Reaching for the Stars (Warriors Fanfic - Probably PG-13)

[Natalia]

PG-13 just in case because I might make things terrible and spray blood everywhere or something.

Anyways, yes warrior cat fanfiction. I made up a new quarter of clans because I like making my life harder, and needing to worldbuild for a whole new four clans. Yay me.

Anyways, I was kinda inspired by Bella's trollfic. Except I probably can't write trollfic because it would physically pain me to make ridiculous and troll-worthy things happen. So, I'm being completely serious and trying to make a good story with reasonable characters that hopefully aren't mary sues or anything. So yeah, here be my attempts at fanfic.


Allegiances

Rainclan

Leader - Flashstar - Tom with a brilliant white coat and yellow eyes - A slightly paranoid and cynical individual, who still manages to be supportive and kind to his clan, viciously protective of his clan

Deputy - Lightningfang - Golden tabby with white muzzle, underbelly, and underside of tail and amber eyes

Medicine Cat - Minnowheart - Small white-cat with black tabby stripes and hazel eyes - A surprisingly feisty she-cat who has little to no patience for cats avoiding her den when injured or sick, rather no nonsense, though she does care

Warriors - Leopardfrost - Black bengal tom cat with hazel eyes - A vaguely cynical cat who is soft under a cooler exterior, tends to feel apprehensive when cats are too idealistic
Apprentice: Faithpaw

Waterfang - Black tom with white patches and gray eyes - Confident and gentle, loves to teach and guide the next generation
Apprentice: Honeypaw

Morningglow - Light ginger she-cat with brown eyes - A confident, sometimes pushy cat, who generally does not like to be wrong, fiercely protective over her loved ones

Cedarstrike - Brown tabby tom with hazel eyes - Slightly awkward tom who prefers to follow rather than the lead, generally not easily fazed or put off balance

Needlebird - Light brown tom with brown eyes - Relaxed tom with a slightly sarcastic easy sort of humor, massive mother hen and tends to fuss over clanmates even more than the medicine cat, has a little more knowledge of herbs than your average warrior

Sootspeck - Gray tom with speckled darker spots and brown eyes - Somewhat pessimistic tom who tries to be optimistic, often weary and sounds tired

Snowyash - White she-cat with soft gray tabby stripes with blue eyes - Hopeful and idealistic she-cat who prefers diplomacy over conflict

Apprentices - Honeypaw - Daughter of Morningglow and Cedarstrike, Light ginger she-cat with hazel eyes - A cocky young cat who loves to talk and is usually rather supportive of the cats around her

Faithpaw - Daughter of Sootspeck and Snowyash, White she-cat with soft gray tabby stripes with brown eyes - Determined young she-cat, values perseverance and generally

Queens - Birchwhisper - Lightningfang’s mate, Mother of Skykit and Fadingkit, Beautiful silvery tabby with blue eyes, a proud mother

Lilysnow - Waterfang’s mate, Mother of Creekkit, Salmonkit, and Shinekit, White she-cat with amber eyes, a gentle and supportive mother

Kits - Skykit - Golden tom with blue eyes - Reserved, quiet, willing to do his best and is fine with that, places more value in family

Fadingkit - Silver tabby with white muzzle, underbelly, and underside of tail and amber eyes - Ambitious, feels underappreciated, bold and determined

Creekkit - Black tom with white patches and gray eyes - Timid, but dislikes being seen as a coward and often pushes himself past his limit

Salmonkit - White she-cat with amber eyes - Curious and generally kind, asks a lot of questions

Shinekit - White she-cat with black patches and amber eyes - Lazy with a tendency to actually nap rather frequently, likes word games rather than physical games


Elders - Shadowsnake - Blind black-furred tom with nasty scars over both eyes, eyes are a faded yellow - Vaguely grumpy tom who likes complaining to whoever will listen, but appreciates cats who stays and rewards them with advice and stories

Chapter 1

“C’mon, wake up already!” Of all things, the one thing that Skykit wanted to wake up to, he couldn’t say that his brother’s whining was one of them.

“Leave your brother alone, Fadingkit.” Scolded their mother. “He’ll open his eyes when he’s ready.”

His brother didn’t seem to be deterred, judging by how his whining continued. “I can’t go outside until you open your eyes, and I really want to explore the camp with you!” Fadingkit pleaded. Skykit personally thought that his brother was really overselling it, what with his voice increasing in pitch.

Skykit yawned, and tentatively tried opening one eye. He supposed exploring the camp with Fadingkit could be nicer than staying here in darkness. His eyes fluttered open to see a soft face of gray fur, with streaks of darker gray running through it. Almost half of the face he saw was covered in white, and he was surprised by the intense, fiery eyes he was met with. After his first experience with darkness, the sudden splash of color was somewhat startling.

“Finally! Your eyes are open!” Came Fadingkit’s voice out of the mouth he could see. Was this bright-eyed kitten his brother? To him, his brother was an insistent, whiny voice. Skykit guessed he’d have to get used to thinking of his brother as a fiery eyed kitten as well. He wondered what he looked like. Did he looked like Fadingkit?

“Uh, yeah… I figured it’d be a nice time to see, and get out and see the camp with you.” Skykit felt a sort of tension in his face. Was he smiling?

He wasn’t too sure, because Fadingkit was giving him a strange look.

“Your smile is funny looking.” His brother declared. The silver tabby suddenly leaned down, and seemed about ready to leap into the air. “Now, c’mon let’s go! We can go into the camp, right Mom?!” Fadingkit’s gaze suddenly jumped to something behind Skykit, and his own gaze followed. His eyes widened as he took in their mother’s appearance.

She was beautiful, with neat, sleek fur. Her pelt looked a lot like Fadingkit’s, an attractive silver with dark stripes curling around her. Though, she didn’t have white fur like Skykit’s brother did, and her eyes were a calm blue, instead of the intense amber of her son. Though, her face left him feeling a tiny bit… Off. He couldn’t really put his paw on it, inexperienced with interpreting what he could see.

“Yes, yes. Just be sure to not get in anyone’s way.” His mother’s voice didn’t sound nearly as comforting as Skykit remembered.

Suddenly, Fadingkit bumped shoulders with him. “C’mon! C’mon!” His energetic brother instantly began almost bouncing towards the light that marked the nursery’s exit.

“Really, Birchwhisper. You should allow them to be kits, and get in trouble as kits will.” Came a gentle voice. Skykit looked to see a queen with a pure white coat and amber eyes, gentler than his brother’s. She seemed nicer at first sight than Birchwhisper, their own mother.

“Skykit….!” The return of Fadingkit’s high-pitched whining.

“I’m coming!” Skykit chirped out as he scrambled to turn around and follow after his brother, shutting his eyes tight as he crossed the threshold. He stopped after crossing, and slowly opened his eyes. Everything was… Brighter than in the nursery. He looked over his shoulder, and it looked like there was a big droopy thing over the nursery.
“Hey!” Chirped a voice in front of the two, causing Skykit to return his gaze to in front of him and he blinked. There were three other kits. He knew of the other three kits in the nursery, Lilysnow’s children. He’d only spoken to Shinekit, and that was only once. The voice that had spoken was much more energetic from what he remembered of Shinekit’s lazy voice.

Fadingkit nudged his shoulder again, and Skykit’s gaze suddenly snapped to his brother. “These are the other kits!” He said, though he had to wonder how dumb his brother thought he was. “The chirpy white one is Salmonkit! The lazy patchy-looking one is Shinekit! And the shrimpy patchy-looking one is Creekkit!”

“H-Hey…!” Protested the one that Fadingkit had pointed out as Creekkit. “I’m not shrimpy! I’m just as brave as any of you!”

Salmonkit nudged her brother’s shoulder. “Hey, of course you are!” Then she glared at Fadingkit, and Skykit suddenly felt awkward. “Don’t talk to my brother like that! If he’s shrimpy, then you’re…! You’re…! You’re stupid!” Skykit thought that after such an effort… Stupid sounded like a kind of lame comeback.

However, it seemed to work perfectly fine on Fadingkit. “I’m not stupid, your face is stupid!”

“What does that even mean?!”

The back and forth bickering infested with insults continued on, and Skykit’s feeling of awkwardness failed to subside. “H-Hey… C’mon guys…” He tried weakly, but his attempts at breaking up the fighting didn’t have enough fire in them to even reach the argumentative cat’s ears. He sighed.

He suddenly was aware of Shinekit’s lazy voice next to him. “Leave them be. Once they get it out of their systems, I’m sure they’ll be friends.” Skykit turned his head.

“You think so?” The arguing didn’t really seem… Like the prelude to friendship. From what he knew of friendship… Weren’t friends supposed to be nice to each other.

Instead of affirming, Shinekit simply shrugged her shoulders. “Who knows. Probably. Maybe not.”

Skykit turned his eyes back to the bickering Salmonkit and Fadingkit, as Creekkit seemed to be… Honestly, he couldn’t tell if he was trying to help or taking sides.

“Hey… What do I look like?” He asked.

“Eh? You’re just sort of… Gold. You’ve got blue eyes.” Shinekit said, after taking a quick glance at Skykit up from down.

“Gold, huh…? I must look like my Dad.” Skykit murmured, but he didn’t really know. Sight beyond darkness was a new thing for him, and while he… Kind of remembered what his Dad was supposed to sound like, he certainly didn’t know what the tom looked like. He guessed he had his mother eyes, though. Birchwhisper had blue eyes, like he did. He wondered if Lightningfang, his father, had amber eyes like the fiery orbs possessed by Fadingkit.

Shinekit yawned. Skykit blinked and looked at the black and white she-kit with surprise. “You can’t be tired already?”

“I like my naps. Don’t quite have the energy to keep up with those two.” She said, shrugging again. Skykit had a feeling like it’d be a real chore to even offend this kitten. Though, he supposed it was for the best. He liked the idea of having someone to talk to, who was calm and not going to join the argument.

Creekkit didn’t seem to be as fiery as his brother or Salmonkit, but he seemed to be making an effort to be.

Though, the argument seemed to have taken a different turn.

“It’s not like you know everything!” Fadingkit squeaked indignantly.

“W-Well, no… But I ask a ton of questions so I know a lot of things!” Defended Salmonkit. “I talk to grumpy old Shadowsnake and the apprentices all the time! The apprentices are really nice and answer all my questions! All the warriors always tell me the same thing, it’s always ‘when you’re older with them’....” She seemed to have forgotten she was arguing with Fadingkit, as she turned her body and started staring at her paws.

Fadingkit walked over to Salmonkit and nudged her cheek with a soft forepaw. “The apprentices? Who are they? Can me and Skykit talk to them? They sound pretty cool.”

Shinekit sighed beside Skykit. “Looks like we’re about to move.”

Skykit wasn’t sure how the argument had been derailed so quickly, but it seemed like they were all going to go find the apprentices of the clan. He and Shinekit trailed behind the three other kits who were all chattering with each other as they walked across camp, to where Salmonkit claimed the apprentice’s slept.

“Hey, how many apprentices are there?” Fadingkit asked.

“Just two. Faithpaw and Honeypaw. Faithpaw’s nice, but Honeypaw’s kinda loud. She… Kind of talks a lot, and you kinda forgot what you were trying to talk about in the first place…” Creekkit admitted.

“Yeah, yeah! It’s loads easier trying to get a straight answer out of Faithpaw! But it’s hard because we don’t want to hurt Honeypaw’s feelings… ‘Cause then ya feel like a big jerk and Faithpaw gets mad and doesn’t wanna answer you!” Salmonkit chirped.

“Oh. Jeez, they sound really close. Are they siblings?” Fadingkit asked.

“Nah, they’re just best friends.” Salmonkit replied.

Fadingkit squinted. “Friends can be better than just friends?” He asked, sounding a little confused.

“It’s like… A friend that’s almost your sibling! Not all of your friends are going to be almost family. Some of them are just friend friends!” Creekkit explained. Fadingkit’s face seemed deep in thought, before he complained loudly.

“That makes no sense!”

Skykit gave a nervous laugh from the back. “It does a little…” He replied softly.

He didn’t like the betrayed look Fadingkit gave him. “It totally doesn’t!”

Salmonkit then promptly swatted at Creekkit’s ears. “Moron! You gotta make it clear! Like the air inside camp!”

Fadingkit perked up at the mention of that. “Huh? How do you mean?”

Creekkit looked ready to reply, when Salmonkit practically stuck her paw into Creekkit’s open mouth. “No no no! Let me say it this time!” She withdrew her paw, while Creekkit tried to spit out any hairs that had gotten into his mouth. “Most of Rainclan’s territory outside is hard to see! It’s called fog or something. Basically, it’s like if the clouds in the sky were on the ground, so it’s super hard to see! Except, Honeypaw and Faithpaw say we’ll learn how to navigate through it anyways when we become apprentices!” She squeaked excitedly, seeming very happy about learning how to get through the territory when they got older.

Personally, Skykit thought that sounded a little… Tedious. Why didn’t Rainclan live somewhere that was easier to live in? Judging by Shinekit’s sighs, it seemed she agreed with him.

Skykit eyed Fadingkit, who had a strange look in his eye that made the golden tom-kit feel uneasy. He didn’t mention it to anyone, since he wasn’t really sure if he was imagining it or if the look had been real.

[Natalia]

Chapter 2

Skykit loved the feeling of clouds under his paws. It felt like walking on damp moss, but not unpleasant. The clouds he walked on were fluffy, and reminded him of being pressed up against Fadingkit as they slept. The comfort of having his brother so near helped him sleep at night with peaceful dreams as opposed to the cool air lightly brushed against his pelt.

About a quarter moon before, and two moons after Skykit first opened his eyes, Birchwhisper had decided that Fadingkit was grown up enough to have his own nest, apart from her and Skykit. Though, Lilysnow had been far from approving of the decision. The two queens hadn’t known that he’d been listening in, but he’d heard them arguing. Lilysnow seemed to think that what Mom had done was… Wrong somehow? He’d heard a word he didn’t know the meaning of: Cruel. The word sent a shiver down his spine. The next day, he’d found Faithpaw and asked her what the word meant. He still remembered the strange look in her eyes when he asked, before explaining what it meant.

He still didn’t understand how giving Fadingkit his own nest was cruel.

He didn’t understand why he didn’t get his own nest as well. Mom said she wanted to keep him close but… Didn’t want to keep Fadingkit close as well? He still crawled out of the nest he and Birchwhisper shared every night, and joined his brother in sleep. Their mother never seemed happy when she saw where Skykit had gone to in the morning.

Suddenly he felt a frantic nudging at his cheek. He groaned, and his world of clouds disappeared as he slowly opened his eyes.

“Finally!” His brother exclaimed. “I thought you were never going to wake up!”

Suddenly, Salmonkit rushed in and was next to Fadingkit. “Shut up!” She whispered shouted. “We’re trying to be sneaky!”

Skykit’s eyes blinked slowly. “Eh, wha-?” He really didn’t get what was happening, but he got a feeling they were going to do something that Birchwhisper would disapprove of.

“C’mon, Skykit! There’s no way we’re waiting until we’re six moons old to see the territory!” Skykit’s fears were immediately confirmed. They were leaving the safety of camp to go explore the territory. He groaned, and rose to his paws.

“That sounds like a really bad idea… What if something happens to us out there? No one will know!” Skykit voiced his concerns, but apparently his words were falling upon deaf ears, as Fadingkit immediately waved off his concerns.

“No way! We’d totally fight off any enemies we find, or even better a fox! There’s like, five of us! That’s why we’re all going!” He chirped, even as Skykit despaired at his brothers incredibly flawed logic.

“W-Wait… Five? Don’t tell me you convinced Creekkit and Shinekit!” He looked past Salmonkit and Fadingkit, who seemed to love arguing and agreeing on horrible ideas, to see Shinekit and Creekkit were awake as well.

“W-We can’t be afraid if we w-want to be warriors!” Creekkit’s nervousness caused him to stutter slightly.

“Your voice is shaking. Do you really want to go out?” Skykit pressed. He hoped that if he could get Creekkit to see sense, Salmonkit and Fadingkit would understand that this was a terrible, dangerous idea! Shinekit he was sure, didn’t want to go along with this.

“Y-Yes I do!” Creekkit cried back. The tom-kit swallowed. “My voice isn’t shaking! I really wanna go out! M-Maybe if we prove we can leave camp they’ll make us apprentices sooner?”

Skykit hesitated. “B-But…” To his surprise, Shinekit was the one who stepped forward and placed a paw over his mouth. When she lifted it, she looked him dead in the eyes. The usually lazy she-kit’s eyes were deadly serious.

“They’re not going to change their minds. It’d be a pain explaining to the adults about if we knew they were going, why didn’t we tell anyone. If you can’t beat them, join ‘em.” Shinekit punctuated her statement with a shrug.

Skykit took a deep breath. “A-Alright. I’m in. When are we going?”

Fadingkit bumped shoulders with him. “When do you think, dum dum? Right now, obviously!”

“C’mon!” Salmonkit whispered called out from the nursery’s entrance. When did she get over there? The more enthusiastic Fadingkit followed with excitement, with Creekkit following not far behind with only slightly more subdued excitement.

As Skykit poked his head outside, he could see that it was the middle of the night. He could see the hazy image of the moon hanging in the sky, obscured as always by clouds. In his short existence, he’d never seen the sky without clouds. Lilysnow said that Rainclan’s founder, Dovestar, was a cat of great sadness with the clouds of emotion trailing behind her. When the first leader of Rainclan died, her spirit left behind an eternally cloudy sky so may the lessons passed down would never be forgotten or disregarded. Something about how so Rainclan would always remember sorrow and pain, so they may never grow cruel. Skykit didn’t quite understand how being hurt helped you be nicer. Lilysnow had said that he’d understand when he was older.

It was a bit frustrating, and reminded him of how Salmonkit explained that adults never quite wanted to explain anything during his first day with his eyes open. Though, it seemed to frustrate the more fiery members of their little group than it did him. Fadingkit and Salmonkit both seemed to take it personally, as some sort of jab at their intelligence. Meanwhile, Creekkit seemed to be only somewhat frustrated like himself, while Shinekit didn’t really seem to care. Then again, Skykit had yet to find anything that he could really say that Shinekit cared about.

“S-So… How are we getting out? There’s always guards posted at the camp entrance…” Skykit questioned carefully.

“W-Well…” Creekkit slowly spoke up. “T-There’s a little place where w-we can squeeze through behind the w-warrior’s den…”

Fadingkit suddenly bounded forward, taking the lead for himself. “Let’s hurry before anyone notices!” He whisper shouted.

With Fadingkit and Salmonkit both pushing to be at the front, with the less energetic members of their group trailing behind, they all managed to cram themselves behind the warrior’s den and with some effort… Squeeze themselves through a small gap in the tree roots that surrounded the camp.

Skykit let out a yelp of surprise when he immediately fell into some water. Fortunately, all Rainclan kits learned how to swim early. He’d learned how to swim in a small section of river that was still considered inside the camp, under the supervision of Birchwhisper and Lilysnow.

His short legs paddled to keep him afloat and to carry him to the other side, and scramble onto land. He shivered, having been surprised by the sudden dunk into the water.

“Why didn’t you say we were gonna land in water?” Skykit whined.

“I-I didn’t know… I just knew the g-gap was big enough for us to s-squeeze through… I never a-actually went through…” Creekkit defended timidly.

“That’s okay! We got out and now we can explore!” Salmonkit chirped, even as Fadingkit had opened his mouth, most certainly to chew out Creekkit. However, the amber-eyed kitten seemed to forget that he was angry as Salmonkit brought up the more optimistic side of the situation.

Shinekit meanwhile, groaned and complained under her breath about how much nicer a good nap would be.

Fadingkit was already running off, when Skykit turned his head to look. “W-Wait, Fadingkit!” He found his paws running after his adventurous brother. He could hear Salmonkit’s affronted cries and Creekkit’s stuttered calls coming from behind him, as well as Shinekit’s softly uttered complaints. At least they were staying together.

Skykit squinted his eyes, as he could hardly see anything through the thick mist that permeated the territory. It got thicker the further they got away from camp. “How are we going to get back…?” He wondered out loud.

“W-Well… We’ll figure something out!” Fadingkit called back over his shoulder.

Creekkit had been right, the territory was nearly impossible to navigate. It felt like they were running around blind. There were far too many exclaims of momentary pain, when Salmonkit stumbled, or Creekkit slipped. Unexpected tree roots seemed to materialize, tripping up the group. They found themselves coming across small streams, ones that they all too easily slipped into again. Skykit’s teeth were chattering from falling into freezing water one time too many.

“I-I I really w-wanna g-go back…” Skykit’s desires apparently weren’t that important in the face of adventure.

He couldn’t see his brother, but Fadingkit was entirely unsympathetic. “Don’t be such a minnow! We’re going to be going around like this when we’re older, this is just an early start!”

Skykit sniffled, and he was about to curl up into a ball. When suddenly, he felt a pelt brush against his.

“They’ll get tired soon and we can work on heading back then.” Shinekit’s voice was comforting. Despite her being the laziest, and it being a massive chore to convince her to play with the rest of them, she was the one who Skykit most appreciated the company of. She seemed the most mature out of them, even though Fadingkit, Salmonkit, and Creekkit dismissed her as simply the lazy one.

“T-Thanks…” Skykit murmured.

He really hoped they could all go back soon and not leave again, not until they were apprentices.

[Natalia]

Chapter 3

Skykit hadn’t quite had to stretch himself this far before, his muscles burning from wandering around for too long. He was tired, he was cold, and now that he thought about it… That faint discomfort in his gut had to be hunger. His only comfort were occasional reassuring brushes from Shinekit, as the group moved around in the fog.

In full honesty? He regretted letting himself be persuaded to join this mess so easily. Maybe if he’d run and told Lilysnow, they’d all be safe and camp. He worried they’d all fall into a river and they wouldn’t come back up.

Suddenly, Skykit bumped into someone, and judging by their voice it sounded like Creekkit. Apparently, they’d stopped talking.

Fadingkit’s voice sounded a little uncertain as he spoke. “Er, the mist seems to be clearing up ahead. Maybe we’re near the edge of the territory?” He didn’t sound confident in what he was saying.

Skykit had previously found it hard to imagine that there was an end to the fog that blanketed Rainclan territory, that the clouds on earth didn’t stretch out forever. However, now he was faced with proof as he stood presumably on the edge of Rainclan territory. He shivered, not because he was cold however. He didn’t feel comfortable leaving Rainclan. Rainclan was home and… He was pretty sure no one was allowed to hurt kits, but still… It made him uneasy.

“Well, we’ve done a ton of exploring… We got all the way to the border… Why don’t we go back?” His voice still sounded uncertain of himself. He half-expected to be ignored.

The mist had cleared up enough for him to make out Salmonkit. “We should check out the border! It seems cool! Then we can go back!” The surprisingly still chipper she-kit declared.

Shinekit and he let out loud sighs in unison. “Just keep dragging it out, why don’t you…” The lazy she-kit murmured, as she dragged her paws after her more adventurous siblings.

Skykit tried not to drag his own paws, but he was so tired that he could still feel the tips of her paws grazing the ground anyways. He sighed and nodded his head slightly, following dutifully after his brother and friends. There wasn’t anything else he do that he could see. At least he see a little better, at least when it came to where he was stepping. He was sure if he tripped now and fell to the ground, he wouldn’t want to stand back up.

“Hey, who are you?!” Salmonkit’s sharp voice rang out. Skykit lifted his head and after dragging his paws along the damp ground for another tail-length or two, he found Salmonkit yelling at two other kittens who were across the border.

Wait, what?

His eyes suddenly snapped into focus, even as his head throbbed from the effort when he was so wracked with fatigue. There was a tom-kit and a she-kit. The she-kit with black fur with light gray curling through his pelt like fog. He sniffed the air, and wrinkled up his nose. Gah, the scent coming off the two kits felt like it was collecting in his nostrils and hindering his ability to breathe! Their scent was so dry and honestly, he wanted to run away from the offending smell.

When he looked, Fadingkit, Salmonkit and her siblings all seemed to have similar reactions. Though, Skykit’s brother seemed to be hiding his disgust less than the rest of them. He really hoped the amber-eyed tabby had enough tact to not call them smelly to their faces.

“Yuck! You guys all smell horrible! Did you roll in crowfood or something?!” Alas, Skykit’s hopes of a polite brother were crushed underfoot. This day was one unpleasant thing after another, and he fully planned to wholeheartedly reject the next terrible plan of Fadingkit and Salmonkit’s.

Skykit sighed and stepped forward, placing a forepaw over Fadingkit’s mouth. “I’m… Sorry about him. He doesn’t know what not to say.” He tiredly apologized for his amber-eyed brother.

Skykit carefully gauged the two foreign kitten’s reactions. The she-kit had seem initially affronted, judging by how she turned her nose up at the Rainclan kittens. The tom-kit had flattened his ears, so he probably took offense as well. They both seemed slightly appeased by Skykit’s apology.

Suddenly the golden tom-kit yanked his paw back, feeling pain shoot through his paw. “Ow!”

Fadingkit had bit him! The two brothers shared hurt looks, for different reasons. Skykit guessed the amber-eyed brother had been hurt by his attempts to cover up his rudeness. He personally was upset because his brother bit him! That had hurt!

Suddenly, Creekkit shoved the two brothers to the side as he came up between them and gave an awkward smile. “H-Hi…!” He swallowed. “I’m Creekkit!” He said shyly, though he managed to remove the stuttering from his words. “These are my siblings…” He gestured with a forepaw to Salmonkit and Shinekit behind him. “And these are my friends.” He gestured, pointing to one brother and then to the other with a forepaw. Then his eyes returned to the kittens across the border. “We’re from Rainclan. What about you guys?”

The foreign kittens exchanged a look. The tom-kit then grinned and began to speak. “I’m Bonekit. This is my friend Coalkit. We come from Nightclan. Pretty cool we snuck out of our camps around the same time, so we could talk like this right?” Skykit thought he sounded pretty confident.

He wasn’t sure Coalkit and Bonekit saw, but the slight twitch downwards of Creekkit’s ears told him that the patched tom-kit’s confidence had taken a slight blow. The Nightclan kits weren’t much older than them, yet sounded more sure of themselves.

“So…” Coalkit began to speak up. “You’re all from Rainclan?” She laughed. “Man, Rottingface was right! Rainclanners are total wimps!”

Skykit wasn’t looking at the faces of the other Rainclan kittens… But he could guess that they all wore expressions with varying degrees of hurt. Was this really what other clans thought of Rainclan? More than once, the entire friend group had ended up in the elder’s den, listening to Shadowsnake’s stories of Rainclan’s past. He always made it sound like Rainclan was great, strong because of the cats who embodied the clan’s values in the purest sense, that simply upholding the ideals of Rainclan made a warrior powerful in ways that couldn’t be made sense of by clans outside their clan.

It was hard to believe those prideful stories when a pair of kits were practically laughing at them. Skykit chanced a look at his brother, and was shocked by his fur practically standing on end, bristling in anger. His golden tail rested on Fadingkit’s shoulder. He leaned to whisper in his brother’s ear.

“Don’t let it get to you. Let’s just go.” He whispered.

Fadingkit’s head whipped to the side as he softly hissed a reply back. “I can’t let this go! They’re insulting our clan!”

“They’re just saying stuff. They don’t know anything about our clan.” Skykit found that attempting to talk down his brother was harder than anticipated. “Please. Let’s go home. I really want to go home.” He let his voice raised into a gentle whine, pleading with Fadingkit.

Fadingkit sighed and turned around, beginning to pad back into the fog.

Skykit sighed as well, following his brother into the fog. He looked back once over his shoulder. During the brief whispered exchange between him and his brother, Salmonkit had gotten to arguing with the Nightclan kits. Though, she quickly caught on that they were leaving and with one last remark, dashed off to follow the brothers who retreated into the fog. Creekkit and Shinekit followed not far behind.

He dragged his paws one after the other, he could even feel his tail dragging along the ground. He could feel his eyelids grow heavy. He’d been able to summon enough energy to deal with the situation with the Nightclan kits, but now he wasn’t sure he could go on. Especially with the knowledge that none of them knew how to get back to camp.

He barely registered his name being called out by an uncertain voice.
His will to keep moving left his legs, and he suddenly felt himself falling. His pelt hit the cool ground and he see line of sight enclosing as he closed his eyes. The last thing he saw was a spark of amber.

Then, he fell into darkness.

---

Skykit’s eyes shot open and he propped the upper part of his body up with his forepaws. Feeling disorientated, unfamiliar and powerful scents hitting his nose, he looked around frantically. Where was he? What was the last thing he did?

Squinting down at the ground underneath him, he could see he was laying in a nest. What had he been doing…? No wait, he remembered now. He’d blacked out. He’d fallen unconscious after meeting those Nightclan kits, and now he was… Where was he?

“Good. You’re awake.” Came a voice from behind him, that sounded decidedly unamused.

He moved his body to see the owner of the voice. A she-cat who… Sounded like an adult but she looked kinda… Small. Her pelt had a highly contrasting tabby pattern, alternating between black and white. “Where am I?” He asked softly.

“My den. The medicine cat’s den. I’m Minnowheart, by the way. Thanks for asking.” The sarcastic, annoyed remark caught Skykit off guard and he flinched.

“S-Sorry… So, what am I doing here? Am I sick?” Skykit knew he wasn’t injured… He would’ve remembered having gotten injured.

“No.” Minnowheart snorted, as she moved around, ruffling through what Skykit assumed were his herbs. “You’ve just got a paranoid mother who won’t take you back until I’ve checked you over properly.”

He looked around, and took a better look at the medicine den. It was near the base of a large tree, in between two huge roots. Underneath the roots, he could see space had been dug out where Minnowheart was reaching into. He guessed that’s where the herbs were stored. There were leaves above, he figured were shielding the den from rain and heavy downpour from destroying the herbs.

The female medicine cat raised herself up to her normal height, and eyed Skykit. Suddenly, the tom-kit felt uncomfortable, as if he were being tested somehow. “E-Erm… So, how did I get here…?” He asked, feeling himself wilt a little under Minnowheart’s intense gaze. She wasn’t glaring at him, but that somehow didn’t make him feel any better.

“You kids got lucky. After you passed out, a patrol ran into you. Good thing we sent patrols out at night.” She snorted. “Your friends aren’t here. I took a brief look over them when they came in, and sent them back to the nursery. I gave your friends a firm talking to, and now it’s your turn.” She said, with a glint in her eye that somehow made Skykit even more uncomfortable.

Her gaze suddenly turned stern. “I got the story from your friends. I know you were one of the reluctant ones, but you still should’ve gotten a warrior if you knew your friends were going to sneak out of camp. Letting yourself get bullied into joining them was foolish.”

Skykit sighed, his ears flattening. “I know…”

Minnowheart snorted and turned around. “No you don’t. Just saying you know, doesn’t mean you really know. Next time kid, have more of a backbone. You’ve got more sense than your brother. Don’t waste it on following him everywhere. Anyways kid, you’re free to go. There’s nothing wrong with you, except with your spine.” The medicine cat walked past Skykit, reaching down into some herbs he couldn’t see in the far back.

Feeling ever so slightly awkward, he reached one paw after the other out of the nest, and dashed out of the den. He burst into the camp, and made a bee line for the nursery, almost tripping over his feet in his haste.

As soon as he came into the nursery, he looked around for Fadingkit. Though, he didn’t have to look far as his brother almost ran him over, immediately rubbing his pelt along Skykit’s. “Are you okay?! You should’ve said you were super tired! I totally could’ve carried you! Well, maybe not but Salmonkit could’ve helped!” He rambled, and Skykit couldn’t help the soft smile on his lips. He’d been a tiny bit worried, but Fadingkit clearly didn’t completely disregard how Skykit felt.

“Mm! I wanna disagree, but I’m not so mean to not help a friend!” Whined Salmonkit from behind, as she and her siblings joined the brothers.

“I-I’m glad you’re okay!” Creekkit said with an awkward smile.

“Shame you didn’t get to see your Dad.” Shinekit murmured with a yawn.

Skykit blinked. “What?” Had Lightningfang been part of that patrol Minnowheart mentioned that found them?

Fadingkit scowled. “Yeah. Dad was there… But he hardly said a word to me! I mean, it’s understandable for you, because you were unconscious… But he practically ignored I existed!” He complained. “I’m not just some dumb kit, y’know! He only talked to Salmonkit!”

Skykit blinked again. That… Sounded pretty weird. Why didn’t he wanted to talk to his son? Maybe he’d been mad at them for sneaking out, and then didn’t say anything.

Shinekit yawned. “I’m tired. I’m going to go take a nap.” She murmured, turning around, presumably to go back to her nest.

“What?! You’re always napping!” Salmonkit complained.

“We’re all confined to the nursery for two days, so might as well nap.” Shinekit reasoned quietly, as she stepped into her nest and began making herself comfortable.

Skykit looked at Fadingkit questioningly. His brother wore a sheepish smile. “Er, yeah. The adults are pretty mad at us for going so far away. So… We can’t leave the nursery for two days. At least it’s only two…?”

Skykit gently shook his head and began walking to his own nest.

“Where are you going?!” Cried his amber-eyed brother.

“Sleep.” Skykit muttered.

“C’mon, why are you two so lame?!” Salmonkit whined.

Skykit didn’t respond as he crawled into his nest and curled up. Well, not his nest really. More like the nest he shared with Fadingkit against Birchwhisper’s wishes. He didn’t say a word as he felt Fadingkit joined him as well, with Salmonkit and Creekkit’s chorus of complaining in the background.

“I’m glad you’re still with us.” Fadingkit purred softly.

As Skykit drifted off into darkness, he could’ve sworn he’d heard one last thing come from Fadingkit’s lips…

“I need your help to prove Rainclan’s better than they think…”

Perhaps he was simply imagining it.

[Natalia]

Chapter 4

Minnowheart had said he wasn’t sick. Skykit had apparently been in fine health the morning after their little… Excursion out of camp. Yet, here he was, back in the medicine cat’s den three sunrises after that morning he woke in the generally unamused medicine cat’s den. His throat hurt and he kept coughing, his throat getting itchy and only being relieved for a moment when he gave into the urge to cough. His nose was running as well, and it was really gross when he tried to wipe it off with a paw!

His attempts at complaining were only met with faintly amused chuckling from the small, hazel-eyed medicine cat. Skykit thought that medicine cats were supposed to be nice and sympathetic. That’s what Lilysnow made it sounded like! Instead, Rainclan’s medicine cat was the type to sass you while you were down and helpless. When he’d asked why, he’d gotten a snort with his answer.

“After you deal with enough cranky, ungrateful injured and sick warriors… You lose your tolerance for foolish behavior.” Had been Minnowheart’s only response.

Skykit groaned, and sniffed strongly, trying to suck the gross stuff back into his nose. He didn’t want it getting in the nest, having no interest in being forced to lay in the grossness all day. He didn’t even get to see his friends, since Minnowheart forced him to stay in the nest all day. Out of his friends, he’d been the only one who hadn’t been punished. Birchwhisper had for some reason commended his reluctance to go outside camp, despite the fact he’d gone anyways. Lilysnow hadn’t agreed but… Lilysnow wasn’t his mother and Birchwhisper had the final say. So, Lilysnow confined all three of her kits to the nursery, and Birchwhisper did the same to Fadingkit.

So, Skykit was all alone in the medicine cat’s den, stuck with Minnowheart shoving honey down his throat, claiming that it would soothe his sore throat. The tom-kit tried to ask if he could some herbs to simply cure his cold. Apparently the only thing Minnowheart could do was keep an eye on Skykit, as the cold would apparently go away in a few days on its own. Skykit sighed.

“Do I really have to stay in here?” Skykit couldn’t help the whining in his voice. It was so boring sitting here all day! He wasn’t really sure how to approach trying to talk to Minnowheart about something… Normal. The she-cat seemed so busy all of the time, and the way she said things made it feel like she wouldn’t appreciate a nice chat or anything. With talking to Minnowheart crossed off the list of things to do, there was literally nothing else to do than sit in the nest and moan over his cold as he was left alone with his thoughts. It wasn’t… It kind of sucked, actually.

Minnowheart glanced over to him, and Skykit briefly wondered if the black and white tabby was going to say something along the lines of ‘What do you think brat?’ all while breaking her record for shoving as much sarcasm as she could in relatively few words.

To his surprise, the she-cat simply shrugged. “Eh. Your cold should clear up in a few days, and it’s at the most inconvenient and gross. Go run around and trip every other warrior, if you’d like to free me from dealing with you.”

Skykit wondered if it was physically possible for Minnowheart to be nice to a patient.

Regardless, he scrambled out of his nest, sniffling loudly again as he ran out. He made a bee line for the nursery, where it was tunneled out from underneath some tree roots. Since his friends and brother were all grounded, they were going to be in the nursery.

As he passed through the entrance, he suddenly found himself on the ground, tackled and pinned to the ground by a pair of familiar amber eyes.

“Hey! You got out of the medicine cat’s den again! Did you sneak out?!” Chattered Fadingkit excitedly, though he sounded a tiny bit worried as well.

Skykit chuckled lightly, though he felt nervous at being tackled and then interrogated. It made him a tiny bit uncomfortable, his brother being a bit too intense. “Er, no. Minnowheart let me go.” He explained.

“Phew.” Fadingkit let out a sigh of relief, as he leaned back to sit on his rump. “You shouldn’t sneak out!” He scolded.

Skykit couldn’t help but stare at his brother, trying to convey as much incredulity as he could into his stare.

Fadingkit seemed to be suppressing giggling. “I get the feeling you’re trying to be serious… But you look like you really gotta go!”

Skykit sighed. “Where are Shinekit, Salmonkit, and Creekkit?” He asked.

Fadingkit turned his head and Skykit followed his line of sight. “Oh. Shinekit is taking a nap like usual. Salmonkit and Creekkit are whispering in a corner. I hope it’s not another idea that’s gonna get us grounded again! I think maybe you had a point with sticking a bit closer to the rules!” He chirped.

Skykit didn’t really think aversion to punishment was the point… But he guessed whatever helped his brother stay out of trouble.

Fadingkit nudged the golden tom-kit’s shoulder. “C’mon! Let’s go in a corner of our own! I wanna tell you something super important!” He squeaked, practically pushing his brother against his will into an opposite corner of the nursery.

“H-Hey! I can get there on my own!” Skykit protested, but they were already there.

“So! I decided! I’m gonna be leader one day!” Fadingkit suddenly said out of the blue.

Skykit blinked. “Er, you’ve mentioned that before. So has Salmonkit. Even Creekkit thought it’d be cool to be leader.” Personally, he wasn’t sure being leader sounded all that fun. Luckily, Shinekit agreed with him so he wasn’t alone in his opinion.

Fadingkit huffed. “You don’t get it! I’m completely serious! I’m gonna do all that stuff to be leader one day! I’ve gotta be an apprentice first, and become a super awesome warrior! Then I gotta show the clan how cool I am and train an apprentice! Then I’ll totally be next in line to be named deputy if something happens to Dad or Flashstar dies and Dad becomes leader!” He rambled, detailing a fairly straightforward plan to becoming leader. Suddenly, he folded his ears back and looked away. “... You can’t tell anyone I’m serious about this! I don’t wanna hear it from Mom how I’d never be leader… That’d you’d make a better leader than I ever could.” He grumbled.

Skykit felt a flash at panic, worrying about his brother’s possible budding jealousy. He had no interest in being leader, but he wasn’t sure how to soundly prove it since his words apparently couldn’t quell his brother’s fears of being outdone. He was willing to support Fadingkit’s apparently serious dream, and keep the secret. He knew as well as his amber-eyed brother that Birchwhisper would never be supportive, neither would Lightningfang. Their father apparently wanted nothing to do with the either of them, so he was out. Birchwhisper… She…

Skykit was kind of bad at figuring stuff out, but he could see it as plain as day who Birchwhisper loved and whom she almost hated. He was hesitant to say their mother hated Fadingkit. Time and time again, their mother praised Skykit while either ignoring or being mean to his brother. Always singing praises about Skykit’s common sense and spitting venom about Fadingkit’s terrible ideas and tendency to drag his brother into trouble, to bring Skykit down.

Which, allowed Skykit to understand why Birchwhisper could never find out.

But he worried about the clan. Would Flashstar or Lightningfang like Fadingkit enough to name him deputy one day? If their own mother favored him over Fadingkit, maybe the clan would follow after her.

Skykit didn’t want to do anything too terrible, but he realized he had to take himself out of the running for deputyship and later leadership, even if this was really, really far in advance.

Suddenly, he had an idea. Medicine cats weren’t candidates for leadership! It was a great plan. He had no prior interest of becoming a medicine cat, but… He guessed Minnowheart was cool, and herbs were too. He didn’t mind the idea of not doing much fighting, either. Taking care of others sounded… Nice, actually.

“Er, well… I think you’ll be leader one day and I can totally support you! I can be your medicine cat!” Skykit chirped.

Fadingkit suddenly stared at him like Skykit had sprouted wings or something. “What? Where’d that come from? You’ve never said anything about wanting to be a medicine cat, like ever!”

Skykit scrambled for a good explanation. “O-Oh! W-Well… While I was in the medicine cat’s den… I realized it was pretty cool! I hadn’t said anything before because it was pretty new, and I wanted to keep it a secret too. I think Mom would like me to be a warrior, but I don’t think I’m cut out for it!” He said, growing more confident in his words as he spoke. He wondered if this counted as lying.

Fadingkit blinked. Then he grinned. “Sure! We’ll be the best leader and medicine cat this clan has ever seen!”

Skykit did his best to smile for his brother. “Hey, I can come back later. I’m gonna… I’m gonna go see Minnowheart! I’m probably going to see Minnowheart a lot, so I can convince him I’d make a great medicine cat apprentice.” He said, standing up.

Fadingkit nodded furiously. “Sounds like a great plan! Don’t let your dreams just be dreams!” He waved to Skykit, as the golden tom-kit left the nursery without looking back, for fear that his brother would realize he wasn’t entirely honest about becoming a medicine cat being his dream.

He took a deep breath as he returned to the medicine cat’s den. He put on a grin and cleared his admittedly scratchy throat.

“H-Hey! I wanted to know what is it about honey that makes my throat less itchy!”

He’d be taking this one step at a time… But he’d definitely become Minnowheart’s apprentice when he was old enough.

[Natalia]

Chapter 5

Skykit ducked away from his mother’s tongue. “I gotta go!” He said hurriedly, trying to leave the nursery quickly before his mother could catch him. This had become a habit in the mornings since he’d resolved to become Minnowheart’s apprentice a half-moon ago. He kept having to dodge Birchwhisper’s attempts to keep him away from the medicine cat’s den, or slowly encourage him towards more… Warrior-like things. She always said things like,

“You’ll make a great warrior and leader one day.”

“You should try hunting some leaves you can see, at this rate you may be behind the other kits.”

“You shouldn’t be afraid of a little play fighting. It can teach you for the future.”

“There’s nothing Minnowheart can show you that you want.”

That was nothing compared to the things Skykit heard her hissing into Fadingkit’s ear, that she clearly thought he couldn’t hear.

“Forcing your brother away from your destiny… How disgusting.”

“You’re fated to become a barely useful asset to the clan… Only good enough to put prey in our mouths.”

“How dare you whisper lies and corrupt your brother.”

Skykit had tried at first to defend Fadingkit. He was always brushed aside, and the spitting hatred aimed at his brother always got worse for the rest of the day. So, he learned to wait and comfort Fadingkit when Birchwhisper wasn’t looking. He didn’t know what else to do. Fadingkit seemed to appreciate his attempts to help, even if it didn’t seem to amount to much.

He was glad that Fadingkit continued to support his endeavors to become a medicine cat apprentice, sometimes distracting Birchwhisper so Skykit could slip out to Minnowheart’s den. The first couple times, Birchwhisper came to try and remove him… But thankfully, Minnowheart always made her go away. He still remembered the female medicine cat’s words.

“I have no problem with the squirt hanging around. Who knows, maybe he’ll learn something useful from me. Now, shoo. Don’t you have another son to look after?”

Birchwhisper could never go against Minnowheart much. Skykit suspected the volume that the black and white she-cat used had a lot to do with it. The biased queen didn’t seem to want to go against one of the most respected and feared cat in the clan. He’d learned from Honeypaw that for some reason most of the clan, including Flashstar, were notoriously bad about going to Minnowheart if they needed medical attention. A tom with warm brown eyes had gotten himself injured while hunting, and Minnowheart had dragged him into her den by the ear. By the way the hazel-eyed she-cat had been grumbling, it sounded like this was a fairly common occurrence, that she had to quite literally go out and hunt down her patients to treat them. If that didn’t happen, sometimes a friend would force them into Minnowheart’s den. Despite the strong aversion to her den, according to Honeypaw, everyone in the clan respected Minnowheart and tended to trust her almost implicitly.

Which, explained to Skykit why Birchwhisper was so hesitant to get into a shouting match over his newfound habits. So, all he had to do was get to Minnowheart’s den and he was free to spend time with the female medicine cat.

The first day he’d come in, she’d seemed slightly surprised. Though, it quickly wore off and she didn’t mind him staying around. She never asked him why he came back day after day, and after the first quarter moon, she’d stopped being even the slightest bit surprised from what Skykit could see.

“You got here fast, kid.” Minnowheart commented off-handedly, from where he could see her sniffing the herbs she had stored.

Skykit took a few steps forward. “Are you checking if anything’s gone stale?” He asked, feeling much more confident in talking to Minnowheart than when he’d first gotten a cold in the hazel-eyed she-cat’s den. The first day, he’d tried to talk but always second guessed himself. Instead, Minnowheart took the initiative and coaxed his half of the conversation out him day after day. The coaxing took less and less time as the sunrises passed, until Skykit was now more or less comfortable with the medicine cat’s sharp tongue. He’d learned that it wasn’t him, she simply didn’t have much patience after dragging many warriors too many into her den against their will.

“Right on that, kiddo.” Minnowheart withdrew and looked towards him. Then she got a mischievous smile on her face. “I ever tell you about that time I had to drag Flashstar in here?” She asked, with mirth glittering in her eyes.

Minnowheart didn’t tell him much about herbs, saying that was more of an activity to be shared between her future apprentice. Skykit never actually said he wanted to be her apprentice in the future, and she’d never asked… But… He always felt like the adults of Rainclan could see through him, like he was transparent. So, he didn’t think he’d be too surprised if Minnowheart knew what he wanted anyways. So, instead… She told him a lot of stories. He was surprised by how problematic the warriors sounded like. They sounded more like bratty kits his age rather than the esteemed protectors and providers for the clan.

Minnowheart claimed the various warriors of the clan tended to hit their head on the riverbanks or river bottoms while learning to swim in stronger currents, which was part of apprentice training, which stunted their mental growth and caused them to lose brain cells that contained common sense.

Skykit had giggled when she first told him that. He understood by now that Minnowheart had a uniquely, usually insulting, but amazing nonetheless sense of humor.

Her treasure trove of stories seemed endless. Sometimes she gave him little lessons and advised him on life. Like, she told him to never forget that he always had the clan, his family, and his friends. To never let his head get so big that he thought he could do things on his own.

Minnowheart had seemed scary at first… But Skykit thought she was pretty nice to keep helping the clan, no matter how difficult and frustrating they could be sometimes. Apparently, once she’d had to get a warrior who’d been desperate enough to climb a tree to escape her. Of course, he’d slipped and fell… Given that Rainclan cats didn’t really climb anything at all. He’d gotten hurt and warranted further treatment, and a longer stay in Minnowheart’s den.

She’d assured Skykit she’d spent a long time setting him straight.

Skykit had internally promised himself to never avoid Minnowheart’s den if he was hurt or sick, even if herbs were kinda gross and her den smelled pretty strong.

His original reasons for spending so much time with Minnowheart were based around Fadingkit and his dreams… But now? He was pretty sure he genuinely wanted to be Minnowheart’s apprentice, and learn from her. He believed he could be a wonderful member of Rainclan as its future medicine cat, instead of a future warrior.

The day passed, as Minnowheart told him stories, and occasionally answered a burning question about the way life worked from time to time. Sometimes confirming or denying something Faithpaw or Honeypaw told him.

He didn’t spend all day with Minnowheart, taking time around sun-high to eat and talk a little with his friends and brother. He always liked checking with Fadingkit, getting how his morning went, and talking with Shinekit and her calming presence. Salmonkit was a bit upset at how he spent less time with them, but she was overall understanding of his desire to become a medicine cat some day in the future. It was always nice to get to know Creekkit better, and to see his stutter slowly fade from his voice. He left Minnowheart for the day as the sun set, eating a second meal of the day and sometimes talking to the apprentices of the clan.

He tried to minimize his contact with Birchwhisper. It wasn’t always quite successful… But it was nice not having to listen to her all day. Even if he was always leaving Fadingkit to deal with her.

His brother assured him that as long as he stuck close to Lilysnow and her kittens… It wasn’t so bad most of the time.

Skykit itched for the day they would become apprentices and didn’t have to sleep so close to Birchwhisper.

[Natalia]

Chapter 6

As moons passed Skykit by, he knew he could be confident in his future as Minnowheart’s apprentice. As his fourth moon passed him by, he’d spotted Minnowheart speaking with a white tom who possessed shining yellow eyes. The female medicine cat had pointed him out as Flashstar in the past, and while it was true he couldn’t say for sure what they’d been talking about… He thought there was a strong chance that Minnowheart had said she wanted to take him on as apprentice. Thus, he wouldn’t need a warrior mentor.

He’d told Fadingkit his suspicions, and he had jumped for joy at the apparent confirmation that the brother’s plans were progressing smoothly.

Since Skykit hadn’t felt comfortable or thought it would be feasible to hide their plans from their denmates, they had shared their plan with Shinekit, Salmonkit, and Creekkit.

Shinekit understood the most, and expressed envy that she hadn’t thought of becoming a medicine cat apprentice. The envy sounded fake though, and Skykit got the feeling it was because that the main priority of the medicine cat didn’t involve battling and hunting… Both which were extensive physical activities.

Salmonkit had thought that Skykit picked the lamest plan ever, and expressed a desire to become Fadingkit’s rival for the future position of leader. Skykit and Shinekit had fled from the following argument that had ensued.

Creekkit seemed to simply respect their decisions. He was non-confrontational like that and all. Plus, Skykit got the feeling he was wrapped up in his simple desire to become a clan member that his parents could be proud of.

Nowadays, all Fadingkit wanted to talk about was their impending apprenticeship. Actually, that was all any of Skykit’s denmates wanted to talk about. Even if Shinekit’s contributions seemed to compose of mainly complaints about the incoming work, and less time for naps and downtime.

It had gotten worse after Faithpaw and Honeypaw had gotten their warrior names. They were called Faithwhisper and Honeyspark now, which started up another topic of what their warrior names might be. Mostly it was Fadingkit and Salmonkit naming everyone, with Creekkit occasionally pitching in with a name here and there.

Skykit almost wondered if they thought that somehow, talking about it would make their apprentice ceremonies come sooner.

He’d complained exactly once to Minnowheart who simply snorted and told him it was the foolishness of youth acting up. He wondered if the hazel-eyed she-cat noticed Skykit was same exact age, and he wasn’t acting like that. However, he wasn’t too keen to challenge the medicine cat’s sharp tongue deliberately.

He was laying across the width of the tree root that shielded Minnowheart’s precious herbs, as he peered over at the female medicine cat rummaging around in her herb stores. He suddenly lifted his head at a call that rang out.

“Let all cats old enough to fish gather underneath the Tall Root!”

Casting a quick glance, Skykit saw that Minnowheart had stood up to her full height as well. Then the white and black tabby gave him a slightly knowing smile. “C’mon, brat. Let’s go see what Flashstar requires of the clan.” He was trying to scramble down over the side of the tree root, but instead of tumbling and falling… He found himself held by the scruff by the medicine cat. He huffed.

“I don’t get how you don’t think I’m heavy…” He mumbled, as he was let down… Not so gently. He grunted softly as he hit the ground, shaking the dust off his pelt as he stood up.

Minnowheart snorted. “You’re a barely apprentice-aged kit. I’ve had to haul full-grown unconscious, soaking wet cats into my den before. You don’t even compare.”

Skykit followed Minnowheart out into the clearing. The tall root that Flashstar spoke of, was a large thick root, that rested upon a similar one. From there you could see most of the camp. Underneath both, was Flashstar’s den, he knew.

The white-furred leader was perched proudly on top of the Tall Root, waiting for the clan to gather. Skykit stuck close to Minnowheart’s side, deliberately avoiding Birchwhisper’s gaze. The medicine cat, fortunately, kept his mother away with a fierce glare. He was glad Minnowheart was so cool and scary. Especially for the second part.

He could spot his friends all being wrangled by Lilysnow and her mate Waterfang, all being subjected to cleaning tongues. The more difficult and bath-resistant kittens were taken first, while ever obedient Creekkit was standing by.

“Hey bro!” A voice suddenly chirped loudly in his ear. Skykit was startled and his head snapped to the side, to see Fadingkit. Who was grinning like a maniac who hadn’t scared his brother half to death. He even had a golden paw placed over his heart.

“D-Don’t do that!” He scolded, his voice still shaking slightly from the startling.

Fadingkit stuck his tongue out at Skykit who was able to call him out on his childishness, when he was suddenly yanked back and he felt a rough tongue brushing against his head. He squinted upwards to see… Minnowheart was the one giving him a bath?!

Fadingkit seemed to have been shocked into silence, and was merely staring at the spectacle of Rainclan’s medicine cat acting like a queen who was preparing her kit for presentation to the clan.

“Shush, brat. Don’t go introducing yourself looking like you just crawled out of a filthy river.”

Skykit, himself was frozen and had no idea how to deal with this?! This was completely surreal. Before he knew it, Minnowheart seemed content. Then she proceeded to do the same thing to Fadingkit.

His brother let out a cry of protest, as the golden tom-kit’s jaw fell open and started that why.

“B-Buh… W-Why….?” Was it even possible to make sense of this situation? Skykit swore he’d fallen into some kind of weird reality where Minnowheart was a sickeningly sweet and not-Minnowheart queen, stuck in the nursery.

“I ask Skykit, Fadingkit, Salmonkit, Shinekit, and Creekkit to stand before me.”

“Try not to stutter too much, brat.” Minnowheart teased softly, as she shoved Skykit and Fadingkit forward.

Skykit didn’t remember asking his legs to move, yet here he was looking up at where Flashstar gave announcements from his high perch.

He swallowed.

“Skykit. Fadingkit. Salmonkit. Shinekit. Creekkit.” The white-furred leader addressed each of them in turn. Skykit felt an urge to straighten his posture when his name was called. “Each one of you have reached six moons of age, and you all understand what it means to be a part of our clan. From this day on, you will learn what it means to give back to the clan that has raised you thus far.”

He suddenly focused all his attention on Skykit, and he suddenly felt very small. Flashstar was a different kind of scary from Minnowheart! His eyes just seemed so… Intense, rather than the light mirth that danced in the medicine cat’s hazel pools.

“Skykit. From this day on, until you receive your true name, you shall be known as Skypaw. You will be treading an honored, yet different path from the rest of your generation. Minnowheart shall be your mentor, and you shall train in the ways of the medicine cat.”

He let out a small sigh of relief. It was… Weird, to have his name be Skypaw now, after having been Skykit his whole life. But, this wasn’t his last name change. He guessed the best way to deal with this was to think of himself as Skypaw. Skypaw! He was Skypaw.

He hoped it worked.

“Fadingkit. From this day on, until you receive your true name, you shall be known as Fadingpaw.” Flashstar’s gaze turned to a warrior with gray, speckled fur. He seemed kind of… Grumpy, at least from where Skypaw could see him. He worried a little for the relationship they might form, since he wasn’t sure Fadingkit… Well, Fadingpaw now… Wouldn’t be badgering the warrior about his frowning. “Sootspeck. You have many apprentices in the past, and I am sure you can show Fadingpaw the ways of the warrior practiced in Rainclan.”

The tom, Sootspeck, merely inclined his head. “I will do my best, Flashstar.” He even sounded tired. Skypaw’s worry escalated as he watched his brother practically bounce over to his new mentor, even bouncing up to touch noses with Sootspeck, before the warrior could bend down to make it easier. He let out a sigh of relief, when Sootspeck gently turned Fadingpaw back around, who’d seemed to have forgotten that the rest of their friends still needed to have their ceremonies as well.

“Salmonkit. From this day on, until you receive your true name, you shall be known as Salmonpaw.” This time, Flashstar’s eyes landed upon a white she-cat with a softly patterened pelt, that Skypaw recalled Faithwhisper pointing out as the gentle then-apprentice’s mother. “Snowyash, you understand the value of patience and compassion. I am sure you can impart these important ideals upon Salmonpaw.”

Snowyash, too, inclined her head. “I thank you for your faith in me.” Her voice was soft and light, reminding Skypaw of falling feathers. Especially the soft ones you couldn’t see too well on birds that first glance.

Salmonpaw seemed to be containing herself better than Fadingpaw had, but the energy rippling through her was obvious as she touched noses with her new mentor for the first time.

Skypaw hoped a cat who’d mothered sweet and kind Faithwhisper could teach Salmonpaw some restraint, and some calm.

“Creekkit. From this day on, until you receive your true name, you shall be known as Creekpaw.” The yellow-eyed leader’s eyes fixed upon a familiar face this time. Skypaw managed to hide most of his surprise, his eyes widening only a smidgeon. “Faithwhisper. You are a new warrior, however, I believe you are best suited to guide Creekpaw nonetheless. Your kindness and level head will serve you well, in your days as Creekpaw’s mentor.”

Faithwhisper seemed as surprised as Creekpaw did, Skypaw saw. They both were staring at each other, both a bit non-believing that this was the path that Flashstar chose to take. Nudged respectively by Honeyspark and Salmonpaw, they still managed to touch noses without drawing too much attention to themselves.

“Shinekit.” Skypaw really hoped that wasn’t Flashstar’s eye twitching when Shinekit yawned in the middle of her own ceremony. He thought Shinekit at the least would know not to do that! “From this day on, until you receive your true name, you shall be known as Shinepaw.” Flashstar looked to a ginger she-cat with warm eyes this time. Suddenly Skypaw thought of an adult, more collected Salmonpaw. “Morningglow. You understand hard work. I hope you can instill motivation within your new apprentice.”

Skypaw wanted to hide Shinepaw from the clan, this was so incredibly embarrassing! Even if he wasn’t being directly affected, he felt the second-hand embarrassment! Instead, Shinepaw stood there, looking as if she was contemplating picking her nose or not.

Morningglow smiled eerily. “Oh, I’m sure I can go above and beyond, Flashstar.” That was one of the scariest promises Skypaw had ever heard in his life and he wanted to leave. Now.

He felt a weight on his shoulder, and he looked over his shoulder to see Minnowheart smiling down at him. This was not a warm smile. No, this was a smile that told him it was taking every ounce of the medicine cat’s willpower to not start laughing at him without remorse for the next hour or so.

Was it possible to die of mortification? Skypaw was starting to think so.

Maybe if he prayed really, really hard to Starclan, no one would remember anything tomorrow.

“C’mon, brat. We’ve got work to do before the day is out!” Minnowheart sounded a little too gleeful, honestly. It was scaring him.

“E-Er… Do you mean learning the basics…?” Skypaw asked tentatively.

“Hell no! You haven’t got a nest, and unless you want to sleep on the ground, you’re going to go out and get the materials to make your nest. With your own paws.”

Skypaw was starting to regret his life decision to become Minnowheart’s apprentice. “A-Alone?”

“Nah. I’m not that mean. I’ll make sure you don’t get lost or drown.” How was it that such a promise sounded like the least reassuring statement Skypaw had ever heard?

He couldn’t help whimpering, as Minnowheart swapped between yanking her apprentice by the ears, or shoving him out of camp.

[Natalia]

((AFTER NEARLY A MONTH OF NO UPDATES I BRING YOU CHAPTER SEVEN goshfanficwritingishard))


Chapter 7

Skypaw had learned several things about Minnowheart during his first quarter moon of being her apprentice:

One, Minnowheart was the type who saw no problems in bending certain rules. As the weather began to slowly cool, giving way to a season known as Leaf-bare, she had shown him a nice place for back-up herbs. Skypaw did not agree that it was a nice place, however he was dragged nonetheless into sneaking into Twolegplace and Twoleg dens to steal herbs that somehow grew inside. Twolegs seemed to create small objects that trapped dirt and allowed herbs to grow anyway. His mentor insisted that as long as you didn’t steal too much from a single Twoleg nest, it was perfectly fine.

Skypaw and Minnowheart had gotten chased by a dog that had gotten free from its restraints at the worst possible moment. Which led to his next issue:

Minnowheart seemed to have a warped sense of reality. She seemed to think that these risks were acceptable in the name of the greater good, to obtain herbs for her stores through the harsh Leaf-bare. Further, she seemed insistent on pushing the golden-furred apprentice way past when he was ready to take what he was sure counted as a well-deserved break. Such as when he was already tired and about to collapse, she pushed him into the nearest body of water with sadistic glee, claiming he needed to get all his swimming practice in before the water froze over. Whatever that meant.

So, every day for his first quarter moon of training, he came back home soaking wet, exhausted, suffering the after-effects of the day’s four to seven heart attacks. He wondered if this was some sort of training for dealing with stressful situations, to make sure he’d be used to the craziness of life when dealing with Minnowheart beyond the need for her medical skills.

Regardless, his absurd training schedule and ridiculous content of said training left him far too tired to talk to anyone. He always dragged his feet towards camp, straight to his bed and collapsed. He only emerged to eat, and he was pretty sure Salmonpaw and Fadingpaw were concerned… However, their loud voices only served to sap his energy even more, encouraging him to groan and slump into whatever piece of fresh-kill he’s been eating. He suspected Shinepaw reined them in her own way, while he took the opportunity to retreat.

When he woke up on the morning of eighth day of being Minnowheart’s apprentice, he woke up to her looking a tiny bit sheepish. Which was a weird-looking expression on the usually unapologetic medicine cat who was sorry for nothing, because she always knew best because she was a medicine cat. Even if that wasn’t really a reason.

“So… I’ve never trained a kid before. It’s been brought to my attention… That I might’ve been working you a bit too hard. I’ll loosen up on you, so maybe your social life doesn’t go to the rats.”

This was the exact opposite Skypaw had expected from this morning. He’d been expected to have his face shoved into Minnowheart’s herb stores, to memorize sights and scents, and then marched through a river or five to go and find the herbs out in the territory. Loosen up did not sound very specific, and Skypaw feared it only meant she’d stick to three rivers or something. He supposed he should count his blessings and thank the stars that she didn’t decide she was hard enough on him and decided to ask his friends to ambush him at every turn for something ridiculous like paranoia training.

…. Though, one thing that was nice that he didn’t have to talk to Birchwhisper. He’d been blatantly ignoring her since his ceremony, and didn’t know her reaction to his being a medicine cat apprentice. He bet she didn’t like it and would find a way to blame Fadingpaw. She was always weirdly mean like that.

“A-Alright?” Skypaw replied uncertainly.

“Then, go off. Enjoy your morning. Come back at Sun-high so I can quiz you on what you’ve retained in that golden head of your’s so far.” She instructed.

Skypaw was not keen on sticking around long enough for the slave driver of a medicine cat mentor to change her mind. He scurried out, maybe a little too eagerly. He really hoped Minnowheart didn’t see that or read his mind or something. He wasn’t convinced that she couldn’t read minds, what with how she somehow knew what he was thinking or feeling at times when he hadn’t said anything.

As his paws crossed the threshold of Minnowheart’s den, he immediately slowed from his hasty pace. He lifted his head to quickly scan and try to locate his brother and friends. Now that he was awake and alert, he wanted to hear how their training had been going so far. He especially wanted to know if Fadingpaw was doing okay.

He spotted them laying by a stream that ran through camp. He dashed over with a nervous grin on his face.

“Sorry I haven-” He was trying to apologize when suddenly Salmonpaw was in his face. He shrank back with an “Eep!”

“Sorry?! That’s all you have to say for ignoring your friends?! Why I oughta…! Why I oughta…!” She suddenly whipped to Creekpaw. “What should be my ‘Why I oughta’?!” She questioned her brother who immediately seemed to draw a blank.

“Er, um… Deprive him of his favorite fish?” The black and white apprentice suggested uncertainly.

Salmonpaw did not like this answer, as she stamped childishly on the ground. “No! That doesn’t work because Skypaw is boring and doesn’t have a favorite fish! He just says mouse-dung like he likes all fish!”

Creekpaw folded his ears back and stared at the ground. “W-Well… I don’t wanna be mean…” He murmured.

As Salmonpaw looked like she might actually explode from sheer frustration and anger, Shinepaw sighed and walked up, resting a paw on her sister’s shoulder.

“Calm down.” Shinepaw said with that voice of her’s that had a calming effect that worked rather well. Despite her laziness, she was actually the only one that could consistently get Salmonpaw or Fadingpaw or both to calm down. Creekpaw sometimes tried, but he usually ended up chickening out of standing up to the two strong-willed apprentices or being too busy trying to prove himself with a backbone of his own.

Skypaw kind of wished that Creekpaw would join him and Shinepaw in the sane corner, rather than try to be like the er… More boisterous of their group.

Regardless, Salmonpaw did calm down. She still seemed mad, but at least her fur wasn’t prickling all over the place.

“Let’s allow Skypaw to make excuses.” She reasoned. Skypaw frowned. Excuses? He thought his reasons were pretty solid. “Haven’t you noticed he’s been pretty tired whenever you tried to talk to him?”

Salmonpaw screwed her face up in concentration, then relaxed her expression. “... I guess.”

Skypaw cleared his throat. “Er, well uh… Minnowheart is kind of a slave driver. She’s been making me swim up and down rivers, climb trees, all the while trying not to lose the herbs in my mouth.” He omitted his er… Supervised adventures. Minnowheart’s voice echoed in his mind ‘Let’s keep these little outings between you and me, mmkay?’ “She makes me do it all day, all the while quizzing me and forcing me to recite stuff about herbs.” He couldn’t help as remembered misery crept into his tone. He suddenly found himself hanging his head when he finished.

“Sounds terrible.” Shinepaw deadpanned.

“You could at least pretend to be nice….” Skypaw despaired.

“Why her! She has to know you need lots of energy for a social life! I’m gonna go give Minnowheart a piece of my mind!” Salmonpaw’s angry, vaguely explosive temper seemed to have a new target now: His mentor.

“N-No wait-” But it was too late.

Skypaw did the only thing he could do and he tackled Salmonpaw to the ground, before she could get far.

“No! Let me go Skypaw! I must avenge your lost social life…..!”

“Please stop! Minnowheart is too powerful!”

“Ack! Get off!”

“Oof!”

“Argh! Wha- Creekpaw!”

“E-Er I think this is a bad idea too….”

“You’re all morons.”

“That totally wasn’t needed Shinepaw! How dare you not help me!”

“Eh.”

---

It took their combined efforts, however Skypaw, Creekpaw, and Shinepaw (kind of) managed to talk Salmonpaw down. Mostly because Skypaw promised that Minnowheart had promised to loosen up a little, so he was sure that there’d be no problems keeping their friendship up since he was supposed to live through his apprenticeship anyways. It worked. Barely. However, the point was that Salmonpaw was no longer trying to go off and fight the clan’s medicine cat.

Now that Skypaw had that over and sorted… He brought up something he thought was more important.

“So…. Where’s Fadingpaw? I thought he’d be hanging with you guys.” Skypaw asked.

“Er… Well… Along with you, Fadingpaw’s been looking pretty tired lately. He usually comes around in the evening, after training…” Creekpaw offered quietly.

“He’s not as tired as you, but he is pretty lame in the mornings! Hardly reacts when I try to start up one of our awesome verbal battles!” Salmonpaw complained. Skypaw figured she either didn’t hear or was blatantly ignoring the muttered “Knew it” from Shinepaw in the background. Considering this was Salmonpaw… He supposed it was the former.

Skypaw lowered his ears. “Oh. Okay. I guess I can try to talk to him later…?”

“Skypaw! Break time over!” He guessed he could now gauge how long Minnowheart would give him in the mornings before it was time to get training again… Which wasn’t much, but it was better than the nothing he had before.

“Guess you have to go now, huh?” Creekpaw said softly.

“Aw, your mentor is so lame! Have fun learning to be a prissy medicine cat!” Salmonpaw chirped. Skypaw resolved to keep his loose-lipped friend far away from the at times terrifying medicine cat, who would almost certainly be offended.

Shinepaw yawned.

Skypaw took a deep breath, before he ran off, bracing himself for another day of training with Minnowheart.

“Coming!”

[Natalia]

Chapter 8

Skypaw realized that Minnowheart was serious about trying to loosen up on his training. He decided to thank whatever cat convinced his mentor that normal apprentices did not get dragged through freezing rivers multiple times a day, up until they were about to collapse on their paws. He realized it when the black and white she-cat declared it to be a good time to call it a day when the sky was only now softening into pink at sunset. As opposed to his previous nightmares disguised as training that kept him out until the moon was visible in full.

He yawned as he only slightly dragged his paws into camp, rather than feeling like he was dragged his entire lower half of his body into camp. He immediately stopped near the entrance, even as Minnowheart went onward, presumably back to her den. He was searching for his brother this time. He’d have no problem spending time with his friends… But… He wanted to talk to Fadingpaw about the fact that even Salmonpaw managed to notice he was tired. He loved Salmonpaw, he really did… But, she wasn’t exactly the most observant of cats. It was mostly that she didn’t consider drowsiness or exhaustion an adequate ‘excuse’ for not bouncing off the walls like she seemed to always be doing. Which meant, that Fadingpaw’s apparently exhaustion was probably pretty bad.

His mentor was… Sootspeck, right? Skypaw couldn’t say for sure, but the tom didn’t strike him as the type to drive people into the ground. He guessed he’d have to ask Fadingpaw himself.

He scanned around camp, accidentally making eye contact with a few cats here and there, such as with a bengal tom who had hazel eyes. Then he finally spotted Fadingpaw! He was…. Face planted into the fresh-kill pile for some reason?

The golden-furred apprentice hurried over and bent down next to his brother and gently prodded his side.

“Fadingpaw? You doing okay there?” He asked carefully.

The downtrodden apprentice groaned something through the ground and fish in his face. Skypaw couldn’t really tell what he was trying to say, though.

“Um… Can you talk to me? Just lift your head a bit?” He suggested.

With a louder groan that sounded like a general outcry of upsetness, Fadingpaw jerked his head up only to lay it back down on the side. At least he could talk and be heard now.

“Ugh…. I’m fine….” Skypaw could clearly see that the silver tabby had a hard time keeping his eyes open.

“Er, no. You’re not, really. Can you tell me what’s wrong? Everyone is worried about you.” Skypaw said, concern in his voice.

“Even Mom and Dad?” Fadingpaw asked with as much pessimism as he could muster.

“Er, no. Salmonpaw, Shinepaw, and Creekpaw are pretty worried.” Skypaw preferred to avoid the subject of their parents but… Fadingpaw brought them up a lot for some reason. Usually to complain about how they sucked at being parents and Lilysnow was clearly the better parent. Skypaw’s brother liked to say a lot of things about how their friends didn’t quite know how lucky they were to get Lilysnow as a mom. Skypaw… Couldn’t deny it. Any attention Birchwhisper gave either of them was incredibly uncomfortable, albeit in different ways. Lightningfang had never even spoken to the two. Skypaw kind of wished Fadingpaw could let it go and appreciate the friends they had, and the fact that it was much easier to dodge Birchwhisper now.

Fadingpaw suddenly snapped into alertness, his amber eyes narrowing as he looked around the clearing. Skypaw, after a moment’s hesitation, looked around as well. There were a lot of cats staring… But given how Fadingpaw was staring at everyone, he guessed it was pretty reasonable. Though, all the staring was uncomfortable. Finally, his brother relaxed and started whispering to him. Though, it was a little loud for a real whisper.

“I’ll tell you my secret, but you gotta keep it a secret!” The amber-eyed apprentice hissed.

“Er, okay. Okay. I’ll keep your secret. I promise. What is it?” Skypaw said with a nod, even if he wasn’t sure what he was agreeing to hear.

With a final glance in both directions, Fadingpaw finally spoke. “I’ve been sneaking out to train at night. It’s really important!”

Skypaw blinked. “But… Isn’t that just creating more of a problem where there doesn’t need to be. You look practically dead on your feet! You’re way too tired to get through the day.” Skypaw pointed out.

“W-Well yeah, but…” Fadingpaw’s ears flattened and he looked away. “I guess you wouldn’t get it because you’re a medicine cat apprentice now… You haven’t got any competition… But… It’s just, everyone else seems to be picking up training faster than I am! It’s kind of hard to keep the lay of the land straight in my head, I’m not a strong swimmer, and I’m just… I’m not very good at hunting or anything at all. Even Shinepaw is doing better than me and she barely puts in effort!” His voice had risen to a quiet shout at this point. Then he took a deep breath and looked Skypaw in the eyes again. “I just… I need this, okay? I haven’t quite worked out how long I should stay out, but I guess I need to cut back on it. But, I’ll have it figured out. Promise you won’t tell. I won’t stop, but I know I can make it work!”

This was the moment Skypaw realized he made the right choice choosing to become a medicine cat instead of a warrior. He… Hated even thinking about the idea of being part of what was doing this to Fadingpaw. He kind of wished his brother would stop trying to measure himself up to their friends, but he wasn’t sure the silver tabby was ready to hear that right now. “Okay, okay. I believe you.” Skypaw attempted to soothe his brother. “I won’t tell. Just… Promise you’ll get more sleep?” He asked hopefully.

Fadingpaw fixed him with a blinding grin that made it worth it. “Yeah, yeah! Of course! You’re an awesome brother!” He lunged forward and affectionately nuzzled Skypaw’s cheek. “Now, I’m going to go take a nap so I can be fresh later! Bye!”

Before Skypaw could react, his brother had gone into the apprentice’s den, which was a tunneled out space beneath a tree trunk in the camp. He took a deep breath.

It seems like they’d be okay.

Skypaw didn’t get to tell Fadingpaw about Minnowheart’s psychotic training regimen, but… That could wait.

[Natalia]

Chapter 9

Despite Skypaw’s numerous bad experiences, largely inflicted upon him by his mentor, with the numerous large bodies of water that were strewn throughout Rainclan’s territory, he never attempted to avoid the water. He wasn’t afraid of water. No cat afraid of water could survive in a clan whose territory was as populated with various rivers as Rainclan’s. It was quite impossible to traverse the territory to get anywhere, without crossing at least a small stream. So, despite Minnowheart’s possibly unintentional best efforts to instill a fear of water in him, he was still capable of braving the sometimes unruly rivers strewn about the territory. However, his swimming lessons seemed to be coming to an end, as the frost began to overtake the rivers, freezing them.

There were a few things Skypaw noticed about Rainclan as Leaf-bare approached. From what he’d seen, border patrols were more frequent. When he asked Minnowheart about it, she revealed that it was because Rainclan was most vulnerable in Leaf-bare when their rivers were frozen. All the other clans hated water for some reason, and would only dare invade during the freezing moons. Another thing he noticed that the ever present fog seemed to grow even thicker. It was difficult to navigate, and he was glad he wasn’t really the type to sneak out on his own. He was worried about Fadingpaw, however. As far as he knew, his brother was still sneaking out at night. However, his fears appeared unfounded. Fadingpaw had managed to both not get caught and get lost in the territory. Personally, Skypaw worried about hunting when the rivers were frozen. However, his fears had been cleared up by Salmonpaw who claimed her mentor was going to explain a great technique for getting fish out through the ice anyways once the rivers were properly frozen. As a medicine cat, it wasn’t exactly his top priority to be constantly hunting, however he still hunted now and again. Still, Minnowheart had plenty of time to explain how her method of straight up stealing from twoleg homes would help them get through Leaf-bare. With new herbs being unavailable until Newleaf rolled around, and having to preserve their current stores, a little stealing, according to Minnowheart, was essential. Skypaw wasn’t so sure, however he hesitated to question his mentor who probably wouldn’t actually heed his concerns.

The final thing Skypaw noticed was that the sharp tongued sassy members of the clan got even more sarcastic and prone to rudeness. Which meant, that the golden-furred apprentice was able to see things more clearly as the signs became more blatant. He wasn’t sure if Fadingpaw noticed, but… It seemed like to Skypaw that a lot of cats pitied his brother. No, scratch that. He was pretty sure Fadingpaw had noticed and was trying to not let it bother him. He really didn’t understand why. Well, not at first. It was kind of weird how easy it was to listen in on what cats thought of you and cats you knew. He got his answer when he found out that well… Not since he and his brother were born, no one liked Birchwhisper that much. Skypaw guessed they pitied Fadingpaw because Birchwhisper was so mean to him all the time. Then again… The golden apprentice thought cats could try doing something other than staring and whispering. It was kind of ridiculous.

Skypaw shook his head. He needed to get his head out of the clouds. Right now, he and Minnowheart were doing one of their sweeps through the territory to check for any herbs they could grab that they may have missed. Every little bit helps, and all that. So he needed to get his head in the game and focus. He glanced at Minnowheart who was turning her head side to side, likely to attempt at glimpsing any sort of medicinal greenery.

Skypaw squinted his own eyes, turning his head again and again, trying to focus. He did his best to look between every blade of grass, under every root, and in the depths of any partially frozen stream. It was hard and it was making his head hurt a little, but he was doing his best. He’d kind of lost track of how far they’d been going like this.

Suddenly Minnowheart stopped in her tracks, and Skypaw accidentally bumped into her.

“Ah! E-Er, Minnowheart…?” He asked carefully. “Why did you stop?” He tried to look around Minnowheart, trying to see what it was that made the medicine cat stop in her tracks.

The black and white she-cat’s ears lowered. “There’s a faint blood trail. I smell cats that don’t belong. Let’s go check it out, apprentice of mine. We can tell Flashstar what we find out.” Before Skypaw could protest, his mentor had sprang off, presumably to track down the apparently cats that didn’t belong.

Skypaw sighed, and dashed after her. He would’ve liked to go back to camp and tell Flashstar about the development so he could send warriors to investigate, like any normal cat. Alas, the hazel-eyed medicine cat wasn’t exactly… The paragon of a cat with a normal thought process.

Another thing about his mentor was that she was surprisingly fast, even though she was a medicine cat and her priority wasn’t exercise and fighting?! It had taken no time at all for him to lose the older she-cat, being forced to track her scent. One of the hardest things about being born in Rainclan… Was that tracking was extra hard, since it was all too easy to lose a scent when chasing it across rivers and streams.

He grunted as his paws slammed against the ground propelling him forward with every step. When his paws hit ice, he slipped and had to stumble wildly to keep from falling. His stride wasn’t broken, but disturbed nonetheless. When he had to paddle swiftly through a deep river he couldn’t stomp through like a stream, he could swear he was losing time. How did Minnowheart manage to not lose the trail like this…?

The scene he came upon when he finally caught up to his mentor was… Odd to say the least. He found his jaw opening as his eyes widened.

Minnowheart seemed to be wearing one of her expressions that seemed to say ‘You’re being really stupid right now, and you should know it.’ at a stranger who… Didn’t seem that much younger than Skypaw himself. A white tom with ginger stripes and yellow eyes was crouched down defensively, as if he was about to pounce and attack Minnowheart. When the fact that the tom seemed ready to attack processed, Skypaw shook his head fiercely. He bounded over to his mentor and landed at her side. He was about to say something, when he glanced at the tom. From this angle… He could see something behind the ginger and white tom.

Tucked into a depression underneath some tree roots were… A group of kits! This was the last thing Skypaw expected to find here.

“I’m not here to attack you or separate you from the kits!” Minnowheart snarled, with that irritated tone she used when dragging an unwilling warrior into her den.

“L-Likely story!” The young voice of the tom didn’t win him any intimidation points in Skypaw’s opinion. The tom just looked… Kind of scared of Minnowheart.

“T-Twist!” A voice cried from the side. Minnowheart and Skypaw both turned their heads to see a female, who seemed roughly about the tom’s age, with a practically glowing white and soft silver pelt. Her eyes were a soft blue, and Skypaw couldn’t help think she was kind of pretty.

The tom answered to the name, so Skypaw guessed that meant his name was Twist. “C-Cloudy… Listen, these guys I bet mean trouble…” He suddenly winced and Skypaw noticed a small injury on the side of Twist’s head. He guessed that was where the blood trail came from.

The female, Cloudy, she suddenly turned her head at Skypaw and his mentor with wide eyes. She stepped forward, even as Twist protested.

“Do you?”

“D-Do we what?” Skypaw sputtered out. Minnowheart cast him a vaguely disapproving look.

“Mean us harm.” Cloudy clarified. She seemed calmer than her friend who seemed all too ready to jump to conclusions out of suspicion.

Minnowheart snorted, and Skypaw managed to not startle too much at the sudden noise. “That’s what I’ve been trying to say. I’m not trying to hurt you, or separate you. Just let me take a look at them.”

Cloudy and Twist exchanged a look, and then started whispering to each other. Skypaw could tell they were murmuring something, but couldn’t hear exactly what words they were using.

Eventually, Cloud turned her head and nodded and the two backed off. Though, Twist was grimacing the entire time and seemed more hesitant.

Skypaw awkwardly stayed back, holding himself stiffly as Minnowheart moved forward, past the two strangers, and peeked at the kittens hidden under the root. She sighed and withdrew, turning around. “All six of you are coming back to camp with Skypaw and I.” She declared.

Needless to say, all three of them were shocked and had various things to say.

“What?!”

“O-Oh….?”

“Erm… But….”

Twist seemed angry and ready to attack again. Cloudy seemed nervous and looked like she’d said something wrong. Skypaw was feeling a little weird about Minnowheart making a decision like this on her own.

“Why! I thought you said you didn’t mean us any harm!” Twist shouted furiously.

Minnowheart narrowed her eyes and suddenly stepped forward, getting into Twist’s face, who shrank back. The medicine cat wasn’t physically the most intimidating of foes, however she had a way of making others uncomfortable anyways.

“Listen, brat. Those kits are going to die of malnourishment and are going to freeze to death this Leaf-bare if you and your friend there plan on trying to care for them all by yourself. My guess is that you two can barely hunt enough to feed the two of you, much less plus four squealing kittens.” She didn’t snarl, however her voice was no less fierce and firm.

Twist seemed pained and looked away. Cloudy bowed her head with a miserable look on her face. “O-Okay then… We’ll come with you…”

Minnowheart sighed, and called Skypaw over. He stepped nervously before his mentor’s sharp bark had him running over. “Listen up. We’re all going to carry a kitten each back to our camp. Alright?” She reached into the space, and pulled out a white-furred kitten. Then she backed up as Twist reached in and picked up a silvery tabby kit. Cloudy reached in and carried another gray tabby by the scruff. Skypaw stepped forward and took the last kitten, a ginger and white-furred kit.

Minnowheart began walking away, to the edge of the clearing. Then she looked over shoulder and beckoned the three of them with her tail.

Skypaw looked to Twist and Cloudy, smiling nervously, before bounding after Minnowheart, conveniently trying to walk in front of the strangers. He didn’t want to look at their faces.

Cloudy’s defeated expression and Twist’s fury was a little too uncomfortable for him to look at for any prolonged period of time.

[Natalia]

Chapter 10

It wasn’t long after Skypaw and Minnowheart reentered Rainclan’s camp with kits hanging from their jaws, alongside two outsiders, that all eyes were on them. He found it as unnerving as ever, to be scrutinized so closely, but weirdly enough he was beginning to grow used to it.

Skypaw stuck close his mentor’s side. He wasn’t sure how the rest of the clan would react. It wasn’t like it was every day that outsiders were brought into the heart of Rainclan’s territory, within range of their kits, their prey, and their herbal stores. It was dangerous bringing them here, even if they had seemed a little sad. Cloudy and Twist couldn’t be much older than him, and he couldn’t imagine having to take care of four kits, even with the help of a friend.

He couldn’t help but shrink back a little, ears folded back as Flashstar emerged from his den beneath the Tall Root, and approached them.

The powerful leader’s eyes immediately met Minnowheart’s, and the young apprentice couldn’t help but be relieved he wasn’t the primary recipient of that stare. He wasn’t sure if it was a glare, but it was certainly intense enough to make him feel properly scolded.

“Minnowheart. Why have you brought strangers into our camp?” He didn’t quite growl, but his fierce tone made the effects of his words the same.

Skypaw wasn’t sure if he was horrified or in awe of the way that Minnowheart failed to seem affected in the slightest, defiantly staring back.

“These strangers are merely apprentice-aged, and with them they bring four small kits who are too small to fend for themselves.” She pointed out, with a tail movement that wasn’t a lashing, too slow. Skypaw was feeling a little out of place with the high tensions, just barely concealed by superior control of emotion. “I’d hoped that you would be wise enough to allow them to stay.”

Skypaw heard a sharp intake of breath from behind him. He looked over his shoulder to see Cloudy’s eyes opened wide, her jaw open, as she’d set down the kitten she’d been carrying on the ground. Out of curiosity, his eyes drifted to Twist who still seemed apprehensive as ever.

Flashstar seemed to study Minnowheart’s gaze and then he grunted. “You’re serious.” He walked past Minnowheart, who seemed to gladly get out of his way, and moved to scrutinize the two outsiders who had brought kittens with them.

Skypaw watched as Cloudy suddenly went ramrod straight, her eyes widened. Her gaze occasionally darted off to the side. Twist glared determinedly at Flashstar, his paw twitching as if he were about to unsheathe his claws.

“What are your names? Who are you?” The lightning-eyed leader demanded.

“A-Ah! I’m Cloudy…” The white and silver she-cat began, when Twist cut her off.

“Cloudy, what are you doing?” He hissed, apparently trying to whisper, but failing considering how loud he still managed to be.

“We’re at their mercy… And… The she-cat with hazel eyes was right… All of us are going to die slowly, alone, if we keep going like this…” She murmured.

Twist looked like he’d been struck in the face, and looked away. “.... Okay.”

Cloudy sighed. “My name is Cloudy. My friend…” She turned her head to the ginger and white tom beside her. “His name is Twist.” She looked down at the kitten at her paws. “This is Shira.” She looked to the kitten at Twist’s paws. “That’s Mirror.” She reached out to point with a paw at the kitten dangling from Skypaw’s jaws. “Her name is Peach.” Then she moved her paw to point at the kitten Minnowheart had set down. “And that’s Pearlie.” She took a deep breath. “Shira, Peach, and Pearlie are the three she-kits of my parent’s second litter. Mirror is Twist’s younger cousin. None of us… Have parents anymore, just each other. So, we stuck together. It’s only been a month so far, and we haven’t been doing well…” Then suddenly, she hung her head for Flashstar. “We can’t take care of the kits on our own, so please take them in! Even if you won’t allow me and Twist to stay with them, please give them the chance to live they deserve!”

Twist seemed surprised by Cloudy’s pleading, and after a moment of hesitation hung his head as well. “.... Please.” He managed to get out.

Flashstar looked at the two with a fierce gaze. Skypaw swore you could hear a blade of grass fall to the ground. He was worried that the white-furred tom would still turn the two young cats away. He certainly seemed scary enough to do such a thing.

Suddenly, the leader’s gaze softened. “We of Rainclan are not so cruel to split up a family. We leave such careless apathy to Nightclan and Earthclan. We are willing to accept you into Rainclan. All six of you.” He looked at the kittens. “These young ones are to stay in the nursery for now.”

Then a familiar voice spoke up. “I would be willing to return to the nursery and care for them.” Lilysnow offered.

Flashstar looked to Cloudy and Twist once more. “Are the kits old enough to eat meat?” He asked.

Twist nodded. “Barely.”

Flashstar nodded. “And so, they will be looked over Lilysnow. They will also bear names suitable for kittens of Rainclan. From this day, Peach shall be known as Peachkit, Shira as Silverkit, Pearlie as Pearlkit, and Mirror as Mirrorkit. As for you two…”
Cloudy and Twist practically gulped in unison.

“You two will be trained in the ways of our clan, and in the ways of the warrior. From this day, you shall be known as Cloudypaw and Twistpaw.” The white-furred leader’s gaze turned to a tom with spotted stripes who seemed to be more of the calm and quiet type, to Skypaw. “Leopardfrost. Show Cloudypaw the meaning of what it is to be Rainclan and teach her how she can be a worthy warrior of our clan.”

Leopardfrost bowed his head. “I shall do my best to teach her.”

Then Flashstar turned to his deputy. Suddenly, Skypaw had a sudden need to look for Fadingpaw. He laid the kitten in his jaws on the group gently, and looked around for his brother. He spotted him standing with their friends, staring intently at Lightningfang. Skypaw found himself staring as well. Who could blame them? They barely knew anything about the deputy of Rainclan, other than that he was the brothers’ father.

The golden tom had never approached the pair and Skypaw had immediately felt disheartened by it and… Well… He’d never even attempted to confront him about it. Meanwhile, Fadingpaw was more than willing to muscle his way into Lightningfang’s face, however he didn’t want to do it without Skypaw. With things as they were… The brothers hadn’t even attempted to force their way into a conversation with Lightningfang in an attempt to get some answers.

However, if things were going the way he thought they were going to go… Skypaw could see a more indirect and more comfortable for him way to get to know something about Lightningfang at least. Fadingpaw was angry with their father, but Skypaw? He kind of just wanted some answers, to know who their father was really.

“Lightningfang. I would like you show Twistpaw the ways of the warrior and of our clan.” Flashstar had done it. He’d given an indirect path to Lightningfang that Skypaw could follow.

Twist, or Twistpaw now, was a bit… Fierce and intense, but given Salmonpaw’s intense energy, he was sure he could handle it. He felt a little iffy about trying to befriend the fierce apprentice for the sake of learning about his mentor but… He had to do it. He absolutely had to.

Lightningfang dipped his head to Flashstar. “I will.” The tom promised.

Skypaw found himself staring at his brother again, intent on rushing over and telling him his idea. He was sure that Fadingpaw would love to hear it and follow along with his idea.

When he heard Minnowheart whisper into his ear that he could go, he bolted, even as the gathered cats dispersed and went back to their daily activities.

[Natalia]

www.fanfiction.net/s/12634354/1/Reaching-for-the-Stars

[looks both ways]

So I uh... Posted the fic on ff.net


yep

that's it

[Natalia]

((Will still post new chapters here.))


Chapter 11

“What?” Fadingpaw seemed taken aback by what Skypaw had told him. “If you want to know about Lightningfang, we should just go up together and confront him!” He insisted, a little too loudly for Skypaw’s tastes.

He didn’t say anything about it and replied softly. “Lightningfang doesn’t want to talk to us… He’s made that pretty clear, and I don’t really want to go up to him and be let down like I know we will.” He looked away. “I just… I just want to know what kind of cat he is, so maybe I can understand why he did it… This is a safe way to do that.” He looked back into his brother’s amber eyes.

Fadingpaw grimaced and looked away again. “I just… This seems pretty lame. To Twistpaw, I mean. I don’t want to use someone like that if I can help it.”

Skypaw sighed. “... I guess you’re right.” He shook his head gently. “It was dumb, forget it…” He turned away.

Fadingpaw suddenly rested a paw on Skypaw’s shoulder. “Hey, bro. You’re not dumb. It’s just… Kind of a weird idea. How about this. Twistpaw’s probably all sorts of suspicious about… Everyone. He seems like the loud and angry type, like a dude version of Salmonpaw. How about, if we become friends with him it happens. Then we can ask him about Lightningfang. If we don’t become friends, then we don’t go off searching for it. Alright?”

Skypaw sighed and turned to look at his brother and smiled gently. “That sounds like a better idea. Thanks, Fadingpaw for sorting me out.”

His brother grinned. “What are brothers for?”

The two brothers brushed against each other’s sides, purring for each other. Fadingpaw often acted macho, trying to reject open displays of affection, but he never stopped Skypaw from showing he loved him. The golden apprentice tried hard not to think about the implications of that.

“So, I should probably go….” Skypaw said, as he began to back away.

“Okay. See you later, Skypaw.” Fadingpaw chirped.

Skypaw suddenly stopped. “A-Ah… Please don’t-”

“Don’t tell the others? Don’t worry. I won’t. Salmonpaw would probably force her friendship onto those two if she knew, I know.” The gray tabby interrupted with a smile.

Skypaw let out a sigh of relief, and left after flashing one final gentle smile.

-------

“Do you know why I did what I did?” Minnowheart asked.

Skypaw had come straight back to the medicine cat’s den after speaking with Fadingpaw, and was now helping the black and white she-cat to check over the herb stores. Of the few herbs they’d been able to scrounge up, she had already put them away, and Skypaw was only helping make sure all the herbs were still good. It was unfortunately easy for herbs to get damaged or dry up, thus losing their healing properties. He pulled his head out of the herb stores and looked at his mentor with wide eyes.

“I mean… No… But, why does it matter?” He asked.

Minnowheart sighed, sitting down and curling her tail around her paws. “As your mentor… I have many duties to you. I must teach you the ways of the medicine cat. How to heal and care for your clanmates. To prepare you for when the time comes, that you must interpret the signs that Starclan sends and have the entire clan trust your word.”

Skypaw gulped. He knew that was to be his duty one day… However, it was still unnerving to think that so much responsibility would be his one day. Sure, he wasn’t going to become leader and have to hold together the entire clan, like Fadingpaw wanted to… But being a full medicine cat by himself still sounded pretty intimidating.

“But, there’s one more thing I must teach as your mentor. There will be difficult choices for you to make. There always are. In every cat’s lifetime, there will be many crossroads where it’s tough to make a choice. Sometimes because both choices are terrible, but you still have to pick one. I hope to teach you how to uphold your own morals, and stay true to yourself and pick the choice that you believe in. Hopefully, that’s the right one.” Minnowheart explained.

Skypaw looked down at his paws, tension in his expression. “Is… Is that why you brought two outsiders into camp with the kits? Because if you turned a blind eye, it would be against your morals…?” He asked quietly.

Minnowheart nodded. “Yes. As a medicine cat, it is my duty to help others. Of course, my priority is to Rainclan, however… Those two… They were young. Barely your age, and apparently only barely competent enough to hunt. They were never a threat to Rainclan, especially not with four kittens unable to fend for themselves weighing them down. So, I could’ve let them be. They would’ve likely moved on and died. However, I chose to intervene, to change their fate. Remember Skypaw… Even if you don’t believe so, there is always something you can do to change the your fate and the fate of those around you.” Then she stood up and leaned forward to stretch out her back.

Skypaw looked at Minnowheart blankly. He… Wasn’t sure he understood everything the medicine cat said to him. Surely there’d be some situations where there would be nothing he could do? Besides, shouldn’t his duty always be to the clan? He still felt confused, and hoped Minnowheart would elaborate. Sadly, she did not.

“Anyways, tomorrow night we will travel to the Crystal Cave. It’ll be your first trip, so you best pay attention. Tomorrow, we won’t be doing much aside from prep for the trip. It’s a long trip, and it’s better to be at peak energy at the start of the trip. No need to collapse on Earthclan’s territory.” The medicine cat said instead.

Skypaw nodded. He’d heard some stories, specifically from Shadowsnake, Rainclan’s only elder at this time. Most of Rainclan’s scary kithood stories featured the vicious, bloodthirsty Nightclan warriors and the cold, heartless Earthclan warriors. They were stories, but he couldn’t help but think that perhaps they were true. All those moons ago, when he first met Nightclan cats at the border, they’d been kits like he’d been at the time. They were still kits, but they’d still been a bit mean. It wasn’t enough to prove that Nightclan wasn’t really as cruel as the stories said! Maybe the kits hadn’t been taught yet, the terrible ways of a true Nightclan warrior.

The only real way to know, was at the upcoming gathering. Skypaw had no way to know if he’d be able to go… But at least one of the five turned seven apprentices would go, and they’d be able to tell the others. He felt a little more nervous about asking the newly named Cloudypaw or Twistpaw. Maybe he could rope his much more confident brother into asking, if it should come to it.

“I’m kind of nervous…” Skypaw confessed to his mentor.

Minnowheart laughed. “My first trip was riddled with anxiety and excitement. You’re a lot quieter than I was. Am. Either or.”

[Natalia]

Chapter 12

The Crystal Cave was a sacred place for communing with Starclan. Skypaw was told by Minnowheart that it lay at the far end of Earthclan’s territory. That fact made for a long journey by any of the other three clans, and gave Earthclan bragging rights unfortunately. Every now and again, apparently at gatherings Earthclan liked to rub it in the others clans’ faces that they had the easiest access to the one place that was closest to Starclan. They always claimed in times of crisis they had Starclan’s favor, and thus were best suited to interpret omens and prophecies that were addressed to all four clans.

According to Minnowheart, such prophecies were far and few in between… But not impossible. Though, such a thing had never happened in her lifetime. She’d been told that by her own mentor.

The trip was far, so the golden apprentice watched as the black and white medicine cat explained traveling herbs. She explained that for such a long journey, they’d need herbs for strength and to stave off hunger to travel to the Crystal Cave in an efficient manner. She wrapped up four packets of the needed herbs in broad leaves, between the two of them. When he asked why they needed four instead of two, she’d only smiled and explained that they’d need to come back, wouldn’t they? Unless he planned at staying at the cave.

It wasn’t anywhere close to evening, but Minnowheart wanted to start setting out earlier so they’d make it to the Crystal Cave by nightfall.

Apparently, the herbs worked best in tandem when you swallowed them all at once. So, both he and Minnowheart swallowed the bitter herbs, laced gently with honey as the medicine cat’s secret to make unpleasant herbs a little more bearable without diluting their properties too much.

Then they were off. First, the mentor and apprentice duo had to reach the edge of Rainclan territory, to the border they shared with Earthclan.

In the past, Rainclan had holes in its natural defenses. The territory was on a plateau, and Rainclan’s borders were largely cliffs. There used to tunnels connecting the top of the cliff to the base, however their ancestors blocked them off, thus making them unusable. There was a staircase, however, on three sides. One that lead into Earthclan territory, into Nightclan territory, and a final one that led to the Waterfall Valley, where the four clans met for gatherings. They were unnatural formations, that cats were able to use safely and appreciated, however they were likely created by twolegs. Twolegs seemed to love created odd structures and messing around with the land in ways that were… Unnatural. Still, they allowed Rainclan to retain access to their neighbors and necessary areas without going over the waterfalls that poured over Rainclan’s edge and into the other territories.

Skypaw had heard about the cliffsides, but he’d never quite stood on the edge like this… He swallowed, holding the pouch of herbs for the journey back tight. It was… Really far down. If he tripped, he could imagine he’d be falling forever before he hit the ground with a sickening crack. The thought made him shiver. Then he suddenly noticed Minnowheart was no longer beside him. He looked around frantically for his mentor, intimidated by the idea of advancing on his own.

He suddenly spotted the hazel-eyed she-cat already descending down the rocky staircase. She suddenly stopped on the steps, looking over her shoulder and beckoning him with a combination of tail movements and nodding her head. He did not immediately spring over to her, instead carefully treading, his eyes darting over the edge as if he did not keep an eye on the distance below it would take him by surprise.

His mentor descended the stairs with practiced grace, confident that she wouldn’t fall, as she’d likely taken this route a thousand times over every half-moon. Meanwhile, Skypaw couldn’t get the image out his neck snapping on the hard ground below out of his mind. Every disturbance of him accidentally knocking a pebble off the edge, or whenever he felt his footing might possibly not be stable enough made him freeze. His descension was not timely or efficient at all, his path was slow and uncertain of his own balance. It was agonizing, as the steps heading downward seemed to go forever, the ground not appearing to get any closer as he stepped forward. He feared tripping down the stairs and breaking his neck that way as well. This twoleg modification made him incredibly uneasy. He would’ve preferred a gradual slope, or even a river gradually spilling into Earthclan. Not the waterfall, since that seemed liable to break his bones in a fatal manner as well.

His only solace was that this journey would only occur once a moon. On the downside, he had to do this every moon, unless for some odd reason Flashstar banned his medicine cats from making the journey. Which, sounded unthinkable. What leader would spurn the possibility of guidance from the ghostly spirits that wandered the stars above?

Even though it took forever, Skypaw finally did reach the ground. He flopped onto the ground, dropping his herbs by his side, as he curled up and savored the stable feeling of the grass beneath him. Though, he wasn’t sure he liked how dry Earthclan’s territory was.

In comparison to Rainclan’s mist covered forest and winding rivers, Earthclan was barren. Rusted brown grass stretched out as far as the eye could see, seemingly depressingly flat. The only sign of anything interesting was where one of Rainclan’s main rivers spilled over the cliffside and raged downwards into a waterfall, before relaxing and pooling into a calm river that looked nice enough to swim in. Though, said river was edged with ice. The waterfall’s power was too great to be frosted over, however the calmer waters always froze at least a little.

“Come on, Skypaw. Stop wasting time, we’ve still got a while to go.” Minnowheart called.

Skypaw hastily picked up his herbs, as he dashed after his mentor, the packet of medicine bouncing against his chin as he ran.

The dry grass poked as his pads as he moved, and it was uncomfortable. It wasn’t like Rainclan’s ground was cushioned, however it wasn’t like the ground hated everyone as well. With such unfriendly grass, it wasn’t hard to imagine Earthclan cats as prickly as the ground they walked on.

The plains of grass seemingly stretched forever, and he already missed his vision being obscured by the ever present fog, trees that drooped with the humidity, the damp ground, and there comforting presence of water nearby that were all hallmarks of Rainclan’s territory. This place sucked, and he would hate to have to live here. He wondered if Earthclan had pads made of rocks. It would make sense if this was the territory they’d chosen to stay in all those moons ago! He wondered if this was why Earthclan had tried to take territory in the past.

Though, similar to the stairs, even as it felt as if it had taken forever, he still made it to his destination. He looked ahead and saw where they were heading, a cave opening in a high cliffside. He assumed that the cliffside that stretched around Rainclan extended this way as well. He’d never actually seen a real cave opening, however. Minnowheart showed him some of the ones that were blocked up by their ancestors, however he hadn’t seen one that you could actually pass through. He shivered. It looked awfully dark in there… Would they get lost? Would the darkness swallow them up? What kind of creatures were lurking there in the dark. He’d found himself frozen in place and Minnowheart noticed.

She sighed, and turned around to sudden nudge him roughly with his head. With a yelp, he was forced into motion and started walking forward uncertainly, first gazing back at Minnowheart and then gazing into the darkness. She’d given him an encouraging nod, however he couldn’t help but think this was a little much.

He wandered into the darkness, even as it seemed to surround him. He shuddered at the feeling as if he were being swallowed, and traveling into the belly of some huge, frightening beast. He didn’t think he liked this place much. He could hardly tell where he was going, other than a vague sense he was heading downward. He tripped a few times, since he couldn’t see in the dark, and bumped into a wall he couldn’t see.

Then suddenly he saw a faint light up ahead. “What is….?” He whispered.

“Not the whole cave is encased in darkness. Deeper in the cave, farther from the surface, glowing crystals illuminate the cave. What, you thought Starclan would ask us to commune on the cold, hard ground entirely surrounded by darkness?” There was an amused lilt to her voice from behind him.

Skypaw swallowed and his tense expression softened. “I-I guess I shouldn’t have doubted…” He replied quietly.

There was a light chuckle from behind him, however otherwise there was no other response.

True to Minnowheart’s word, he entered a new section of the cave. He could see they were in a tight tunnel, however it was brighter than the previous darkness. Cool, blue light bathed the tunnel in illumination, allowing Skypaw to finally see where he was walking and allow him to avoid tripping and crashing further. Though, he still couldn’t see the place where they would actually commune with Starclan in their dreams.

Their destination was further down apparently. Finally, the tunnel gave way to an open room. As they walked into the opening bathing in the same crystalline light as the tunnel leading in, he could see an underground river pooled into the room, creating a shallow pool. Within that shallow pool, he could clearly see four different smooth stones that looked comfortable enough to lay down on. Each stone was shaped differently: A raindrop, a circle, a diamond, and a cloud. He tilted his head. That was odd. There were crystals under the water as well, lighting up the pool.

“This is it.” Minnowheart announced from behind him, and moving forward. He watched as his mentor immediately slipped into the pool, and waded over to the raindrop-shaped stone, and climbed onto it. She laid down on it, and now he could see that the stones were high enough for one to get wet, however wouldn’t allow someone to drown in there sleep. When his mentor laid down, he could see that there was enough room on the stones for two cats as well. “Skypaw. C’mon.” The hazel-eyed she-cat called.

The golden-furred apprentice hurried forward, splashing the water as he scrambled to join his apprentice. He almost slipped clean across the stone, but managed to find his place, folding his ears back as he awkwardly settled down next to his mentor.

Unimpressed, an aged brown-furred tom watched them from the cloud-shaped stone, alongside a young tom with a similar brown pelt. “Are all young Rainclanners that clumsy in water?” He asked, and Skypaw couldn’t tell if he was being mocking or genuine or disinterested or what.

Personally, Skypaw thought that the smaller brown-furred cat seemed pretty awkward with how he was fidgeting as well.

Minnowheart rolled her eyes and looked down at Skypaw. “That’s Muddyheart, Earthclan’s medicine cat. Beside him is Twigpaw, his apprentice. Earthclan always gets here first, since they are the closest.” She explained. “Muddyheart isn’t impressed with anyone. He seems to forget that medicine cats are to be beyond the interests of any one clan frequently.”

The Earthclan medicine cat snorted. “And you, Minnowheart, take every chance to take a jab at others. Not exactly a star quality of a supposed healer.”

The female medicine cat appeared unbothered, simply shrugging in response. “I am, what I am.” Apparently unbothered by Muddyheart’s words.

Then Muddyheart went on to lecture Minnowheart about shame. At least he tried. Minnowheart wasn’t the type to take mouse-dung from anyone, so of course she interrupted him and implied that Muddyheart was weak-minded and easily swayed by opinion. Then it simply escalated into a calm-toned verbal battle. It made Skypaw extremely uncomfortable. He gazed across the pool at Twigpaw, who gave him a sympathetic smile. Skypaw awkwardly smiled back. Maybe not all Earthclan cats were so bad. Twigpaw seemed alright.

Minnowheart and Muddyheart bickered away, until a she-cat with a beautiful silvery pelt entered the room.

“Moonpelt.” Muddyheart gruffly greeted.

Moonpelt’s tail passively swayed like a pendulum behind her. “Muddyheart. Twigpaw. Minnowheart.” She greeted each of the cats she’d clearly met before in turn. Before she bent her head down to regard Skypaw, who suddenly felt uncomfortable. Then her eyes turned to Minnowheart, and Skypaw couldn’t help the sigh of relief that escaped him. “So, you’ve taken an apprentice. I thought you swore you’d only take one when you were on the cusp of hitting your expiration date?” She inquired.

…. Did Minnowheart swear that? It was a little disheartening to hear that his mentor hadn’t wanted an apprentice. His mentor did nothing to comfort him with her words. In fact, she simply shrugged.

“Eh. The brat clung tight and wouldn’t let go, so what choice did I have?” Ouch.

Feeling dejected, Skypaw hung his head as Moonpelt waded through the pool to take her place atop the diamond-shaped stone. Muddyheart wore a look of disgust. “I cannot believe that Starclan forces us to commune with them in a pool of water.”

“Perhaps Earthclan isn’t as favored as you believe.” Minnowheart’s expression as she spoke radiated smugness.

However, her insult sparked another argument between the two less than friendly medicine cats, with Moonpelt occasionally inserting a clever statement here and there. Were all medicine cats like this? Did having to heal the clan and interpret omens from ghosts drive medicine cats mad? Suddenly, Skypaw feared for his sanity more than ever.

Eventually, finally the Nightclan medicine cats arrived. Minnowheart whispered into his ears that Nightclan was always the last to arrive, being the farthest from the Crystal Cave. A scrawny tom with faded brown fur and exhausted gray eyes was apparently Nightclan’s deputy. Skypaw blinked. That certainly didn’t fit the image of the scary, vicious Nightclan cats. Perhaps being a medicine cat, he was of a different cut. Beside him, a young she-cat probably about Skypaw’s age with flaming, red fur seemed to be looking around the cave suspiciously. That fit Skypaw’s preconceptions much better.

“Shrewberry. It’s a pleasure to see yourself and Poppypaw are in good health.” Moonpelt greeted in the serene, almost sleep-inducing voice that belonged to her.

Shrewberry barely seemed to register Moonpelt’s voice, as he walked to his place on the final circular stone, Poppypaw following at his side as she glared daggers at everyone in the room.

“Ah yes, such a pleasure to be ignored and to be glared at, every half-moon.” Minnowheart commented sarcastically.

“Hush, now! Your snark is not appreciated.” Chided Muddyheart.

“Yes. We should begin now, before we miss our chance to commune with Starclan, and gain insight into how we can better the lives of our clans.” It struck Skypaw how diplomatic Moonpelt was, and likely how often she had to play the mediator between cranky, bickering medicine cats.

Without further ado, the cats around the cave, including his mentor, laid their heads down and closed their eyes.

Skypaw took a deep breath and closed his eyes, resting his head against the stone dipped in the thinnest layer of water.

Then he felt as if he were falling backwards into a deep, dark river.

[Natalia]

Chapter 13

Skypaw was falling deeper and deeper into the river. As if some dark, murky river had grabbed him from behind and was dragging him down by his back. However, he wasn’t drowning. He could breathe. He was breathing normally. He would’ve thought his heart would be pounding out of his chest, however he couldn’t feel his heartbeat. He floated downwards further and further and further… Then somehow he felt himself turning, slowly moved so he was gently floating down and prepared to land on his feet. His paws gently met some sort of… Floor. He gazed around, feeling as if he should be more fearful than he was.

He was standing on a river of stardust. He could feel a damp surface underneath his paws, when he looked down he could see the ripples from where his paws met the surface. Yet, he wasn’t sinking beneath the surface and instead standing on the river. Underneath the water’s surface he could see glittering stars shining underneath. He wondered how deep this river of stars was. He felt like there… Layers of stars. Then suddenly something caught his eye, some of the stars were moving! They spiraled and moved in an odd pattern, until Skypaw realized it was a moving constellation of a cat. They were leaping towards him, running forward. He suddenly found himself scrambling to back up, as suddenly the starry cat burst through the surface of the water with a glittering splash, and landed softly upon the water’s surface.

Skypaw blinked and saw the she-cat standing before him. She had a brilliant, glowing golden pelt that glittered with stars tucked in her fur. She was… Tall. Wow. She was beautiful. She smiled, with stars hidden even behind her warm, hazel eyes. He thought he must look like an idiot, as he suddenly dropped his rump onto the ground, jaw wide open.

“Skypaw. It’s wonderful to finally meet you.” She finally spoke.

“Er, yes, I mean… You’re of Starclan right? This is…. A dream? A dream of Starclan? I mean you’ve got stars in your pelt and everything-” He slammed a paw over his mouth. He was rambling! In front of Starclan! Did she think he was dumb now? She probably did. His embarrassed train of thought was suddenly interrupted with a light chuckle from the she-cat.

“Skypaw. It is alright to be anxious. Young cats such as yourself are uncertain and it is perfectly natural. I realize I should introduce myself… My name is Sunnyraven. I am your ancestor. On your father’s side.” The newly named Sunnyraven explained.

“O-Oh…” Skypaw couldn’t help his wide blinking. His grandparents had been dead since before he was born… He hadn’t ever known any family aside from Fadingpaw. He supposed Lightningfang and Birchwhisper counted… But it didn’t feel right. It didn’t feel right to call them family. He couldn’t explain it, however it simply… Gave him a weird uncomfortable feeling. “So… Um… Is there something you’re supposed to tell me? A-Ah… I don’t know how this works. I erm… Don’t think talking to Starclan is just for small talk… Right?”

Sunnyraven smiled sadly. “Unfortunately, we do not have the luxury to casually speak to the living cats below often. Times of true peace without conflict are far and few in between… They never tend to last long, I’ve found.” She suddenly stepped forward and Skypaw froze up.

He winced and shut his eyes tight. The golden she-cat only reached forward and rested her chin atop Skypaw’s forehead.

“I am… Sorry, Skypaw. I wish you did not have to bear the burden you do. You and your brother walk a path of suffering. It is your written destiny that has already damaged your kithood, allowing you not a second of peace.” She whispered softly.

Skypaw flinched, and Sunnyraven had already stepped back with a sad expression. “Burden? What burden?” He asked, not knowing what in the world his ancestor was speaking of. He suddenly found himself on his paws again. “What suffering? What do you mean?”

Suddenly, Skypaw realized that Sunnyraven was already slowing sinking back into the river of stardust. He leaped forward, trying to grab her before she left. However, it was in vain. After she sunk back into the river, a pouncing constellation once more, leaping far out of reach. He could hear her voice one final time.

“After you return home… Pay close attention to your mentor, but do not allow her to know of your presence.” Came the whisper in his ears.

Did that mean… Eavesdropping? That didn’t sound okay, even coming from Starclan. Before he could properly think about the ethical implications of his apparently wise ancestor telling him to spy on his beloved mentor figure, the water in front of him surged up. He froze. In the water, he could see a fiery cat within its depths. It wailed and screamed. Then the water surged towards Skypaw and engulfed him, without giving the medicine cat apprentice even time to scream. He was lost in the waves, and at the mercy of the current. It was dark. There were no stars here. He gazed forward and saw the fire cat. Was that…? Then the fire cat evaporated and the violent current whisked Skypaw away.

When he suddenly felt like he was slammed, painfully, into a wall, he jerked his head up and he was awake. Frantically, he looked left and he looked right not sure of where he was. His panicked heartbeat slowed as he realized he was in the Crystal Cave. He looked around. He was the first to wake up… He stared down into the crystal-lit pool.

Were all Starclan dreams like that….?

[Natalia]

Chapter 14

Skypaw’s bones ached and he felt ready to collapse into his comfortable nest in the medicine cat’s den. However, he couldn’t help but remember Sunnyraven’s words. The starry-furred she-cat had wanted him to spy on Minnowheart without her knowledge for some reason. He was nervous, since he wasn’t sure for what reason the Starclan cat had imparted her urgent words. He could spend all day conjuring wild and horrific fantasies about what it could possibly mean, but the only way he’d find out was by doing it. He didn’t want to feel like he couldn’t trust Minnowheart, but what was it to go against Starclan? A clan without Starclan’s guidance was doomed… Or at least, that’s what every cat made it sound like.

It was raining when they came home. Rain still made it’s way into the camp, though it was a peaceful mist. It still messed with scents, and could make it difficult to detect scents. Especially if you weren’t looking for them. Skypaw purposefully held back and hid behind a large root to listen in. He’d told Minnowheart he wanted to eat with his friends. She sassed him, something about not thinking food became any less soggy because of the magic of friendship. He was pretty sure she didn’t suspect anything. As he strained his ears to hear he was surprised to hear a voice he’d only heard once in his memory.

“... Minnowheart.” That was… Lightningfang’s voice! The voice of the Rainclan deputy and his… Father. Skypaw wasn’t sure exactly what he felt about the deputy. He’d never been around. Did he count as a Father? He wasn’t sure. He wasn’t sure he felt anything about the golden-furred tom. He nervously bit the inside of his mouth, trying to calm down his frantic heartbeat.

“Lightningfang. What do you want?” Skypaw had never known that Minnowheart didn’t like Lightningfang. Actually, he wasn’t sure he’d ever heard Minnowheart this angry. It sounded as if she were about to claw the tom.

“I simply wanted to know how my s-...... Skypaw. How is he doing?” What was that? Was he about to say his son? Skypaw felt a bit ridiculous how he kind of hoped he was going to say his son. However, the tom had switched to his name. Skypaw felt terribly confused and wasn’t sure if his Dad cared or if he was doing his best to detach himself.

More anger from Minnowheart. “Oh, so once a mentor is around to be a middle man, you’re okay with inquiring after your son?! Don’t tell me you’ve pulled this mouse-dung with Sootspeck and Fadingpaw as well!”

“.... You know exactly why I… I can’t speak to my sons.” Lightningfang never seemed to sound like he felt much of anything, but… This was beyond that. Skypaw couldn’t describe it.

“You can’t? Don’t make me laugh. You’ve been able to talk to your sons this entire time, you’ve chosen not to because you’re a coward.” A coward? What did Minnowheart mean by that? Skypaw’s mind was whirring and he was confused. He felt like he was missing so much context here. He tried to focus his ears harder, as if that would summon the missing information.

“I-I… I can’t, Minnowheart.” Lightningfang sounded desperate now. “Birchwhisper, she… I left them alone with her. I just… It’s my fault she treats them that way. I couldn’t take it… And then when I wanted to talk to them, it was too late. It’d be too strange, they’d be asking where I was that whole time. I couldn’t… It’s better if they don’t have a father…” Skypaw could only imagine if Fadingpaw was here. He’d be yelling at Lightningfang. Then he froze. Could he tell Fadingpaw any of this? This information felt really important but… Sensitive as well. He didn’t really think his brother was the kind with gentle, careful claws. He didn’t like the idea of making such a decision that would be so… So hard.

“And who are you to decide that? Don’t you think those kids should get the chance to decide whether they want their Father in their lives?” A snarl came from Minnowheart. “Skypaw… He’s a good kid. He deserves to know his Dad, even if he’s a cowardly piece of crowfood.” Skypaw winced. He thought that was kind of mean… But Minnowheart was a little mean, in a teasing way all the time. He guessed it made sense that an angry Minnowheart would be extremely harsh.

“..... I’ll… Think about your words…” The murmur was barely heard. Skypaw froze up, as Lightningfang emerged from the den and walked away. He hadn’t seem to have noticed Skypaw. The golden apprentice softly let out a sigh of relief.

“Skypaw.” Then Skypaw froze up again. “Come inside.” Minnowheart sounded perfectly calm. It was terrifying. Nervously, with ears folded back and his chest tight, he walked forward inch by inch into the den. He hung his head expecting to be yelled at. Instead, the medicine cat sighed. “... You shouldn’t have had to hear it like that.” She murmured.

Skypaw’s ears perked up. “Erm…. I-I’m sorry… I just-” Suddenly he was cut off.

“Did a Starclan cat tell you to eavesdrop?” Minnowheart asked suddenly.

Skypaw tentatively nodded. Minnowheart sighed again.

“Thought so. You aren’t the nosy type, unlike your brother and that friend of your’s, Salmonpaw.” She shook her head gently. “... I believe I have no other kind choice than to simply tell you the full story.” She took a deep breath and sat down. Skypaw sat down as well nervously meeting Minnowheart’s eyes.

The she-cat began speaking. “About a quarter-moon before you and Fadingpaw were born… I received a prophecy. ‘From the pale earth, and silent lightning, a savior and destroyer shall be born.’” She shook her head gently. “I figured out fairly easily the pale earth was your mother, and silent lightning was your father. Meaning, according to the prophecy of you two… One of you shall save us and the other shall destroy us.” She snorted. “However, we of Rainclan… Heh. We aren’t going to immediately assume one of you is Dark Forest-bound, and treat you as such. Has anyone besides Birchwhisper treated you and your brother, ill?” She asked.

Skypaw thought about it for a moment, before answering. “... There’s been stares. I don’t think they notice we know, but me and Fadingpaw see them.” He admitted.

Minnowheart shook her head gently again. “... They’re staring because they feel sorry for you and Fadingpaw, due to your Mother’s treatment. Your Mother somehow decided that you surely must be the savior, and your brother the destroyer. Of course, there’s no way of knowing that, and it doesn’t explicitly say what will be destroyed and saved. It could save our hatred. It could destroy our hatred. Who knows, really? There’s too many interpretations, and honestly… There’s no point dwelling on prophecies in general. They tend to come to pass whether you like it or not, and trying to change it usually ends in disaster, forcing the prophecy instead of circumventing it. So, Flashstar figured it was best to treat you two kids as if you didn’t have a prophecy dogging your steps. Of course, that didn’t happen, not entirely. The stares, Birchwhisper... Still. It could’ve been worse.”

Skypaw was silent. He… This was a lot of take in. “... Thanks… For telling me.” He murmured. “Can I… Can I tell Fadingpaw…?”

“... Look, I’m not sure telling your brother is the best idea… But I know you value your relationship with him, and how it would kill you inside to keep a secret from him. So, I’ll let you choose. I think that secrets kill healthy relationships, though.” Then she yawned. “Anyways, this has been very depressing and we should sleep. Sure, this might’ve been worldview shattering for you, but come tomorrow… The sun will rise as normal, the territory will be foggy as usual, and I’ll be poking jabs at you every 2 seconds as usual. The world goes on. It’s fine kiddo.” Then the medicine cat offered one last grin.

“Night, kiddo.”

Skypaw found his paws carrying himself to his nest, and he collapsed on his side. He shut his eyes and drifted off into darkness, not wanting to think about the night’s revelations anymore until the morning.