The Forgotten Warrior

Lionblaze glanced across at the elders’ den to see Mousefur crouched at the entrance, her head lowered. A pang of pity clawed at him; the outspoken old she-cat hadn’t been the same since her denmate Longtail was killed by the falling tree. Lionblaze would have given anything to hear Mousefur complain about her own prickly moss.

“I’m sorry,” Dovewing mewed. “I thought I got all the thorns out. I’ll go through the bedding again, if you like.”

“No, that’s going to take forever,” Graystripe put in; he and Millie were sharing a vole beside the fresh-kill pile. “Bumblestripe and Blossomfall can go out and find some feathers. That should be soft enough.”

“That is so not fair!” Blossomfall exclaimed, looking up from choosing a piece of fresh-kill.

“Yes, we always get the boring jobs.” Bumblestripe came to stand beside his sister. “Just because there aren’t any apprentices in the Clan! When will some of the older warriors do the apprentice duties for a change?”

Graystripe narrowed his amber eyes. “Maybe when you learn not to answer back to a senior warrior,” he rasped.

Bumblestripe and Blossomfall exchanged mutinous glances, but before either of them could reply, Sandstorm padded up to Graystripe and gave him a poke in the side. “Come on, Graystripe,” she meowed. “You’re always tougher on your own kits than the rest of the Clan. They have a point. They’re warriors, but they do get stuck with the apprentice tasks. I’ll go with you,” she added to the two younger warriors.

“No, I’ve got a better idea.” Firestar bounded over to the rockfall that led up to his den and sprang onto one of the boulders at the bottom. “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!” he called.

Most of the cats were already out in the clearing, and they gathered around Firestar with murmurs of surprise. Lionblaze headed to sit beside Cinderheart, noticing that Jayfeather had emerged from his den and was crouched beside Briarlight, who had dragged herself to the edge of the bramble screen. Daisy, Poppyfrost, and Ferncloud slipped out of the nursery and sat together at the edge of the crowd.

“Foxleap, Rosepetal, come and stand here with me,” Firestar continued.

Exchanging mystified glances, the two warriors rose to their paws and joined their Clan leader at the foot of the cliff.

“Since the Clan is having problems because of the shortage of apprentices,” Firestar went on, “I think the best solution is to create some more. Molekit and Cherrykit—”

“What?” Molekit exclaimed, springing to his paws with every hair on his pelt fluffed out until he looked twice his size.

“Us?” Cherrykit bounced up and down with excitement. “Oh, cool!”

“Firestar, you can’t!” Poppyfrost leaped up, her paws pattering as she raced across the clearing to her kits. “We’ve had no warning! They’re so untidy—Molekit, just look at your pelt!”

She flung herself on the little tom, licking frantically, while Berrynose got up and hurried over to groom Cherrykit. Lionblaze thought the warrior looked as proud as if it were his own apprentice ceremony.

Firestar looked on for a moment with a purr of amusement, then beckoned the two kits with a wave of his tail. “They’re fine,” he meowed. “Come over here and stand in front of me.”

The two kits obeyed him, their fur still rumpled and sticking up here and there. Firestar reached out with his tail and touched Cherrykit on the shoulder. “From this time forward,” he announced, “this kit will be known as Cherrypaw. Foxleap, you have shown courage and perseverance in serving your Clan, and I trust that you will pass on these qualities to your apprentice.”

Foxleap’s eyes were shining with pride as he stepped forward and touched noses with Cherrypaw. She stayed by his side as they returned to the crowd of cats.

But when Firestar turned to Molekit, the little tom took a leap backward, out of reach of the Clan leader’s tail. “I don’t want to be an apprentice,” he squeaked. “You only want us so we can do all the nasty jobs!”

Gasps of astonishment came from the assembled cats. Lionblaze saw Cherrypaw gazing wide-eyed with horror at her brother. Berrynose lashed his tail, while Poppyfrost shut her eyes and dug her claws into the ground as if she wished she were somewhere else.

But Firestar, far from being angry, was stifling a purr of laughter. “Yes, there are duties to be done,” he agreed. “But every single warrior here did them. And training is just as important. That’s why I’ve chosen Rosepetal to be your mentor. She’s a skilled and swift fighter, and I know she’ll pass her training on to you.” He beckoned Molekit again.

Molekit stayed where he was, his eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Can I do some training first?” he checked. “Before I have to search any cat for ticks?”

“That’s up to Rosepetal,” Firestar purred.

Rosepetal’s eyes were sparkling with amusement. “Even better than training,” she promised. “Today we’ll explore the whole territory. Duties start tomorrow.”

“They’d better!” Molekit growled.