ThunderClan's Loyalty, Book One

Chapter Fifteen

-August 8th-
-Cloudkit is 6 moons old-
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What would the Clan think? What would her sister think?

   The kit who always wanted to be a warrior and was good at letting everyone know it, who always caused trouble and led her sisters in a way that would make for a great patrol leader or even a deputy one day. The sister who always knew what mischievous fun to get into, who talked of being the greatest warrior ever, with her sisters at her side in an unstoppable trio— or even a duo, a team that was unplanned but expected after everything that had happened.

   It doesn't matter, I know what I want now and if I want it I'll give it a good long try that could last forever, she thought as she leaped up the rocky path. Her paws threatened to slip and send her backwards into an unavoidable concussion, yet she didn't fear as she stepped closer to the one thing standing in the way of her new destiny.

   She hopped onto the HighLedge and walked up to the hanging lichen with pride before scratching on the stone to alert her leader.

   “Come in,” his voice called from inside the dark cave mouth. That was what made Cloudkit hesitate, but it lasted only for a moment before she shook her head once and pushed through the greenery.

   Briarstar was standing to the far side of his den, away from his nest. She watched as he unsheathed a claw and raked it across the wall, leaving a faint impression in the stone; a line that was side by side with several others.

   Cloudkit analyzed them in her head before he turned to her. Seven marks. . . he's been leader for around seven moons I think, she thought, before breaking out of her thoughts and looking up at Briarstar.

   “Yes, Cloudkit, what is it?” he asked, turning towards her.

   Cloudkit puffed out her chest. “I know no one expected this, but ever since I learned of being a warrior, I wanted to be one. It's all different now, so please, I'm asking to be apprenticed to Icetail. Once you say okay, I'll be going down to talk to him about it.”

   “Why the sudden change of mind?” Briarstar asked, tilting his head.

   Cloudkit dropped her shoulders. Why do I have to explain myself? I want to be a medicine cat, that's why! but she spoke up anyway.

   “Because the best way I can help my Clan is by saving lives and seeing everyone happy. Battles don't save lives, they endanger them! Even if they're necessary sometimes, I'd rather be the one helping them after the fight than helping endanger the cats you're fighting, and. . . I like seeing others happy and healthy because of the medicine cat caring about them enough, I care enough, and well, you can't say no because it's my life and I can do whatever I see fit with it!” she proclaimed, not realizing until she was done that she really did mean all that stuff, every word of it.

   This is my destiny.

   Briarstar chuckled softly. “I like your spirit, Cloudkit, and you're right, I don't see why you shouldn't be a medicine cat. Icetail is getting old and he won't last forever, he needs an apprentice sooner rather than later.” He then made an exasperated face. “Plus, I really had no idea which warrior I was going to assign you to! So it works out for both of us.”

   Cloudkit smiled, a bigger smile than she had worn for a long time. “Oh thank you, Briarstar. I'm going to go talk with Icetail right now!” she purred, turning and bounding out the entrance.

   Running down the rocky path, she felt bad about leaving without giving her leader a chance to respond, but then shook it away. There was no time to waste.