The rain fell down, stinging like needles in each cat's fur. They all stared up at a tree, watching a poor kitten hanging from a tree branch. Lightning lit up the sky as the tiny kitten mewled for help. "Someone help me please!" Firekit mewled. She was hanging onto a branch after being taken to the top of the evergreen tree by a hawk, trembling in fear praying to Starclan that someone will get her down safely.
Her brother Nightkit who was a little bit older than Fire, tugged at Darkskies' tail anxiously as he began to panic for the safety of his little sister. "Well, aren't you guys gonna help her?! Firekit is in trouble!"
"Who are you?" Shykit, the kitten of Greysky and Darkskies asked the dark-grey tomcat.
"I'm Nightkit, but never mind me. My sister is stuck in a tree!!" Nightkit screeched as he looked up at his little sister, his hazel green eyes shining with worry.
"The branches are too slim Nightkit, the warriors won't be able to rescue her." Darkskies sighed as he turned to Greysky and then glanced at Shykit and Nightkit.
Shykit then had an idea on how they were going to save Firekit, ears perked and he looked up at his parents. "We can go. Nightkit and I." Shy smiled and glanced at Nightkit, who returned the smile and the two kittens leapt onto the tree.
Greysky was about to protest, however she gave in and sighed. " Very well then, Be careful you two."
The two tomcats quickly darted their way up to the high altitude of the tree, the branches creaking from the weight of both kits.
"Come on! We need to save her before she falls!" Nightkit spoke too soon, the branch Firekit was hanging from had snapped, and had caused her to hang under the branch. Firekit looked down and began to yowl louder; she was terrified. Shykit's eyes dialed; fear rushed through him. The two scampered even faster up the tree. They both realized how much danger the shekit was actually in.
"Hold on we're coming for you!" Shykit squeaked; they were in the last stretch to reach her.
"Please hurry I can't hold on for much longer!" Firekit mewled as her paws began to nearly slide off the branch.
Shy and Night were on the branch under her a few seconds later. "Let go and I'll catch you!" Shy mewed as he held his arms out looking up at her.
"Are you Insane?!" Firekit mewled back, looking at Shykit.
"Insane preferably would be, like, calling the wolves to help. Trust me and let go, your brother is here to help too!" Shykit attempted to lighten the mood and calm her down as he gazes into her crystal blue eyes.
"Oh alright, I trust you. I'm gonna let go.." Firekit said nervously and sheathed her claws, letting go of the branch, beginning to fall until she landed in Shy's little arms. Nightkit held onto Shykit's scruff to maintain his balance as he caught Firekit. Firekit cuffed her paws around Shykit and gazed into his lovely emerald-green eyes, a blush appearing on her face while dipping her head into his fur. The three kits descended carefully out of the tree and made it safely down.
"Great work Shykit and Nightkit!" Shy's parents cheered happily.
Shykit set Firekit down on the moss as Nightkit ran to her with tears in his eyes, embracing her, planting his muzzle onto her forehead and curling his tail around her. Greysky and Darkskies smiled with delight, but Shy turned away from the cheers, padding towards the two siblings. Nightkit looked up at Shykit. He pulled away from his sister, and they both got back onto their paws.
"Thanks Shy, you saved my sister. I really owe you one." Nightkit meowed as he ruffled Firekit's fur kindly.
"Ey, no problem Night, I'm glad I could help." Shy chuckled and stepped closer to Firekit.
Firekit looked up at Shykit, her eyes gleaming. She was lost in his colorful and luminescent green eyes. She was speechless. Her face turned red and her tail flew over her eyes. Shy giggled at her playful antics.
"I'm glad you're safe Firekit, I was pretty worried." Shykit mewed kindheartedly as he laughed nervously.
Firekit then embraced him as her tail swayed with glee. Shy blushed as he wrapped his paws around her with a smile.
"Thanks for saving me back there, I really do appreciate it Shykit." Firekit smiled as she pulled away blushing even harder.
"You're most welcome. Hey, I'm in Fallingclan... would you and your brother like to join us?" he asked, looking back to his parents for the ok. They nodded, and he turned back to them.
Nightkit overheard the question and his ears perked. He appeared behind his sister. The two shared glances for a moment, then turned back to Shykit.
"Oh Starclan, yes! Thank you!" The two siblings squealed excitedly.
...
As soon as they entered Camp, Firekit and Shykit sat down by a pond in the nursery. The pond glistened; in the center floated a large log. Firekit sat down next to it. She gathered a few crystal-blue roses, and before long, she was making a flower crown, weaving it onto the grass strands.
"What are you making?" Shykit looked over curiously at what Fire was doing with the crystal blue roses.
"A flower crown, I always make them in my spare time." Firekit mewed gently as she kept her focus while tucking the last strand into place.
"It looks beautiful.. who is it for?" Shykit smiled at her his voice soft as a feather.
"Well, I made it for you." Firekit blushed as she held out the complete flower crown to Shy.
Shykit blushed, and his ears perked, "Wow, thanks Fire, I love it." He giggled.
"I'm glad you like it, I made it as a sign of our new friendship and as a thank you gift for saving me." Firekit smiled brightly.
"Heh, you sure are creative and quite lovely." Shykit meowed under his breath.
"What was that?" Firekit asked giggling, overhearing what he said.
"Um.. Nothing! You're very creative." He laughed nervously, crossing one paw over the other.
Firekit playfully rolled her eyes; she looked at the sparkling water in the pond, her blue eyes brightly shining.
"So Firekit, mind if I show you how to Log?" Shykit smiled at her while swimming out to the log.
"Hmm.. Sure, but only if you wear my Flower Crown of Power!" Firekit lifted the crown with both paws. It glistened in the sunlight as she laughed.
"Ohh yes, anything that has power!" Shykit joked playfully, swimming back to shore.
"I now dub thee.. Shykit of Fallingclan!" Firekit giggled. "The Handsome."
Shykit blushed, smiling, then giving a bow. He leaped back into the water and climbed onto the log. "What you do is get used to feeling that going to fall."
"No way, that's impossible!" Firekit's face lit up knowing that she was about to be proven wrong. Shy rolled the log forward, placing one paw in front of the other with speed and grace.
"Yeah, how are you supposed to do that, Shy?" Dawnkit, one of Shykit's friends, purred with a sly expression on her face.
"Well.. this is pretty much it.." Shy chuckled, looking embarrassed. "Then again, I have been working on some tricks..."
"Show off." Dawnkit grumbled blowing her fur out of her eyes.
Another kit, Splashkit, who was Firekit's friend, padded over to see what was going on.
"Oooh show me the tricks Shy! I'm dying to see it!" Firekit sat down amused. Keeping a close eye, while Splashkit sat beside her, focusing her attention on Shykit.
Shykit began to walk faster, entering a gallop. He fixed his eyes on his paws, making sure he wasn't going to trip.
"Ready?" Shykit smiled.
"Fine, ready." Dawn shrugged, trying to act "hard to get".
"Ready as I'll ever be!" Firekit announced joyfully. Splashkit nodded happily.
Shykit came to a sudden stop while galloping, sinking his claws into the log for stability. The force of the spin brought him underwater. Shy fastened himself onto the log for two more rotations. Once he surfaced from the water, he leapt into the air. When Shykit landed, he made it back onto the log, trotting with glee.
"It worked!" Shy shouted with surprise that he was able to do the trick.
"Not bad." Dawnkit purred giving a slight glare at Firekit.
"That was so cool Shy! You did amazing at it!" Firekit placed both paws under her chin with awe.
"You've got to teach me how to do that, that trick is so epic!" Splashkit bounded up and down.
"I will, I'll teach Firekit and my new brother as well." He chuckled. "I'm Shykit by the way. And you are?" Shykit asked the grey she-cat beside Firekit.
"I'm Splashkit, it's nice to meet you, and Firekit. If we could be friends that's fine by me!" Splashkit mewed as her tail swayed gently.
"We would love to be your friend Splash; I think we will be great friends." Firekit smiled.
"Once my brother is born, I'm sure he would love to be friends with you! Other than that, Fire is right, we sure will be amazing friends." Shykit purred.
Shortly after Shadowkit was born (Shykit's brother), Shykit, Firekit, and Splashkit became friends with him. Enjoying their time together, they would play around and talk with each other. Ivymoon, a kind she-cat who was already a part of Fallingclan, adopted Firekit and Nightkit. The two siblings were happy that they finally have a mother. Six moons had passed for the group of friends, and they would soon become apprentices.
...
"Clan meeting everyone!" Bluestar, the leader of the clan, called as she sat atop the High Rocks. All the members of the clan gathered around her with curiosity about what was going to be announced. When all of the cats were settled, Bluestar began the meeting. "Welcome. Today I have the honor of making several kits into apprentices."
The crowd cheered, in the back row was Firekit and her friends as they all sat together. They looked at each other, eyes widening, realizing that they were going to be apprentices. The group looked back to Bluestar focusing all their attention onto her. Firekit narrowed her eyes as she heard Dawnkit call Shykit's name.
"Hey Shykit? After the ceremony can we talk? I have something to tell you." Dawnkit meowed in a whisper to him.
"Sure, Dawn." Shykit responded as he turned back to Bluestar.
"I will call the names of each kit. Please stand beside me when your name is called." Bluestar smiled and began to announce the names. "Shykit, Dawnkit, Shadowkit, Firekit, Splashkit..." Firekit smiled and while her friends raced each other to high rock, she followed after them.
"Now, young ones, repeat after me. I, your name, will uphold the Warrior code with all my life. I shall protect and serve the clan based on these guidelines. I will respect my superiors and mentor. I, by the cats of Starclan, swear to be loyal to Fallingclan." Each kitten proudly repeated, " You have all earned the rank of Apprentice. Your names shall be changed from kit, to PAW. Congratulations, all of you!"
Bluestar then began to call the names for the mentors of the new apprentices. Firepaw's ears perked as she awaited for her name and mentor to be called.
"Firepaw, your mentor shall be Ivymoon." Bluestar smiled at the young apprentice. Firekit glanced at her mother. Ivymoon smiled, leaking a few tears for her all-grown-up kitten.
Shypaw's mentor was called, luckily enough it was his mother, Greysky. "MOM!" Shypaw blurted out happily, but realized he said it out loud as the crowd turned to him. "Oops." Shy blushed as he laughed nervously.
"That's Shy right there." Shadowpaw chuckled.
"Heh, yeah." Firepaw blushed as she gazed at Shypaw.
"Firepaw, are you blushing?" Splashpaw giggled.
"What?! No I'm not blushing, I'm not, believe me!" Firepaw whisper-shouted only to have her face turn a brighter shade of red.
"Sounds to me like you have a crush on my brother." Shadowpaw nudged her playfully.
Firepaw hid her reddening face with her tail as she lowered herself to the ground, while her two friends laughed.
"Okay. Okay. You both broke through me, I have a crush on Shypaw. I really like him but I doubt he feels the same." Firepaw gave in but lowered her ears. She really hoped he liked her back, after all her feelings for him are very strong and has been since they were kits.
...
"Congratulations all of you." Bluestar smiled at each one of the apprentices.
"Thanks Bluestar." Firepaw dipped her head with respect.
"Wow we are finally apprentices!" Splashpaw mewed excitedly.
"I can't believe it!" Shadowpaw smiled happily.
"Yeah! Woo-hoo!" Shypaw exclaimed.
Ivymoon, Darkskies, Greysky, and Nightpaw padded over to the apprentices with proud expressions and tears of joy clouded in their eyes.
"I'm so proud of you sis. You'll make a great apprentice, I know it." Nightpaw purred as he embraced his sister.
"Thanks, Nightpaw, for being a great brother." Firepaw meowed as she placed her head on his haunches gently.
"I'm proud of both of you, my little kits are growing up." Ivymoon meowed as a tear fell from her eyes. She embraced the two apprentices.
"Congrats you two, you both are finally apprentices!" Darkskies smiled at Shadowpaw and Shypaw as he ruffled their fur gleefully.
"You both are going to make extraordinary apprentices." Greysky remarked as her ears perked forward. "Now, Shypaw, would you like to start your training?"
"Yeah!" Shypaw bounded around his parents and brother. "I'll see you guys later!" he said as he turned to his friends and padded away.
"Shy wait... I mean.. I.. okay." Dawnpaw stuttered as Shy darted away.
Firepaw looked over, and realized that Dawn liked Shy as well. Her ears lowered and wondered what did she need to tell Shy. Firepaw looked back at her mother and brother her ears twitching.
"Want to start your training, dear?" Ivymoon smiled and nudged Firepaw softly.
"Yes please." Firepaw smiled weakly and padded away with Ivymoon and Nightpaw.
...
After training, Firepaw and Nightpaw collapsed on top of each other on the moss, very exhausted and panting like dogs. Shypaw came in sweating moments later into the apprentice den.
"How did it go guys?" Shy puffed and padded towards his friends.
"You look beat, Shy, as well as Fire and Night. Come sit and we'll tell you all about it!" Splashpaw insisted, giving a warm smile.
"So what happened?" Firepaw smiled breathlessly, ears pressed forward.
"I'll go first. Mom showed me the territory, and while doing so, we met a wolf! It was crazy! The wolf attacked mom, but I jumped right on top of him and bit him in the neck!" Shy exclaimed, parting his fur to show a wound. "He slammed me on the ground and scratched at me, until mom jumped onto him. When we were done, the wolf sure had something to tell his puny pack." Shypaw puffed his fur triumphantly.
"That's cool! We saw the territory too, yet we didn't see any wolves." Shadowpaw nodded and everyone else agreed.
"Well Nightpaw and I went to the territory to hunt and learn some moves while fighting. We brought back some voles and mice and I got to spar with my brother." Firepaw's tail swayed as she glanced at her brother.
"Don't forget that wounds don't count while sparring." Nightpaw laughed.
"Well.. I pinned my mentor!" Dawnpaw nodded to herself. " Yea, my mentor was real easy to pin."
"Cool!" Everyone smiled.
...
"Clan meeting everyone!" Bluestar called from high rock. The group of friends gathered around her. Bluestar's face was grim.
"We need all the help we can get. We are being attacked by wolves for our territory." Bluestar spoke firmly; the whole clan gasped, especially the group of friends. "They have waged war upon us, so, with that said, we need to train our apprentices to be stronger and faster. The war will be in one moon, we must hurry."
The apprentices started giving each other worried glances. They feared that they would lose each other and their loved ones. Firepaw dipped her head into her brother's fur. She was scared.
"Um, Shypaw.. Can we talk? I tried to talk to you after the apprentice ceremony but you left before we could discuss things." Dawn lowered her head then lifted it back up.
"Sure let's go to the warriors den and you can tell me." Shypaw smiled as he and Dawn padded away.
Dawn turned around and gave Fire a sly smile as she walked away, swatting her tail at her.
Firepaw lowered her ears. Questions as to what she was going to tell Shy soared in her mind. She went back to talking about the upcoming war with Splashpaw, Shadowpaw, and Dawnpaw.
"So, now that we're apprentices, we should start thinking about.. oh, I don't know.. Mates." Dawn's eyes flashed. She smiled happily at him.
"What are you talking about? We have a LONG way until that happens." Shy shrugged.
"Well, we can at least think about it.. Who do you want to be your mate?" Dawnpaw pressed him.
"I'm not choosing now. It seems like it's a little too early to decide." Shypaw smiled, wanting to change the subject, "What did you do with your training? Did you have fun?"
"Shypaw, I know you like me, just admit it. You shouldn't hide your feelings!" Dawn narrowed her eyes. Her fake smile was starting to fade.
"Dawn. It's too early to choose. I can't talk about this right now. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings."
"So you like her instead.. But what about me? I was the one who welcomed you into the clan!"
"That's not what I said.." Shypaw stuttered when Dawnpaw interrupted.
"But that's what you meant. Yeah, that's all I wanted to talk about." Dawnpaw padded away.
The two apprentices came back, Dawn padded to Firepaw with a smirk. "Shy and I are going to be together. He said so himself! I knew he would want to be with a strong, smart she-cat than some flower-loving apprentice like you." Dawnpaw pushed passed her, grumbling something under her breath as she padded away, leaving Firepaw in tears. Shadowpaw and Splashpaw turned to her as they padded towards their friend.
"Fire, you alright?" Shadowpaw asked as he was about to place a paw onto her.
"You don't seem okay.. Is there something wrong?" Splashpaw glanced at Firepaw with worry.
Firepaw ran off crying into the apprentice den and tossed herself onto the ground in tears. Shadowpaw and Splashpaw followed her as they padded closer.
"Fire.. what's wrong?" Splashpaw nudged her friend kindly.
"Dawnpaw and Shypaw.. Together.." Firepaw mewled in between sobs.
Shypaw overheard the conversation.
"She's full of it! Where did she get THAT idea?! Starclan.. What am I gonna do? They're both my friends.. I don't want to let them down.." He lowered his head as he passed the apprentice den. Firepaw watched him leave, and sobbed even harder. Words of kindness filled the apprentice's den.
"Who needs Dawnpaw?" and "You've got to be kidding me! You're meant for Shypaw!" were heard with the small thuds of a pat on the back.
...
"Attention! Clan meeting! Ahem!" Bluestar called.
"What's going on?" Shypaw calmly awoke from his soft nest.
"The war.." The words fell from Firepaw's lips with a tremble.
"May all who can catch their own prey, come gather around me. We need to finish our last preparations." Bluestar called. "Everyone, we will be split into areas of our territory. Each will fend that area. I expect you all to fight hard.. Your clan depends on it."
"Shypaw." Darkskies and Ashclaw called. Ashclaw was an elite warrior that Shypaw had looked up to. "Shypaw, you are going to battle in our group."
"What about Firepa-" Shypaw started, watching Firepaw padding away. Broken, a rouge and friend of Shypaw's, was also following Firepaw. He was going to assist as well.
"She will be helping the injured in the Great Oak while you fight with us in the Snowy Mountains. There is nothing to be afraid of, I bet you'll even bring down a wolf, kiddo." Ashclaw smiled, holding his head high.
"For her.." Shypaw mumbled.
"What?" The two toms looked down at the apprentice.
"Oh, I was saying.. uhh.. Well, I was mumbling. Just trying to let go of stress, is all." Shypaw tried to keep his thoughts strait.
...
When they arrived at the Snowy Mountains, Shypaw realized that there were allies assisting Fallingclan. Several cats of different smells lined up on the freezing snow. They trekked up the side of the mountain, slowly making their way to the top. Shypaw stared forward at the ground ahead of him.
"Step forward, claw. No, no.. Claw, step back.." He mumbled to himself.
"Nervous?" Nightpaw padded next to Shypaw.
"No.. Not for me, at least." Shypaw shrugged. "I just want to make sure I have the techniques down."
"Right.." Nightpaw turned his gaze, suspicious of Shypaw.
They arrived at the top of the mountain. It was a flat, snowy area. A wide pond, covered in ice, stretched over most of the plaza.
"Everyone." Darkskies spoke. "This is where we will be battling. Note your area. We have luckily arrived first, so we will know our environment."
The other clan's group-leaders nodded. "Apprentices. You will be second-line defense."
Shypaw nodded, along with Nightpaw and Splashpaw. They all stepped to the side, behind the warrior. Each warrior lined up, each sitting side-by-side in a perfect line. The second line, behind the warriors, consisted of apprentices. Shypaw smelled warriors and apprentices of at least two other clans.
"Everyone, cover your claws in Death berries. They will poison the wolves once you claw them. Be careful though, do not let their juices enter your mouth or blood. It will kill you." One of the other leaders began to passed a paw full of berries to each cat.
Shypaw took his share of the berries; he slowly spread the juices over his claws, watching the other apprentices.
"Excise me.. I have a ton of cuts on my paws.. I shouldn't use these." One apprentice with dust-brown fur spoke. The leader nodded. He skipped him, and continued to give the berries to the other cats.
A howl sounded over the distance. Just then, a large pack of wolves appeared over the horizon.
"This is what we're fighting?" One wolf sneered. She sat down, creating her pack's battle line.
"This will be easy.." Another glanced strait at Shypaw. Shypaw growled at the wolf, bearing his fangs.
"Silence!" An even stronger canine stepped forward. Shypaw assumed he was the Alpha. "You all will choose your pick.. But we shall wait for permission."
Darkskies narrowed his eyes at the Alpha, "You underestimate my warriors and my clan. Are you sure you and your wicked pack want to mess with us?"
"You are no match to us." The Alpha snarled. A howl sounded over the distance, and he charged.
Their whole pack thrust toward the cats. Each landed with a clash of force, tackling the front-line cats. Shypaw immediately pounced on Ashclaw's attacker. Darkskies brought his wolf down with a thud. Shypaw clawed madly at the wolf's eyes. The wolf jumped back, knocking into another scuffling pack-member. Shypaw clung tight, seeping his claws deep into the wolf's face tissue. It yowled, backing away. The Death berry juices were seeping in, creating a searing pain into the wolf's eyes and face. Shypaw quickly jumped away, turning his attention to Darkskies, who was pinned under the Alpha.
"You're pathetic. You are weak. You call yourself deputy.." the Alpha spat in Darkskies' face. Darkskies pulled his head away from the Alpha's foul breath.
"My clan may not be as strong as you.. but we have courage.. we have dignity.." He snarled, biting at the Alpha's muzzle. The Alpha jumped back, growling fiercely. Shypaw darted toward the two, hoping to help. Suddenly, he felt a collision. Another wolf had rammed Shypaw in the rib. Shy yowled, then turned to her face. He pulled his lips from his thorn-sharp fangs and ripped madly at the wolf's flesh. She seemed unstoppable, ignoring each blow. She sent a claw down the left side of Shypaw's tiny face. His yowl has no words to describe. Ashclaw rushed to Shypaw in assistance. He jumped at the wolf's hind, pushing her down under his weight. He clawed and bit at her hide with his long, pointy claws.
Meanwhile, Shypaw closed his jaws around the wolf's neck, clinging fiercely. He bit harder than ever, shaking from side to side to sink his teeth deeper into her throat. The wolf's raspy cry was silenced, when he heard the painful snap of the windpipe. He released, watching the wolf suffer as he backed away. She gasped for breath, clawing at the snow. Blood stained the snow a bright red, and that was it. Shypaw backed away, horror struck his heart. "I just killed a wolf..." Shypaw stared.
Shypaw quickly snapped back to reality, when he saw Ashclaw being dragged away by two other wolves.
"NO!" Shypaw screamed, jumping onto one of the wolves, trying to pry its mouth open. "Let him go!"
"Aww, so you care about this shameful pile of flesh. Aye, why don't you have front seat. Why don't you watch him die!" One of the wolves pinned Shypaw to the ground, holding his bleeding head up and eyes open.
"No!" Shypaw cried, trying to break free of the wicked wolf's grasp.
Ashclaw resisted, trying to pull his ankle away from the wolf's jaws. He clawed at the wolf, claws fully unsheathed. The wolf pulled his head away, then thrust forward, attaching his jaws to Ashclaw's throat.
"Please! Don't!" Shypaw cried, tears melting the snow underneath him.
"Oh, but the show isn't over." Shypaw's captor gave a crooked smile.
The other wolf twisted his head to the side. A loud crack echoed over the mountain. Ashclaw's head was pulled off his shoulders, and sat a mouse-tail-length away from his body. The tendons barely still attached. Blood rushed from Ashclaw's body, pooling around the dead cat's body.
"NO!!" Shypaw cried, thrusting upward, clawing away from the wolves.
"I'm not finished.." The captor grabbed Shypaw by the tail. Shypaw screamed. The wolf bit so hard, that the tip of Shypaw's tail was ripped clean off.
"Help!" Shypaw cried. His call was answered by Darkskies, who had found his way around the Alpha wolf.
"Leave my son alone!" He screeched, landing on all fours, digging his claws into the malevolent wolf's back. He turned tails, eyeing Darkskies. Shypaw managed to claw himself out of the way. "Head to the Great Oak!" Darkskies shouted over the grunts and growls of the battle.
Shypaw obeyed, speedily limping to the oak. His hind leg trailed behind him, ragged and torn. His tail was nabbed to a point. Two of his ribs were broken, a bruised lung, and he could barely see out of his left eye. He crawled on, back down the mountain, through the forests and to the deserted area where the Great Oak grew.
"Help me!" He screeched. The area was completely quiet. He feared the area had been attacked. Shypaw yowled again, his voice was hoarse and dying. "Help me! Medic, please!"
Shypaw collapsed, dizzy of blood loss; he peaked behind him, only to see a red streak, a path, of where he had traveled.
Firepaw jumped from the tree, clawing her way down the trunk, "SHYPAW! You're alive!" She had a panicked expression on her face. "What happened?!"
Shypaw coughed, "Where are the medic-" He was interrupted by a hoarse wheeze.
"Shh.. They're up there. I'll help you." Firepaw carefully hoisted Shypaw over her back. He whined, trying to keep himself awake. They arrived at the top, where several cats were rushing from branch to branch, healing the wounded.
Broken jumped toward Shypaw and Firepaw.
"What in Starclan happened? What were you thinking, Shypaw?!" He quickly yowled. His voice boomed.
"Don't just scream at him, help him!" Firepaw growled to Broken.
Broken immediately started grinding herbs. All unknown to Shypaw.
"Come on, Shypaw, look at me. Don't close your eyes. Watch me. Stay awake!" Firepaw placed one of her paws on his healthy cheek.
"Firepaw.. I.. We mixed up." His voice was raspy.
"What do you mean?" Firepaw was playing along, thinking he was being delusional.
Shypaw choked for a second, then breathed, "I heard what Dawnpaw said. She lied.." His voice trailed.
Firepaw's eyes widened.
"She is no good, I won't choose until I'm a warrior, but she's no good."
Firepaw shed big watery tears. She feared that she was going to loose Shypaw forever. "Stay with me, Shy. I love you, you can't leave me. Not now, not ever. I'm not going to leave you, so you better not leave me." Firepaw spoke between sobs.
"This is going to hurt.. a lot. Two of your ribs are broken.. I have to crack them back into place.." Broken spoke. Even grumpy old Broken felt sorry for Shypaw.
Shypaw slowly nodded, squeezing his eyes shut. Firepaw stared long and hard into Broken's eyes, trying to see if he knew there was another way to save Shypaw.
"Ready?" He spoke again.
Shypaw nodded again. Broken pressed on his rib, pulling backward, trying to re-align the bone. Shypaw yowled long and hard. Firepaw stepped back in horror, hoping Shypaw would be alright in the end. Broken stepped back, grabbing more herbs. Shypaw breathed, opening his eyes wide, trying to think of something else.
"Broken, do you have any family?" Shypaw groaned.
"Well, yeah. His name is Shattered. He's still a rouge, but I bet he'd like you." Broken realized Shypaw's idea.
"Just get it done, I don't want him to hurt anymore!" Firepaw butted in.
"Eat these." Broken pawed some poppy seeds to Shypaw. Shy sorely swallowed them.
"Out of the way, bodies incoming!" A she-cat from another clan spoke. Several cats entered, hauling dead bodies up the tree.
Firepaw sat and stared, while Shypaw looked away. There sat Ashclaw, Ivymoon, and several other cats.
"NO!" Firepaw screamed when her mother was among that group. Her eyes filled with tears.
"Wounded incoming!" Another medic cat called. Darkskies was carried toward Shypaw. He was set down on the branch next to him. Shypaw leaked a few tears, using what fluid was left inside him.
"Dad, you'll be all right.." Shypaw spoke softly, slowly moving a paw over Darkskies. Darkskies was clearly unconscious.
"Shypaw, you need to rest. The herbs need to set." Broken pushed Shypaw gently.
"No.. Dad." he stared at a wide gash in his scruff. "Dad.."
Darkskies groaned, opened his eyes to slits.
"Dad! Don't leave me. Silverpelt is full, you can't go!" Shypaw was clearly loosing strength.
"Itsss hoookay." His throat was torn to bits, yet he pushed the words through his throat. "Hiii whiil bheee ahll right."
Shypaw pulled his stinging body toward his father, trying to comfort him and maybe himself.
"Everyone! The battle is over. We have killed off most of their attackers and they have retreated. We have won!" Bluestar announced in triumph.
Barely anyone changed their glance. Everyone was worried for their fallen loved ones. Shypaw tucked his head near Darkskie's bloodstained pelt.
"Shypaw, back away. He needs to rest."
"Nhoo.." Darkskies' squeaked, "Ihts fhine.."
Darkskies and Shypaw healed almost fully, left with only scars and memories. Moons had passed.
"It was just a dream, everything's fine." Shypaw tried to calm Darkskies, after he had had a bad dream. He feared that Starclan was trying to warn him of war.
Darkskies' fur was on end, as he stared blankly at Shypaw.
"Dad. You're ok!" Shypaw touched him with his nose.
"Right. Just, just, right." Darkskies stood.
Shypaw nudged a rabbit to his paws. Darkskies smiled.
"You're my son.. and I will always be on your side. You know that right?" He looked at Shypaw.
"I love you too dad." Shypaw nuzzled his muzzle, "I'm gonna go find Firepaw. You take a minute to think, ok?" Shypaw padded away, waving his tail goodbye. Shypaw sat next to the silent Firepaw and wondered if she was okay, she was silent ever since her mother was killed.
"Firepaw? Are you okay?" Shypaw asks curling his tail neatly over his paws.
Firepaw ate her rabbit and she looked at Shypaw with a smile. "I'm okay, Shy, don't worry. I miss Ivymoon, but she will always hold a special place in my heart. I still have you, after all." Firepaw mewed, resting her head on Shypaw's shoulder.
"I'm glad I have you, Fire, but are you sure you're okay?" he looked at her, his eyes filled with worry.
"I'm sure, Shypaw. I promise." she licked his muzzle with a blush.
Shypaw's face turned a bright red. He smiles. "Okay, I believe you." he meowed.
Firepaw padded to the nursery where she spotted the new kitten, Hollykit, who was playing in the nursery.
"Hello, little one." Firepaw smiled at the kitten who looked very similar to Ivymoon.
"Hi!" Hollykit replied, flicking her tail up into the air.
"It's nice to meet you I'm Firepaw. You're Hollykit, correct?" Firepaw meowed happily.
"Yeah, wanna play?" Hollykit mewed as she smiled brightly. Her tail swayed joyfully.
"Sure, why not?" Firepaw meowed happily; her spirits lifted.
Minutes passed by. They enjoyed a fun game of mossball, together.
"Can you show me a battle and hunting move?" Hollykit asked excitedly, bouncing on her paws.
"I would love to! Now watch carefully. I'm going to show you a battle move first." Firepaw padded to the center of the nursery.
"Okay!" Hollykit jumped up and down, very excited.
Firepaw made a moss representation of a wolf. She stared down her opponent. Her claws were unsheathed and ready. Then she lunged forward, latching onto the wolf, pinning him down.
"See, the key to battling your opponent is you have to pin them down. That will make it easier to attack them." Firepaw stated as she glanced at Hollykit. Hollykit stared in awe, and she nodded understandingly.
"Oh, okay. I understand. Can you show me the hunting move now?" Hollykit smiled brightly.
"Gladly." Firepaw meowed happily. She searched for a piece of Fresh Kill. When she found one, which happened to be a mouse, she placed it in front of her.
Firepaw used the skill Ivymoon taught her; she crouched low to the ground, gliding through the short grass. She silently made her way to the prey. She appeared behind the mouse, and with a powerful thrust, she pounced. Her fore-claws sunk into the mouse.
"Wow! That was amazing, Firepaw!" Hollykit mewed in awe.
"Why, thank you Hollykit. You can use this skill when you are hunting. Even that battle move I showed you, can be used." Firepaw smiled happily at the kitten as she pawed the mouse to Hollykit.
"Gee, thanks!" Hollykit squealed happily. "Wanna share?" Hollykit asked her green eyes gleaming.
"Of course." Firepaw smiled.
Shypaw padded into the nursery with a smile.
"Who's that?" Hollykit pointed at Shypaw as he entered.
"That's Shypaw, silly!" Firepaw smiled, nudging the kit gently.
"And you must be Hollykit!" Shypaw smiled warmly, wrapping his tail around his mits. He then took a seat.
"How does everyone know my name?" The kit watched him confused.
"News travels fast in Fallingclan." He winked.
"Is that why I've heard around that you and Firepaw are together? You're being shipped by some other clan members." Hollykit glances at Shypaw with a malicious smile.
Shypaw and Firepaw exchanged looks of embarrassment yet they both blushed as Hollykit stares in confusion.
"Is it true?" Hollykit asked curiously awaiting for the response.
"Yeah, it really is." Shypaw laughed as his tail swayed gently around Firepaw, who can't stop blushing.
"Personally we also ship Shadowpaw and Splashpaw together. They are our friends, but they teased us with the nonsense." Firepaw laughs as her paw moved briskly across the grass.
"You said what now?!" Splashpaw overheard as she ran in as fast as she can tackling Firepaw playfully.
Shypaw yelled out at Splashpaw, "SHADOW AND SPLASH SITTING IN A TREE!" and laughs.
Splashpaw blushed. She hid under her tail after she bounced off of Firepaw, "Starclan, make it stop! Please!" she yowled in embarrassment and laughter.
Hollykit was laughing as she enjoyed the playful antics of the apprentices and saw Shadowpaw walk into the nursery.
"What in Starclan's name is happening here...?" Shadowpaw looked at his friends in confusion.
Firepaw pushed Shadowpaw playfully into Splashpaw, she fell into his shoulder and giggled. Splashpaw blushed. Firepaw laughed and nodded at Shypaw.
The two apprentices glanced at Splash and Shadow and began to sing...
"SPLASHPAW AND SHADOWPAW SITTING IN A TREE! K I S S I N G!" Shypaw and Firepaw teased. Hollykit rolled onto her back, giggling at the sight.
Both Splashpaw and Shadowpaw's faces turned red, but Shadowpaw bounced back on his paws.
"Oh it's on now! Ready, Splashpaw?" Shadowpaw glances at Splashpaw with a laugh.
"Ready for anything, Shadowpaw!" Splashpaw meowed proudly as she jumped behind Firepaw. Shadowpaw jumped behind Shypaw.
"Oh dear Starclan.." Shypaw face-pawed. "Seriously, Shadow?!" he yowled, playfully trying to slip away from Shadowpaw.
"Hey, you teased us! Its only fair if we do it.." Shadowpaw laughed and pushes Shypaw into Firepaw.
"Payback time!" Splashpaw giggled and pushed Firepaw into Shypaw.
The two apprentices land onto each other. Their muzzles were inches apart. Their faces turned a bright shade of red.
"FIREPAW AND SHYPAW SITTING IN A TREE!" Splashpaw and Shadowpaw sang.
Firepaw got back onto her paws and helped Shypaw up. "Okay, okay. We get it guys." Firepaw meowed in between laughs.
The four apprentices laughed together. They had their fun for the day.
Shypaw laughed, rolling lazily onto his back. He looked around the room, seeing the smiling faces. He smiled back at them, but just sat and wondered what they would look like.. all grown up. This just took seconds, of course, but it felt like an awkward minute had passed.
A booming howl sounded off in the distance, a wolf call. Shypaw's ears perked, as did everyone else's. Shypaw gazed around the room; his eyes caught Hazelkit shivering under Firepaw. Another howl sounded, his eyes dilated, it was closer.
"Everyone! We need you for defense!" Thundersky, the co deputy, screeched.
"I'll watch the kits!" Shypaw said, sticking his head out of the nursery. His attitude had had turned into serious and tough.
"I'll watch them too!" Firepaw shouted.
Thundersky was about to retort, but he was in a hurry, so he darted off.
"You two fight, you both are stronger than us, they need you." Shypaw suggested. Shadowpaw and Splashpaw shrugged, obeying him. The kits shivered and quaked, fear had struck them, and they knew they where vulnerable.
"Hey guys. Wanna play a game?" Firepaw rolled a mossball in front of them, trying to distract their terror.
Another howl sounded, slightly farther away. The kits piled against each other.
"I'm in the middle! I'm the youngest! I need protection!" "No! Me! I don't wanna die!" The kites all fought at each other.
"Guys, guys! You're fine, everyone is fine! Stop pushing each other and get in front of me, I want to tell you something" Shypaw watched them line up.
"Wolves make themselves look tough.. but you know what? They're just trying to scare you." Shypaw smiled, pacing in front of them like an army general.
"You know what I say? I say we scare THEM!" Shypaw smiled.
Hollykit raised her paw. "How are cats supposed to scare wolves? We look like mice to them!" she shivered.
"Good question. Give me your scariest face." Shypaw smiled at Firepaw, she looked at him almost confused. "Everyone, scary faces!"
All the kits hissed and growled, scrunching up their faces.
"Ohh! Where did my kittens go?! They've been replaced with these scary FOXES!" Shypaw acted scared. The kittens giggled.
"Oh. You know what else?" Firepaw looked around the group. "We need to learn to hide!"
"Yeah! Now, I'll close my eyes, and when I say 'WOLF!' you hide anywhere in the nursery." Shypaw insisted, turning around. "Ready? WOLF!"
The kits darted almost silently around the nursery. Few heartbeats later, they stopped moving.
Shypaw turned around acting like a wolf. "I smell KITTENS" He squinted his eyes, looking around, surprised not to find any kittens.
Firepaw followed his lead. "Yes.. nice and FAT ones, ones we can EAT!"
The kits where in the nursery, but they couldn't see any of them.
"You all did GREAT!" Shypaw stopped acting like a wolf.
All the kittens ran out, and sat back in front of them. One kitten eagerly poked Shypaw.
"What's wrong?" Shypaw smiled at the kit.
His soft shrill voice whispered "WOLVES!" All the kittens raced back to their hiding spots.
Shypaw lowered his head, and stood next to the nursery entrance, Firepaw copied on the reflected side. Two towering wolves padded past the nursery, hoping to find some warriors.
"These cowards won't know what hit them when we raid their nursery!" The first wolf was covered in black and orange spots. I'll call him Muddy. The other followed close behind, he spat on the ground, "I'm pretty hungry for one right about now... Where did they say their nursery was?" The second wolf was limping, a shiny object pierced his left shoulder. A bullet. I'll call him Stupid for going into Twoleg Hunting Grounds.
Shypaw looked around the nursery, the kits were completely hidden. He turned to Firepaw, and meowed quietly, "Cover their scents, our scents."
The two grabbed cloves of wild garlic and covered the den with it's awful smell.
"Aye, you hear that?" Muddy swiftly turned, his ears bent forward and nose bobbing in the air, "Over here." He scampered, leaving Stupid behind.
Muddy sniffed the air again, garlic overwhelmed his nostrils. He coughed slightly, eyeing the den's entrance. He stepped closer, inching his way toward them.
Shypaw stared at Firepaw. She stared back at him. Shypaw nudged her and left for the entrance, hoping to lead the wolves away once he got their attention. Firepaw swatted at his tail, as if saying, No, don't go! but he had already left.
"Oi, little kitty wants to play!" Muddy smirked, prickling his fur and lowering his head, showing dominance.
Shypaw watched him, letting his Fear-Scent all out, hoping to make him look weaker, and afraid. He let out a low growl, "Wh.. what are you doing here?" He made himself sound like he was trying to sound tough.
"Ey, you scared?" Stupid joined the group.
"N..n..no! You n...need to leave, now!" He let out a shivering hiss, his voice squeaked with fear.
"Not happening. How's about you let us take you prisoner, no fight, no run. How's that sound, hmm?" The wolf smirked, squinting his eyes.
Shypaw darted off, the two wolves chased him away. Shypaw looked over his shoulder, the wolves were gaining on him. Suddenly, he crashed to a stop, falling into an even bigger wolf.
"Good catch. He seems to be no trouble. What do you think we can get outta an apprentice?" The voice bellowed, grabbing the dizzy Shypaw by his scruff.
Shypaw's plan had backfired, he had successfully lead the wolves away from the kits, but HE himself was the price.
"I'll take him to camp, question him. Get what I can out of him. I'll need you two in case he isn't cooperative." The shadowy wolf growled, grasping Shypaw's scruff tightly as he slashed about.
...
"Let me go! Please!" Shypaw growled at his captor.
"You're a prisoner. You do what we say." The wolf growled, shaking Shypaw by the scruff.
"Ouch! Hey! Stop, please!"
The wolf chuckled. They turned a corner. In front of them lay a wide mountain side. In the very middle of the face, was the mouth of a cave.
"We're not going in there, are we?" Shypaw's voice shook of true fear.
"Quiet, child!" The wolf barked. Shypaw quickly quieted himself as they entered the dark cave.
Deeper and deeper they traveled into the cave. Shypaw's ears even popped. After a while, Shypaw was thrown down onto the moist, stony floor. He could barely see. It was pitch black; he couldn't even see his nose in front of him.
"You are of Fallingclan, correct?" A voice echoed through the cave. It was deep. It was the bigger wolf's voice.
"Yes, and I am loyal to Fallingclan only." Shypaw growled.
"Ahh, good. This will be fun, then. Will you at least tell me your name?" His eyes reflected a glimpse of light.
"Shypaw.." He spoke after thinking for a few seconds.
"Ahh, good. Well, Shypaw, I am Eclipse, Lord of Screeching Howls!" Shypaw's heart skipped a beat. He remembered Ashclaw, and how a Screeching Howl wolf killed him, brutally.
"You're the ones who KILLED ASHCLAW!!" Shypaw's fur prickled.
"I don't recognize the name.. Anywho. Tell me, child, where is your camp? Explain where everything is." He snarled. His voice encircled him like a constrictor around its prey.
"Never.. I told you, I am no traitor!" Shypaw hissed. His words echoed through out the cave. Shypaw felt a cold sting slice through his shoulder. He whimpered, falling to the ground.
"Tell me; I am not afraid to kill you.."
"You would kill the son of Fallingclan's leader?" Shypaw narrowed his eyes.
"Oh, you're the 'prince'? Well this changes everything!" The wolf grabbed Shypaw by the scruff again.
"Put me down!!" Shypaw hissed, scratching at Eclipse's matted fur.
"Hold still, child.." He growled. Shypaw felt something wrap around his muzzle. It squeezed around his jaws. He couldn't even open them.
"Mph mph!!" He mumbled loudly.
"Ah, that's better, now march, child." He pushed Shypaw forward forcefully. They climbed back to the surface. Now Shypaw could see what had happened. Shypaw was wearing a Twoleg Muzzle that had a leash attached behind his head. They journeyed back to Fallingclan territory.
"Look! There's Shypaw! He's all right!" Firepaw screeched happily. He was the first to appear behind the bushes. "What's that around his muzzle..?"
"Hello, Fallingclan!" Eclipse smiled as he entered the center of camp.
"Eclipse! What have you done! We won the war fair and square.. this is uncalled for!" Darkstar cried.
"All is fair in war." Eclipse chuckled. "We know everything, due to this apprentice.. He was so cooperative, we even decided not to kill him!"
"Shypaw, you didn't!" Darkskies stared at him. Darkskies actually believed Eclipse!
"MPH MPH!!!" Shypaw shouted.
"I DIDN'T TELL! HE'S BLUFFING!" Shypaw thought.
"We will exchange him for your territory.. unless.. you DON'T want him?" Eclipse smiled. He clearly saw the distress in Darkstar's eyes.
"What will it be? time is ticking.." Eclipse pulled back on Shypaw's leash. Behind him, stood Splashpaw and Shadowpaw. Each hiding in two different bushes, unseen.
"Your time is up!" Eclipse shouted.
Bluestar spoke slowly, "You can have him.. He is a traitor."
Shypaw's eyes widened. He couldn't believe it. His leader was trading him in! "MPH MPH MPH!!!!"
Suddenly, Splash jumped out, knocking Eclipse to the ground. She also knocked the leash out of his jaws.
"Get off me!" Eclipse thrust her off. That's when Shadow jumped onto Eclipse, holding him down as Shypaw darted away with Splashpaw. Shy had tears of disbelief flying from his eyes.
"You will pay, Fallingclan!" Eclipse shouted, standing to his paws as Shadow darted away. Splash was already working on unhooking the muzzle.
"What was that?! You two saved me.. but Bluestar.." Shypaw started to cry. He felt betrayed.
"I told him I was going to get you! It was all planned! Shy, we never meant to hurt you... When Eclipse appeared, we all knew what was going to happen.. Darkskies says it actually happened before.. You're safe now, is what I'm trying to say." Shadowpaw hugged his brother, and Splashpaw nodded in agreement.
"Thank you guys.. But for the record, I was silent.. Silent as a blade of grass." Shypaw chuckled through his tears.
Darkskies quickly ran over toward Shypaw and embraced him. "I'm so glad you're safe.. Did they hurt you? What happened?" Darkskies spoke with a worried tone.
"I'm fine now, dad. Thank Starclan.." Shypaw wrapped his paws tighter around his father.
Shypaw told the clan all about what happened. 3 days pass.
"Clan meeting!" Bluestar called. "I have an announcement!"
"What?" Shypaw drowsily awoke; Bluestar seems to like waking everyone up in the middle of the night to host her meetings.
"We're being promoted again!" Splash jumped onto Shypaw.
"Really? Wow! We'll be warriors!" Shadowpaw smiled happily.
"All cats gather, please!" Bluestar waited. "I would like to say.. I am stepping down from my position. Times have been tough.. and we need a stronger leader than me. I would like to appoint Darkskies as leader. This is active immediately."
The crowed gasped with surprise. No one expected her to step down. Everyone, though, nodded solemnly in agreement.
"Thank you, Bluesight. I have already traveled to the Moonpool and received my 9 lives. As my first order as leader, I would like to promote Shypaw, Firepaw, Shadowpaw, Cinderpaw, Splashpaw, and Dawnpaw."
The crowd lightened up again as their focus turned to the stunned apprentices.
"You will be known as Shyspirit, Fireheart, Shadowfang, Cinderclaw, Splashtail, and Dawnfeather. May Starclan light your paths."
"WE'RE WARRIORS!!!" Shyspirit cried, swatting at the air with his front paws. "WOO!!"
The new warriors gathered around each other happily. Each congratulating each other on their new name and status.
Dawnfeather pulled Shyspirit away from the group. "Shy, you know what you have to do now, don't you?" Dawnfeather playfully narrowed her eyes at him.
"What?" Shyspirit chuckled nervously.
"You know, who are you going to be mates with?"
"Oh.. uhh." Shyspirit stared nervously.
"Well? It's me right? I'm the one who welcomed you into the clan! It has to be me." Dawnfeather spoke.
"Maybe I don't like you.."
"What!? But.."
"Dawn, I acknowledge the fact that you welcomed me into the clan, yes. But you're way too pushy for me! 'Shypaw you'll be mine. I know it!' 'Shypaw, when are you going to choose?'. It's getting very annoying. Maybe I want to be treated kindly for once.. hmm?" Shyspirit let it all spill out. "You're not the boss of my life. I want you to be happy, but I don't want to sacrifice my happiness for it. I'm not you tom. You'll find the perfect cat some day, just that cat won't be me.."
"So you're DUMPING me?!" Dawnfeather shouted.
"YES. MY STARCLAN. That's EXACTLY what I mean." Shyspirit yelled sarcastically.
"It's over Fire.. isn't it..." Dawn growled under her breath.
"Yeah, have you ever realized that she let ME make up my own mind?" Shyspirit turned to leave.
"You're the only reason I stay in this clan, Shyspirit.." Dawn tried to grab his attention before he left.
"You can stay without me; you can function without me. You don't need me!" Shyspirit left to re-join his friends in celebration.
"I'm leaving then! If you don't want me.. I'll find some-clan who does!" Dawnfeather called, running out of camp.
Shyspirit watched her leave, then huffed. His eyes drooped of worry of what he had just done.
"Shy, what's wrong?" Fireheart padded and sat down next to him. Shyspirit knew what he wanted to do, now that he didn't have any obstacles.
"May I speak with you?" Shyspirit started to pad to the warrior's den.
"Sure. Hey, wait up!" She chuckled, still excited about the promotion.
"Fireheart.." Shyspirit lowered himself to the ground.
Fire's face blushed extremely hard. "Y-yea, Sh-shyspirit?"
"I've loved you with all my heart, ever since I laid my eyes on you. Your beautiful fur, your happy tone.. Everything. You are the most perfect she-cat I have ever met-" Fire stared, eyes watering, extremely happy. "Fireheart.. will you mate with me?" Shyspirit held a necklace. It was filled with turquoise beads and pebbles, each smoothed over by having been set in a stream.
"Yes!" She squealed, tears gushing from her eyes. She embraced Shyspirit with an extremely happy hug. "I love you!"
"I love you too.." Shyspirit's mood had perked. He wrapped his paws around her, hugging her tightly. Shyspirit leaned into her, and kissed her muzzle.
Dawnfeather sneaked back into camp, taking her last glance at her past. She overheard Shyspirit's low voice and followed it. To her surprise, he was proposing to Fireheart. "Fireheart, you will pay for taking my tom. He was MINE." She snarled silently, then darted away.
Shorty afterwards, Shyspirit and Fireheart became mates. Hailstorm, the new deputy, had sealed their love by pronouncing them officially mates. A moon had passed by, and Fireheart announced she was to have kits. Although, before she had known, the couple had adopted Wishkit.
"How are you feeling today, Fire?" Shyspirit padded to the nursery; he knew she was going to have kits soon. He could feel it in his gut.
"Ugh.. Whoever is in there sure has found they have claws-" She joked. "Have you seen Wishkit?"
"Yeah. She's hanging out with the other kits. Sunpelt said she's be happy to kit-sit for a bit." Shyspirit nudged her forehead. He hoped her kitting wouldn't hurt her too bad. He saw Greysky give birth to Shadowfang, and to him, it looked pretty awful. "Are ya sure I can't get anything for you? There's no problem to it."
"I.." She groaned, "I could use some poppy seeds."
"I'm glad I can help." Shyspirit darted away to the medic's den. He started nosing around the seeds, knowing where they would be. Apparently the storage had no poppy seeds in sight or sniff. "I guess.. I guess I'll have to find some." He was a bit confused. He had never realized that the medicine's stash would run out of a herb. He trotted out of camp, sniffing the ground for the familiar scent of poppy flower.
"Now, I know I saw some.. somewhere.." He sniffed harder. He choked on a foul stench. "ACK..! Oh, no.." He widened his eyes. Smoke.. pure smoke. He knew what it was in an instant, "FIRE!"
He darted back to camp; when he looked up, he saw the puffy grey clouds starting to form above camp. He feared he would be to late.
"HELP!" Wishkit screamed. Shyspirit could hear her through the crackling flames.
"I'm coming sweet heart! Don't worry!" Shy shouted, hopping over the burning hurtles that were once branches.
"MOM!" She shouted, trying to pull her away from the blaze.
"Wish, go run and catch up to the others; I'll take care of mommy, ok? Go run, we'll be ok!" Wishkit darted away, obeying her father. Shyspirit nudged the groaning she-cat onto his shoulders and wrapped her carefully around his neck. "This is going to be a bumpy ride.." Shyspirit said quietly.
"Thank you.." Fireheart whispered as Shyspirit started to speed away. He thrust himself over the hurtles, following the clan's familiar smell. Branches cracked above them and then slammed suddenly to the ground. Shyspirit changed direction, galloping away toward a different direction. They soon found the way out of the choking smoking forest. He darted toward an open plaza that separated the forest from a plain.
"Is everyone all right?" Shyspirit layed down Fireheart on the soft prairie grass.
"Everyone is here, that's the best news so far." Darkstar smiled at his son.
"Good.." Shyspirit turned to his lover. "Are you ok?"
"Get... get.." Fireheart groaned, tensing her stomach muscles, "A medic.. It's happening.."
"Oh, Starclan! MEDIC!" He almost fainted. He turned to grab Shattered, Broken's brother, so he can help.
Shattered stared silently at the soon-to-be queen, then knew what to do. He grabbed the poppy seeds that Shyspirit had brought and found a sturdy piece of wood. "Bite on this. Because of the fire, we won't have the proper herbs.." Shattered frowned at the words.
"Do what you need.." Fire squeezed her eyes shut. Shy placed a paw around Fire's and squeezed it tight.
"I'm here for you; focus on me." Shy spoke softly. Shattered nudged the poppy seeds to Fireheart and she quickly licked them up.
"Push." Shattered gently pressed on her stomach. Fireheart squealed. Shyspirit could tell she was trying her hardest.
"STARCLAN, help me." She spoke unevenly. After a long while of moans and curses one kitten appeared, he was white and covered in thin black stripes, and that was it. He was a small kitten, but he survived the long wait.
Silverkit pulled himself into a tight ball, fearful of the new world he has been pulled into. He shivered, peaking an eye at his parents every so often.
"You did it, Fire. Say hello to your tomkit." Shattered smiled, nudging the kitten into Fireheart's sight.
"I'm a mother." She spoke faintly.
"Why don't we call you.. hmm.." Shyspirit booped noses with the kitten.
"Silverkit." Fireheart smiled, pulling the kitten closer. Silverkit ate eagerly, and shortly afterwards, Fireheart and Silverkit fell asleep.
"Silverkit, come here please." Shyspirit smiled.
"Do I really have to??" Silver frowned, hiding in the corner of the soon-to-be medic's den.
"Yes, you do. I'm not having this argument." Shyspirit started to change mood.
"No. You can't make me. You're too big to fit in here..." Silverkit spoke with a wise tone.
"Silver, I'm not afraid to go over there and pull you out.." Shyspirit let a short growl pierce his voice.
"No!" Silverkit sunk back in his tiny hole. Shyspirit facepawed; he then stuck his paws in the hole, pawing around for the misbehaving kitten. Silverkit bit Shyspirit's paw.
"Silver! My Starclan, there is nothing holding me back from punishing you!" Shyspirit growled quickly, pulling his paw out of the burrow.
"No!"
"Silver, I will slap you so hard-!" Shyspirit growled, thrusting his paw into the hole.
"What's going on?" Fireheart entered with Sunpelt. Around Sunpelt bounced several newborn kittens. She loved looking after the little ones.
"Silver is being a coward. He refuses to leave the hole." Shyspirit pulled away.
"Well maybe I just want some alone time! You have been hovering over me, "Silverkit do this," and, "Silverkit do that,"!
"We only do this to protect you.. please come out." Fireheart's voice was calm and beckoning.
"No!" Silver cried, "Dad's just gonna push me to train and fight and.. and-"
"That's enough, Silver. Come out this instant or you won't get dinner." Fireheart became frustrated. Every other day, Silverkit would find a way to annoy his parents, whether it was intentional or not.
"Well why don't I just starve, hmm? Why don't I just die right here!? Hmm?!" Silver hissed, swatting a paw at his parents.
"Silver, we love you. We'd never want you to die.." Shyspirit hung his head, closing his eyes tightly.
Silver sighed and crawled out of the burrow. "Oh! Sunpelt!" He quickly darted to her, never minding his parents.
"Yes? What is it?" Sunpelt sat down, keeping an eye on the kits, but listening to Silverkit.
"Who will be your apprentice? Me, right?" Silver bounced happily.
"Well, no.. Wishkit-" Sunpelt started.
"WHAT?! THAT DIRTY BACKSTABBER!!" Silverkit stared in disbelief. When Wishkit entered, Silvekit stared angrily at her.
"What.. did I do..?" Wishkit stopped, feeling the intense pressure of Silverkit's stare.
"YOU PROMISED!" Silver jumped onto Wishkit, knocking her over.
"What?! What did I do?!" She pulled away from the tiny kitten's rage.
"SUNPELT WAS GOING TO BE MY MENTOR!" He shouted. His voice echoed throughout the camp.
"Now hold on a second.." Sunpelt stepped in.
"She picked me! I did nothing!" Wishkit darted behind Shyspirit.
"Yes, I picked her, and Darkstar accepted." Sunpelt smiled warmly, hoping her comment soothed Silver's rage.
"NO!!" Silver growled.
"That's enough." Shyspirit stepped forward, placing a paw over Silverkit. He held him still.
"Let me go!"
"Silver, you need to realize that it was her choice, not yours." Shy growled, holding him tighter.
"But they promised!" Silverkit squealed.
"But nothing." Shyspirit hissed, baring his fangs.
"Let me go!!" Silverkit screeched. Shyspirit obeyed, releasing the kitten from his grasp. Silver darted out of camp, pounding away with all his might. His eyes wide, filled with terror. He feared his father. He feared his mother. He tried to conceal his tears as he darted away.
Shyspirit stared, watching his kitten leave. He thought he would return less than a day after. He didn't.
. . .