.
“We aren't!” Smokepaw retorted. “It’s because you don’t want me to be with Oatclaw! You hate me because I run faster than you, and I saved your Elders and other Clanmates with our spare deer meat!” Smokepaw leaped to her feet. “Because I have no problem slapping you down just like Kyemama does!”
Indipaw wanted to cheer, but kept her mouth shut. She felt Snowpaw trembling in efforts to keep silent.
“You break the code running our territory.” Harespring retorted, eyes blazing, but he stepped backward. He spun to face Onestar. “And you show weakness by allowing it.”
“You dare question my decisions?” Onestar stood up on his limb, claws unsheathed, tabby pelt bristling, fangs bared in fury. “Even after you ate as much of that deer meat as any of us? If Smokepaw wants to join WindClan, so be it! She has my permission, if she has Bramblestar’s. She belongs here.” Onestar growled, his voice low, his eyes spitting fire. “Perhaps it is time to relieve you of your duties?”
“You can’t,” Harespring snapped. “I‘m your deputy! I’ll be Leader of this Clan one day and things will change!” Harespring sprang at Smokepaw, landing in front of her. “And in my Clan, you’d never be!”
“I will be! Onestar said yes! You can’t stop this.” Smokepaw defied the WindClan deputy, her thick black smoke coat fluffing out. She bared her fangs, standing tall and menacing, towering over Harespring, who reared up to attack her, hatred in his eyes. Indipaw tensed, growling, ready to pounce on the WindClan deputy if he so much as raked a claw in Smokepaw’s fur.
“STOP!” Onestar leaped down from his branch, dropping between Smokepaw and Harespring, his tabby coat puffed up. Harespring spun away from his leader, and dropped to the snow, teeth bared in a silent snarl of defiance. The wind suddenly roared in the trees, and Indipaw looked up at the skies. The moon shone bright, but a wisp of cloud appeared just above the horizon. Indipaw’s heart raced, and not one cat moved. Bramblestar, Mistystar and Rowanstar exchanged shocked glances.
“I see things clearly now. I’m not clouded by indecision, or broken old friendships anymore. This stops now! I obviously chose poorly when Ashfoot died.” Onestar roared with anger, then glared up at the moon. “Forgive me, StarClan, but this must be done now.”
“What?” Harespring’s expression changed to one of astonishment.
“I say these words before the spirits of all StarClan, before all Clan Leaders, at moonhigh, that they may hear and approve my choice!” Onestar’s voice rang over the island, rising above the wind. “Crowfeather will be the new deputy of WindClan!”
After a moment of complete silence, WindClan cats yowled their affirmation. The other Clans joined in enthusiastically.
“Crowfeather! Crowfeather!”
Crowfeather walked to stand beside Onestar, his eyes wide with surprise.
“Thank you, Onestar. I will never let you down. I’ll support you, and offer advice, but never defy or usurp you.”
“You can’t do this to me! I’ve been a faithful deputy!” Harespring stepped toward Crowfeather and Onestar, and wailed, ears flat, eyes full of rage. “ Crowfeather broke the code consorting with a medicine cat! He’s not fit to be deputy!”
Before Onestar opened his mouth to reply, a gust of wind whistled through the trees, moaning in the leafless branches of the Great Oak.
“What have we done?” Indipaw moaned, then gaped, as the starry figure of a black and white tom partially solidified in front of Onestar, standing beside Smokepaw. Smokepaw started, but then stood proud, towering over the StarClan cat. He looked at her, a brief flare of delight crossing his features, before he looked at Harespring.
“Tallstar!” erupted from the throats of older cats. The starry apparition glared at Harespring.
“You defy StarClan at every turn by rejecting Smokepaw and her family. She fulfills her destiny this night under StarClan. Onestar chooses a new deputy. So be it!” Tallstar yowled at Harespring. “We want no question that we approve. The future of the Clans will NOT SUFFER for your intolerance.”
Harespring stared, his anger turning to fear, as Tallstar stepped up to him, standing nose to nose with him. Indipaw watched with astonishment, as other starry shapes joined Tallstar, and she assumed Bluestar, Blackstar, and Firestar walked amongst them. Harespring shank back from the outrage blazing from their eyes.
“Forgive me,” he mewled. “I only tried to keep to the code.”
“And forgot the most recent addition,” Blackstar snarled at him. “Go back to your Clan, but realize you are no longer deputy.”
Harespring scurried to hide behind his clanmates, most of whom scowled at him. Furzepelt nodded at him, and he sat beside her. Tallstar raised his tail.
“Carry on,” Tallstar meowed, and in a swirl of stars vanished. A starry white tom with black legs gazed at Rowanstar before looking at Snowpaw.
“Blackstar,” Snowpaw whispered reverently. Blackstar and his fellow StarClan mates followed Tallstar, but he glanced back at Indipaw and Snowpaw, nodding approval before he disappeared into the wind. Indipaw stared. Silence hung over the clearing, until Rowanstar sneezed, and spoke.
“As I was going to say, I accept, with Bramblestar’s blessings, Indipaw into ShadowClan.”
“You have it, since StarClan has already blessed what will occur here this Gathering,” Branmblestar gazed at Indipaw and Snowpaw, then Smokepaw and Bluepaw, and nodded. “May StarClan light your paths, always.”
Indipaw and her sisters glanced at each other, then impulsively ran to Kyemama and Demonpoppa. She trembled as Phantompaw, Gentlepaw, Greypaw, Rainpaw, and Demonpaw joined her, pressing against her. She took comfort in their touch, for once feeling no desire to slap her brothers for the audacity.
“We love you, Kyemama,” Indipaw mewed. “But these are the lives we’re meant to live.”
“Never, ever forget how much your father, brothers, and I love you,” Kyemama whispered. “I will never raise a claw to you in battle, never.”
“Don’t worry, Kyemama,” Smokepaw murmured. “We all decided never to hurt each other. We can pretend to be angry, but we all know it’s not for real.”
“Do your new Clans proud, and always use your heads before your claws,” Kyemama mewed softly, her voice shaking.
“We promise,” Indipaw meowed and impulsively licked Kyestorm’s cheek. Smokepaw and Bluepaw copied their sister, before moving off to mingle with their new Clans. Indipaw shuffled over to Snowpaw, watching her family, her heart melting at the resigned sadness in her mother’s eyes. Indipaw moved with Snowpaw to mingle with ShadowClan, and all greeted her with varying degrees of delight. Pinepaw, and Beepaw bounced with joy, and Striekpaw blinked at her. Needletail waved her tail. Scorchfur, Snowpaw’s mentor, nodded approval.
Mixed emotions knotted her stomach, and she already missed her parents and siblings, but looked forward to her new life with Snowpaw. The acceptance by the Clan which disdained cross clan relationships surprised and pleased her.
“Come, let’s enjoy this Gathering. Everyone is happy, and friendly,” Snowpaw urged. She decided to enjoy the Gathering, and she mingled. Smokepaw hooked tails with Oatclaw, while chattering with Onestar, who wore a pleased, genuinely delighted expression. Bluepaw joined Troutpaw and Silverpaw, her blue eyes shining. Mistystar greeted her new Clanmate, utterly delighted.
“We’ll see each other,” Bluepaw meowed, joy in her voice.
“I know,” Indipaw purred. “We have chosen our destinies, and StarClan approves.”
Bramblestar uttered a piercing yowl and Indiclaw jumped with a hiss, careening into Snowpaw. The noisy Gathering silenced. Everyone faced the Great Tree. Kyemama stood up, balancing on the branch, tail up. Indipaw stared.
“Esteemed Clan Leaders, warriors, apprentices, elders, I say this under StarClan, so everyone hears my words. The night Demonstone and I escaped the fire, ready to bear my precious kits, I did not understand all of what StarClan wished from us.” Kyemama’s voice strengthened, and the moon glowed. “The Maine Coons of ThunderClan are meant to be the Maine Coons of all the Clans, to help us build our strength for the battles to come. As my daughters seek their destinies, I truly hope we stay, under StarClan, four Clans as One, to preserve the Four, because I fear if we don’t, the coyote menace will destroy us.” Kyesmama finished, and Indipaw swelled with pride for her mother.
A moment of quiet hung over the Gathering, then Mistystar raised her voice.
“If StarClan approves, so do I. I welcome Bluepaw into our Clan. I’m delighted to have her here.” Mistystar’s blue eyes grew solemn. “We have to find a way to deal with the coyote problem. We must devise a call or alarm that will carry over the lake, so other clans know when trouble approaches.”
“That sounds like a good idea,” Rowanstar agreed, his yellow eyes bright.
“We’ve been experimenting,” Lionblaze spoke up. “Maybe something like this.” Lionblaze pointed his muzzle at the moon and uttered a fine imitation of a coyote howl, and followed that with piercing warrior’s battle shriek.
“That might work very well,” Rowanstar spoke up. His ears twitched. “Hear how it reverberates over the lake?”
“We also have to make sure we have more than one sentry,” Bramblestar added. “We don’t want them sneaking up on any of us again.”
“They caught us by surprise,” Rowanstar admitted. “By time our sentry yowled out a warning the coyotes already plowed into camp. If it happens again, we will be better prepared.”
“We also must suspend borders once that alarm goes up so help may take the shortest route,” Mistystar added. The other three Clan leaders nodded affirmatives.
“We should run a test upon returning to our camps. Call and wait for the reply, so we are certain we will hear any Clan’s call.” Onestar suggested.
“Good idea,” Bramblestar looked up at the skies. “We should adjourn, then do this test. It grows late.”
Indipaw noticed how low the moon hung in the western sky, and yawned. The other leaders agreed, and the Gathering broke up. Indipaw walked with her new Clan, trying not to look back, but caught a glimpse of Kyemama, who plodded across the ice. She spun away, looking ahead, pressing against Snowpaw, and met Rowanstar’s gaze. He nodded.
“Welcome to ShadowClan, young Warrior.”
“But I’m not a warrior,” Indipaw meowed, meeting her new Leader’s gaze, realizing she stood as tall as he. Rowanstar’s eyes blinked in a brief smile.
“You will be, sooner than you think,” Rowanstar said, then turned to lead his Clan home. He glanced back at her. “In my eyes, you already are.”
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
EPILOGUE
“Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here!” Rowanstar’s yowl reverberated through camp, and Indipaw jerked alert.
“Is he really going to do it?” Pinepaw squeaked with excitement, as the dozen apprentices leaped to their feet and hurried out into the cold camp. The rising sun sent rays through the pine boughs, illuminating Rowanstar’s ginger pelt. They gathered with the rest of the Clan, under their Leader, who perched on a rock below a large pine bough.
“I’m so glad you’re with us,” Beepaw purred, looking at Indipaw. Indipaw held back a laugh, glad Beepaw no longer looked thin. Ample deer meat put the weight back on Beepaw’s frame. “My brother could not have chosen a more perfect mate.”
“I am happy here,” Indipaw mewed, flashing the plump she-cat a feline grin.. “I love the pines, and I excel hunting in them.”
“We have all benefited from your prowess,” Sleekpaw, a pale ginger she-cat said.
“Teaching us to hunt the deer has been so great,” Strikepaw, a brown tabby tom remarked. “But without your strength, we might never have pulled one down.”
“You deserve this,” Yarrowpaw, a striking red tabby she cat, said with a nod.
“Today, we shall add new warriors to our ranks!” Rowanstar’s voice rang out. “Now, Snowpaw, Pinepaw, Beepaw, and Indipaw, please come forward.”
Indipaw rushed to sit in front of the gathered cats. Snowpaw, Beepaw, and Pinepaw flanked her. Rowanstar’s voice rolled on.
“I, Rowanstar, leader of ShadowClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon these young apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warriors in their turn”
Indipaw trembled with excitement, though the absence of her brothers and parents trickled disappointment into her mind and heart.
“Pinepaw,” Rowanstar continued. “Do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?”
“I do!” The small black she-cat answered, and Indipaw eyed the thin white scar running down her flank, a testament to her bravery defending her leader.
“Then by the power of StarClan, I give you the warrior name Pineshadow, recognizing your swiftness and stealth in mind and heart, and bravery in the face of incredible danger. From this moment you will be known as Pineshadow! Welcome to ShadowClan new Warrior!” Rowanstar announced, his yellow eyes sparkling with delight.
“Pineshadow! Pineshadow! Pineshadow!!” erupted from all throats.
“Snowpaw,” Rowanstar looked at Indipaw’s beau. “Do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?”
“I do!” he answered, and Indipaw watched with pride.
“Then by the power of StarClan, I give you the warrior name Snowsquall, recognizing your swiftness of mind, and bravery in the face of incredible danger, going for help, unafraid to cross borders to do so. From this moment you will be known as Snowsquall! Welcome to ShadowClan new Warrior!” Rowanstar announced, his yellow eyes shining.
“Snwsquall! Snowsquall! Snowsquall!”
“Beepaw,” Rowanstar continued. “Do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?”
“I do!” she answered, and Indipaw watched the plump she cat sit up, her eyes full of shock and delight.
“Then by the power of StarClan, I give you the warrior name Beeheart, recognizing your bravery in the face of incredible danger in protecting Littlecloud. From this moment you will be known as Beeheart! Welcome to ShadowClan new Warrior!” Rowanstar announced, his eyes full of respect for the rotund little she-cat.
“Beeheart! Beeheart! Beeheart!!” everyone yowled.
“Now, last but not least, Indipaw,” Rowanstar dipped his head to her. “Do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?”
“I do!” she answered, trembling with awe and excitement.
“Then by the power of StarClan, I give you the warrior name Indiclaw, recognizing your warrior spirit in the face of incredible danger, and your good heart knowing when to do the right thing in the face of rebuke. From this moment you will be known as Indiclaw! Welcome to ShadowClan new Warrior!” Rowanstar announced, his yellow eyes meeting hers, and in them she saw his deep gratitude.
“Indiclaw! Indiclaw! Indiclaw!” everyone yowled, and high pitched mews rose above the din and Indiclaw glanced below her leader, where his and Tawnypelt’s kits sat beside their mother, calling her name with all their vocal strength.
“Now that this is done, let’s get on with the day’s tasks. Crowfrost has the patrol schedules. Meeting adjourned.” Rowanstar leaped down from the rock, landing in front of Indiclaw.
“Welcome to ShadowClan, “ Rowanstar touched noses with her, then let a smile close his eyes. “I do expect, in the future of course, more giant fluffheads in our ranks.”
“Uh, yes, Rowanstar,” Indiclaw gaped at him, feeling a bit confused. A few cats tittered and Indiclaw recognized a guffaw from Pinenose. Indiclaw glanced at the queen, who sat in the entrance of the Warrior den. Her kits, Lionpaw, Birchpaw, and Slatepaw, joined their mother in laughter. Puddlepaw glanced her way, a smile on his face as he nodded at his littermates.
“Come now, Indiclaw,” Snowbird spoke up. “You’ll take Pinenose’s place in the Queen’s den and grace us with big fluffy warriors.”
“No!” Indiclaw hissed in alarm. “I’m a warrior, and not having kits!”
“Maybe not now,” Snowbird said, her expression turning serious. “But it’s inevitable.”
Indiclaw gaped, and Snowsquall stood beside her and nuzzled her.
“You don’t want my kits?” he mewed.
“Of course I do,” Indiclaw scoffed. “But I’m not even nine moons yet!”
“You’ll change your mind one day,” Snowsquall said with confidence, and trotted off after Scorchfur. Indiclaw stared after him a moment, and realized they were right. She loved Snowsquall, and eventually, wanted to bear his kits, but, not until she showed enemies of her Clan her warrior prowess, and possessed experience and knowledge to pass down to her future kits.
“Come new warrior, the border by the twoleg place needs strengthening. You’ll accompany Scorchfur, Snowbird, Sowsquall, Stonewing, Pinepaw, Sleekpaw and Birchpaw.”
“Thank you,” Indiclaw joined her patrol, baring the tips of her fangs, eager to visit the twoleg place nearby and teach those obnoxious kittypets a lesson. She thrust having kits to the back of her mind.
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡