Chapter 8

Skykit tumbled around in the nursery with Cloudkit on top of her. “I got you!” her brother yowled. “You’ll never get me now!” He swiped at her with his claws sheathed.

Skykit snorted and kicked him off. “I’m a strong ThunderClan warrior, you bee-brained little ShadowClan spy!”

Cloudkit leaped at her again. “I’m no bee-brained little spy!” he yowled. “I’m Clan leader!”

“I’m Clan leader!” Skykit wailed as her brother knocked her off her paws again. “I’m brave and strong! I can…” She thought back to last night. “I can sneak through a forest with no sound at all, and I can catch anyone who dares get in my way!” Like a mysterious cat, Skykit thought. In fact, two mysterious cats.

“Well, I can slice through any cat–” Cloudkit began.

He was cut off by Bladepelt. “Kits,” their mother meowed gently, “I think that’s enough playing for now. It’s time for you to sleep.”

Cloudkit stepped off Skykit with a huff. “Why?” he complained. “I want to keep playing! I was about to shred her into pieces.” He slashed at the air.

“Cloudkit, you can have more playtime tomorrow,” Bladepelt murmured. “For now you have to get some sleep, or you won’t have the energy for it.”

“Yes, Cloudkit,” Skykit agreed. “Mother is right. You need energy to play! Don’t worry, we can play the game where you’re the leader tomorrow.”

With that, Cloudkit bounced away to his nest, his fluffy white fur bristling with excitement.

Bladepelt turned to Skykit. “Good job,” she meowed, licking the top of her head. “And thank you. You’re very convincing. You’re going to be a great warrior.”

Skykit burst with pride, puffing out her chest. “Thank you,” she gasped. “I’ll be the best warrior I can, I promise!”

Bladepelt purred and nuzzled her. “Go to sleep, too, Skykit,” she meowed. “You’re a great warrior already.”

Skykit obeyed, trotting over to her nest and flopping down onto it. I’m going to be a great warrior. I’m sure of it, Mother’s sure of it…

She stayed in her nest, awake, until Bladepelt came over, too. “I’m not asleep yet,” Skykit told her mother. I can’t sleep. I’m too proud, too excited, and too…scared.

Bladepelt licked her nose. “I’ll sleep with you, don’t worry, my darling. You’ll fall asleep eventually. Just close your eyes.”

Skykit closed her eyes and felt her mother’s warmth press against her. She fell asleep, pressing against her mother, never wanting to let go.

 

“Skykit! Skykit!”

Skykit jerked awake at her brother’s call. Her heart raced. It sounded frantic, full of grief. She scrambled out of her nest and found Cloudkit standing just outside the den entrance. “Skykit, come outside,” he choked.

Skykit padded outside, holding her breath. She had expected that one of their favorite rocks had been moved out, or a tree had fallen into camp onto the camp entrance. But it was worse than that.

There, lying on the camp floor, was the limp body of Bladepelt.

Skykit let out a wail and scampered over to her mother. No, no, no! She pressed her nose into her soft fur, then looked back at Cloudkit, who seemed frozen. “What happened, Cloudkit?” she asked.

Cloudkit padded over to her and nuzzled her shoulder. “When I woke up a while ago, Bladepelt was getting up,” he gasped, his eyes bright with grief. “I asked her where she was going, and she told she was going to use the dirtplace. I laid back down in my nest, and before long I heard her shriek.” He winced. “I went out to see what had happened, but all I saw was Mother’s attacker run away into the bushes, and her dead body lying unmoving on the ground…” He broke off into a wail and crouched down beside Bladepelt, pressing his small nose into her pelt.

Skykit did the same, pressing against her brother. We’re going to have to take care of ourselves now, she thought sadly. I’m never going to smell her scent again, her comforting, gentle voice…

“What happened here?” Breezestar was walking down the path to her den, eyes wide with horror. “Is your mother okay?” She bounded across the clearing to them.

“No,” Cloudkit cried, “she’s not! She’s gone away to the sky!” He turned to Skykit. “Maybe you can bring her back,” he mewed softly, with the tiniest spark of amusement in his eyes.

“I’m sorry, Cloudkit, I can’t,” Skykit whispered. She looked up at Breezestar, who had stopped next to them and was staring at Bladepelt’s lifeless body with sadness in her eyes. “Breezestar, she was murdered! Cloudkit told me. Bladepelt left the den to go to the dirtplace, but then she was attacked. And–and killed. Cloudkit found her body lying on the ground when he came out.” She felt utterly empty without Bladepelt’s warmth. Oh, Bladepelt, why did you have to leave us?

Breezestar curled her tail around the two kits. “I’m so sorry,” she breathed. “We’ll sit vigil for her, and since you’re almost apprentices, I guess I’ll apprentice you early.” Her blue eyes shimmered. “Your mother would be proud if you were a warrior soon. Your mentors will take care of you, don’t worry.”

Skykit nodded and licked her mother, even though she knew she wouldn’t feel it. I love you, Bladepelt, and I know you loved us. Please promise that I’ll meet you again one day. Please. She glanced up at the stars. That’s the only wish I have now.

“So who’s going to be our mentors?” Cloudkit gasped, pushing himself to his paws.

Focus on the present, Skykit told herself, doing the same.

“I have some cats in mind for you,” Breezestar meowed slowly. “But you can tell me if you think you’ll work well with them.” She turned to Skykit. “Skykit, I’m thinking of Shadowleap for you”–she turned to Cloudkit–“and Cloudkit, Treespring and you could have a lot of fun together.”

Skykit gave a jump of excitement. She didn’t know Shadowleap very well, but she did know that she had been on that patrol who had heard the mysterious cat, and she knew that her new mentor would appreciate her opinions of it. “I think I’m fine with Shadowleap,” Skykit told her leader.

“And I’m fine with Treespring!” Cloudkit piped up.

Breezestar nodded. “That’s great. I’ll do the ceremony…” She hesitated. “When do you want it?”

“Right now!” Cloudkit exclaimed.

Breezestar turned to Skykit.

“Sure, now is okay,” Skykit meowed.

Now, Skykit realized, more cats had gathered around her mother’s body, staring and gasping in shock and horror.

“Oh, no, what happened?”

“Poor Skykit and Cloudkit.”

“They’ve lost both of their parents now!”

Skykit winced, and Breezestar yowled, “Quiet, everyone! Bladepelt died bravely, facing her attacker with courage. Now the question is, what do we do with Skykit and Cloudkit?”

At once the crowd erupted into meows.

“Keep them with their family in the warriors’ den!”

“No, that wouldn’t work they’re not warriors!”

“Make them–”

“Quiet!” Breezestar yowled. The Clan fell silent, staring at their leader expectantly. “I have an idea,” Breezestar meowed, “and I have talked it over with Skykit and Cloudkit. We agreed this would be the best.” She leaped onto the Tallrock and let out a yowl, “Let all cats gather beneath the Tallrock for a Clan meeting!”

The warriors and apprentices spread out and sat on the ground in front of the massive boulder, staring up at the gray-and-black leader with excitement. Once the Clan had settled down, Breezestar meowed, “Skykit and Cloudkit’s mother, Bladepelt, died a warrior’s death. We will all honor her, of course, and we will hold a vigil for her soon. For now,” she mewed, glancing down at Skykit and Cloudkit, “these two kits will be apprenticed.” She beckoned them forward with their tail. Cloudkit obeyed, with Skykit stumbling after him. “Skykit and Cloudkit have not yet reached the age of six moons,” Breezestar began, “but has the qualities and bravery of any other apprentice. They will be good warriors. Cloudkit, from this moment until you recieve your warrior name, you will be known as Cloudpaw. Treespring,” Breezestar meowed, gazing down at the pale brown warrior, “you have shown great loyalty and generosity toward your Clan, and I’m sure you’ll pass down those qualities to your apprentice.”

Cloudpaw padded over to his mentor excitedly, and the two touched noses with each other.

“Skykit,” Breezestar went on, “you will be known as Skypaw. Shadowleap”–she looked down at the black warrior–“you are ready for your first apprentice. You have shown great bravery in your moons of a warrior, and I hope you will pass down those skills to Skypaw.”

Shadowleap looked startled, but still leaned down and touched noses with her as Skypaw padded over. “I’ll keep you safe,” she murmured.

“Cloudpaw! Skypaw! Cloudpaw! Skypaw!” the Clan cheered.

For the first time since the unbearable grief had crushed her, Skypaw felt a rush of hope. She was an apprentice now, and she could accomplish anything.