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The bubbling river was so foreign to Thrushpaw, even though he saw it every time he went to a Gathering. He was used to the still pond in PuffinClan territory, disturbed by fish or herons. The river churned every moment, smoothing pebbles into sand. Flowerpaw occasionally dipped her tail into the water and flicked it over her back. Podpaw walked with two paws in the river at all times.
Clouds gathered overhead, growing darker each time Thrushpaw looked up. Bumblepaw trotted at the back of the group, panting. Podpaw stopped walking, making Thrushpaw run into him. Bumblepaw bumped into Thrushpaw and stumbled into the river.
“When I agreed to go on this quest,” Podpaw yawned, stretching, “I thought there would be more adventure, less… walking.”
“We have to walk to find the seers, so I don’t know what to tell you,” Thrushpaw sighed, moving around the older apprentice.
“Just think, Podpaw,” Flowerpaw said, “we could be following the same path Dad took.”
“I’m the one who suggested that, and he was by the coast, not the river,” Podpaw scoffed. “I’m just saying, this is way more boring than I thought it would be!”
‘Okay, here’s a game,” Bumblepaw huffed, hopping to Podpaw’s side and glancing over the river. “From the rabbit’s den, he sees… something gray.”
“What are you chattering about?” Podpaw scoffed.
“Haven’t you ever played Rabbit’s Den?” Bumblepaw asked.
“Why would I play something called Rabbit’s Den?” Podpaw laughed. “I’ve never even seen one.”
“You’ve never seen a rabbit?” Bumblepaw gasped as Thrushpaw moved closer to Flowerpaw.
“Have you ever seen a fish?” Podpaw huffed. A fat raindrop splattered on Thrushpaw’s nose. The water rippled as the clouds began to open. The sky rumbled moments after a brilliant flash of light.
“We should really find shelter,” Flowerpaw gulped. “Staying by water in a thunderstorm isn’t safe.” Thrushpaw glanced around. Trees sprinkled the landscape, both alone and in patches.
“Where do we go?” Bumblepaw asked, fur fluffing up.
“Somewhere low,” Flowerpaw explained. “Coastbrook says lightning goes to the tallest point, that’s why the Stone Tree gets hit so much.” A bright bolt slammed into the ground, not too far from the apprentices. Everyone screamed as the thunder pierced their ears.
“Quit talking and come on!” Podpaw huffed, racing towards a thick patch of pines. Thrushpaw quickly took the lead, PuffinClan speed letting him fly over the grass. Bumblepaw was behind him, but still faster than the SealClan littermates. The rain made the grass slick, so when Thrushpaw got to the trees, he nearly slid into a pine. Bumblepaw was not so lucky.
“If we stay here, we should be safe,” Flowerpaw muttered, peering through the pine needles at the dark sky. While the rain dripped around them, the branches provided some cover. Podpaw shook out his pelt, splattering Bumblepaw and Thrushpaw.
“How long until it passes?” Podpaw groaned.
“We may have to camp here,” Flowerpaw admitted.
“It’s barely sunset!” Podpaw whined, throwing his head back.
“Here’s your adventure,” Thrushpaw muttered, unable to hide a smile.
“I’m not sleeping yet,” Podpaw huffed. “I’m not a kit.”
“I know!” Flowerpaw chirped. “Why don’t we talk about each other? Get to know one another better?” Podpaw raised a brow.
“I’ll start!” Bumblepaw said, either ignoring or missing Podpaw’s displeasure. “Your dad was really a kittypet?”
“He used to be called Lobster,” Flowerpaw explained. “His human was going to take him from his mother, so she took him and his littermates far away. Sadly, she and Dad’s sister, Shrimp, died. He stumbled into SealClan half dead, and he’s been there ever since!”
“I have to admit,” Podpaw sighed, rolling onto his side, “the kittypet life doesn’t seem so bad. Humans have everything.”
“You wouldn’t be a warrior, then,” Flowerpaw huffed, gently slapping her brother with her tail. “You’d have to leave Mom and Dad!”
“What’s it like having a dad?” Bumblepaw wondered. “My mom had me with some loner.”
“It’s really the same as having a mom, except you don’t sleep in the nursery together when you’re a kit,” Flowerpaw hummed.
“If we’re asking questions, here’s one,” Podpaw grumbled. “Thrushpaw, how did you know we were the ones in the prophecy?”
“It’s more of a feeling than anything,” Thrushpaw admitted, tucking his paws under him in a loaf. “It’s something you know to be true when you see it. I saw you at the Gathering, and I knew. I can’t explain it.”
“Seer weirdness,” Podpaw said with a flippant twitch of the ear.
“Seers aren’t weird!” Flowerpaw gasped. “They’re our connection to StarClan! They’re the most important member of the clan!”
“I wouldn’t say that,” Thrushpaw muttered, his face getting hot.
“Seers are the spiritual leaders of the clan, advisors of the highest ranking,” Flowerpaw ranted. “You’re more than a clanmate, you’re a beacon of the stars!”
“The compliments are nice,” Thrushpaw stammered, “but that’s really not how it works. Not in PuffinClan.”
“The know-it-all doesn’t know something,” Podpaw chuckled as Flowerpaw lowered her head, consumed with embarrassment.
“Seers aren’t any better than us,” Bumblepaw explained, placing a paw on Thrushpaw’s back. “We all have our jobs to do to help each other. We’re the same, from the leader to the kits.”
“I forgot how different PuffinClan is to SealClan,” Flowerpaw muttered. “Sure, we’re equals, but some jobs are more important to StarClan’s plan. Warriors and apprentices listen to story-keepers, we listen to counselors, they listen to elders, they listen to the leader, deputy, and healers, and they all listen to the seer.”
“Okay, enough of StarClan,” Podpaw huffed, “I want drama. Most cats aren’t saying it, but they blame Mountainleap for Sprucefoot’s death.”
“Why?” Bumblepaw asked.
“He took back his vision of someone dying, and someone died!” Podpaw explained, far too excited to report a clanmate’s death. “Now you, give me PuffinClan drama. Not the CliffClan stuff, something fun.”
“How old are you?” Flowerpaw muttered.
“Uh, Tawnytide and Cliffstripe are mates now,” Bumblepaw said. “Tawnytide’s in the nursery.”
“That was fast,” Podpaw laughed.
“Podpaw!” Flowerpaw snapped.
“Yeah, and Codpaw has a crush on…” Bumblepaw continued, before his words faltered and horror filled his eyes. “Nevermind, ignore that, I wasn’t supposed to tell!”
“Codpaw has a crush?” Thrushpaw gasped. “Who is it? Who?” Bumblepaw put his paws over his head. “Bumble, tell me who it is.” Bumblepaw shook his head.
“Tell us, tell us, tell us!” Podpaw chanted.
“No!” Bumblepaw groaned.
“If you tell us, I’ll tell you who Flowerpaw has a crush on,” Podpaw purred, giving his sister a wicked grin. Flowerpaw pounced on her brother. The two rolled across the wet grass, laughing. Thrushpaw trilled softly, taking in the moment.
The travelers spent the night under the pine tree and continued along the river the rest of the day. The PuffinClan toms taught Flowerpaw and Podpaw how to play Rabbit’s Den, and they taught the toms how to catch fish. Each one caught a wonderful fish, but they gave them to the SealClan littermates after one bite. There wasn’t much sleep to be had that night, as Flowerpaw filled their heads with SealClan specials, like Swanthroat the Cursed and Sparkstar’s Greed. Thrushpaw even shared Brightpaw’s story of The Bear Hunters, which made Flowerpaw’s eyes shine with excitement.
Cool autumn winds blew over the river and ruffled Thrushpaw’s fur. Well, it wasn’t much of a river anymore. They had found its streaming source, where runoff trickled downhill and began its southernly flow.
“Do you think we’ve passed it yet?” Podpaw asked.
“What?” Bumblepaw asked. Flowerpaw, who had been in the lead, stopped walking.
“You’re right, it should be close by!” Flowerpaw gasped, spinning around. “If he traveled between this river and the coast, based on how long he traveled, it should be around here!”
“What is around here?” Bumblepaw huffed. “All I see are trees and tall grass.”
“Tall grass!” Flowerpaw cheered. “The den was surrounded by tall grass! We have to find it!”
“Find what?” Bumblepaw groaned.
“I think they’re looking for their grandmother’s grave,” Thrushpaw explained. “Flowerpaw, I don’t know if we have the time. It would be covered in grass by now.”
“No, our father marked the nearby tree with one short scratch and a long one for Reke and Shrimp,” Flowerpaw huffed. “It won’t take that long. Doesn’t PuffinClan have a whole field dedicated to their dead? You should understand why this is important to us.”
“I’ve been lucky,” Thrushpaw muttered, ears lowered awkwardly. “My family is alive.”
“I had a brother,” Bumblepaw said. Everyone turned towards him. Bumblepaw sat, one paw rubbing into the grass. “His name was Waspkit. My mother and I visit his grave sometimes. It was one of the first things I did as an apprentice.” He shook out his pelt and stood tall. “I’ll help you find the grave.”
“I guess I can look for a way forward in the meantime,” Thrushpaw sighed, flicking the stream with his tail. “We’re running out of river to follow.”
“Bumblepaw, you come with me and we’ll check the field of trees over there,” Podpaw declared, pointing his tail. “Thrushpaw, go with Flowerpaw and check out the tall grass.”
“This way,” Flowerpaw chirped, marching into the grass. Thrushpaw and Bumblepaw froze. Although their training was different, both were taught the basics of their territory. One of the first things they both learned was about walking in tall grass. Until you stopped to sniff and listen, you never knew what lurked within the reeds.
“Flowerpaw, stop!” Thrushpaw called. The grass where Flowerpaw disappeared stopped rustling. Thrushpaw and Bumblepaw tasted the air.
“Do you smell that?” Thrushpaw hissed as a foul stench filled the air. Podpaw sniffed as well.
“I don’t recognize it,” Bumblepaw muttered as Podpaw gasped.
“I do,” Podpaw gulped as the grass rustled violently. Flowerpaw tumbled out of the grass, ears flat.
“Fox!” Flowerpaw yowled as the red and white jaws of a fox lunged towards her. Everyone scrambled over the stream as a full grown tod stepped into the light. Thrushpaw nudged Flowerpaw and Podpaw on, trying to get them to pick up the pace. The four apprentices bolted into the cover of the oak trees as the fox nipped at their tails.
“Can foxes climb trees?” Flowerpaw gulped, panting.
“You’re the story-keeper!” Podpaw yowled.
“You always check for predators before entering tall grass!” Thrushpaw snapped. He yelped as a tuft of his tail got caught in the fox’s teeth.
“There’s no tall grass in SealClan!” Flowerpaw hissed. Bumblepaw’s fur snagged on trees as he kept bumping into the rough bark.
“Are we mice or warriors?” Podpaw growled. He spun around, back paws sliding into the dirt. The fox ran over him, not expecting the sudden stop. Podpaw ran his claws through its pelt. The fox wailed and spun onto Podpaw, front paws on his chest. It took all of Podpaw’s strength to keep pushing at the fox’s throat, jaws snapping a whisker-length from his face.
“Bumblepaw, take care of Thrushpaw!” Flowerpaw barked, joining her brother in combat. She jumped onto the fox’s back. It gave Podpaw just enough time to crawl out from under it.
“Did my mom teach you how to fight foxes yet?” Thrushpaw gulped as Podpaw dug into the fox’s hind leg.
“Let them worry about the fox,” Bumblepaw said. He stood in front of Thrushpaw, hissing at the beast as it whined. It grabbed onto Flowerpaw’s scruff and threw her at an oak trunk. Flowerpaw groaned, legs shaking as she stood up.
“I’ve got you!” Thrushpaw yelped, hurrying to the tortoiseshell’s side. Flowerpaw looked over Thrushpaw’s shoulder. He could see red fur reflected in her blue eyes.
Flowerpaw yowled, a harsh, grating sound that got Bumblepaw moving just in time to avoid the fox’s jaws latching onto his throat. Bumblepaw kicked the fox’s chest, but it didn’t do much good. Podpaw was far more effective. He spun around the fox, tearing up fur and flesh. How was Thrushpaw supposed to help? What could drive away a fox besides claws and fangs?
Flowerpaw charged past Thrushpaw. She and Bumblepaw leapt onto the fox’s shoulders at the same time. Its gangly legs gave way. The fox tumbled into the grass, dark red staining green. It whined, shaking as the apprentices stumbled off. Bumblepaw’s tail was tucked.
“Did we…” Bumblepaw gulped. The fox whined once more, a massive shiver racing through its body. Then it was still. Bird song and the hum of the trees filled Thrushpaw’s senses.
“We did it!” Podpaw cheered, bouncing. “We took down a fox! Take that, you mangy flea-bag!” Podpaw batted the fox’s muzzle.
“I don’t feel very good,” Bumblepaw groaned. He quickly backed up, the disgust clear in his expression. Thrushpaw rested his chin on Bumblepaw’s back. At least he wasn’t injured.
“Why the face?” Podpaw huffed. “It was trying to eat us!”
“You can’t be scared of death,” Flowerpaw muttered, grooming a wound on her leg. “You’ve killed plenty of prey.”
“Foxes are almost like cats,” Bumblepaw groaned, turning away from the body. “Doesn’t it upset you?”
“We’re warriors,” Podpaw said nonchalantly. “Why should it?” Bumblepaw shuddered.
“Death is death,” Thrushpaw huffed, approaching the fox’s body. “You still took a life today. There’s a reason we thank StarClan for our prey. We may not speak the tongues of other species, but they had lives as well. We need to honor their contribution to our own and hope their spirits go to better places.” Thrushpaw placed a paw on the fox’s shoulder.
“You sound like one of Mountainleap’s sermons,” Podpaw muttered. He picked the red fur out from between his claws.
“Sermons?” Bumblepaw asked, squinting at Podpaw to avoid looking at the fox.
“A SealClan thing, I guess,” Podpaw explained. “The seer talks about StarClan and their lessons in front of the whole clan.”
“Rather impersonal,” Thrushpaw sighed. His eyes drifted to the oak where Flowerpaw had fallen. The roots were thick and climbed out of the ground. Cobwebs mingled between them. Copying his mentor, Thrushpaw brushed his paw over the fox’s dull eyes, closing them. Then he trotted over to the tree and began to collect cobwebs. Looking over the others, the only wound that needed treatment was the one on Flowerpaw’s leg. The other wounds were small, easy to groom and call good.
As Thrushpaw collected the webs, he noticed an odd marking in the oak. It was at eye level, somewhat covered by bark growth but still clearly visible. The marking included two vertical scratches, rough, deep, and awkwardly carved into the wood. One was short, the neater of the two, while the other stretched almost to the roots of the oak.
“Flowerpaw, Podpaw, look at this,” Thrushpaw called, voice muffled by the cobwebs. He placed his paw by the marking so the littermates could better see. Flowerpaw limped closer, excitement dancing in her eyes,
“This is it,” Flowerpaw gasped. “This is where they’re buried.”
“Lay down, I want to cover that wound,” Thrushpaw muttered, gently shoving Flowerpaw. Podpaw sniffed around, prodding at the ground. A few tail-lengths from the fox’s body was a small bump in the ground. It was barely distinguishable from the rest of the grass, but the bump was slightly greener, and the grass had yet to grow too tall.
Podpaw sat beside the bump and gently stroked the grass. Flowerpaw watched him with a smile as Thrushpaw sloppily plopped cobwebs onto her leg.
“Was it worth it?” he sighed. Bumblepaw drifted close, watching Podpaw’s quiet reflection.
“How could it not be?” Bumblepaw said.
“My legs hurt,” Podpaw grumbled the next day as he and Flowerpaw held the rabbit hunter’s pose; legs stretched to quickly run, but held low. “Are you sure this is right?”
“Yes,” Bumblepaw insisted. “You can’t hunt rabbits from a dead start. You won’t catch up to them that way.” Thrushpaw watched them from the edge of the tall grass (which had been properly searched this time around), eating a mouse he managed to catch. He’d had plenty of mice, but something about catching this one made it taste that much sweeter.
Human dens now sprinkled the landscape, watching over large fields of strange plants Flowerpaw only knew in stories; potatoes. Farther east, monsters roared and tumbled along gray paths. Luckily, no monsters had come racing down those paths when the apprentices had to cross. The wind was strong enough to carry the smell of the sea, which had grown farther and farther away as Flowerpaw tried to trace her father’s path before the fox den. The group rested at the top of a tall hill that overlooked the world.
Bumblepaw suddenly flew past Thrushpaw, long fur streaking behind him. He spun into the tall grass. A rabbit’s death cry stabbed the air. Bumblepaw trotted out a few moments later with his catch.
“A rabbit, at last!” Thrushpaw cheered. Even though he knew he should let others eat, he craved the taste of rabbit after so many days away from home.
“If we ate fish,” Bumblepaw declared, setting the rabbit in front of Podpaw, “then why shouldn’t you eat rabbit?”
“Don’t mind if I do,” Podpaw purred. He took a hearty bite of the rabbit’s torso. He chewed for a few moments, his face churning with slight reactions. He raised his tail and purred “Not that bad!”
“Here’s your chance to catch your own,” Flowerpaw whispered, pointing her tail. A small rabbit sniffed the edge of the potato field, blissfully unaware of the cats.
“This is bound to impress Wrenlight,” Podpaw chuckled. He dropped into a hunter’s crouch.
“No, you have to stalk!” Bumblepaw reminded him. “Stay ready to run!” Podpaw growled softly, but obeyed. He crept forward silently, avoiding the crunchy leaves fluttering about. The rabbit merely twitched an ear.
“Should he pounce?” Thrushpaw asked, burying the remains of his mouse.
“You don’t really pounce on rabbits, do you?” Flowerpaw whispered.
“If they’re slow,” Bumblepaw admitted. His voice caught in the wind. The rabbit’s head spun around. It darted left, kicking up grass. Podpaw chased after the rabbit, feet slamming as he ran. The other apprentices scrambled to watch the chase. The rabbit flew down the hill. Podpaw jumped over a small patch of potatoes, but it was Thrushpaw who noticed the rock before Podpaw landed. His paw slammed into the rock and threw Podpaw forward. He hissed and yowled as he tumbled down the hill.
“Podpaw, relax!” Thrushpaw called as the three apprentices ran to the edge of the hilltop. Podpaw was a furious ball of fur rolling towards a field of huge animals Thrushpaw had never seen before. The rabbit was long gone.
“What did Mom tell you about running around steep hills?” Flowerpaw huffed. Podpaw tumbled into a ditch between the hill and the field. He didn’t stand up. He wailed, curling into himself. Everyone raced down the hill, a sudden panic spreading fast. Podpaw cradled his paw close, with squinting eyes and a hunched back.
“StarClan, my paw,” Podpaw groaned, jaw tight. Thrushpaw tried to bring the injured foot closer, but Podpaw hissed and pulled it back.
“I need to see if you broke your paw!” Thrushpaw huffed.
“It’s fine, it’s fine,” Podpaw grumbled, getting to his feet. When his uncomfortably angled paw touched the ground, he yelped and fell on his face. Flowerpaw scrambled to his side and tried to push him up.
“Don’t stand on it!” Flowerpaw snapped.
“Is it broken?’ Bumblepaw gasped.
“I think it would look worse if it was broken,” Thrushpaw groaned, “but it doesn’t look good.”
“I won’t lie,” Podpaw hissed, fear scent mingling with his pain, “this really, really hurts.”
“Are you alright?” someone called. Bumblepaw hissed, fluffing his back out and glaring at the newcomer. Flowerpaw stepped in front of her brother. A brown molly watched them from above the ditch, odd bits of fluff sticking out of her pelt at random angles. A purple collar (if Thrushpaw could even call it that; it was big and loose, like a giant leaf) hung on her neck. She couldn’t have been much older than the SealClan littermates.
“Yes, uh,” Thrushpaw stammered, trying to hide Podpaw’s awkward foot, “we’re just fine! You can go back to your humans, we don’t need any help!” Podpaw had huge eyes, his narrow pupils slowly shifting to full moons.
“I saw you fall down the hill,” the molly explained, tail high. “It looked like you were caught in a storm!”
“I’m Podpaw,” Podpaw purred. He tried to walk towards the strange kittypet, but rubbed his paw against the side of the ditch, forcing another hiss out.
“You’re hurt,” the molly whined. “You can’t be walking around like that!”
“We can handle ourselves,” Flowerpaw assured her.
“The humans around here are very nice to us cats,” the kittypet explained. “If they see Podpaw here, which is a very strange name, in my opinion, they’ll pull him into one of their monsters and take care of his paw. But I don’t think you’d see each other again.”
“No one’s taking Podpaw,” Bumblepaw huffed, glaring at the kittypet.
“Not if you come with me,” she sighed. “My humans rarely go inside the barn. You can rest there.”
“What’s a barn?” Flowerpaw asked, ears slowly rising.
“Are you not from here?” the kittypet asked.
“Weren’t you taught not to trust strange cats in SealClan?” Thrushpaw whispered, moving in front of Flowerpaw and Podpaw.
“My name’s Faith,” the molly chirped. “Now we aren’t strangers.”
“She seems nice enough,” Bumblepaw muttered, sheathing his claws.
“And she’s right,” Flowerpaw pointed out. “We can’t keep going until we take care of Podpaw’s foot. We can’t do that with those giant beasts wandering around out there.”
“Are you talking about the cows?” Faith laughed, glancing at the black and white creatures. They silently ate the grass like oxen, tails flicking at flies. “You really aren’t from here. They won’t bother us if we don’t walk under them.”
“I want to see this barn,” Flowerpaw declared, helping her moon-eyed brother out of the ditch.
“Flowerpaw, you’re supposed to be the other intelligent one here!” Thrushpaw snapped. “What if she’s a cannibal?”
“I’m fine with that,” Podpaw chuckled, limping to Faith’s side.
“You’re fine with being eaten?” Faith laughed, cocking her head.
“Thrushpaw, if she’s offering us shelter, we should take it,” Bumblepaw sighed, brushing against his clanmate. “We’ve been traveling nonstop and StarClan knows when we’ll find the seers. Aren’t you tired?”
“I’ve been tired for the last moon,” Thrushpaw groaned, hopping out of the ditch. “Where’s this barn, then?” Faith pointed her tail across the field to a huge red human den. The side of the den looked like a monster’s face, with entrances marking the eyes, nose, and mouth of the beast.
“Follow me,” Faith purred, marching towards the cows. Podpaw bobbed as he walked, finally learning his lesson and avoiding his bad paw. Bumblepaw steered clear of the cows, eyeing them for sudden movements. They shouldn’t be stopping! They had to get home as soon as they could, and that meant finding the seers. Thrushpaw had no idea what was happening in PuffinClan. What if things with CliffClan had gotten worse? All four apprentices nearly jumped out of their fur when one of the cows mooed.
The barn’s wide mouth was wide open, wooden lips ready to devour the cats. Faith rubbed herself against the lips and trotted inside.
Dead trees propped up the barn’s roof. Hay coated the floor. Huge nests, perhaps belonging to the cows, sat against the walls. Old brown monsters rested near the back. Mice scurried in unseen corners.
“The cows are usually outside, so I have this place to myself,” Faith explained, trotting into one of the huge nests. “Go ahead, sit! Enjoy yourselves! Help yourself to some mice, they’re easy to catch.”
“We just ate,” Thrushpaw sighed, poking at the hay. He hadn’t prepared to treat a twisted paw. What sort of herbs could he use to help Podpaw?
“So what do you do for fun around here?” Podpaw asked as he stumbled into a cow nest.
“It’s fun to watch the cows,” Faith admitted, rolling onto her back. “Sometimes I visit my humans. They live in the house across from the barn.” Thrushpaw glanced outside. Sure enough, a snow white den stood beside one of the gray paths where monsters roamed. A red monster slept nearby, facing the barn.
“Don’t expect us to visit them,” Flowerpaw huffed.
“The female sneezes whenever I show up,” Faith chuckled, “so I don’t think they’d like you very much.” Thrushpaw sniffed for a good place to sit. The barn reeked of cows. They were nothing like the wind swept oxen he once saw crossing through PuffinClan. He found a spot beside one of the dead trees and closed his eyes. Maybe mediation could show him what to do for Podpaw’s foot?
“I’m sorry about your foot, Podpaw,” Faith sighed, legs kicking the air.
“Thrushpaw knows how to fix it,” Podpaw scoffed. Thrushpaw kept his eyes closed and turned away from Podpaw. “Thrushpaw? You know how to fix it, right?”
“I don’t know if you can smear a herb on it and fix it,” Flowerpaw huffed, nosing Podpaw’s foot. Her brother hissed again. “If it isn’t broken, I think all we can do is wait.”
“You have to tell me where you four came from,” Faith insisted, getting to her paws. “Every cat around here knows what a barn and a cow is. I thought they were everywhere.”
“Ah, tiny cow!” Bumblepaw squealed from a dark corner in the back. Thrushpaw looked just in time to see Bumblepaw bolt towards the group, jumping onto a small wooden ledge.
“Oh, I forgot about Hayseed,” Faith giggled. “Her momma goes out to eat and sleeps with her calf in here. She gets sleepy quick.”
“Hayseed is a warrior’s name,” Flowerpaw noted. “If this… calf is a newborn, she should be named Haykit.”
“Seriously, where are you from?” Faith groaned, bouncing to Flowerpaw’s side.
“Bumblepaw and Thrushpaw are from PuffinClan,” Flowerpaw explained, “but my brother and I come from SealClan.”
“Oooh, you’re colony cats!” Faith realized.
“No, we’re clan cats,” Flowerpaw corrected. “We don’t live in some colony of rogues. We have the warrior code, and StarClan! We live along the coast a quarter moon’s journey from here, caring for our elders and protecting each other!”
“Why are you so far from home?” Faith asked, head cocked.
“That really isn’t your problem,” Thrushpaw huffed.
“Thrushy, Faith is helping us,” Podpaw grunted with a flick of his tail. “You could at least thank her.”
“Don’t call me Thrushy,” Thrushpaw snapped, stomping to the group. “I get your father turned out alright, but you don’t know what sort of life kittypets and loners have gone through before you meet them. They don’t have StarClan. We don’t know her!”
“Thrushpaw, she’s right here,” Flowerpaw hissed, glancing at Faith. She turned to their host and said “I’m sorry about him. PuffinClan’s never liked outsiders too much. It’s complicated.”
“My momma taught me not to trust strange cats too,” Faith chuckled awkwardly. “The only cat I talk to is Gorgeous. The others think I’m just a kitten.”
“What does her appearance have to do with anything?” Thrushpaw asked.
“That’s her name!” Faith laughed, grooming her paw. “She’s the house cat that lives north of here. Her humans grow these beautiful plaaaaA WAIT A MINUTE!” The four apprentices flattened their ears, half expecting danger. “Gorgeous once used the plants her humans grow to heal a bee sting on my nose! Maybe she can help Podpaw!”
“Your friend is a healer?” Flowerpaw gasped.
“What sort of herbs does she have?” Thrushpaw asked, getting in Faith’s face.
“We’d have to see,” Faith huffed, backing up. “I’ll go talk to her and bring back some plants.”
“I’m going with you,” Thrushpaw groaned. “I’m the only one here with any herb knowledge.”
“You’re wrong,” Flowerpaw interrupted. “I can help as well. Bumblepaw can watch over Podpaw while we’re gone.” Bumblepaw had been staring at nothing throughout the conversation, but snapped back to life when he heard his name.
“I can look after myself!” Podpaw grumbled. “I’m the one who passed the battle exam.”
“I missed half the conversation,” Bumblepaw admitted, sitting beside Podpaw, “but if I’m sticking with you, we could play more Rabbit’s Den! Or you could teach me SealClan battle moves.”
“Teaching an impressionable young apprentice…” Podpaw mused. “I’ll do it! You have fun finding herbs, I’m going to teach Bumblepaw how to drown cats.”
“Maybe not that?” Bumblepaw gulped as Faith led Thrushpaw and Flowerpaw out of the den.
“Relax, it’s just hay,” Podpaw laughed.
A potato field stretched north, but Thrushpaw could see a gray human den in the distance. That had to be where Gorgeous lived. A fence kept the potato field protected, but Faith crawled under a hole in the shiny webbing between the wood. The potatoes were as tall as the apprentices. They grew in neat lines that pushed the group into single file.
“How come you all have the same names?” Faith asked. “Thrushpaw, Podpaw, Flowerpaw…”
“We’re apprentices,” Flowerpaw explained. “All our names end like that. Once we’re older and finish our training, we get our full names! Personally, I have been hoping for Flowerpatch. It sounds pretty.”
“Weird,” Faith hummed. “Colony cats are strange ones.”
“We’re not from a colony, it’s a clan,” Flowerpaw corrected once more.
“It seems like a colony, even if you call it a clan,” Faith pointed out. “What are you training for?”
“Podpaw and Bumblepaw are going to be warriors,” Flowerpaw explained, sniffing at a tiny potato. “I’m a story-keeper, and Thrushpaw is a seer!”
“I have no idea what those are,” Faith chirped happily. “Do you like it?”
“We wouldn’t be training for those roles if we didn’t like what we do,” Thrushpaw huffed. “StarClan called us to them.”
“But no one forced you to become apprentices, right?” Faith asked.
“Well, everyone has to be an apprentice, we all need to learn,” Flowerpaw admitted with a casual flick of the tail, “but if you want to be a warrior, no one’s going to force you to be a healer or a counselor.”
“That’s nice, I suppose,” Faith sighed, glancing over her shoulder, “but how much freedom do you have in your clan? Do you get to decide what you do with your time? Who you spend that time with?”
“Faith, clan cats need to work hard to survive,” Thrushpaw muttered, a bit of his distrust slipping away. “We have to feed everyone, protect each other.”
“Are you traveling because of your clans?” Faith asked. “Don’t you do anything just because you want to?” Thrushpaw’s face burned.
“...I guess the last time I did that was before we left,” Thrushpaw admitted. “Celebrating Tawnytide and Cliffstripe becoming mates.”
“You’re all probably really hard workers,” Faith sighed, her voice filled with a soft purr, “but don’t forget to be yourselves when you’re saving your clans, or whatever it is you do.”
“Wait, Faith, how old are you?” Flowerpaw asked.
“I think a year?” Faith mumbled. “I don’t remember. Look, we’re here!” The gray den loomed overhead, short grass surrounding small stone paths and flower bushes. Faith jumped over the fence and trotted to the den. There was a small hole covered by a strange blue object that moved as Faith pushed her head into it. She slipped into the den. Thrushpaw steadied his nerves and followed.
The interior of the human den was indescribable with any words Thrushpaw knew. Strange objects stood by the walls. Frozen reflections of human faces watched from above. The floor was hard and white. Thrushpaw’s claws clicked against it. He could smell food from somewhere inside, something warm and juicy. The den was chopped like a tunnel, with various chambers of unknown objects. A molly’s scent coated everything, covering the smell of two male humans.
“Gorgeous!” Faith called, trotting into a chamber with soft floors. “I brought friends with me?”
“Friends?” a silky voice laughed. “Darling, since when do you talk to the other barn cats?” In the corner of the chamber, beside a large black object that held a dull reflection of the group, there was a tree of tan moss, with platforms snaking towards the roof. There was a den built into the tree. Two ocean blue eyes gleamed from the dark.
“They aren’t barn cats!” Faith explained, jumping onto a soft brown rectangle facing the black object.
“Talking to strangers then?” the voice purred. Brown paws stepped out of the den. Soft white fur draped the molly’s torso, while brown coated her ears and tail and ran around her eyes. A green collar, light like fur but tied like a butterfly, hung around her neck. She lived up to her name with a small pink nose and a sense of quiet grace Thrushpaw would expect from a hunter.
“Faith, no dirty paws on the couch,” Gorgeous sighed, giving Faith a glare.
“Sorry,” Faith chirped, hopping down. “Thrushpaw, Flowerpaw, meet Gorgeous. She’s my best friend. Gorgeous, these are my new friends, Thrushpaw and Flowerpaw! Flowerpaw’s brother hurt his foot. We were hoping you have something in your garden that could help us!”
“I suppose I’ll see what I can do,” Gorgeous said, jumping to the ground. “Please hurry out, you’re tracking mud all over the floor.” Faith slipped into step with Gorgeous as they left the den.
“She’s…” Flowerpaw muttered, slowly following. “She’s unique.”
The sun was beginning to set as the group stepped outside. Gorgeous trotted down the stone path around the den. Thrushpaw smelled catmint and yarrow and lavender. The smells of home. He turned the corner to the most stunning collection of flowers and herbs he had ever seen growing. Rich, soft dirt speckled white ran underneath wolfsbane and sage and marigolds and poppies. The plants were untouched by prey or weather and grew taller than any plants in PuffinClan. Another silver web fence kept the herbs safe.
“Welcome to my garden,” Gorgeous declared, jumping over the fence. Faith, Flowerpaw, and Thrushpaw eagerly followed.
“Thanks for helping, Gorgeous,” Faith purred, sniffing the catmint. She reached for a bite. Gorgeous batted her on the head.
“You know better than that,” Gorgeous snapped. She shook out her pelt and rubbed her cheek against some arnica. “Now how was your friend hurt? He didn’t break his paw, did he?”
“You’re the healer for all the cats that live around here?” Flowerpaw asked, trotting through the soft dirt.
“Flowerpaw, was it?’ Gorgeous hummed. “There are paths between the garden beds for a reason, darling. To be blunt, I find the idea of death disgusting. I would rather avoid that, so I do what I can.” Gorgeous gently plucked a few arnica flowers with her mouth, setting them by her paws. “If you chew these and rub them against his paw, any swelling should go down.”
“Who taught you this?” Thrushpaw asked, prodding at the picked flowers.
“She has magic dreams,” Faith giggled, crawling into the catmint bush. Flowerpaw and Thrushpaw perked their ears.
“It’s common sense, not magic,” Gorgeous huffed, trotting to Faith’s side. “Now get out of there!”
“What sort of dreams are these?” Thrushpaw asked.
“Oh really, it doesn’t matter,” Gorgeous scoffed. “You should get back to your friend. It’s a silly story, nothing more.”
“It’s not silly!” Faith insisted, emerging from the catmint with leaves in her fur. “A tortoiseshell comes down from the stars and teaches you how to care for my bee sting? That’s magic!” Thrushpaw shook his head. A tortoiseshell from the stars?
“You see StarClan in your dreams?” Thrushpaw stammered as Flowerpaw’s eyes went wide.
“What on earth is that?” Gorgeous asked. She took a step back. “Faith, you’ve brought mad cats to my home!”
“They’re just clan cats,” Faith casually promised. “It’s some weird colony.” A soft rushing sound rippled through Thrushpaw’s head. Was that the ocean? Gorgeous’s pupils took over her eyes. The loud bark of a seal made the two flinch, but Faith and Flowerpaw didn’t react. In fact, they seemed stuck in place.
“Now who’s making that ruckus?” Gorgeous snapped, teeth bared. Her tail slapped Faith, but Faith didn’t move. Fear scent erupted from the kittypet. “Faith, darling, please say something. Faith, why aren’t you moving?” Gorgeous batted Faith, but there was still no reaction.
“You’re one of the seers!” Thrushpaw yowled, marching up to Gorgeous.
“I’m a what?” Gorgeous muttered, sneering.
“We’re in a vision, I think,” Thrushpaw explained, waving his tail around the garden. “That’s why we hear the ocean, that’s why Faith and Flowerpaw aren’t moving.”
“You’re saying nonsense words,” Gorgeous huffed.
“I guess I need to go through the basics,” Thrushpaw stammered, sitting. “Listen, StarClan, they’re my dead ancestors who watch over the clans, where Flowerpaw and I come from. They sent us on a quest to find seers like me, cats who talk to StarClan, and bring them to our home. If you’ve been dreaming about StarClan, you must be the beauty they mentioned. You’re the next seer of SealClan.”
“Oh, no no no,” Gorgeous laughed, quickly backing up. “I am no seer. I’m just fine where I am, thank you very much. You want me to live in some dirty hole in the ground, when I have a perfectly clean home to spend my time in.”
“You have to come with us!” Thrushpaw begged. “The clans need you!”
“Oh please,” Gorgeous spat, “as though they need a molly who doesn’t have claws!” She held out a paw. Her pads clenched, but no claws came out.
“How do you not have claws?” Thrushpaw stammered, sniffing Gorgeous’ paw. The kittypet glared at the human den.
“My humans,” she growled. “They took me to the cutter and when I woke up, my beautiful claws were gone!”
“Why would you want to live with creatures who stole your claws?” Thrushpaw gasped, horror evident on his face.
“I have my garden, my toys, my food,” Gorgeous sighed, her tail flicking the lavender. “They give me everything I could ever ask for. I wouldn’t last a day living with you wild cats. Do you expect me to hunt?”
“Seers don’t hunt,” Thrushpaw explained. “Clanmates help one another, and that means hunting for the seer so they can focus on interpreting StarClan’s advice.”
“Wild life seems so uncivilized,” Gorgeous huffed, itching her ear.
“As opposed to living with humans who steal your claws?” Thrushpaw scoffed. Gorgeous stopped itching.
“Fair point,” she admitted, laying on her back. “Still, it’ll take more than that to convince me to abandon my life.” Thrushpaw stared at Faith. The young molly was frozen in a content pose, eyes shining with the same sort of life Bumblepaw got when he talked to the other apprentices.
“Do you have any friends?” Thrushpaw asked.
“Well, that’s quite rude!” Gorgeous grunted, scrambling to her paws. “I would consider Faith and I to be very good friends!”
“Anyone else?” Thrushpaw asked. Gorgeous grunted and turned her back to Thrushpaw. She stared at the giant, empty human den. Thrushpaw carefully approached her.
“I’ve known Faith since my humans brought me here,” Gorgeous sighed. “She was barely a newborn. I talked to her mother, oh, maybe once before she was taken away? She needed someone to be with her.”
“In a clan, your clanmates are your friends and your family,” Thrushpaw said. “They’ll always be there for you. Wouldn’t you like to have more than one friend?” Gorgeous’s tail swished back and forth. She squeezed her eyes tight. A groan slowly grew until she let out an exasperated moan.
“Alright I’ll come with you!” Gorgeous snapped, spinning around. “You may have stolen my claws, humans, but you will never steal my freedom!” Gorgeous bit into her green collar, pulling at the gentle material. The butterfly pattern fell away and the collar slipped off like a worm. Gorgeous batted the collar into the lavender bush and yowled triumphantly. Thrushpaw was rather glad she wasn’t joining his clan.
“Now,” Gorgeous panted, glancing around the garden, “how do we unfreeze our friends?”
“I have no idea,” Thrushpaw admitted. “I’m just an apprentice. Visions are weird.” The rushing sound of water grew louder. A shadow passed over Thrushpaw. Gorgeous’s ears flew back and she crouched, terrified, watching the sky.
“Can the vision be over now?” Gorgeous wailed. Thrushpaw turned around. A giant wave of foaming seawater towered over them, reaching out like a crooked paw.
“I think we’ll be fine,” Thrushpaw gulped.
“You think?” Gorgeous hissed, just as the pounding water slammed into the garden.
Thrushpaw woke up coughing on his own breath. Gorgeous lay in front of him, hacking up a hairball.
“You’re awake!” Faith gasped, pressing her face against Gorgeous. Flowerpaw jumped in front of Thrushpaw.
“Are you okay?” Flowerpaw asked.
“Yes,” Thrushpaw groaned, standing.
“We were talking, and you both passed out!” Faith stammered as Gorgeous got up. “How do you feel?”
“That was uncomfortable,” Gorgeous groaned. She brought her paw to her neck. Her collar was gone.
“Your ribbon fell out,” Faith noted, picking up the green collar laying beside Gorgeous.
“Keep it,” Gorgeous huffed, shaking her head. “I’ll be delivering the arnica personally.” Gorgeous picked up the flowers and jumped over the fence, leaving a confused Faith behind.
The group set off back through the potatoes, with Flowerpaw and Thrushpaw taking the rear while Faith tried asking Gorgeous how she felt.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Flowerpaw asked.
“She’s the seer for SealClan,” Thrushpaw sighed. “She already agreed to come back with us.”
“I knew that was a vision!” Flowerpaw said with a hop to her step. “That’s half of our mission, done. Gorgeous is going to need someone to fill her in on SealClan. Maybe that’s why I’m here, to teach her and the other seer about the clans.” Up ahead, Gorgeous has her ears low, focused on the path ahead while Faith talked. Did Thrushpaw do the right thing by convincing her to join them?
“From the rabbit’s den, he sees…” Thrushpaw heard Bumblepaw mutter as they entered the barn, “something black.”
“It’s either my spots or the cow,” Podpaw huffed. Both toms looked up as the group entered. “This must be Gorgeous!”
“Gorgeous, this is Bumblepaw and Podpaw,” Faith explained, drifting to Podpaw’s side. “Podpaw twisted his foot.” Gorgeous stood in front of Podpaw, staring at his foot. Suddenly, she spat the mushed remains of the arnica flowers onto his paw.
“Ew,” Podpaw groaned.
“I know,” Gorgeous agreed, “but this will keep swelling down. There isn’t much else I can do! How did you twist it in the first place?”
“I was hunting a rabbit,” Podpaw said proudly.
“Really, you wild cats don’t know how to be careful,” Gorgeous tutted. “Though, I suppose I won’t be in any position to comment soon enough!” Faith and Podpaw cocked their heads in unison. Gorgeous’ ears flattened again. She walked to Thrushpaw’s side as she said “Yes, well, I was trying to think of the best way to break the news, but I don’t think there is a good way to say this. I won’t be returning to my humans. Once Podpaw is fit to travel, I’ll be leaving with them.”
“What?” Bumblepaw, Faith, and Podpaw yowled.
“Gorgeous here is the SealClan seer,” Thrushpaw explained, placing a tail on Gorgeous’s back. Faith’s ears slowly fell.
“Yes, you really must tell me what SealClan is if I’m expected to join them,” Gorgeous noted.
“Looks like I found our first seer,” Podpaw chuckled, purring. “You’re welcome.”
“You didn’t do anything,” Bumblepaw said, confused.
“Well we wouldn’t have stopped if I didn’t get hurt, now would we?” Podpaw huffed, shaking his paw.
“You’re leaving?” Faith whispered in a broken voice.
“Oh, darling, don’t cry!” Gorgeous whined, running to rub against Faith. “You have your humans! You can make friends with the other barn cats.”
“The other barn cats don’t like me!” Faith yowled, claws out. “I don’t like them! You can’t leave me alone!”
“You could come with us!” Podpaw suggested, nudging Faith’s leg.
“It’s going to be tough enough to get SealClan to welcome one cat in,” Flowerpaw muttered, a paw scraping the hay. “I don’t know if they’ll accept two.”
“They took in Dad, didn’t they?” Podpaw grunted.
“I can’t leave my humans!” Faith wailed. “They love me! Gorgeous, why are you leaving?”
“I’m going through a bit of an epiphany right now,” Gorgeous stammered. “Dead cats, my relationships with others, it’s all very complex stuff.”
“I’ve known you my whole life!” Faith cried, hissing. “And you’ll leave me for cats we just met?” Faith shoved past Gorgeous and ran further into the barn. She climbed up the dead trees and slipped into the shadows of the branches holding the roof up.
“Faith!” Gorgeous called. “Faith, please come down, you know I can’t climb up there!” There was no response.
“Give her some time,” Bumblepaw suggested. “She’ll be ok.”
“This had better be worth it, Thrushpaw,” Gorgeous snapped, turning to the seer apprentice.
“I promise it is,” Thrushpaw stuttered.
“We still need to find the seer for PuffinClan,” Flowerpaw explained, leading Gorgeous to another cow nest, “but until we get home, I can tell you all about SealClan!”
“I suppose,” Gorgeous groaned, staring into the branches. Thrushpaw’s stomach ached. He really hoped he did the right thing.
To no surprise, Thrushpaw couldn’t sleep on the itchy hay that night. He’d taken a nest close to Hayseed, but now that her mother, a huge black and white cow, had entered the barn for the night, the buzzing of flies and loud hum of their breathing kept waking him up. Once, if sleep kept evading him, he could wake up Shimmerblaze and ask for an oregano leaf, but he wouldn’t see them for a while.
Thrushpaw rolled to his feet and padded through the barn. Faith was still in the branches. Flowerpaw and Bumblepaw slept beside Podpaw, while Gorgeous claimed a nest for her own. Everything seemed peaceful.
“Halfstar?” Thrushpaw whispered to the dark. “Leafdapple? Am I doing the right thing, ripping cats from their lives just to help us? I’m worried I’m making things worse for Gorgeous. Maybe I shouldn’t have talked to her at all. Do you have anything to say?” The barn was silent. Thrushpaw groaned.
Something huge tumbled around outside the barn. A light slipped past the entrance and disappeared. Ears pricked, Thrushpaw carefully approached the entrance. Human mews shot throughthe night. Thrushpaw stuck his face outside.
Monsters surrounded the white human den. They were bigger and longer than any of the sleeping monsters near the barn. Humans hopped out of their bellies, yowling and opening the back end of the monsters. They carried huge objects out of the white den. Some split off from the main group, heading towards the barn.
“Humans!” Thrushpaw yowled. “Humans, heading our way!” The other apprentices scrambled to their paws. Podpaw nearly stepped on his bad foot again.
“Can’t a molly sleep?” Gorgeous groaned, rolling over.
“Hide!” Flowerpaw hissed, jumping on the lower branches of the barn. Gorgeous snapped out of it and dove into a dark corner. Flowerpaw and Bumblepaw jumped towards the roof.
“I can’t jump up there!” Podpaw snapped as Hayseed and her mother mooed and groaned. Thrushpaw pushed Podpaw towards the back of the barn, where the green monster slept. They raced underneath its huge black feet and huddled by its belly just as the humans entered the barn.
The cows outside groaned and wailed. The humans went to Hayseed’s nest. The young calf groaned and whined, waking up her mother. Hooves clomped across the hay.
“What are they doing to them?” Thrushpaw gasped. More humans stomped into the barn. They came closer to the monster. The monster’s shiny pelt groaned as one of the humans sat on top of it . The belly began to roar and grumble.
“Run!” Podpaw yowled, scampering into view. Thrushpaw bolted after him as the humans yelped and jumped away from the running cats. Podpaw’s limb slowed him down, but none of the humans tried to grab them. The toms ran into the night.
The cows that had been grazing in the field before were shuffled towards the house and put inside the giant monsters. Humans yowled to one another as they continued bringing objects to the red monster. Thrushpaw had no idea what was going on. One human was carrying Hayseed as her mother hurried behind, groaning for her calf. Humans held open the barn’s lips and the monster rumbled outside, with a human sitting on its back. As the monster and the humans left, Thrushpaw and Podpaw scurried back inside. Faith, Bumblepaw, and Flowerpaw hid in the branches, watching. Gorgeous peeked out of her corner. The barn was quiet as the humans continued making noise outside.
“What’s going on?” Bumblepaw asked.
“They’re putting the cows inside of these monsters!” Podpaw stammered. “It’s like some kind of evacuation!”
“If they’re bringing the cows,” Faith gulped, “why aren’t they bringing me? They’ve never taken the cows before! They wouldn’t leave me!” Faith jumped into the hay. She ran to the entrance.
“Faith, it’s not safe with the cows!” Podpaw called. Faith sat by the barn and yowled, loudly. The sound grated against Thrushpaw’s ears. The humans and cows paid her no mind.
“My humans always come when I yowl!” Faith whined. “Why won’t they answer me?” The red monster roared. The last of the cows stepped inside the monsters, and their eyes blinked to life. One by one, they backed away from the white den and started to stomp down the gray paths of their kind. Faith raced outside.
“Faith!” Thrushpaw yowled. He, Gorgeous, and Bumblepaw ran after the wayward molly. Faith bolted towards the house, yowling her throat raw.
“Don’t leave me!” Faith wailed. “Please don’t leave me!” She stumbled to a slow halt as the monsters picked up speed. No cat could chase after them. Faith’s whole body sagged and shook as the monsters grew farther away.
“I’m so sorry,” Gorgeous murmured, rubbing against Faith. Faith buried her face in Gorgeous’ pelt.
“Please don’t leave me,” Faith begged. “Please, Gorgeous, everyone leaves me.”
“I won’t leave you, darling,” Gorgeous insisted. “If your humans won’t stay with you, you’ll come with me to SealClan. Those clan cats will just have to make room for one more.”
“Why did you want to leave me?” Faith sobbed. Gorgeous groomed Faith’s head, purring. She never gave an answer. Flowerpaw and Podpaw slowly joined the group.
“Dad was right,” Podpaw grunted. “Humans are terrible.”
“Thrushpaw, any idea where we go from here?” Flowerpaw muttered, turning away from Faith and Gorgeous.
“We need to rest,” Bumblepaw yawned. “It’s no good for any of us to travel tomorrow. We can’t find the other seer injured and tired.”
“This is a private moment,” Thrushpaw sighed, heading back to the barn. The apprentices silently followed him, tails sweeping the grass. The night was too quiet without the cows.
This barn was no one’s home now.