Sunblaze's Sorrow

Chapter Fourteen: Three New Warriors and One New Apprentice

Sunblaze was nibbling on a mouse in the corner of the LightningClan camp. Snow drifted heavily outside, nearly obscuring the patrol Willowleaf's dawn patrol. Sparkstar was dozing by a small stump about the size of Sunblaze's head. His breathing came in steady paces. Beefeather and Ashbreeze were sharing a water vole while Foxflight was sitting beside the nursery with Hareleap, her mate. The pair looked happy together while Dawnlight's kit, Tinykit, was scampering with Oakkit by the stream. Foxflight was only a few days away from having her own kits, having moved into the nursery three moons ago. Sunblaze remembered playing with Daisy's kits while they apprentices, all their cares washed away. Now, things were different; Sunblaze was having to keep secrets of all kinds: secrets about her father, secrets about Grayflame, secrets about the mysterious prophecy. This all confused Sunblaze, clouding her head with worries. She watched the snow as it fell, her eyes clouded with sadness. This was her sorrow.
      Sparkstar sat up and yawned. He stood, stretched each of his legs in turn, then padded over to Sunblaze. His blue eyes were bright and his tail swished from side to side. Sunblaze saw Grayflame stare from afar with a longing look in his eyes. Well, after all, he did loose his mate to greencough, she thought. Sparkstar looked at her with innocent eyes. Dewkit, the kit that Sunblaze saved, came tumbling out of the nursery and charged after Tinykit. Sunblaze watched as the tiny she-cat pounced on her sister, who screamed in delight and wrestled Dewkit. The two littermates were almost six moons old, almost ready to become apprentices. Sunblaze longed to be a mentor, but she knew that it was unlikely.
      Foxflight winced in pain. Hareleap glanced over at her. Foxflight gritted her teeth, and Hareleap pelted to the medicine cat den. Instantly, Skylark and Jayfeather raced out of the medicine cat den holding various herbs. Foxflight let herself be nudged into the nursery. Sunblaze watched with a concerned look while Hareleap sat outside the nursery with his ears flat. Sparkstar watched as well with a shocked expression. A few minutes later, Skylark beckoned Hareleap inside the nursery to see his kit. Warm relief washed over Sunblaze. Sparkstar stood and entered the nursery to see the kit and came back a second later with a smile upon his face. "One kit. It's a tom. They say you're welcome to see him," he mewed. Sunblaze sprang to her paws and padded into the nursery. Foxflight was laying down with a satisfied expression while a small bundle of red fur with sandy stripes was suckling on her. Hareleap sad close by, grooming his mate, watching the tiny kit. "What have you named him?" Sunblaze mewed quietly. "Let's name him Applekit." Hareleap nodded at Foxflight's decision. "Welcome to..." Sparkstar began, but turned to face Bramblestar who was standing close by. "LightningClan. Our old camp was destroyed," the former ThunderClan leader mewed. "Welcome to LightningClan, Applekit," Sparkstar mewed. Applekit looked up at Sparkstar with big eyes, the left eye brown like Foxflight, and the right eye green like Hareleap. Applekit's tail was very bushy, glowing red with a white tip. Sunblaze was startled at the fact that the kit's eyes were open at birth. Applekit wailed and began to suckle his mother again. Hareleap chuckled and let his son paw at Foxflight's belly, his ears pressed against his head. One ear was a pale gray, looking as if he had been touched by StarClan. Realizing that she was staring, Sunblaze jolted herself back to the present where Hareleap was staring at her. "He's beautiful, Foxflight. Congratulations," she finally stammered. Foxflight smiled and fell asleep.

Six moons later...

      Sunblaze watched as Dewpaw, Tinypaw, and Oakpaw went to stand beneath the Highrock for their warrior ceremony. "Tinypaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, protecting LightningClan at all costs?" Sparkstar, Sunblaze's newly taken mate, asked. "Yes," Tinypaw mewed. "Then I name you Tinybird. May StarClan light your path. Oakpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, protecting LightningClan even with your life?" "I do." "Then I name you Oakclaw. May you live a long, happy life. Dewpaw, do you promise to-" "Yes!" Dewpaw shouted. Sparkstar smiled and continued, "then I name you Dewfrost. May you continue to bring LightningClan much joy. One more thing; I believe we have a new apprentice to join us. Applekit, will you step forward?" Applekit clumsily stepped forward, his gray ear folded back onto his head. "Applekit, will you train day after day in your path to become a warrior, taking the responsibility of a dependable apprentice?" "I do," Applekit squeaked. Sparkstar nodded. "Then Sunblaze will be your mentor. May she give you the determination of every cat in LightningClan. Your name is now Applepaw." Sunblaze dipped her head and touched noses with Applepaw. "Tinybird! Oakclaw! Dewfrost! Applepaw!" LightningClan cheered. Sunblaze felt her eyes glow with pleasure. She was finally a mentor!
      Sparkstar leapt down from the Highrock and licked Sunblaze's ear the same way she had six moons ago, with the same affection Sunblaze had. The two elders, Cherryfrost and Grayflame, watched from their den. Applepaw  waved his fluffy tail with an ecstatic smile. At that moment, cats began to pour into the cave. Sunblaze recognized Blackstar among them, his teeth bared. Sunblaze yowled in panic and flung herself at a warrior while Falconfur and Foxflight lunged at others. Beefeater and Ashbreeze yowled a battle cry at the invading ShadowClan. "LightningClan, attack!" Sparkstar cried before pelting into Blackstar with all his might. "Protect the elders and queens! Get them to safety!" Sunblaze yowled before she felt the thorny claws of Hawkclaw and her vision blackened.