The Secret Clan - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Tuifeather’s eyes shook like a fishpond in an earthquake. With a faint mew of distress, her legs collapsed under her and she lay on the sun-parched ground. Hailcloud drew back, trying to shrink away from the whole horrible situation.

“Tuifeather!” Vinepaw gasped over the roar of hungry flames. Duskflower lashed her tail. “Sunlight, Dewfrost, tend to Tuifeather, now!” she growled. Hailcloud was amazed at how the grey deputy handled situations like these. She may be short-tempered – and who can doubt that she is – but Fallenstar made a wise decision when he appointed Duskflower as deputy. As Sunlight and Dewfrost hesitated slightly, the grey deputy hissed. “Don’t just stand there like mice, help your clanmates!” the two warriors skidded to Tuifeather’s side and began to check her heartbeat and splash water onto her nose.

“Tulipaw and Keapaw,” Duskflower began. “It is crucial that you get some sand onto the fire. Kick,” they immediately sprinted to the quickly growing flame and kicked as fast as their legs could. Hailcloud watched the scene in horror. How could this happen? Why would StarClan allow this? Duskflower’s anxious face broke her thought train in two. “The rest of you – see if you can topple the container on fire. The water might just put it out!” Swiftstream leaped forward and crashed into the mighty container. Some of the sickly black liquid splashed onto his whiskers, and he flinched slightly, but kept pushing. Hailcloud rushed to help him, their similar coloured pelts mingling. Lightfoot barrelled against the plastic container with all her strength. The mountain of rubbish groaned, and with an almighty heave, it came tumbling down into the swift water. The cat-like fire went out with an annoyed hiss. Tulipaw and Keapaw crouched together, backs to the destruction, mid-kick. They gasped around the smoke.

What was left was a smouldering heap. Duskflower stood there, shaking in her paws. She managed to stumble a few steps before Sunlight rushed over to support the toppling deputy. “It’s over,” Sunlight sighed. “It’s…it’s all over.”

Tuifeather was breathing heavily. She lay on her side, eyes glazed over, and taking in the whole situation. Her tail tip flicked occasionally, signalling that the dear medicine cat could hear her fellow warriors. Dewfrost was watching over the medicine cat, her eyes showing past anxieties floating away. Vinepaw, however, was completely frenzied, her body shaking and her tail jerking. Her eyes followed a zigzagged trail of nothing.

“No,” she whispered. “This is far from over. This was not some two-leg nonsense, no, far from it. This meant something. The starry warriors above us are trying to say something, and they said it through Tuifeather. Follow the river and you will meet fire, but beware of darkness. Tuifeather?” the apprentice asked tentatively. The black and white she-cat raised her head meekly. She looked slightly confused, but despite the whole frightening ordeal, she mewed quietly. “Yes. Yes, this was a sign from StarClan. But before leaping to a conclusion, as I just have, I would like to speak with Fallenstar.” She gritted her teeth and tried to stand, but she collapsed onto the stony bank of the river. Hailcloud rushed forward, brushing aside Sunlight with her tail. “You’re weak,” she said in Tuifeather’s ear softly. “Let us help you,” Hailcloud twitched her tail at Lightfoot, as Dewfrost was already poised to help. Lightfoot nosed at Tuifeather’s belly, supporting the medicine cat as she tried to get to her feet. She slid out from underneath her and her two sisters moved like magnets onto either side of Tuifeather’s unstable body. Duskflower nodded tersely, and with a flick of her tail the patrol of warriors filed in and followed the deputy. Hailcloud’s stomach turned as she looked at Vinepaw. She followed hesitantly, looking wary. She flinched when flies buzzed around her, or when a stone shifted beneath her. She looked nearly as bad as her mentor, Tuifeather. The medicine cat was barely walking – Hailcloud and Dewfrost were pressed so tightly against her.

Hailcloud shivered. This was far beyond the reach of her paws. The river was tainted! Maybe that could be the darkness in the prophecy?

Keapaw was first to come into camp, with Tulipaw following closely behind. The white apprentice was trembling slightly, but her eyes were determined and strong. He touched her on the shoulder with his tail and led her across to the centre of the camp, where the Clan was waiting, wide-eyed. Possumpaw leaped forward out of the crowd, the eyes of his clanmates following him every inch. The brown apprentice looked down before brushing muzzles with his journeying denmates. “Welcome back,” Possumpaw muttered. “Fallenstar is about to address the Clan.” The rest of the patrol was now coming into the camp, the swishing of reeds signalling their arrival. Tuifeather was now walking independently, but her eyes were clouded, and she sometimes crossed her paws. The Clan cats were all gathered around a faded tortoiseshell tom, sitting a tail-length or so away. They all looked up to him. The sage-like tom flicked his tail and called to the returning patrol.

“Ah, Duskflower,” he mewed. “I trust you had a successful mission?” Duskflower stared at her leader. “Fallenstar,” she addressed him formally. “I would like to discuss this after a Clan meeting, if possible.” Fallenstar jerked his head backwards, as if her words had clawed at his heart.

“Very well,” he growled. “Now, all of you come join the rest of us.” He waved his tail at the returning cats and they quickly hurried to sit beside their clanmates.

“Today,” Fallenstar resumed in his commanding, reverberating voice. “Is a proud day for MeadowClan. Not only are we making four kits apprentices, but two apprentices are becoming warriors.” Keapaw swung his head around to find Possumpaw, but noticed that the brown apprentice was sitting not far off from Fallenstar! He and his brother’s fur were shining with fresh grooming, and their father Volewhisker was looking on with pride in his eyes. With a jolt, he realised that the brothers were the new warriors. A brief wave of jealousy coursed through Keapaw, but it was easily overcome with joy for his friend. It’ll be my turn soon, he reasoned.

“Beepaw,” Fallenstar summoned the grey apprentice. “Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect the Clan, even at the risk of your own life?” Beepaw looked Fallenstar straight in the eye and meowed. “I do.”

Keapaw wasn’t so sure that he did. Beepaw had dark mystery hanging around him. As with other cats, if you looked into his eyes, you could usually see his good intentions or see his heart. With Beepaw, you saw a steel wall, not hinting anything. And Keapaw knew that Beepaw didn’t have the best intentions, or the purest heart. He just hoped that having the honour of being a warrior would be enough to set Beepaw on the right path.

“Then from this day forward, I, Fallenstar, leader of MeadowClan name you Beestripe. StarClan honours your determination and skill.” As the newly named Beestripe faced the Clan, Keapaw couldn’t help thinking of how Fallenstar hadn’t mentioned loyalty. But seeing the pride and contentment in the grey apprentice’s – no, warrior’s – eyes, Keapaw pushed all his anxieties about him to the back of his mind. Anyway, it was Possumpaw’s turn next. Fallenstar repeated the initiation for new warriors, and waited for Possumpaw to accept being a warrior.

“I promise.” Possumpaw whispered, his voice brimmed with intensity. Fallenstar looked rather taken back, but carried on, eyes on the brown tom.

“Then from this day forward, I name you Possumflight. StarClan honours your bravery and intelligence.”

The entire Clan erupted in chanting of the new warriors names’.

“Beestripe, Possumflight!” The two new warriors exchanged a happy glance before puffing out their chests.

“As is tradition,” Fallenstar said as soon as the cheering died down. “The new warriors of the Clan will sit vigil tonight and guard the camp. They are not to speak to any of their fellow Clanmates, as you all know, but when the sun rises they will be welcomed as MeadowClan warriors.” Keapaw tried to catch the newly named Possumflight’s eye, but Volewhisker had rushed up to his sons and was rubbing against them whispering “Your mother would be so proud of you”. Beestripe cast his gaze skywards and sighed. The three warriors returned to the crowd. Possumflight sat between Starlingflight and Riverfur, who both gave him approving nods.

“Furthermore, we have an incredible four kits to make apprentices. Will Tansypetal’s most recent litter please step forward?” From the nursery walked – not stumbled – four well-groomed young cats, tails and chins high.

“Tweetkit, Mistkit, Beetlekit and Hollykit. Do you promise to train to the best of your ability as a MeadowClan apprentice?”

The kits all mewed excited yes’s, with Mistkit squeaking hers loudly. “Then from this day forth until you earn your warrior name, I name you Tweetpaw, Mistpaw, Beetlepaw and Hollypaw. Starlingflight,” Fallenstar beckoned the black and white she-cat forth with a sweep of his tail.

“It has not gone unnoticed that you have yet to have an apprentice. I trust you will teach Tweetpaw all that you know and he will turn into a fine warrior quite like yourself.”

Starlingflight glowed with pride, as did Tweetpaw. “I will do my best, Fallenstar.” She mewed, and licked the black apprentice behind the ear. The two moved back into the crowd, with Tansypetal watching excitedly.

“Mistpaw, your mentor will be Cricketsong.” To the new mentor, he said, “Pass down your unwavering bravery and skill to this apprentice.” Cricketsong nodded but said nothing, licking Mistpaw’s ear. Mistpaw looked slightly disappointed at the choice of her mentor, but purred unconvincingly.

“Hailcloud, you will be mentor to Beetlepaw. Your loyalty and courage I am sure will show through in this apprentice.” Hailcloud’s eyes sparkled as she bounded up to Beetlepaw, who looked slightly awkward up there next to the comparatively large warrior. Keapaw was sure he could hear Hailcloud whisper “Don’t be afraid, little one”.

Finally, Fallenstar named Hollypaw’s mentor.

“Hollypaw, you will work under and learn from Dewfrost,” Keapaw whipped his head around to see Dewfrost’s confused look on her face.

“Fallenstar, if I could interrupt – ”

“Which you cannot,” Fallenstar growled.

“As much as I may want to have this apprentice, I mentored Beestripe, who has just become a warrior!” Dewfrost flustered. “Surely it is unfair to give me a second apprentice when so many other fit warriors would be honoured to have her?” she cried. That’s true, Keapaw thought ruefully. Many warriors such as Yarrowleaf and Raintail were snarling subtly at Dewfrost. They were yet to have apprentices, and Keapaw couldn’t help thinking Fallenstar was favouring some warriors.

“Silence!” Fallenstar hissed. “I choose each apprentice to the warrior I think would be ideal for it, and I as your leader, choose this apprentice for you. If you are willing to turn down this promising young cat, then maybe you aren’t suited to being a mentor at all!” Fallenstar’s last words echoed around the grassy camp. All cats fell silent, shrinking back from the harsh words. The only thing that broke the quiet was the ever-present chatter of the stream.

Keapaw was oddly thankful of the other cats around him. He suddenly felt exposed to Fallenstar’s burning anger, and the night smells on his Clanmates pelts calmed him.

Another reason Keapaw’s ears flamed was because this fuming leader was his own father. And his father was more loyal to his Clan than to his mother-less kit. To him, his mentor Lightfoot was more of a mother – or a father, for that matter – than he had ever had.

Dewfrost did not meet Fallenstar’s gaze. She twitched slightly.

“I will take this apprentice, Fallenstar.” She whispered, barely audible enough for the sage-like leader to hear. He looked down his nose at her and carried on, slowly.

“Hollypaw, your mentor will be Dewfrost.” It was then as the defeated she-cat came up to accept her apprentice, Keapaw actually saw the apprentice. She looked like a turtle drawn into her shell, not wanting to be there. Her whiskers twitched and her lips quivered. When Dewfrost reached her, she reluctantly licked her mentor’s shoulder, whose eyes held all the apologies in the world. As soon as Hollypaw moved back, Fallenstar hastily called, “This meeting is over.”

The cats dispersed quickly, with Duskflower, Tuifeather and Vinepaw trotting lithely into Fallenstar’s den to talk about today’s journey. But nobody’s mind seemed to be on the startling prophecy. All eyes – ones leaving on border patrol, peering from the depths of dens, or even staring blatantly – were on the miserable, tail-trailing remains of the once happy Dewfrost.

Keapaw and Tulipaw had the entertaining job of keeping the new apprentices company. The camp had settled into an eerie silence, apart from the hushed voices of the four cats in Fallenstar’s den. Tulipaw and Mistpaw were deeply engrossed in a gossip about Beestripe, while Keapaw, Beetlepaw and Tweetpaw were playing quietly with a moss ball. Hollypaw was buried in the recesses of the rosemary bush, head tucked under her paws, breathing unevenly. As Tweetpaw hooked the moss ball with his claw and frenzied over it, Keapaw mewed quietly, “I’ll be right back.” The tortoiseshell tom ducked and weaved towards the back of the apprentice den, and crouched beside Hollypaw. She looked up briefly, her honey-comb yellow eyes melting Keapaw’s.

“Hi, Keapaw,” she whispered in a voice that matched her eyes. “Being an apprentice is cool, isn’t it?” she mewed, obviously trying to be enthusiastic.

“Look, Hollypaw,” his voice stumbled on her name awkwardly. “Any warrior would be lucky to have you. Dewfrost was just surprised she had been chosen to be a mentor so soon. Fallenstar is old; his judgement isn’t as clear as it used to be.” Hollypaw looked uncertain for a heartbeat, but then she let out an uneasy purr, and pressed against Keapaw. Her tabby and white fur mingled with his tortoiseshell pelt. Keapaw felt his stomach flip, and his heart flap around like a finch in a birdcage. He didn’t know where to look – not at the sad but besotted she-cat nuzzled next to him, and certainly not at the other three apprentices.

The fourth was staring at him with betrayal and poison in her eyes. Her white neck fur bristled, and her tail tip twitched in discomfort. Narrowing her eyes, she whipped around and rushed out into the night rain. The last thing he heard of the grief-stricken Tulipaw was an air-piercing yowl. Keapaw buried his face in Hollypaw’s warmth and stayed there through till morning.