Shadows of Stars

Chapter 5: Firepaw!

Every cat was looking at him. Looking at the cat beside him. He stood there uncomfortably, waiting for something to happen.

In the crowd he spotted Greypaw. He was grinning so hard, it was like his face had split in two. Rusty shot him a questioning gaze, which he answered with an exaggerated nod and twinkling eyes. He smiled back nervously.

Longtail was attempting to stand, struggling on to unsteady paws. The blood from his ear now ran down his face. His cheek still stung from where Longtail had scratched his cheek. He shot Rusty a venomous glare, which probably would have been followed by an equally hate-filled remark, if not for the cat stood beside him.

"Well Rusty, do you still wish to be part of Thunderclan?" The blue cat beside him finally spoke. He nodded without a second thought.

"Thunderclan, this young cat would like to join our ranks. He has proven himself to be more than just a kittypet.  Are there any other objections?" She said, looking pointedly at the limping form of Longtail. A low murmur ran through the clan, accompanied by a general shaking of heads. Rusty relaxed in relief, he wouldn't have to prove himself again. But, from the back came a challenging snarl.

"He's still a kittypet Bluestar. What will the other clans think of us? They will think us weak, weak enough to accept a twoleg pet! And when leafbare comes, and life gets tough, will he stay? Or will he turn tail and run back to his owners? I think so!"

Rusty bristled "I would never!"

Bluestar looked appraisingly at him. "This cat has proved himself to be equal, more than equal to any clan born cat. Not many apprentices could beat a warrior, not even you Darkstripe."

"Longtail is young and a new warrior!" He spat.

"But a warrior non the less. Are there any more reasons why this cat should not join our clan?" Bluestar mewed calmly. Silence. "Then let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath Highrock for a clan meeting!"

He stood on Highrock, the clan a sea of up turned faces. Beside him stood Bluestar and the lion-cat. He would have to ask Greypaw his name later. Speaking of whom, where was that cheerful furball? Rusty began searching the mass below him, but before he could spot Greypaw, the leader started talking.

"Rusty, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Firepaw, because of your flaming pelt."

She finished speaking. There was silence, like they expected her to say something more. Nothing came. "Firepaw! Firepaw!" Came the shout from the edge of the crowd. He knew it was Greypaw. Soon the clearing was echoing with his name. He couldn't believe it, he had actually done it!

Head still spinning from shock and joy, he scanned the crowd for his grey furball friend. Instead of a familiar grinning face, his eyes fell on a group of cats at the back. They weren't cheering. With a sick feeling, he saw Longtail among them, as well as Darkstripe. But it was the ringleader that made him the most uneasy. Broad shouldered and scarred by many battles, the tabby's eyes glittered maliciously at him, twin amber beams of distaste seared his fur. Firepaw had a feeling he would be trouble, for him anyway. The tabby smirked, as if he could read his thoughts, and flashed a mocking grin. For a moment Firepaw thought he could see something else staring up at him, red eyed instead of amber with crimson tabby stripes on sleek black fur. An involuntary shiver ran down his spine.

That moment. That crucial lapse on the other's behalf. It could have stopped them there and then, but it didn't. Too blind to notice the true threat. Stupid.