Alone #2: The Ebony's Roots

Chapter 7

Ebonywind refused to let her head droop as she walked back to camp with the ThunderClan cats. Two or three of them, namely Pineleaf, Jayfeather and Poppyfrost, hissed at her, but the others all welcomed her warmly. Of course, it was because they knew who she was.

Ebonywind looked around the ThunderClan camp. It was different from her-no, ShadowClan's camp. While ShadowClan's camp was dark and dim, ThunderClan's camp was bright and leafy.

"I didn't think you would...come," Luckystar said diplomatically, approaching her.

"I would, mother," Ebonywind replied. "I think this is my new home."

Over the course of the next days, Ebonywind spent some time with her mother and made some new friends. Leafpaw and Whitepaw became interested in her very quickly and idolized her.

"I wish I could be as brave as you!" Whitepaw purred.

"I've never saved a Clan leader before!" Leafpaw agreed.

Ebonywind paused at the nursery entrance. She hadn't been in it before. She ducked into the nursery, greeting the only she-cat residing in it.

"Hello, Echoflight," Ebonywind sat down next to her.

"Hi," Echoflight panted back. "The kits are coming soon," she explained.

"Alright, I'll um leave you to it," she replied, feeling suddenly awkward.

"Ebonywind!"

She turned around to see Luckystar hurrying towards her.

"Leafpaw and Whitepaw want you to assist them in their warrior assessments," Luckystar told her.

"Really?" Ebonywind gasped.

"Really," Luckystar purred.

At sunhigh, Ebonywind left the camp with Whitepaw, Leafpaw, Skyheart and Stormcloud, their mentors.

"Alright," Skyheart addressed the apprentices. "Your first task is to go hunting. Once you've caught five pieces of prey, come back here. Ebonywind will be following you and so will Stormcloud and I."

Ebonywind nodded and decided to track Leafpaw first. The brown tabby she-cat glided through the bracken effortlessly. Leafpaw quickly tracked a squirrel and leapt onto its tree, killing it with a slice of her claws. Deciding Leafpaw was really excellent at hunting squirrels, she sniffed out Whitepaw and followed the white tom for a while.

Whitepaw had a little more trouble. He had scented a mouse, but let it get away.

Hesitated too long, she thought.

But he too, managed to show off his skills by catching a thrush mid air with a delicate twist of his back.

Impressive.

Once both apprentices had five pieces of fresh-kill, Ebonywind and their mentors met them at the clearing.

"Good," Stormcloud mewed. "Now, partner hunting. First, Whitepaw will lead, and once you catch one piece of prey, Leafpaw will lead for another catch."

Whitepaw and Leafpaw both chorused 'yes' and they set off. Ebonywind and the two mentors followed them, Stormcloud breaking off, saying he had scented something, until Whitepaw announced he had found a vole. Hidden, Ebonywind watched curiously as Leafpaw darted into the vole's sight. This could be a technique that ShadowClan had never taught her.

The vole scurried out of sight and into Whitepaw's paws. Whitepaw quickly slammed his paws down onto the vole and it was all over.

We've used that. Never mind.