The Birds All Cry (Chapter 3 up!)
Jun 3, 2022 16:44:56 GMT -5
Katanaheart, phantomstar57, and 1 more like this
Post by valleylight on Jun 3, 2022 16:44:56 GMT -5
Darkness is hidden in Raven's Cry... Lark's Cry must bring it to light... Hawk's Cry rings with hope and pain...
Listen: The Birds All Cry.
Listen: The Birds All Cry.
Chapter 1
***
Tucked between two bubbling streams, RiverClan’s camp seemed to bask in the bounty of greenleaf. Bursts of crimson berries grew in the rowan trees, and warm winds blew through the dancing willows. The reeds along the shore sang. Hazel and bramble bushes bristled brightly from the edges of the island, and birdsong floated in from the forest, promising new life and good hunting.
Waveflash sat proudly atop Highstump, his sleek silver pelt shining under the strong sunlight. Every cat’s attention was fixed on the deputy as he assigned hunting patrols— including Larkkit’s. The little tabby wove past Dewyfern and Lakesight, her eyes wide with excitement. “Border patrols are next!”
“That’s right,” Lakesight meowed, glancing down at her daughter. “Now sit still and listen!”
Waveflash continued. “Creampetal, you take the sunhigh patrol along the WindClan border. Pikestar and I will handle the ShadowClan border with our apprentices.” He scanned the crowd. “Barkfang, I want you to lead the dawn patrol tomorrow with Thornflower and Whitewhisker.”
A thrill ran through Larkkit as he mentioned her father. “Barkfang’s leading a patrol!” Pride welled in her chest, and she hopped up and down, trying to see him over the heads of the younger warriors in the back of the crowd.
“Sit still,” Dewyfern laughed, clamping a paw down on her tail. “You’ll see him soon enough!”
As RiverClan’s warriors filed out of camp, Larkkit’s paws itched to race after them. She caught sight of her friends Lilypaw and Puddlepaw in the crowd; both apprentices looked excited to be going fishing with their mentors. Why can’t I go with them? She sighed loudly, glancing up at her mother.
Lakesight took no notice; she was too busy purring as Barkfang padded over. The big tabby tom nuzzled his mate and offered Larkkit a wink. She giggled, then stood on tiptoe to touch noses with her father. He nodded to Dewyfern. “Are you alright with watching Larkkit today? I have the day off, and Lakesight owes me a hunting trip.”
Dewyfern purred. “Of course. We’ll see what kind of trouble the two of us can get into!”
Larkkit rolled her eyes at RiverClan’s nursery queen. What trouble? she thought. We’re stuck in this boring old camp! She heaved another sigh.
Her mother nudged her good-naturedly. “Don’t be a mopey-paws. You should try to appreciate these last few days of freedom! Pretty soon, you’ll be getting up before the sun and working your paws to the bone.”
Larkkit pulled a face. “Freedom? Is that what you call being stuck in camp all day? Funny— I’ve heard that’s how they punish apprentices.”
Lakesight shook her head, exasperated. “For goodness’ sake. I wonder where you get that cheek of yours.” She shot an accusatory look at Barkfang, who gestured with his tail back at her. Whiskers twitching in amusement, they started off for the stepping stones.
“We’ll be back before sundown!” Barkfang called over his shoulder.
Larkkit watched them strike out beyond the stream. They leapt expertly from stone to stone, landing in the reeds beyond and running off into RiverClan’s wide territory. She wondered where they’d go hunting-- the lake? The river? Or maybe they’d try for forest prey. The land and water would both be teeming with prey waiting to be caught, flourishing in the green-leaf plenty.
She pictured herself racing through the forest, weaving through willow and cypress trees before exploding out from the reeds and launching herself into the pure, blue-green waters of the lake. Lakesight had described their territory to Larkkit time and again-- enough times to give the kit what she thought was a good mental picture. Still, she longed to see it all for herself, to learn each pool and pebble by heart. She was ready to be a RiverClan apprentice!
“Now then.” Larkkit jumped at the sound of Dewyfern’s meow. The queen was watching her cheerfully. “What do you say to a spot of fishing in the stream? I saw some nice fat chub swimming about this morning!”
Larkkit pricked her ears. “Any perch?”
“Maybe a young one, if we’re lucky. Come on!” She started off towards the smaller stream, and Larkkit bounded after her, excitement lending speed to her paws.
Today might not be a total waste– imagine how proud Barkfang and Lakesight will be if I can catch a whole perch! Maybe they’ll tell Pikestar I’m ready to be apprenticed. She sped past Dewyfern, laughing as her older friend reared in mock surprise.
“When’d you get to be so fast? You’ll be outpacing Floodwing soon!”
***Larkkit purred, her heart and belly full. She and Dewyfern had spent the whole morning fishing, and they’d managed to catch enough chubs and minnows to have a feast on shore. Now they lay on the warm pebbles, letting their pelts dry in the sun.
“I love green-leaf,” she sighed, stretching her forepaws up to the sky.
“Me too,” Dewyfern meowed. “But just wait until you see leaf-fall! The trees all turn orange and gold, and the weather is just perfect!”
Larkkit closed her eyes and tried to picture leaf-fall. Newleaf weather was great– never so hot you had to swim to cool off. Back then, lacy blossoms fluttered down from all the trees, filling the island with sweet scents. Perfect for pouncing practice! Now, looking around at the lush greenleaf growth, Larkkit couldn’t imagine the trees losing their leafy crowns. Dewyfern makes it sound lovely, though. Her pelt rippled with excitement. Maybe before the last leaf falls, I’ll have earned my warrior name!
“Leaf-fall was Forestfur’s favorite season,” Dewyfern murmured, half to herself.
Larkkit glanced at the queen. Lakesight had told her about Forestfur– he had been Dewyfern’s mate, but he’d died in a flood before Larkkit was born. Dewyfern rarely talked about him.
“I wish you could have met him, Larkkit. We were best friends– your parents, Forestfur, and I. We trained as apprentices together, and even as warriors, we did everything side-by-side. When Barkfang and Lakesight had their first litter, Forestfur and I were always their kit-sitters— we loved to watch Perchkit and Nightkit for them. Taking care of your brothers was what inspired me to become a queen full-time.” She sighed.
Larkkit gazed thoughtfully at Dewyfern. Perchstripe told me once that Forestfur was his mentor, but I had no idea how close he and Dewyfern were with my brothers. A familiar curiosity tugged at her mind, and she pulled herself to her paws. “Dewyfern, what was Nightshadow like?”
The pale gray she-cat ticked her tail-tip as she considered the question. “He was a quiet cat, but very intelligent and kind. Hardworking, too. He and Perchstripe had a habit of stepping on each other’s tails.” Her eyes grew distant with memory for a moment. “Still, they were very close. It was hard for Perchstripe when Nightshadow moved to WindClan to be with Ivyrose. But I think they’re happy for one another now. I’ve never been to a Gathering where they weren’t checking in on each other!”
Larkkit nodded slowly. She’d always struggled to understand why Nightshadow would want to leave RiverClan. He didn’t even get to meet me before he left. “I think my parents miss him a lot.”
“Yes. It’s never easy when a cat must leave their birth Clan. But Nightshadow always allowed StarClan to guide his paws, and I know Barkfang and Lakesight are very proud of him. No matter what, RiverClan will have a place in his heart. I’m sure he’ll be excited to meet you at your first Gathering!”
Larkkit’s serious thoughts gave way to excitement. “Yeah! That will be so amazing!” Her heart raced at the thought of her first Gathering as an apprentice. “If only I could get out of the nursery,” she lamented. “It’s been ages and ages.”
Dewyfern touched her nose to the kit’s ear. “I know it’s tough to wait, especially since all your friends have already moved to the apprentices’ den. But you’re almost there!” Her gaze flicked over to the stepping stones. “And look, some of your friends are back already!”
Larkkit spun around to see Pikestar and Waveflash leading their apprentices back into camp. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw Owlpaw– the golden-brown tabby was carrying a plump vole in his jaws. Wow! He found prey, and he wasn’t even on a hunting patrol!
Beside him, Duskpaw looked even moodier than usual. His head was hung low, and he was glaring at the ground beneath his paws. I wonder what’s up with him now?
Lilypaw’s brother had always been something of a mystery to Larkkit. She felt she barely knew Duskpaw— which made sense, since he never talked to any cat except his sister and Owlpaw. Even when they were kits, the black tom had been reserved, keeping to himself and rarely joining in nursery games. I’d say he doesn’t fit in, but he gets along well with Lilypaw and Owlpaw. I guess he just trusts them more than other cats. But why? She put her head to one side. Maybe it’s because he’s not Clanborn? But that’s never bothered Lilypaw, and—
She snapped out of her thoughts as she realized that Owlpaw was padding towards her. The little tabby felt her belly knot up on itself. Come on, don’t be fish-brained– just act normal! She waved her tail in greeting.
Owlpaw set down his vole. “Hi Larkkit, Dewyfern! Pikestar asked me to make sure you two had eaten before I took this to the elders.”
“We’ve had plenty, thanks,” Dewyfern purred. “Larkkit caught enough fish to keep us full til sundown!”
Owlpaw blinked in surprise. “Really? That’s great, Larkkit! Puddlepaw will have to watch out for you– you’ll soon be outfishing him!”
Larkkit tried not to look too pleased, though her pelt felt warm from his kind words. “It was just chubs and minnows,” she laughed, glancing at her paws.
“Still, good on you!” He nodded to her and Dewyfern before picking up his catch and crossing towards the elders’ den.
Larkkit turned back to Dewyfern, not wanting to appear keen on watching Owlpaw leave. “What were you saying?”
Dewyfern shook her head in amusement. “I’ve forgotten.” She glanced past Larkkit to watch Duskpaw follow Owlpaw into the bush where Silverstorm and the other elders kept their den. “I hope Duskpaw’s doing alright– he seems a little down today.”
“I thought so too.” Larkkit gave her chest fur a lick, her mind still on Owlpaw’s compliment. “I’ll ask Lilypaw later if she knows what’s bothering him.”
“Yes,” Lakesight meowed, her blue-green eyes warm. “Pikestar came and spoke with us earlier today. Barkfang and I both agreed that you’re ready.”
“Yes!” Relief crashed over Larkkit like a wave. She leapt from her nest and started hopping in happy circles. “Finally, I’m going to be an apprentice!”
Sunset was falling on the day of Larkkit’s fishing trip with Dewyfern, and Lakesight had just come into the nursery to tell her that Pikestar would be holding her apprentice ceremony the following morning. Now, the tortoiseshell queen was watching her kit prance about like a mad hare. She shook her head in a mixture of amusement and dismay. “How are you ever going to make it as an apprentice, acting so silly?”
Larkkit ignored her. “I’ve got to go tell Lilypaw!” She darted past her mother, snagging her pelt on a bramble in her haste through the entrance. She tore loose and looked around the camp in search of her best friend, spotting her sharing a trout with Sandpaw and Puddlepaw near the stream. She tore over to them, feeling dizzy with triumph. “Lilypaw! Lilypaw, you’ll never guess!”
The white-and-black she-cat arched an eyebrow. “You’re going to have your apprentice ceremony?”
She laughed. “Okay, you will guess. But isn’t it exciting?”
Lilypaw purred, rising to touch noses with her friend. “Of course! I can’t wait for the two of us to finally be denmates again!”
“Yeah! Now we can go hunting together, and swimming, and patrolling, and battle practice!”
Puddlepaw yawned. “You’re making me tired just thinking about all that work.”
Larkkit waved her tail eagerly. “I can’t wait! I’m so ready, I feel like I could run to the Moonpool and back!”
“Just wait til your first dawn patrol,” he warned, his blue eyes flashing with friendly humor.
She jogged in place in an effort to burn off her enthusiasm. “Dawn patrol will be no problem– I’ll be too excited to sleep anyway.”
Sandpaw, RiverClan’s medicine cat apprentice, purred at Larkkit’s antics. “I wish I still had that much energy!”
“Don’t we all,” Lilypaw purred. She settled back down and took a bite of trout before meowing, “Who do you think your mentor will be, Larkkit?”
Larkkit stopped jogging. “Good question. Let me see…” She looked around at all the warriors who were eating together and sharing tongues, and her gaze rested on Perchstripe. Her brother was having a lively conversation with Dovefur and Floodwing, waving his paws about for emphasis. All three cats burst out in mrrows of laughter that Larkkit could hear from across the island. “Maybe Perchstripe— he’s so much fun! I don’t know if Pikestar would let him, since he’s my brother. But no matter what, I’d definitely like to have a younger mentor. The senior warriors are way too scary!”
Puddlepaw shifted uncomfortably. “They're not the only ones.”
Larkkit blinked sympathetically at him. His mentor Flameshade wasn’t a senior warrior, but she was well-known as one of the strictest cats in RiverClan. Glad she’s got Puddlepaw already, so there’s no way I can be assigned to her!
Sandpaw finished her share of fish and started washing her paws. “Young or old, I’m sure your mentor will be a great fit, Larkkit. Sunnybird says Pikestar always tries to place apprentices with cats who will help them discover their strengths!”
Puddlepaw looked sideways at his sister. Noticing, Lilypaw flicked him over the shoulder with her tail. “Oh, Flameshade’s not that bad, Puddlepaw. She lets you go fishing all the time!”
The blue-gray tom brightened up. “That’s true. I can’t wait to start hunting underwater tomorrow!”
Larkkit’s eyes grew huge. “You can catch fish underwater?”
He purred. “Of course!”
Larkkit sat down beside Lilypaw. She gazed at the flowing stream, wondering what it would be like to swim after huge fish like the apprentices’ trout. She only ever caught tiny fish in camp. “I can’t wait to be an apprentice,” she declared. “I’ll be an even better fisher than you, Puddlepaw!”
Lilypaw’s tail curled up in amusement. “That would be something! Puddlepaw practically lives in the lake.” She nudged him playfully, and he ducked his head, glancing shyly at his paws.
Larkkit purred. “I’ll be a better battler than you someday too, Lilypaw!”
“Now that I’d like to see,” Lilypaw crowed. Every cat knew she was the toughest fighter in the apprentice’s den. She even beat Owlpaw in training, and he was the most senior apprentice.
Sandpaw rose to her paws and stretched. “Sounds like you two are gonna have some pretty stiff competition in Larkpaw." She blinked warmly at the kit.
Larkkit felt her heart swell with pride at the sound of her apprentice’s name. Just wait until tomorrow, she vowed. I’ll finally be out of the nursery, and every cat will see what a great apprentice I can be!
Sandpaw had to go and finish sorting herbs with Sunnybird, but the other three young cats kept talking for a while. Larkkit and Puddlepaw listened as Lilypaw told a story about helping a WindClan patrol chase a fox away from the Horseplace. They were all laughing and showing off fighting moves by the end, and Larkkit felt closer to her friends than she had in many sunrises. I’ve only been apart from them for a moon, but it feels like it’s been ten seasons.
She was disappointed when Lakesight came and told them it was time for her to go to bed. “Aw, can’t I stay up a little longer?” Larkkit pleaded.
“I’m afraid not. You’ll need a good night’s sleep before your first day of training!”
Larkkit jumped to her paws. “Of course! I hadn’t thought of that.” She hurried over to her mother’s side, turning to wave goodbye to her friends with her tail. “Goodnight! I’ll see you tomorrow!”
“Goodnight!” Lilypaw and Puddlepaw chimed together.
As Larkkit settled into her nest in the bramble nursery for the last time, she glanced around at the moss-strewn floor and thorny walls and felt a surprising sadness tugging at her heart. She looked over at Dewyfern and Lakesight’s nests and saw that both she-cats were already curled up asleep. She listened to the familiar sound of their gentle snoring. I’m excited to finally be with my old denmates again, but at the same time…
She rose and crept across the den to stand beside her mother’s nest. “Lakesight,” she whispered.
Her mother startled out of sleep before staring at her kit. “What is it?” she asked blearily.
Larkkit shuffled her paws. “Could I… sleep with you in your nest tonight? One last time?”
Lakesight’s eyes softened, and she purred softly. “Of course.” She shifted to make room for her little daughter, who curled up in the bracken beside her. “Goodnight my dear,” the queen murmured, her eyes full of sleepy fondness.
“Goodnight,” Larkkit echoed. Contentment allowed fatigue to work its way through her mind and body, and she felt herself drifting off. But before she gave in to deep sleep, a foggy memory resurfaced in her thoughts. I was supposed to ask Lilypaw about Duskpaw. Too late now. No problem— I’ll have plenty of time to ask, once we’re all apprentices together. The thought warmed her from her ears to her toes, and she fell fast asleep, purring gently.
Waveflash sat proudly atop Highstump, his sleek silver pelt shining under the strong sunlight. Every cat’s attention was fixed on the deputy as he assigned hunting patrols— including Larkkit’s. The little tabby wove past Dewyfern and Lakesight, her eyes wide with excitement. “Border patrols are next!”
“That’s right,” Lakesight meowed, glancing down at her daughter. “Now sit still and listen!”
Waveflash continued. “Creampetal, you take the sunhigh patrol along the WindClan border. Pikestar and I will handle the ShadowClan border with our apprentices.” He scanned the crowd. “Barkfang, I want you to lead the dawn patrol tomorrow with Thornflower and Whitewhisker.”
A thrill ran through Larkkit as he mentioned her father. “Barkfang’s leading a patrol!” Pride welled in her chest, and she hopped up and down, trying to see him over the heads of the younger warriors in the back of the crowd.
“Sit still,” Dewyfern laughed, clamping a paw down on her tail. “You’ll see him soon enough!”
As RiverClan’s warriors filed out of camp, Larkkit’s paws itched to race after them. She caught sight of her friends Lilypaw and Puddlepaw in the crowd; both apprentices looked excited to be going fishing with their mentors. Why can’t I go with them? She sighed loudly, glancing up at her mother.
Lakesight took no notice; she was too busy purring as Barkfang padded over. The big tabby tom nuzzled his mate and offered Larkkit a wink. She giggled, then stood on tiptoe to touch noses with her father. He nodded to Dewyfern. “Are you alright with watching Larkkit today? I have the day off, and Lakesight owes me a hunting trip.”
Dewyfern purred. “Of course. We’ll see what kind of trouble the two of us can get into!”
Larkkit rolled her eyes at RiverClan’s nursery queen. What trouble? she thought. We’re stuck in this boring old camp! She heaved another sigh.
Her mother nudged her good-naturedly. “Don’t be a mopey-paws. You should try to appreciate these last few days of freedom! Pretty soon, you’ll be getting up before the sun and working your paws to the bone.”
Larkkit pulled a face. “Freedom? Is that what you call being stuck in camp all day? Funny— I’ve heard that’s how they punish apprentices.”
Lakesight shook her head, exasperated. “For goodness’ sake. I wonder where you get that cheek of yours.” She shot an accusatory look at Barkfang, who gestured with his tail back at her. Whiskers twitching in amusement, they started off for the stepping stones.
“We’ll be back before sundown!” Barkfang called over his shoulder.
Larkkit watched them strike out beyond the stream. They leapt expertly from stone to stone, landing in the reeds beyond and running off into RiverClan’s wide territory. She wondered where they’d go hunting-- the lake? The river? Or maybe they’d try for forest prey. The land and water would both be teeming with prey waiting to be caught, flourishing in the green-leaf plenty.
She pictured herself racing through the forest, weaving through willow and cypress trees before exploding out from the reeds and launching herself into the pure, blue-green waters of the lake. Lakesight had described their territory to Larkkit time and again-- enough times to give the kit what she thought was a good mental picture. Still, she longed to see it all for herself, to learn each pool and pebble by heart. She was ready to be a RiverClan apprentice!
“Now then.” Larkkit jumped at the sound of Dewyfern’s meow. The queen was watching her cheerfully. “What do you say to a spot of fishing in the stream? I saw some nice fat chub swimming about this morning!”
Larkkit pricked her ears. “Any perch?”
“Maybe a young one, if we’re lucky. Come on!” She started off towards the smaller stream, and Larkkit bounded after her, excitement lending speed to her paws.
Today might not be a total waste– imagine how proud Barkfang and Lakesight will be if I can catch a whole perch! Maybe they’ll tell Pikestar I’m ready to be apprenticed. She sped past Dewyfern, laughing as her older friend reared in mock surprise.
“When’d you get to be so fast? You’ll be outpacing Floodwing soon!”
***
“I love green-leaf,” she sighed, stretching her forepaws up to the sky.
“Me too,” Dewyfern meowed. “But just wait until you see leaf-fall! The trees all turn orange and gold, and the weather is just perfect!”
Larkkit closed her eyes and tried to picture leaf-fall. Newleaf weather was great– never so hot you had to swim to cool off. Back then, lacy blossoms fluttered down from all the trees, filling the island with sweet scents. Perfect for pouncing practice! Now, looking around at the lush greenleaf growth, Larkkit couldn’t imagine the trees losing their leafy crowns. Dewyfern makes it sound lovely, though. Her pelt rippled with excitement. Maybe before the last leaf falls, I’ll have earned my warrior name!
“Leaf-fall was Forestfur’s favorite season,” Dewyfern murmured, half to herself.
Larkkit glanced at the queen. Lakesight had told her about Forestfur– he had been Dewyfern’s mate, but he’d died in a flood before Larkkit was born. Dewyfern rarely talked about him.
“I wish you could have met him, Larkkit. We were best friends– your parents, Forestfur, and I. We trained as apprentices together, and even as warriors, we did everything side-by-side. When Barkfang and Lakesight had their first litter, Forestfur and I were always their kit-sitters— we loved to watch Perchkit and Nightkit for them. Taking care of your brothers was what inspired me to become a queen full-time.” She sighed.
Larkkit gazed thoughtfully at Dewyfern. Perchstripe told me once that Forestfur was his mentor, but I had no idea how close he and Dewyfern were with my brothers. A familiar curiosity tugged at her mind, and she pulled herself to her paws. “Dewyfern, what was Nightshadow like?”
The pale gray she-cat ticked her tail-tip as she considered the question. “He was a quiet cat, but very intelligent and kind. Hardworking, too. He and Perchstripe had a habit of stepping on each other’s tails.” Her eyes grew distant with memory for a moment. “Still, they were very close. It was hard for Perchstripe when Nightshadow moved to WindClan to be with Ivyrose. But I think they’re happy for one another now. I’ve never been to a Gathering where they weren’t checking in on each other!”
Larkkit nodded slowly. She’d always struggled to understand why Nightshadow would want to leave RiverClan. He didn’t even get to meet me before he left. “I think my parents miss him a lot.”
“Yes. It’s never easy when a cat must leave their birth Clan. But Nightshadow always allowed StarClan to guide his paws, and I know Barkfang and Lakesight are very proud of him. No matter what, RiverClan will have a place in his heart. I’m sure he’ll be excited to meet you at your first Gathering!”
Larkkit’s serious thoughts gave way to excitement. “Yeah! That will be so amazing!” Her heart raced at the thought of her first Gathering as an apprentice. “If only I could get out of the nursery,” she lamented. “It’s been ages and ages.”
Dewyfern touched her nose to the kit’s ear. “I know it’s tough to wait, especially since all your friends have already moved to the apprentices’ den. But you’re almost there!” Her gaze flicked over to the stepping stones. “And look, some of your friends are back already!”
Larkkit spun around to see Pikestar and Waveflash leading their apprentices back into camp. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw Owlpaw– the golden-brown tabby was carrying a plump vole in his jaws. Wow! He found prey, and he wasn’t even on a hunting patrol!
Beside him, Duskpaw looked even moodier than usual. His head was hung low, and he was glaring at the ground beneath his paws. I wonder what’s up with him now?
Lilypaw’s brother had always been something of a mystery to Larkkit. She felt she barely knew Duskpaw— which made sense, since he never talked to any cat except his sister and Owlpaw. Even when they were kits, the black tom had been reserved, keeping to himself and rarely joining in nursery games. I’d say he doesn’t fit in, but he gets along well with Lilypaw and Owlpaw. I guess he just trusts them more than other cats. But why? She put her head to one side. Maybe it’s because he’s not Clanborn? But that’s never bothered Lilypaw, and—
She snapped out of her thoughts as she realized that Owlpaw was padding towards her. The little tabby felt her belly knot up on itself. Come on, don’t be fish-brained– just act normal! She waved her tail in greeting.
Owlpaw set down his vole. “Hi Larkkit, Dewyfern! Pikestar asked me to make sure you two had eaten before I took this to the elders.”
“We’ve had plenty, thanks,” Dewyfern purred. “Larkkit caught enough fish to keep us full til sundown!”
Owlpaw blinked in surprise. “Really? That’s great, Larkkit! Puddlepaw will have to watch out for you– you’ll soon be outfishing him!”
Larkkit tried not to look too pleased, though her pelt felt warm from his kind words. “It was just chubs and minnows,” she laughed, glancing at her paws.
“Still, good on you!” He nodded to her and Dewyfern before picking up his catch and crossing towards the elders’ den.
Larkkit turned back to Dewyfern, not wanting to appear keen on watching Owlpaw leave. “What were you saying?”
Dewyfern shook her head in amusement. “I’ve forgotten.” She glanced past Larkkit to watch Duskpaw follow Owlpaw into the bush where Silverstorm and the other elders kept their den. “I hope Duskpaw’s doing alright– he seems a little down today.”
“I thought so too.” Larkkit gave her chest fur a lick, her mind still on Owlpaw’s compliment. “I’ll ask Lilypaw later if she knows what’s bothering him.”
***
Larkkit pummeled the edge of her nest restlessly with her forepaws. “Do you really mean it?” she squeaked.“Yes,” Lakesight meowed, her blue-green eyes warm. “Pikestar came and spoke with us earlier today. Barkfang and I both agreed that you’re ready.”
“Yes!” Relief crashed over Larkkit like a wave. She leapt from her nest and started hopping in happy circles. “Finally, I’m going to be an apprentice!”
Sunset was falling on the day of Larkkit’s fishing trip with Dewyfern, and Lakesight had just come into the nursery to tell her that Pikestar would be holding her apprentice ceremony the following morning. Now, the tortoiseshell queen was watching her kit prance about like a mad hare. She shook her head in a mixture of amusement and dismay. “How are you ever going to make it as an apprentice, acting so silly?”
Larkkit ignored her. “I’ve got to go tell Lilypaw!” She darted past her mother, snagging her pelt on a bramble in her haste through the entrance. She tore loose and looked around the camp in search of her best friend, spotting her sharing a trout with Sandpaw and Puddlepaw near the stream. She tore over to them, feeling dizzy with triumph. “Lilypaw! Lilypaw, you’ll never guess!”
The white-and-black she-cat arched an eyebrow. “You’re going to have your apprentice ceremony?”
She laughed. “Okay, you will guess. But isn’t it exciting?”
Lilypaw purred, rising to touch noses with her friend. “Of course! I can’t wait for the two of us to finally be denmates again!”
“Yeah! Now we can go hunting together, and swimming, and patrolling, and battle practice!”
Puddlepaw yawned. “You’re making me tired just thinking about all that work.”
Larkkit waved her tail eagerly. “I can’t wait! I’m so ready, I feel like I could run to the Moonpool and back!”
“Just wait til your first dawn patrol,” he warned, his blue eyes flashing with friendly humor.
She jogged in place in an effort to burn off her enthusiasm. “Dawn patrol will be no problem– I’ll be too excited to sleep anyway.”
Sandpaw, RiverClan’s medicine cat apprentice, purred at Larkkit’s antics. “I wish I still had that much energy!”
“Don’t we all,” Lilypaw purred. She settled back down and took a bite of trout before meowing, “Who do you think your mentor will be, Larkkit?”
Larkkit stopped jogging. “Good question. Let me see…” She looked around at all the warriors who were eating together and sharing tongues, and her gaze rested on Perchstripe. Her brother was having a lively conversation with Dovefur and Floodwing, waving his paws about for emphasis. All three cats burst out in mrrows of laughter that Larkkit could hear from across the island. “Maybe Perchstripe— he’s so much fun! I don’t know if Pikestar would let him, since he’s my brother. But no matter what, I’d definitely like to have a younger mentor. The senior warriors are way too scary!”
Puddlepaw shifted uncomfortably. “They're not the only ones.”
Larkkit blinked sympathetically at him. His mentor Flameshade wasn’t a senior warrior, but she was well-known as one of the strictest cats in RiverClan. Glad she’s got Puddlepaw already, so there’s no way I can be assigned to her!
Sandpaw finished her share of fish and started washing her paws. “Young or old, I’m sure your mentor will be a great fit, Larkkit. Sunnybird says Pikestar always tries to place apprentices with cats who will help them discover their strengths!”
Puddlepaw looked sideways at his sister. Noticing, Lilypaw flicked him over the shoulder with her tail. “Oh, Flameshade’s not that bad, Puddlepaw. She lets you go fishing all the time!”
The blue-gray tom brightened up. “That’s true. I can’t wait to start hunting underwater tomorrow!”
Larkkit’s eyes grew huge. “You can catch fish underwater?”
He purred. “Of course!”
Larkkit sat down beside Lilypaw. She gazed at the flowing stream, wondering what it would be like to swim after huge fish like the apprentices’ trout. She only ever caught tiny fish in camp. “I can’t wait to be an apprentice,” she declared. “I’ll be an even better fisher than you, Puddlepaw!”
Lilypaw’s tail curled up in amusement. “That would be something! Puddlepaw practically lives in the lake.” She nudged him playfully, and he ducked his head, glancing shyly at his paws.
Larkkit purred. “I’ll be a better battler than you someday too, Lilypaw!”
“Now that I’d like to see,” Lilypaw crowed. Every cat knew she was the toughest fighter in the apprentice’s den. She even beat Owlpaw in training, and he was the most senior apprentice.
Sandpaw rose to her paws and stretched. “Sounds like you two are gonna have some pretty stiff competition in Larkpaw." She blinked warmly at the kit.
Larkkit felt her heart swell with pride at the sound of her apprentice’s name. Just wait until tomorrow, she vowed. I’ll finally be out of the nursery, and every cat will see what a great apprentice I can be!
Sandpaw had to go and finish sorting herbs with Sunnybird, but the other three young cats kept talking for a while. Larkkit and Puddlepaw listened as Lilypaw told a story about helping a WindClan patrol chase a fox away from the Horseplace. They were all laughing and showing off fighting moves by the end, and Larkkit felt closer to her friends than she had in many sunrises. I’ve only been apart from them for a moon, but it feels like it’s been ten seasons.
She was disappointed when Lakesight came and told them it was time for her to go to bed. “Aw, can’t I stay up a little longer?” Larkkit pleaded.
“I’m afraid not. You’ll need a good night’s sleep before your first day of training!”
Larkkit jumped to her paws. “Of course! I hadn’t thought of that.” She hurried over to her mother’s side, turning to wave goodbye to her friends with her tail. “Goodnight! I’ll see you tomorrow!”
“Goodnight!” Lilypaw and Puddlepaw chimed together.
As Larkkit settled into her nest in the bramble nursery for the last time, she glanced around at the moss-strewn floor and thorny walls and felt a surprising sadness tugging at her heart. She looked over at Dewyfern and Lakesight’s nests and saw that both she-cats were already curled up asleep. She listened to the familiar sound of their gentle snoring. I’m excited to finally be with my old denmates again, but at the same time…
She rose and crept across the den to stand beside her mother’s nest. “Lakesight,” she whispered.
Her mother startled out of sleep before staring at her kit. “What is it?” she asked blearily.
Larkkit shuffled her paws. “Could I… sleep with you in your nest tonight? One last time?”
Lakesight’s eyes softened, and she purred softly. “Of course.” She shifted to make room for her little daughter, who curled up in the bracken beside her. “Goodnight my dear,” the queen murmured, her eyes full of sleepy fondness.
“Goodnight,” Larkkit echoed. Contentment allowed fatigue to work its way through her mind and body, and she felt herself drifting off. But before she gave in to deep sleep, a foggy memory resurfaced in her thoughts. I was supposed to ask Lilypaw about Duskpaw. Too late now. No problem— I’ll have plenty of time to ask, once we’re all apprentices together. The thought warmed her from her ears to her toes, and she fell fast asleep, purring gently.
Chapter 2
***
***
“Let all cats old enough to swim gather to hear my words!”
Larkkit jumped to her paws at Pikestar’s summons, letting fall her half-eaten sparrow. She stared as RiverClan’s leader climbed onto Highstump. The pale tabby sat, letting his tail drape down over the well-worn bark.
Larkkit turned a quick, delighted circle. “It’s time!” she yowled. “It’s finally time!”
“Hush!” Lakesight meowed sharply. “How many times do I have to tell you to keep your mew down? They can probably hear you in ShadowClan!”
Perchstripe polished off his grayling before flashing his mother a roguish grin. “Oh, let her be. ShadowClan needs a warning, with Larkpaw about to be on the loose!” He winked at his little sister, who giggled.
Lakesight muttered under her breath as she licked a feather from Larkkit’s nose. “Honestly, Perchstripe, you’re sillier than she is.”
The ginger tabby gasped. “Do you mean it?” He covered his heart with a paw, feigning misty-eyed gratitude. “I’m touched, Lakesight— truly honored.”
The calico queen batted him away, stifling a snort of amusement. As she did, Barkfang padded over from Highstump, his tail bristling with excitement. “Just finished our report. Dawn patrol went smoothly enough. Are you ready, Larkkit?”
Larkkit puffed out her chest. “Of course! I’ve been ready forever!”
Lakesight smoothed the kit’s pelt with her tail. “Just be sure you’re on your best behavior. Stand up tall, and don’t speak out of turn!”
Larkkit nodded. She watched as her mother slipped through the crowd forming beneath Highstump, Perchstripe on her heels. The kit felt her heart quicken as every cat took their place in the center of camp. She’d seen them gather every morning of her life, and yet today... Today they’re gathering to see me.
As if on cue, doubts started creeping into her mind. What do my Clanmates think of me? Do they think I can catch up with the other apprentices? She thought of Flameshade and Puddlepaw and shuddered. What about my mentor? Will they like me? What if they think I’m too small, or too noisy, or…
Suddenly, cats started turning to look at her, wondering what was holding her up. They’re all watching. What if I slip up? What if I do something stupid? Larkkit stared at her expectant Clanmates and felt her hackles rise. Panic froze the air in her lungs to ice; she felt herself choking on the frost. I can’t do this! I thought I was ready, but…
She started as Barkfang brushed his tail-tip against her cheek. “Hey, no need to worry.” His gaze was filled with pride and love for her. “You’re going to do just fine. We’ll be with you– me, your mother, Perchstripe… and StarClan, too. You won’t be alone, not for a single step. Remember, you can always count on us!”
Larkkit held his gaze for a moment, then took a deep breath. He’s right. No need to worry. She purred, nuzzling her father fondly. “Thanks, Barkfang. I’ll try to remember.”
She followed him to sit with her family at the front, weaving through cats who beamed and offered bright mews.
Pikestar rose, his spotted pelt glowing almost golden in the mid-morning sun. “Warriors of RiverClan. One of my favorite duties has always been the promotion of young cats. But I think it’s fair to say… that duty is just a little more special today. Today, the time has finally come to welcome our youngest Clanmate into her apprenticeship.” He nodded towards Larkkit.
This is it. You’ve got this! She strode to the foot of Highstump, holding her head and tail high even as her paws trembled. Pikestar watched her, his amber eyes glinting warmly. He knew how long she’d been waiting for this moment. I promise I’ll be the best apprentice I can!
“Larkkit, you have reached the age of six moons. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Larkpaw.”
Larkpaw stood a little taller at the sound of her new name, and she couldn’t help giving an excited flick of her tail.
Pikestar looked up at the clouds. “StarClan, I ask that you watch over Larkpaw and guide her along the path toward becoming a warrior.” His gaze fell to the crowd behind Larkpaw. “Whitewhisker. You are ready to take on your first apprentice. Come forward.”
Whitewhisker? Larkpaw spun around to see the crowd part, making way for the snowy-furred tom. Whitewhisker wasn’t a senior warrior, but he was well-respected and esteemed by every cat for his wisdom. Larkpaw swallowed nervously as he padded up beside her. He met her gaze with an encouraging nod, and she relaxed a bit.
Pikestar continued, “Whitewhisker, you are a patient and skilled warrior. I trust that you will pass down all that you know to Larkpaw.”
Whitewhisker dipped his head to touch noses with her. Their Clanmates cheered. “Larkpaw! Larkpaw!”
The little tabby glanced up at her new mentor. “I’ll do my best,” she promised.
Whitewhisker purred, his golden gaze bright. “So will I!”
Pikestar dismissed his Clan, and cats started streaming up to congratulate Larkpaw. She thanked them all, hardly noticing who was who in the midst of her dizzy triumph. I did it! I really did it! Barkfang was right!
At length, the well-wishers dispersed into their patrols and the island emptied out. Like always. Only this time, I get to follow! Larkpaw’s pelt seemed suddenly to crackle and spark with anticipation. She kneaded the grass with her forepaws, itching to run out of camp.
Whitewhisker swished his tail. “Alright then. I’ll be giving you a tour of the territory today. Have you eaten already?”
Larkpaw nodded.
“Good. Follow me, then.”
He took off towards the stepping stones, leaving Larkpaw to scramble after him. Her heart pounded as she reached the edge of the stream. My first steps outside!
She jumped onto the first stone, lashing her tail for balance. The rock felt hot under her paws, heated up by the greenleaf sun. She leapt carefully from stone to stone, relieved once she reached the far bank. Thank goodness. How embarrassing would it be if I slipped before even making it off the island?
She followed Whitewhisker into a tunnel of reeds, splashing through puddles and fighting back sneezes as the fuzzy fronds brushed her muzzle. Their path opened out into a stand of rowan and beech trees. Birds fluttered from the branches overhead, calling and twittering to one another.
Earthy scents washed over Larkpaw, and a warm breeze stirred her whiskers. She slowed to a halt, trilling in admiration. “Oh, wow… What a great place to hunt!”
Startled by her yowl, the nearest birds all took off in a feathery flurry, chirping out alarms. The treetops began whirring with wings, and before Larkpaw knew it, the grove was still and deserted. She gawked at the empty trees.
Whitewhisker glanced around. “It was, I suppose.”
Larkpaw felt her pelt prickling with embarrassment, and she groaned inwardly. Me and my big mouth! “Sorry, I guess I forgot to keep my mew down.”
He waved a paw dismissively. “That’s alright. It’s hard not to react when you see the territory for the first time. The birds will be back soon enough.” He chuckled. “Besides, you have a pretty impressive yowl. That’s a talent worth fostering— you never know when it might come in handy someday.”
Larkpaw’s ears perked up. “Really?”
Whitewhisker nodded. “Really. A loud yowl can be your best defense against animals like foxes and badgers, or even rogue cats. No need to fight if you can scare them off! And when you’re guarding camp, a warning yowl can make all the difference during an invasion.”
The little tabby shook her head in amazement. “I never even thought about practicing something like that.” To think, Lakesight’s been snipping at me for a talent, all this time!
“Well, there’s a lot more to training than just hunting and fighting. A good warrior needs to learn everything they can.” He mused for a moment. “For instance, mastering tail signals or recognizing dangerous plants might save your life one day. And sometimes, patching a roof or crafting a nest means more to your Clanmates than catching fish and marking borders. Nothing we learn is ever a waste of time.”
Larkpaw tipped her head to one side. Everything we train for matters. That’s… a little overwhelming. But her misgivings gave way to enthusiasm almost at once. No problem— I’ll learn everything there is to know, and then I’ll be the best warrior in the Clans! She purred at the thought.
Whitewhisker signaled with his tail. “Now then. Let’s get moving again, shall we?”
“Right!” I’ll keep quiet this time, Larkpaw vowed to herself.
The grove sloped downwards and thinned out into a grassy field, sparsely dotted with bushes. As they plowed onwards, the sun rose higher and higher, beating down on their shadeless stretch. Larkpaw’s thick pelt felt heavy from the heat. Much longer and I’ll start melting!
But she’d scarcely thought it when she caught sight of a steep hillock, peaking abruptly where the land seemed to fall away. “Is that the river up ahead?” she asked Whitewhisker hopefully.
“It is. Can you hear it yet?”
Larkpaw pricked her ears. Sure enough, she could make out the delicious sound of rushing water. “I can! It sounds like it’s moving a lot faster than the streams around camp.”
“It is. But you shouldn’t have too much trouble with it– the current is slower now than during newleaf.”
They soon reached the riverbank; Larkpaw stared out over the gray-green, fast-flowing waters, shocked by how far they stretched. “This must be the widest part of the whole river!” she groaned.
Whitewhisker flicked an ear. “Not quite— the inlet where it meets the lake is much wider.”
That hardly makes me feel better. The apprentice swallowed nervously. “I’ve never swum this far before. Is it very deep?”
Whitewhisker shook his head. “Don’t worry, every apprentice swims this stretch their first day out. I’ll be right behind you in case you need help. And don’t forget– the sooner you start swimming, the sooner you get to cool off!”
Larkpaw thought it over before breaking into a purr. Can’t argue with that logic! “Okay, I’ll do it!” She studied the current for a moment, then pointed with her tail in the opposite direction of its flow. “I should try to paddle that way a bit, right? Not completely against the current, but at an angle from it. To swim straight across.”
Whitewhisker gave his whiskers a pleased twitch. “Exactly! Who taught you that already?”
Larkpaw felt suddenly self-conscious. Whitewhisker seems pretty serious. What if he thinks my dream is silly? “Lakesight told me,” she admitted at last. “I asked her a lot of questions about the river, and the lake too. How the water moves, how to swim them…” Her apprehension fell away, caught up in a rush of wonder. “She knows so much, and she really loves RiverClan. I want to understand our territory as well as her someday!”
Her mentor watched the river, a thoughtful look on his face. “That’s a good goal to have. Lakesight has always been able to read currents well– waves and floodmelts, too. Silverstorm says that’s how she got her warrior name. Did you know she’s the one who warned us about the flood last leaf-fall?”
Larkpaw’s eyes stretched wide. The one that killed Forestfur? “No! She never told me that.”
“It’s a very useful skill. Many more cats would’ve lost their lives without your mother’s foresight.” A shadow of grief crossed the tom’s face, but it passed quickly. He shook out his pelt. “But I’m getting us sidetracked again, and the sun’s scorching worse than ever. We ought to be swimming! Are you ready?”
Larkpaw blinked, startled by his change of subject. New thoughts about her mother and the flood swam like schools of minnow through her head. But as she turned back toward the rushing river, she knew she had to focus on the task ahead. I’ll have to learn more later, I guess.
She scrabbled down the grassy ledge into the shallows. Cool water bathed her sun-baked paws, and she waded deeper, letting the river lap through her pelt. That feels brilliant!
Whitewhisker dropped down beside her with a splash. “Careful now,” he advised. “You’ve almost reached the current. Best to find a safe route.”
Larkpaw surveyed the water ahead. A rowan branch glided by, slowing to swirl in a gurgling eddy. Better steer clear of that spot. She sloshed a few fox-lengths downstream. Once she reached smoother waters, Larkpaw took a deep, steadying breath… and pushed off against the sand, paddling as hard as she could into the current. Paws churning, she cut across the river, shocked by how strenuous the going was. Good grief! This is a whole different beast than the stream!
Still, she was making good headway. And more importantly, the rush of the current was perfectly thrilling. I thought I knew what swimming was, but this is the real deal! She wanted to dive and fish and explore every drop of the waterway. But she pressed on instead, her gaze locked on the far bank. Don’t want to get in over my head.
As Larkpaw neared mid-channel, the river’s flow became harder and harder to combat. She found herself flagging further downstream. Her legs heaved against the enormous weight of the current, and her neck ached from the effort of keeping her head above water.
Without warning, she slipped below the surface, tumbling head-over-tail. Water flooded her mouth and ears. Panic shot through her as she floundered, her mind flashing with realization. I’m being swept away!
Larkkit jumped to her paws at Pikestar’s summons, letting fall her half-eaten sparrow. She stared as RiverClan’s leader climbed onto Highstump. The pale tabby sat, letting his tail drape down over the well-worn bark.
Larkkit turned a quick, delighted circle. “It’s time!” she yowled. “It’s finally time!”
“Hush!” Lakesight meowed sharply. “How many times do I have to tell you to keep your mew down? They can probably hear you in ShadowClan!”
Perchstripe polished off his grayling before flashing his mother a roguish grin. “Oh, let her be. ShadowClan needs a warning, with Larkpaw about to be on the loose!” He winked at his little sister, who giggled.
Lakesight muttered under her breath as she licked a feather from Larkkit’s nose. “Honestly, Perchstripe, you’re sillier than she is.”
The ginger tabby gasped. “Do you mean it?” He covered his heart with a paw, feigning misty-eyed gratitude. “I’m touched, Lakesight— truly honored.”
The calico queen batted him away, stifling a snort of amusement. As she did, Barkfang padded over from Highstump, his tail bristling with excitement. “Just finished our report. Dawn patrol went smoothly enough. Are you ready, Larkkit?”
Larkkit puffed out her chest. “Of course! I’ve been ready forever!”
Lakesight smoothed the kit’s pelt with her tail. “Just be sure you’re on your best behavior. Stand up tall, and don’t speak out of turn!”
Larkkit nodded. She watched as her mother slipped through the crowd forming beneath Highstump, Perchstripe on her heels. The kit felt her heart quicken as every cat took their place in the center of camp. She’d seen them gather every morning of her life, and yet today... Today they’re gathering to see me.
As if on cue, doubts started creeping into her mind. What do my Clanmates think of me? Do they think I can catch up with the other apprentices? She thought of Flameshade and Puddlepaw and shuddered. What about my mentor? Will they like me? What if they think I’m too small, or too noisy, or…
Suddenly, cats started turning to look at her, wondering what was holding her up. They’re all watching. What if I slip up? What if I do something stupid? Larkkit stared at her expectant Clanmates and felt her hackles rise. Panic froze the air in her lungs to ice; she felt herself choking on the frost. I can’t do this! I thought I was ready, but…
She started as Barkfang brushed his tail-tip against her cheek. “Hey, no need to worry.” His gaze was filled with pride and love for her. “You’re going to do just fine. We’ll be with you– me, your mother, Perchstripe… and StarClan, too. You won’t be alone, not for a single step. Remember, you can always count on us!”
Larkkit held his gaze for a moment, then took a deep breath. He’s right. No need to worry. She purred, nuzzling her father fondly. “Thanks, Barkfang. I’ll try to remember.”
She followed him to sit with her family at the front, weaving through cats who beamed and offered bright mews.
Pikestar rose, his spotted pelt glowing almost golden in the mid-morning sun. “Warriors of RiverClan. One of my favorite duties has always been the promotion of young cats. But I think it’s fair to say… that duty is just a little more special today. Today, the time has finally come to welcome our youngest Clanmate into her apprenticeship.” He nodded towards Larkkit.
This is it. You’ve got this! She strode to the foot of Highstump, holding her head and tail high even as her paws trembled. Pikestar watched her, his amber eyes glinting warmly. He knew how long she’d been waiting for this moment. I promise I’ll be the best apprentice I can!
“Larkkit, you have reached the age of six moons. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Larkpaw.”
Larkpaw stood a little taller at the sound of her new name, and she couldn’t help giving an excited flick of her tail.
Pikestar looked up at the clouds. “StarClan, I ask that you watch over Larkpaw and guide her along the path toward becoming a warrior.” His gaze fell to the crowd behind Larkpaw. “Whitewhisker. You are ready to take on your first apprentice. Come forward.”
Whitewhisker? Larkpaw spun around to see the crowd part, making way for the snowy-furred tom. Whitewhisker wasn’t a senior warrior, but he was well-respected and esteemed by every cat for his wisdom. Larkpaw swallowed nervously as he padded up beside her. He met her gaze with an encouraging nod, and she relaxed a bit.
Pikestar continued, “Whitewhisker, you are a patient and skilled warrior. I trust that you will pass down all that you know to Larkpaw.”
Whitewhisker dipped his head to touch noses with her. Their Clanmates cheered. “Larkpaw! Larkpaw!”
The little tabby glanced up at her new mentor. “I’ll do my best,” she promised.
Whitewhisker purred, his golden gaze bright. “So will I!”
Pikestar dismissed his Clan, and cats started streaming up to congratulate Larkpaw. She thanked them all, hardly noticing who was who in the midst of her dizzy triumph. I did it! I really did it! Barkfang was right!
At length, the well-wishers dispersed into their patrols and the island emptied out. Like always. Only this time, I get to follow! Larkpaw’s pelt seemed suddenly to crackle and spark with anticipation. She kneaded the grass with her forepaws, itching to run out of camp.
Whitewhisker swished his tail. “Alright then. I’ll be giving you a tour of the territory today. Have you eaten already?”
Larkpaw nodded.
“Good. Follow me, then.”
He took off towards the stepping stones, leaving Larkpaw to scramble after him. Her heart pounded as she reached the edge of the stream. My first steps outside!
She jumped onto the first stone, lashing her tail for balance. The rock felt hot under her paws, heated up by the greenleaf sun. She leapt carefully from stone to stone, relieved once she reached the far bank. Thank goodness. How embarrassing would it be if I slipped before even making it off the island?
She followed Whitewhisker into a tunnel of reeds, splashing through puddles and fighting back sneezes as the fuzzy fronds brushed her muzzle. Their path opened out into a stand of rowan and beech trees. Birds fluttered from the branches overhead, calling and twittering to one another.
Earthy scents washed over Larkpaw, and a warm breeze stirred her whiskers. She slowed to a halt, trilling in admiration. “Oh, wow… What a great place to hunt!”
Startled by her yowl, the nearest birds all took off in a feathery flurry, chirping out alarms. The treetops began whirring with wings, and before Larkpaw knew it, the grove was still and deserted. She gawked at the empty trees.
Whitewhisker glanced around. “It was, I suppose.”
Larkpaw felt her pelt prickling with embarrassment, and she groaned inwardly. Me and my big mouth! “Sorry, I guess I forgot to keep my mew down.”
He waved a paw dismissively. “That’s alright. It’s hard not to react when you see the territory for the first time. The birds will be back soon enough.” He chuckled. “Besides, you have a pretty impressive yowl. That’s a talent worth fostering— you never know when it might come in handy someday.”
Larkpaw’s ears perked up. “Really?”
Whitewhisker nodded. “Really. A loud yowl can be your best defense against animals like foxes and badgers, or even rogue cats. No need to fight if you can scare them off! And when you’re guarding camp, a warning yowl can make all the difference during an invasion.”
The little tabby shook her head in amazement. “I never even thought about practicing something like that.” To think, Lakesight’s been snipping at me for a talent, all this time!
“Well, there’s a lot more to training than just hunting and fighting. A good warrior needs to learn everything they can.” He mused for a moment. “For instance, mastering tail signals or recognizing dangerous plants might save your life one day. And sometimes, patching a roof or crafting a nest means more to your Clanmates than catching fish and marking borders. Nothing we learn is ever a waste of time.”
Larkpaw tipped her head to one side. Everything we train for matters. That’s… a little overwhelming. But her misgivings gave way to enthusiasm almost at once. No problem— I’ll learn everything there is to know, and then I’ll be the best warrior in the Clans! She purred at the thought.
Whitewhisker signaled with his tail. “Now then. Let’s get moving again, shall we?”
“Right!” I’ll keep quiet this time, Larkpaw vowed to herself.
The grove sloped downwards and thinned out into a grassy field, sparsely dotted with bushes. As they plowed onwards, the sun rose higher and higher, beating down on their shadeless stretch. Larkpaw’s thick pelt felt heavy from the heat. Much longer and I’ll start melting!
But she’d scarcely thought it when she caught sight of a steep hillock, peaking abruptly where the land seemed to fall away. “Is that the river up ahead?” she asked Whitewhisker hopefully.
“It is. Can you hear it yet?”
Larkpaw pricked her ears. Sure enough, she could make out the delicious sound of rushing water. “I can! It sounds like it’s moving a lot faster than the streams around camp.”
“It is. But you shouldn’t have too much trouble with it– the current is slower now than during newleaf.”
They soon reached the riverbank; Larkpaw stared out over the gray-green, fast-flowing waters, shocked by how far they stretched. “This must be the widest part of the whole river!” she groaned.
Whitewhisker flicked an ear. “Not quite— the inlet where it meets the lake is much wider.”
That hardly makes me feel better. The apprentice swallowed nervously. “I’ve never swum this far before. Is it very deep?”
Whitewhisker shook his head. “Don’t worry, every apprentice swims this stretch their first day out. I’ll be right behind you in case you need help. And don’t forget– the sooner you start swimming, the sooner you get to cool off!”
Larkpaw thought it over before breaking into a purr. Can’t argue with that logic! “Okay, I’ll do it!” She studied the current for a moment, then pointed with her tail in the opposite direction of its flow. “I should try to paddle that way a bit, right? Not completely against the current, but at an angle from it. To swim straight across.”
Whitewhisker gave his whiskers a pleased twitch. “Exactly! Who taught you that already?”
Larkpaw felt suddenly self-conscious. Whitewhisker seems pretty serious. What if he thinks my dream is silly? “Lakesight told me,” she admitted at last. “I asked her a lot of questions about the river, and the lake too. How the water moves, how to swim them…” Her apprehension fell away, caught up in a rush of wonder. “She knows so much, and she really loves RiverClan. I want to understand our territory as well as her someday!”
Her mentor watched the river, a thoughtful look on his face. “That’s a good goal to have. Lakesight has always been able to read currents well– waves and floodmelts, too. Silverstorm says that’s how she got her warrior name. Did you know she’s the one who warned us about the flood last leaf-fall?”
Larkpaw’s eyes stretched wide. The one that killed Forestfur? “No! She never told me that.”
“It’s a very useful skill. Many more cats would’ve lost their lives without your mother’s foresight.” A shadow of grief crossed the tom’s face, but it passed quickly. He shook out his pelt. “But I’m getting us sidetracked again, and the sun’s scorching worse than ever. We ought to be swimming! Are you ready?”
Larkpaw blinked, startled by his change of subject. New thoughts about her mother and the flood swam like schools of minnow through her head. But as she turned back toward the rushing river, she knew she had to focus on the task ahead. I’ll have to learn more later, I guess.
She scrabbled down the grassy ledge into the shallows. Cool water bathed her sun-baked paws, and she waded deeper, letting the river lap through her pelt. That feels brilliant!
Whitewhisker dropped down beside her with a splash. “Careful now,” he advised. “You’ve almost reached the current. Best to find a safe route.”
Larkpaw surveyed the water ahead. A rowan branch glided by, slowing to swirl in a gurgling eddy. Better steer clear of that spot. She sloshed a few fox-lengths downstream. Once she reached smoother waters, Larkpaw took a deep, steadying breath… and pushed off against the sand, paddling as hard as she could into the current. Paws churning, she cut across the river, shocked by how strenuous the going was. Good grief! This is a whole different beast than the stream!
Still, she was making good headway. And more importantly, the rush of the current was perfectly thrilling. I thought I knew what swimming was, but this is the real deal! She wanted to dive and fish and explore every drop of the waterway. But she pressed on instead, her gaze locked on the far bank. Don’t want to get in over my head.
As Larkpaw neared mid-channel, the river’s flow became harder and harder to combat. She found herself flagging further downstream. Her legs heaved against the enormous weight of the current, and her neck ached from the effort of keeping her head above water.
Without warning, she slipped below the surface, tumbling head-over-tail. Water flooded her mouth and ears. Panic shot through her as she floundered, her mind flashing with realization. I’m being swept away!
Chapter 3
***
***
Sharp teeth bit into Larkpaw’s scruff. She felt herself being dragged upwards in a surge of foam, and she broke the surface with a gasp, spluttering up water.
Whitewhisker let go of her, his face fraught. “Are you alright?”
Larkpaw managed a dazed nod. She blinked stinging eyes. I’m okay. I didn’t drown. She was shaking all over, and her throat burned, but she found she could easily tread water now. Whitewhisker was blocking the current for her. He rescued me right away. I was only under for a few heartbeats.
The white tom heaved a sigh of relief. “Stay close to me, and we’ll swim to shore and rest for a bit.”
Heart hammering and whiskers streaming, Larkpaw paddled alongside her mentor. They soon reached the far bank, where Whitewhisker leapt ashore and stood ready to help her out of the water. “I’m so sorry, Larkpaw,” he meowed ruefully. “I should’ve stepped in before you could be swept away. But you were nearly through the worst of the current, and I thought for sure you were going to make it.”
The apprentice flopped down on dry land. Now that she could stop and reflect, her fear was rapidly giving way to a blast of exhilaration. “Wow… That was incredible!”
Whitewhisker looked taken aback. “You weren’t frightened?”
“Oh, I was terrified!” A shiver ran through Larkpaw. “Maybe I still am, a little. But that was such a rush. Battling the current was awesome!” She stood on wobbly legs and shook out her soaked pelt. “I mean, I finally got to swim the river! It’s less scary now, knowing you were never gonna let me get washed away or anything.”
Whitewhisker nodded. “That’s true. You weren’t in any real danger. I was just worried I might’ve ruined your first experience with the river.” He broke into a grateful purr. “I’m glad you enjoyed it anyways! You did very well, crossing so far on your own.”
Larkpaw sat back on her haunches, warm pride bubbling up in her chest. “Did I do as well as the other apprentices, on their first days?”
He licked down a clump of his shoulder fur. “You’ll have to ask them.”
She flexed her claws. “I wish I could’ve swam the whole way without help. What do I need to do to beat the current next time?”
He looked up thoughtfully, then started drying his whiskers with a paw. “Practice makes perfect. The more you swim, the more strength and endurance you’ll build up. You’ll get to know the river’s flow better, and that will help you adjust your course. Once you’ve mastered all that, I can teach you the techniques you’ll need to cross even the roughest waters safely.”
Unable to keep her excitement at bay, Larkpaw gave a happy leap, her paws skittering against the pebbles. “No way! That’s too cool; I can’t wait to learn it all!” Her mind burst with visions of tackling torrents and navigating bristling channels of razor-sharp rocks.
Whitewhisker’s gaze glinted with good humor. Turning his back to the river, he meowed, “I take it you’re ready to get going, then?”
In truth, Larkpaw’s legs were still sore from swimming, but she figured her muscles would loosen up as they traveled. So she shook the grit from her paw pads and bounded into the grass. “Ready!”
They set off again, cresting another hill before plunging into a sedge-strewn valley crisscrossed by noisy streamlets. It wasn’t long before they'd climbed out and found themselves standing at the edge of a forest. Larkpaw recognized rowan, beech and cypress trees, but there were many more she’d never seen before.
Whitewhisker held his tail high for attention. “This is just a small patch of woodland, but it’s still plenty dense inside. Keep your senses sharp. There’ll be a lot to take in, so you want to stay alert to any dangers.”
Larkpaw nodded before following him into the woods. Instantly, she was bombarded with new scents and sounds. Birds chirped and chittered, tiny paws scuttled, and squirrels vaulted through the canopy overhead. Unfamiliar plants wafted heady smells and clogged the path with thorns and creepers. Ivy and moss draped everything that grew, and fanlike ferns fought against bracken to fill up every spare spot of soil.
It was chaos, the exact opposite of the orderly island environment Larkpaw was used to. She felt her paws prickle with delight. I love it!
“Tell me what you can scent,” Whitewhisker instructed as they wove through the dense undergrowth.
Larkpaw answered in earnest, describing as many smells as she could. Her mentor corrected her from time to time, and he identified all the trees, plants, and animals she couldn’t. At one point, a tiny weasel poked its face out of a holly bush and stared at them. Whitewhisker gave a low growl, and it whisked back into the brush.
But Larkpaw hardly heard him; she was still spellbound by the forest, her eyes sparkling and paws feather-light. She knew she ought to feel embarrassed about her clumsy enthusiasm. But how could she, when she was learning and discovering so much?
Her mentor flicked his ears crossly. “Larkpaw, are you listening? You need to—“
“Wait, what’s that smell?” Larkpaw interrupted. A powerful, peaty odor had snapped her back into reality. “It’s coming from across the field.”
Her mentor grimaced and glanced upwards as though asking StarClan for patience. Before he could answer, two cats came into view, cresting the top of a nearby hill. Even from a distance, Larkpaw recognized Creampetal and Splashfoot by their distinct pelt colors. Puddlepaw and Sandpaw’s parents!
Whitewhisker tasted the wind. “Judging by the scent and direction, I’d say they’ve been hunting in the marshes.”
As the warriors neared, Larkpaw saw that their legs and belly fur were caked with slick mud. Fat frogs swung from their jaws, dripping down sludge. Blech! Why would anyone hunt such nasty prey in greenleaf?
Creampetal set down her fresh-kill. “Hi there Larkpaw! Touring the territory today?”
“That’s right!” She scrunched up her nose. “But, uh… What’d you catch frogs for?”
The cream tabby’s eyes twinkled. “We’re going to wash them off in the stream and tempt the elders with them. This hot weather has shriveled up their appetites— Silverstorm’s especially. So we wanted to find them something really tangy.”
“Tangy?” Larkpaw echoed.
Splashfoot nodded. “Older cats start to lose their sense of taste and smell. Since frogs have a much stronger flavor than fish, we think the elders might go for them.”
Whitewhisker curled up his tail happily. “That’s a great idea! I’m sure they’ll be very grateful.”
Creampetal laughed. “I sure hope so!” Her soft green gaze rested on Larkpaw. “Hold on, dear, you have some cobweb in your tail fur.” She snagged the gray clump of fluff off Larkpaw’s tail-tip with her claws.
The apprentice ducked her head in embarrassment. I’m not a kit anymore! She bit back her objection, knowing the former queen meant well.
Splashfoot blinked his sympathy. “Try keeping your tail curled low next time you’re in the woods,” he suggested. “That’ll keep it from catching in webs and thorns and the like.”
Larkpaw let fall her tail and peered back at it over her shoulder. “Oh, I see. I’ll have to try that out!”
Whitewhisker shot her an incredulous look. “I told you that already, halfway through the woods!”
She wheeled around in surprise. “You did?”
“Yes.”
“Oh.” Self-consciousness pricked the little tabby’s pelt. “Well, there was so much to take in…” She trailed off as her mentor’s earlier frustration finally sunk in. “But… I probably should’ve been paying closer attention. To your instructions, and to the trail.”
Whitewhisker sighed. “That’s alright. I think I was giving you too much to process all at once. Just be careful to listen to directions in the future.”
Larkpaw nodded sheepishly.
Creampetal purred, looking from Whitewhisker to Larkpaw. “Don’t worry. You’ll get the hang of things before you know it!”
Splashfoot swept his tail in agreement. “Every cat struggles a bit when they’re first starting out. To tell you the truth, Larkpaw, I still have to remind myself where to put my paws in the forest. I guess it comes from learning so much later in life.”
His mate prodded him with a paw. “Doesn’t come so naturally to you on dry land, huh?” she teased.
The blue tom rolled his eyes, his whiskers twitching in amusement. He may have grown up a kittypet, but every cat knew Splashfoot was the most skilled swimmer in RiverClan. Even Pikestar couldn’t match pace with him. “Anyways,” he meowed, “we’d better get going now. Don’t want this frog feast spoiling in the sun.”
Larkpaw almost gagged at the thought of rotten frogs. That’s the only thing worse than fresh ones!
Creampetal waved farewell with her fluffy tail. “See you later! Have a good tour!”
Larkpaw watched as the warriors collected their catch and disappeared into the woodlands. She turned at Whitewhisker’s decisive meow. “Now then. We’d better get going. It’s nearly sunhigh, so we’ll have to pick up the pace if we want to visit both borders before dark.”
The little tabby nodded, trying her best to look serious and attentive. “What’s the next stop on our route?”
To her surprise, a subtle smile played across her mentor’s muzzle. “It’s just across this stretch of field.”
“What is it?”
“You’ll see soon enough.” Without further ado, he took off like a shot. Larkpaw stared after him for a moment, then burst out laughing. Bidding farewell to the forest, she raced across the plain, dandelion fluff flying in her wake.
“Horses,” Whitewhisker confirmed. “Keep well away from them, and they’re harmless.”
Horses? They’re so huge, I thought they might be monsters that left the Thunderpath! Lakesight had told Larkpaw about horses before, but they were far stranger than the apprentice could have imagined. Their colors and markings were mostly familiar. But they also had bushy hair that flowed down from their necks. Their limbs were long and slender; so slender, it was hard to believe they could hold up such massive bodies. And their black feet were flat-bottomed and sharp as river rocks.
“Those paws of theirs must be pretty useless for anything except running,” Larkpaw observed. She suppressed a shudder. “Or maybe trampling down cats.”
“They’re called hooves, not paws,” Whitewhisker corrected. “And horses aren’t interested in trampling anyone— they’re happy eating grass all day.”
One of the giant creatures was cantering nearby, tossing its dappled head and spluttering out loud neighs. Without warning, it launched itself into a headlong gallop, barreling towards the fence at a shocking speed.
“It’s headed straight for us!” Larkpaw shrieked, scrambling backwards.
“Don’t worry, it’s just showing off,” Whitewhisker reassured her.
What? Is he serious? Larkpaw crouched low, trying to hide beneath the grass. The horse thundered up, its hooves tossing back great clods of earth. Its muscles were taut as tree bark, and its thin gray pelt quivered with power. It turned in a long arc, running alongside the fence before veering off, its plumy tail billowing out behind it. Larkpaw stared after it, her heart pounding in her ears.
“Whoa…”
Whitewhisker sat down calmly. “Horses have a lot of personality. They’re quite interesting-- especially compared to the sheep out on WindClan territory.”
“If by interesting you mean terrifying…” Larkpaw muttered. She gave her chest fur several licks, trying to calm herself down.
“They are pretty intimidating,” he admitted. “But you come to admire their speed and strength. They’re really impressive animals!”
“I guess so.” Larkpaw looked up to see the dapple gray horse make its way back to the herd. It slowed to a trot and snorted in a proud way. They act like they own the world! She twitched her whiskers, amused in spite of herself. And why shouldn’t they? No animal in its right mind would mess with them.
“You’ll get used to them,” Whitewhisker promised. “In all our seasons of patrolling, horses have never harmed a RiverClan cat. We stay on our side of the fence, and they stay on theirs.” He chuckled. “If only ShadowClan and WindClan were so accommodating!”
Larkpaw couldn’t help laughing. She felt silly for acting so scared before. “Yeah, then we wouldn’t have to deal with border patrols anymore. Horses make much better neighbors!”
Whitewhisker snorted, then faked a look of dismay. “Oh no. Barkfang warned me you’d have Perchstripe’s sense of humor.”
The little tabby protested over her own purr. As the two of them renewed their race, following the fence line, Larkpaw felt herself warming up to Whitewhisker. He’s a little strange, and a little scary. But he knows a lot, and I think he could be a fun mentor!
They slowed down as the imposing figure of a Twoleg den loomed up ahead. Whitewhisker stopped a few tree-lengths down the fence from it. “We’re coming up on the Horseplace barn.”
“The barn?” Larkpaw gasped. “No way!” She poked her head through the fence slats, craning her neck to get a better view. “That’s where Pikestar rescued Lilypaw and Duskpaw when they were kits! I didn’t realize it was so close to our border.” She studied the red wooden structure. It looked desolate and hollow— nothing like the cozy bramble and reed-spun dens she was used to. “What a scary place to grow up.”
Whitewhisker shook his head somberly. “Anyplace is scary, when you’ve been kit-napped by rogues.”
Moons-old anger suddenly boiled up inside Larkpaw. Feeling her pelt bristle, she stamped one of her forepaws. “Why would rogues even want to live there? It stinks of horses, and it’s so close to the Twolegs.”
“The horse-scent is strong,” her mentor agreed. “But see what else you can smell, living inside the den.”
Larkpaw tasted the air. Nothing. The earthy tang of the Horseplace drowned out every other scent. So they padded a little further up the fenceline, until the apprentice caught wind of something that made her mouth water. “Mice. A lot of mice. I’ve never smelled so much prey before!”
Whitewhisker looked pleased. “Well scented. The barn is full of hay, and mice and rats love to nest in it. So there’s never a shortage of food for barn cats, even in the coldest leaf-bare. It’s really not a bad place to live, in its way.”
“But what about the Twolegs? Don’t they mind rogues?”
“Not at all. They like having cats around, to kill the mice and keep them out of the horses’ feed.”
Larkpaw knitted her brow. “So why don’t any cats live there now?”
“Well, not many loners would choose to live so close to the Clans. Penned in with territories full of cats on either side… It just doesn’t feel safe. That’s why most barn cats are kittypets the Twolegs care for. They’ve come and gone over the seasons, whenever the Twolegs feel like having them around.” Whitewhisker ticked his tail thoughtfully. “Come to think of it, I’ve heard elders say that Horseplace cats have even joined the Clans in the past, though it’s a rare sight.”
Larkpaw gazed gloomily at the barn. “I wonder if Lilypaw was a kittypet, before the rogues stole her from her mother.”
“It must be hard for her and Duskpaw, not remembering their birth kin.” The warrior’s mew was heavy with sympathy. “But they’re a part of RiverClan now, and the rogues are long gone.”
She closed her eyes for a moment. He’s right. The rogues can’t hurt them anymore. The little tabby forced aside her bitter feelings; puffing with resolve, she lifted her head and tail high. “I bet those rogues will never come near us again!”
Whitewhisker’s gaze hardened. “Not unless they have a taste for their own deaths.”
Larkpaw blinked in surprise. She couldn't understand her mentor's harsh words, until she remembered the life the rogues had taken. Of course… Moondapple. Whitewhisker probably grew up with her.
She felt her confidence drain away. I haven’t thought about her in ages. Not surprising I guess, since I never got the chance to know her. Larkpaw glanced up at the clouds, remembering Pikestar’s prayer from her ceremony that morning. Maybe she’s watching over us now. Watching over Lilypaw and Duskpaw, too.
Whitewhisker flicked his tail. “Well, no use lingering on here. After all, we’re nearly to the lakeshore!”
He sprang into a run. Larkpaw scurried to follow after him, but grief seemed to weigh down her paws. She kept thinking of her murdered Clanmate. Moondapple was Waveflash’s sister. Dewyfern says she was a kind and talented cat— one of RiverClan’s best warriors. The apprentice scowled. We welcomed the rogues. Let them move into the Horseplace barn. And they thanked us by killing Moondapple in cold blood. She wasn’t even on their side of the fence!
Larkpaw had to stop herself trembling with emotion. She was too young to have seen war or bloodshed. The dark memories her Clanmates passed down seemed best left to history. I won’t think about them anymore, she decided firmly. I’ll just focus on the path ahead!
The lake lay before her in full view. Its sunlit surface seemed to stretch on forever, shimmering in white waves of welcome. Far across the waters, forests smudged the horizon, half-hidden behind a haze of heat. The little tabby took a step forward, her heart fluttering. I'm really here. I finally made it, after waiting so long!
At a nod from Whitewhisker, she flew down the shore, sharp grass prickling her paws. She plowed through whistling rushes and skimmed the muddy pebbles, a joy-filled mrrow of laughter escaping her lips.
As Larkpaw dove into the blue-green waters of her dreams, she wondered if she’d ever know a brighter day than this one.
Whitewhisker let go of her, his face fraught. “Are you alright?”
Larkpaw managed a dazed nod. She blinked stinging eyes. I’m okay. I didn’t drown. She was shaking all over, and her throat burned, but she found she could easily tread water now. Whitewhisker was blocking the current for her. He rescued me right away. I was only under for a few heartbeats.
The white tom heaved a sigh of relief. “Stay close to me, and we’ll swim to shore and rest for a bit.”
Heart hammering and whiskers streaming, Larkpaw paddled alongside her mentor. They soon reached the far bank, where Whitewhisker leapt ashore and stood ready to help her out of the water. “I’m so sorry, Larkpaw,” he meowed ruefully. “I should’ve stepped in before you could be swept away. But you were nearly through the worst of the current, and I thought for sure you were going to make it.”
The apprentice flopped down on dry land. Now that she could stop and reflect, her fear was rapidly giving way to a blast of exhilaration. “Wow… That was incredible!”
Whitewhisker looked taken aback. “You weren’t frightened?”
“Oh, I was terrified!” A shiver ran through Larkpaw. “Maybe I still am, a little. But that was such a rush. Battling the current was awesome!” She stood on wobbly legs and shook out her soaked pelt. “I mean, I finally got to swim the river! It’s less scary now, knowing you were never gonna let me get washed away or anything.”
Whitewhisker nodded. “That’s true. You weren’t in any real danger. I was just worried I might’ve ruined your first experience with the river.” He broke into a grateful purr. “I’m glad you enjoyed it anyways! You did very well, crossing so far on your own.”
Larkpaw sat back on her haunches, warm pride bubbling up in her chest. “Did I do as well as the other apprentices, on their first days?”
He licked down a clump of his shoulder fur. “You’ll have to ask them.”
She flexed her claws. “I wish I could’ve swam the whole way without help. What do I need to do to beat the current next time?”
He looked up thoughtfully, then started drying his whiskers with a paw. “Practice makes perfect. The more you swim, the more strength and endurance you’ll build up. You’ll get to know the river’s flow better, and that will help you adjust your course. Once you’ve mastered all that, I can teach you the techniques you’ll need to cross even the roughest waters safely.”
Unable to keep her excitement at bay, Larkpaw gave a happy leap, her paws skittering against the pebbles. “No way! That’s too cool; I can’t wait to learn it all!” Her mind burst with visions of tackling torrents and navigating bristling channels of razor-sharp rocks.
Whitewhisker’s gaze glinted with good humor. Turning his back to the river, he meowed, “I take it you’re ready to get going, then?”
In truth, Larkpaw’s legs were still sore from swimming, but she figured her muscles would loosen up as they traveled. So she shook the grit from her paw pads and bounded into the grass. “Ready!”
They set off again, cresting another hill before plunging into a sedge-strewn valley crisscrossed by noisy streamlets. It wasn’t long before they'd climbed out and found themselves standing at the edge of a forest. Larkpaw recognized rowan, beech and cypress trees, but there were many more she’d never seen before.
Whitewhisker held his tail high for attention. “This is just a small patch of woodland, but it’s still plenty dense inside. Keep your senses sharp. There’ll be a lot to take in, so you want to stay alert to any dangers.”
Larkpaw nodded before following him into the woods. Instantly, she was bombarded with new scents and sounds. Birds chirped and chittered, tiny paws scuttled, and squirrels vaulted through the canopy overhead. Unfamiliar plants wafted heady smells and clogged the path with thorns and creepers. Ivy and moss draped everything that grew, and fanlike ferns fought against bracken to fill up every spare spot of soil.
It was chaos, the exact opposite of the orderly island environment Larkpaw was used to. She felt her paws prickle with delight. I love it!
“Tell me what you can scent,” Whitewhisker instructed as they wove through the dense undergrowth.
Larkpaw answered in earnest, describing as many smells as she could. Her mentor corrected her from time to time, and he identified all the trees, plants, and animals she couldn’t. At one point, a tiny weasel poked its face out of a holly bush and stared at them. Whitewhisker gave a low growl, and it whisked back into the brush.
***
By the time they reached the end of the woodlands, Larkpaw had successfully tripped over three branches, disturbed an anthill, and gotten her tail caught in a cobweb. Whitewhisker looked relieved to be padding out onto the open fields once more. “You’ll need to slow down and keep an eye on the trail next time,” he stressed, looking back at his apprentice.But Larkpaw hardly heard him; she was still spellbound by the forest, her eyes sparkling and paws feather-light. She knew she ought to feel embarrassed about her clumsy enthusiasm. But how could she, when she was learning and discovering so much?
Her mentor flicked his ears crossly. “Larkpaw, are you listening? You need to—“
“Wait, what’s that smell?” Larkpaw interrupted. A powerful, peaty odor had snapped her back into reality. “It’s coming from across the field.”
Her mentor grimaced and glanced upwards as though asking StarClan for patience. Before he could answer, two cats came into view, cresting the top of a nearby hill. Even from a distance, Larkpaw recognized Creampetal and Splashfoot by their distinct pelt colors. Puddlepaw and Sandpaw’s parents!
Whitewhisker tasted the wind. “Judging by the scent and direction, I’d say they’ve been hunting in the marshes.”
As the warriors neared, Larkpaw saw that their legs and belly fur were caked with slick mud. Fat frogs swung from their jaws, dripping down sludge. Blech! Why would anyone hunt such nasty prey in greenleaf?
Creampetal set down her fresh-kill. “Hi there Larkpaw! Touring the territory today?”
“That’s right!” She scrunched up her nose. “But, uh… What’d you catch frogs for?”
The cream tabby’s eyes twinkled. “We’re going to wash them off in the stream and tempt the elders with them. This hot weather has shriveled up their appetites— Silverstorm’s especially. So we wanted to find them something really tangy.”
“Tangy?” Larkpaw echoed.
Splashfoot nodded. “Older cats start to lose their sense of taste and smell. Since frogs have a much stronger flavor than fish, we think the elders might go for them.”
Whitewhisker curled up his tail happily. “That’s a great idea! I’m sure they’ll be very grateful.”
Creampetal laughed. “I sure hope so!” Her soft green gaze rested on Larkpaw. “Hold on, dear, you have some cobweb in your tail fur.” She snagged the gray clump of fluff off Larkpaw’s tail-tip with her claws.
The apprentice ducked her head in embarrassment. I’m not a kit anymore! She bit back her objection, knowing the former queen meant well.
Splashfoot blinked his sympathy. “Try keeping your tail curled low next time you’re in the woods,” he suggested. “That’ll keep it from catching in webs and thorns and the like.”
Larkpaw let fall her tail and peered back at it over her shoulder. “Oh, I see. I’ll have to try that out!”
Whitewhisker shot her an incredulous look. “I told you that already, halfway through the woods!”
She wheeled around in surprise. “You did?”
“Yes.”
“Oh.” Self-consciousness pricked the little tabby’s pelt. “Well, there was so much to take in…” She trailed off as her mentor’s earlier frustration finally sunk in. “But… I probably should’ve been paying closer attention. To your instructions, and to the trail.”
Whitewhisker sighed. “That’s alright. I think I was giving you too much to process all at once. Just be careful to listen to directions in the future.”
Larkpaw nodded sheepishly.
Creampetal purred, looking from Whitewhisker to Larkpaw. “Don’t worry. You’ll get the hang of things before you know it!”
Splashfoot swept his tail in agreement. “Every cat struggles a bit when they’re first starting out. To tell you the truth, Larkpaw, I still have to remind myself where to put my paws in the forest. I guess it comes from learning so much later in life.”
His mate prodded him with a paw. “Doesn’t come so naturally to you on dry land, huh?” she teased.
The blue tom rolled his eyes, his whiskers twitching in amusement. He may have grown up a kittypet, but every cat knew Splashfoot was the most skilled swimmer in RiverClan. Even Pikestar couldn’t match pace with him. “Anyways,” he meowed, “we’d better get going now. Don’t want this frog feast spoiling in the sun.”
Larkpaw almost gagged at the thought of rotten frogs. That’s the only thing worse than fresh ones!
Creampetal waved farewell with her fluffy tail. “See you later! Have a good tour!”
Larkpaw watched as the warriors collected their catch and disappeared into the woodlands. She turned at Whitewhisker’s decisive meow. “Now then. We’d better get going. It’s nearly sunhigh, so we’ll have to pick up the pace if we want to visit both borders before dark.”
The little tabby nodded, trying her best to look serious and attentive. “What’s the next stop on our route?”
To her surprise, a subtle smile played across her mentor’s muzzle. “It’s just across this stretch of field.”
“What is it?”
“You’ll see soon enough.” Without further ado, he took off like a shot. Larkpaw stared after him for a moment, then burst out laughing. Bidding farewell to the forest, she raced across the plain, dandelion fluff flying in her wake.
***
Larkpaw’s jaw dropped as they reached the edge of RiverClan’s territory. The fenced-in field ahead was alive with enormous animals. “Are those..?”“Horses,” Whitewhisker confirmed. “Keep well away from them, and they’re harmless.”
Horses? They’re so huge, I thought they might be monsters that left the Thunderpath! Lakesight had told Larkpaw about horses before, but they were far stranger than the apprentice could have imagined. Their colors and markings were mostly familiar. But they also had bushy hair that flowed down from their necks. Their limbs were long and slender; so slender, it was hard to believe they could hold up such massive bodies. And their black feet were flat-bottomed and sharp as river rocks.
“Those paws of theirs must be pretty useless for anything except running,” Larkpaw observed. She suppressed a shudder. “Or maybe trampling down cats.”
“They’re called hooves, not paws,” Whitewhisker corrected. “And horses aren’t interested in trampling anyone— they’re happy eating grass all day.”
One of the giant creatures was cantering nearby, tossing its dappled head and spluttering out loud neighs. Without warning, it launched itself into a headlong gallop, barreling towards the fence at a shocking speed.
“It’s headed straight for us!” Larkpaw shrieked, scrambling backwards.
“Don’t worry, it’s just showing off,” Whitewhisker reassured her.
What? Is he serious? Larkpaw crouched low, trying to hide beneath the grass. The horse thundered up, its hooves tossing back great clods of earth. Its muscles were taut as tree bark, and its thin gray pelt quivered with power. It turned in a long arc, running alongside the fence before veering off, its plumy tail billowing out behind it. Larkpaw stared after it, her heart pounding in her ears.
“Whoa…”
Whitewhisker sat down calmly. “Horses have a lot of personality. They’re quite interesting-- especially compared to the sheep out on WindClan territory.”
“If by interesting you mean terrifying…” Larkpaw muttered. She gave her chest fur several licks, trying to calm herself down.
“They are pretty intimidating,” he admitted. “But you come to admire their speed and strength. They’re really impressive animals!”
“I guess so.” Larkpaw looked up to see the dapple gray horse make its way back to the herd. It slowed to a trot and snorted in a proud way. They act like they own the world! She twitched her whiskers, amused in spite of herself. And why shouldn’t they? No animal in its right mind would mess with them.
“You’ll get used to them,” Whitewhisker promised. “In all our seasons of patrolling, horses have never harmed a RiverClan cat. We stay on our side of the fence, and they stay on theirs.” He chuckled. “If only ShadowClan and WindClan were so accommodating!”
Larkpaw couldn’t help laughing. She felt silly for acting so scared before. “Yeah, then we wouldn’t have to deal with border patrols anymore. Horses make much better neighbors!”
Whitewhisker snorted, then faked a look of dismay. “Oh no. Barkfang warned me you’d have Perchstripe’s sense of humor.”
The little tabby protested over her own purr. As the two of them renewed their race, following the fence line, Larkpaw felt herself warming up to Whitewhisker. He’s a little strange, and a little scary. But he knows a lot, and I think he could be a fun mentor!
They slowed down as the imposing figure of a Twoleg den loomed up ahead. Whitewhisker stopped a few tree-lengths down the fence from it. “We’re coming up on the Horseplace barn.”
“The barn?” Larkpaw gasped. “No way!” She poked her head through the fence slats, craning her neck to get a better view. “That’s where Pikestar rescued Lilypaw and Duskpaw when they were kits! I didn’t realize it was so close to our border.” She studied the red wooden structure. It looked desolate and hollow— nothing like the cozy bramble and reed-spun dens she was used to. “What a scary place to grow up.”
Whitewhisker shook his head somberly. “Anyplace is scary, when you’ve been kit-napped by rogues.”
Moons-old anger suddenly boiled up inside Larkpaw. Feeling her pelt bristle, she stamped one of her forepaws. “Why would rogues even want to live there? It stinks of horses, and it’s so close to the Twolegs.”
“The horse-scent is strong,” her mentor agreed. “But see what else you can smell, living inside the den.”
Larkpaw tasted the air. Nothing. The earthy tang of the Horseplace drowned out every other scent. So they padded a little further up the fenceline, until the apprentice caught wind of something that made her mouth water. “Mice. A lot of mice. I’ve never smelled so much prey before!”
Whitewhisker looked pleased. “Well scented. The barn is full of hay, and mice and rats love to nest in it. So there’s never a shortage of food for barn cats, even in the coldest leaf-bare. It’s really not a bad place to live, in its way.”
“But what about the Twolegs? Don’t they mind rogues?”
“Not at all. They like having cats around, to kill the mice and keep them out of the horses’ feed.”
Larkpaw knitted her brow. “So why don’t any cats live there now?”
“Well, not many loners would choose to live so close to the Clans. Penned in with territories full of cats on either side… It just doesn’t feel safe. That’s why most barn cats are kittypets the Twolegs care for. They’ve come and gone over the seasons, whenever the Twolegs feel like having them around.” Whitewhisker ticked his tail thoughtfully. “Come to think of it, I’ve heard elders say that Horseplace cats have even joined the Clans in the past, though it’s a rare sight.”
Larkpaw gazed gloomily at the barn. “I wonder if Lilypaw was a kittypet, before the rogues stole her from her mother.”
“It must be hard for her and Duskpaw, not remembering their birth kin.” The warrior’s mew was heavy with sympathy. “But they’re a part of RiverClan now, and the rogues are long gone.”
She closed her eyes for a moment. He’s right. The rogues can’t hurt them anymore. The little tabby forced aside her bitter feelings; puffing with resolve, she lifted her head and tail high. “I bet those rogues will never come near us again!”
Whitewhisker’s gaze hardened. “Not unless they have a taste for their own deaths.”
Larkpaw blinked in surprise. She couldn't understand her mentor's harsh words, until she remembered the life the rogues had taken. Of course… Moondapple. Whitewhisker probably grew up with her.
She felt her confidence drain away. I haven’t thought about her in ages. Not surprising I guess, since I never got the chance to know her. Larkpaw glanced up at the clouds, remembering Pikestar’s prayer from her ceremony that morning. Maybe she’s watching over us now. Watching over Lilypaw and Duskpaw, too.
Whitewhisker flicked his tail. “Well, no use lingering on here. After all, we’re nearly to the lakeshore!”
He sprang into a run. Larkpaw scurried to follow after him, but grief seemed to weigh down her paws. She kept thinking of her murdered Clanmate. Moondapple was Waveflash’s sister. Dewyfern says she was a kind and talented cat— one of RiverClan’s best warriors. The apprentice scowled. We welcomed the rogues. Let them move into the Horseplace barn. And they thanked us by killing Moondapple in cold blood. She wasn’t even on their side of the fence!
Larkpaw had to stop herself trembling with emotion. She was too young to have seen war or bloodshed. The dark memories her Clanmates passed down seemed best left to history. I won’t think about them anymore, she decided firmly. I’ll just focus on the path ahead!
***
Once she and Whitewhisker reached the end of the fenceline, Larkpaw froze midstep, her breath catching in her throat. The lake lay before her in full view. Its sunlit surface seemed to stretch on forever, shimmering in white waves of welcome. Far across the waters, forests smudged the horizon, half-hidden behind a haze of heat. The little tabby took a step forward, her heart fluttering. I'm really here. I finally made it, after waiting so long!
At a nod from Whitewhisker, she flew down the shore, sharp grass prickling her paws. She plowed through whistling rushes and skimmed the muddy pebbles, a joy-filled mrrow of laughter escaping her lips.
As Larkpaw dove into the blue-green waters of her dreams, she wondered if she’d ever know a brighter day than this one.