Chapter Thirty-Four

Shadowheart made his way across camp, a gentle rain dribbling down from the gray skies overhead. His healed wound felt stiff, and he tried to walk it off. Almost a moon had passed since the attack on the gorge, yet the Clans weren't any closer to putting a stop to Hawk. Stiffly, he sat down near the warriors' den.

Minkkit, and Daykit were showing the younger kits around camp. Redfur and Foxstar's kits were almost two moons old, and were old enough to wander the camp outside. Redfur watched them closely from the entrance to the nursery, her eyes warm. Due to Foxstar's duties as Clan leader, the gentle queen often helped raise Foxstar's own three kits.

Sparkkit, a ginger-and-white tabby, fluffed out his fur as rain dappled his coat. "It's all wet out here!" he complained.

"Yeah, why do we have to follow you two around camp anyways?" added his sister, Honeykit, a cream-furred tabby.

"We're going to be apprentices any day now!" Minkkit answered, lashing his tail impatiently at the kits. "So you have to listen to us!"

Fernkit, a light brown tabby-and-white she-kit, stared up at him with wide eyes. "What if I don't want to be a warrior apprentice?"

Mintkit, Foxstar's son, rolled his eyes. "What else is there to be?"

"Mouse-brain, you know there's other things! Like a medicine cat apprentice!" Poppykit scolded her brother.

Shadowheart purred a little as he watched the group of kits squabble among each other. As he watched Daykit and Minkkit, a thought crossed his mind. His young kin would be apprentices any day, yet Shadowheart wasn't sure what cats would be their mentors. An idea lit up in his mind, that maybe, just maybe, Foxstar would allow him to mentor one of his young kin. Summoning his courage, Shadowheart stood and headed towards Foxstar's den.

Peering in, he could faintly make out his leader's fox colored pelt. "Foxstar?"

"Shadowheart, is that you?" she replied, sitting up in her nest. "Come in."

Padding slowly into the cave den, Shadowheart sat a few tail-lengths away from Foxstar. "I wanted to ask about Minkkit and Daykit's apprenticeship," he began.

Foxstar narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. "Are you worried about who I may have chosen to be their mentors?"

Shifting his paws awkwardly, Shadowheart nodded. "I...I wanted to ask if I could mentor one of them. I feel like I owe it to Blackflame."

"Do you think that is wise?" she questioned. "You helped raise them as kits, and you are more like a father to them than just kin. Would you not be too easy on them if you took one on as your apprentice?"

Shaking his head, Shadowheart met her gaze. "I think that because they are so close to me, that I will be harder on them than normal. I promised myself that I would help them become strong warriors."

Foxstar got to her paws slowly. "I will consider it," she answered, brushing past him. "It's time to begin the ceremony."

Now? Shadowheart felt his heart quicken as he followed Foxstar out of the den. The kits were still exploring the camp, however, when they saw Foxstar begin to bound up the Highoak, they rushed back towards the nursery. Sandpool greeted Minkkit and Daykit warmly, giving them a quick grooming.

"Let all cats old enough to cat prey join under the Highoak for a Clan meeting!" Foxstar summoned. As the Clan gathered, she beckoned to Sandpool with her tail. Realizing what was happening, Minkkit and Daykit ran towards the Highoak excitedly, leaving Sandpool to look on happily. "Two of our kits have reached the age of six moons, and it is time to make them apprentices," she looked down at Daykit. "Daykit, from this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Daypaw. Your mentor will be Yellowsky. I hope Yellowsky will pass down all she knows on to you."

Yellowsky stepped out from the crowd, pleased to have been chosen to mentor. Foxstar went on, "Yellowsky, you are ready to take on another apprentice. You had been unable to complete Silverleaf's training at the time, however, I expect you will train Daypaw with diligence."

Dipping her head, Yellowsky touched her nose to Daypaw's. "I will do my best," she promised.

Shadowheart watched, pleased. Yellowsky would be a good mentor to Daypaw. Anxiously, he glanced up at Foxstar. Would he be the mentor of Minkkit, he wondered? Bouncing forward, Minkkit gazed up at Foxstar, chin raised proudly.

"Minkkit, from this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Minkpaw. Your mentor will be Shadowheart," Foxstar announced. Minkpaw let out a squeal delight, and Shadowheart shot him a stern look, although he couldn't hide the laughter in his eyes. A ripple of amusement passed through the cats watching. Foxstar dipped her head to Shadowheart.

"Shadowheart, you are ready to take on another apprentice. You have completed Silverleaf's training, and mentored Ravenfeather well during the time she was a warrior apprentice. I expect you to pass on your experience to Minkpaw."

Nodding in acknowledgment, Shadowheart walked over to touch noses with Minkpaw. Minkpaw trembled with excitement, his eyes bright. I won't let you down, he vowed silently. As he broke away from his new apprentice, the Clan erupted in cheers.

"Daypaw! Minkpaw! Daypaw! Minkpaw!"

Sandpool made her way through the crowd, coming to nuzzle both of her kits. "I'm so proud of you both."

"Just watch," Minkpaw boasted, raising his chin. "I'll be a great warrior like my father!"

Shadowheart purred. "Perhaps you will."

Daypaw turned to Yellowsky. "Can we see the territory? Please?"

"I don't see why not," the yellow tabby purred. "Would you like to join us, Shadowheart?"

"Oh yes! Can we go? Please Shadowheart?" Minkpaw begged, eyes wide.

Whiskers twitching, Shadowheart nudged Minkpaw playfully. "How can I say no that face?"

Squealing with happiness, the two new apprentices rushed towards the camp entrance. Sandpool let out an exasperated sigh, but her eyes were full of love. "They grow up so quickly," she murmured.

Shadowheart rested his tail on her shoulder a brief moment. "I'll keep a close eye on them both."

"Thank you, Shadowheart," Sandpool purred, turning and heading off to the fresh-kill pile.

Yellowsky padded alongside Shadowheart as they exited the camp. The forest was lush and green again, spring now fully upon them. Birds chattered in the trees overhead, while squirrels leaped from branch to branch. Taking in the scents of the forest, Shadowheart felt content. While his wound still felt stiff and achy, he was determined to not show it.

He kept a close eye on the two apprentices, who were chasing after each other just up ahead. Yellowsky gave a snort of amusement. "I remember when Ivyfrost and I used to play like that."

"Hard to believe how long it's been since we were apprentices," Shadowheart agreed, feeling nostalgic.

Yellowsky purred, shooting him an amused glance. "You sound just like an old elder!"

Shadowheart huffed. "Not you too!" he complained jokingly. "Firelight teases me about the same thing."

Laughing, Yellowsky bounded ahead. "Come on, before our apprentices leave us behind!"

Once they reached the river that marked the boundary with ReedClan, Shadowheart called both the apprentices back. Minkpaw approached the pebble shore, dabbing at the water with his fore paws. He let out a shriek of surprise at his coldness, and leaped back, fur bristling.

"It's cold!"

Laughter from the other side of the river caught Shadowheart's attention. Flicking his ears up, he felt his hear warm at the sight of Stonetail.

"Whoa! It's ReedClan cat!" Daypaw exclaimed, running towards the water's edge.

"Hey fish-breath! Stay on your own side of the border!" Minkpaw yowled.

Shadowheart walked over and cuffed him over the ears. "Hush!" he scolded. "This cat isn't our enemy."

"But-" Minkpaw began to protest, but quickly became silent at Shadowheart's stern glare.

Stonetail splashed into the river, neatly swimming across with ease. As he emerged on the other side, he touched noses to Shadowheart in greeting. "It's good to see you again," he purred. "I was worried when I heard you had been injured in the battle."

Shadowheart licked his chest fur. "I'm okay, I promise," he quickly flicked his tail to Minkpaw and Daypaw. "I actually want you to meet LeafClan's newest apprentices."

Eyes glowing, he looked over the two young cats. "Are they…?"

"I'm Minkpaw!" Minkpaw told him. "And this is my sister, Daypaw! Who are you, anyways?"

Shadowheart gently motioned for them to come forward. "This is Stonetail. He's ReedClan's deputy, and my father."

Daypaw's eyes widened. "Your father? Does that mean we're kin?"

Stonetail leaned down to touch her nose with his. "That's right," he purred. "It's nice to finally meet you at last."

"But how can a ReedClan cat be our kin?" Minkpaw asked, wrinkling his nose at Stonetail's fishy scent. "We're LeafClan!"

"It's…a long story," Shadowheart explained quickly. "Regardless, he is your grandfather."

"You are both much like your father," Stonetail meowed, his eyes glossy with emotion.

Daypaw stepped forward and sniffed at Stonetail curiously. "Do we have other kin in ReedClan too?"

Stonetail licked the top of her head affectionately. "Yes, my brother and his kits. There's also my mother, Dapplefoot."

Minkpaw puffed out his chest. "How cool is it to have kin from two different Clans?"

So naive! Shadowheart thought, exchanging a glance with Stonetail. It sounds nice, but it's really hard; especially when it's against the code.

Stonetail brushed his muzzle with Shadowheart's. "I have to get back to my camp now," he mewed. "It was nice to see you again," he flicked his tail over Minkpaw's ears. "And it was nice to meet you two as well."

Watching his father swim back across the river, he and Yellowsky continued along the path. Minkpaw and Daypaw walked a little ways ahead, happily pouncing on fallen leaves. Keeping a close eye on his young kin, Shadowheart felt his heart warm at the thought of them becoming valuable LeafClan warriors. They will make you proud, Blackflame.