Warriors: The Beginning

Chapter 18

Mother? Yinpaw's heart froze. Had her mentor broken the warrior code by having a kit and a mate? The black and white apprentice sensed her mentor stiffen as Misty said the word.

"Misty," Ambereye acknowledged, and Yinpaw didn't know if she was being cold or was just too shocked to properly greet her daughter. Ambereye was in a terrible mire, unless she bothered to do something about it.

"Lavender," the grey cat started, taking one step towards the medicine cat. "I... We've missed you."

"Come with me," Ambereye hissed, flicking her tail at the two cats. "I don't want any other cat to know about this. Yinpaw," she added sternly, "stay here." The apprentice nodded her head, but Ambereye didn't seem to be convinced.

Nevertheless, the two cats followed Ambereye out of the medicine den, and Yinpaw suspected that they were going to the fallen oak just outside the medicine den. Yinpaw knew that this was private to Ambereye, but her paws still itched to follow Ambereye.

Suddenly, she thought of something; the fallen oak was outside of the medicine den, so if she listened hard enough, she might just be able to hear them. Without hesitation, Yinpaw raced to her nest, knowing very well that the oak was on the other side of the rock.

With a quick glance to check that the greencough patients were sleeping, Yinpaw leaned against the wall of the cave and pressed her ear up against it. Very faintly, she could scent her mentor and hear soft padding noises.

Ambereye was very blunt. "What in StarClan's name are you doing here?" She hissed. Yinpaw could just picture her mentor angrily looking down at the other two cats.

"We... We came to find you." Yinpaw heard the voice of a she-cat-Misty-admit to her mother. "Abyss said it was time to meet you."

"Time to meet me!" Snorted Ambereye gruffily. "Abyss, you very well know that I'm not allowed to have mates here, and that's why I left Misty with you. Can't you understant, I'll lose everything if they find out that I have a mate and a daughter!"

"But... Can't we stay? I'll say that I'm not your kin. Please!" Misty's voice was desperate. Yinpaw pictured her mentor sighing at this.

"I don't know what Woodstar would say," meowed Ambereye at last. "We don't need another mouth to feed, that's what a lot of cats would say."

"Please! Or else Abyss' owners would throw me out! They don't want me!" Misty cried desperately, her paws scrabbling at the ground.

"Quiet, unless you want others to hear you!" Ambereye growled. "You have to speak with Woodstar. Come, I'll take you." Yinpaw heard pawsteps, and hurriedly scrambled away from her nest and towards the greencough patients.

"Yinpaw?" The black and white apprentice heard her mentor call her. "I'm going to see Woodstar; would you like to come along?" This surprised Yinpaw, because Ambereye didn't seem to want any cats to know about her situation, but she didn't want to turn down the chance to know more.

"Okay," Yinpaw meowed, getting to her paws. Ambereye flicked her tail for Abyss, Misty and Yinpaw to follow her.

They reached the leader's den after a short while. Ambereye dipped her head to Woodstar, and so did the other cats. misty and Abyss thought it was strange to give this one cat so much respect.

"What can I do for you?" Woodstar meowed, padding up to the cats. Ambereye started, "Misty wishes to stay." The silvery-blue cat stepped forward before the leader could say anything.

"I do," confirmed Misty, dipping her head to the leader. "Abyss's owner-Twolegs-don't want to keep me in their house now that I'm older, and I wondered if you'd accept me here." She stayed quiet for the leader to make her choice.

"You do know that if you join SharpClan," Woodstar started. "You will have to live by the warrior code for the rest of you life." Misty nodded.

"I know. I've seen your way of life in the Clan, and I think that's only fair. Please do think about it," the silver she-cat meowed. Woodstar agreed, "All right. I will announce this to the Clan. But first; Abyss? Are you staying too?" The leader turned to the grey tom.

He shook his head. "Only Misty will stay, but I will visit sometimes, if that is okay." Woodstar meowed, "That's fine." And with that, the brown SharpClan leader padded out of her den and towards the Vine Hill.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Vine Hill for a Clan meeting," Woodstar said the familiar words for the second time that day. Cats had curious looks in their eyes as they padded towards the Vine Hill.

Yinpaw and Ambereye went to stand by the Clan cats, facing the Vine Hill.

"Cats of SharpClan! Today, we will be receiving a new warrior. Misty, please come forward." The silvery-blue she-cat padded up to the leader, her heart beating fast.

"I, leader of SharpClan, will give this cat her warrior name. Misty, from this day on, you will be known as Mistyflight. Mistyflight, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do," Mistyflight replied solemnly, her eyes glowing with pride. Woodstar said, "Mistyflight is now an official member of SharpClan!"

"Mistyflight! Mistyflight!" The Clan cates cheered, some more loudly than others. Mistyflight bowed her head.

"Thank you, Woodstar," Mistyflight meowed gratefully to her new leader, proud to call herself a member of SharpClan. The leader nodded at her, her eyes gleaming happily. Abyss padded up to Mistyflight, and so did Ambereye.

"You did it," he mewed happily. "You are safe here." Ambereye came up to her daughter and whispered, "I am proud of you, Mistyflight, but you cannot say a thing about our relations. This is the only way for me to remain in my position now." Her silver daughter nodded.

"You could ask another warrior to take you around the Clan territory," Yinpaw suggested, padding towards the newly-named warrior. "I'll get some moss for your nest." She then padded away in the direction of the medicine den.