Chapter Text
“Come on Snowkit, let’s go!” Sootkit shouted, practically shoving the pure-white kit out of his nest.
Snowkit tried to roll back over, “It’s too early to play…” he grumbled.
“The morning patrols are about to come back, I want to know everything!” Sootkit explained, practically shaking with excitement.
“You can ask them yourself.” He responded, covering his eyes with his tail again.
“Please?” Sootkit begged, prodding him again, “This is our chance to play before my mom wakes up.”
Sootkit always knew the best ways to get him up. Spending time with him without Brushtail getting in the way sounded wonderful, “Fine.” He said, finally rising and stretching out, a yawn on his lips. As sleepy as he was, he couldn’t pass up a chance to play with Sootkit.
He wasn’t entirely sure why, but his mother, Brushtail, seemed to hate him. She doted on Sootkit constantly, always making sure he was happy, giving him the juiciest prey now that he was old enough, and always having him sleep with her.
Meanwhile, Snowkit had been relegated to sleeping by himself for as long as he could remember. He was given practically scraps to eat, and barred from playing with Sootkit most of the time.
Still, that hadn’t stopped them from becoming like siblings. In the night, Sootkit would sneak over into his nest, or save scraps from his meal, or find ways to play together while Brushtail was busy.
He didn’t know why she hated him so. As soon as he was old enough to no longer need milk, he had been shoved away. He knew he wasn’t from here, he had heard her mention it to other warriors more times than he could count, but it still irked him.
He didn’t know anything about his origins, other than the fact that he was found in the woods one day. He had very few memories of his life before. He remembered traveling a lot, the panic his mother felt, the determination in her gaze as she placed him in that bush, and finally, her saying something with a great deal of conviction. He wished he could remember the specifics…
He shook his head to clear his mind, there was no point in dwelling in the past. He had hardly even been two moons old, it was a pointless endeavor to explore those thoughts. “After you,” Snowkit said, pushing those other thoughts out of his head.
Sootkit bounded towards the entrance to the nursery, abuzz with excitement. Snowkit squinted his eyes at the harsh morning light as he followed suit.
The camp was bustling as usual at the time. Two apprentices, Cardinalpaw and Bravepaw if he remembered correctly, were pulling old moss from the elders' den. They were siblings, if he remembered correctly, though they weren’t exactly the friendlist. He had heard them grumbling and swearing at their mentors under their breath the few times they had cleaned the nursery. Bravepaw at least seemed a bit nicer, if a bit hot-headed. Cardinalpaw was the concerning one.
One of the patrols were coming in, a frog dangling from the mouth of the leader, Herongaze. Behind her were Dewgleam and Swiftbreeze, alongside her apprentice, Lavenderpaw. Each one had some form of prey between their jaws, be it a mouse, rat, or frog.
He liked Lavenderpaw a lot. She frequently took time out of her day to play with his brother and him, teaching them basic warrior training. She was diligent and hardworking too, especially for being such a young age. She had only been an apprentice for a couple moons.
Of course, she wasn’t the only one who did so, she was just the most interesting.
He was excited they would get to be apprentices together. But, he knew he should pay attention to the older cats too. After all, one of them would be his mentor soon!
He could finally go out and do things! See the pine forest, leave the camp, catch a frog! Maybe he could even see a twoleg….
It wouldn’t be long now, he was certain. While his exact age was a mystery, the clan had basically decided that Sootkit and him were the same.
Speaking of his brother, he was pestering Herongaze about the patrol, obliviously unaware of the unamused look on her face.
Not wanting his brother to get a lecture, he quickly bounded up, grabbing Sootkit by the scruff, “Come on, leave her alone! She’s probably got stuff to report, the last thing she needs is you pestering her.”
“Thank you, dear,” Herongaze responded as she padded away, presumably to find the deputy.
Eventually, they were against the camp walls, Sootkit having been dragged the whole way. He turned around to look at Snowkit, “You’re no fun.” He said with a pout, refusing to meet his eyes.
“You wanted to play, right? Well we can’t exactly do that if you’re being chastised.” Snowkit retorted. It wasn’t exactly the truth, but it was a convincing argument nonetheless. At least, he thought so.
Sootkit huffed, turning so his back was to his brother. Of course, it didn’t take long for him to grow bored with that, his flicking tail giving him away. “Fine… I suppose I could forgive you. So, what are we playing?” It was rather endearing how quickly his brother could change his mind. He hated sitting still, so all it took was waiting a few moments for Sootkit to forgive him.
Snowkit smiled, “Mossball? It’s basic, but with only the two of us…”
“Sure!” Sootkit shouted, “I’ll go grab some from our nests. Be right back!”
Snowkit cocked his head as he watched his brother sprint back to the nursery before disappearing inside. He wondered if he should have gone to help. After all, maybe the moss was stuck together or something.
Besides, he just kinda wanted to stick around Sootkit. The rest of the Clan was strange. Some cats were fine, but the majority of the senior warriors…
He had caught them staring at him a few times. He wasn’t entirely sure why, but they did. He was a kit for crying out loud, what had he done to them?!
And then there were the whispers. At first, he had thought Brushtail just hated him for being forced onto her as an extra kit, but now he wasn’t entirely sure that was true. The older cats, and elders especially, had a habit of gazing at him across the camp, then they would turn and have hushed conversations between themselves. Call him vain, but he was almost certain those talks pertained to him.
“Boo!” A voice suddenly shouted from behind him. Snowkit felt his fur spike as he leapt into the air, landing a fox-length away, claws out and eyes wide.
He was met with the gaze of a light-gray she-cat. She had a cream colored underbelly, the color following up to her chest, then jumping to her chin. But her most jarring feature, and namesake, were her deep blue eyes, almost purple in color. He recognized her immediately, especially the mildly amused look she had.
“Lavenderpaw! T-That was mean…” his paws were still shaking slightly, and he gave his chest a few embarrassed licks to try and make it lie flat again.
“Sorry, you were just so zoned out, I couldn’t help it!” She padded closer, sitting down next to him, “Here, let me help you.” She leaned her head down and groomed him in a few places where his fur was spiky, especially on his back where it was hard to reach.
“T-Thanks.”
He internally growled at himself. He was almost an apprentice! Yet here he was, shaking like it was his first day out of the nursery. These apprentices would be sharing a den with him soon, and he would be training to be a warrior! He shouldn’t look like a coward…
Lavenderpaw gently turned his head to stare into her eyes, “Hey, I’m really sorry. I was just trying to mess around, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“It’s alright,” Snowkit affirmed, “I was a little spooked, but I’m fine. It’s not like I’m a kit.” It was his own fault anyway. He should really learn to stop getting lost in his own mind.
“Well, you kinda are,” she reminded him.
He rolled his eyes, “You know what I meant.”
She hummed in acknowledgment before glancing around, “Why are you out here all alone? Where’s Sootkit?”
“Getting moss,” Snowkit licked a paw and dragged it over his ear, “should be back soon. We’re gonna play some mossball while we have the time.”
“Mossball!” She exclaimed, “Oh, I haven’t played that in so long. Can I join?” She asked, looking at him intently. Her ears were perked up and her tail was lashing in excitement. He would feel bad to reject her, so he nodded.
“I suppose? I mean, it would make the teams unbalanced, but-“
“I can fix that.” She turned over to call across the clearing, her gaze fixated on a deep-red molly, “Hey Cardinalpaw! I was about to play some Mossball with the kits, wanna join?”
The other apprentice turned to glare at her, scoffing, “Oh please, that game is for kits. Bravepaw and I have to prepare for our assessments, they’re days away! We don’t have time to mess around playing games, unlike somebody…” she cast a pointed look at the pair of them, so cold that Snowkit subconsciously slid behind Lavenderpaw.
As the other apprentice walked away, Lavenderpaw hissed under her breath, “What a mange-pelt! Honestly, who shoved a stick under her tai-“ she glanced down at Snowkit with an alarmed expression, “I mean, um… she was rude, right?”
He rolled his eyes, “I’ve heard the expression before, Lavenderpaw. You needn’t protect my little ears.” He stated mockingly.
Her eyes went wide, “Who would say such a thing in front of a kit?” she paused for a moment, “actually, I can think of a few. Some of these cats aren’t exactly cordial.”
Snowkit chuckled at her comment, and they sat in a pleasant silence for a bit before he heard a grunt and turned to see Sootkit, dragging a bundle of moss that was the size of him.
He couldn’t help but burst out laughing, “Sootkit, we don’t need that much!”
He dropped the mound and turned back, “I know that!” He shouted indignantly, “I just thought that if we lost a ball, we could make use of the extra. Besides, I’m training my strength!” He let out a huff at the criticism before turning around to continue his trek.
“Toms…” Lavenderpaw muttered with a shake of their head, “Always about strength with them.”
Sootkit whipped his head towards her, “Oh, hi Lavenderpaw! Are you here to play with us?” He asked it as a question, but there was so much pleading in his eyes he might as well be demanding it outright.
“Well, if you’ll allow me, oh mighty one.” She teased, flicking him over the head with a paw. His small size led to him tumbling over, and he scrambled back to his paws with a playful growl.
“I’ll show you!” Sootkit crouched low, bunching his tiny muscles before launching himself and fastening himself to her side.
She made a great show of falling to the floor, Sootkit laughing with delight the whole time.
He called over his shoulder, still clinging to her, “Come on Snowkit, help me take her down!”
Snowkit knew there was absolutely no chance they could beat her, but Sootkit seemed to be having fun! He quickly dropped into a hunting crouch, or at least, what he thought they looked like, prowling forward before leaping onto her tail, pinning it to the ground.
He gave a small yowl of triumph as she failed to shake them off, her attempts failing as they latched their claws into her.
She kept her struggle up for a good while before eventually laying down in defeat, “I’ve been bested! Oh woe is me,” she cried out, laying her head down and sticking out her tongue dramatically. Sootkit let out a victory yowl.
“Need a helping paw, Lavenderpaw?” A voice asked, before a red-orange Tom with white accents bent down and heaved Sootkit off, earning a squeak.
He flailed his paws wildly, trying to get out of his aggressor's jaw, “let go!”
Snowkit was distracted by the ordeal his brother was in, and realized too late that Lavenderpaw had reached her head down, biting his scruff too and lifting him off the ground.
He let out a surprised squeal, but quickly gave up. If his brother was any indication, there was no point in struggling.
They were both sat down as Lavenderpaw turned to greet the newest arrival, “Thanks Blazepaw, I don’t know what I would have done without you! I mean, those two were just so strong!” She joked.
Blazepaw smiled, “Seems we’re going have our work cut out for us, huh? I mean, imagine battle training with them.”
“Oh yes, they might destroy us!” She giggled at their jokes, “why are you here though?”
He glanced around before dropping his voice to a whisper, “I’m hiding from Foxgait. Hopefully, if he can’t find me, he won’t give me elder duty.”
She narrowed her eyes at him, “That’s… not how that works. He’s just going to double it next time.”
“Whatever, that’s future-Blazepaw’s problem,” he said with a shrug. He glanced back to the kits, “So what are we playing?”
“Did you say ‘we’? Are you joining us?” Snowkit asked, a bit excited at the prospect. He didn’t know terribly much about Blazepaw, he was almost always around the other apprentices, but he seemed kind. There was no denying how handsome the young Tom was, and apparently he had a knack for fighting.
They had interacted a few times when Blazepaw was on nursery duty, which almost always seemed to be the case. He was there much more frequently than the others. Brushtail said it was because he had a knack for getting in trouble, but Snowkit couldn’t help but believe there was more to the story.
Blazepaw smiled, blinking a few times in a pleading manner, “If you’ll let me. Anything beats cleaning up after the elders. Stars above, they don’t shut up!”
“You should be nicer to the elders, Blazepaw. They deserve your respect.” Lavenderpaw scolded.
He rolled his eyes, “I know, but it would help if they would just stop asking about such weird stuff! Like, ‘Hey Blazepaw, anybody caught your attention?’ Or ‘got your eyes set on a potential mate?’ Like, ugh, back off! Honestly, they’re worse than my mom.”
“Can we please stop talking?” Sootkit begged, suddenly piping up, “You two are sooooo boring, either shut up and play, or go somewhere else.”
Snowkit was momentarily shocked, “Don’t be mean to them! They’re offering to hang out with us. Besides, they’re our seniors!”
Sootkit scoffed, “Stop being such a clean-paws, would you? I’m just trying to expedite things, I’m going to destroy them at mossball.”
“Big talk for such a little kit,” Blazepaw teased, “I like your spunk. Lavenderpaw, you’re on the other team.” He flicked his tail at her dismissively, going to the pile and beginning to roll a ball of moss.
She lashed her tail, glaring at him, “Fine!” She spat, “I wanted to be on Snowkit’s team anyway.” Her tone was actually rather playful, seemingly more friendly bickering than actual anger.
She pulled him forward with her tail, “Come on, let’s show those fools who’s boss!”
Perhaps he was spurred on by her enthusiasm, but he found himself going low and growling, “You won’t win this time, Sootkit!”
“Bring it on!” Sootkit shouted back, before staring intently at the space where the ball would soon be.
Blazepaw walked into the space between them, dropping the ball before returning to face them, “I’m assuming we’re playing with the usual rules? No picking it up, the objective is to reach the other side.”
“Um-hm,” Sootkit nodded, he then pointed with his paw, “Our goal will be the wall of the nursery, yours is the bramble wall. Get the ball in the other goal, score a point, highest amount wins!” He was quivering with excitement.
“Is there anything… prohibited?” Lavenderpaw asked cooly, though there was intent behind her gaze.
Blazepaw looked thoughtful for a moment, “well, I already said you can’t just carry the ball in your mouth for too long, but I suppose… don’t hurt anyone?”
Lavenderpaw rolled her eyes, “Well, duh, those were pretty obvious. Just wanted to make sure there was nothing else.” She had a noticeably sly look on her face, and Snowkit could practically envision her brain clicking away as she learned of the freedom she was given.
“Well then,” Blazepaw started, a cocky grin on his face, “Let’s begin!” In the blink of an eye, Blazepaw leapt forward, batting the ball with his paws and sending it flying toward the pair.
Snowkit watched in awe as Lavenderpaw launched herself into the air, smacking the ball down before twisting and gracefully landing on her paws. Seizing his chance, Snowkit darted after it, constantly bouncing it between his forepaws as he made his way to the nursery wall.
Blazepaw towered over him, blocking his path, and as Snowkit racked his brain for a way around, a gray blur ran up and snagged the moss, hurtling towards the brambles. Before neither he nor Lavenderpaw could react, Sootkit grabbed it between his jaw and tossed his head to the side, sending it sailing through the air and snagging into the thorns.
Sootkit let out a triumphant chirp, doing a small little dance on the spot, “Yeah! I did it!”
Blazepaw walked over and rubbed his head, ruffling the fur, “You sure did, champ. That’s score one for the cool-cats! Better pick up the pace Lavenderpaw…” he drawled, sticking out his tongue teasingly.
“I’m just getting warmed up,” she responded, rolling her shoulder, “besides, you look horribly undignified when you behave like that. Are you sure you’re the apprentice here?” She brought Snowkit closer, “He’s acting much more mature than you are, despite the age difference.”
“You’re calling me undignified? I’ve heard quite a few tales from my mentor about how you behave at gatherings sometimes, like once yo-“ Blazepaw didn’t have time to finish his recollection, as she practically sprinted over to him and shoved a paw over his mouth.
In a low voice she hissed, “If you say one more word, you’re going to be walking around with one ear.”
Snowkit couldn’t help but feel unnerved. Her gaze was so intense, her body language screaming ‘threat’ to all who saw it. Was this what being a warrior entailed? Would he be able to survive it?
“Y-yes Ma’am,” Blazepaw stuttered out, clearly as uncomfortable as he was.
As quickly as her demeanor had shifted before, she returned to her usual, jovial self, “Sorry about that boys, let’s go again! This time, we,” she pulled Snowkit closer, “are going to claim victory.”
Snowkit shook his head, clearing his thoughts. What she did didn’t matter, they were here to play, and that’s what he’d do.
If that was normal, then he would get used to it. He was going to become a great warrior, no matter what. Even if cats were strange, even if things got aggressive, he could overcome it.
But now, he was going to win.
***
“No!” He shouted as his claw barely missed the ball, leaving him watching helplessly as it found its mark.
Blazepaw patted him on the back, “That was a good attempt. However,” he moved back to Sootkit, “I believe we have just tied the game!”
“Yeah!” He turned his attention to Snowkit, “You’ve got to do better than that! After all, we’re making a comeback.” He gloated, his tail curling over his back in pleasure.
Snowkit was panting as he watched that occur. He was thoroughly exhausted. The game had been going on for a substantial amount of time by this point, and while Lavenderpaw and himself had managed to turn the tides quickly, gaining a rather substantial lead, the other team had swiftly made a comeback.
While the other two may have had a physical advantage, Sootkit was larger than Snowkit by a good bit, and there was no denying the muscles on Blazepaw, Lavenderpaw played smart. She was constantly feinting her moves, or subtly passing the ball to Snowkit while pretending she still had it, causing confusion. Some might call it deceptive and sneaky, but Lavenderpaw didn’t seem to care. Her strategies had managed to get them a large lead. Of course, once their opponents managed to pick up on her tactics, they rapidly began outsmarting her and tying the game.
As he went to grab the ball, he couldn’t help but pant a bit. He didn’t know where they found so much energy. His body was feeling sluggish, his thoughts muddled. Lavenderpaw must have noticed, because she suddenly declared, “This point takes it all then.”
“Awwww, but this is so much fun! Can’t we keep playing?” Sootkit whined, turning to her with pleading eyes. It was a typical strategy of his, utilizing his cuteness as one of the only two kits in the Clan to get things.
She sighed, “Unfortunately, us apprentices are very busy. Besides, Blazepaw over there has to clean the elder’s den.”
Blazepaw, who had been grooming his paw and running it over his head, suddenly looked up at her with wide eyes, letting out a groan, “But that’s the whole reason I’m here, to avoid that!”
“Aw, poor little kit’s going to have to actually do something other than shirk his duties,” she teased, “but, if you wanna delay it, then you better make this last point count.”
“Is that a challenge?” He asked, raising an eyebrow.
Lavenderpaw nudged Snowkit with her tail, darting her eyes towards the ball for a split second.
He nodded in understanding. She turned back to Blazepaw with a coy look, “All I’m saying is that I think Snowkit and I are going to beat you in no time flat.”
“Oh really? Because I know for a fact that I’m faster than you,” Lavenderpaw nudged him again, “besides, Sootkit over here has more brawn, and- hey! W-what are you?”
Blazepaw was cut off from his bragging as Snowkit seized his chance, darting between the pair and leaping at the mossball. He quickly batted it between his paws, making his way towards the goal. Behind him, he heard panicked shouts as Blazepaw realized what was happening, meanwhile Lavenderpaw egged him on.
Sootkit jumped in front of him, getting low and trying to take it from him, “Hey, that’s not fair!”
Lavenderpaw appeared between them, blocking him, “doesn’t matter.”
Snowkit pushed his way past them, continuing his sprint towards the goal. Blazepaw leapt in front of him, out of breath but still looking determined.
Thinking quick, Snowkit grabbed the ball in his mouth and chucked it over the other tom. As Blazepaw watched it sail, Snowkit quickly ducked into his legs, grabbing it as it hit the ground and hurling it to the target.
He let out a whoop as it snagged on the wall, signifying a victory. He heard a matching cheer behind him as Lavenderpaw cried out, “Yeah, take that!” She marched up to Blazepaw with a smug smirk on her face, “Who’s too slow now?”
“That’s not fair, you cheated!” He accused, jabbing her chest with a paw.
She waved his paw off, “I like to call it playing smart. ShadowClan cats are supposed to be strategic and sneaky. I’m just fulfilling my role, it’s not my fault you can’t play the game.” Blazepaw looked offended, and was about to retort when she turned her attention back to Snowkit, “Nice job! You picked up on my plan rather quickly, and you adapted splendidly. You’re going to be an amazing warrior.”
He beamed at that, “Really?! You think so?”
She ruffled the fur on top of his head, “I know so.”
That was the first real time some cat had said that to him. It was rare for any cat to give him a compliment, though that might be because he was trapped in the nursery so often. Still, recieving such praise, especially from an apprentice he couldn't help but admire, It… it was indescribable.
Blazepaw rolled his eyes behind her, “Sure, commend the kid for cheating. Real nice lessons you’re teaching there, roping him into your schemes and all. At least Sootkit had the decency to play fair, even when we were losing.”
“Yeah!” Sootkit marched up to him, “we’re supposed to be having fun! Not breaking the rules just because we feel like it! That’s not what being a warrior is about.”
Lavenderpaw scoffed, draping her tail along Snowkit’s back protectively, “I asked about the rules, and I never heard anything about when the round starts. Just admit you got outplayed. If you’re going to lose, you could at least do so with dignity, instead of throwing a fit.”
“Whatever, you’re no fun. I’m going to go find Quietpaw. At least he’s nice to be around,” Blazepaw muttered, casting her a pointed look as he turned around to leave.
Lavenderpaw frowned subtly, a pitying look in her eyes, “Why do you hang out with him so much? You have a ton of potential, I don’t know why you squander yourself by skipping your duties and spending all your time around Quietpaw. The cat hardly speaks, is he really worth the effort?”
Blazepaw stopped walking, solemnly looking over his shoulder, “Maybe if cats like you were nicer, he’d have more to say.” He retorted quietly.
Lavender paw held his gaze, motioning around the camp, “It’s not just me who thinks so, everybody mentions how quiet he is. Sure, he’s a phenomenal hunter, but what kind of warrior can’t even hold a conversation? What’s he going to do if he has to be diplomatic, or deescalate a situation?”
“He’s been through a lot, Lavenderpaw. Let him be.”
“We all went through the same crud, Blazepaw!” She spat, “You act like he got it so much worse, but we all suffered through that! I lost my father, you lost your siblings, Bravepaw and Cardinalpaw were forced to become apprentices moons early just to pick up the slack!”
“The only reason I have to act like that is because of how much you and everyone else undermine his struggle!” Blazepaw stalked closer, “He was in solitude for moons, he was barely even born and already had to face death! It’s no wonder he doesn’t speak, what’s the point with how cruel the clan is?”
“You would undermine the entire clan for one lousy cat?” Lavenderpaw’s fur bristled as the situation got further escalated, “What a pathetic effort you’re making for someone who probably hasn’t even said your name.” She muttered, though she clearly intended for Blazepaw to hear.
Blazepaw raised his hackles, his lips drawing back in a snarl, “I’m warning you, Lavenderpaw…”
“Oh, fight his battles for him, why don’t you? You do it so often, maybe you’re the reason he doesn’t change!” She narrowed her eyes, smirking condescendingly.
“Foxheart!” He swore at her. In the blink of an eye, he had crouched and then propelled himself through the air, slamming into her side and fastening into her with unsheathed claws.
Lavenderpaw cried out in pain as she was thrown to the ground, but swiftly recovered, fastening all four legs around Blazepaws back. She dug her claws in, drawing blood as she heaved him over, sending them tumbling along the ground.
Snowkit yelped, turning to shove Sootkit and himself out of the way of the pair. He looked on in horror as the pair continued their spat. This… This wasn’t playing. He had seen apprentices spar and have play-fights before, but this was different. It was bloody, frightening, and loud. They were actually out to hurt each other.
Lavenderpaw successfully pinned him beneath her, and began battering him with constant swipes along his face and kicks to the stomach.
Blazepaw let out a few winded gasps before pulling his legs in protectively. In a flurry of movement, he surged upward, flinging her off and landing on his paws. Lavenderpaw scrambled to recover, but in the process, left herself open.
Her assailant seized his chance, launching himself and landing firmly on her back. He allowed all his weight to land on her, crushing and pinning her to the ground with his superior size. She let out a strained gasp, yowling as she struggled to move. Her voice turned from panicked to agonized as Blazepaw’s head shot down, teeth fastening firmly into her shoulder.
He shook his head and bore his fangs in deeply, seemingly trying to rip it off. Blood poured from the wound, coating her normally sleek fur in a sticky, red mess. The metallic scent filled the around them, so sharp it was almost sickening.
Lavenderpaw’s howls increased in volume, tears sparking in her eyes as she desperately tried to push herself up. Her efforts were in vain, every limb shaking as fear-scent poured off her.
Blazepaw jerked his head again, yanking off a tuft of fur. Muffled by the fur in his mouth, he growled, “Apologize.” When she was silent, he dug his claws and teeth in deeper. As Lavenderpaw cried out again, Snowkit suddenly heard rushed pawsteps, and Brushtail stormed out of the nursery, glaring around until her gaze fixated on the four of them.
“What in the name of StarClan are you doing?! Get off her!” Brushtail shouted, sprinting over to try and dislodge Blazepaw. He clung on tight, prompting her to raise her head and snap, “Archstrike! Get your fluffy behind over here right now and help me!”
Snowkit followed her gaze across camp to the massive, light brown tabby with large, dark stripes sitting in the shade of the ClanRock. Archstrike let out a confused chirp, looking up from his meal, before spotting what was happening and sprinting across camp at breakneck speed.
Without a word, he fastened himself onto Blazepaw’s scruff, heaving the tom off with a growl of effort, in the process inadvertently tearing a chunk of fur and flesh off Lavenderpaw.
As soon as she was free, Lavenderpaw curled up on herself, whimpering as she inspected and cleaned her wounds. Meanwhile, Blazepaw was dragged to the brambles and sat down, all the while Archstrike glared at him disapprovingly.
When Blazepaw simply averted his gaze, spitting out the bloody mess in his mouth in the process, Archstrike sighed and turned to Brushtail, “Since he’s being stubborn, why don’t you tell me what happened here?”
She tilted her head a bit, “I’m not too sure myself, I was trying to take a nap in the nursery when suddenly I was awoken by screaming. I had hardly rounded the corner when I found him,” she motioned towards Blazepaw, “trying to rip her leg off while the kits were cowering.”
“Why would you attack your own clanmate?” Archstrike asked, though he didn’t sound mad. More so, he seemed irritated, maybe even a bit tired, as he questioned Blazepaw.
Blazepaw looked away, refusing to meet Archstrike’s gaze as he muttered, “She wouldn’t shut her mouth.” There was no remorse in his voice, he just sounded rather annoyed. Whether it was because he was getting in trouble, or because of who it was dealing the punishment, Snowkit wasn’t too sure.
He didn't know much about Archstrike. Actually, due to how often he was secluded, he didn’t know much about any of his clanmates. What he did know is that Archstrike was the deputy. Apparently, he hadn’t held the position for even a cycle yet, but he was large, muscular, and had a myriad of scars that proved competence in battle. That was probably, at least Snowkit assumed, why he had the position in the first place.
Archstrike wasn’t without his faults though. Some cats claimed he lacked the proper experience to be deputy, despite being up there in age, and apparently his skill with coordinating patrols could use some help. Most of all, cats felt like he wasn’t doing enough.
Snowkit did feel a bit bad eavesdropping on cats’ gossip, but it wasn’t like he had anything better to do. Most of the time, Brushtail was separating him and his brother, so he was alone. He listened, wanting to simply learn more.
After hearing so much, he noticed that no cat ever mentioned what happened to the last deputy. In fact, it had only been through talk of age that Snowkit even knew there had been a previous one. He had listened intently, yet never received an answer. So, he had to remain curious, it’s not like he could ask, not with how the clan seemed so distrustful of him.
That was the other thing he always kept an ear open for, the reason why they gave him such looks. He was almost never in conversation, the only exception being a few mollies who criticized Brushtail’s parenting. It did make him happy that at least a few cats were sympathetic.
Now he had something else to try and learn of. What exactly had Blazepaw and Lavenderpaw been talking about? They both mentioned some ‘tragedy’ that they and the other apprentices experienced. From the sounds of it, the death toll had been high and impacts were still felt. He had heard nothing pertaining to that either.
He pushed his thoughts away as he once again focused on the scene around him.
Archstrike sighed, dragging a paw down his face, “Was this about Quietpaw again?” When Blazepaw remained silent, he took it as a ‘yes’, and frowned, “I expected better from you, Blazepaw. You could be a phenomenal warrior if you stopped letting your emotions control you. I know you could.”
Blazepaw’s eyes suddenly went wide, and he whipped his head around to glare at him, “Don’t try to act like a father now! It’s far too late for that.”
A flurry of emotions flashed through Archstrikes face, meanwhile Brushtail glowered, “Don’t talk to your deputy with such disrespect!”
Blazepaw grumbled something under his breath, clearly a nerve had been struck. There was some deal of history between those two, Snowkit just wasn’t sure what.
“It’s admirable to want to defend your clanmate, but attacking another is not the answer. You have to be punished,” Archstrike stated, having recovered from the last scathing remark, “for the rest of the moon, you’re responsible for cleaning any bedding in camp that needs it, and the elders are your sole responsibility.”
Blazepaw simply sighed, rising to his paws, “Okay, I better get started then.”
As he padded away, Archstrike called after him, “And get Gustripple to inspect you soon, don’t want those scratches getting infected.”
“Yes sir…” he muttered, slinking away and disappearing behind a boulder.
As soon as he was gone, Brushtail looked at Archstrike disapprovingly, “You let him off too easily for that. How can you expect that troublemaker to learn if you don’t punish him harshly?”
Archstrike scowled, “That was enough punishment, he’ll be busy for the next moon, and he’ll have plenty of time to think while dragging bedding.” He looked at her mockingly, “Besides, I don’t think you’re in the proper position to talk to me about punishment. Everyone has seen how you treat your kits.”
“Kit. I have a kit, and I treat him just fine, thank you very much.”
“That’s exactly what I’m talking about,” Archstrike responded, turning around and flicking his ear dismissively. He began making his way towards Lavenderpaw, bending down to sniff at her wound.
Brushtail marched after him, “You can’t ju-”
“I’m the deputy, my word in the matter is final. Now if you’ll excuse me, I still have to handle this situation.” Archstrike held her gaze until she faltered. Satisfied, he returned to the apprentice, “It’s a nasty wound, and it’s going to hurt for a while, but you should heal up fine.”
She let out a small whine as she was hefted to her paws, and held her leg up gingerly, all without a word.
Archstrike stared down at her, his face serious, “I know you were the one hurt, but you shouldn’t speak ill of your clanmates. We are a clan and we are unified. We need that closeness now more than ever. As such, I have to punish you too.” Lavenderpaw’s eyes widened, but she held her tongue. Archstrike hummed as he debated with himself, “The half-moon meeting is soon, so how about this. Seeing as Gustripple lacks an apprentice, you’ll be her personal helper until the night of the half-moon. That should teach you how important it is for clanmates to support each other, alongside providing some responsibility and understanding. Sound fair?”
She dipped her head, “Yes sir.”
“Good,” He stated simply, “Why don’t you head over now? That wound needs to be treated sooner rather than later, and I’ll let Herongaze know about your injury so she can adjust training. Are you going to need help getting over there?”
She placed her paw down for a second, wincing, but shook her head, “I’ll be alright.” With that, she turned and hobbled over to the small cave beneath the ClanRock where Gustripple made her den.
Once both apprentices were gone, Archstrike let out a small groan, “I’m getting sick of dealing with these in-clan disagreements.”
“You’ll have to get used to it, fighting is inevitable.” Brushtail added with snark, walking up to the kits. “Come on Sootkit, I think it’s best you stay in the nursery for the rest of the day.”
“But-“
“I’m not hearing any protests. You’re coming with me and that’s final.” Before Sootkit could even get out another word, he was shooed away with her tail. He cast a despairing, pleading look at Snowkit as he was forced back into the den.
He was alone. Sitting in a clearing, the remnants of tossed dirt, moss, and fresh blood staining the ground.
Archstrike looked down at him, an uncertain look on his face, “Do you want me to get you something from the pile?” He asked, seemingly trying to find something to suggest. He must just look like a lonely kit.
He shook his head, “I’ll be alright, I’m used to this. You can return to your duties, I’ll entertain myself.” It wasn’t entirely true. He would almost certainly be bored out of his mind, but worrying the deputy was something he couldn’t do. Archstrike was too vital to the clan to focus on one kit.
Archstrike looked at him with pity, but then turned and returned to his meal across camp.
With everyone gone, Snowkit took a few deep breaths. That had been… a lot. He couldn’t help but feel shaken… and a bit guilty.
Maybe, if he’d refused when Lavenderpaw queued him, this never would have happened. He had known it was wrong, but in the moment it felt right, and Lavenderpaw had looked so certain…
He sighed, scuffing at the dirt under him. This was the way it always was. He caused issues, no matter where he was or what he did. That’s probably why Brushtail hated him.
That hatred had been expressed so often, he didn’t even feel it anymore. He couldn’t even muster a reaction when she denied having multiple kits, or only chose to take Sootkit back.
As he inspected the scene once more, his eyes landed on the excess moss Sootkit had brought. It was still laying at the clearing, and despite having a bit of dirt on it, was in pretty good shape.
There was surely enough to make a nest there. Or, at least, a nest for an apprentice or small cat. It would be wasteful to just leave it there, and clans were supposed to use all resources, right? Besides, medicine cats could always use more moss.
It was also a chance to apologize to Lavenderpaw. She had gotten punished because of him… and if Blazepaw was there too, even better. He could also prove that he could be helpful at times.
Making up his mind, he trotted over and leaned down, fastening the moss in his mouth. With a grunt of effort, he did his best to heave it off the ground.
His first attempt was a spectacular failure. He had a much more lithe build when compared to his brother, and his lack of nutrition certainly didn’t help. As he lifted his head up, the superior weight pulled him over, leading to him splattering on the floor and sending dust everywhere.
He couldn’t help but laugh at his own failure. It would have been humorous if somebody else had seen it.
On his second attempt, he lifted as much as he could, but stopped before teetering over. There was no physical way for him to pick it all up and make it across camp without falling again or collapsing from exhaustion, so he allowed it to drag.
He hefted it to the best of his abilities, slowly but surely making his way across the camp. He could feel a few warriors watching him curiously, but nobody made a move to assist. Whether they wanted to see what he was planning, were too confused, or simply shared the disdain so many seemed to have for him, he couldn’t be sure.
Eventually, after an arduous struggle, he found the gap between the boulders, letting out a pleased chirp as he slid down the slope into the damp cave. He was immediately bombarded with a variety of unidentifiable scents, most likely of herbs, and a notable moisture hung in the air. He could swear he heard water somewhere nearby as well…
He heard a pained hiss from the back of the den, and followed it to find Gustripple kneeling over Lavenderpaw, who had her eyes screwed shut as she flinched away.
“For the love of StarClan, hold still!” Gustripple shouted, leaning over to grasp a wad of cobwebs, “It’s going to hurt ten-times worse if it gets infected.”
“I know that!” She snapped in return. When she received a disapproving look, she shrunk a bit, “Just… make it quick, please.”
Snowkit watched in utter amazement at the speed and dexterity with which she utilized her paws and mouth, rapidly applying the poultice and wrapping the wound.
She finished swiftly, and Lavenderpaw bent down to inspect her work. Seeing this as good an opportunity as any, he cleared his throat.
Gustripple whipped her head around, a bit startled, before finally looking down at him, her gaze turning gentle as she relaxed, “Oh, it’s just you. Is everything alright?”
Maybe it was because she was a medicine cat, but Gustripple was always ensuring cats were alright. She would fret and observe constantly, looking for even the slightest issues. But, she could also be stern when needed. He had seen her work before, after a cat took a nasty fall while hunting, and she had berated his clanmates who had allowed him to climb, while also making cats pin teh injured cat down while she worked. She wasn’t as soft as she appeared.
He had also heard a few other warriors lamenting about her choice of profession, as it meant that, according to the code, she couldn’t take a mate. With her glossy, black fur, complemented by streaks of yellow, alongside her bright, clear golden eyes, there was no denying her beauty. Not to mention, she occasionally would choose to adorn herself with a flower or other plant she found while gathering. At that moment, she had a striking, light pink one worth intricate folds of petals that bunched up in the middle around a yellow center. He couldn’t identify it, but there was no denying its beauty.
He blinked up at her a few times, faulting himself for getting distracted, as he gave her a tiny smile, “No ma’am, you see… we were playing a game of mossball, and we, um, didn’t get to use it all. So, I figured you’d be able to find something to do with it? It seems a shame to waste such a resource.”
She blinked at him slowly, “That’s very thoughtful of you, Snowkit. Especially dragging it all the way here just for that. I’m very grateful.” She leaned down to whisper in his ear, “I’m going to put this up, why don’t you go keep Lavenderpaw company? She still seems a bit off.”
“Alright,” he responded plainly, and she brushed his shoulder with her tail as a sign of good will as she passed him.
He had wanted to apologize, he owed all three cats who had joined his game an apology, but now that he had the chance… it just felt awkward. What if he made things worse? He always seemed to.
Not wanting to go against the wishes of Gustripple, he padded over to the nest and sat down next to her.
He let out a small sigh as he finally said, “I’m sorry that you and Blazepaw got into a fight because of me. I should have played more fairly…”
An alarmed expression spread across her face as she turned to face him, “Why in the name of StarClan are you apologizing? I’m the one who gave the suggestion!”
He scuffed at the moss in the nest, “I know, but maybe if I didn’t follow through, you and Blazepaw wouldn’t have gotten into a fight…”
She lashed her tail, “and this is why I can’t stand Brushtail,” she muttered. She took a deep breath, a sense of calm serenity emanating from her as she explained, “You’re not to blame at all. That bout of ‘cheating’, as Blazepaw called it, may have been the catalyst, but that wasn’t the reason we got violent. The reason for that is… more deeply rooted between us.” She was clearly being vague intentionally, and Snowkit knew better than to press it.
“Still, we were supposed to be enjoying ourselves. I even managed to get Sootkit in trouble, and now he’s probably mad at me.” He muttered. His brother was the one cat he had, but of course he had mucked it all up. He didn’t feel like a simple apology would be enough, Sootkit had been excited, they had managed to snag time together without Brushtail, yet his actions had awoken her, and now he lost the whole day.
Lavenderpaw must have felt pity for him, because she hummed in contemplation for a bit, “How about this,” she started, leaning down, “why don’t we get a little gift for Sootkit? That could make things up with him. Simultaneously, you can help me look for something to give to Blazepaw.” She smiled sheepishly, “I said a lot of things I shouldn’t have. Blazepaw is important to me, I don’t want this to ruin what we have.”
Snowkit tilted his head, “But what would I get him? Everything in camp he could easily obtain if he wanted to.”
There was a mischievous glint in her eyes, “that’s why we’re going to go out of camp.”
His eyes widened, “Isn’t that against the rules? I’m still a kit.”
Lavenderpaw shrugged, “Only barely. Besides, it’ll be fun! Much better than being cooped up in camp for an eternity.” She must have seen his apprehension, because she elaborated, “we won’t get in trouble if nobody knows. Not to mention, the circumstances are perfect right now! Brushtail isn’t going to notice if you slip out and I’m supposed to be stuck in this den for the next while, but the patients are somewhat separated from the medicine cats, as such… we could sneak out, leaving the rest of the clan completely unaware!”
Snowkit frowned, suddenly finding the nest to be extremely fascinating. He didn’t want to bend the rules like that, they existed for a reason, but on the other paw it provided a chance to do something interesting. Being stuck in camp with almost nobody dragged on, he was almost perpetually bored. He could also get a grasp on the territory earlier and find something interesting to fascinate his brother, while also apologizing.
Besides, Lavenderpaw was a warrior apprentice. She could keep him safe, right?
Taking a deep breath to steal his nerves, he nodded, “alright.”
She clasped her paws together, looking incredibly pleased, “Great! The plan is simple, you just go about the rest of your day as normal, then tonight, once everyone else is asleep, I’ll slip into the nursery to wake you up. From there, just follow my lead.”
“So soon?”
“Better to do it before Gustripple works me to the bone,” she insisted, “don’t worry, if we get caught, I’ll take the fallout.”
A preemptive pang of guilt surged through him. He didn’t want others getting in trouble at his expense!
Before he could say anything about that, Gustripple reappeared at the entrance to the small cave, a fresh bundle of herbs in her jaws. She purred at the sight of the two of them conversing, padding over and setting down the plants.
“Thank you for keeping her company, that’s very kind of you. However, I am going to have to ask you to leave, I still have a treatment to go through.” She told him gently.
He dipped his head, “That’s alright. See you later, Lavenderpaw!”
Lavenderpaw waved her tail in parting, but as he tried to step out of the den, he head Gustripple call out, “Snowkit!” He turned to face her as she continued, “be sure to get something from the pile. You’re far too skinny, I can nearly see your ribs.”
Lavenderpaw chuckled, “Isn’t it a bit wrong for a medicine cat to insult a cats looks? I thought you were supposed to be the kind one.”
“As a medicine cat, his health is more important to me. Also,” she stabbed a leaf with her claws, “I can be harsh if you would prefer,” she smiled at her, yet somehow that seemed far more threatening than before.
Slightly unnerved, he gave a quiet, “okay,” before slipping out the offshoot and up the slope, finally arriving back into the shaded, sandy camp.
Heading the words of multiple cats, he turned his attention to the fresh-kill pile. He hadn’t even realized he was hungry until the scents wafted around him, luring him in.
He scanned the pile, his attention eventually landing on a skinny little mouse near the bottom of the mound. He was well aware that, as a kit, he technically had first dibs on what he got to eat, but he couldn’t help but feel bad about the thought of taking something especially large or plump. He hadn’t contributed to the clan, so why should he get the best stuff? That was more deserved by the hard-working warriors or elders who had served for ages. At the very least, not him.
He heard shuffling on the opposite side of the pile, so he moved over to get a better look. It didn’t take long to spot the tabby on the other side, his fur a grayish-brown, completed by a tan underbelly, inspecting the pile, his head hung low. The tom blinked slowly, his yellow eyes showing apprehensiveness, as he determined who was in front of him.
It took Snowkit a moment, but eventually something clicked in his mind, “Quietpaw, right?”
“Yes…” the word was barely even a breath, yet Snowkit could swear he heard a hint of raspiness in it that was unbefitting of his age.
He thought he didn’t know much about Blazepaw, but by comparison, he knew absolutely nothing about Quietpaw. The tom had quite possibly the most fitting name he had ever heard, especially if what had been said earlier by Lavenderpaw was to be believed. In fact, he had learned the most information than he ever had when it came to him this very morning.
Quietpaw had only done nursery duty one time, at least that Snowkit remembered. When doing so, he had seemed especially uncomfortable, practically sprinting out once he was done. Now that Snowkit thought about it, following that event Blazepaw’s nursery duties seemed to double…
The tension was palpable between them, neither one breaking the silence as it stretched out. He could tell Quietpaw was feeling especially awkward from the shifting of his paws, alongside his still hung head.
“You’re friends with Blazepaw, right?” Snowkit finally asked. He was almost certain that something along those lines had been said earlier.
Quietpaw seemed to contemplate for a moment, the tip of his tail twitching noticeably, hinting at a slight bit of happiness, as he looked up, “Did he say that?”
Snowkit nodded, “Yes, he seemed to enjoy your company a lot. He cares about you.” Of course, that was mostly inference based on statements said in the middle of an argument, but Quietpaw didn’t need to know that.
A small smile graced his face as he heard that, “I’m glad,” he whispered, seemingly rather pleased.
“Um, if that’s the case, can you do something for me?” He began nervously, constantly glancing over in an attempt to meet Quietpaw’s gaze. When Quietpaw nodded slowly, he explained, “could you tell Blazepaw that I’m sorry? I want to do it myself, but I can’t find him, and you’re his friend, so…” he really hoped he wasn’t overstepping here, he barely knew this cat yet he was making him run errands.
To his relief, Quietpaw nodded, though not without appearing a bit confused. Fortunately, he didn’t press further. Snowkit dipped his head, “Thank you, I’ll be going back over to the nursery then, I was told to eat and all…”
As he turned to leave, he heard Quietpaw start to say something. He paused and turned around as Quietpaw walked close to him, a sympathetic look in his eyes as he mumbled right in his ear, “It’ll get better, I swear.” Before Snowkit even had a chance to press further, the tabby nabbed a shrew and scampered away, quickly disappearing into the apprentices’ den.
Snowkit blinked aimlessly, staring off after Quietpaw. What a strange cat… He had thought learning more would alleviate his wondering, yet now he only had more questions.
He shrugged, picking up the mouse from earlier and returning to his favorite little nook behind the nursery. He would learn more when they were apprentices together, after all. Now wasn’t the time to worry about it. No, he had to prepare himself for that night.
He would sneak out of camp, simultaneously finding a way to make amends. Although he was breaking the code, and he felt a little bad for dragging Lavenderpaw into taking him, he couldn’t help but feel a little excited.
His first real adventure awaited him.