72Okay, here's the next chapter. Please read and review! I've been thinking this but been completely forgetting to mention it. This chapter is the last, because of how it ends. But don't worry; I'll start the sequel soon! (And it won't be called Fading Echoes, I promise)
WildCroconaw: Thanks for all the reviews! I can see that you're just reviewing as you read so I won't answer your questions as you will find out soon. Thanks for the compliments, too. It's been a long time since I've gotten this many reviews. Thanks again!
Chapter 22
"Wait. You all came back? What about what StarClan said? 'The One with a pure heart will return while the rest shall perish'" Amberpaw hissed in confusion.
Doveleaf looked at her apprentice sharply. "How did you hear about that?"
"I have my ways," The ginger she-cat muttered. After a moment of prickly silence, she went on. "Fine, I heard you talking to Hollystar."
"You shouldn't have eavesdropped."
"Sure, fine, I learned my lesson and all. But what about the warning?" Amberpaw clawed at the ground.
"Later," Lizardpaw suddenly hissed, twitching her ears forward. Amberpaw jerked her head up to see Bengalfang headed towards them. Bengalfang halted, seeing the Clan cats looking at her. The spotted she-cat flicked her tail, gesturing for them to follow.
"This is where the Fireclaw Nation will be living."
"This is ThunderClan territory," Lizardpaw protested.
"So? You Clan cats will be sleeping in your old camp, for-…"
Shrewheart interrupted Bengalfang. "You Clan cats? I thought the point of this was that we are joining the Nation. Anyways, I'm not sleeping in the reeking ThunderClan camp."
"You are Nation cats but at the moment you are also Unproven meaning that you don't get all the benefits a full Nation cat has. You become Proven by proving that you are ruthless and will do what it takes, no matter what." Bengalfang added before anyone could ask. "Now, stay here and you will be joined shortly by Slate who will tell you about Nation life."
[x]
There will be three, kin of the cat with fire in his pelt, who hold the power of the stars in their paws. Then there will be a fourth with the power of earth and sky, water and fire, and the deadly power deep within, who has the ability to silence all forever.
"Stupid prophesies, I wish they didn't exist." The gray she-cat with a flat face growled, tucking her nose into her chest.
"Oh stop complaining, Yellowfang. Prophesies may be a burden but they are a way for us to guide our Clan-mates," A tortoiseshell she-cat meowed, waving her tail.
"I wish there had been a warning about Brokentail. If there had been maybe he wouldn't have done what he did." A tom with a ragged pelt said, shooting Yellowfang a fierce look.
Yellowfang's head shot up. "Whose fault is that, Raggedstar? That kit shouldn't have lived and we both knew it."
"You're the one that let him live!"
"I was a grieving mother! I couldn't kill my only remaining son. And you made him deputy," She added sharply.
"Enough!" A blue-gray she-cat snapped, standing above the bickering cats on a ridge. "What's done is done; we're not here to talk about Brokentail, not completely, anyway. We need to talk about the Three."
"Bluestar…" The tortoiseshell she-cat whispered, nearly a whimper.
"What, Spottedleaf?" Bluestar asked, instantly alert.
Spottedleaf beckoned with her tail for the cats to gather around the water. "No! It can't be," Bluestar gasped. For in the water were two shapes, standing commandingly on an old, rotting tree trunk. One was a silver she-cat with black spots and the other was a brown tabby.
"But what is her power?" Raggedstar growled suddenly.
"The prophesy is unclear about that part," Spottedleaf responded, a small paw darting out and breaking the image on the water. A moment later all they could see was their reflections again.
"A power that all creatures once possessed," A thin growl made them jump. "In two-legs the strongest but in all animals. Two-legs have lost touch with their instincts; there isn't even an inkling of the power left. But in creatures like us there is a sliver of it. This sliver is stronger in her." The speak was a sightless, furless tom. With utter confidence, he padded up to the pool and touched it with his paw. Spottedleaf and Yellowfang both gasped at something only they could see this time.
"What?" Bluestar hissed as Rock padded away, her claw digging into the ground.
"Storm clouds…" Yellowfang rasped.
"Animals…" Spottedleaf added hoarsely.
And then together, "Power."
[x]
"These two," Slate growled, jerking his head at Amberpaw and Lizardpaw. "Will train to become Paladins."
"What is a Paladin?" Shrewheart spoke up, her amber eyes glowing in delight.
"You and Doveleaf. You Clan-cats would call it…a warrior." The nearly black tom responded in annoyance. "As I was saying, they will be Tenderfoot's, or apprentices. But be warned, the training here will be much more intense then you soft kitty-pets are used to." A wry look entered Slate's eyes.
"Claws unsheathed?" Shrewheart asked.
"Always. However, at the moment you are all Unproven. You prove yourself to the Nation by committing an act of service. Murder. Anything…Anything big that you do for the Nation. When you prove yourselves you will be given your Nation names and will have the full benefits of the Nation." Slate jumped up and began pacing.
However. The Nation will never provide you protection. It is your job to protect yourself and, if you wish, your mate and kits. The only time help is permitted is in battle. Cats hunt for themselves, although toms usually hunt for their mate also when she is taking care of kits."
"What about elders and sick or injured cats?" Doveleaf tilted her head, not liking the system.
"The Nation has no elders. A cat is a Paladin all his life, even when he's old he must hunt for himself. For sick or injured, our healer, Willowclaw, will take care of them and those cats will be given spare food." Slate snapped, looking more and more annoyed.
"Could you explain the rank system of the Nation?" Doveleaf asked, enjoying Slate's annoyance for some reason.
"Fine!" The tom growled and laid down again. "You've already met our Lead Huntress, Bengalfang. If our leader was a tom we would called him the Lead Hunter. The Nation has anywhere from one to three captains, depending on the huntress. At the moment we have two, Streamfang and Stoneclaw, but there is a rumor that Bengalfang is going to also appoint Spruce as captain. When Bengalfang dies, the next hunter or huntress is going to be chosen either violently or fairly. Either one or two of the captains steps down or they fight to the death for the position, simple as that."
Our healer I already spoke about, Willowclaw. She, obviously, heals the sick or injured cats. The paladins are what you would call warriors, we are in charge of fighting for the Nation in battle and hunting for the cats we are ordered too. And, of course, defend our territory. What you would call apprentices we call both apprentices and tenderfoot', depending on the quantity of the young cats we speak about. We have queens and the queens kits are called either kits or sightless'. When a cat becomes healer or captain, the current hunter will change that cats name to either end in –claw or –fang and that new title sticks only when that cat keeps his position, or gets promoted. We stole the idea of the kits' and apprentices' names from you Clan cats so those are the same as you use."
[x]
Amberpaw yelped as Jet's paw slashed at her shoulder, scratching it slightly. Behind Jet, Adderpaw watched in cold amusement.
"Let me try, Jet." The gray and white tom meowed, creeping forward. Jet turned and looked thoughtfully at his apprentice.
"You've been training for probably less then half the time she has, Adderpaw, but you can probably beat her." The black tom growled, narrowing his eyes at Amberpaw.
Adderpaw jumped forward joyfully, springing onto Amberpaw's back. Remembering her training, Amberpaw rolled over quickly, looking to knock the other cat off with her greater weight. To her surprise, Adderpaw was still clinging to her back when she scrambled to her paws. Obviously these Nation cats were taught to endure tougher battles then Clan cats were. Amberpaw shrieked in surprise and pain when she felt Adderpaw twist around and sink his teeth into her neck.
"Enough, Adderpaw." A cool voice made Amberpaw freeze. "I said enough!" The voice snarled this time and a moment later Adderpaw was flying off of her. A brown tom towered over Adderpaw, ready to deliver another blow. Adderpaw cowered in front of the tom.
"He was doing fine, Stoneclaw," Jet complained lazily, not even bothering to defend his apprentice much from the blows.
Stoneclaw swung on Jet, baring his teeth. "It won't do us any good if these apprentices get killed their first day here. I told you before that if Amberpaw got hurt I would flay you. Come to my den when we return home."
"Fine," Jet replied back, somewhat sulkily.
"Come with me, tenderfoot." Stoneclaw ordered, his yellow gaze on Amberpaw. The ginger she-cat forced herself not to stumble back when she saw one eye clawed shut. No doubt blind. Amberpaw scurried after him frightfully. "How are you taking to Nation life?"
"It's…different," The ginger she-cat said hesitantly. Stoneclaw looked at her sharply. Uncomfortable, Amberpaw looked over her shoulder. Hearing a scrabble of claws, she jerked her head forward, automatically dropping into a defensive crouch. Stoneclaw was no where to be seen. Suddenly, the large brown tom dropped from the tree above her, landing softly in front of her.
"Come on, then!" He growled impatiently and clawed up the tree again agilely. Amberpaw tilted her head back, looking up. "Not scared are you?"
"Never," Amberpaw hissed and jumped up as far as she could go before scrabbling to the lowest branch.
"Not bad for a tenderfoot."
"I grew up in these woods," Amberpaw reminded him sharply. Stoneclaw twitched his whiskers.
"So you did." The brown tom easily leapt to the next branch. "I like your attitude, Amberpaw," He said, not looking down and calling her by her name for the first time. "Hurry up!"
Panting, Amberpaw followed Stoneclaw up, branch by branch, until they were nearly to the top of the large tree. Stoneclaw was already sitting calmly and looking around. Amberpaw also looked up, amazed. She was in one of the trees where she actually could look around without being blocked by leaves.
"Wow," She whispered. "My mentor would never let me go up this high."
"You're not a Clan-cat anymore, Amberpaw," Stoneclaw reminded her gently. "Doveleaf isn't your mentor anymore. In fact, I was wondering what you would think of being my apprentice?"
"But—But what about Doveleaf? Why isn't she still my mentor?" Amberpaw asked, bewildered.
"It takes a long time for a cat to be chosen for a mentor, Amberpaw. Being my apprentice is lucky as the captains and huntresses hardly take on one."
"Can I—Can I have some time to think about it?"
"Of course, just don't take to long." Stoneclaw laid down where he was at the base of the trunk, his tail swinging over the side of the branch. "You better be getting back to your camp."
"You're not going to sleep up here, are you?"
"'Course I am," Stoneclaw muttered, closing his eyes. "You will be too, Amberpaw, once you have proved yourself. The Nation cats are trained to become better hunters, fighters, and runners than anyone else but trees are our…talent. Every cat sleeps in the trees besides old paladins and queens with their kits. Now go and let me rest."
Bewildered, Amberpaw nodded and began scrambling down the tree. What would it be like to live among the trees? To be the best hunters and runners and fighters? No, she reminded herself, remember how Adderpaw fought you before. You don't want to end up like that.
[x]
"Amberpaw!" Wolfpaw shrieked, flying at Amberpaw. The gray medicine cat pinned down his sister, a look of sheer delight on his face. I told Chestnutpaw you would be here soon."
"Where is everyone?"
"In the dens, recovering," Wolfpaw mewed, a sad look entering his blue eyes. "Come, everyone is waiting."
"Cinderheart! What happen?" Amberpaw demanded, racing over to her mother and burying her nose into Cinderheart's flank.
"Amberpaw," Cinderheart rasped, flicking Amberpaw's shoulder. "Are you okay?"
"Yes but what happened?"
"The Fireclaw Nation happened," Jayfeather growled gruffly. "Cinderheart got a neck wound and lost a lot of blood but she's young and will recover quickly."
"Jayfeather! How are you here?"
"Bengalfang aloud me to be escorted back. Apparently they liked Cinderheart's strength and wanted her to live. I couldn't let her die, though." Jayfeather sighed.
"Thank you, Jayfeather," Cinderheart put in, laying her head down.
"Now go back to your den. Cinderheart is tired and I'll watch over her. Wolfpaw, do you wanted to go with them?" Jayfeather asked wearily.
"But you need…" Wolfpaw trailed off, his expression torn.
"I'll be fine. Brightheart will be coming in and watching your mother while I sleep. I'll call you if you're needed," Jayfeather promised. "Now go and rest with your siblings."
In the apprentices den, Amberpaw sniffed all of her siblings in turn. "This all?" She asked, surprised at the minority of their wounds.
"The Nation didn't want us injured to badly," Snakepaw yawned.
"Thank StarClan," Dewpaw added and curled up, rasping her tongue along Wolfpaw's flank. "Now, we're all together so let's rest. Whatever happens we'll face it together."
Amberpaw yawned in agreement, a purr building in her chest despite all that was happening. Feeling happier then she had in days, the ginger she-cat curled up in her nest beside the slumbering Juniperpaw.
Yes, whatever happened, they would face it together.
[x]
I think this is a pretty good place to end, don't you? The next story will be started shortly, I promise, and I hope everyone that has followed this story will continue on with the sequel. And I must add a thank you to everyone that has followed this story from the beginning and also those who just recently started reading!
Betcha you wanna know the title, huh? Well, since I'm such a nice person, I'll tell you.
Storms of Fury