New Horizons

Chapter 7

It had been a couple sunrises since the Clan had found out the shocking news of Nightpaw, Featherpaw, and Mistpaw's true heritage, none had taken it any harder than the trio had. Their whole kithood, they thought they were of RiverClan blood but then found out that they weren't. Many of the cats refused to acknowledge the three apprentices, classing them as 'loners within RiverClan' so that no cat would accidently mistake them as RiverClan cats since they 'didn't belong' according to majority of the Clan.

"Hey, Whiteclaw?" Mistpaw asked as the two headed to the river to hunt. Whiteclaw hummed, glancing down at the she-cat. "Why is it that you don't let me train with Nightpaw and Featherpaw anymore? Or Reedpaw and Silverpaw?"

"Because" Whiteclaw started, sitting down by the river and his tone becoming hushed, "it's safer for you that way." Mistpaw nodded, knowing there was no use in arguing with her mentor. Whiteclaw knew what was best for her, so she had to listen to him. After all, why would her mentor lie to her about her safety?

The duo spent a while by the river's edge, catching quite a bit of fish and a lucky vole that came from where the ShadowClan cats were still hunting, though it seemed WindClan had returned, before heading back to camp. "Looks like WindClan's returned," mewed Mistpaw as she looked towards WindClan territory and saw Tallstar, the leader of WindClan, stood there watching them before indicating he wanted to talk to them. The duo padded over, setting down their prey behind them before sitting.

"Hello, Whiteclaw," Tallstar greeted, dipping his head. Whiteclaw did the same, licking the shoulder of the WindClan leader as he did so. "Who's this?"

"This is my apprentice, Mistpaw," Whiteclaw introduced, Mistpaw smiling up at the black and white tom.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mistpaw," he greeted.

"It's nice to meet you too, Tallstar," mewed Mistpaw kindly.

"Anyway, I asked to meet you two because I wish to meet with Crookedstar in your camp." Mewed the tom gently. Whiteclaw nodded, gathered up his prey as Mistpaw gathered up hers and the trio headed to the camp where Mistpaw was, once again, met by glares from her former Clanmates. They're not really Clanmates, though, are they? The she-cat growled, looking away from her adopted mother and father as they glared at her, shielding her adopted siblings from her view. Setting down her prey, the she-cat moved to the far side of the camp and settled down, looking dejected at her adopted parents playing with her adopted siblings. They don't realise just how lucky they are, she thought bitterly as she watched Crookedstar and Tallstar head into Crookedstar's den.

"Mistpaw?" Leopardfur asked, settling down beside the dejected she-cat. "What's the matter?"

"Why did she have to get Crookedstar to reveal it? Wouldn't it be fine if it hadn't been revealed?" she asked, looking up at the deputy with tears in her eyes. "We didn't deserve this! We didn't pick this, Ripplebreeze and the loner did! Why is the Clan acting as if we chose it?"

"I'm not so sure it would," Leopardfur murmured. "You see, Ripplebreeze has ways to get cats to believe what she wants them to believe." With that, the deputy left to go see what Crookedstar and Tallstar had spoken about since they had just emerged from the RiverClan leader's den.

Ripplebreeze has ways to get cats to believe what she wants them to believe. What did Leopardfur mean? It was a riddle! How in the name of StarClan was she supposed to guess what Leopardfur meant? Tallstar soon left and Crookedstar leapt onto the large rock for a Clan meeting.

"Let all cats old enough to swim gather in the clearing for a Clan meeting," yowled Crookedstar, watching as cats started to gather below him. Nightpaw, Featherpaw, and Mistpaw were shoved to the back where Crookedstar wouldn't be likely to see them. "Heavypaw, please step forward." The thick tabby tom did so. "I, Crookedstar, leader of RiverClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. Heavypaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Heavypaw, from this moment you will be known as Heavystep. StarClan honours your courage, and we welcome you as a full warrior of RiverClan."

Crookedstar rest his muzzle on the apprentice's head, Heavypaw – now Heavystep – licked his shoulder in return.

"Shadepaw, please step forward." Shadepaw did so. "I, Crookedstar, leader of RiverClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn. Shadepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Shadepaw, from this moment you will be known as Shadepelt. StarClan honours your bravery, and we welcome you as a full warrior of RiverClan."

Crookedstar rest his muzzle on the apprentice's head, Shadepaw – now Shadepelt – licked his shoulder in return.

"Heavystep! Shadepelt! Heavystep! Shadepelt!" the Clan cheered, Nightpaw, Dawnpaw, and Featherpaw looking on bitterly as they knew that the Clan would never enjoy doing this for them, knowing that they were outcasts to them.

"Heavystep and Shadepelt will sit vigil for us tonight," Crookedstar said, ear twitching slightly. "For all of us." That night, Heavystep and Shadepelt sat vigil, everyone else feeling comfortable to sleep for the night.

The next morning, Nightpaw, Featherpaw, and Mistpaw got up and were getting ready to go for a hunt, just the three of them as requested by Wildwillow, but were interrupted by Ripplebreeze. "Nightpaw, Featherpaw, Mistpaw," she called. The three froze, turning to look at the she-cat they still considered their mother. "I-I wanted to apologise. I didn't realise that the Clan would react like this, I-"

"Are you done distracting our apprentices yet, Ripplebreeze?" Whiteclaw growled, Loudbelly and Leopardfur appearing either side of him. "These three have a task to do, requested by Wildwillow. It is crucial that they complete this task. So, may they continue with their task, or will you keep them from it any longer?" Ripplebreeze backed down, ears drawn back in sadness and headed back to the nursery. The trio nodded their heads in thanks to the three warriors before heading out to complete the task Wildwillow requested of them. When they returned, it was safe to say that Wildwillow was thoroughly impressed with how well they had taken to the training.

"There's no way any cat can say that you're not form RiverClan! Look at all the fish you three caught!" he exclaimed when he saw them return. "This will feed the whole of RiverClan for seasons! Good job, you three." From her peripheral vision, Mistpaw noticed the proud look in Ripplebreeze's eyes.

"I'll be right back," Mistpaw said, picking up the juiciest fish she had caught and headed to the nursery. She paused for a second before continuing on hr journey to the nursery. She placed the fish down in front of Ripplebreeze, looking away awkwardly. "I, err, got you this." Ripplebreeze sniffed at the fish before looking at Mistpaw. The apprentice was frozen for a second until she felt a lick on her forehead. Ripplebreeze had licked her forehead, just like she and Minnowstripe always used to do when she and her littermates were kits.

"Thank you, Mistpaw, it looks delicious," Ripplebreeze thanked. "Would you like to meet your siblings properly?" Mistpaw was shocked. Ripplebreeze wanted to get to know her now? Of course the she-cat nodded, excited that her mother wanted to have that mother-daughter relationship again. The rest of the day was spent playing with her siblings, having the fun she hadn't had in a while. Minnowstripe looked on, glancing away quickly whenever Ripplebreeze would catch him staring. Maybe he should get to know his kits properly like Ripplebreeze as doing with Mistpaw.