Warriors: Broken Trials (WIP)

Chapter Six

They pad through the forest as the round moon looms over their heads. "Isn't this great?" PongoPaw's words interrupt MoonPaw's thoughts. "Your.. not upset about WillowPaw staying behind?" MoonPaw asks him. PongoPaw just flicked his ear in response. "I'm sure she'll get to come next moon" he replied reassures him. He knows how excited she was for her first gathering, sadly when she went to ask ShadowStar about it she explained how she had already chosen who to take. He sighs as he catches the scent of SunClan along with EmberClan. The familiar seight of SunClan leader ShineStar, welcomed him.
The leader meeting down at his gaze nodded his greetings. As ShadowStar joined the other leaders on the mossrock they muttered a few words with each other until ShineStar and ShadowStar stepped back to let AshStar speak. "Prey is running very well in the taverns of EmberClan, such a blessing from StarClan after what had happened in leafbare,.. we lost so many warriors, luckily StarClan has also graced us with 4 new healthy kits! DustKit, BreezeKit, MouseKit, and MaseKit, and their littermate has just been made a Warrior named StoneFeather!" The she-cat finished happily. The cats chanted the Warriors new name however was no where to be seen.
"New siblings for me" a she-cat murmured next to him. MoonPaw turned to her, a large long furred almost black cat with beautiful green eyes. "Siblings?" MoonPaw questioned. "What AshStar said?" The she-cat replied. "So your StoneFeather, why weren't you over in the crowd?" He asked. She just slid herself closer and whispered back. "I don't like the attention." MoonPaw just nodded. I can't wait to get my warrior name after this. He wondered what it could be. Maybe MoonFighter? Or maybe MoonStep, I really hope it's MoonStrike! Hmm, or how about MoonGaze! Naw that one's stupid.., Well whatever it is, he hoped it'd be a great one. StoneFeather just stared at him as if waiting for him to speak. Oh shoot was she talking?! "Um, sorry I spaced out.." she opened her mouth to speak but ShadowStar beat her to it.
"NightClan has gained a new warrior, GooseFeather!" The crowds filled with chanting as GooseFeather lifted his muzzle in confidence. MoonPaw watched his head hang high, but for some reason a glint of sadness remained in his eyes. Why is he.. maybe it's nothing, he must have missed her announcing the news about WillowPaw and PongoPaw because the clans had looked past GooseFeather and had moved on to PongoPaw who was bragging about the skills he'd learn. "Show off.." MoonPaw muttered under his breath to StoneFeather, but when he looked over to the she-cat, she was gone.
As ShineStar had finished up, the clans began to dispand. ShadowStar seemed to be talking with a SunClan Warrior named SunBlaze. MoonPaw had only spoken with the yellow pale Tom a few times. He seemed to have a younger black cat with him, his apprentice maybe? He couldn't help but want to listen to the conversation going on between the leader and warrior. He snuck up a bit towards the two keeping his distance as he raised his ears high. "I'm surprised they let you mentor one of your kits," he could hear his leader saying. "Well only the best for ShadowPaw! She's worked hard." He replied wrapping his tail around the apprentice. MoonPaw thought he saw ShadowStar purr at his words, as if he were complementing her. Did he name his kit after ShadowStar..? MoonPaw couldn't help but feel uneasy. He watched ShadowStar say her goodbyes and walk off as the clan followed behind her.

***

MoonPaw paced back through the territory still thinking about what he saw. Maybe he's just an old friend or something, or.., now that he thought about it, he's never met WillowPaw or PongoPaw's dad. What if their dad- "whoe! What, do I have to help you cross the thunderpath every time now?" Scruffpelt rasped wrapping his tail in front of the apprentice to stop him. MoonPaw looked up to see cats carefully crossing the thunderpath. Only a few monsters racing by blowing his fur back like wind. His mentor just looked down at him and shook his head in disappointment. "Maybe you still have some things you need to practice, I don't think it's best for you to get your warrior ceremony tonight.. especially after earlier's little catastrophe." He added with a lecturing tone. MoonPaw wanted to argue about his warrior ceremony but fear washed over him as a pleading look filled his eyes. "Y-you didn't tell anyone did you?" MoonPaw stuttered back. He noticed ScruffPelt's neck fur unbristle as he dropped his tail back at his side.

"No.. as far as their concerned I ran into the path on my own, not even ShadowStar knows.. but you'll still be doing the elders den tasks to make up for all the times I'll have to get checked up on in the medicine den this moon." He replied back in a quiet tone as for no one else to hear. Well gee apparently my punishment is WillowPaw's StarClan. "I guess that's fair.." MoonPaw groaned. "Good.. now hurry up the other cats will get suspicious" Scruffpelt muttered as he padded across the path. MoonPaw looked both ways then ran as fast as he could to the other side. ShadowStar watched the two, a curious yet focused expression on her face. MoonPaw already knew she'd have figured it out by now, but he couldn't care less.

***

He grumbled to himself as he stepped into the camp. "Hey!" He saw WillowPaw pad over to him. "How was the gathering? PongoPaw already gloated at my face about it.." she added annoyed. "Well you know how he is..." he mewed in response. "Yo!" Another tom greeted walking towards them and over to WillowPaw. "They announced my new Warrior name there" he purred. Who is this cat? Does WillowPaw know him? "Thats.. great GooseFeather.." WillowPaw replied, disappointment filled her tone. "Maybe next time me and MoonPaw will be able to get ShadowStar to invite you next moon" he assured her giving MoonPaw a glance. MoonPaw just blinked. "Yes! Me and FeatherGoose will talk to ShadowStar about the next gathering!"
"GooseFeather-"
"Yeah that, anyways Scruffpelt says I'll be doing elders task for awhile.." MoonPaw says to WillowPaw. She and GooseFeather exchange a confused glance before looking back at him. "What'd you do to get that?" WillowPaw asked.
MoonPaw just looks down from them. "Heh, you remember the whole.. thing from earlier?" He muttered. WillowPaw just nodded as if already understanding what he were about to say next. "You should probably go see him now.." she just replied quietly. He just nods.

MoonPaw padded into the medicine den and quickly recognized ScruffPelt's rough pale coat. However The Tom kept his gaze on WindShadow. The storm pelted medicine cat appeared to be applying some cobwebs over one of the wounds on his back leg which seemed to have split back open a bit. Blood clotted the web as WindShadow placed another. The dark cream Tom flinched in pain. "That's a... quite a bit of blood there.." MoonPaw greeted anxiously. "You should've seen how much was spilled when I first had the accident.." ScruffPelt replied coldly. WindShadow shot him a glance. "He did nothing wrong now did he?.." you have no idea.. ScruffPelt seemed to be thinking the same as he glared at the apprentice, WindShadow poked at the cobwebs a bit more before turning her attention to him. "Do you need anything MoonPaw?" She spoke calmly. "I'm good WindShadow, I just wanted to make sure my mentor will be able to still train with me tomorrow" he shyly replied. Windshadow just turned back to the wound then to the apprentice again. "Training will be hard without the wound possibly splitting open in the process, but that won't stop you from hunting. However he will need to check in with me after each sundown." She finished to explain.

"Heh, we'll I'm uh.. sorry to hear about that." Moonpaw smiled anxiously. ScruffPelt just glared at his apprentice. Though his hatred seemed to fade rather quickly. "MoonPaw!" HawkLeap's voice startled the three from the entrance of the medicine den. MoonPaw looked up to the brown long furred warrior. "ShadowStar wants to see you in her den." He finished before stalking off into the clearing. MoonPaw's ears perked up. Dread washed over him and he turned to his mentor who didn't seem to share his terror. "Well hurry up then, don't wanna keep Nightclan's leader waiting for too long now do you?" Scruffpelt said gesturing his tail towards the entrance. MoonPaw walked out as he felt the two cats gaze locked on him from behind.