HeatherClan Book: Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13: Loner warriors

Nightfall, Brackenfur, Snowbird and Dapplepaw were on patrol when they smelled strange cats that wasn't from the Clans.

They dropped down into attack position, thinking that they were intruding kittypets, but heard moans from the top of the oak tree.

"Please, don't hurt us!" begged an orange colored cat.

"We've been attacked by dogs!" the brown one wailed.

"Yes, please," added the other cat, with a yellow pelt, weakly. Brakenfur and Snowbird climbed up the tree and carried them down to the ground. Then they took the three cats into the camp and to Spottedpelt and Jaywing. Spottedpelt put horsetail and cobwebs on their wounds to stop   the bleeding and cure infections. Then she went out to gather more cobwebs, since she ran out.

"What happened, and what are your names? Tell us about yourselves," Jaywing meowed to the orange cat since the yellow one had blacked out and the brown cat was panting on her side, unable to speak.

"I never had one, but some Twoleg called me Jacquie and it's stuck ever since. We got attacked by some dogs and... oh! Hazel is carrying kits, she mated with some kittypet twice agreeing that her first litter would go to him, her second to her," she said casually. "She's Hazel and she's Lemon." she meowed, first pointing to the brown cat and then the yellow.

Silverstar padded in. "What is this about, and why are there three kittypets in our camp?"

"Oh, they're not kittypets, they're loners," meowed Snowbird.

She hurriedly explained what had happened to Silverstar.

"Do they have a warrior names?" Silverstar asked.

"No," Jacquie replied for all of them, since the other two had fell asleep.

"We shall accept you into our Clan for the time being. From this day on you will be known as Leopardfire for your orange spots, Lemon shall be Lemondrop and Hazel shall be Hazeldawn."

"Leopardfire...I like that, and yes, we can hunt and we know the ways of your Clans." she meowed happily.

"How?" asked Jaywing.

"I passed through ThunderClan in the old territory before they left and then came here on the back of a Twoleg monster," she replied.

"I thought I scented a kittypet," growled Nightfall.

"Yes, I was wondering," Leopardfire meowed. "Why didn't you chase me out?"

"We were too busy trying to survive, mouse-brain!" snapped Brackenfur.

Then he whipped his tail across his mouth. "Sorry," he mewed.

Spottedpelt came back in and shooed them all away, meowing, "She's had a long day and I want to give her some thyme or poppy seeds so that she can sleep."

She then pulled Silverstar aside. "Silverstar," she meowed in a worried voice. "If we take in these loners, we're going to have to deal with the other Clans, and what they think. They're going to protest, and you know it."

"Yes," sighed Silverstar. "I'll figure out what to tell them at the Gathering." She then turned and padded to the clearing, where Goldenfur was waiting. She told her about what happened, and then meowed, "Keep an eye on Berrypaw, will you?"

"Why?" asked Goldenfur.

"Well..." Silverstar hesitated. "He may be spreading some odd rumors, so I want you to make sure they are stopped."

Goldenfur narrowed her eyes suspiciously. She knew that Silverstar wasn't telling the whole truth.

She opened her mouth to object, but then thought better of it.

Instead, she meowed, "Silverstar, my kits are too big for the nursery and they are already six moons old. Can they become apprentices?"

Silverstar thought for a moment. "I have noticed that too, and I shall hold the ceremony immediately. I shall think about who will be their mentors." Silverstar left the clearing silently, curled up in her den, and began to think.

Sandpelt, Angelflame, Sunflare, Sparklelight, Swanfeather, Graynight, Bird, Smokefoot, Owlclaw, Ashnose, and Eaglewing are all choices. But no, not all of them are good choices.

Swanfeather is a queen, so she won't have enough time. Moonflower is barely keeping up with Mistypaw's training. Goldenfur knows what it's like, because she's had apprentices while she was a queen. I could tell what a hard time it gave her.

Smokefoot, Owlclaw, Ashnose, and Eaglewing are all too young and ambitious.

That leaves Sandpelt, Angelflame, Sunflare, Sparklelight, Graynight, and Bird.

They are all brave and loyal warriors, but Angelflame and Sparklelight are still too young.

Sandpelt is ready to take one an apprentice, and so is Sunflare. Sandpelt will mentor Honeykit, and Sunflare will mentor Foxkit.

As for Icekit...well, Bird was a mountain cat, and she still has to prove her loyalty. Bird will mentor Icekit.

Graynight can wait until next time.

Silverstar sat back with a satisfied sigh. She had chosen the mentors. She walked onto Highledge with her head held high.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey come and join me at the Highrock for a Clan meeting!"

Silverstar saw Berrypaw sitting around a group of apprentices, whispering to each other.

He glanced at Silverstar, then quickly looked away.

"Honeykit, Foxkit, and Icekit, please come up here."

Foxkit came first, his tail quivering in excitement. Icekit followed closely behind, and Honeykit came last, looking a bit nervous. "Honeykit, Foxkit, and Icekit, you are already six moons old, and you are ready to become apprentices. From now on, you shall be known as Honeypaw, Foxpaw, and Icepaw." Silverstar paused. "Sandpelt," she meowed. The pretty warrior looked up. "You are ready for your first apprentice, and you will mentor Honeypaw. I know you will pass on your skills to this brave apprentice."

A few moons ago, Honeypaw had snuck out of the camp and rescued Swallowkit, who was lost.

Honeypaw padded forward and touched her nose politely to her mentor, who was radiating with pride.

Silverstar continued. "Sunflare, you have not had an apprentice yet. You will mentor Foxpaw. I know that he will become a fine warrior with you as his mentor."

The warrior touched his nose to his new apprentice's nose. Foxpaw responded by purring loudly.

Silverstar then fixed her eyes on Bird. "Bird," she meowed.

Bird's eyes widened in surprise.

"You were a mountain cat, and you still have to prove your loyalty. You will mentor Icekit. "

Determination glowed in both cats' eyes as they padded to each other to touch noses. Icepaw gazed admiringly at Bird. Silverstar knew she was thinking about all she could learn from Bird, who knew how to catch eagles.

"Honeypaw! Foxpaw! Icepaw!" the Clan cheered.

The three cats padded proudly over to Goldenfur, who gave each of them a lick on the head.

"I'm so proud of you," she murmured.

"This meeting is over." Silverstar jumped down from the Highledge, and chose two mice from the freshkill pile to eat.