Prologue
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| Badger |
"Raggedkit!" Whisperwillow's distressful crying filled the air. "Raintail! Raintail!" the ginger she-cat wailed desperately for her mate. "Raintail!" she looked around, her eyes beginning to water. But there was no sign of her kit or her mate...only bloodied cats pointlessly fighting against a huge, ugly badger.
A sharp squeal of terror suddenly rose up above all the noise.
𝑅𝑎𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑑𝑘𝑖𝑡! She could recognize that voice anywhere. Memories flashed past her...Raggedkit running around, laughing, playing with Tawnykit and Jaggedkit, while Echokit watched Stonesplash in awe as he sorted through herbs in the medicine cat's den. But those times could end today. What is Raggedkit died? 𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝑓 I 𝑑𝑖𝑒? ~~~
"Raggedkit? Where are you?" Whisperwillow screamed. Suddenly, pain shot through her as the badger sunk it's teeth into her neck. "Raintail! Help me!" she yelled.
But it was no use. 𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑡.
Whisperwillow shut her eyes tight and prepared to meet StarClan. "Raggedkit...Raintail..." she rasped. And then everything went black.
"She's alive, but barley."
Whisperwillow awoke. She was lying on a patch of moss in the medicine cat den. Stonesplash was crouching over her, his eyes wide with anxiety. His grey-and-white pelt was bristling with fear. Heronmist was sitting next to him. "Stonesplash," she murmured. Her eyes where slits, and looked like green flint.
Stonesplash jumped with surprise, and then purred. "Whisperwillow! You're awake."
Whisperwillow ignored him. "Where...where's Raintail? I w...w...want to see him."
"Raintail?" Stonesplash glanced anxiously at Heronmist. "Um, sorry, Whisperwillow...he...he died."
𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡?
"Good joke, Stonesplash," Whisperwillow didn't even have enough strength to growl. "I want t...to see Raintail now."
Again, Stonesplash shot an anxious glance at Heronmist. Heronmist shot one back.
"Whisperwillow, I'm sorry, but he really died."
𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦!?!
"You have to be kidding me." this time Whisperwillow did have enough strength to growl. "Where is he?"
"Um, his body has been buried."
"What?" Whisperwilllow hissed with outrage. "How long have I been here for?"
"Three sunrises." Stonesplash murmured.
Whisperwillow scowled. "But I have to see him." her gaze unexpectedly softened. "Who's the new deputy?"
"Cloudmuzzle."
Good for Cloudmuzzle, Whisperwillow inwardly murmured.
Suddenly a dark tabby kit bursted through the lush green bush, so wildly that leafs went flying. His anxious gaze vanished as he spotted Whisperwillow.
"Mother!"
"Mother!"
"Raggedkit! Whisperwillow purred. "You're okay."
Raggedkit's happy smile turned to a sad frown. "Raintail."
Whisperwillow's eyes started to water. She dipper her head as Raggedkit pressed his muzzle against hers'.
"Raintail."
"Whisperwillow, I'm scared. I don't feel myself." Raggedkit muttered.
Chapter 1
~~ Featherwing's Point Of View ~~
Featherwing's fur fluffed up against the chilly leafbare cold. It was as though the wind was ripping her fur out like giant, icy claws. She flattened her big ears and wrapped her tail around her small paws.
Sitting next to her, licking his paw, was Featherwing's former mentor, Stromheart. His dark-grey fur was so thick and long, Featherwing thought he could never be cold. The large tom suddenly looked up as a lithe, lean, she-cat stepped onto the highrock and called a Clan meeting.
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| Fallenstar |
Sitting next to Fallenstar was a pure-white fluffy she-cat. Her ocean-blue gaze was set on a ginger-and-white she-cat, her tail wrapped around a small dark tabby kit.
Back on the highrock, Fallenstar addressed the gathered cats. Some cats where still padding towards where the meeting was being held.
"Raggedkit, please step forward." Fallenstar the bunched her muscles and leaped down from the highrock.
The ginger-and-white queen from before gave her tabby kit a swift lick on the ear and gently pushed him forward. The kit's eyes where wide with fear. His tabby pelt bristled. He tentatively took a small step forward, and another and another. The Clan watched him as he finally reached Fallenstar, his eyes still wide.
Whisperwillow, the ginger-and-white queen, whispered something in her mate, Heronmist's, ear.
"He looks way to small to be an apprentice! He looks like he's three moons old!" Featherwing recognized the snort of Blizzardpaw. He was sitting right next to her. "Shut up!" she hissed.
Fallenstar continued speaking. "Raggedkit has reached his sixth moon, and he is ready to become an apprentice."
"Not!" the arrogant Blizzardpaw snorted. 𝑂ℎ, 𝐵𝑙𝑖𝑧𝑧𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑝𝑎𝑤... Featherwing turned and shot a vicious warning glance at the grey and white tom. If looks could kill, Blizzardpaw would be dead. He just snorted again and lifted his chin high. Featherwing sighed and turned her gaze back to Raggedkit and Fallenstar.
"Raggedkit, from this day forward," Fallenstar acknowledged the tiny kit. "until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Raggedpaw. Featherwing-" Featherwing froze as she heard her name, "-, you are smart and quick-thinking. I hope you will pass these traits on to your new apprentice." Featherwing stared up at Fallenstar. Joy and surprise spread through her. 𝑀𝑒? 𝐴 𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑜𝑟? 𝐹𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟 𝑑𝑖𝑑𝑛'𝑡 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑚𝑒!
Eyes still wide with surprise, Featherwing padded across the snowy clearing towards Raggedpaw. As she did, snow stung her pads. ~ Raggedpaw reluctantly touched noses with his mentor.
Featherwing could see how scared he was-becoming and apprentice is a big moment in any cats' life. "It's alright. You're doing fine."
The tiny apprentice relaxed slightly at his mentor's praise, but his tail tip twitched nervously.
Chapter 2
Raggedpaw's Point Of View
"He looks like he's five moons old!" sniggered Blizzardpaw. The grey-and-white spotted tabby's blue gaze scanned Raggedpaw's pelt. He added: "And his fur is so messy! No wonder you're called 𝑅𝑎𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑑paw!" the apprentice snorted. His sister, Flamepaw, a thick-haired ginger she-cat, gave him a vicious nudge. "Shut up, Blizzardpaw! He's going to be a warrior today, just like you." Flamepaw usually defended Raggedpaw against Blizzardpaw, and Raggedpaw was grateful, but it didn't help at all.
Flamepaw quickly glanced at Raggedpaw. "A good one, to."
𝐹𝑙𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑝𝑎𝑤 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑚𝑒 "𝑔𝑜𝑜𝑑"?
"A good warrior? That tiny scrap of fur? You're kidding, right? He's small, skinny, short..." Blizzardpaw trailed off.
"Idiot! Fallenstar's talking." Flamepaw scowled.
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| Blizzardfang |
"Flamepaw, Buzzardpaw, Blizzardpaw and Raggedpaw."
"Ha ha! She said your name last!" Blizzardpaw whispered to Raggedpaw. Raggedpaw batted his tiny paw against Blizzardpaw's face and let out a soft growl, but the slightly older apprentice didn't even blink.
"You have all reached your thirteenth moon, and your mentors think that you're ready to become warriors. Please step forward."
Fallenstar flicked her tail at the four apprentices. Flamepaw, Buzzardpaw and Blizzardpaw strode up confidently, tails high, while the tiny Raggedpaw trudged up the slope, tail tip dragging slowly along the dirty ground.
"I, Fallenstar, leader of RainClan, call upon my warrior ansesters to look down on these four apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code and I command them to you as warriors in their turn."
Flamepaw's pelt was bristling. Buzzardpaw's eyes where shining like the brightest star in the sky. And Blizzardpaw was standing up strait, trying to look bold and calm, but the wild glint of excitement in his eyes blazed like fire. ~ Fallenstar beckoned Flamepaw with the flick of her tail. "Flamepaw, do you promise to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
Flamepaw took a big gulp. "I do."
Fallenstar continued. "Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior name. Flamepaw, from this day forward, you will be known as Flamewhisker. StarClan honours your bravery and skill."
A few minutes later, Blizzardpaw and Buzzardpaw became Blizzardfang and Buzzardflight. And finally it was Raggedpaw's turn.
"Raggedpaw, do you promise to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life."
An icy chill shot down Raggedpaw's spine as memories flashed past him. The badger...his father's dead body falling to the ground...the badger...
𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒅𝒈𝒆𝒓...
"I...I do..." Raggedpaw rasped. Some of the gathered cats whispered uncertainly.
𝑺𝒕𝒖𝒑𝒊𝒅 𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒔...
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| Raggedspirit |
𝑹𝒂𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒅𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒕?!
Murmurs spread through the Clan.
Cats where talking in muffled voices, but Raggedspirit was able to catch a few words: "Spirit?!", "I've never heard of any such cat..." and "Would StarClan allow it?"
Well, of coarse StarClan would allow it, it's just a name, right? Well, StarClan may allow it, but would other cats?
Well, only Fallenstar can change it.
A soft mew suddenly jolted Raggedspirit out of his thoughts. A soft ginger tail was rested on his shoulder. He turned his head to see Flamewhisker. "You did good," she said.
Chapter 3
"Raggedspirit, do you want to go hunting with me?" Flamewhisker softly padded up to Raggedspirit, her thick ginger coat rippling in the wind. Her eyes where glowing with affection for her crush. She was trying to look confident.
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| Flamewhisker |
Flamewhisker purred. "Okay."
"Look, there's a vole." Flamewhisker whispered, flicking her tail towards a vole a few fox-lengths in front pf them. Raggedspirit twitched his tail.
"Do you want to catch it?"
𝑆ℎ𝑒'𝑠 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑚𝑦 𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑜𝑟! Raggedspirit thought. "Uh, okay." he mumbled. She dropped into a hunting crouch and flattened his tail. His narrowed eyes where fixed on the plump vole, who was nibbling on something that Raggedspirit couldn't see. He swiftly unsheathed his tiny claws and pounced on the vole, whiffing it's fear-scent until he sunk his teeth into it's neck. He padded back to Flamewhisker, holding the dead vole in his jaws. Flamewhisker gazed at him admiringly.
"You where good." she purred.
𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑡'𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑠ℎ𝑒'𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑚𝑒 𝑔𝑜𝑜𝑑!
"Th-thanks." said Raggedspirit.
Flamewhisker stared at him with green eyes. She opened her mouth to say something, and then closed it. Strong wind tugged on her golden-ginger fur as she stood. "I think we should get back. The sun is setting. Cats will be wondering where we are." she turned at started to move towards the direction of camp.
Raggedspirit trailed behind her, and mumbled "Okay." Flamewhisker was a few fox-lengths in front of him the whole way. He was so tired. He wanted to just collapse on the forest floor and sleep there forever. His small legs felt heavy underneath him. His tabby tail dragged along the ground as he slowly made his way to camp with Flamewhisker.
Raggedspirit trailed behind her, and mumbled "Okay." Flamewhisker was a few fox-lengths in front of him the whole way. He was so tired. He wanted to just collapse on the forest floor and sleep there forever. His small legs felt heavy underneath him. His tabby tail dragged along the ground as he slowly made his way to camp with Flamewhisker.
Flamewhisker suddenly stopped and turned back around to look at Raggedspirit. He looked up in surprise.
"Come on," Flamewhisker urged. "We're almost there."
"Come on," Flamewhisker urged. "We're almost there."
𝑆ℎ𝑒'𝑠 𝑠𝑎𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝐼'𝑚 𝑎 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑘𝑖𝑡!
Raggedspirit muttered something angrily under his breath. Flamewhisker just looked uncertain and started padding towards the camp once more.
