Warriors: The New Clans

Chapter Four

I stare at my paws, watching as the Clan cheers for the new apprentices. Fernpaw, now the medicine cat's apprentice, stares around, her chest puffed with pride and her eyes sparkling. Her brothers, on the other paw, both look like they want to curl into a ball and hide from the world. Their mentors, Ravenshadow and Tigershade, look proud to finally be mentors. I watch as Lionstar finally calls my name. Stepping forward, I march into the circle of cats.

"Eclipsepaw, your punishment is now over and you shall return to your apprentice duties. I hope you have learned your lesson, and learned it well." Lionstar meows, his voice ringing with authority and disdain.

I lash my tail. Ghostsong, for all her life, tries to keep the look of pity out of her gaze... But I pick it up, anyways. Silverdusk nudges Soulpaw, smirking, as she whispers something in his ear. I glare at the tom, but he simply looks away, eyes lowered.

+++++

"I know that you're thinking about him again, Eclipsepaw." Ghostsong says softly as we pad out of camp.

My eyes narrow as I stare ahead.

"Yes. I am."

"You still like him, don't you?"

"Yes."

"And that fox-heart is still manipulating him into thinking you're a horrible kit."

"Exactly."

"Did you see him at the ceremony, though?"

"Yes. I did. Why?" I growl softly, my eyes hard.

"Because... He misses you. Don't you know he feels bad for what he did?"

I freeze in my tracks.

"He.... What?"

Ghostsong flicks her tail.

"He regrets choosing her over you. Haven't you seen the way he watches after you?"

I stalk towards the border with MeadowClan, my tail lashing.

"I mean nothing to the mouse-brain."

It'd been a moon since I was renamed as an apprentice. Soulpaw was due to begin his warrior assessment any day now. Irispetal and Lilyfall had both been made warriors. Marblepaw... She was growing. She is growing. She's learning more and more. Blazefire has essentially disowned me as a daughter. Not that I care. Angellight rarely talks to me due to her constantly being busy as a warrior. Marblepaw and I still... Communicate... But, for the most part, she's been extremely distracted.

Ghostsong... I've grown closer... Sorta. But I've mostly stopped socializing with everyone. For the most part, I now keep quiet and stay to the shadows. My training with Tiny has been going really well. In fact, he says that I should be made a warrior in a moon. But, seeing how my training is going with Ghostsong... I'm not so sure. With her, every time I do a battle move, she tells me that I'm being too lethal. The other day, I gave Blackpaw's ear a nick. I'd felt bad about it, of course, but Blazefire...

Blazefire seems to think I'm intentionally doing things like that. I mean, why would I? I'm still as loyal as any other apprentice; as any other Clan cat. But it's still not good enough for him. Whatever. If he can't see that I am training twice as hard as any cat, than I don't need him.

Shaking my head, I pad forward. My tail lashes as I think more on Ghostsong's words. Unfourtunately, I know she's wrong. That fox-hearted tom wants nothing to do with me. I learned that long ago. Hissing under my breath, I stalk forward faster. Suddenly, I trip. Within a heartbeat, my nose is flooded with the scent of MeadowClan. My dark eyes widen with wonder... And slight fear. Suddenly, I'm surrounded by five cats. Two, I note, are apprentices like myself.

One, a black she-cat with blue-gray ears, stands beside a ginger tabby tom, her green gaze filled with nervousness. I guess her to be close to her warrior assesment. The other she-cat -who I guess to be her sister- hisses threateningly, her pale blue-ish pelt bristled. The other three cats, consisting of a reddish she-cat with black ears and paws, dark brown tom with black legs, and the ginger tabby tom, snarl.

"Why are you trespassing on MeadowClan territory?" the red she-cat demands, her black ears flattened.

"Calm yourselves, MeadowClan. She's only an apprentice." a voice calls.

I watch as a dark gray she-cat with black speckles appears, seemingly out of nowhere. Her hazel eyes shine with amusement. With a start, I realize I am staring at the deputy herself, Ashfall. Eyes huge, I bow deeply, ears pinned from embarrassment.

"Rise, little one." she purrs warmly, leaning down and touching her nose to my head.

Eyes still huge, I shakily get to my paws.

"Eclipsepaw, correct?" she asks, her head tilted.

I nod, blinking in wonder at her knowing my name. She dips her head briefly before turning to the rest of the patrol.

"Go on ahead without me. I'll deal with this little intrustion." she says authoritively.

The patrol dips their heads before bounding off. Turning back to me, the speckled she-cat purrs. She sits down, tail curling around her paws.

"So, what brings you to MeadowClan's territory, my little niece?" she inquires gently.

For a moment, I'm stunned into silence. Then, my eyes wide, I find my voice.

"N... Niece?" I gasp.

"Yes. You heard me correctly. Lionstar and Blazefire are my half-brothers."

Blinking, I sit heavily.

"Whoah...." I mumble in shock.

The deputy purrs, her eyes warm. Suddenly, though, her ears prick forward.

"It seems as though your mentor isn't too keen on our little chatting. I suggest you return to her." she says calmly.

I nod, standing to my paws. She does the same, then she leans down, her mouth beside my ear.

"Hey, remember to keep our little secret, okay?" she whispers.

I nod. With a nod back, Ashfall turns tail and bounds after her patrol. I turn as well and pad back to my mentor. Ghostsong stands beside me, her fur touching mine.

"You okay?" she asks.

I nod, mind still whirling from the revelation of my kin in MeadowClan.

"Let's get back to the patrol, okay?" I ask.

With a nod, Ghostsong turns back to the border.