Lavenderpaw's Destiny

Chapter 9

Starlingwing watched as Lavenderkit tumbled around with Plumeyes' kits. The silver she-kit was about the same age as them, and Starlingwing had wondered if she should be raised by Plumeyes instead. However, the connection she felt to the kit was too strong to ignore, and Plumeyes had confided in her that the thought of taking on another kit was exhausting. She had a large, rambunctious litter to begin with, and adding another kit to the bunch would be too much to handle. 

The tabby queen's own kits were resting in her nest on the other side of the nursery. Their eyes had opened and they had begun to talk, but they still spent much of the day sleeping. They were half a moon old now, and would soon start to learn to walk on their stubby legs. For now though, they preferred to stay in their nest and watch the other kits play.

Starlingwing longed to feel the warmth of the sun on her pelt. The nursery was cramped and dusty, and Starlingwing much preferred the openness of the clearing. She slowly padded out of the nursery, relishing the feel of fresh air on her face. Though it stung with the cold of leaf-fall, Starlingwing gratefully breathed in the crisp air. Weak sunlight landed on her spine as she arched it in a stretch. The camp was bustling with cats preparing for leafbare. Apprentices were weaving fresh bracken stems into the dens while Junipertwig and Strikepaw were laying out herbs to dry in the sunlight. 

A hunting patrol slipped into camp through the log tunnel, each warrior carrying prey. Though prey was growing scarcer, the patrols never failed to bring back an impressive catch. Starlingwing was glad all of the cats were plumping up before leafbare. The head of the patrol, Turtlefoot, carried a fat squirrel. She was looking especially well-fed, her belly rounded and her fur sleek. She set her catch down on the fresh-kill pile, and the rest of the patrol followed suit. Heronlight contributed a juicy-looking thrush while Applestem set two mice on the pile. The whole patrol looked proud of their catches; only Heatherpaw hung back, her head drooping as she dropped a tiny vole next to the other catches. Starlingwing's heart burst with pity at the despair bubbling in the apprentice's eyes. 

The gray and white she-cat's mentor, Heronlight, padded over to her, warmth in her gaze. She murmured comfortingly to the young apprentice, though Starlingwing was too far away to make out what she was saying. Instantly, Heatherpaw brightened, her white tail swishing happily. Heronlight led the way out of the camp once more with Heatherpaw bouncing behind her. She was likely going to give the apprentice a one-on-one hunting lesson. Starlingwing purred as she watched them go, touched by how patient Heronlight had been with her new apprentice.

Starlingwing enjoyed the activity happening around camp. She longed to be out hunting again, but knew her kits needed her here. Still, she watched her clanmates come and go wistfully. The pale moon showed white against the light blue sky. It would be half moon tonight, and the medicine cats from every clan would meet at the Star Cave. 

The queen had never seen the cave herself, but Junipertwig had described it to her once. It was a large cave just outside of Alderclan territory, its mouth gaping open high above any cat's head. Inside, claw marks etched the stone walls, forming shapes that resembled the stars high above. At half moon, the cave was filled with a white glow from the stars and the moon, and the clans' ancestors would appear to speak with the medicine cats. 

Shuddering, she shook the thought out of her mind. Thinking about meeting with dead clan cats made her fur crawl, and she didn't like to imagine it. Resuming her watch on the camp entrance, she pushed any thoughts of the Star Cave from her head. Another patrol was entering as Starlingwing focused her gaze on the log entrance once more. Stumpleap padded through the entrance with his littermates, Spoteye and Dustsnout, followed by Sprigleap and Beetleleg. They had been on border patrol, and by their relaxed expressions, Starlingwing guessed everything was peaceful in the pine forest.