There are no prophecies, there is no guidance.
The cats of Gullpaw's clan are struggling to survive disaster. With their leader cutting all ties with their ancestors and splitting from their neighboring clans, their future is looking grim.
"I w...
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Gullpaw stood beside his siblings, heart thrumming inside his chest as he pressed closer to Daypaw, their fur brushing. He didn't like all gazes drawn towards them, but he couldn't help but feel proud. They had finally become apprentices!
Asphodelstar watched them with kind green eyes, his lips curled into a smile that reached up to his eyes. It was his first apprentice ceremony as leader, so of course he had a reason to be happy. It was a reason for everyone to be happy, new apprentices to help their sinking numbers.
"Beechpaw! Gullpaw! Daypaw!"
The newly made apprentices hopped from their spot on a large rock, splitting off to talk to one feline or another.
The clan was ecstatic, and it only made Gullpaw wish it could always be like this. He barely remembered the dreadful time their clan had been through just four moons ago. He had only been two moons old so it was all a blur in his mind. A sickening blur. Playing with his siblings, staying with Cherrykit..
His littler, weaker sister had fallen ill just a moon ago, bedridden so she could try and fight her sickness. Once she had taken a turn for the worse, he had been forbidden to visit or even get close.
"We don't want it spreading!" Tansyspots had scolded, eyes venomous. Of course Gullpaw knew that, he wasn't dull! Cherrykit had wanted to be a warrior so bad, yet she was stuck in the foul smelling den. He wanted to tell her all about it, assure her that she'd be just fine and would join them soon. Would she be upset that he was an apprentice now without her?
He tried not to think of it, reciting what he always did to keep him calm, collected, when he started to overthink.
Jays, thrushes, cardinals..
He trailed off as he thought of the vibrant, fire colored bird. Or, at least that's how Mistyhawk had described it. He wanted to see one himself. Could a bird really be such bright colors? He has only seen dull brown ones and the occasional dark colored raven.
Gullpaw instinctively looked around for his mother, but when his eyes landed on Goosefleck a growl erupted in his throat involuntarily. She had never been much of a mother, but convincing himself that he didn't need her approval was a mind numbing process he struggled with.
Without much thought, his paws led him towards the bush that Cherrykit was currently nested under. He couldn't help himself, he just had to visit his sickly sister.
Poking his nose under the leaves, he nearly recoiled at the foul stench of sickness. "Cherrypaw..?" He quietly called, trying to spot her tortoiseshell pelt in the darkness.
When he got no response, he continued anyways. She was usually taking a feverish nap and it was hard to wake her from them. "The ceremony is over, but you should have been there too.." He fought to keep his voice steady. He wanted to shake her awake, make her better, have her train alongside Daypaw, Beechpaw, and him.
He had squeezed under the branches which scraped painstakingly against his spine. "I'm sorry I can't visit often.." He murmured, ducking his head as he curled his tail close to his flank.
"I know.." Gullpaw instantly perked at the sound of the weak, rasping voice followed by a terrible fit of coughing. He turned his gaze to Cherrykit, taking in her appearance once his eyes finally began to adjust to the dimness.
Her pelt had lost its shine and hung limply off her frame, ribs poking at her sides sharply. Her eyes were glazed over with sickness and when she coughed she curled in on herself as if it was painful. It probably was.
She didn't say anything after that, but it was all he needed. She had rested her head down, too weak to even hold it up, much less talk. "I'll try and come back sometime soon." He assured, realizing she needed rest.
He began untangling himself from the branches, backing up with a wince as they jabbed into his ribs and whipped across his muzzle. She was still alive, she would be an apprentice with them in no time.. Tansyspots will be sure of it.
Gullpaw shook out his pelt, hoping nobody had seen him. He glanced around the camp, examining his clanmates. Daypaw was chatting with Beechpaw while Driftpaw sat alone, like usual. Mooseheart and Kestrelfrost were sitting close together, both the toms heads dipped down as they talked.
Asphodelstar and Wisteriathorn were sharing tongues. Dewsplash sat by her parents, Eveningskip and Heronflight. How could they be so peaceful when I feel like I'm drowning?
Unsure of where to go, he decided to silently make his way to his siblings.
Daypaw greeted him with his signature bright smile while Beechpaw gave a less friendly flick of her tail.
"We were just talking about how Driftpaw and Blackpaw are always by themselves," Daypaw began, but Gullpaw interrupted.
"I'm sure they don't want you gossiping," He stated simply, settling down as he glanced between the two. He had to admit, he was curious himself, but he knew how upset he got when some cat brought up Cherrykit.
"We're just having some fun." Beechpaw drawled, eyes narrowing as she glanced at Gullpaw. "Why do you care?"
Gullpaw rolled his eyes, flicking his tail dismissively. "I don't," He stated bluntly, closing his eyes to calm himself once more. Beechpaw was always on edge it seemed, she had a brutal way of teasing both him and Daypaw.
He could see Daypaw glance at him from the corner of his eye and he turned to meet his gaze. "When do you think they'll start training us?" Daypaw asked abruptly, changing the subject so him and Beechpaw wouldn't argue.
"Whenever the warriors feel like it, I suppose," Beechpaw snorted, tail twitching impatiently. "I may go see if Dewsplash will be willing to train me next sunrise." The mottled black she-cat had an ambitious light to her eyes.
Gullpaw had noticed that once Cherrykit's health had plummeted, Beechpaw had become much more guarded and eager to get ahead. Did she think training harder would make Cherrykit happy? Or did she think she could make up for her not being apprenticed?
Maybe it was both, maybe neither. He knew Beechpaw had been pretty close with her, too. Perhaps she was as stressed as him.
It was when he had lost interest in their conversation that he spotted Tansyspots's tail disappear into the makeshift medicine cat den and his thoughts began to once again wander.
