WARRIORS : Calling Darkness [Book 1] Swept Away

Chapter 9

       The cold chill of leaf-fall gripped ThunderClan in tight claws, and the wind whipped the whiskers of the gathered cats. The packed mud floor of the stone hollow was sprinkled with crunchy brown leaves.
       Dapplestar stood on the Highrock, chin high. "This ceremony is one of the most important in Clan life," she stated, moving to jump down the rock steps of the cliff. "Redpaw, come forward."
       Redpaw stalked forwards, reddish fur contrasting with the brown colors of the leaves that crunched under his paws. Goosepaw sat calmly with her tail wrapped neatly over her paws. She gazed intently as her brother took his warrior name, listening to every word.
       "From this moment on, you will be known as Redwater. StarClan honors your independence and enterprise, and welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."
       Goosepaw flicked her tail once as the Clan stood and chanted her brother's name. She rose to her paws gracefully, and calmly chimed in. "Redwater.Redwater."
       Goosepaw sat back down lightly, waving her tail in a graceful manner as Redwater brushed past to sit beside her.
       Goosepaw was called upon next, and as she gazed calmly up at her leader, holding her chin ever so slightly lifted.
       "Goosepaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Goosenight. StarClan honors your gracefulness and cleverness. ThunderClan welcomes you as a full warrior."
       Goosenight dipped her head to Dapplestar, and turned towards the welcoming calls. "Goosenight! Goosenight!"
         Goosenight gazed through the eyes of her Clanmates, searching for warmth, but all she could feel was coldness and despair.

The day was fresh and crisp. Goosenight padded behind Firefeather and Tigerpaw. They were out patrolling the ShadowClan border. As Firefeather stopped to taste the air, Goosenight padded over to the stream that marked the border. Crouching down, she lapped gently at the ice-cold water.
A brown leaf fluttered down to land in the water beside her chocolate-brown nose, and spiraled downstream towards the lake. Raising her head gracefully, Goosenight turned her head. Firefeather was still searching the clearing for traces of fox, while Tigerpaw was watching the wind send leaves down to the ground.
Dapplestar has order extra patrols around the ShadowClan border to try and drive the fox out of their territory. Let's get on with it.
As Firefeather scented the air, and Goosenight glared at her reflection, a shrill yowl split the peaceful leaf-fall air. Firefeather pricked her ears in the direction in alarm, and Tigerpaw raised her head slowly, brows furrowed in concern and eyes wide.
Goosenight looked sidelong in the direction of the yowl, curiosity growing inside her. Goosenight saw Firefeather grit her teeth as another alarm call pierced the crisp air.
Goosenight waited for an order from the senior warrior, though she felt calm. Firefeather turned towards her small patrol. "Tigerpaw and Goosenight follow me closely. A Clanmate might need our help," Firefeather stayed calmly, though her voice was firm.
Goosenight dipped her head smoothly, and Tigerpaw nodded several times, blue eyes still wide with wonder and fear for a Clanmate.
Firefeather flicked her tail once, then bounded silently into the brambles. Tigerpaw was right in her mentor's tail, and Goosenight followed, gracefully leaping into the thorns.

Firefeather slowed to an abrupt stop, Tigerpaw coming up beside the ginger she-cat. They had come to a clearing upstream from where they were, and fox scent gripped the air like claws. Goosenight couldn't see past the two cats in front of her, but she could sense their tension.
Pushing past the tendrils in her way, Goosenight saw the reason for their shock. In the clearing was a large fox, orange pelt gleaming in the sunlight. Redwater stood facing it, pressed low to the ground.
Goosenight surveyed the scene with a strange calmness. She knew her brother was smart and stealthy. He could outwit any enemy, including a fox. But what Goosenight hadn't seen was a small scrap of fur lying just behind him, trembling in fear.
Firefeather glanced over at Tigerpaw. "Stay here out of the way," she ordered, then leaped at the fox.
The fox already had been wounded on its shoulder and flank, so as Firefeather scratched at its muzzle, it flinched away. Redwater moved in to help his Clanmate, swiping swiftly at the fox's hind legs. Together, the two cats slowly drove the creature back into the undergrowth, where it turned tail and ran.
Firefeather bounded back, panting with exhaustion, while Redwater followed slowly. "What happened?" The ginger she-cat exclaimed.
Redwater started off on his explanation on how he found one of Goldenlight's kits wandering around the territory. He explained that when he found the kit he could smell fox scent everywhere.
"And that's when the fox jumped out of the bushes," Redwater stated smoothly. "Heading straight for Spikekit."
Tigerpaw bounded towards the ginger kit who was huddled on the far side of the clearing. Tigerpaw started to lick the kit, comforting it. Goosenight watched as the young brown she-cat curled her tail around Spikekit, and an ominous thought seeped into her mind. How could such a young kit be out here on its own?
She gazed over at her tan-and-red brother. He was usually plotting things with her to gain more power. He wanted to be leader of ThunderClan, with Goosenight as his deputy. Redwater wanted the other Clans to suffer.
Goosenight went along with his plans and actions, even if it meant hurting another Clanmate. She would do anything for Redwter; all they had was each other. The claws of her past seemed to rip at Goosenight's memory. She took a calm deep breath, pushing the dark thoughts away. She never talked about her parents and her past with anyone, let alone even think on the subject.
Goosenight was shaken out of her thoughts when Redwater nudged her with his shoulder. "Firefeather and Tigerpaw are taking Spikekit back to camp. Patchwish will look him over to make sure he isn't hurt."
Redwater narrowed his yellow eyes as the other three cats left the clearing. Firefeather flicked her tail, calling over her shoulder. "See you two back at camp!"
Goosenight stayed calm, but she could sense how annoyed her brother was, though he didn't show it.
"Walk with me," he said, turning to pad into the trees.

Goosenight padded alongside Redwater, their fur slightly brushing. The cool wind shook the treetops above. Redwater had been silent on their walk through the woods, but as they approached the lake, he spoke. "My plan didn't work, as you could see," he padded to the shore, crouching down to squint out over the water. "Next time my plans won't fail."
Goosenight glanced smoothly down at her brother, than sat beside him, curling her tail gracefully over her paws. "What was your plan?" She asked, keeping her voice steady, despite her curiosity.
Redwater's yellow eyes flickered coldly. "I enticed Spikekit. He is an eager young kit, quite easy to deceive," Redwater flicked his tail. "I followed the fox's trail, leading Spikekit to it. The fox would have done the work, if your patrol hadn't come so early."
Goosenight wasn't surprised at her brother's actions, though confused instead in why he had done such a thing to a helpless kit. "Why Spikekit, may I ask?" Goosenight wondered in a nonchalant tone.
Redwater sat up, casting a glance at his sister. "I've seen how he plays with his siblings. He's tough and cocky; he doesn't know his own strength," Redwater crouched back down again, narrowing his yellow eyes. "He could pose a threat one day."
Goosenight wanted to protest, but she kept her cool. How could a kit possibly be a threat. It was too early to tell, surely. Instead of arguing she changed the subject.
"I think who really poses a threat is Tigerpaw," Goosenight flicked her tail, as if this were a normal everyday topic. "She cares so much about her Clanmates; she might be deputy after Onemoon. Did you see how caring she was towards Spikekit, making sure he was protected?"
Redwater shook his head, dismissing the thought. "Ryepaw is more a threat than any of his siblings. He's hot-headed, though reckless, and makes sure he gets his way. He's athletic and competitive; those are dangerous qualities, and that of a deputy."
Goosenight shook her head, though didn't speak on about the subject. But Redwater changed the subject anyways. He beckoned with his tail for Goosenight to crouch down beside him, and she did so.
Redwater waved his reddish-tan tail, motioning towards the territory on the opposite side of the lake that belonged to RiverClan and WindClan.
"Soon we will own all of this to ourselves, Goosenight," Redwater whispered. "No cat will ever threaten us again. Won't that be great?"
Goosenight stared blankly at the black water that rippled this way and that as the cold wind pushed it. She knew what her brother was talking about; but she didn't want to think about her past. The wind chilled her to the bone, but also did her brother's words.
Keeping her cool, Goosenight could only bring herself to give Redwater the answer he needed. "Yes," she replied, voice calm and cold as the chilly leaf-fall air.
Goosenight pushed away her rising doubts, and replaced them with the only thought that kept her involved in her brother's plans.
He doesn't have anyone else; he needs me.