Caɾղaցe Ɱօօղ ~𝙰 𝚆𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚛𝚜 𝙵𝚊𝚗𝚏𝚒𝚌

23 🌙

"What a time to return with a kittypet." Alpinefog's mew was flat and sarcastic.

Rowanpaw looked smug about them being scolded, but their kin had the sense not to say anything out loud.

"We would've expected better of you two. But what's your name young she-cat?" Lagoonstripe asked.

Cheetah jumped up from her resting spot with her spotted tail waving eagerly behind her. Even in the moist moonlit night-time, her fur shone a simmering gold-lemon color.

"Hi, I'm Cheetah and I want to join Riverclan so that I can hunt and train with you guys. And become a warrior to fight off wolves and keep the clan alive, just like Tinypaw and Crescentpaw said!" There was an enthusiastic glint in her eyes, even through the haze of rain that screened them.

"W-well," Lagoonstripe seemed taken aback.

"We certainly like your enthusiasm," Houndspots put in.

"Right. The clans have accepted kittypets in dire times before, but it's really not our place to admit you. That would be Starclan's through a leader's approval." Lagoonstripe peered down at her with a serene olive gaze.

"And as you can see, none of us are a leader."

"So what's that mean for right now? Can I stay?" Cheetah mewed excitedly, her jaws moving fast. She hardly ever gave time for pause.

"Well... all it means is that none of us can tell you no. I guess it also constitutes that you can stay here and wait for some sort of apprentice tryout until we get a leader." Alpinefog affirmed for her. "But I have to admit that it's dangerous and we ain't living easy out here. Especially now." His fluffy cheeks portruded in a kind smile, even as he gave the warning. I knew that at least some cats would like her.

Before the even-tempered warrior had even finished Cheetah squealed. "Can my name be Cheetahpaw like theirs!?"

Crescentpaw shuffled her paws with embarrassment before leaning forward and laying her tail across her excited friend's shoulders. Lagoonstripe, eyes wide, leaned back. Alpinefog had a rumbling laugh as Crescentpaw drew her companion slightly away.

"We don't have any apprentice ceremonies right now because like they said; we don't have a leader." Crescentpaw explained patiently. "So no cat can appoint you as an official apprentice with the name 'paw attached yet. I'll explain it to you in full detail later."

Lagoonstripe nodded agreement at them while Quietdew glared from over the taller she-cat's shoulders.

"If you ask me, we don't need any kittpets in the clan right now. It's as worse a time as ever and we should be focused on training the apprentices that we already got! They're behind on training."

"We were almost of warrior age when we got taken," Crescentpaw meowed in warning tones. How did I forget how annoying Quietdew can be? She's got as many grievances as she does scars under her fur.

"That doesn't mean anything!" The dark grey-and-white warrior blatantly argued. "You're further behind than Rowanpaw is now." Rowanpaw puffed her chest from behind Alpinefog. "And without a leader to appoint you a new mentor, how will you be trained?"

Lagoonstripe had the decency to roll her eyes. Crescentpaw flicked her tail with satisfaction as the mature she-cat backed her up. "The least we can do is appoint her a stand-in mentor. I'll do it myself." Lagoonstripe shifted her paws and glanced over at Crescentpaw. Briefly, she felt reassured.

"Thank you, Lagoonstripe."

Quietdew kept her jaws closed this time. However, it was the previously-proud Rowanpaw that asked another question.