In my mother’s footsteps

      Jayfeather got up on his paws and blinked his eyes a little - he could see. Thanks to this, medicine cat realized that he was dreaming. - Jayfeather, - a familiar voice touched cat's ears, and turning in his direction, medicine cat saw Briarlight. She looked completely different-not like the last time they met. Former ThunderClan she-warrior became prettier, gained strength, but most importantly - she stood firmly on all four paws. The broken spine was no longer a hindrance to her, her back was healed and she was finally able to walk normally. - Briarlight! - Jayfeather squealed like a little kitten and rushed towards she-cat. Having reached her, Jayfeather snuggled up to her and inhaled her scent. If earlier she smelled of forest, earth and herbs, now she smelled of frost, warmth and something else incomprehensible. But in principle, it didn't matter much to medicine cat - the main thing was that she was with him, even if she wasn't alive. Soon, Briarlight pulled away from Jayfeather, and said: - Jayfeather, I came to show you something. Let's go, - StarClan she-warrior beckoned the medicine he-cat with her tail. He followed her in silence. Briarlight led Jayfeather to the shore of a small lake overgrown with sedge. The grass did not grow only on the sandy place of the shore, where StarClan she-cat lay down, calling medicine cat to lie down next to her. - Look, - she whispered. Briarlight touched the water with her paw, and a small ripple passed through it, which became stronger over time, and soon some images could be taken away in the water. Jayfeather was able to distinguish the nursery of ThunderClan, and Daisy lying on one of the bedding. She was hugging two she-kittens to her - one dark brown, and second one gray and striped. - Briarlight?.. - Jayfeather said in surprise. - Is it..? - Briarkit and Bloomkit, - she-warrior completed medicine cat's thought. - I brought you here on purpose so that you could see them, too. Jayfeather opened his mouth, but immediately closed it - he did not find what to say. The he-cat was too touched by the way Daisy took care of she-kitties, but he was also sad that he and Briarlight could not share this happiness.

***

      Three moons have passed since the death of Briarlight and the appearance of her and Jayfeather's kittens in the camp. Bloomkit and Briarkit quickly made friends with their tent friends - Sorrelkit, Hollykit and Fernkit. Older kittens enjoyed playing with younger ones, both in the nursery and outside. Briarkit came out of the nursery, followed by Bloomkit. Fernkit, Sorrelkit and Hollykit were already waiting for them near the entrance. - Oh, finally! - Sorrelkit meowed. - We thought we couldn't wait!       The sisters came up to the older kittens, and Bloomkit asked: - What are we going to do?       Fernkit answered her: - And here I, Hollykit and Sorrelkit thought, - you've never seen our camp! Come on, we willll show it you! First of all, the kittens brought the she-kitties to a large rock towering high above the camp. - It's a Highledge, - Hollykit explained. - With it, Bramblestar makes announcements for the Clan, and initiates cats into apprentices and warriors. - And today we will also become apprentices! - Sorrelkit picked up. - I will become the best ThunderClan she-warrior! - In that case, I will become the best ThunderClan he-warrior! - Fernkit got into the conversation. - And you'd better not get in my way! - No, it would be better for you not get in my way! - Sorrelkit jokingly attacked her brother, and they began to roll on the ground, trying to crush each other. - Quiet, quiet! - Hollykit began to separate the raging kittens. - We showed the camp to Briarkit and Bloomkit! So let's continue! Fernkit and Sorrelkit fell off from each other. Their fur stood on end, was dusty and disheveled, but the fervent mood did not go away. - Come on! - Sorrelkit playfully fell on its front paws. - Just let's see what you say, Fernkit, when I become the best she-warrior of the Clan! - No, I'll see what you say, Sorrelkit, when I become the best he-warrior! - Fernkit still couldn't resist the temptation to tease his sister a little more. Hollykit moved her eyes, and beckoned with her tail to the younger she-kitties. Then senior kittens brought Briarkit and Bloomkit to a fallen beech, whose branches were in the ravine where the camp was. - Here are the dens of warriors and elders, - Sorrelkit began to explain. - We will become warriors when we become apprentices and learn everything. And when we become warriors and become too old, we will become elders. And you, too, will go all this way, just like us! And like all kittens of Clan. - Unless you decide to become medicine cats, - Fernkit added.       And finally, the senior kittens showed the younger ones the dens of medicine cat, leader and apperentices - caves in one of the rocks of the ravine, hung with blackberry branches. - There's a medicine den here, - said Fernkit, pointing with his tail at one of the caves. - Now we have two medicine cats - Leafpool and Jayfeather. - Leafpool is kind! - Sorrelkit added. - And Jayfeather is sullen and grumpy! He's always rude to everyone! It's better not to bother to him! - And here is the leader's den, - Hollykit continued. - Now our leader - Bramblestar. He lives in a his den with Squirrelflight - she is his mate and deputy. - And here is the apprentices' tent! - Sorrelkit has already run up to the remaining den and wagged her tail. - We will move there soon! - And when will we move? - Briarkit asked. - Three moons from now, - Hollykit replied. - Three moons?! - asked Bloomkit. - They're going to drag on forever! I want it now! - It's impossible now, - Daisy's voice was heard behind kittens. Fawn she-cat and Cinderheart came up to their kittens: - What are you doing? - the last one asked. - We're showing the camp to Daisy's kittens, - Hollykit explained. - They asked about becoming apprentices. - Why can't I become an apprentice? - asked Bloomkit. - I'm already big enough! - Still not enough, - Daisy replied softly. - If you don't get stronger, you can very easily be defeated in battle! You can be carried away by a fox, a badger or some bird of prey. Is this what you want? - N-No... - mumbled Bloomkit. While Daisy was explaining the rules of Clan to her daughter, Fernkit came up to Briarkit and whispered in her ear: - Mom came to take us to my father so that we could eat with the family. Maybe you want to come with us? - With you? - asked the she-kitten. - Eat real game? - Yes. - Nice of you, - Briarkit purred. - I think I agree. Fernkit raised his ears: - Great! Cinderheart slightly moved away from Daisy, and beckoned the kittens with her tail. Sorrelkit and Hollykit immediately ran after their mother, followed by Fernkit with Briarkit. She-cat and kittens approached the common pile, near which Lionblaze was already lying. When he saw his mate and kittens, he got up. Fernkit came up to his father: - Briarkit will eat with us. Can her? - Of course she can! - elder warrior meowed. Then he walked over to kitty: - Briarkit, is this your first time eating game? - Yes. - You'll like it! - Lionblaze purred. - Fernkit, will you pick up something for her? Without answering, senior kitten walked up to the pile and took a mouse from there. Returning to Briarkit, Fernkit put the mouse in front of her: - Can we eat together? - Ok. Fernkit tore a piece from the mouse with its teeth, and gave it to Briarkit: - Here, try it. Briarkit obediently bit off some meat to taste. She chewed slowly, and when she finally swallowed, Fernkit asked: - Well, how? Briarkit raised her ears: - I liked it! - If you want, take it all. I'll take something else for myself, - the kitten moved the mouse to the she-kitten, and he returned to the pile, and took a sparrow for himself. Hollykit and Sorrelkit are eating a huge hare together, Lionblaze is eating a squirrel, and Cinderheart is eating a thrush. Briarkit finished with her mouse, and came a little closer to Fernkit, which was still chewing its sparrow. - And... can I try it? she-kitten asked cautiously. Senior kitten raised his head, and silently bit off a piece of the sparrow, and gave it to Briarkit. Younger kitten chewed the meat and licked her whiskers to better remember the taste. - Did you like it? - Fernkit asked. - Yes, - said Briarkit. - But I liked the mouse more! - Do you want me to bring something more? Or you can take it yourself. - No, thanks. I'm full. Fernkit rose to his paws, approached the sisters, who had also finished with their hare, and began to talk about something with them. And Briarkit decided to return to the nursery - a long walk around the camp tired her. Kitten lay down near by Daisy next to Bloomkit and closed her eyes.       Briarkit woke up because someone was shoving it in the side. Opening her eyes, kitten saw her sister standing over her. Daisy was nowhere to be found, and Cinderheart with her kittens also came out of the nursery. - Briarkit, I would like to do something, - said Bloomkit, seeing that her sister was no longer asleep. - And I hope that you will do it with me. - It depends on what it, - said Briarkit. - Let's see what's outside the camp! - You... Do you want to run away? - the dark brown kitten asked in surprise. - But kittens are forbidden to leave the camp! - Oh, Briarkit, you're so boring, - Bloomkit drawled. - We won't be long! Nobody won't notice us! The mouse won't have time to squeak, and we'll be back! Well, if you don't want to, I'll go alone. - No, - Briarkit rose to its paws. - I'm with you so that you don't do anything stupid! Together, she-kitties got out of the nursery, and tried to get as close as possible to the exit from the camp - a blackberry tunnel leading to the surface. Making sure that no one was watching them, Bloomkit quickly slipped into the tunnel, Briarkit behind her. She-kitties quickly ran through it, and found themselves in a deciduous forest. - Wow! - said Briarkit. - I didn't even think that our territory was so big! - And you didn't want to go! - added Bloomkit. - Let's run, let's see what else there is! Kitties ran a little more through the forest, and ran out into the open. There lay a Lake, the heart of the territory of all Clans, the main source of fresh water. On its other sides, the territories of other Clans could be seen. - Well, wow! - held out Bloomkit admiringly. - Let's go take a closer look! - Let's go! Briarkit and Bloomkit ran closer to the water, and Bloomkit stuck her paw into it. - Briarkit, the ground there is not the same as on the shore! - she meowed. - Try it! Briarkit also stuck her paw into the water, and tried to feel the ground. The paw immediately buried itself in the soft sand at the bottom of the lake. - Great! - kitten turned her head, hoping to see something else. - Bloomkit, look, what a big tree there is! Let's go and see! Meanwhile, Daisy climbed into the nursery so as not to leave her daughters for a long time, and noticed that they were not there. At first, queen wasn't too worried - she decided that they were just in the den of apprentices or warriors, or sitting in the den of elders with Purdy. But there were none in first, nor in the second, nor in the third place, and Daisy was already beginning to worry. Queen jumped out into the middle of the camp and shouted: - Briarkit and Bloomkit are gone! ThunderClan cats immediately abandoned their business, and began to crowd around Daisy. Bramblestar came out of his den and asked: - What happened? How did they disappear? - I don't know! - Daisy answered. - I left them in the nursery for a while, and went to eat, came - and they are not there! - They could have run away from the camp, - leader said gloomily. - Let's do this - I'll send patrols to comb our territory. If they are there, we will find them! Bramblestar jumped onto the Highledge and proclaimed: - Let all cats capable of hunting on their own gather under the Highledge for a meeting of the ThunderClan! (if I wrote this phrase wrong, correct me) Most of the cats were already in the clearing, but when they heard the leader's call, they all crowded under the Highledge. Bramblestar began his speech: - Daisy discovered that Bloomkit and Briarkit were missing. Most likely they could have escaped from the camp. I have to send patrols to look for them, - leader began to announce the cats who would go on patrol: - The first patrol - Graystripe, Millie, Lionblaze, Mousewhisker. You go to an abandoned Twoleg nest, and check out the Old Thunderpath! The second patrol - Berrynose, Rosepetal, Bumblestripe, Blossomfall. You're checking out the appentices' training clearing! The third patrol - Brackenfur, Cherryfall, Ivypool, Whitewing. You are checking out the Ancient Oak and our Lake shore! The patrols will be led by Lionblaze, Rosepetal and Ivypool. Everyone else - we stay in the camp and wait for the news! Cats entering the patrols retreated to the blackberry tunnel. Ivypool and her patrol were the first to rush there, the next - Lionblaze, and after him - Rosepetal. Cats split up and rushed in the directions indicated by Bramblestar.       Briarkit and Bloomkit had already looked at the Ancient Oak, and were about to go back, but suddenly a badger jumped out of the bushes right at them. The beast growled and rushed at kitties, and they ran in the opposite direction. - Have you had enough adventures now? - Briarkit asked, catching up with her sister. - Quite, - replied Bloomkit. - Let's hurry up! We saw holes in the roots of that tree, and we will hide in them! Running back to the Ancient Oak, kitties ducked into a hole between its roots, and fell silent, snuggling up to each other. But the badger still noticed where they were hiding, and began to gnaw through the roots of the tree, trying to get to kittens. - I hope he can't get in here, - Bloomkit whispered. - Otherwise... We're lost! - Briarkit responded in the same tone. But suddenly the beast recoiled from the tree, and screamed loudly. Bloomkit, who was bolder than her sister, looked out and saw Ivypool clinging to the badger's back. Cherryfall bit into the paw of the beast, and Brackenfur and Whitewing were already hurrying to help them. Briarkit, who also got out, watched in surprise with her sister. Here, Brackenfur and Whitewing ran to warriors, Whitewing jumped to her daughter, on the badger's back, and Brackenfur bit into the beast's hind paw with his teeth and claws. A couple of blows with his claws - and the badger realized that he could not cope with cats, broke free, and ran away. Whitewing turned to the side, and noticed kittens in the hole. - Ah, there you are, - she said. - Whole ThunderClan is looking for you! Ivypool flew up to kittens with lightning speed, grabbed Bloomkit by the scruff of the neck, and shook it several times: - What were you thinking, you stupid lumps of wool?! Have wasps built a nest in your heads?! Didn't you know that kittens are forbidden to leave the camp?!       Briarkit recoiled from the angry she-warrior: - Forgive us, Ivypool! - Oh, you don't need to ask me for this, - she-warrior grinned. - You will ask Bramblestar for forgiveness! Briarkit was shocked by this news. To ask for forgiveness from leader himself! Yeah, apparently the blame for breaking the code was too great. - Well, let's go! - Ivypool waved her tail, urging the patrolmen to follow her. Brackenfur took Briarkit in his teeth, and Cherryfall - Bloomkit, and cats amicably moved back to the camp. Two patrols had already returned to the camp when the remaining one, led by Ivypool, went down into the ravine. ThunderClan cats immediately turned in their direction. Among them was Bramblestar: - And here are the culprits of our concern! Brackenfur and Cherryfall lowered kitties in front of leader, and took a few steps back. Bramblestar squinted: - Well, what can you say in your defense? - Forgive us, Bramblestar, - Briarkit said softly. - We won't do it again... - We will never do it again, - added Bloomkit. - Well, at least as long as we're kittens. Bramblestar sighed heavily: - You have violated the warrior code. One "forgive us" is not going to get off here...       Kittens synchronously raised their heads, staring at the leader, and he continued: - Warrior code is very important for us. He keeps the peace among cats of each Clan. Think for yourself - what would happen if every cat did as he pleases? - That would be bad, - said Briarkit, staring back at her paws. - Very bad, - Bloomkit added. - Still, - Bramblestar continued, - I should punish you. And the punishment will be as follows - you will take care of elders. Change moss in their bedding and pull out fleas and ticks from them. However, right now we only have one elder, Purdy... But I think it will be easier for the two of you. In the meantime, you will take care of him until your initiation as apprentices. - Three whole moons?! - Bloomkit jumped up from her seat. - It's so long! Severity flashed in the amber eyes of the leader: - I've said it all. And Bramblestar went to his den, along with Squirrelflight. Other cats also began to disperse to the dens. Soon, Briarkit and Bloomkit were left together, in an empty clearing. After sitting for a while, kitties went to Purdy's den to see how he was. - I don't need anything, - said old cat, seeing Briarkit and Bloomkit on the threshold. - You'd better go to the nursery and rest. You're probably too tired... Besides, there will be a ceremony of dedication of your friends to apprentices soon. I suppose you'd like to see it! Bloomkit happily jumped up on the spot, and ran away without looking back, and Briarkit said: - Thank you so much, Purdy!       The sun was approaching sunset. Bramblestar habitually jumped onto the Highledge, and proclaimed: - Let all cats capable of hunting on their own gather under the Highledge for a meeting! ThunderClan cats immediately poured out of the dens, and dispersed under the Highledge. Briarkit and Bloomkit immediately ran out of the nursery, and squeezed into the first rows of sitting cats. Fernkit, Sorrelkit and Hollykit were sitting closest to the rock, cleanly licked. Lionblaze and Cinderheart proudly looked at their kittens. - I wonder who will be their mentors? - Bloomkit asked happily, as if she hadn't been punished a few hours ago. - I think one of them will definitely be mentored by a Bumblestripe! He had wanted to take an apprentice for a long time!       Bramblestar meanwhile continued: - We are gathered here to see the three new ThunderClan apprentices. Fernkit, Sorrelkit, Hollykit, stand in front of me! Kittens obediently turned to the Highledge and stared at leader. He-cat continued, looking at the Hollykit: - From this time forward, this kitten will be known as Hollypaw. Cloudtail, you have shown courage and perseverance in serving your Clan, and I trust that you will pass on these qualities to your new apprentice. A fluffy white cat with blue eyes came out to kittens, and touched his nose to the Hollypaw's nose. She happily replied to her mentor, and they moved a little to the side. - Brackenfur, - Bramblestar continued, - you will become Sorrelpaw's mentor. I know you as a noble and kind warrior. You had the honor to teach Whitewing and Hollyleaf - so give us the same lovely she-warrior like them! Brackenfur came forward and rubbed his noses with Sorrelpaw. Then they went to Cloudtail and Hollypaw. - Reedpetal, - said the leader, - you will be Fernpaw's mentor. I am sure you will give him all your loyalty to Clan, and in a few moons you will give us a new warrior! A light cream she-cat came out of the crowd of cats to greet her student. While they were rubbing their noses, Bloomkit whispered: - Bumblestripe did not become a mentor to any of them? It turns out, then he will instruct me, or you! I wish I didn't! Briarkit did not answer - ThunderClan cats began to congratulate new apprentices with might and main, so she-kitten joined their cries: - Hollypaw! Sorrelpaw! Fernpaw! When the noise subsided a little, Briarkit asked her sister: - Why don't you want one of us to be mentored by Bumblestripe? - I don't like him! - Bloomkit answered. - Did you see Dovewing after talking to him? She doesn't look like herself after that! - And I would like what he mentored me, - thought Briarkit, but did not say out loud. The initiation ceremony ended, and cats began to disperse. Bloomkit ran off to the nursery, and Briarkit decided to visit Purdy. - You don't need anything? - asked kitten, going into the den to old cat. - No, - Purdy said. - But I'm touched that you're worried about me. - cat turned over on his stomach, and waved his tail, calling Briarkit to come up. - I am sure you will become an excellent apprentice, and then a warrior. You'll be just like your mother. I'm sure. - And what do you think about Bloomkit? Purdy looked around, bent down to she-kitten's ear and whispered: - There is too much passion, pressure and mischief in this female - she need to be able to direct such energy. Believe me, if she can't handle it, it can end very badly! Old cat removed the tail with which he was covering Briarkit: - Okay, run. You'll drop by my place tomorrow. - I promise, - at parting, Briarkit licked Purdy on the cheek, and ran to the nursery.