Aspenleaf's Duty

Chapter 11

"Aspenpaw! Hey Aspenpaw!"

Aspenpaw looked up as Robinblaze bounded forward, his tail held high. "Congratulations!" he purred, pulling up to a stop in front of her. "I'm so happy for you!"

Creekshadow padded up behind Robinblaze. "Congratulations Aspenpaw." She mewed, sounding strangely reserved. "You'll make a wonderful apprentice I'm sure. Are you... happy?"

Aspenpaw hesitated. "I guess so." She replied. "I mean, this is what all kits want isn't it?"

Robinblaze gave a little snort of laughter. "It's true. You were trying to go on patrols at three moons old if I remember correctly, Creekshadow."

A flicker of amusement passed over Creekshadow's face. "I can't argue with that." She mewed.

"Well done!" Hazelbreeze's mew sounded loudly through the crowd as she pushed her way towards the new apprentices. She rubbed her chin against the top of Icepaw's head before turning towards Aspenpaw. "I'm so proud of you both!"

Aspenpaw couldn't fight the purrs rumbling through her as Hazelbreeze rubbed her cheek along Aspenpaw's. She looked up at her foster mother, comforted to see the pride and a hint of concern in her gaze.

"Congratulations." Mewed Ravencall trotting up beside his mate and gazing down proudly at his son and foster daughter. "Both of you work hard, train well and we'll have you in the warrior den in no time."

Icepaw was positively glowing from the attention and praise being showered upon him, but Aspenpaw found herself looking around for the cat she had expected to be fighting to be the first to call her by her new name. Finally, she spotted him making his way towards Tigerfang.

Blackheart was speaking quickly to his brother in soft tones. However hard she strained her ears, Aspenpaw would never have been able to hear them. Although her mentor's face was cold and expressionless, there was no hostility in his expression. The same could not be said of Blackheart who was standing with his hackles slightly raised. Aspenpaw found she couldn't contain her curiosity and padded silently towards them until she could hear her father and uncle.

"I'm not asking you because she's my kit." Hissed Blackheart. "I'm asking because she's not old enough to be training yet."

Tigerfang twitched his tail. "All the more reason to start as I mean to go on." He mewed coolly. "If I'm lenient for the first moon, it'll come as a shock when her training truly begins."

"She's five moons old." Blackheart begged. "I know what the other cats say about your previous apprentices. You worked Lionfall to exhaustion, and Webeye is half blind now!"

Aspenpaw saw her mentor's eye narrow. "And in spite of my apparently flawed training..." he mewed in a dangerously soft voice. "... they are some of the best warriors in the clan. Really, Blackheart, you're my brother. I thought you would think differently of me."

"Cats talk." Shrugged Blackheart. "It becomes difficult not to hear."

"Even with your ears shredded?" Tigerfang growled, his gaze flicking to where Silverstar had ripped Blackheart's ears but Aspenpaw thought she could detect a flicker of a warning in his voice.

Blackheart's hackles began to flatten. He gave a little sigh of resignation. "Do what you must." He murmured. "Just... just keep her safe."

He turned away from his brother and the two of them suddenly became aware of Aspenpaw standing a tail length away. For a moment, a muted horror seemed to pass over their faces before Blackheart forced a purr out and nuzzled her. "Congratulations Aspenpaw." He mewed, his voice forcibly cheerful. "I'm so proud of you!"