Rising Mist || 1 || Warrior Cat's Fan Fiction ✔️

Chapter Five

I picked up the stick with my teeth and attached a scrap of moss laden with mouse bile onto one end, poking into Foxstrike's fur. The bright ginger elder had seemed lonely by himself so Amberstorm had sent me to get rid of his tics and Lilypaw to rearrange his bedding, not that there were any tics in his fur or thorns in his bedding. Still, I feel sorry for Stormpaw and Treepaw, who had to clean up and reweave the entire warrior's den. 

Wrinkling my nose, I meowed sourly, "'a you 'eel 'ny 'icks?"

Foxstrike answered patiently, betraying only a hint of annoyance, "I'm fine, I don't have any ticks at all." 

To Lilypaw, he added, "I've already checked, there are no thorns. You're wasting your time."

Lilypaw stopped pawing and meowed a little apologetically, "At least let me get you some new, fresh moss."

The elder grunted, "Hrmph, sure."

When Lilypaw had hurried off, I spat out the stick and flicked my tail curiously, "You're Hawkstar's father, right?" Without waiting for an answer, I continued, "Who was his mother?"

Foxstrike purred, happy for once, "Whispersong was the most beautiful cat ever. I believe she is happy that her son has had his own kits, Littlebird and Bluepaw."

I pricked my ears, "Bluepaw? Didn't she run away to become a full-time kittypet?"

He sighed, "Yes, and Littlebird joined her for awhile, but I am glad that she is back."

I suddenly thought of something, "Who was Claywhisker's parents?"

Foxstrike let out a purr, "Ah, yes, I remember them. They were the happiest couple ever. Mossfur and Thornear." His gaze darkened, "Until the war that killed them both."

I tried to steer the conversation towards a positive topic, "It's nice that Amberstorm had a second litter, isn't it? Tigerpearl will have little brothers now. I wonder if Hawkstar should've made Tigerpearl the mentor of one of his brothers. And what about Sunmist? She's surely been a warrior long enough to be a mentor. Why choose her father, Thistletail, instead of her?"

Foxstrike explained patiently, "Well, Hawkstar's got to think, hasn't he? Treepaw's always been rather ambitious and Claywhisker is his father and so will be able to keep him under control. As well as that, Patchwhisker is an extremely experienced warrior compared to Sunmist or Tigerpearl. Thistletail is equally humble, but firm enough to quell the trouble-making Eaglepaw at all times."

I meowed hopefully, "Maybe I'll be Morningkit's mentor some day."

Foxstrike blinked kindly, "Morningkit will be an apprentice on the same day you will become a warrior. It's unlikely, but who knows?"

I fell silent as Lilypaw slipped back in, moss hanging from her mouth. Standing up, I flicked my ears, "I'm going to get some feathers. I think I saw Thistletail and Eaglepaw bring back a young thrush or two this sunrise."

Pushing my way out of the elder's den, I headed towards the fresh-kill pile. I'd kept my promise to Littlebird all along. But I probably wouldn't be able to protect her as a mentor when Morningkit became an apprentice. I would just have to leave that up to her mentor. 

Plucking a few sparrow and thrush feathers, I headed back to where Foxstrike was watching Lilypaw remake his moss bed. 

A/N

This chapter was mostly to introduce a rough family tree!

- quill