Post by Dark on Nov 9, 2006 14:11:44 GMT -5
[shadow=green,left,300]Fighting the Tears: Whitepaw's Story[/shadow]
Chapter 1
“Come on, come on! Breath!” the medicine cat cried, her tongue rasping over the limp form of a tiny kit. Only a fox-length away, a ginger-and-white queen stared, wide-eyed, at the small, gray medicine cat out of her one good eye.
Finally, the medicine cat stopped with a sigh, her eyes clouding with sorrow. “I’m sorry Brightheart, I couldn’t save him...” She looked remorsefully up at the queen.
“It’s alright, Cinderpelt,” the badly-scarred she-cat said in a quiet voice, looking down at her paws. “Yellowkit is with StarClan now.”
The two were silent a moment.
“How is Whitekit?” Cinderpelt asked after a moment, giving her sister a careful look.
“She seems fine,” Brightheart said softly. “Cloudtail and I think she might open her eyes soon.” There was another pause. “I should probably get back to her now; I left her with Ferncloud and her kits.”
Cinderpelt nodded. “I’ll go tell Firestar and Cloudtail. I’ll look over Whitekit when I come to check on Spiderkit later.”
The queen touched her nose to her sister’s shoulder and slipped from the den.
Cinderpelt sighed again and took Yellowkit’s body off to be buried.
Chapter 2
Brightheart leaned down to lick a patch of dust from her daughter’s fluffy white fur. Whitekit’s eyes flew excitedly around camp as the rest of the Clan came at the leader’s call. Her tail flicked happily as she recognized her father coming from the warriors’ den.
“Cloudtail, it’s now! I’m gonna be an apprentice now!” Whitekit cried, running to his side.
“Is that so?” he replied, his blue eyes shinning with pride. “Did Firestar say who your mentor would be?”
Whitekit, unsure, looked back at her mother. “Brackenfur,” the queen explained, smiling.
Cloudtail nodded approvingly.
The all turned towards the Highrock as Firestar cleared his throught to speak.
“StarClan has greatly blessed us these past few seasons.” The dark ginger tom began. “Many litters of kits were born to ThunderClan and we again take part in a ceremony laid down by our ancestors.” He paused. “Whitekit, step forward.”
Brightheart gave her daughter a lick on the head, and then nudged her forward. Whitekit took a tenacious step, then trotted forward. She stopped a fox-length from the Highrock and gazed up at Firestar in awe.
“StarClan, look down on this kit. As she reaches her sixth moon, and begins her training, may you grant her many lessons and days of learning. From now on, until she receives her warrior name, this apprentice shall be known as Whitepaw.”
The newly-named Whitepaw beamed. She loved the name already.
“Brackenfur,” Firstar continued, “you shall mentor Whitepaw. You are an experienced, patient warrior. I trust you shall pass this on to your new apprentice.”
Cloudtail and Brightheart were among the first to take up the chant of “Whitepaw! Whitepaw!” as their daughter stepped forward and touched noses with golden tabby Brackenfur.
Firestar smiled and leapt down to join his Clan in congratulating the pair.
More coming soon...