Tallstar’s Revenge

“Not yet.” Flailfoot padded to the edge of the hollow and reached up to steady Lilywhisker as she scrambled down on her three good legs. She joined the tunnelers while Whiteberry headed for the moor runners on the far side of the hollow.

Mistmouse paced the rim, brushing past her mate, Hareflight. The brown tom stood as stiff as the trunk of a gorse bush, as though his claws had taken root. Tallkit paused beside the moor runners’ nests and watched them curiously. Mistmouse’s kits, Ryekit, Stagkit, and Doekit, were standing beside the two warriors.

“In here.” Barkkit nudged Tallkit into the grass beside Shrewkit.

Tallkit pushed through the long stems. “What are they doing at the hollow?” He jerked his nose toward Hareflight’s kits.

“I don’t know.” Barkkit burrowed deeper into the grass and peeped out.

“Hush!” Shrewkit hissed beside them. “I’m trying to hear.” His yellow eyes were fixed on the Meeting Hollow.

Heatherstar sprang down from Tallrock and weaved past her Clanmates until she reached the center. Mistmouse was fiercely smoothing the fur between Stagkit’s ears. Hareflight nudged Doekit and Ryekit closer to the edge.

“Ryekit, Doekit, and Stagkit!” Heatherstar called.

Tallkit felt Barkkit stiffen beside him. “It’s their apprentice ceremony!”

Tallkit leaned forward.

“Woollytail will get one of them,” Shrewkit guessed.

“But Hareflight’s a moor runner,” Barkkit reminded him.

“So?” Shrewkit whispered. “Woollytail’s been complaining for ages that WindClan needs more tunnelers. And Mistmouse will want at least one of her kits to follow in her paw steps.” He glanced at Tallkit. “I feel sorry for you. Being a tunneler must be awful.”

Tallkit scowled at him. “Sandgorse says it’s the noblest warrior life.”

“Sandgorse would,” Shrewkit scoffed. “He’s had so much mud in his ears it’s probably filled up his head.”

Tallkit unsheathed his claws, anger surging beneath his pelt. “That’s not true!”

Barkkit pressed against him softly. “Just watch the ceremony,” he murmured.

Stagkit was leading his sisters into the hollow. Ryekit’s paws slipped and she slithered down the icy slope. Warm purrs rumbled around her as she straightened and shook out her soft gray fur.

“Ryepaw.” Heatherstar met her gaze. The new apprentice’s eyes widened. “Your mentor will be Larksplash.” Ryepaw purred loudly as Larksplash stepped from among the moor runners and touched her head with her muzzle.

Heatherstar flicked her tail. “Larksplash, share your speed and sharp eyes with Ryepaw so that she too may become a warrior worthy of WindClan.” The WindClan leader turned to Doekit. “Doepaw,” she meowed. “Your mentor will be Aspenfall.”

Aspenfall pricked his ears, blinking, as though surprised.

Doepaw’s pale brown pelt pricked excitedly. She puffed out her chest as Aspenfall crossed the hollow to greet her. “Aspenfall,” Heatherstar meowed. “Share your courage and strength with Doepaw.” Aspenfall dipped his head and touched his nose to Doepaw’s ear.

Behind them, Stagkit gazed at his Clanmates.

He must be trying to guess who his mentor will be. Tallkit held his breath, as excited as if it were his own apprentice ceremony.

“It looks like poor old Stagkit gets Woollytail,” Shrewkit muttered.

“Stagpaw,” Heatherstar began, “your mentor will be Cloudrunner.”

Shrewkit gasped. “Cloudrunner?”

“He’s not a tunneler,” Barkkit breathed.

Tallkit felt a flash of relief for his former denmate. Stagpaw won’t have to train underground! Then guilt pricked him. He should be feeling sorry that Stagpaw would never be the noblest of warriors.

Heatherstar went on. “Cloudrunner, share your hunting skill and agility with your apprentice so he may feed his Clans for many moons to come.”

Yowls of approval rose from the moor runners.

“Stagpaw!”

“Ryepaw!”

“Doepaw!”

On the rim of the hollow, Mistmouse and Hareflight twined their tails together, their eyes shining with pride.

“Cloudrunner?” Woollytail’s mew rose above the cheers. Confusion clouded his yellow gaze.

Hickorynose narrowed his eyes. “Why wasn’t an apprentice given to a tunneler?” he demanded.

“What’s going on?” A mew sounded from the camp entrance. A gray she-cat stared at her Clanmates. Her pelt was dusted with soil.

Mistmouse turned. “Hi, Plumclaw.” She shifted her paws uneasily as she faced her tunneling denmate. “I’m afraid you missed the naming ceremony.”

“Did Woollytail get his apprentice?” The she-cat’s gaze flashed with hope.

Woollytail shook his head. “They’re training as moor runners.”

“All of them?” Plumclaw’s eyes widened.

Heatherstar stepped forward. “Aspenfall, Cloudrunner, and Larksplash are going to mentor Mistmouse’s kits.”

Plumclaw stared at Mistmouse. “Don’t you want any of them to follow in your paw steps?”

Mistmouse dropped her gaze. Hareflight pressed close to his mate. “We’ve decided that we want them all to be moor runners.”