Tornadostorm's Story Book 4

It had been several moons sense it had been decided that Lotuskit would become CloudClan's medicine cat apprentice. The two kits were more apprentices then kits now, and I watched them and their mother, as Roseblossom listened to Lotuskit explain what she had found out about a new plant she recently got in camp, and Saltkit played with Roseblossom's absent mindedly flicking tail.
 
I strode over to the three of them, and with a soft murrow of greeting, caught the attention of all three. "Hey Tornadostorm." Roseblossom replied, smiling. I nodded to her. Saltkit glanced up at me "Oh! Hey Tornadostorm!" She bounded over to me. "Can we practice some more hunting moves and stuff? Or maybe practice my swipe?!" She bounded around me I shook my head softly "you are tooo much. Ok, come on." I walked off a ways, to a place with more room in the clearing, and directed her into her crouch.
 
I was just about to correct her on the stance she got into, when I heard Mistystar calling my name. Glancing up, I saw her looking at me, and Roseblossom was already making her way over. Curiously I trudged after her. Leaping onto the Jetting rock, and following Mistystar and Roseblossom into her den, I sat down across from my leader, and listened to what she had to say. "I wanted to inform you two that I will be holding Lotuskit and Saltkit's ceremonies soon." She smiled, as Roseblossom gasped. "When?!" "quite soon." Mistystar replied to her warrior. "So, Roseblossom, you should get them ready." The she-cat hurriedly nodded, and trotted out of the den. "Tornadostorm, I wanted to inform you, because I want you to be Saltkit's mentor." I stiffened with a sharp inhale. "Really?!" She nodded. "Why, thank you for the opportunity." She nodded once more. "Your welcome."
 
I turned, and strode out of the den, leaping down into the clearing, to give myself a quick grooming before the ceremony. I thoroughly smoothed my fur, and cleaned it of any dust, and as a result, it was begining it's to shine in the sunhigh light when I heard Mistystar call "Let every cat old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Jutting Rock for a clan meeting!" The clan curiously gathered around her. I took a second to look over my shoulder, and saw Roseblossom nosing Saltkit impatiently out of the nursery "WHY DO I HAVE TO GO?!" Saltkit screeched. "IT'S LOTUSKIT'S CEREMONY, NOT MINE!" I noticed a very concerned looking Lotuskit walking at her mother's side, both kits well groomed, and pristine looking. With a smirk, I turned and took my place next to Mistystar on the Jutting Rock.
 
Once the clan had taken it's place, Mistystar began "today, two kits are ready to receive their apprentice names. Lotuskit, please step forward." Lotuskit let out a nervous breath, and stepped towards her leader, who in turn gestured for her to join her up on the rock. Lotuskit's eyes grew wide, but she obediently leapt up. A leap that a few moons ago would have been near impossible for her. Mistystar looked at her "Lotuskit, you are 6 moons old, and therefore it is time for your apprentice ceremony. But, you have shown great potential and prowess with herbs, and therefore will be serving CloudClan as it's Medicine-Cat Apprentice." Lotuskit gasped, and smiled excitedly at her leader "So, from now on, until you get your medicine-cat name, you will be known as Lotuspaw, medicine-cat apprentice of CloudClan."
 
Mistystar looked towards Roseblossom and Saltkit once more "Saltkit, please step forward." Lotuspaw leapt down from the Jutting Rock, and Saltkit leapt up and took her place. "Saltkit, you have reached the age of 6 moons, and therefore it is time for you to be apprenticed. "From now on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Saltpaw. Your mentor will be Tornadostorm. Tornadostorm, you had a good mentor in Moonflame, and I trust you will pass on all you know to Saltpaw." I nodded, unable to refrain from puffing out my chest proudly, and murmured "I will, Mistystar." The clan erupted into cheers "LOTUSPAW SALTPAW! LOTUSPAW SALTPAW! LOTUSPAW SALTPAW!" Everyone happily cheered the two new apprentices names. I moved around Mistystar, and leaned down to touch Saltpaw's nose. She hesitated a moment, a kind of uncertain look on her face, then stretched forward, and touched her nose to mine.
 
"Congratulations." I whispered. "Th-thanks..." She murmured with an unnaturally calm tone. I tilted my head curiously. Well, this was going to be interesting.

It had been a couple months sense Lotuspaw and Saltpaw's ceremonies. I woke myself up as usual, before dawn. I lay in my nest a few moments,
admiring the faint light, and warmer, yet not freezing air of early Green-Leaf. I forced myself to my feet, stifling down a grumble as I slipped outside. Careful not to wake up my clanmates... Yet... I let out an instinctive hiss as I leapt through the still freezing cold waterfall, and shook my fur out. I then paused in the middle of the camp, and took a deep breath, enjoying the early morning air. While I didn't think I'd ever get used to getting up so early to wake the dawn patrols, I did enjoy the quiet. I walked over to the apprentice's den,
taking a small leap to make the short jump up to the entrance of the den. I peered inside,
mentally noting with amusement how Willowpaw was sleeping on her back with her paws in the air, before carefully slipping past her.

I gently pushed my paw against the younger, white furred apprentice's shoulder. She quickly stopped snoring, and flipped onto her back, and swiped at me in one quick movement.
I startled, quickly stepping back, and looked down at her with wide eyes. She looked back at me in silence for a moment before whispering "Sorry Tornadostorm." I smirked, and flicked my head. "Come on, Saltpaw. It's time to get up." Saltpaw groaned, and pushed herself to her feet, following me with her head hanging. I glanced at her. I knew getting up early wasn't her thing, it wasn't even when she was a kit, but if I woke her up after I had assigned patrols, then she wouldn't have time to eat before we had to leave to go train.
And I like having her help with waking everyone anyway.

Saltpaw and I made our way to the fresh-kill pile, and I watched as she chose a young rabbit for us to share. We were mostly quiet while we ate, which was fine with me. I think we both enjoyed the peace. After we were both done, I sighed "Ok, time to wake up the dawn hunting patrol." Saltpaw glanced up. "Isn't there a dawn border patrol too?" I shook my head. "No, all the borders were checked during the Moonhigh Patrols. Don't you remember?" the young she-cat looked up at me confused. "Oh come on, Saltpaw." I laughed. "You and I were on the Moonhigh patrol checking the LightningClan border."

Guilt and shame crept onto my apprentice's face. "U-uh... I must have been half asleep.
We got back from training late yesterday." I gave a sympathetic nod. Although not actually feeling super sympathetic, knowing I had had many training days with Moonflame where we didn't come back well after the sun had gone down, as she taught me how to work around my eye. "then again" I reminded myself "that kind of outing should be allot more rare with Saltpaw. She doesn't have a disability like I do."

I stood and shook my fur. "Either way, can you go wake Willowpaw? I want her to go on the dawn hunting patrol with Roseblossom, so she still has time for her assessment later today." Saltpaw obediently nodded, and pulled herself to her paws, seeming a bit more awake after eating. She then hurried to the Apprentice's Den,
and disappeared inside. I slipped into the Warriors den, and gently swished my tail over the noses of Whitefeather, Roseblossom and Deertail as I walked by. All three she-cats grumbled and stirred in their nests, and I watched them amused, until Roseblossom glanced up at me.
"Already?" I nodded, amused. She stood, and pawed at Deertail, who seemed like she had decided to go back to sleep, before slipping out of the den, Whitefeather, who had sat up and was grooming herself, quickly followed. Deertail took a moment to lick her fur flat before trotting out herself. I followed the three she-cats, and leapt up onto the Jutting Rock.
I watched as Willowpaw and Saltpaw made their way out of their den. The group spotted me, and gathered around. Some carrying pieces of prey in their jaws. I didn't mind this too much. As long as Whitefeather, who was leading the patrol, was focused.

I suggested where they should search, and watched as they left. I then yowled, waking the rest of the sleeping clan, including Mistystar, who joined me sitting on the rock a few moments later. I assigned the rest of the cats to a border patrol later that day. I then noticed that Midnightflame didn't seem too excited. After I was done explaining what I wanted them to do, I jumped down off the rock. And watched as Midnightflame leapt up onto the rock, and after exchanging a few words with Mistystar, the white furred leader beckoned the warrior into her den.

I was a little curious, and admittedly nervous, but I wasn't sure why. I shook my pelt out,
and called to Saltpaw, who quickly made her way over, from where she was talking with Lotuspaw, and the two of us made our way out of the camp to the training clearing.

At the large open clearing of padded down dirt just starting to soften up after the harsh leaf-bare, I turned and faced my apprentice. I decided to try out some advanced fighting techniques on her. I gave her a mischievous smirk. "Ok today I'm going to teach you something a little tougher. Whenever you're ready, come at me." Saltpaw hesitated a moment, then crouched close to the ground, and sprung at me. I was impressed by the smooth flow of her movements. But I didn't have much time to really think about that,
before she was practically on me. I sprung into the air, leaping cleanly over her, and pivoted on one forepaw as I landed, twisting myself around in one smooth movement, before grabbing the tip of her tail in my jaws, (being careful not to actually hurt it) and pulling back. Not as harshly as I would in an actual fight, but enough to get her to come to a sharp stop.

Saltpaw pulled her tail carefully out of my mouth and turned to face me, her eyes wide in astonishment. "That..." I smirked at her "was the Tail Tug, as Roseblossom aptly named it, when she was your age." I chuckled at the memory. "When you actually bite down on the tail, and pull as hard as you can, you're effectively pulling on their spine. Causing severe pain and possibly tingling throughout their body. It really can give you a quick advantage in a fight." Saltpaw nodded. "Why is it advanced then?" "Because of the leap." I explained, smiling fondly at my apprentice. "you have to land carefully on your paw, otherwise you could twist, or even break your leg, and that'll really put you out of commission. Also learning to throw your weight right once you do land so that you spin on your paw is really precise."

I walked over to a large rock, about the size of a crouching apprentice, and with quite some effort and a little digging to break it free from the ground, I rolled it over into the middle of the clearing. Saltpaw watched me curiously. "Ok, so, you're going to practice jumping over the rock, and landing on one paw. It may seem simple, but before you can start throwing your weight around on that paw, you need to learn how to land on it without falling on your face." I decided then and there this training session would be very amusing.

Saltpaw hesitantly walked around the rock until she was standing on the side opposite where I was sitting slightly off to the side, ready to watch and help with her landing.

She then wiggled her haunches, and sprung, flying over the rock, I noticed quickly she had both forepaws extended, and she landed on both. I sighed, and explained "keep one of your forepaws back so you don't land on both." She nodded determined, and tried again.

All in all, the training session went as I had expected.

"GYAAAA!" I quickly stood, the fur rising on my spine. "Saltpaw! Are you ok?!" "Urgh." She slowly stood. Not putting any weight on one forepaw. I walked over, and examined it. It didn't seem too badly hurt, but in case it was... "OK come on, we're going to go back to the camp, and have Lotuspaw look at that." Saltpaw looked down guiltily. "ok." I glanced at her. "Come on, lean on me. It'll be easier to walk." She hesitated several moments before leaning her weight on my shoulder. We then made out way back to camp.

The Sunhigh heat pounded on my back as we entered the clearing. "Lotuspaw!!" I called, keeping my tone calm, as to not panic the cats around me, who were all anxiously murmuring as they watched us. Lotuspaw peered her head out of the den, and seeing her sister limping, rushed over. "What happened?" Lotuspaw asked seriously. "Saltpaw?!" Roseblossom gasped, rushing to her daughter's side. "What'd you do?!" I glanced at her. "This was her first day trying the Tail Tug." Roseblossom's face seemed to melt into understanding. "You should bring Lotuspaw next time." She chided. I smirked at her. "Lotuspaw has many more other clanmates to worry about here." She glared at me, but I must have had an expression that didn't invite challenge, because she quieted, and focused on comfortingly licking Saltpaw, who tried to pull away, but kind of couldn't because of her leg.

I watched as Lotuspaw placed two sticks around her legs, and wrapped both the sticks and her leg in cobwebs and mint leaves to cool the injury. I tilted my head. "That reminds me of when I broke my leg. How Stealthvixen helped me with it." I glanced at my leg now. There was no difference between it and my other legs. "Saltpaw is in good hands." I smiled at the thought. "What do you say, Lotuspaw?" She glanced up at me. "Uhh, I don't think it's broken. So, just a couple days of mostly staying off of it before she can get back to training." I nodded. She turned to Saltpaw. "And if you are ever in allot of pain, come see me and I'll get you some Poppyseeds." Saltpaw nodded. "Thanks sis." Lotuspaw smirked at her. "Go get some fresh kill then some rest." I advised the young injured she-cat. Who nodded and limped over to the fresh-kill pile.

I then watched as Mistystar stepped out of her den, and examined her clan from the Jutting rock. I knew what this meant. We had been gone most of the day. I'm guessing Willowpaw had passed her assessment. As I predicted "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Jutting Rock for a Clan Meeting." I watched as the clan moved around me. Gathering by their leader. I took my usual place next to Mistystar, as she looked down at her clan. "Willowpaw, come forward." The she-cat seemed really excited, as she confidently strode forward, and leapt up, joining us on the rock.

"Cats of CloudClan, this apprentice has studied hard to learn the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a full warrior in her turn." She glanced at the apprentice. "Willowpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect your clanmates even at the cost of your life?" Willowpaw gently nodded. "I do." "Then I, Mistystar, as leader of CloudClan, give you your warrior name. From now on, you will be known as Willowrose. CloudClan honors your enthusiasm and humor." Mistystar stretched her neck forward, and touched her nose to Willowrose's head. Willowrose touched her nose to Mistystar's shoulder in turn. The clan, including me, then erupted into loud cheering, and chanting of Willowrose's new name. "WILLOWROSE! WILLOWROSE!!"

Mistystar waited until the shouting had died down, before continuing. "There is another ceremony I must preform today." I glanced at her confused. Neither Lotuspaw nor Saltpaw were ready for their full names. What was she planning? "Midnightflame, please come forward." The black she-cat wormed her way through the crowd. Catching a shocked look from Whitefeather, as she replaced Willowrose (who then jumped off) on the rock. I glanced confused at Mistystar, but Mistystar ignored my look, and continued, her face scrunched deep in thought. This wasn't a typical ceremony. I could tell right away. "Cats of CloudClan; Midnightflame has chosen to walk a different path, moving from that of a warrior, to a medicine cat of CloudClan. With her kindness and her bravery, I know that she will do well in her new role, just as she did as a warrior."
Mistystar glanced fondly at the young medicine-cat. "Congratulations; I wish you the best on this new journey." The clan once again quickly erupted into cheers. Lotuspaw in particular, happily cheered the name of her new mentor.

"Midnightflame! Midnightflame!"

A feast was held for the two young cats, and later that day, Deertail told me that she had met a new LightningClan apprentice on the border patrol that morning. Young Ebonykit had become an apprentice. I let out a purr at the news. Both clans were surely prospering.

It had been a couple of months. The snow had melted, and fresh grass was growing throughout the territory of the clans. I had watched my apprentice Saltpaw become Saltshine. And I had watched a new kit be brought to the clans. Little Meadowkit.

But now I sat just outside the Warrior’s den. Watching the kits play, and Midnightflame showing her apprentice Lotuspaw some herbs that had started growing around the camp with the coming of New-Leaf. I twitched my ear and looked over to the camp’s entrance as a patrol consisting of Whitefeather, Saltshine, and Roseblossom made their way down into camp, excitedly chatting. I could see a fourth cat following just behind them though. I stood and curiously made my way over, until a scent came over my nose. “G-Goldshimmer..?”

My tail rose, and the clan all looked over at my voice. Mistystar stood from where she had been resting on the ledge she made announcements from, and leapt down. Joining us. “Yeah!” Whitefeather announced happily. “We found her at the border, waiting for a patrol.” They stepped aside to reveal the older golden she-cat who had followed them into camp. “It’s.. Uh.. Goldstorm now, actually.” Goldstorm said softly, lowering her head. “I’m… Sorry… For leaving..” I felt a pang of sympathy for the warrior. She felt guilty for leaving? All that time? I walked forward and purred as I rubbed my head into her shoulder. The clan followed suit and gathered around, greeting, and happily celebrating the return of the self-exiled former leader. The sound of purring was so loud I could barely hear myself think, as my clanmates pressed around me. “You don’t need to apologize.” I rasped over my own purr to my friend. “You are always welcome here.”

Mistystar, having touched noses with her friend, and still purring, made her way over to the jutting rock ledge and leapt up, turning to face her clan, the sun illumintating her from behind. “Cats of CloudClan!” She called, voice raspy over her own purr. “Our lost clanmate, Goldsh-storm has returned to us! We shall hold a feast to celebrate!” She yowled the words out happily. The clan cheered around her, me included. Goldstorm looked around in shock but then got a soft bashful smile.

I watched the clan continue to celebrate throughout the rest of the day and until the sun set. And over time, Goldstorm slowly grew comfortable around her clan again. And realized how much we accepted her, and had never judged her for leaving. I was just glad to have the cat who accepted me into the clan back in my life. Over the next couple weeks, the two of us spent a lot of time together.  

Later that moon, while I was sharing prey with Goldstorm and Deertail I noticed Mistystar and Midnightflame talking just outside Mistystar’s den. Midnightflame’s fluffed tail lashed slowly as she talked, and her head was low. I kept my thoughts silent, but Deertail followed my gaze. “I wonder what’s happening…” She murmured. “I don’t know.” I admitted to my apprentice. I watched Mistystar bow her head to Midnightflame and then touch the medicine-cat’s shoulder with her nose, and then the medicine-cat leapt down, stumbling and nearly falling before she walked over to her apprentice, who had several moons of training already by now. The two talked for a moment. I sat up, my meal forgotten. Both cats looked over at me curiously, but my eyes were locked on Mistystar. “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather below the jutting rock for a clan meeting!”

I swished my tail. I knew something was up. I leapt up next to my leader, and glanced at her curiously. She nodded to me briefly, before continuing the meeting “While it is usually the medicine cat who performs their apprentice's ceremony, Midnightflame has given me permission to perform it on her behalf while she's ill.” I glanced towards the medicine-cat, and noticed she was breathing heavily, and had laid down while watching the ceremony. Lotuspaw looked at her mentor worriedly, but turned and approached the jutting ledge, and leapt up. Coming and sitting between me and Mistystar.

“I, Mistystar, leader of CloudClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of a medicine cat, and with your help she will serve her Clan for many moons.
Lotuspaw, do you promise to uphold the ways of a medicine cat, to stand apart from rivalry between Clan and Clan and to protect all cats equally, even at the cost of your life?”
“Yes.” The White she-cat answered easily. I felt an uncertainty gnawing at me though. And looked down at my paws.

“Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your true name as a medicine cat. Lotuspaw, from this moment you will be known as Lotusbreeze. StarClan honors your loyalty, warmth, and patience, and we welcome you as a full medicine cat of CloudClan.” StarClan the word stood out to me. It unsettled me. ’Don’t worry.’ Came a voice in my head suddenly. It didn’t seem like it was quite mine. I looked around, no one had heard it. No one seemed to have noticed my uncertainty even. Everyone was too busy calling Lotusbreeze’s new name. I half-heartedly joined in. ’Find the truth.’ I flexed my claws. I was hearing things. I had to be.

But now, watching the clan chanting Lotusbreeze’s new name. It... felt very wrong. With an uncomfortable feeling in my stomach and thoughts whirling through my head, I leapt down from the jutting rock. And as the clan continued to celebrate, I made my way out of the camp.