The Ebony Jury (Warriors, Book 2)

Chapter 7

"Alright. I need you to bring me a finch, a vole, and two mice." Hauntedmind mewed, meeting his apprentice's eyes. He no longer had to look down to see Whitepaw. It was his final warrior assessment, and he was as tall and muscular as any warrior. He was much more fit than Hauntedmind; unlike Whitepaw, Hauntedmind's was still small and lanky.

Whitepaw nodded at Hauntedmind's words, then scurried into off towards a patch of ferns, rustling whenever the occasional leaf-fall wind blew.

Hauntedmind crouched low- not hunting crouch, but the crouch when you're stalking someone or creeping up on someone- then dove into the undergrowth, weaving among the stalks of grass and bramble bushes, poking his head out and gazing at his apprentice, whom appeared to be in a hunting crouch and stalking something. His fur was mostly covered with flecks of grass. Hauntedmind looked towards where Whitepaw's focus was locked and saw what he was stalking- a fat, brown vole nibbling on a thin seed.

Pausing for a second and shuffling his paws quietly, Whitepaw launched himself at the vole. Hauntedmind noticed the way Whitepaw's nose was twitching; he was holding his breath to not alert the prey, which worked; he landed gracefully on the patch of grass by the vole. The vole tried to run, but Whitepaw lunged forward. His teeth connected with the fur and Hauntedmind watched him sink his teeth into the vole. A moment later, Whitepaw raised his head triumphanatly. He glanced around for a second, then padded over to a tree stump with just one thick mushroom growing out of it. Whitepaw unsheathed his claws and dug out a nice hole, the vole still hooked in his jaws. Once it was done, he placed the vole carefully in the ditch, then turned and kicked the dirt back over it til it looked the same as it had been. Then, he crouched and scrambled along the grass once more.

As Whitepaw scrambled along the trail, Hauntedmind tried to keep up, though it was hard to weave through the undergrowth swiftly without shaking anything. Eventually, though, Hauntedmind managed to use his lithe body to crouch under a large, hanging leaf to see Whitepaw gazing intently at a tree branch of a tall oak. Hauntedmind followed his gaze and saw a sandy brown finch, its gaze focused on grooming.

Whitepaw blinked then unsheathed his claws once more, before stalking towards the oak tree and digging his claws into the bark. Silently, he began to haul himself up, leap after leap, until he was only one branch below the finch. He scurried onto the branch only a bit above him, under the one the finch was on, then he leapt, claws outstretched. The bird glanced over his wing, squawked with shock, but he was unable to fly away; Whitepaw had bit down on it. The apprentice wobbled a bit on the branch, before crouching and digging his claws into it. The bird was hanging losely in his mouth; it had died of shock, as Hauntedmind did not see any bitemarks on the throat. Whitepaw leapt down from the branch, shaking out his pelt, before digging another ditch and setting the finch in it, before he spun around again and kicked the golden dirt over it.

The apprentice then scurried off into a clump of brambles; Hauntedmind hurried to keep up, though it was easier as Whitepaw was going just as slow as he was. Eventually, though, Whitepaw crouched low. Hauntedmind followed his gaze, eventually staring at two plump mice grooming each other.

Two will be hard to catch at once, Hauntedmind thought as Whitepaw began creeping forward, only the tip of his tail visible. But I believe in Whitepaw. He can do it. And even if he doesn't, I'll get blamed for it, not... not him.

Whitepaw readied himself one more time; Hauntedmind sensed hesitation as the apprentice's fur rised, poking through the leaves. But the mice were still busy grooming; they didn't notice him. And that was all Whitepaw needed. He pounced, both of his paws unsheathed and outstretched. The mice looked up, letting out a squeak of shock as Whitepaw landed and flattened both of them to the ground with his paws.

The apprentice let out a mew of delight, pirking his ears as Hauntedmind wrestled his tail out of a bramble bush and approached him. "Well done!" Purred Hauntedmind. "Lets take these kills back to camp, and I'll tell Flamest-"

Something golden caught his eye. Hauntedmind turned his gaze to see a pretty golden she-cat basking in the sun. Her fur was spotted and golden, like a leopard. She had bright blue eyes and wore a pink thing around her neck. Her nose was bright pink, her muzzle paler than her golden fur. Her inner ears were ginger, with tufted ears. She was short-haired and, as much as Hauntedmind hated to admit it... she was prettier than Flowerpelt.

"Hauntedmind?" Whitepaw's mew snapped Hauntedmind back to attention. "You okay? You spaced out."

"I-" Hauntedmind stammered, before relaxing and letting his fur lay flat. "Go collect the kills and tell the leader about your success. I have something I need to do real quick." Whitepaw just nodded, a confused look on his face, then picked up the two mice and scrambled off. Hauntedmind turned his attention back to the she.

The kittypet- Hauntedmind assumed- immediatly snapped her blue gaze to Hauntedmind as he weaved through the ferns to the patch of sunlight the molly was laying in. "Hello." She mewed, sitting up. She met Hauntedmind's eyes. "You look strange. Meh. I don't mind."

Hauntedmind blinked. Strange cat. "I'm, uh, Hauntedmind. A ThunderClan cat."

The kittypet blinked at him. "So the rumors about 'clans' are true..." She mumbled thoughtfully. "Nice to meet you. I'm Jaguar." Hauntedmind dipped his head in acknowledgement, then sat down, his rump brushing the grass, his white tipped tail wrapping over his paws. "Hey," Jaguar said, her gaze suddenly curious. "I'd like to know more about these 'clans'. Mind telling me some stuff?"

Really? A kittypet wanting to know Clan stuff? I can't do this... but... she's so pretty... "Su- sure." Hauntedmind stammered. "But I have to go. Maybe we can meet again, at night?" He suggested thoughtfully.

Jaguar blinked. "Right here?"

"How about that tree that used to have an owl in it?" Suggested Hauntedmind. This is too close to the camp.

Jaguar nodded. "Tonight?"

"Tonight."

***

"Whitepaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Whitethistle. StarClan honors your strength and loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

Whitethistle dipped his head in honor, though Hauntedmind didn't miss the excitement and pride flashing in his gaze. Flamestar hopped down from the Highrock, landing gracefully on the green grass patch Whitethistle was sitting on. The Clan leader padded a step over to the new warrior, then rested his chin on their snow white head, before murmering something and jumping back onto Highrock.

Flamestar spoke again. "And, Blackpaw, because of your bravery and skill at fighting, you will now be known as Blackedge."

"Whitethistle! Blackedge!" Autumnheart started the call.

The Clan joined in. "Whitethistle! Blackedge! Whitethistle! Blackedge!"

"Now, because of Clan traditions," Flamestar went on, raising his voice so all the gathered cats could hear, "Whitethistle and Blackedge must perform a vigil. They will guard the camp in silence." He mewed. "Clan dismissed."

Whitethistle and Blackedge exchanged excited glances then padded to the camp entrance. Hauntedmind whirled around, eyeing the dirt-place tunnel that led outside camp. He looked around; all of the cats were heading to their dens. Blinking, he scurried into the tunnel, wrinkling his nose at the scent of dirt, then burst into moonlight. Making sure not to make any noise, he crept silently along the forest floor, grass brushing his pads. Then, when he was sure he was out of the guarding cat's hearing or sight, he darted along the undergrowth, weaving among ferns and brambles, til he spotted the owl tree poking its short trunk into the sky. Sitting by it was a golden shape.

Hauntedmind let out a mew. "Jaguar!"