Swiftpaw was allowed to leave the medicine cat den once her strained claw was healed. She spent three days healing beside Mudstrike and the two gossiped together. Wolfpaw or Brookpelt would always visit them, either to give prey or to talk. But once Swiftpaw's stay ended, she had to leave Mudstrike. "Lucky you, able to leave!" Mudstrike meowed to his friend, his brown tail lashing. She let out a purr in amusement as she stretched, "I'll make sure to catch you a water vole so you won't starve!"
She left the medicine cat clearing, her injuries healing quickly thanks to Brookpelt's work. It was sunhigh and she prayed that there would be a hunting patrol being sorted out. The snow was thin and the air was brisk, a blessing that there wasn't so much snow. Some icicles hung from the trees and the entrances of dens. Swiftpaw chuckled to herself when she remembered seeing Wolfpaw breaking icicles for the Elders' Den.
Recently, Redstar was forced to be confined in his den. He is extremely feeble and his muscles grew limp; he was clinging unto his last life. Every day, Lichenface and Flaxkit go to see him. Though, today, Swiftpaw wanted to go herself. She wasn't sure if her siblings paid a visit, but she wanted to do it by herself. I'll catch something for him, even if he rejects it.
"Swiftpaw! Hey, you're on a patrol with us," Sparkclaw called to her, with him was Alderstalk and Mosspelt. She then made her way over to the patrol, "Where are we heading to?"
"We're the sunhigh border patrol and Lionstripe wants us to check out the Shiny Shore. Apparently, yesterday's patrol detected some DriftClan scents on our white sands," Alderstalk replied, leading the patrol out of camp. Swiftpaw held back a sigh, really anticipating to go hunting or go on a patrol with her mentor again. Lionstripe has been splitting up me, Wolfpaw, and Blizzardtail. Though Wolfpaw and I are trained, we would like to spend time with Blizzardtail. Well, I do... Less and less she saw Wolfpaw and it made her heart sore.
But before they left, Lionstripe sprinted up to Alderstalk. "Wait," the golden tabby she-cat spoke, "I just realized how tired Swiftpaw must be. Maybe she wouldn't want to go on this patrol." They stood under the stone-arch of the camp entrance.
Swiftpaw budded in, "I would prefer to go hunting, Lionstripe, if that's alright with you."
Sparkclaw's tail rested on Swiftpaw's shoulder, "We should've realized that you were still a bit injured. Sorry, young one." My clanmates... how caring they are. Lionstripe then suggested to Swiftpaw, "You can go hunting. But at dawn tomorrow, I want you on the dawn patrol towards the birch forest. Be ready."
She dipped her head in respect before she hurried out of camp, eager to be free again. Breathing in the smell of fresh snow, wilting willows, and river water made her feel at home. Her paws touched cool snow and she let out a soft hiss. Maybe I'll go hunt right beside the training hollow. Remembering Blizzardtail's shortcut, she dove into the stale reeds, careful not to poke her eye out.
As she moved through the reeds, she could hear the voices of Fallownose and Ripplefrost. Why are they in the training hollow? Swiftpaw thought curiously and slowed down her pace. The calico apprentice stopped at the line of reeds and she spied on the pretty tabby and her brother. She was only a few fox lengths away from the hollow and she saw the two cats very easily.
Ripplefrost seemed bothered at Fallownose. He meowed, "Why would you try to say that about my sister? She's very hardworking and her place in the clan is well." The brown tabby's tail lashed impatiently and she argued, "She immobilized my leg for a moon! You can't possibly deem her respectable." Swiftpaw felt a tad bit guilty for striking down Fallownose that one time. Even though she said something very offensive, I shouldn't have hurt her that much. Swiftpaw then leaped out from the reed bed and slowly made her way over to the two cats, her paw steps light and quiet, something she learned from Wolfpaw.
Fallownose looked away, ashamed. "I would've been a warrior sooner. Maybe then I would be able to protect Acornpaw..."
"That wasn't your fault," Before Ripplefrost could say anything, Swiftpaw spoke as she stepped into the hollow. The calico she-cat was careful not to show any emotion as she approached the brown tabby she-cat. She had to remain a bit professional before she would speak with Fallownose.
On the contrary, Fallownose shrunk back a bit away from Swiftpaw. She did fear the calico she-cat, even though she was older and a bit taller than she. But the pretty tabby didn't utter a word until Swiftpaw spoke, "Acornpaw died valiantly; I was there and so was Brackenstalk. Blaming yourself puts others at fault, too. But I believe I haven't apologized yet for my actions." Swiftpaw lowered her head and meowed, "Fallownose, I'm sorry for holding back your warrior ceremony."
At that instant, Swiftpaw felt older and more experienced. She knew she matured well; the Swiftpaw before would've never apologized to Fallownose. Although you insulted my mother, I'm sure you're much different than before, too.
Fallownose hesitated before she lashed her tail at the apprentice, "I forgive you, Swiftpaw. And I'm sorry your warrior ceremony has held back, too."
"It's not a big deal. I'll take in more training and information to be the best warrior I can be," Swiftpaw replied. Her heart was a little lighter now, free of any more hate. Ripplefrost faced his sister and he affectionately rested his tail-tip on her flank. Fallownose glanced over at the training hollow entrance and meowed, "It's best I get going. I need to check on Brackenstalk and Clovertail." The two littermates watched as she left.
Swiftpaw left Ripplefrost alone and went to search for something to hunt. Maybe some fish will appetite Redstar, the she-cat made her way to the nearest creek, the Willow Creek. She ventured to places where the snow was untouched and it lay beautifully without any flaw. Stepping carefully, she came near the creek with ice hugging the edges. Careful not to fall into the water, Blizzardtail had told her once, you will catch a fever. She sat on the thin snow that covered the pebble bank near a nice pocket of open water. Raising her paw, she didn't have to hide her shadow. Thick clouds had covered the sun.
She trained her amber eyes to detect any movement in the water. Her heart settled and her ears would perk at the slightest unwavering in the water. Then, with her claw, she swiped up the tail of a small, silver fish and finished it off. She stayed at the creek a little longer catching two more small fish then retreated back to camp.
-
She deposited her fresh-kill but kept a fish for Redstar. Swiftpaw made her way towards the Clanrock and eyed the entrance to his den a bit warily. Would he accept her at all? She prayed he would and entered his den. "Redstar?" she called to the red clump of fur.
He wheezed harshly and lifted his head. His tired green eyes were reflected with the little light that filtered into his den. "Swiftpaw..." he began but she put down the fish at his paws. "Don't talk too much. I'm sure you would want to save your breath for someone else," she sat down, wrapping her feathery tail around her ginger paws. Redstar eyed the fish before he slowly ate, unscaling the fish with his claws.
"Redstar," she held back a gulp, "We've been at each other's throats ever since Echoflower passed but today I would like to stop that. The clan needs strong warriors, not cowardly immature cats to fight and protect. I'm ready to become a warrior and I would want you to lead my warrior ceremony before you pass." She sat up straight and stared at her father strongly. He stared back, leaving his fish untouched.
The once handsome red tabby tom blinked. His eyes watered because of his weak condition and he croaked, "I'm not worthy to name you; Lionstripe would be the one to. Swiftpaw, I... I'm sorry for abandoning you and your littermates and I'm sorry for letting the clan down." He began a fit of wheezing and inhaling sharply and tried to speak. Swiftpaw lifted a paw to stop him but he spat at his paws. He told her, "I know the prophecy and I know it's you. You're the peacemaker and you need more training. I've set up special arrangements with my deputy."
She froze, her amber eyes wide. He knows the prophecy? And what are these special arrangements? "Blizzardtail will teach you the way to be the best TideClan warrior along with Wolfpaw." He opened his mouth to say more, but the dryness stopped words from coming out. Swiftpaw's heart ached as she saw her father in pain with his chest and neck. He let out a sour cough and he stood up, "My daughter," he meowed desperately, his green eyes shining the way they used to before, "I have been a coward all my life but you have shown me what it's like to bite back my pride. I'm no longer a weak leader but your father."
The calico she-cat gasped lightly and she blinked slowly. "I haven't heard you call me your daughter in moons," she meowed.
"I know. I'm sorry, Swiftpaw."
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Swiftpaw will be getting her warrior name soon. In the comments, tell me your favorite warrior name(s)! It can either be from the Warrior Cat Books or ones that you made up! I would love to know them.
-Morgan