Warrior Cats: Rainfall

Chapter Six

   Bouncestep and Longwhisker had been elected to go fetch Nightwing from where she stayed. Longwhisker admitted that he visited her and the kits frequently, and knew her home by heart. It was only a matter of time before Ashfrost saw them walk through the entrance, a black and gray she-cat being flanked by them. Bouncestep was harsh on the rogue and hardly gave her room to breathe, contrasting to Longwhisker. Whom was giving her plenty of room. They walked into the middle of the camp where they both sat behind the rogue. Stonestar came out of the leader's den, his eyes narrowed into slits in concentration.

   "Nightwing," he sat down in front of her as he spoke her name in greeting.

   "Stonestar," she held his gaze for a long time, determined to not be undermined by the leader of LightningClan.

   Stonestar looked to his left as he began to speak, "You were exiled for injuring several Clanmates, am I not correct?"

   She dipped her head calmly, "That is entirely true, Stonestar."

   He looked back at her and scanned her from ear-tip to paw-tip, "And your mate has brought in your. . . five kits, to become apprentices and then warriors in their turn. Longwhisker is your mate, right?"

   "Yes," Nightwing dipped her head again. "Longwhisker is my mate, and it was my wish for him to bring my kits here."

   "Elaborate your decision?"

   "When you had exiled me, my only worry was my kits. They would have no father to protect them if I had to go and hunt. They would be entirely vulnerable to many other predators, had I left them for a second. I knew I did not belong here, but I was hoping that you would take them in kindly."

   "And how did you cope with this problem for these six moons?"

   "Longwhisker would visit us at midnight almost every night, and he would stay and play with the kits while I would go hunt and catch a few pieces of prey for the next day or two," she admitted without reluctance. 

   Stonestar gazed at the gray tabby tom, "Is this true, Longwhisker?"

   The warrior exhaled, "Yes, Stonestar. I abandoned my Clan late almost every night to ensure the safety of my family."

   Ashfrost thought she heard a purr rumble in Stonestar's throat, but once the sound passed, she wasn't exactly sure what she heard.

   "Longwhisker, I admire your determination to protect your family, as you full well knew the possible punishment. Most cats wouldn't have dared to do what you did," Stonestar's gaze turned warm with affection. Not the affection mates have for each other, but the warm affection a leader has for his Clan.

   Longwhisker seemed startled by the praise, he nodded, "Thank you, Stonestar."

   "I will take in all the kits and I will give them their apprentice names. However, they will belong in LightningClan forever, and Nightwing, you can not take them back. Longwhisker, you will not go unscathed for this."

   Longwhisker nodded in agreement, he knew he wouldn't be going unpunished.

   Nightwing twitched an ear, "Stonestar, I would like to ask something of you."

   "Go on?" Suspicion was raising inside of the leader, Ashfrost could smell it.

   "It sounds ridiculous, but I would like to become part of LightningClan again."

   Stonestar's nostrils flared, "Wha-!"

   Nightwing dared to interrupt him, "I am fully aware of what I did, and perhaps I do not deserve to be a warrior as I wish to be. Put me on full-time apprentice duty, I won't spare one of your warriors to be my mentor, but I will volunteer to do every task that needs to be done. No apprentices available, and ticks need to be done? I'll be there without hesitation," she stared at the ground as she flexed her claws in and out of the damp dirt. "I'll do whatever it takes to see my kits grow up."

   Most of the warriors in camp seemed swayed by her small speech. A mother's love was most stronger than any other relationship known to any cat. She would die to protect her kits in a heartbeat, and like any mother, Nightwing wanted to see them become good warriors.

   Stonestar thought for a moment, "Very well. I will make you an apprentice, and you must fulfill any duties that an apprentice cannot do. Complaining or hesitation will not be tolerated, you understand?"

   Nightwing's eyes lit up with joy, "Yes, Stonestar! Thank you so much!"

   Stonestar eyed Longwhisker, "Have the kits come over to me."

   Longwhisker bent over and whispered to the kits, then they all bounced over to the muscular leader in sheer excitement.

   Stonestar purred, "Tell me your names."

   A gray fluffy tom with darker ears, paws, and tail tip spoke first, "I'm Fernkit!"

   "I'm Beechkit!" A gray tabby tom-kit with a cream underbelly and muzzle announced.

   A large, long-furred, dark cream tom-kit narrowed his amber eyes and grinned as he slid his claws in and out of the ground, "I'm Ratkit!"

   A light gray tabby she-kit blinked, "I'm Bluekit."

   Then the last one, a black she-kit, said her name, "Aspenkit."

   Stonestar rumbled, "Cats of LightningClan! We have five new additions tonight!"

   Some cats cheered, but others were muttering their disagreements at letting the kits in. Especially since Stonestar had been so reluctant earlier.

   "From this day forward, these kits will be known as Fernpaw, Beechpaw, Ratpaw, Bluepaw, and Aspenpaw. Fernpaw, your mentor will be Rainfall, and he will teach all he knows to you, as are the ways of a mentor. Beechpaw, your mentor will be Snowberry. She is a very experienced warrior, and you will learn lots from her. Ratpaw, your mentor will be Scorpionfang. You both have lots of energy and a constant will to fight, so it seems. Bluepaw, your mentor will be Frostleaf. And Aspenpaw, your mentor is Sootpelt."

   The apprentices bounced around giddily and touched noses with their new mentors. Ashfrost purred, they would be great additions to the Clan. Their attitudes would always keep the spirits up. Ashfrost was slightly dismayed that she had not chosen to be a mentor, but she felt it was for a reason. Stonestar seemed to sense that she wanted to have other priorities first.

   Mousefoot rubbed up against her, "You're finally a warrior."

   She purred, "I know. It oddly feels so much different."

   "Come," Mousefoot left for the entrance. "I want to hang out at the lake."

   Ashfrost rumbled affectionately and followed Mousefoot through the entrance.