Feathermist's Hardship

Chapter 3

Featherpaw yawned as she gazed at the clearing. Many of her clanmates had noticed that Shellstar and Dawnswoop were sharing tongues more often. It was the hottest gossip all over the clan, but she didn't want to interfere in a cat's personal life especially if it was her leader's. 

She noticed that the dawn patrol had arrived. In the lead was Flintshine, a light gray almost white she-cat with green emerald eyes, not to mention a kind clan deputy, and on her side was Featherpaw's mentor and Flintshine's littermate, Quickshine, he had his eyes narrowed as if something was bothering him and his fur was rustling and had his tail twitching.

  I wonder what happened  Featherpaw thought to herself. 
She saw Flintshine go to Shellstar's den and the rest of the patrol padded towards the fresh kill pile.

  "Hey Featherpaw!" Featherpaw was startled when she saw familiar amber eyes from the entrance of the apprentices's den. The young tom padded inside holding a plump mouse that looked as if it was freshly killed. His name was Dustpaw and was an apprentice before Featherpaw joined RiverClan. He was a light brown tabby with long whiskers and sometimes when they shared a nest his whiskers tickled her muzzle.  

  "Hey Dustpaw, nice catch you got there." Featherpaw meowed. 

  "I was wondering if we could share it, as a celebration of my warrior ceremony today." Dustpaw meowed with the mouse in his jaws.

  She had completely forgotten Dustpaw was going to be a warrior! She let out a purr of happiness for her friend. 

  "I'm glad you're becoming a warrior, you're an experienced hunter and a good friend." 

  Dustpaw let out a purr and he dropped the mouse  between them, and they shared Dustpaw's last apprentice meal.  

  "Featherpaw! You're coming with me and Shellstar on a message patrol at Sunning Rocks." Quickshine came inside the apprentice den. Featherpaw got up and stretched her powerful hind legs.  
 
  "You'll come to my ceremony right?" Dustpaw asked with his tail dropped.
 
  "Of course. I wouldn't miss it even if StarClan themselves told me." Featherpaw purred. 
   She bounded over to where Quickshine was and padded alongside him to their patrol.

  "Why do we need a message patrol to Sunning Rocks?" Featherpaw asked her mentor.

  "We saw a couple of ThunderClan cats snoozing there." Quickshine grunted. "We're going to tell them that territory is ours." he said in a low growl. 
 
  "Quickshine! With that attitude of yours ThunderClan cats might shred you to bits! Please at least try to be careful." a gray she-cat padded over to Quickshine.

  Quickshine grinned as he saw his mate. "I'll try to keep my jaws shut Streamrose." he purred.
   Streamrose just rested her muzzle on his back and then padded over to her kit, Dappledpaw, a dappled tortoiseshell and white she-cat.

  Featherpaw and the patrol jumped over the skipping stones and made their way to Sunning Rocks. She could smell a scent that was weird to her. She immediately knew it was ThunderClan scent when she saw pelts that she didn't recognize resting on RiverClan territory that was granted to them by their ancestors many many moons ago. A low growl escaped her throat upon seeing how much the ThunderClan cats were enjoying their territory.

  "Ah, RiverClan what brings you here?" a deep mew got the patrol's attention. She looked over and saw a massive tom looking over her. He was a white tom with massive paws, one jet black showing only claws. His green eyes observed the whole patrol.

  "A message brings us here Cliffstar, these rocks are ours since our ancestors roamed these grounds." Shellstar meowed calmly to Cliffstar.

Cliffstar stood there with his eyes narrowed for what seemed like moons.

  "You're gonna have to fight for this territory. Or unless that greencough back in leaf-bare has weakend you even more." Cliffstar let out a deep chuckle.

  Quickshine growled. But Shellstar flicked his tail across Quickshine's muzzle to keep shut.  

  "Cliffstar, not everything has to be settled with a fight. Besides, why do you want this strip of territory, what good will it do for your clan, you could be fighting over something that actually gives you prey, your cats can rest in your clearing or wherever they please." Shellstar mewed.

"Fine, we'll leave, but don't think this is over yet." Cliffstar growled.

  "I know, and that's why we'll be prepared." Shellstar mewed and flicked his tail for his patrol to leave.

  On their way back, Shellstar padded beside Featherpaw.

  "Excited for Dustpaw's warrior ceremony?" Shellstar purred.

  "Of course, he's been waiting for this day every moon and I promised him I would be there." Featherpaw said.

  "Well it's gonna start now!" Shellstar mewed as he sprinted to camp. Featherpaw and Quickshine fast on his heels

 
  "Cats who are old enough to swim gather around to hear me words!" Shellstar yowled.

Cats started to merge out of their dens and sat in the clearing. Featherpaw made sure to sit next to Dustpaw but she could see Goldenpaw was about to sit next to her when Heathersong sat next to her instead. 

Heathersong purred to Dustpaw. "Floodstrike and I are very proud of you, we couldn't have asked for a better kit." her eyes were filled with emotion. 

Dustpaw gave his mother a quick lick on the cheek and looked up to his leader.

  "Dustpaw, please step forward."

  Dustpaw quivered with excitement as he took a step near his leader.

  "I, Shellstar, leader of RiverClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code and I commend him as a warrior in his turn. Dustpaw, do you promise  to uphold the warrior code and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do." Dustpaw purred.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Dustpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Dustwhisker, StarClan honors your courage, and we welcome you as a full warrior of RiverClan." Shellstar then rested his muzzle on Dustwhisker's head and Dustwhisker gave Shellstar's shoulder a quick lick.

"Dustwhisker! Dustwhisker! Dustwhisker!" the clan greeted the new warrior. Featherpaw went over to Dustwhisker.

  She purred, "Congratulations."

  Dustwhisker smiled, "Don't forget, you might become a warrior in about 4 moons, just don't ask how I know."

  She gave Dustwhisker a nod goodbye and went over to the apprentice's den to rest. She was however greeted by Goldenpaw.

   "Featherpaw? Would you like to go hunting with me? I've already asked Shellstar and he's fine with it." Goldenpaw said in a hurry. 

  Featherpaw hesitated at first, "Alright, where should we hunt?"

  "Near the river, for some fish."

The two made their way to the river and they both sat down. Featherpaw waited patiently to see the shadow of a fish. She made sure to keep her reflection out of the water.

   Just around the corner of her eye she could see Goldenpaw watching her. She shrugged it off and waited intently for fish. She then saw a medium sized shadow and she quickly dipped her hand in and brought out a trout. She gave it a quick killing bite and she grasped it proudly.

  "Nice catch, I think we should head back, moonrise is almost near and the clan will appreciate this catch." Goldenpaw said.

  Why did he bring me here if he wasn't going to catch anything? Featherpaw asked herself.

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