The Falling Sky

Chapter 2

Branchkit scrambled out of the den, Greenkit close behind. Eagerly, the two sat down in front of the HighLedge. Thornscratch watched on proudly from her position in front of the nursery. The two overexcited kits noticed as Sandpelt slowly emerged from the elders den and the final few warriors gathered round the HighLedge. Whitepaw and Fastpaw hurried out of the apprentices den last, flashing them encouraging glances.

Branchkit spun around again, staring up at Smallstar, his eyes shining. Once the murmuring had ceased, the small tom stepped forwards.

"Branchkit, Greenkit," Smallstar began. "After the longest leafbare we have ever known, these two kits were born on the first day of greenleaf. Now, after six long moons of waiting, it is time for their apprentice names."

The cats around Branchkit gave him encouraging smiles.

"Branchkit," Smallstar beckoned him over with his tail, "From this moment onwards until you receive your warrior name, you'll be known as Branchpaw."

Yes! Branchpaw had to restrain himself from leaping into the air like a kit, reminding himself that now he was an apprentice. Eagerly he scanned the crowd, wondering who his new mentor was going to be.

"Snaketail," Smallstar mewed. Branchpaw silently cheered as the huge tom stepped forward. Snaketail was known to be a brave, strong warrior. "You mentored Eaglefoot, one of our most loyal warriors." Smallstar continued. However, at this uneasy murmuring broke out.

Eaglefoot's mother was a WindClan warrior, and although Eaglefoot despised WindClan for abandoning him, some cats still doubted his loyalty.

With a sharp flick of his tail, Smallstar silenced the cats. "I hope you do an equally good job with Branchpaw," he finished curtly.

Snaketail nodded solemnly, his amber eyes serious. "I will make sure he is a credit to our clan," he vowed. He stepped forward to touch noses with Branchpaw. As Branchpaw's nose met that of his new mentor's, he noticed amusement sparking Snaketail's gaze. Sensing his confusion, his mentor murmured, "Your tail."

Fur pricking with embarrassment, Branchpaw noticed that his tail was waving wildly in the air with excitement. Quickly he flattened his fur and stopped it, looking down at the ground as he did so.

"Greenkit, step forwards," continued Smallstar. Branchpaw looked up again, and watched on as his littermate tentatively made her way towards them.

"From this moment onwards until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Greenpaw. Foxears, after your failure with Birchpaw..."

There was a pause as it sunk in, and then angry yowls.

"Stop blaming Foxears, it wasn't his fault Birchpaw was killed," hissed Blossomhawk, Foxear's littermate, her ears flat against her head, hackles raised.

"Yes," snarled Eaglefoot, "just because Birchpaw was your son..."

"Oh isn't that surprising, the traitor's helping the killer!" Smallstar spat back, tail lashing furiously.

"But you just said that Eaglefoot was a loyal warrior!" Now Stonepelt jumped in to defend his close friend.

Greenpaw was watching the arguing cats in shock, huddling closer to Branchpaw. Branchpaw gently rested his tail around her, and he felt her tremble against him.

"Stop!" Flamefur's mew echoed across the clearing. He glared at the fighting cats. "Smallstar," he growled shortly. "Finish the ceremony."

Smallstar looked like an embarrassed apprentice as he clambered back up onto the Highledge. The rest of the Clan murmured softly to each other.

Smallstar, smoothing his ruffled pelt, carried on. "Where was I?" he asked, then his expression darkened, "Oh yes, Foxears."

Flamefur lept gracefully up onto the highledge and whispered something into his ear.

"Foxears, after you ..." Flamefur leaned towards him again and murmured something else. "I hope Greenpaw is a success," he finished curtly.

Tail lashing with with fury, Foxears glared at Smallstar and touched noses with Greenpaw.

"I'm sorry," Branchpaw heard his sister whimper, "I didn't mean to stir up so much trouble!"

"Don't worry," came the soft reply from Foxears , "It wasn't your fault." Glancing up at Smallstar he added "I will do my best."

Smallstar snorted and leapt down, followed by Flamefur. At the bottom, they exchanged a few quick words, before Smallstar disappeared into the leaders den.

Branchpaw watched his father with pride. He had been impressed with the way his father had dealt with the problem, however a worrying thought gnawed at him from the edge of his mind. 

Smallstar despised his own medicine cat, that would definitely lead to trouble in the future. He watched his sister bounding happily alongside her mentor and pushed the thought away. Everything was fine, he should stop worrying and find his mentor!

Looking around, he spotted Snaketail padding towards him and ran forwards to meet him. His fur tingling with excitement, Branchpaw wondered what was going to happen next.

So all is not right in their Clan! What do you think of their new mentors? And why do you think Smallstar is acting like he is to Foxears?

~Purple