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need1etail · 5 years

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Chapter Twenty-Five

Alderpaw poked his head through the entrance to the nursery. “Is it okay to come in?” he called softly, not wanting to wake the kits.

“Sure!” Lilyheart called back. “But watch where you’re putting your paws.”

As Alderpaw became used to the dim light of the nursery, he could see why Lilyheart had told him to be careful. Her own three kits, Leafkit, Larkkit, and Honeykit, were rolling around play fighting on the thick moss and bracken that covered the nursery floor. Violetkit and Twigkit, their eyes now fully open, sat watching with wide, curious eyes.

“That’s how you learn to fight when you’re an apprentice,” Leafkit told the younger kits, sitting up and shaking scraps of moss from her calico pelt.

“What’s an apprentice?” Twigkit asked.

“It’s when you’re six moons old and you have a mentor, and learn how to become a warrior,” Larkkit replied.

“And then you get to fight foxes and badgers and rival cats,” Honeykit added. She leaped on top of her brother, growling as fiercely as she could. “Get out of our camp, you stinky badger!”

“Stinky yourself!” Larkkit retorted, battering his sister with his hind paws.

Alderpaw skirted the battling kits and settled down in the moss beside Lilyheart. “You’ve got your paws full here,” he mewed.

“I know, but I love it,” Lilyheart purred. “I have Daisy to help. She’s out getting fresh-kill for us right now.”

“That’s great,” Alderpaw mewed. “So how are you two doing?” he asked, stretching out his neck and touching noses with Violetkit then Twigkit.

“We’re fine, thank you,” Violetkit replied.

Alderpaw could see that she was right. There was no need to worry about the kits’ health anymore. In the few days they had been in camp, their little bodies began to plump up, and their fur was glossy. Though their eyes were open, wide and bright, they were still kitten gray, and Alderpaw knew it would be a while before they got their normal color.

“It’s so nice here with our mother,” Twigkit added, leaning close to Lilyheart.

“She’s not your mother!” Leafkit piped up before Alderpaw or Lilyheart could respond. “She’s our mother. You came from a long way away—beyond the lake, even.”

The two younger kits glanced at each other, confused and a little hurt. Twigkit looked at Alderpaw with eyes that made his heart ache for her.

“Don’t worry, little ones,” Lilyheart mewed, bending her head to lick each kit around the ears. “I love you just as much as if I were your real mother.”

“That’s right,” Alderpaw agreed, nuzzling the kits with warm affection. “All you need to know is that you’re very special.”

Reassured, the two kits began to purr in content. For a moment, Alderpaw gave himself up to the satisfaction of having saved them, whatever that might mean.

“They really are lovely,” Lilyheart meowed. “I’d be happy to keep them as part of my family. And my kits love them too!”

Alderpaw nodded, but he knew that the real decision about the kits’ future would be made at the Gathering that night. I hope they’ll be allowed to stay here, he thought, realizing how attached he had become to them. But that’s not for me to decide.

Emerging from the nursery, Alderpaw almost slammed into Jayflight. The gray warrior was standing just outside the den with Berrynose at his side.

“There you are!” Jayflight exclaimed, his voice cross. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

“I was just visiting the kits,” Alderpaw explained.

Jayflight snorted. “I should have known.”

“I think it’s nice that you’re just taking such a liking to the kits,” Berrynose meowed, giving Jayflight a shove. Alderpaw purred, knowing his cousin was just being cranky.

Jayflight only sniffed and turned to look at Alderpaw. “Bramblestar and Leafpool want to talk to you. They’ll be in his den.”

There had been a time when Alderpaw would have been worried by a summons from his father. Now, although he felt slightly nervous, anticipation was stirring inside him.

As he and Jayflight padded toward the leader’s den, Alderpaw remembered his return to the camp a few days before. All his Clan had been excited to welcome him back, and Sparkpaw had barely left his side since. As soon as he got home, she started telling him all that had changed: Brackenfur finally convinced Bramblestar to let him work on the dens once more, she had gotten permission from Leafpool to let Alderpaw sleep in the apprentice den once more, and Cloudtail, Brightheart, and Daisy had finally joined the elders, though Daisy continued to stay in the nursery and help with the kits.

Bramblestar had taken the first opportunity to draw Alderpaw aside to ask for his view of what had happened in the gorge.

“It was so frustrating!” Alderpaw admitted. “We should have gotten there in time to save SkyClan from the rogues. I feel like I’ve failed”

Bramblestar wrapped his tail around his son and licked his ear to comfort him. “I’m puzzled,” he confessed. “Why would StarClan send you a vision when it was already too late to do anything about it?” He must have noticed the hurt look Alderpaw’s face, because he quickly added, “But you shouldn’t worry, it was not your fault, Alderpaw.”

Alderpaw shrugged, feeling uneasy. “I feel like I’ve missed something important . . . I feel like Sandstorm died for nothing. Every cat keeps telling me it wasn’t my fault, and for a while I believed it, but . . . now?”

“You are not to blame for Sandstorm’s death,” Bramblestar tried to assure him, though it didn’t work much. “I grieve for her, and so does the rest of our Clan. But going on the quest is what Sandstorm wanted. Remember how hard Squirrelflight tried to forbid her from going? She was determined, and you would have never convinced her otherwise.”

“I guess so . . .,” Alderpaw mewed, though he couldn’t suppress his feeling of guilt.

“Meanwhile,” Bramblestar meowed, changing the subject, “I’ve spoken to other cats who went on the quest with you about keeping SkyClan secret, at least for now.”

“I hope it was okay to tell them . . .,” Alderpaw began apologetically, remembering once again that Needlepaw shared the secret, too.

“It’s fine, Alderpaw. You didn’t have much choice.”

“So what are you going to do about SkyClan—or what remains of it?” Alderpaw asked, relieved by his father’s approval. “And what about those horrible rogues in the gorge.”

“I’ve thought it over,” Bramblestar replied, his amber gaze fixed on Alderpaw, “and I’ve come to the conclusion that there’s nothing ThunderClan can do for SkyClan for now.”

“But—” Alderpaw began to protest.

Bramblestar overrode him. “SkyClan has scattered, and no cat knows where they have gone. Unless ThunderClan gets more information . . .”

Alderpaw felt the weight of his Clan leader’s stare. He means another vision. Anxiety rose inside of him like a gathering storm cloud. Will I have one? What if I don’t?

“I told the rest of the Clan that you reached the place you saw in your vision,” Bramblestar continued briskly, “but you found nothing there. That should be enough to keep SkyClan a secret until we get a stronger sign from StarClan. At least . . .” He hesitated. “What about Needlepaw?”

“I asked her to keep the secret,” Alderpaw replied, “but I don’t know whether she will.”

Bramblestar nodded thoughtfully. “Well, it’s the best we can do for now,” he decided at last. “We’ll discuss the kits later, with Leafpool, Jayflight, and Squirrelflight.”

Thinking back to that earlier meeting, Alderpaw assured that now he was being summoned to talk about Twigkit and Violetkit. I hope they can stay with us, he thought.

He climbed up the tumbled rocks after Jayflight, scrambling for a moment before entering his father’s den, seeing Leafpool and Squirrelflight waiting with Bramblestar in his den on the highledge.

“Good you’re here,” Bramblestar meowed, sweeping his tail affectionately along Alderpaw’s back, as if he was still amazed his son was alive after alive. “Have you recovered form your journey yet?”

“Yes, I’m fine, thank you,” Alderpaw replied.

“Then we need to talk about the future,” Bramblestar announced. “Most urgently, about Twigkit and Violetkit.” With a wave of his tail, he invited the other cats to sit down. “Alderpaw, tell us what you know.”

Alderpaw stayed on his paws as he described how Sandstorm had come to him in a dream, and given him the clue that allowed him and Needlepaw to find the kits in the tunnel.

“Needlepaw really helped?” Leafpool asked, sounding surprised.

“Oh yeah. It was her idea to go through the tunnel. And she helped me bring the kits back to the lake, and helped feed and care for them, too. She was pretty gentle with them.”

“So the question remains what to do with them now,” Bramblestar continued. “Jayflight, do you think that they could be ‘what you find in the shadows’, according to the prophecy?”

Jayflight wriggled his shoulders af if he felt uncomfortable in his pelt. “I’m not sure. It feels too simple. Maybe they’re just a pair of abandoned kits. Their mother was probably killed on the Thunderpath, or maybe a fox got her.”

“But Sandstorm told Alderpaw there was still time to succeed on his quest,” Leafpool pointed out, her eyes shadows as she named her dead mother. “And then she told him how to find the kits. I think they could well be ‘what you find in the shadows’, and if we embrace them, the ‘sky will clear’.”

“Alderpaw, what do you think?” Squirrelflight asked.

Alderpaw blinked nervously at being put on the spot. “They could be,” he replied, “but I think it’s soon to be sure. We’ll know more when the kits grow older.”

Jayflight let out a snort. “I can’t see ShadowClan agreeing to that! And much as I hate to admit it, they have a point. As Alderpaw tells it, Needlepaw was at least half responsible for finding the kits, and so ShadowClan has a claim to them.”

“It wouldn’t be fair,” Squirrelflight growled, sending a glare toward Jayflight, which took Alderpaw off guard. “They’re sisters, and they have no say in this.” She turned to Bramblestar. “Remember how hurt you were when Tawnypaw left you? Would you really feel right tearing these two kits apart.”

Bramblestar’s eyes clouded with grief and he blinked rapidly. “It is true that ShadowClan has a claim to them, though,” he agreed with Jayflight with a sigh. Squirrelflight huffed and lashed her tail. “We’ll wait and see what’s said at the Gathering.”

“We know what ShadowClan will say.” Jayflight twitched his whiskers. “Even though the last thing Russetstar needs is two more young cats to keep track of.”

Bramblestar let out a rumble of amusement from deep in his chest, but that comment made Alderpaw uncomfortable. Would the kits be well taken care of in ShadowClan? What if Russetstar didn’t pay enough attention to them? He shook out his pelt, praying to StarClan that the Gathering went smoothly that night.

A chilly wind ruffled the surface to the lake, breaking up the reflection of the full moon, which floated serenely in the sky above. Branches creaked and rustled in the blast, and dead leaves whirled through the air.

Alderpaw fluffed out his fur against the cold as he padded along the lakeshore with his Clanmates. Violetkit rode on his back, her tiny claws digging deep into his pelt. Beside him Sparkpaw was carrying Twigkit.

“I don’t think RiverClan and WindClan know anything about our quest to find SkyClan, or ‘what you find in the shadows’,” she meowed to Alderpaw. “Won’t they be surprised! I mean, that we found what lies in the shadows, anyway. They’ll be furious enough to claw their own ears off when they discover that a ThunderClan cat found it.”

“But Bramblestar isn’t completely sure the prophecy refers to these kits,” Alderpaw pointed out, his voice mild.

“You mean he won’t say,” Sparkpaw responded. She gave an excited bounce, nearly dislodging Twigkit, who let out a squeak of alarm. “Oops, sorry, Twigkit. Anyway,” Sparkpaw continued, “the kits are totally what you find in the shadows, and you’d have to be the stupidest furball in the forest not to know it!”

Alderpaw blinked contentedly and let her chatter on as they splashed through the stream and followed Bramblestar and the senior warriors alongside the lake through WindClan territory. It was good to be with Sparkpaw again and to bask in her cheerful confidence, after all the dangers they had suffered.

They were drawing near to the edge of WindClan territory when Alderpaw spotted Mudstar and his cats streaming down the hillside and heading around the lake ahead of them, past the horseplace.

“Who are all those cats?” Violetkit asked, sounding nervous.

“Oh, that’s WindClan,” Alderpaw replied.

“Has no cat told you about the Clans?” Sparkpaw asked. “They should have! Honestly . . . Well,” she went on obviously delighted to show off her knowledge to the kits, “there are four Clans around the lake. We’re ThunderClan—we’re the best. Those skinny rabbit-chasers up ahead are WindClan, and then there’s RiverClan and ShadowClan. You’ll meet cats from all of them tonight.”

“Yes, all the Clans meet at the full moon. It’s called a Gathering,” Alderpaw added. “On that island is the lake—can you see it?” He waved his tail toward the dark bulk of island.

“I’m scared!” Twigkit squeaked. “I don’t want to meet so many cats.”

“There’s nothing to be scared of,” Sparkpaw told her, her tone brisk. “Cats never fight at a Gathering. In fact, you’re both very lucky. Kits aren’t usually allowed to go to Gatherings. You’re only here because you’re special.”

“Think of what you’ll get to tell Leafkit, Larkkit, and Honeykit when you get home,” Alderpaw meowed. If you get home, he added to himself, feeling anxiety stab through him.

Twigkit and Violetkit clung on tightly as Alderpaw and Sparkpaw carried them across the tree-bridge to the island. Pushing through the bushes to reach the clearing around the Great Oak, Alderpaw saw the open space filled with cats. The scents of the other three Clans hung heavily in the air, and realized that ThunderClan was the last to arrive.

He and Sparkpaw settled down with the kits in the shelter of a bush at the edge of the clearing, while the kits gazed around with huge eyes.

“I didn’t think there were so many cats in the world!” Violetkit mewed.

Almost at once Alderpaw spotted Needlepaw at the far side of the clearing beyond the Great Oak. Her eyes widened at the sight of Alderpaw.

Alderpaw expected her—and half of him wanted her—to cross the clearing to meet him but she didn’t move until a white she-cat, Beepaw, Alderpaw recognized, padded up to her. Needlepaw exchanged a few words with her, then turned her back on Alderpaw and walked away with the she-cat at her side. Alderpaw lost sight of her in the crowd.

An odd, empty feeling gathered in Alderpaw’s belly. He was happy to be back with his own Clan, especially when his Clanmates were so pleased with him, but he still felt bad about the way Needlepaw had gone home alone without much of a farewell. He was nervous, too, about what she might have told her Clanmates SkyClan. Part of him wanted to bound across the clearing and find her, but he knew for now his place was with the kits. And when the final decision was made about their future, he and Needlepaw would be rivals

No longer my sister. Enemies. He shuddered, wanting to sob at the thought.

Alderpaw realized that while he was lost in his thoughts, the four leaders had leaped up into the branches of the Great Oak. The deputies had gathered on the roots, while the medicine cats sat nearby. Gradually silence fell over the cats in the clearing.

“Why don’t I begin?” Mistystar meowed when she had greeted the Clans. “Prey has been plentiful in RiverClan and—”

She broke off with an annoyed look as Russetstar interrupted her by rising to her paws and pacing to the end of her branch.

“Why are we acting like this is a typical Gathering?” the ShadowClan leader demanded, her green eyes burning. “I know Bramblestar has news to share—don’t you?” she added, turning to the ThunderClan leader and giving him a hard stare.

Bramblestar froze for a moment. Alderpaw knew what he must be thinking, and he felt the same flare of panic and anxiety. Did Needlepaw tell Russetstar about SkyClan?

“News that might relate to the prophecy? Maybe about some young cats?” Rowanstar continued, her voice laced with sarcasm. “Surely you want to tell us all about that.”

Alderpaw let himself breathe again. She didn’t give away the secret.

Clearing his throat, Bramblestar rose to his paws. “Yes, I do have news,” he meowed, raising his voice so that every cat in the clearing could hear him. “But I’m not sure it relates to the prophecy. Our medicine cat apprentice, Alderpaw, went on a quest to find what lies in the shadows. Sadly, our wise elder, Sandstorm, died on this quest, and her whole Clan grieves for her. But on his way home, Alderpaw found those two kits”—Bramblestar pointed with his tail—”just outside our territories.”

Alderpaw realized that every cat was staring at him and the two kits with him and Sparkpaw. He wanted to hide under the nearest bush, but he made himself sit still and meet the curiosity with a calm gaze.

“I don’t think that’s quite right, Bramblestar,” Russetstar went on with a hint of a snarl to her meow. “Don’t you mean that Alderpaw and Needlepaw found the kits, working together? Didn’t Needlepaw save Alderpaw’s life on the quest, helping him to shore when he was drowning?”

Bramblestar lowered his head. “Yes, that’s true.”

Squirrelflight looked at her mate, annoyance in her gaze. She stood from her spot beside the other deputies. “What was Needlepaw doing on her own in the first place?” she challenged, her eyes narrow. “Is it normal for ShadowClan apprentices to wander off by themselves?”

Russetstar raised her eyes and glared at the deputy, her gaze blazing. “That is not your concern,” she snapped; Alderpaw could tell that she was embarrassed by the question. “ShadowClan can look after its own apprentices, thank you very much. What’s important is that ThunderClan did not find these kits without help. And what I understand,” she added, twitching her whiskers, “is that the kits were brought to ThunderClan for urgent care from your medicine cats, but that where they would stay permanently would be decided at this meeting.”

Before Bramblestar could respond, Mistystar took a step forward. “I think Mudstar and I would appreciate a bit more information,” she meowed politely. “This is the first we’ve heard about this quest.”

Mudstar nodded. “Yes, I agree,” he meowed. “Is this just another case of ThunderClan thinking it can control the whole forest?”

Alderpaw was surprised by the brown leader’s hostility. Isn’t WindClan our allies? Why are they being such big badgers? “Not at all,” Bramblestar replied. Alderpaw saw that Squirrelflight was making an effort to hold off her temper.

The ThunderClan leader launched into an account of the quest, although he left out any mention of SkyClan. “Sandstorm’s spirit guided Alderpaw to discover the kits,” he finished. “That makes me think that they must be important for us somehow, even if they’re not ‘what you find in the shadows’ from the prophecy.”

The cats in the clearing broke out into excited speculation and argument. Alderpaw was worried that the noise and curiosity would overwhelm the kittens, but they seemed untroubled by it; they were sitting together, both their paws tucked under their tiny bodies, listening to what was going on but clearly not understanding that their future was being decided.

Up in the branches of the Great Oak, the leaders were wrangling too.

“You’ll never convince me that those kits are what we were meant to embrace,” Mudstar announced. “I mean . . . they’re kits! What do they know.”

“They don’t have to know anything,” Russetstar pointed out with an irritated lash of her tail. “But StarClan guided us to them, and that’s good enough for me.”

Mistystar nodded in agreement.

“We can’t be sure about this,” Bramblestar meowed, his glance sweeping around to take in the other three leaders. Alderpaw could tell that he was getting flustered. He’s losing hope that we’re going to be able to keep the kits. “Not until the kits grow and reveal more about themselves. What is clear is that it’s the Clans’ responsibility to take care of them.”

“That’s all well and good,” Russetstar responded, baring her teeth at the beginning of a snarl, “but it doesn’t mean the kits need to stay in ThunderClan. Perhaps both of them belong in ShadowClan with Needlepaw, who helped find and care for them.”

“But they’re happy and safe now,” Bramblestar argued. “It would be cruel to move them.”

“You would say that, Bramblestar,” Mudstar snorted. “All that interests you is keeping the kits for ThunderClan.”

Alderpaw sent a hard glare at the WindClan leader. We are only interested in keeping the kits safe and happy! he wanted to hiss to him. But he kept his mouth shut.

“It looks like that, Bramblestar.” Mistystar sounded almost apologetic. “But the prophecy is to every Clan, not just ThunderClan. You don’t have the right to keep the kits.”

“That’s so unfair!” Sparkpaw exclaimed, but Alderpaw waved his tail for her to keep quiet. He didn’t want to miss a single word of the argument.

Bramblestar looked thoughtful, then a hopeless look crossed his face. No. “Fine,” Bramblestar meowed. Alderpaw’s anxiety spiked and he instinctively wrapped his tail around the kits, forcing himself not to cry. “ShadowClan may have one kit—”

“Are you insane?” Squirrelflight hissed, jumping up next to her mate. The Clans were shocked, murmuring to one another about her. “Of course we’re not going to split up the kits!” She whipped her head around to glare at Russetstar. “No, Russetstar, you absolutely cannot have either of these kits. You think you deserve these kits especially after you showed that you aren’t even able to control your own apprentices?” Russetstar opened her mouth to object, but Squirrelflight cut her off. “NO. Twigkit and Violetkit are coming home with us and that is final.” She gave Bramblestar one last glare. “The Gathering is over.”

Before any cat could object, Squirrelflight leapt down from the branch and trotted over to Alderpaw. She snatched up Violetkit and turned to slink off the island. Alderpaw stared in surprise. Forcing himself to move, he picked up Twigkit and followed his mother, followed closely by Sparkpaw, who looked smug. He glanced one last time over his shoulder to see Needlepaw glaring at him, her eyes burning with rage.

Bramblestar jumped down from his spot on the Great Oak and followed his kits and mate. Soon, the whole Clan was leaving the island. Alderpaw’s heart swelled with happiness. Twigkit and Violetkit will grow up together happily in ThunderClan. He caught up with Squirrelflight so Twigkit and Violetkit could be close. “Thank you,” he mumbled through Twigkit’s downy kit fur.

Squirrelflight’s angry glare softened and she nodded to her son. For the first time in moons, Alderpaw’s anxiety dissolved. “Everything will be okay,” he murmured to Twigkit. She looked up at him with big, gray eyes. “I promise.”

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cryptickats · 6 years

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APPRENTICES QUEST - CHAPTER ONE

Alderkit sat with his tail curled over his paws while his sister bounced around him, her pelt glowing like flames in the light of the setting sun. Their mother, Squirrelflight, rolled her leafy-Green eyes as she attempted to get her daughter under control.

“Great Starclan, Sparkkit! If you want to become an apprentice then you should stop acting like such a kit! Sit beside your sister and try to be quiet!”

Alderkit winced. He hadn’t yet told his mother that he would rather not be referred to as a she-cat. The only cat he’d told was Sparkkit, and he’d made her promise not to tell anyone else. Alderkit’s fur stood on end as Bramblestar, the thunderclan leader as well as his father, emerged from his den and settled atop the highledge. The tabby tom’s muscles rippled under his coat, his thick, fluffy tail curling over his large paws. Alderkit straightened himself, trying to look more like his father. Suddenly, Bramblestar’s gaze was fixed on him, his amber eyes glowing with affection. Alderkit felt a surge of confidence rush through him. His father had always loved him and encouraged him. Bramblestar has visited the nursery more than what was usual for a tom, and had even gotten scoldings from Squirrelflight for ignoring his duties as leader. Alderkit didn’t know what he was so worried about: surely Bramblestar would understand and accept him?

“Cats of thunderclan,” the tabby announced. “Those who are old enough to catch their own prey, gather for a clan meeting.”

As cats filed beneath the highledge, alderkit scanned the crowd, wondering who would be his mentor.

Ivypool wouldn’t be bad, he thought as the silver-and-white she-cat padded out of the warriors den, Fernsong hard on her paws. Alderkit admired the warrior’s bravery and courage, having heard stories from the queens in the nursery about Ivypool’s time in the Dark Forest. He spotted Jayfeather then, the blind medicine cat weaving around his clanmates with ease. Alderkit had always tried to stay out of Jayfeather’s way, but he always wondered what kind of cat he truly was. They were kin, technically brothers, but Alderkit could only remember a couple of instances where they’d actually interacted. He felt a shove to his hindquarters as Squirrelflight pushed him toward the center of the crowd, Sparkkit already scampering ahead. Bramblestar cleared his throat, and his voice rang out once more.

“Cats of thunderclan, it is time to make two new apprentices. Sparkkit, step forward.”

The ginger she-kit excitedly stepped toward their father, her entire body shaking with enthusiasm.

“Sparkkit, from this day until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Sparkpaw. Blossomfall…”

The tortoiseshell she-cat’s head snapped up, surprise gleaming in her amber eyes. Bumblestripe nudged her and she trotted toward Sparkkit, joy radiating from her pelt.

“Blossomfall, you are ready to take on your first apprentice. You received excellent training from Hazeltail, and have shown yourself to be a fiercely loyal Thunderclan warrior. I hope you pass on everything you have learned to Sparkpaw.”

Blossomfall and Sparkpaw met with the same excitement, and Alderkit called his sister’s new name the loudest. Bramblestar then turned to him, signaling with his tail for him to come closer.

“Alderkit, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Alderpaw. Lionblaze, you mentored Dovewing beautifully, and it is now time for your second apprentice. Thunderclan honors your strength and bravery. Pass on all you know to this young she-cat.”

Alderpaw shuttered again. This was his chance to tell Bramblestar. Instead, he watched as Lionblaze emerged from the crowd, nodding once to Bramblestar, then dipping his head to touch noses with Alderpaw. Would Lionblaze understand? Alderpaw had never spoken to him much before, but he’d always seemed like a decent cat. Alderpaw’s fur grew hot as his clanmates chanted his name along with Sparkpaw’s, wishing more than anything that he could curl up in the nursery again away from everyone. As the crowd of cats began to disperse, Alderpaw spotted Sparkpaw bouncing around Blossomfall, who was turning her head every way possible trying to keep up with her.

“Do we get to go hunting now? Oh, what about seeing the territory? Do we start battle training today?”

Blossomfall shared a look with Lionblaze, who just chuckled quietly.

“I was thinking about taking Alderpaw near the Windclan border. Would you two like to join us?”

Blossomfall let out a grateful sigh and lead the way to the camp entrance. Alderpaw ducked his head as he followed his mentor, brambles gently scraping his shoulders as he wiggled out into the open. Alderpaw’s eyes widened as he took in his surroundings, and even Sparkpaw was quiet with awe. There were so many scents and colors that alderpaw could hardly process it all, his senses overwhelmed. Lionblaze flicked alderpaw’s shoulder with the tip of his tail, his whiskers twitching with amusement.

“Come on, Windclan is this way.”

Sparkpaw bounded off in the direction Lionblaze pointed, and alderpaw had to stop himself from running after her. He was so used to following her everywhere that he had to remind himself that Lionblaze was his mentor now.

“Slow down or you’ll be tired before we get there!” Blossomfall called.

Sparkpaw slowed and waited for the rest of the group to catch up, her claws catching stems of grass and ripping through the dirt impatiently.

“I remember exploring the forest for the first time,” Lionblaze purred. Alderpaw gave him a side-glance.

“It was with Jayfeather and our sister Hollyleaf when we were kits. We thought we could fight foxes on our own. It was a terrible idea.”

Alderpaw chuckled for the first time that day. When they reached the Windclan border, Sparkpaw had already bounded to the edge of the stream and was gazing down at the pebbles in the water. Blossomfall rolled her eyes and wrapped her tail around the apprentice’s chest to pull her back.

“Don’t fall in,” she warned, “Windclan won’t thank you for that.”

Alderpaw crept forward, pausing a few tail-lengths behind his littermate. He could scent Windclan from the other side of the stream, their stench making him feel suffocated as it filled his nostrils. He felt Lionblaze’s pelt brush his as the golden warrior moved to line the new scent markers. Sparkpaw’s eyes lit up as she watched the two warriors.

“Wow! Can I try?”

Blossomfall exchanged a look with Lionblaze, who shrugged.

“Why not? They have to learn some time.”

Alderpaw and Sparkpaw took turns lining the marker, their mentors watching them closely. When they’d finished, Blossomfall flicked her tail for them to return and began leading the way back into the trees. Sparkpaw talked endlessly to her mentor as they made their way back to camp, but Alderpaw’s pads were already sore and he didn’t have much to say. Lionblaze however, had plenty. He told Alderpaw stories from when he was an apprentice, how a cat called Ashfur had taught him everything he knew, and how he’d even helped Jayfeather in a fight against Shadowclan once. Alderpaw listened intently. He decided that Lionblaze wasn’t as scary as he’d always thought; in fact, the golden warrior was like a large kit. A very large kit.

Bramblestar greeted them immediately upon entering the camp, his large tail sweeping around the two apprentices.

“How did it go?” he purred.

Sparkpaw was practically leaping with excitement, while Alderpaw mumbled an, “it was good…”

Bramblestar blinked once, his gaze resting on Alderpaw for a moment, but he was quickly distracted by Sparkpaw’s chatter. Alderpaw wiggled out of his father’s reach and began padding toward the nursery. His paws ached and his tail dragged in the dirt. It wasn’t until he’d reached the entrance that he realized he should be going to the apprentice’s den. He turned quickly, hoping no cat had seen his mistake, and cautiously poked his head into the den. He and Sparkpaw would be the only apprentices until Lilyheart’s kits were old enough to join them. Scraps from old nests still lay in clumps around the den, and Alderpaw scraped them together messily before curling up in the moss, his tail over his nose.

#alderpaw #sparkpaw #avos rewritten #avos #a vision of shadows #apprentices quest #lionblaze #bramblestar #squirrelflight #thunderclan #tc

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