Warriors REBORN: Era Of Darkness

Chapter Four

"FeralClan? What's FeralClan?" Autumn rolls the name off her tongue several times.

"FeralClan is the group we associate with, it is run by the almighty Russetwind." The stocky cat replies.

"Once we join, we are given special names that define our rank in the clan system, my name is Nightfall, Patchy over there is Cloudrise and to my right is Adderpaw." Nightfall says as they cross the thunderpath.

"It's my job to train Adderpaw to be a good warrior, then he will receive his warrior name like me and Cloudrise."

Autumn nods in agreement.

"FeralClan is in deep need of apprentices at the moment, so we've decided to recruit you..."

"My name is Autumn, and I live with my two-legs."
She says, bouncing alongside Nightfall excitedly.

Nightfall gazes down at her and chuckles.
"You're going to have to leave them if you want to join us."

Autumn pauses to think but the thought passes through her young mind quickly. As her two-legs solemn return home often as they would back in the country, she decided it would be alright and they wouldn't notice.

"It's okay, I can't seem to find my way back to her." 

Autumn assures them.

Nightfall nods as Cloudrise scoffs at her remark. They continue to pace towards an old nest that smells strongly of animals.

"In here Autumn, this is FeralClan camp!"
Adderpaw brushes against her excitedly, urging her into a small hole in the plaster wall.

The four of them crawl inside, the air is damp and it smells of aging mold. Many cats swarm the dry spaces in the rafters, their chatter continues on as they enter. Another flash of the golden eyes as she enters. Ignoring them stubbornly she follows Adderpaw.

"Adderpaw, why don't you give Autumn a tour of camp while me and Cloudrise see Russetwind?" Nightfall asks.

"Sure thing Nightfall!" Adderpaw squeaks as he trots proudly in front of Autumn. He shakes his dark brown pelt, leaping up to a small rafter with many quivering cats.

"Here is the apprentices den! If you decide to stay, we will be nestled here!" He mews happily, bounding in the soft straw that cushions the wood below.

They balance along a thin plank to arrive at a wider rafter with many nests of straw and odd looking pieces of rough material. A second rafter with lots of shelter branches off not too far from the wide one, where many withered bodies dwell.

"Here is the warriors den, the one further away is the elders." He fans his ears before leaping down.

"I'm going to be there soon enough! You can join me if you'd like!" He snickers and paws at her.

The den below the warriors rafter is filled with strange funny smelling leaves and plants. Autumn curiously sniffs each one, as they all give off a unique scent, as if eating one would flip her stomach.

"This is the medicine cats den, those are herbs used for healing. They come from along ways away, because we are situated near the city and they don't grow here."

Adderpaw praises himself for this knowledge and paces towards a small nook in the wall. A warm scent of milk floods the scene as they draw near.

"The nursery, of course where any queen delivers and raises her kits for the first few moons, until they're able to become apprentices."
Adderpaw sits and watches the queen with her kits.

"So Autumn, you come from the city right?"
Adderpaw inches close beside her.

"I always liked the city, it's so pretty at night."
He pauses and stares off into the distance, his deep green eyes seem lost in a place distant from hers.

"I was abandoned, my mother, a rogue like most. My father... I never knew him. Though Russetwind, he rescued me, rescued me from what I could have become."
Adderpaw nuzzles into Autumn's shoulder

"He promised me he would never abandon me, and I trust him, he's like the father I never had." He smiles and bats his tail against hers.

"You should come meet him! Then he will give you a name and we can stay here together!" Adderpaw bounces up and beckons Autumn to follow. They make their way up a series of creaky rafters to a large stack of fallen planks, in which many appear to be rotting.

"Here's Russetwind's den! He's our leader, he says a leader would usually have the last name "star" but he hasn't received his nine lives from the great Starclan above... just yet."
They approach the pile as Nightfall and Cloudrise exit, passing by them and nodding respectfully.

A large shaggy tom follows behind them, his pelt a dark sienna with dusty cocoa stripes and a white muzzle. His left eye is scarred over, it sends an ugly twisted feeling in Autumn's gut. Something about this Russetwind doesn't seem right. His aura is exceedingly heavy and foggy, his energy so focused and determined. This strikes recognition and fear into Autumn's warm hazel eyes.

"Russetwind! Russetwind! Look who has decided to join FeralClan!" Adderpaw mews as he bounces around the shaggy tom.

Russetwind stops to gaze upon Autumn for a moment and then begins to chuckle happily.

"Why, you've found a new friend haven't you Adderpaw?" He asks, his voice smooth and calm. His intimidating demeanor seems to only cloak the surface, Autumn let's her guard down with relief.

Russetwind turns to glance at Autumn once again, as if she was someone he once knew, before taking a long blissful leap up to the top of the planks.
He clears his throat as Adderpaw summons Autumn to the very base.

"May all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather round the plank pile."

As soon as his grim voice echoes around the camp, many cats begin to flood around Adderpaw and Autumn. The air becomes a flood of chatter and distant yowls from the back, too many new scents to be deciphered at once.

"Today we have a new member joining FeralClan, who has decided to devote her time to the great search!"
Autumn gazes upon Russetwind, flicking her tail in agreement.

"Autumn, please join me on the plank pile!"
He booms, his voice proud and clear. Autumn gleefully bounds to the top of the plank pile, the tiny rays of sunlight dazzle her pelt as she makes the climb. Delicately measuring her tiny paws around the large crevices that travel deep into the plank pile. 

Russetwind looks at his clan with great remorse.

"Today we welcome a new apprentice to FeralClan!"

The shaggy tom pauses and towers down at Autumn.

"Would you like to keep your name along with your warrior one?" He asks.

Autumn nods, for her name symbolizes the beautiful leaf-fall in two-leg terms. It is the only recognition she has of her life with the two-legs.

"Autumnpaw will be your name until you are eligible to obtain your warrior rank. Cloudrise will be your mentor, I trust him to teach young Autumnpaw the ways of the warrior!"

"Autumnpaw, by joining FeralClan, do you vow to have committed yourself for the ongoing search of the one they call Sunspark?"

Autumn tilts her head at this new name, he meets his strong gaze.

Another flash of the golden eyes, only this time its not in her head, it's Russetwind.

Autumn is taken aback by this nostalgic occurrence, her pupils dilate rapidly and her head begins to spin uncontrollably. 

"Autumnpaw, do you agree?" Asks Russetwind, slightly confused.

"Yes, I agree to be a part of your search." She adds, not thinking straight. Russetwind raises his tail, oddly satisfied in this new companionship. 

"We welcome Autumnpaw with great respect and beliefs that she will contribute much to our search! Meeting dismissed!"