Warriors: A Dark Sun

Chapter 41

          By sunhigh the whole Clan had heard about Aban. Most were horrified, but some warriors swore revenge on ThunderClan. The Clan had grown to love the orange tabby and now he was dead because of his curiosity and knowledge.

"We must attack immediately! It could be our kits next! What if the next cat found dead is Hailkit!" Appleglow protested. Berrysplash yowled his agreement.

"They have killed before and I don't want my daughter dead!" He screeched. Lilymist was afraid of her Clanmates for the first time since she was a young kit tumbling around nervously. She scrambled to Icestar's den and raced inside.

"The Clan knows about Aban. It's madness!" She gasped. Icestar quickly stood up and ran outside. She leaped up on the Tallstone. She looked around calmly.

"Who here wants a battle? Step forward if you do." She meowed. Appleglow, Berrysplash, Duskflower, Adderblaze, Jasperheart, Skygaze, Sparrowleaf and Cloudrunner all stepped forward.

"Good. Appleglow, Adderblaze. Cloudrunner and Jasperheart. Take a hunting patrol to the river. Grayheart go with them to keep them out of trouble. The rest of you will be helping the medicine cats for the day. We better put that anger to good use." She meowed with an irritating cheerfulness.

"What about Aban?" Adderblaze yowled. "Aren't we going to attack?"

"When you are leader Adderblaze, then you can decide who to attack, but for now you are going hunting and that is final." She commanded. "The ThunderClan border needs to be patrolled. Who wants to go?" Almost everyone started stepping forward and offering to go.

"Olivenose, Rainwhisker and Feathermist will be patrolling. The reason is that they didn't want to go which means they have no anger." She slyly meowed. "Dismissed." Icestar jumped off the Tallstone and sashayed away to her den. Lilymist looked around and decided that she would also go hunting. She let the patrol go out first and then left in the opposite direction of them. She sniffed around, enjoying the leaf fall weather. She caught the faint scent of crow. Lilymist flattened down and crept through the trees. She saw the crow and got ready to pounce. She sprang from the bush she was hiding behind and landed on the crows tail. It flapped to get away and Lilymist felt herself being pulled. She bared her teeth and bit into the bitter flesh of it's neck. The bird feebly flapped it's wings for a moment longer then went still. Lilymist caught herself being hypnotized by the graceful movement of the bird's wings. The ash coloured wings gently took off in flight when the crow was alive. Lilymist found beauty in the food they ate and the things they took for granted. She saw grace in the ivy growing on the oak trees. She saw love in the foxes protecting their cubs. She saw innocence in the fawns the sometimes pranced through the forest. She was drawn away from her thoughts when she felt like she was being watched. She gazed around the forest, her shoulders tense and claws unsheathed.

"I know you're there." She hissed. Her heart fell when she heard the shakiness in her voice. "Come out!"

She felt stupid when a sparrow flew out of a clump of bracken. Her ears burned and she was embarrassed by her mistake. She picked up her crow and trotted back to camp. She admired the golden brown leaves littering the ground. The few that still clung to the trees gently waved in the cool breeze. As she walked they crunched under her paws and she felt oddly satisfied. Lilymist reached camp and placed her crow on the fresh kill pile.

"Lilymist. There you are! I'm going to see Icestar and you are wanted with us." Brightcloud meowed as she walked past. Lilymist followed her to the leader's den and sat beside Icestar.

"My two are ready to be apprentices. Sunfrost's daughters aren't far behind either. I was wondering who would mentor them." Brightcloud explained. Icestar looked at Lilymist.

"As leader and deputy it's up to us to choose. Lilymist who do you think would be best for them?" Icestar asked. Lilymist knew this was a test.

"I think Adderblaze would be best for Hailkit. Hailkit tends to shy away from play fighting so I hope Adderblaze will be able to teach him. Stormkit is a dry paw so we need a great swimmer to teach him. I'm thinking Rainstorm should mentor him." She meowed thoughtfully.

"Not Rainstorm. Adderblaze will be perfect, but Rainstorm has requested to move to the elder's den. Along with Swanshine and Duskflower. Reedsplash will mentor Stormkit." Icestar interrupted. Lilymist pricked her ears in interest.

"Why now?" She muttered. Icestar shrugged.

"They're getting old. They have earned their places many times over." She yawned. "I'll hold the retirement ceremony and apprentice ceremony at sundown." Icestar clearly dismissed them as she sat down in her nest. Lilymist followed Brightcloud outside.

"How is Wrenglow settled in?" She asked. Brightcloud picked up a small pike from the fresh kill pile.

"Why don't you ask her yourself?" She replied cheekily. Lilymist purred and sat down to share the fish with her friend. Once they were finished Lilymist followed Brightcloud to the nursery.

"Hi Wrenglow! How are you settled in?" She asked cheerfully. The brown queen shifted around.

"Very good. You're Clan has been very kind to me. Skygaze even found pine needles for me." She purred. "Maplekit is a quiet little kit too. She's obedient and follows a strange little schedule. My kits were all over the place, changing their routines every day." Wrenglow stopped purring when she mentioned her kits. A flash of pain glazed her eyes for no more than a heartbeat.

"I heard the kits are becoming apprentices soon." She meowed, back to her cheerful self. "That will be wonderful." Wrenglow nudged her nose into Maplekit's tortoiseshell fur. The kit let out a small squeal of protest.

"She so quiet sometimes I think I have to check her." Wrenglow explained. Lilymist stood up and stepped across the queen to Brightcloud.

"May I?" She asked the silver queen. Brightcloud got the hint and passed Lichenkit and Moonkit over. They looked up at her. Their eyes were fully coloured now. Lichenkit's were brown and Moonkit's were amber. Lilymist was mildly disappointed that neither had Owlheart's eyes.

"Hello little ones." She purred. They purred back and started swatting her tail. Lilymist winced as their tiny claws grabbed her tail. She was saved when Icestar called the Clan to a meeting. She padded out of the den to sit with her gathered Clan. She sat near the front with Olivenose. She gathered Lichenkit and Moonkit beside her. They stayed quiet, but Lilymist could tell they were excited for their denmates.

"Hailkit and Stormkit have reached their sixth moon and it's time for them to become apprentices. Hailkit step forward." The silver tom stepped forward nervously.

"Adderblaze." The brown tom stepped forward, pride surrounding him.

"You were taught well by Brightcloud and Grassheart. May you pass all you know onto Hailpaw." Icestar paused, allowing them to touch noses and creep back into the crowd.

"Stormkit step forward. Reedsplash, you were taught well by Lionscar. Pass all you know onto Stormpaw." Icestar announced.

"Hailpaw! Stormpaw! Hailpaw! Stormpaw!" The Clan cheered for the apprentices.

"There is another ceremony that needs to take place. Rainstorm, Duskflower and Swanshine wish to retire. I have accepted their offer since they have served the Clan for many moons. They were born at around the same time as me." She called the three she cats forward.

"Is it your wish to become an elder?" Icestar asked.

"It is." The three meowed.

"Then you are now elders. I hope you enjoy the peaceful life you will have in retirement." Icestar dipped her head to the three. The black queen jumped off the Tallstone and walked over to her sister.

"You're getting pretty old yourself, Icestar." Rainstorm chuckled. Icestar butted her head into Rainstorm's shoulder.

"I've got two lives still keeping me up. I can't exactly retire either." Icestar laughed, but deep down Lilymist knew she sounded regretful. The leader was getting older and she knew that she was never to have the peaceful life an elder had. Lilymist suddenly felt her stomach churn. Is that really what leadership is like? Will I ever be able to peacefully lie beside my brother and Olivenose as I grow old? Is this what I really want?