Lies, Secrets, and the Storm | Book One of the LSatS Trilogy

Chapter Thirteen

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather under the Highledge for a Clan meeting!" Featherstar's call broke Stormpaw from her disturbing thoughts. She lifted her head, pushing her vole away. After what she heard Shellripple say, she wasn't hungry. Cats moved to the highledge and Stormpaw sat up, taking a quick glance over at the scheming deputy. Shellripple's icy gaze met hers and Stormpaw flinched away, suddenly concerned if he knew that she had listened. "Cats of ThunderClan!" Featherstar's voice brought her attention back to the meeting. "We are welcoming a new member into our ranks today!" 

Yowls of protest instantly followed. 

"What?!"

"The other Clans think we're weak enough as it is!"

"Is this what StarClan wants?" 

"Silence!" Featherstar yowled, her pelt ruffled. It flattened a moment later when she regained her composure. "Flame, please step forward." Stormpaw looked around until she spotted her friend padding from the other side of the camp, her head high. It sent memories flooding through her. It reminds me of my ceremony, she thought, a small smile creeping across her muzzle. "Flame, do you promise to learn our ways and uphold them, protecting your Clan even if it costs your life?"

"I do," Flame's bold mew broke through the clearing. Stormpaw saw a glimmer in Featherstar's eye, though she couldn't tell what it was. 

"Then from this day forward, until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Flamepaw. Littlebounce," Featherstar's gaze moved from the flame colored tabby to the lithe six-toed warrior. "You have proven to be swift and thoughtful, which are excellent qualities for combat and hunting. You are ready to have your first apprentice, and I hope you teach Flamepaw all that you know." 

"Flamepaw! Flamepaw!" Stormpaw chanted, along with the rest of the Clan. Most cheers were enthusiastic, as though they accepted Flamepaw, but few were still reluctant. Stormpaw grinned as she watched her friend touch noses with her new mentor before sitting down beside her.

"Also, as most of you know, Stormpaw has returned," Featherstar meowed, her gaze darkening slightly. Stormpaw's grin faltered. Featherstar's gaze rested on Stormpaw, softening slightly. "Stormpaw, why don't you come up here and explain what happened." Stormpaw swallowed hard. 

"M-Me?" her voice cracked, nearly a squeak. She felt a pelt brush against hers and looked over to see Coalpaw. Worry shore in his eyes, as well as a kindness that made Stormpaw's paws tingle.

"Go on," he murmured quietly to her. "You can do this. I know you can." A light seemed to ignite inside of her. Meowing a quite thank you in return, she got up and padded over to the Highledge. Her paws trembled as she climbed up the ledge. She looked over at Featherstar before turning to the Clan. Her heart seemed to jump into her throat as she looked down at all of the cats, who were looking anxiously back up at her, a hunger of knowledge bright in their eyes. Her pelt began to bristle. Does Featherstar ever feel like this?! she asked herself. 

"What happened?" Featherstar meowed softly, sympathy bright in her bright blue eyes. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Stormpaw took a deep breath.

"F-Foxspots and I were hunting with Hawkpaw, Brindlelight, Skypaw, and Raspberrypelt," she began. "We split the patrol a-and Foxspots and I were on our way back to camp when we were ambushed..." Stormpaw explained the chain of events in detail to the Clan, including the visit at the barn. When she finished, she found herself trembling on her paws while being haunted by the past thoughts. Questions seemed to buzz through the Clan. 

"Why didn't you have the BloodClan cats help you with Foxspots?"

"I thought BloodClan were nursery tales!"

"We need to save Foxspots!" 

"What are we going to do?"

"Calm down! Everyone!" Featherstar yowled. The Clan quickly silenced. "I would like to meet with Shellripple, Clearspirit, Blackstreak, and Brindlelight outside of the camp. We need to speak about what we will do about Foxspots. Do not pester Stormpaw with questions, she will need rest. This meeting is dismissed." Featherstar waved her tail, and the Clan broke apart at once, beginning to pad over to one-another and conversing quietly. Stormpaw scrambled down the Highledge, followed by Featherstar. Stormpaw felt the leader's tail flick her back and she looked over to see the ThunderClan leader padding toward the camp entrance where the senior warriors were waiting. 

"Hey!" Lilypaw's voice made Stormpaw jump. She looked over quickly to see her friend. Her head tilted. "What's the matter with you? You're really jumpy. Are you okay?"

"Y-Yeah," she shook out her fur. "I-It's just really nerve racking up there."

"Come on, I'll give you some poppy seeds and thyme to help you calm down," Lilypaw meowed, turning to pad towards the medicine den. Stormpaw followed and felt a flank brushing against hers. She looked to her right and saw Coalpaw. He quickly moved a few paces away, embarrassment bright in his golden eyes. 

"Sorry," he meowed. 

"It's alright," Stormpaw meowed, her paws feeling the same tingly feeling as before. Coalpaw dragged his paws as they walked into the medicine den. 

"Hey, you-um-did a pretty good job up there.I would have tripped over my words if I were you," he admitted. Stormpaw let out a small laugh.

"No you wouldn't have!" she protested. Coalpaw shrugged.

"I sure would have." 

"Hey, Stormpaw," Lilypaw meowed as she approached with the poppy seeds and thyme. "Why don't you stay in here tonight? We don't want the other apprentices pestering you all night."

"Okay," Stormpaw agreed, settling down in the extra nest. She lapped up the herbs that Lilypaw set at her paws. Coalpaw shuffled his paws awkwardly.

"I guess I'll... uh..." He began as he got to his feet and headed towards the exit.

"Wait!" she called. He stopped, looking over his shoulder. "You can stay a while if you want...?" she offered awkwardly. Coalpaw smiled, turning back around and padding over to her. He settled down beside her. 

"You're shaking!" he exclaimed. "Are you cold?"

"Kind of," she lied. She was just scared. But the warmth of his pelt beside hers comforted her and she didn't want him to move. He moved closer, curling himself around her. Stormpaw felt his tongue grooming her fur. She suddenly felt a wave of tiredness, which were from the poppy seeds and she bent her head down, resting them to her paws until she fell asleep.