Archive of Our Own

Beige evergreen needles coated the ElkClan camp, mixed with a few leaves crunched to a quiet brown. Harekit and Patchkit were competing with Bustardkit and Porpoisekit to make the biggest needle piles, watched over by their mothers. Spiderstorm was showing Stormkit a new morning ritual that could only be accomplished with the shedding of the evergreens. He took a single needle and stuck it in Stormkit’s pelt. He did the same to his own pelt before moving through camp, giving everyone a blessed needle. Everyone waited for Nutstar to call them. One would leave the apprentice’s den that day and another would join it.

“Mom, I can groom myself,” Smallpaw sighed, scratching the ground outside the nursery as Stonestep smoothed her pelt.

“You’re becoming a counselor today,” Stonestep purred. “Let me have a bit of time with my daughter.” Darkheart and Frogbelly sat beside the two tortoiseshells, grooming Starlingkit to a shine.

“Too bad we won’t share a den, huh Ghost?” Smallpaw chuckled, glancing at the brown tom.

“You already have a nickname!” Frogbelly squealed. “So cute!” Starlingkit hid his face, pelt getting hot.

“Frogbelly, if you were a molly, you certainly would have stayed a queen like I do,” Darkheart laughed, giving the big lilac tom a friendly lick on the shoulder.

“I wish I could have my own kits,” Frogbelly groaned. “Guess I’ll have to settle for this little guy!” He nuzzled the back of Starlingkit’s neck.

“I’m not really little anymore,” Starlingkit huffed, squirming away from his big brother. “I’m going to be an apprentice.”

“You’ll have to be careful today,” Darkheart warned. “CliffClan and PuffinClan have had a skirmish or battle every day since they found Archpelt’s body. You’ll need to stay alert.”

“I almost wish you were staying an apprentice, Smallpaw,” Stonestep whined with a shiver. “They don’t care about the code’s protection of counselors anymore. I heard someone clawed Ibisleap!”

“We aren’t PuffinClan or CliffClan,” Smallpaw insisted with a dismissive flick of her tail. “We’ll be fine.”

“So Starlingkit, what’s one thing you’re looking forward to as a story-keeper apprentice?” Darkheart sighed, grooming herself.

“I’m excited to share a den with Scauppaw again,” Starlingkit admitted. With Darkheart nursing him in his early moons, he and Scauppaw had shared a nest. She was the closest thing Starlingkit had to a sister.

“She must be excited too, to give you a nickname before you joined,” Darkheart pointed out. “Why Ghost?”

“I told a ghost story,” Starlingkit muttered while Frogbelly tried to smooth down a tuft of fur at the back of his head. No matter what Frogbelly did, it kept sticking up. 

“Any idea who your mentor is going to be?” Smallpaw asked.

“Nutstar’s keeping it a surprise,” Starlingkit sighed. “You don’t think it’s Vetcheye, do you? She doesn’t want to tell me because I’ll freak out.”

“What’s wrong with Vetcheye?” Darkheart asked.

“Hold on a minute,” Vetcheye huffed by the fresh-kill pile as Riverwhisker grabbed a bird from the bottom. “You can’t take something from the bottom like that without checking it for maggots.” Vetcheye sniffed the bird and sneered. “Nope, too old!” He grabbed the bird by the wing and chucked it over the camp walls. Vetcheye’s tail was high and proud. “Congratulations, Riverwhisker, I just saved your life.” Riverwhisker growled and Vetcheye scurried off with his tail tucked.

“Question asked, question answered,” Darkheart muttered. Starlingkit laughed, but caught his tongue quickly.

“All cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather around for a Clan meeting!” Nutstar called. Stormkit gave up on Spiderstorm’s needle ritual and trotted to his littermates. Smallpaw and Stonestep joined Eiderburr while Berryfrost and Spiderstorm joined Starlingkit and Frogbelly. Spiderstorm placed a needle in Starlingkit’s fur.

“I didn’t get to finish,” he grumbled.

“We have two ceremonies to conduct today, and two new names to give,” Nutstar declared with a purr. “We will begin with Smallpaw. Morningshine, is it your belief that your apprentice is ready to earn her counselor name?”

“She’s gonna be great!” Morningshine chirped, doing a little jump.

“As always, before a new name is given,” Nutstar sighed, “one of our story-keepers will share a tale about Smallpaw. Eiderburr, will you step up?” With a quick nuzzle to his mate and daughter, Eiderburr approached the stump and faced the Clan.

“I don’t want to hold up my daughter’s special day,” Eiderburr chuckled, “so I’ll tell a recent story. There I was, on a border patrol with Stonestep, Sunfang, and Scauppaw, when we approached the SealClan border. There on the other side was Emberpool, the SealClan healer, with her new apprentice Antlerpaw and an escort. I head back to camp to fetch a counselor, and Morningshine and Smallpaw were the only ones available. That’s when Morningshine comes up with a wonderful idea. Why not let Smallpaw handle the healers? Smallpaw was more than happy to try. So we get back to the border, and she’s talking to Emberpool like they’re old friends! You should have seen her. They needed to get some advice, so Smallpaw invites them to the camp. Emberpool goes about her business, talking to Partridgeleg, and while I’m sharing a mouse with Stonestep, Smallpaw is being an expert counselor talking to Antlerpaw! That odd walk of his has been something of an embarrassment, but by the time Emberpool got what she needed? Antlerpaw was laughing! That’s when Morningshine told me she was approving Smallpaw for her ceremony.” Eiderburr nodded and rejoined the Clan. ElkClan yowled politely in applause.

“Let’s not delay this any more,” Nutstar purred. “Smallpaw, step forward.” Smallpaw took her father’s place, beaming at her leader. “I, Nutstar, leader of ElkClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a counselor in her turn. Smallpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?”

“I do,” Smallpaw chirped, a trill rumbling through her pelt.

“Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your counselor name,” Nutstar hummed. “Smallpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Smalltail. StarClan honors your joy and energy, and we welcome you as a full counselor of ElkClan.”

“Smalltail!” Eiderburr and Stonestep yowled. “Smalltail!” ElkClan took up the chant, praising Smalltail’s new name. Scauppaw was the loudest, exploding beside her mentor. Nutstar hopped off the stump and rested her head on top of Smalltail’s. Smalltail licked Nutstar’s shoulder, completing the ceremony.

“You shall begin your day of quiet contemplation at the Log Tunnel,” Nutstar explained, going back to her stump. “We wish you well and shall celebrate your return.” Smalltail nearly spoke, but held her tongue. She rubbed against her mother and father before strolling out of the camp with her tail held high.

“Congratulations, Big Bug!” Scauppaw called after her.

“Onto the second celebration of the day,” Nutstar laughed. “Cardinalblaze, would you tell us a story of Starlingkit’s life so far?”

“Yes I shall!” Cardinalblaze declared, jumping in front of the stump. Starlingkit prayed he wouldn’t pick an embarrassing story. “Since Starlingkit has had a happy kithood, I want to tell the story of how his parents, Brantwing and Bounceface, helped change my life and the lives of my brother and closest friends.” Oh. Oh this was so much worse!

“Here we go,” Berryfrost muttered.

“I had the wonderful joy of spending my kithood and apprenticeship with my friends,” Cardinalblaze began. “However, the story of how Brantwing and Bounceface changed my friends’ lives starts seven moons before I was born, when Bounceface brought a tiny dirty Berryfrost into camp, back then known as Berrykit. When SealClan refused to take him back, after all the effort they put in to take him from his mother, Bounceface was furious! He and Brantwing took it upon themselves to treat Berryfrost like an ElkClan cat, rather than some half-Clan reject.”

“That’s a little harsh,” Frogbelly muttered.

“Darkheart may have raised Berryfrost,” Cardinalblaze said with a nod to the respected queen, “but it was Bounceface who inspired him to be a story-keeper, it was Brantwing who helped him learn those nimble battle moves he’s infamous for. Lemmingstar won’t forget the scar he left on her shoulder!”

“Really, this ceremony isn’t about me,” Berryfrost huffed as ElkClan chuckled.

“We can’t forget Brantwing’s obvious contributions to my friends,” Cardinalblaze laughed. “She was the mother of Spiderstorm and Frogbelly! She and Bounceface raised two of my greatest friends! When I became an apprentice, Bounceface was my mentor. He taught me the value of a good story. And then there was the Fire of the Long Heat. Brantwing was there for my brother Roachspring as he grieved the losses of the tragedy. Bounceface recorded each detail and was a friend to Adderscar. He would later give his life to save our scarred friend. Our lives wouldn’t be the same without them. Their last gift to us was Starlingkit. I can’t wait to see what he does.” Starlingkit wanted to bury himself alive. The whole Clan was looking at him, not out of the pride of a future apprentice, but of a kit whose littermate and parents died in the first day of his life.

“I’m sure they are watching us now,” Nutstar sighed as Cardinalblaze stepped back. “Starlingkit, come up please.” Pelt prickling, Starlingkit stood in front of his leader. “Starlingkit has reached his sixth moon, and it’s time for him to become an apprentice. Starlingkit, from this day until the day you earn your story-keeper name, you shall be known as Starlingpaw. StarClan, I ask you to guide this new apprentice. Set his paws on the path he must follow to become a story-keeper.” Starlingpaw glanced at his older brothers. Frogbelly was so happy, he looked close to crying, while Spiderstorm sat hunched with that typical dark, yet loving look.

“Adderscar,” Nutstar called. Surprised murmurs shot through camp as Adderscar joined Starlingpaw’s side. He didn’t seem surprised, but with Adderscar, Starlingpaw could never tell. His good yellow eye stared at Nutstar.

“Adderscar, you are ready to take on an apprentice,” Nutstar explained. “You received excellent training from Stonestep, and you have shown yourself to be intelligent and observant. You will be Starlingpaw’s mentor, and I expect you to pass on all your knowledge to him.” Adderscar faced Starlingpaw. His wounds stole half of his nose. Starlingpaw shouldn’t have been scared. Adderscar had been as active in Starlingpaw’s life as the other five toms who watched over him and played with him. He taught him about the strange personalities of ElkClan and how to best interact with them. He could actually be well-liked when he played to someone’s interests. But Starlingpaw knew the truth about Adderscar.

Images of a dark future played through his mind as he touched his nose to Adderscar’s.

“Starlingpaw! Starlingpaw!” ElkClan chanted. Starlingpaw pulled back as soon as he could, hiding a shiver.

“Let’s get to work,” Nutstar sighed, hopping off the stump and ending the Clan meeting. Berryfrost, Roachspring, Spiderstorm, Cardinalblaze, and Frogbelly all approached the new mentor and apprentice.

“Woo, Adderscar as a mentor!” Roachspring laughed, slipping to Adderscar’s side. “This’ll be interesting.”

“I thought Berryfrost was going to be his mentor,” Frogbelly muttered as Spiderstorm glared at Adderscar.

“You take care of my brother, understand?” Spiderstorm growled.

“You know I have Starlingpaw’s best interests at heart,” Adderscar purred.

“I assume you’ll be taking him on a tour of the territory?” Berryfrost asked.

“You’re so wise,” Adderscar sneered, making Starlingpaw’s pelt bristle.

“He is very wise!” Frogbelly huffed, pressing against his mate.

“Why not make a hunting patrol out of it?” Cardinalblaze suggested. “Pondpaw would love to hunt with Starlingpaw.”

“No thank you,” Adderscar sighed. “I want to tour the territory alone. Come along, Starlingpaw.” Adderscar slipped past Spiderstorm and flicked his ears for Starlingpaw to follow.

“We’ll talk when you get back,” Frogbelly promised, touching his nose to Starlingpaw’s.

“Nutstar wouldn’t assign Adderscar to you unless she thought he could teach you well,” Berryfrost sighed. “You’ll be fine.” Starlingpaw nodded. This was still his first day as an apprentice. He had to make the most of it! Starlingpaw ran to Adderscar’s side and followed him through the brambles.

“Get your awe and wonder out now,” Adderscar sighed as the rich smells of autumn stung Starlingpaw’s nose. To his surprise, he found himself silently thanking Roachspring for sneaking him out of the nursery a moon back. He breathed deep and faced his mentor with newfound confidence.

“Where are we going first?” Starlingpaw asked.

“The Bear Cave,” Adderscar said casually, following a path through the trees sprinkled with mud-dried paw prints. Starlingpaw’s heart twisted. The Bear Cave? The place his father died? Trying to process the new smells of the forest, Starlingpaw hurried down the path.

“Why?” Starlingpaw asked, unable to hide a stammer.

“Wait and see,” Adderscar hummed. “Do you know the name of this type of path?”

“It’s a deer path, right They’re easy paths through the forest.”

“Easy for ElkClan, but confusing for our enemies. They can follow the paths, but they don’t know where those paths go. You’ll have to pay attention as we travel. It’s your job to remember where we are. If I’m not leading you, I’m not helping you.”

“I’m gonna get lost.”

“You’ll have to learn to find your way.”

Starlingpaw’s feet ached as Adderscar approached a large cave, dug into the side of a steep hill. The air wafting from the cave was musty. While Adderscar approached the Bear Cave, Starlingpaw dug into the brown grass. He had never been there before and he already hated it.

“Do we have to go in there?” Starlingpaw whined.

“Avoiding this place isn’t practical,” Adderscar huffed, his blind lazy eye facing Starlingpaw. “It’s not as though Bounceface’s bones are rotting here.” Starlingpaw groaned at the image, but slowly approached the cave. Adderscar sat at the cave’s edge and tapped the ground for his apprentice to sit.

“The stories you’ve heard of what happened here,” Adderscar explained, “they describe your father as a hero who sacrificed his life for me. I never used the word, but the narrative was crafted from what I saw that day. He distracted the bear from me.”

“Did you really fight the bear?” Starlingpaw asked, glaring at his mentor. “Or was that another lie? Did you leave my dad to die?”

“That’s a bold question,” Adderscar pointed out, tail motioning as he spoke.

“Roachspring says I should be clear with what I want,” Starlingpaw muttered, confidence sagging.

“You don’t have to believe my statement, because Eiderburr, as my defender in the trial for your father’s death, proved me innocent. They found bear fur in my claws.”

“You said a trial’s verdict isn’t always the truth.”

“Then you’ll have to decide what to believe. That’s your first lesson. Your second is that Bounceface’s actions weren’t ‘heroic’, they were foolish.” Something stirred in Starlingpaw, some toxic feeling he tried to ignore. “There were many options he could have followed when confronted with the bear, but instead provoked its wrath. The lesson there? Think things through. Something may be heroic and get you remembered, but it will also get you dead.”

“Get you dead? That’s not right.”

“Who are you, Berryfrost? My point is, if Bounceface had thought to talk to me and think through a solution, he might still be here.” Despite his frustration, Starlingpaw nodded. He hated to admit it, but Adderscar was right.

“I wish I got to know him.”

“Are you ready for your third lesson?”

“This is a lot to remember,” Adderscar took a claw and carved three small lines into the dirt.

“My favorite flower is oleander,” Adderscar said. “My favorite prey is mice, and my favorite tree is a pine. Only one of those statements is true.” He crossed out the lines. “You have until the healer’s half moon to figure out which one. I’ll behave as though they are all true.”

“How do I find that out?” Starlingpaw asked, paw tracing the lines.

“You’ll have to find a way. When you are hunting codebreakers, your suspects will lie to you. You need to know how to find the truth in their words.” Starlingpaw glanced at the nearest pine. A breeze fluttered past the cave, carrying a strange scent with it.

“Do you smell that?” 

“Let me heal my nose and I’ll tell you,” Adderscar’s good eye snapped into a slit. “That’s the smell of blood.”

“Someone could be dying!” Starlingpaw gasped, tasting the air. 

“What direction is it coming from?” Adderscar asked. Starlingpaw closed his eyes. The smell of blood was like a line through the air, drifting left.

“We need to help!” Starlingpaw snapped, racing after the scent.

“Get back here!” Adderscar hissed, but his apprentice paid him no mind, smashing leaves and pine needles underfoot. Yowls and screeches grew louder. Strange scents mingled with the blood; the smell of cats, but not like ElkClan or even the SealClan visitors from the day before.

Starlingpaw burst through the trees and stopped just short of the border. There were no trees ahead, only hills and the cloud covered sun. Cats spun and twirled in a flurry of battle not too far away. Two brown toms surrounded a brown molly with black swirls dripping blood, while a red tom chased after a golden apprentice. A lithe tortoiseshell had her claws in a golden tom, screaming battle cries.

Adderscar dug into Starlingpaw’s scruff and pulled him into a raspberry bush. He glared murder at Starlingpaw, lip curled.

“Who are they?” Starlingpaw gulped, whispering.

“CliffClan and PuffinClan in another fight,” Adderscar growled. “This isn’t our problem. Who runs towards danger?” The red tom caught up to the golden apprentice. He grabbed her scruff and spun her off her paws. Her head smashed into the ground, hard. She didn’t get up.

“Honeypaw!” the brown molly yowled. She slammed into the speckled brown tom and charged at the red tom. With the apprentice, Honeypaw, out cold, the red tom jumped at the brown molly. He and his clanmates dragged her back, leaving Honeypaw alone. She was close to the border, that thick line of strange Clan smell (PuffinClan, Starlingpaw realized, remembering Berryfrost’s lessons about the other Clans). Blood dripped from her head. Adderscar watched, detached and cold. Oh, Starlingpaw was going to regret this.

Starlingpaw raced out of the raspberry bush and across the PuffinClan border. He felt exposed in the wide fields, vulnerable to predators, but the PuffinClan and CliffClan warriors were too focused on themselves to notice him.

“What are you doing, you imbecile?” Adderscar hissed, golden eye gleaming from the bush. Starlingpaw grabbed Honeypaw’s scruff. She didn’t smell like the border. She must have been from CliffClan. Blood oozed from her head and stung Starlingpaw’s nose. He walked backwards, dragging her along. 

“I’ve got you,” he grumbled, voice muffled with fur.

“Starlingpaw, drop her!” Adderscar ordered as the golden tom slashed the tortoiseshell’s face, forcing her to scream. Starlingpaw’s back ached from Honeypaw’s weight. He crossed the border and pulled Honeypaw into the bush.

“We’re taking her back,” Adderscar hissed, reaching for Honeypaw.

“She’s hurt!” Starlingpaw snapped, standing between her and Adderscar. “I couldn’t leave her there! What if PuffinClan killed her?”

“Her clanmates can take her to their healer.” Adderscar jutted his head towards the fight, but as he spoke, the two mollies limped away, the PuffinClan toms yowling with victory.

“Darkheart says they’ve attacked counselors,” Starlingpaw huffed. “Why wouldn’t they kill an apprentice?”

“ElkClan doesn’t have a role in their war,” Adderscar grunted, voice lowering as the PuffinClan battle patrol moved closer. “This? Right here? This is called taking a side.”

“It would be taking a side to give her to PuffinClan and murder if we left her.”

“You should never have gotten involved. You and your brother have no sense of self-preservation.”

“Wait, that’s why you’re mad? Not because I crossed the border?”

“Please, so long as you can get away with it, you can go anywhere. I was more than happy to follow Nutstar’s instructions and remain ‘friendly, yet neutral’ as she put it, but now I have to take this apprentice back to camp, tell her what happened, and be blamed for the other Clans getting mad at us.”

“Blame me, then,” Starlingpaw grabbed Honeypaw’s scruff once more.

“Oh, I will,” Adderscar assured him. “That’s not how you carry someone, she’s bigger than you are.” Adderscar gently shoved Starlingpaw away and thrusted Honeypaw onto his back. He groaned as she rubbed against his old wounds. “Your fourth lesson is that, while I’m more than willing to let you break the code at times, there are rules you should follow for your own sanity. Now hurry before PuffinClan notices.” Adderscar slipped into the forest. Starlingpaw followed, dragging a paw over his nose to wipe away a few drops of blood. Berryfrost wouldn’t have gotten mad at him for helping someone. Why couldn’t he be Starlingpaw’s mentor?

“What you did was reckless and irresponsible,” Berryfrost spat as Nutstar and Hazelear talked to Adderscar by the leader’s stump. Starlingpaw sat across from Berryfrost with his ears low and head sagging while Saltfrost and Cranefeather worked on Honeypaw in the holy den. Spiderstorm and Frogbelly sat beside Berryfrost.

“She was hurt,” Starlingpaw whined for the third time.

“You didn’t stop to think of the danger or the repercussions,” Berryfrost huffed, lips curled. “Had PuffinClan seen you, they would have attacked you, as is their right for crossing their border. Without battle training, you could have been severely hurt.”

“But he wasn’t, Berry,” Frogbelly reminded him, tail brushing his back. “I think what he did was very brave.”

“He broke the code and ElkClan’s neutrality,” Berryfrost snapped, glaring at Frogbelly.

“And he saved a life!” Frogbelly insisted. “Her mentor ran away and StarClan knows what PuffinClan would have done with her. Spiderstorm, back me up on this.”

“I have to side with Berryfrost here,” Spiderstorm groaned, back leg scratching his neck. “It was mouse-brained. Not only could you have gotten hurt, Starling, but now we have to tell CliffClan we stole their apprentice and avoid PuffinClan pulling us into their war.”

“We didn’t steal her, we saved her!” Frogbelly insisted. “I would have done the same thing. I’ll tell CliffClan what happened and they’ll be grateful for the help. If it was two warriors against four, they couldn’t have gotten Honeypaw back to camp. I’m sure they’re heartbroken they had to leave her behind.”

“He can’t learn that this is acceptable behavior,” Berryfrost huffed. “He has responsibilities to ElkClan.”

“He does have to learn basic safety,” Spiderstorm added.

“To be fair, I wasn’t going to fight anyone,” Starlingpaw muttered.

“You can’t just do things like that, Starlingpaw!” Spiderstorm snapped.

“Now what’s this story I hear?” Cardinalblaze and Pondpaw trotted into camp with mud on their paws, Roachspring and Weaselpaw behind them.

“While you were teaching your apprentices combat moves,” Berryfrost explained with a touch of venom in his voice, “Starlingpaw and Adderscar came upon a fight between CliffClan and PuffinClan. Instead of leaving them alone, Starlingpaw dragged an injured CliffClan apprentice, Honeypaw, back to camp.”

“I can’t believe Starlingpaw saw an actual fight before I did,” Weaselpaw grumbled, rubbing mud onto the grass as the four toms joined the others.

“Our Starlingpaw performed a dashing rescue?” Cardinalblaze gasped, eyes sparkling with excitement.

“She hit her head and her clanmates ran away,” Starlingpaw explained.

“How heroic!” Cardinalblaze cheered. “How daring! A story for the ages!”

“See? He was a hero,” Frogbelly chirped, standing beside Cardinalblaze.

“He won’t be a hero when PuffinClan rains down on us,” Spiderstorm mumbled.

“How could he deny the cries of a fellow apprentice in need?” Cardinalblaze pointed out, tail motioning dramatically.

“She wasn’t crying, she was unconscious,” Berryfrost huffed.

“Don’t you think he was heroic, Roachspring?” Cardinalblaze asked, turning to Roachspring and Weaselpaw. The two were intently watching the scene.

“I’m just here for the fight,” Roachspring laughed. “All I need is some fresh-kill and this would be proper entertainment.”

“Enough, all of you,” Hazelear snapped. She, Adderscar, and Nutstar joined the small gathering, glaring at each tom. 

“Starlingpaw,” Nutstar hummed, neutral yellow eyes staring at the apprentice.

“Am I going on trial?” Starlingpaw gulped.

“I’ve thought about it,” Nutstar admitted. “I was going to give you a talking-to, but it seems you’ve already received one.”

“He—” Berryfrost huffed.

“Leave it be, Berryfrost,” Nutstar sighed, tail raised to silence him. “What’s done is done. Starlingpaw has broken the warrior code and interfered in complex matters better suited for the counselors. Were he older, I would call for a trial. Yet, this is only his first day. He may be an apprentice by name, but he is a kit at heart.” Nutstar’s words stung like wounds. “With such selfless toms involved in his life, it’s easy to see where he learned this behavior.”

“Thank you, Nutstar,” Cardinalblaze chirped, pelt puffing up.

“That wasn’t a compliment,” Nutstar muttered.

“But being selfless is a good thing!” Frogbelly insisted, half laughing.

“Stop talking,” Hazelear grunted, face furrowed in frustration.

“As his mentor, Adderscar will decide Starlingpaw’s punishment,” Nutstar explained.

“I’ve had enough of you for today,” Adderscar sighed, “and consider yourself banned from the fresh-kill pile until tomorrow.”

“Yes, Adderscar,” Starlingpaw said, face burning.

“He needs a stronger punishment than that,” Berryfrost mumbled.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were his mentor,” Adderscar gasped, a paw to his chest. “Please, Starlingpaw’s mentor, tell us what you’ll do.”

“For the time being, it’s best that PuffinClan not know about this,” Nutstar explained. “Adderscar, lead a patrol back to the border and see if PuffinClan’s suspicious. If they are, I trust you to come up with a suitable lie.”

“You know how I hate lying,” Adderscar purred, burnt ear flicking.

“We’ll wait to see what the healers tell us,” Nutstar continued. “Once we know more about Honeypaw’s condition, Frogbelly, you are in charge of telling CliffClan that she’s here. Don’t let PuffinClan see you. I’m late to a meeting with Brinestar to discuss our stances on the conflict. Hazelear has full permission to punish you if you keep arguing about this.” Nutstar trotted towards Morningshine and Shovelerthroat, and the trio left camp. Adderscar poked his head into the warrior’s den and began asking for patrol members. Berryfrost and Frogbelly headed to the fresh-kill pile, Spiderstorm went to the holy den, and Roachspring and Cardinalblaze started arguing over whose apprentice was learning battle moves faster. The only thing that could have made the moment worse for Starlingpaw is if someone brought up his parents again.

“A lot of the moss in camp is old and clumpy,” Pondpaw said, slipping in front of Starlingpaw. “Sunfang was going to take all of the apprentices out to collect moss in the mid-afternoon. Since your mentor ditched you, maybe you can join us?”

“Uh, sure… Ponds,” Starlingpaw stammered.

“You can take a spot next to me in the apprentice’s den,” Pondpaw continued, trotting towards the dying bush. Starlingpaw glanced at the holy den and Honeypaw’s injured form before following Pondpaw inside.

A short while later, all the apprentices entered camp with moss tucked under their chins. Sunfang herded them on, a mouse in his jaws. He tossed his catch onto the fresh-kill pile. Starlingpaw’s stomach growled, but he remembered his punishment.

“Scauppaw, Starlingpaw, you’re taking your moss into the holy den and building new nests,” Sunfang ordered, tail pointing with each command. “The brothers are in charge of nursery nests. Clean them out and rebuild them.” Weaselpaw cringed, nearly dropping one of his bundles. Scauppaw nudged Starlingpaw, and the pair entered the holy den.

Honeypaw was still unconscious, head wound wrapped in cobwebs, a few scratches groomed and cleaned. Spiderstorm, Cranefeather, and Saltfrost were out, leaving the apprentices to their work. Starlingpaw sniffed Cranefeather’s herbs. So many smells… How did he know what was what?

“Let’s make a new nest for your brother,” Scauppaw suggested, ears flicking towards Spiderstorm’s nest. Half of the moss was torn away, a nervous habit that left his nest scattered throughout the den. Scauppaw swept the old moss away with her feathery tail.

“So…” Starlingpaw groaned, dropping his moss. “Ducky. What’s the best way to do this?”

“For Spiderstorm, I say clump the moss together well, but don’t worry about a proper nest shape,” Scauppaw hummed, stretching out her moss.

“You got it,” Starlingpaw laughed awkwardly, copying Scauppaw. 

“I heard what you did today with Honeypaw,” Scauppaw mentioned, whiskers twitching. “You’ve got guts, Ghost.”

“I just wanted to help.” 

“If PuffinClan tries to start something because of it, I’ll show them this trick Sunfang taught me.” She batted a piece of old moss. “He calls it ‘fire feet’. You land on someone from a tree, claw their back, then run back up the tree to do it all over again. Apparently only warriors learn it, but I could show you when you’re better trained.”

“Maybe.” Starlingpaw pressed his paws against the nest and said “Can I ask you something? Old nestmate to old nestmate?”

“Of course,” Scauppaw chirped.

“Do you think I’m an omen?” Starlingpaw asked, tail slightly tucked.

“What?” Scauppaw yelped, startling Starlingpaw. “Who called you that? Was it Weaselpaw? First he makes fun of Pondpaw and now you?”

“No one’s ever called me that,” Starlingpaw promised, shaking his head. “Never directly. That might be too strong a word. It’s just that no one treats me like a regular tom. I hate it when people talk about my parents or Thunderkit and they look at me like I’m dead too. I don’t want them to notice me for the wrong reasons. I’d rather make them happy with a story. I know you came up with the Ghost nickname because I knew the story of Dowitcherpelt, but every time I hear it, it reminds me that, even though my brother and their friends care about me… sometimes I think all they see are the cats they lost.” His paws played with the moss as he spoke.

“Why didn’t you tell me you didn’t like the nickname?” 

“I don't want to be left out of the group like Weaselpaw.” Starlingpaw’s ears turned red.

“Weaselpaw doesn’t get a nickname because he’s mean. He’s like Roachspring, but with none of the redeeming qualities. You’re way better than him. You know how excited I was that you were finally becoming an apprentice? I’ve been trying to find out your favorite flower so I could add it to your nest.”

“I would have told you.”

“It’s weird to talk to kits.” Scauppaw admitted, laughing as she spun her tail. “It makes you feel like the rest of the Clan sees you as a kit too. But really, Starlingpaw, I’ll come up with a different nickname.”

“Thanks,” Starlingpaw purred, tail rising.

“So what is it?” 

“What?”

“Your favorite flower?”

“Oh! Lily of the valley.” Someone groaned softly. Honeypaw stirred in her nest, dilated green eyes peering at the apprentices.

“Harriershade?” Honeypaw whined, pelt fluffing up, claws out. “Harriershade, where’d you go? Charpatch?”

“It’s okay!” Starlingpaw promised, rushing towards Honeypaw. The panicked apprentice hissed and swung her paw, brushing Starlingpaw’s whiskers.

“Get away!” Honeypaw screeched, panting.

“I’m not going to hurt you!” Starlingpaw dropped to his back, belly exposed. “See? You’re safe. You’re in ElkClan.”

“I don’t know you,” Honeypaw cried, back arched.

“I’ll find the healers,” Scauppaw faltered. She slipped around Starlingpaw, facing Honeypaw until she was out of the holy den.

“I’m a new apprentice,” Starlingpaw said. “I’m Starlingpaw. You’re Honeypaw, right?”

“How did I get here?” Honeypaw whimpered.

“You were fighting PuffinClan and hit your head. Your clanmates were outnumbered so I brought you to camp.”

“But I don’t remember that. We were hunting and Charpatch chased a PuffinClan warrior…” Honeypaw closed her eyes, groaning.

“I think that’s normal with head wounds, from what Berryfrost told me.”

“I’m blubbering like a kit in front of an ElkClan cat!” Honeypaw buried her face in her nest. Starlingpaw rolled over.

“Would it help if you were blubbering to a friend?” Honeypaw peeked at Starlingpaw. The young tom blinked slowly, a universal sign of trust among cats. A purr rumbled in Honeypaw’s throat, half from pain and half from relief. 

“We didn’t expect you to wake up so soon!” Cranefeather charged into the holy den with Scauppaw lurking outside. “Saltfrost is bringing herbs back. We haven’t met before, my name is Cranefeather. I’m the senior healer of ElkClan. How are you feeling?”

“I don’t know what’s going on,” Honeypaw gulped.

“That’s alright,” Cranefeather purred, trotting to his herbs. “We’re going to help you feel better, then we can get into that. Starlingpaw, you’ll have to make nests later, I need room.”

“Sorry,” Starlingpaw chirped, hopping into the sun.

“She’s calmer now,” Scauppaw realized. “How’d you do that?”

“I talked to her like a friend,” Starlingpaw chuckled with a lick of his chest. “It works for Frogbelly.” An idea sparked through Scauppaw’s pelt.

“I’ve got it,” Scauppaw declared. “Your new nickname. How does Flake sound?”

“Flake?” Starlingpaw repeated.

“There’s this PuffinClan tom, Swiftflake, his name means he takes after an ancestor of his,” Scauppaw explained excitedly. “So do you! You’re weird like Spiderstorm, kind like Frogbelly, brave like Brantwing, and creative like Bounceface! You’re a flake off their pelts! Do you like it?” Starlingpaw thought it over. Most of the time, when cats mentioned his parents, they did so with hints of grief. This was a positive acknowledgement, looking forward rather than back.

“I do!” Starlingpaw laughed.

“Flake it is, denmate!” Scauppaw giggled, bunting against his shoulder.

Berryfrost led the morning hunting patrol with Adderscar, Starlingpaw, and Frogbelly. Frogbelly was so excited, he stepped on a twig, startling Berryfrost’s squirrel.

“Sorry!” Frogbelly laughed as his mate glared at him.

“Great example for Starlingpaw,” Adderscar sighed. He flicked his tail and trudged off the deer path. Starlingpaw followed his mentor through the bush.

“What am I hunting?” Starlingpaw asked.

“Whatever is out here,” Adderscar hummed. “Use that nose of yours. You may just hear your prey skittering across the needles.” Starlingpaw tasted the air. There was a faint smell upwind. A mouse!

“Are you craving mice today?” Starlingpaw asked.

“Oh, I always am!” Adderscar purred. For a moment, Starlingpaw thought he found the answer to Adderscar’s question the day before, but the glimmer in his good eye reminded Starlingpaw that he wouldn’t make it that easy. “Now tell me I don’t have to teach you the basics of a hunter’s crouch.” Roachspring had showed Starlingpaw a hunter’s crouch countless times, testing his balance in the hopes he would become his mentor. One time, in the middle of summer, he forced Starlingpaw to walk around camp in the crouch, pushing on his back each time he broke it. Starlingpaw fell into the stalking pose, ears pricked for the mouse’s movements.

“There,” Adderscar hummed. He tucked a paw under Starlingpaw’s stomach, pushing him up. “You’re balanced like someone has their paw on your back.”

“I wonder who taught me that,” Starlingpaw grumbled. Suddenly, Adderscar laughed; a high pitched, singular bark. Tiny, unseen feet scampered against pine needles and the smell faded away. Starlingpaw stared dumbfounded. Did his mentor really ruin his first chance at a catch? Adderscar seemed just as surprised as Starlingpaw, a paw on his mouth.

“You heard nothing,” Adderscar growled.

“Alright,” Starlingpaw said. “What am I supposed to catch now?”

“You have to find something. Your crouch will help you catch mice, but pay attention to how other animals react to you. If you find other prey, try the crouch and tell me what happens. I won’t be hunting with you. I can never hunt with other cats around.”

“I don’t even know where I…” Adderscar climbed a tree before Starlingpaw could finish. It would be nice if Adderscar gave him some tips, but maybe that was part of his charm. Starlingpaw stalked through the trees.

A short time later, Starlingpaw was 0 for 4 and ready to scream. The rabbit bolted before he even got close, the shrew dove into a den, and he nearly caught the second mouse, but missed by a pawstep. He had the makings of a great tracker from all the prey he’d found, but he’d be laughed into the holy den if he couldn’t catch anything.

“I can smell your frustration,” someone sighed from above. Berryfrost stood in the long branches of an oak.

“I’ve found so much prey, but I haven’t caught anything,” Starlingpaw groaned. “Adderscar won’t teach me.” Berryfrost jumped down.

“What has he taught you?” Berryfrost asked.

“He showed me part of the territory, gave me this challenge to find out if his favorite flower is oleander and such, and fixed my crouch.”

“That sounds like something to me.”

“Is it too late to switch mentors?”

“Adderscar has his skills. I would have been surprised if he taught you like a typical mentor. He prefers to keep his knowledge close. The last part of Nutstar’s ceremony, to share knowledge, was more of an order for him than others.”

“I have to get the truth out of the most secretive cat ever.” Starlingpaw thunked his head against a tree.

“I can’t tell you why he’s given you that assignment, only that you should follow it. He has his reasons for testing you.”

“Do you know if his favorite flower is oleander?”

“Not for certain, but I can estimate that—”

“There you are!” Frogbelly trudged around a tree. He must have found Adderscar during his hunt, as the scarred tom was behind him with a squirrel. “I’ve got two shrews buried somewhere around here. Are we ready to head back to camp?”

“Let me fetch my roller,” Berryfrost sighed. “They’ve returned for the winter.”

“Did you catch anything, Starlingpaw?” Frogbelly chirped as Berryfrost trotted away.

“No,” Starlingpaw grumbled.

“Aw, that’s okay!” Frogbelly assured him, bunting his head. “I didn’t catch anything when I started hunting either.” Starlingpaw’s stomach growled as Berryfrost came back with his bird. He wasn’t used to not eating everyday. It had to be one of the worst parts of being an apprentice. Did he have to ask to eat? 

“You’ll carry my catch back,” Adderscar sighed, passing the squirrel to Starlingpaw. The fresh scent made his mouth water. He followed the older toms home, dreaming of mice.

As he approached the camp entrance, a strange scent passed his nose. It was a cat, but the scent was stale like the nursery in the middle of summer. It was like Honeypaw.

“Is that CliffClan?” Starlingpaw uttered, voice muffled by the squirrel. He entered the camp and saw three new faces. Nutstar, Cranefeather, and Morningshine talked to a dark gray ticked tom while two brown toms, one mackerel and one ticked, shared tales of battle with Sunfang and Stonestep. Honeypaw was out of the holy den, surrounded by Smalltail and the apprentices as a huge silver molly examined Honeypaw’s wound.

“They came!” Frogbelly gasped, dropping his shrews. “I met with CliffClan last night to tell them about Honeypaw. A patrol must have arrived while we were hunting!”

“I’m not blind, Frogbelly,” Adderscar half-lied. The four toms quickly dropped the prey in the fresh-kill pile.

“Who are they?” Starlingpaw asked.

“There’s Loudstep, one of the counselors,” Berryfrost explained. “Buzzardear and Briarpaw likely came for protection. Hailbranch is the CliffClan healer.” Honeypaw peeked around Hailbranch’s huge form. She waved Starlingpaw over. Starlingpaw watched Adderscar for a moment, quickly grabbed a jay from the bottom of the fresh-kill pile, and ran to the other apprentices.

“Hailbranch, this is the tom that brought me here,” Honeypaw explained. Hailbranch faced Starlingpaw. The young apprentice thought ElkClan were supposed to be the biggest cats, but Hailbranch could rival Cardinalblaze and Roachspring.

“Starlingpaw,” Hailbranch purred, her demeanor softening. “I would like to let you know, you have CliffClan’s thanks.”

“I do?” Starlingpaw gulped.

“Harriershade was mortified that she had to leave Honeypaw behind,” Hailbranch explained, “but she and Charpatch were outnumbered. Honeypaw would be in PuffinClan’s clutches were it not for you.”

“PuffinCan may be known for their kindness,” Pondpaw added, “but Cardinalblaze says they’ve taken hostages before.”

“A technique of battle they learned from us,” Hailbranch sighed. Starlingpaw shifted, questions stirring inside, but he held his tongue.

“Will you be taking Honeypaw home?” Smalltail guessed.

“Loudstep is discussing that,” Hailbranch muttered, tail gently waving at Loudstep, “but I agree with Cranefeather and Saltfrost’s diagnosis. Honeypaw has a concussion.”

“What’s that?” Weaselpaw asked.

“Her brain hit her skull,” Hailbranch shared.

“How am I still alive?” Honeypaw gasped, neck puffing up.

“So long as you rest, you’ll be fine,” Hailbranch promised, nose to Honeypaw’s forehead. “That’s why you can’t remember the battle, why you keep getting confused, and why you have such a pounding headache.”

“So she’s staying here?” Scauppaw said, flank wiggling with excitement.

“Your healers are skilled,” Hailbranch sighed. “They’ll watch over her until she recovers. The long journey to camp could make things worse.”

“It won’t be so bad,” Honeypaw chuckled. “I’m with friends.” Someone brushed beside Starlingpaw. It was Adderscar.

“Ask your questions,” Adderscar whispered. Starlingpaw gathered his courage.

“Hailbranch…” Starlingpaw asked. “Can you tell me about the war? I mean, what’s happening? Why can’t you talk it out?” Hailbranch’s whiskers twitched.

“Confident questions from a young story-keeper,” Hailbranch chuckled. “Whichever of you are also training for the role, listen closely.” Adderscar sat near Smalltail, who squirmed away. Starlingpaw dragged his jay to Pondpaw. The pair began to share the meal as Hailbranch told her side of the story.

“You know about the recent conflict with the border,” Hailbranch began. “Everyone in CliffClan has the honor to admit that Mistpaw overstepped in attacking Ospreystep. We did our duty and punished him, but that wasn’t enough for PuffinClan. They were furious over Ospreystep’s retirement, so they attacked Gooseleg. Were it not for her knowledge of the tunnels in our Clan, she would have been killed. We spent half a moon trying to appease them. Why would we continue that?”

“Didn’t you kill Archpelt?” Weaselpaw huffed. Hailbranch and Honeypaw glared at the tabby.

“All of CliffClan was accounted for the night of his murder,” Hailbranch growled. “It is another excuse for them to play the victim. They’ve done that throughout their history. They began as traitors to CliffClan who ran from their dens in the dead of night and still behave as such. PuffinClan may praise itself as a story of freedom, but to us, it is a story of losing half of our Clan, our kin fighting kin. I will support this war for as long as I need to teach PuffinClan that their behavior, their betrayal, will not go unexcused.” 

“Family is everything!” Weaselpaw declared with a nod, surprising Starlingpaw. A few cats, including Vetcheye, Grassleaf, and Bearclaw, had joined the group to hear Hailbranch’s tale.

“It’s about time someone showed PuffinClan what’s what,” Bearclaw grumbled, earning a cheer from Grassleaf. Honeypaw groaned, paws over her ears.

“You should go back to the holy den,” Hailbranch huffed, nosing Honeypaw to her feet. “You need darkness and silence.” Honeypaw slipped into the holy den as Loudstep finished his conversation with the healers. The warriors said goodbye to Sunfang and Stonestep, and Hailbranch joined the patrol as they made their way out of camp, Drizzlecloud accompanying them to the border. Pondpaw took the remains of the jay to the dirt place.

“Did you learn what you wanted to know?” Adderscar asked, walking around Starlingpaw.

“I think so,” Starlingpaw admitted, “but it seemed…”

“Biased,” Adderscar finished his sentence for him. “If you want the full story, you’ll have to look deeper. The truth is a hunt. The prey you catch can be eaten where you stand or shared with others. Like Hailbranch just now, know when to do either.”

“Yes, Adderscar,” Starlingpaw said. For once, Adderscar seemed like a regular mentor.

“Riverwhisker will be teaching you and Pondpaw the names of ElkClan’s leaders,” Adderscar explained with a stretch. “Meet him in the story-keeper’s den. Tonight, I will be testing you. Pass and you won’t have to join the dawn patrol in the morning.” Starlingpaw knew he would eventually be assigned the dreaded task, but the longer he could sleep, the better. He already knew the names of three leaders as he jogged to the story-keeper’s den. This would be easy.

“This is impossible,” Starlingpaw groaned, pacing around Honeypaw’s nest later that day. Saltfrost stood in the back, treating Partridgeleg’s eye (Stormkit had gotten too excited about Spiderstorm’s needle ritual and jabbed his unsuspecting mother). Honeypaw’s eyes lazily followed Starlingpaw around the den as her head dangled out of the nest.

“I’m sorry,” Honeypaw muttered, “but I don’t think I can’t help you. My head is still pounding. Why not talk to Pondpaw?”

“You need stimulation as much as you need rest,” Saltfrost sighed, squeezing juice into Partridgeleg’s eye. “This will be good for both of you.”

“Alright,” Honeypaw groaned, sitting up. “Why don’t you recite the names backwards?”

“Sure,” Starlingpaw panted, mindlessly nodding. “Nutstar, Lilacstar, Bitternstar… Nutstar, Lilacstar, Bitternstar, Loonstar … lots of leaders, then Stemstar and the founder Deerstar.”

“You got a couple more that time,” Honeypaw pointed out. “Or maybe that was the same amount, I can’t remember exactly.” Starlingpaw made something between a growl, a groan, and a scream. “I’m glad I’m not you. I’d rather be hunting than remembering these things.”

“I’m better with stories,” Starlingpaw grumbled, plopping on his flank.

“If it helps, at least no one is pressuring you to do something you don’t want,” Honeypaw sighed. “All the story-keepers in my Clan are being so weird. I understand my grandfather trying to get me to switch roles, but the others try to teach me story-keeper things as well.”

“I had people trying to twist my tail too. Roachspring wanted to be my mentor.”

“Our brains are going to die if we keep talking about names. Do you have something else I can think about?”

“My mentor, Adderscar? He gave me this weird challenge. I need to find out which of his favorite things is really his favorite. I can’t tell if he really likes oleander or mice or anything.”

“Why not ask his parents? Or his mentor?”

“Darkheart doesn’t know, and he was never close to Stonestep.”

“Saltfrost, do you know?”

“Cranefeather typically cares for his issues,” Saltfrost huffed. “That should be all, Partridgeleg. Feel free to remind Spiderstorm that he isn’t Stormkit’s mentor yet.” Partridgeleg gave Saltfrost’s shoulder a grateful lick. As she left the den, she paused by the apprentices.

“If it helps,” Partridgeleg hummed, “I know when my stump’s having a bad day, I like to shuffle through the fresh-kill pile for my favorite prey, even if I should be grateful for what we can catch. I believe Adderscar is the same way.”

“Thank you,” Honeypaw chirped politely as Partridgeleg made her way back to the nursery. She stared at Starlingpaw out of the corner of her eye, whiskers twitching in amusement. “Have fun on the dawn patrol.” Starlingpaw groaned while Honeypaw giggled.

Sorrellight burst into the camp, spinning around a startled Partridgeleg and lunging into the holy den.

“Honeypaw needs to hide right now,” Sorrellight barked.

“StarClan, Sorrellight, what happened?” Saltfrost yelped, sniffing the tortoiseshell for wounds.

“There’s a PuffinClan patrol being escorted to camp,” Sorrellight panted. “They want to speak with Nutstar and the other counselors and refused to wait by the border. Morningshine sent me ahead to warn you.” 

“Where am I supposed to go?” Honeypaw stammered, ears flat.

“Sorrellight, tell Nutstar,” Saltfrost ordered. “Starlingpaw, find a place to hide Honeypaw.”

“They're going to smell her,” Starlingpaw gulped as Honeypaw scrambled out of the nest and Sorrellight ran to the stump.

“We have flowers in here for a reason,” Saltfrost grumbled, grabbing dried lavender and mint from her stores. She coated Honeypaw’s nest with the sweet herbs as the apprentices scurried outside. Starlingpaw led Honeypaw towards the story-keeper’s den. Inside, Riverwhisker and Cardinalblaze were sharing tongues and stories.

“Make sure PuffinClan doesn’t find her,” Starlingpaw huffed, shoving Honeypaw towards Riverwhisker.

“Excuse me?” Cardinalblaze asked as Starlingpaw scrambled back into camp. Morningshine entered the camp with an unknown patrol behind her. There was a red tom accompanied by a silver spotted apprentice, with a gray striped tom and a blue scarred molly behind them. Roachspring and Weaselpaw nosed them along from the back. Nutstar was on her stump, watching them as Sorrellight joined Starlingpaw.

“That’s Maplesong, the PuffinClan deputy, with his apprentice Codpaw,” Sorrellight whispered. “That’s why I was so worried, it can’t be good if the deputy comes to camp.”

“Maplesong,” Nutstar hummed, nodding to the group. “What brings you to our camp that couldn’t be discussed at the border with our counselors?” Rainsong and Frogbelly had been talking outside the warrior’s den, and stood beside the stump to support their leader.

“Greetings, Nutstar,” Maplesong purred, the PuffinClan patrol nodding back. “We thought a conversation in camp would prevent any tensions. Yesterday, after a battle with CliffClan, we scented ElkClan in our territory. An apprentice went missing shortly after that fight.”

“That was me!” Starlingpaw stammered, bolting to the group.

“Starlingpaw…” Frogbelly warned.

“I’m a new apprentice,” Starlingpaw explained, voice cracking. “I got excited to tour the territory yesterday and I crossed your border. I’m very sorry.” The blue molly carefully approached Starlingpaw. She sniffed his pelt.

“He still has a bit of kit freshness,” the molly said. “The scent fits.”

“Thank you, Tallfur,” Maplesong muttered as she rejoined the group. “Codpaw, why don’t you speak with Starlingpaw here while we continue discussions with Nutstar?”

“I wanted to ask about CliffClan,” Codpaw whined. 

“Listen to your mentor,” the gray tom warned.

“Sorry, Cliffstripe,” Codpaw grumbled, heading towards Starlingpaw. Starlingpaw tried to smooth his pelt. He kept his gaze fixed on Codpaw, refusing to look at the story-keeper’s den.

“Hi,” he chuckled. “So, your mentor is the deputy, huh?”

“It’s pretty cool,” Codpaw purred with a content wiggle of her tail. “He’ll get mad if he thinks I’m just eavesdropping. Let’s go sit somewhere else.”

“The apprentice’s den,” Starlingpaw quickly suggested, leading Codpaw away from Honeypaw’s hiding place.

“There’s been no sign of her in either PuffinClan or CliffClan,” Starlingpaw overheard Maplesong confide in Nutstar.

“And you believe she’s here,” Nutstar muttered. Starlingpaw and Codpaw sat outside the apprentice’s den.

“I think Maplesong wants me to figure out if you’re hiding something,” Codpaw admitted. Starlingpaw nearly coughed up a hairball.

“Why would I be lying?” Starlingpaw laughed, sounding like a jay.

“Exactly. It’s an excuse to get me out of his pelt while still seeing negotiations.”

“If your mentor is the deputy, what are you training to become?”

“A counselor! PuffinClan counselors are the best in all the Clans, you know. If anyone’s going to end the war, it’ll be us. My sister, Brightpaw, was talking about old war tactics her mentor taught her, because she’s going to be an amazing story-keeper, and that gave me this great idea to wear out CliffClan. Why not kidnap one of CliffClan’s young apprentices?”

“You came up with that idea?” Starlingpaw’s claws shook inside his feet, a sudden shocking anger flaring his temper up. “That’s horrible!”

“We wouldn’t hurt anyone, we’d just keep them hostage in the camp to bargain against CliffClan. Maplesong was just like you, but then Whalestar himself said it was a good strategy! That’s why we’re here, you see. We got into a fight with Honeypaw, this CliffClan apprentice, and Hollyshine was rough and knocked her out. The thing is, when we chased CliffClan away, Honeypaw was gone. There’s no sign of her going back to CliffClan, but Snailnose picked out her scent by your border. Someone needs to find her. She could be really hurt!”

“She’ll be alright.”

“How would you know? Have you seen her?” Codpaw’s blue eyes narrowed.

“No! No, I haven’t, I don’t even know what she looks like. I guess I’m thrown off by you. You want to end the war.”

“Of course I do. I don’t want my clanmates to die!”

“Then why are you fighting CliffClan? I want to know what happened.”

“They killed Archpelt. He was like a father to everyone in PuffinClan. He always took the time to check in with me. He was the burning image of little kindnesses. They left his body on the edge of the territory with his throat torn out!” Codpaw squeezed her eyes shut.

“I wasn’t trying to upset you.” Starlingpaw’s tail graced Codpaw’s back.

“Thrushpaw is going to be torn apart when he learns what happened.” Starlingpaw cocked his head. Codpaw shook out her pelt. “Forget that last part. CliffClan has been horrible to us! They moved the border and they nearly killed Ospreystep. We’re trying to defend ourselves. I don’t know what happened with Gooseleg, but I think CliffClan wants us dead. That’s why we’re looking for Honeypaw, if we can find her, we can make them stop the war and pay us back for Archpelt’s murder.” Starlingpaw stared at nothing. With Hailbranch and Codpaw’s opinions, who was in the right? Codpaw sniffed the air. Sharp pupils glared at Starlingpaw.

“Why do I smell CliffClan?” Codpaw growled.

“They came here looking for Honeypaw,” Starlingpaw half-lied. Codpaw followed her nose, the faint smell of CliffClan leading her towards the story-keeper’s den. Starlingpaw wanted to cry out and stop her, but that would only increase her suspicion. Panic setting in, he followed Codpaw.

“There’s cats asleep in there,” Starlingpaw warned. Codpaw poked her head into the den. Starlingpaw closed his eyes, waiting for battle.

“Hello there!” Cardinalblaze chirped. Starlingpaw opened one eye. Cardinalblaze and Riverwhisker were chatting in their nests, with no sign of Honeypaw.

“I thought I smelled…” Codpaw muttered, ears red.

“You must be Brightpaw’s sister,” Riverwhisker purred. “I’m sure you possess the same talent in your field as she does for storytelling.”

“Oh!” Codpaw chirped. “Thank you!

“The camp reeks of CliffClan, and there’s been no sign of Honeypaw,” Maplesong barked outside. “Where is she?” The apprentices trotted into the camp clearing.

“Her clanmates were looking for her,” Rainsong insisted. “No one knows.”

“Remember your promise,” Cliffstripe reminded ElkClan, glancing between Nutstar and Rainsong. “You told us you’d understand both sides of the conflict, not just CliffClan.”

“Understanding is not involvement,” Nutstar huffed. “Sorrellight, Bearclaw, can you escort PuffinClan back to their territory?”

“Yes, Nutstar,” Bearclaw said, emerging from his spot by the warrior’s den. Codpaw raced to her mentor’s side. Maplesong glared at Nutstar before leading PuffinClan out of camp, the ElkClan warriors behind them. Starlingpaw waited a moment before diving into the story-keeper’s den.

“Where did Honeypaw go?” he asked. Something squirmed underneath Cardinalblaze. Honeypaw shoved her head out from under Cardinalblaze’s fluffy chest.

“I can’t breathe under here,” Honeypaw gasped.

“I panicked,” Cardinalblaze said, getting off Honeypaw. Everyone joined the crowd slowly forming around Nutstar.

“I don’t like lying, Nutstar,” Frogbelly grumbled.

“We won’t give an apprentice to a foreign Clan as a hostage,” Nutstar grunted. “As soon as Honeypaw can return to her Clan, we will lean back on our neutral policy. At this point, our morality must influence our diplomacy. You of all cats can understand choosing the moral option, Frogbelly.”

“I wouldn’t let you give me up, anyway,” Honeypaw huffed.

“You reacted well under pressure, Starlingpaw,” Riverwhisker praised the young apprentice. “Adderscar is rubbing off on you.” The senior story-keeper’s compliment did not soothe Starlingpaw’s heart.

“Battle training, battle training, battle training,” Roachspring chanted the next day as he and Adderscar led their apprentices to the mud pools. Starlingpaw marveled at how much muscle Weaselpaw had developed since he began training. The strength of a warrior rippled under his pelt.

Starlingpaw was learning of the territory so sporadically, he had to stop and stare at the mud pools. They weren’t as grand as other landmarks, but thick pawprints sat embedded in the dirt. There was an aura of wisdom to the place, despite the faint whiff of blood from intense training. So much had been accidentally spilled, it was part of the clearing’s natural scent.

“We are starting with basic defensive moves,” Adderscar revealed, sitting next to Roachspring while the apprentices spread out.

“I already know those,” Weaselpaw huffed.

“Starlingpaw needs to learn,” Adderscar reminded him.

“I’m hoping you can teach him faster,” Roachspring chirped. “He’ll have to learn quick if he’s facing off against you!”

“I am?” Starlingpaw gulped.

“After a demonstration,” Adderscar assured him. “Roachspring?” 

“With pleasure!” Roachspring growled playfully. The huge warrior lunged at Adderscar. The sleek tom ducked under him and twisted away, emerging beside Roachspring. He quickly slashed Roachspring’s muzzle, claws tucked.

“That was a simple duck & twist followed by—” Adderscar began before Roachspring tackled him.

“And that was the element of surprise!” Roachspring giggled.

“I am teaching Starlingpaw!” Adderscar hissed as Weaselpaw laughed his head off.

“Did ya see that, Starlingpaw?” Roachspring laughed, battle-hungry eyes on Starlingpaw.

“A duck & twist?” Starlingpaw muttered. “Uh…” Starlingpaw tried to copy his mentor. He fell onto his belly and rolled onto his back. It took him a minute to get back on his paws.

“That was sad,” Weaselpaw scoffed.

“It is more effective if you can slash your opponent when you get to your paws,” Adderscar pointed out.

“Let’s learn my way,” Roachspring snarled with a twitch of his tail. He bolted full speed at Starlingpaw. Starlingpaw yowled and dropped just before Roachspring’s huge paw slammed into his face. He tried to roll, but he hit Roachspring’s legs.

“With a death blow to the back of the neck,” Roachspring narrated, nosing Starlingpaw’s neck, “the young apprentice dies.”

“Reset and try again,” Adderscar huffed, standing.

Roachspring and Starlingpaw repeated that dance a couple dozen times. Starlingpaw’s legs burned from the rolling and the ducking. At attempt 4, he could duck and miss Roachspring. He finally rolled away on attempt 11. Attempt 20 saw Starlingpaw get to his paws. By the 25th attack, Starlingpaw was confident enough to slash at Roachspring with sheathed paws.

“There it is,” Adderscar sighed as Starlingpaw panted in the dirt.

“Are we done?” Starlingpaw groaned. 

“Not quite!” Roachspring giggled. “Weaselpaw, did you practice the counter-move like a good kit?”

“If it gets me first pick for the Gathering, I’ll do anything,” Weaselpaw purred, claws moving in and out.

“See if you can dodge this one, Starlingpaw!” Roachspring ordered. Weaselpaw raced towards Starlingpaw. Starlingpaw immediately ducked, but Weaselpaw spun like a bird and dove underneath him, belly up. The flurry of blows to Starlingpaw’s stomach stunned him enough for Weaselpaw to push him over. He stood on his shoulder and leaned in close.

“You’d be nothing without your special treatment,” Weaselpaw hissed into Starlingpaw’s ear. “You get to be friends with the other apprentices while I have to fight to be respected.” Starlingpaw stared into Weaselpaw’s angry green eyes, squirming under his weight.

“That one’s called the twist & shove,” Roachspring trilled, padding around them.

“What else are we doing today?” Weaselpaw huffed, getting off Starlingpaw like nothing happened.

“Starlingpaw and I will be returning to camp,” Adderscar groaned, jaw gritted as he approached. “Feel free to continue your strange dynamic.”

“Do you think you can take me on in a fight?” Roachspring asked his apprentice.

“I heard that the apprentice has to overcome the mentor at some point,” Weaselpaw laughed, nudging Roachspring. Starlingpaw got up, legs shaking from exhaustion.

“You look radiant,” Adderscar chuckled. Starlingpaw stumbled, brushing against Adderscar’s wounds. He hissed, scrambling backwards. Starlingpaw shrunk, not expecting the strange reaction.

“Scars bothering you, Scarry?” Roachspring asked.

“No,” Adderscar growled. “Come on, Starlingpaw.” Starlingpaw limped after his mentor. He held his tongue, thinking over Weaselpaw’s words. Or were they a threat?

When they got back to camp, the fresh-kill pile was the thinnest Starlingpaw had ever seen. The prey-bare season of winter was coming. Starlingpaw grabbed a mouse while Adderscar shuffled around the bare pile, grabbing an old oriole. Starlingpaw’s body begged for food, the exhaustion of the dawn patrol (he had completely failed his test yesterday) having combined with the training, but he had to feed others first, that was the code. Since there were no elders to care for, Starlingpaw went to the nursery.

Inside, Skualeap was trying to settle Bustardkit and Porpoisekit for a sunhigh nap. She hooked them when they ran close, but they kept squirming away.

“Have you eaten yet?” Starlingpaw asked, dropping the mouse.

“Yum!” Bustardkit chirped, racing for the mouse.

“You already ate,” Skualeap snapped gently, grabbing Bustardkit’s scruff.

“But I’m still hungry!” Bustardkit whined.

“I’m sorry, Starlingpaw,” Skualeap sighed, wrangling Bustardkit close. “Why not see if Honeypaw and the healers need food?” Starlingpaw nodded and took the mouse outside. He wished he could take sunhigh naps again. In the holy den, Cranefeather sat beside Honeypaw, who buried her head in her nest.

“It’s still as bad as yesterday?” Cranefeather confirmed.

“Yes,” Honeypaw groaned.

“I wrapped some chicory flowers in wet moss,” Cranefeather explained, grabbing a soaked piece of moss from his stores. “Drink the water for me.”

“I brought you some food,” Starlingpaw said as Honeypaw licked at the moss.

“Thank you, Starlingpaw,” Cranefeather purred. “I was just about to share a meal with my mate. While you’re here, can you do me a favor and sort my herbs?”

“But I don’t know anything about herbs,” Starlingpaw reminded the healer.

“Just make the piles neat,” Cranefeather explained, tail waving at the herb stores. “I keep similar herbs separate for this exact reason. You shouldn’t mix them up if you’re careful. I’ll be back soon, Honeypaw.” Cranefeather took the mouse and joined Partridgeleg outside the empty elder’s den, where their kits ran about freely. Starlingpaw sat beside the roots and petals and pushed them into piles, his paws shaking.

“Was that your first training session?” Honeypaw asked. She pushed her moss away and began grooming. “You look exhausted.”

“I repeated the same move so many times,” Starlingpaw groaned. He glanced back at Honeypaw as he rolled poppy seeds onto a large maple leaf. “I thought you had a headache.”

“Cranefeather’s herbs worked,” Honeypaw claimed. 

A strange realization washed over Starlingpaw. The six toms who spent so much time raising him taught him certain skills. Frogbelly taught him to be kind and follow the code. Spiderstorm taught him to pay attention to the world. Cardinalblaze taught him stories, Berryfrost taught him reasoning, Roachspring taught him what hunting and battle moves were acceptable to learn in camp, and Adderscar? He taught him what it looked like when someone lied.

“Why are you lying?” Starlingpaw asked. Honeypaw blinked, clearly caught off.

“Starlingpaw, why would I lie about that?” Honeypaw scoffed, tufted ears flicking.

“That’s what I asked. My mentor taught me how to spot a lie. You were too stiff when you said that, like you were holding your breath. I’m not mad, I’m just confused.” Honeypaw flinched.

“I don’t like lying, but… I don’t want to go back to CliffClan.”

“You don’t?”

“Not yet, eventually. My head feels a lot better than yesterday, but if Cranefeather thinks I’m healing, he’ll send me back, and I’m not ready.”

“Don’t you miss your family?”

“Everything’s wrong. Haibranch, Lemmingstar, Rippedpool, they’re all on a warpath. The counselors have to work overtime to hunt for the Clan while the warriors and story-keepers focus on fighting. The elders are helping guard our camp. And Beaverstone…”

“A friend of yours?”

“Not really. He was a nice tom, but we didn’t talk much. The day before you found me? He joined a patrol to scare off prey in PuffinClan. He was wounded, badly. He hadn’t recovered from the first battle completely. When Hailbranch came by yesterday… She told me he died, Starlingpaw. What if I’m next?”

“You won’t be!”

“ElkClan is so peaceful. Your clanmates are so funny! I’m scared to leave.” Starlingpaw wasn’t sure how to respond. Was there a “right thing” to say, or a gesture that could soothe her fears?

“Maybe you could talk to Grassleaf or Smalltail,” Starlingpaw suggested. Honeypaw laid back down, staring deeper into the den. Starlingpaw sighed and went back to sorting herbs.

By the time he was finished and his legs stopped shaking, Honeypaw was still ignoring him. Maybe he could finally eat something. When Starlingpaw got to the fresh-kill pile, the only prey left were a cuckoo and a mouse. He grabbed the cuckoo and headed for the apprentice’s den. He sat in his nest and quietly ate, daydreaming of mice, oleanders, and war.

“Gh—Flake,” Pondpaw called a short time later, the cuckoo nearly finished. The older apprentice stood outside the den, paws itching with unknown anticipation. “You’re proving to be popular with CliffClan. You’ll want to see who Cardinalblaze and I brought to camp.” Starlingpaw abandoned his meal and joined Pondpaw. 

There were three CliffClan cats standing with Cardinalblaze. Two were golden, though one was clearly an apprentice, while the other was big and gray. Starlingpaw recognized them from Honeypaw’s descriptions. It was her family!

“Where’s my daughter?” Ashwhisker stammered, glancing around camp.

“Dad?” Honeypaw gasped, racing out of the holy den.

“Honey!” Lightpaw squealed. She bolted into her littermate. The two collided on their back legs, front paws on each other’s shoulders like kits.

“Careful, she still has a concussion,” Ashwhisker warned as Goldenshade hurried past him. The family rubbed against each other in the center of the clearing with an audience of ElkClan.

“How are you here?” Honeypaw cried, laughter in her words.

“Nutstar and Lemmingstar said we could visit you,” Goldenshade purred, nuzzling her daughter.

“When are you coming home?” Lightpaw huffed, sniffing the dry cobwebs on Honeypaw’s head.

“Well, my head still hurts, and I get sort of sick if I walk around too long,” Honeypaw gulped, “but it won’t be long, I promise. I’ve missed you too.”

“I don’t want you getting back until you’re better,” Ashwhisker grunted. “I don’t want you hurt again.” Lightpaw squirmed out of the reunion and noticed Starlingpaw watching them.

“You’re the apprentice that brought Honeypaw here,” Lightpaw realized. “Thank you, really.” Starlingpaw bowed a little, not wanting to draw attention.

“Just as Swiftflake reported,” someone growled at the camp entrance. Vetcheye flew into camp, teeth marks on his scruff. He slammed into the leader’s stump, where Nutstar and Hazelear had been overseeing the CliffClan reunion. All eyes turned to the entrance as Maplesong entered camp, PuffinClan warriors behind him.

“Vetcheye!” Darkheart yowled, racing to her wounded son.

“Maplesong, what are you doing?” Nutstar roared as a chorus of hisses filled the camp.

“You said you weren’t helping CliffClan,” Maplesong growled, tail thrashing. “We saw this patrol entering your territory. You’ve been harboring Honeypaw this whole time!”

“We hadn’t planned to shelter her, but we wouldn’t allow her to be taken as a hostage once we did,” Hazelear snapped. Starlingpaw counted the crowd. Most of the cats in camp were counselors or queens who would be focused on protecting their kits. Including Ashwhisker and Lightpaw, both sides were evenly matched.

“I’m sorry it’s come to this,” Maplesong grumbled. He turned to his warriors and yowled “Take Honeypaw and her sister, but one will do!” With that, the camp exploded. 

Nutstar and Hazelear collided with Maplesong and the warriors. Partridgeleg trapped her kits in the elder’s den. Cranefeather grabbed Vetcheye and helped him towards the holy den. Pondpaw raced past Starlingpaw. Darkheart launched at Tallfur with unseen fury and battle prowess.

“Lightpaw, get you and your sister to the holy den!” Goldenshade ordered as Smalltail led Morningshine and Grassleaf out of camp.

“I’m fighting!” Lightpaw growled, nudging Honeypaw after Cranefeather. Starlingpaw raced after Honeypaw. He couldn’t help in the fight, but he would be Honeypaw’s last line of defense.

“I wasn’t as healed as I thought,” Honeypaw groaned, stumbling to the back as Cranefeather treated Vetcheye’s bite.

“Where’s Saltfrost when I need her?” Cranefeather grumbled, grabbing leaves from his stores. Starlingpaw watched the fight from the den’s edge, claws out and back arched.

“Goldenshade, grab a kit!” Skualeap yowled, grabbing Bustardkit’s scruff. Goldenshade ran for the nursery, grabbed a screaming Porpoisekit, and raced out of camp with Skualeap. Ashwhisker dug his fangs into a tortoiseshell. A dark brown tom pinned Nutstar against her stump. Hazelear slammed into him. A dark red tom charged towards Starlingpaw; the same tom who hurt Honeypaw.

“Get back!” Starlingpaw hissed, fur raised high. Cardinalblaze launched from the crowd and pulled the tom’s tail. The two collapsed into a ball of ginger fur spinning across camp.

Cardinalblaze rolled past Adderscar. A silver molly kicked Adderscar’s wounds. The new mentor screamed, stumbling back. A light brown tom joined the molly. The two began to close in on Adderscar, who was slow to recover. No!

Starlingpaw bolted across camp and bit the brown tom’s tail, hard. When he spun around, Starlingpaw clawed him across the muzzle. He finally felt blood between his claws. The molly bit into his paw while the tom returned the favor, slashing at Starlingpaw’s coat. How could Roachspring love battle when it hurt so much? The molly pinned him down.

A golden blur leapt over Starlingpaw and attached itself to the silver warrior’s back. She was quick to kick the enemy off, but blood seeped down her shoulder. Lightpaw stood triumphant beside Starlingpaw, who scrambled up, paw throbbing.

“You save Honeypaw, I save you!” Lightpaw declared. “Keep them distracted for me!” The brown tom ran at Starlingpaw. The morning’s training rushed in. Starlingpaw ducked and twisted under the tom’s paws. With his attention on Starlingpaw, he didn’t notice Adderscar fly into him. Starlingpaw spat in the attacker’s eye. Another attack, another duck & twist, with Lightpaw racing in to finish him off.

More warriors rushed into camp. Starlingpaw panicked for a moment before he recognized them. Bearclaw, Drizzlecloud, Sunfang, and Scauppaw had returned from their border patrol! Maplesong stood on the stump and watched in horror. He glared at Lightpaw, who hissed triumphantly.

“PuffinClan, retreat!” Maplesong called. “Retreat!” The silver molly helped the light brown tom limp towards the exit. Bloody paw prints traced the path out. ElkClan yowled with victory! Ashwhisker appeared at Lightpaw’s side, panting.

“We should get back and tell Lemmingstar,” Ashwhisker growled. “We’ll make sure they leave your land.”

“Bye, Honeypaw!” Lightpaw called. Honeypaw poked her head out of the holy den just in time to wave her family off. The counselors filed into camp, with Skualeap and Grassleaf carrying Bustardkit and Porpoisekit. Everyone scanned their neighbors for wounds, helping anyone who needed it towards the holy den. Nutstar leaned against Hazelear, bleeding heavily, stumbling as she walked.

“Someone find Saltfrost, she should be collecting herbs!” Hazelear ordered as Cranefeather took the injured leader.

“I’ll get her!” Smalltail declared as she entered, running back out.

“Well, I had planned to reveal this after Smalltail’s ceremony, but time got away from me and now here we are,” Morningshine laughed awkwardly. “Is now a good time to mention I’m a moon pregnant?”

When Saltfrost got back to camp, her fury roared against just about every cat in the camp. First Vetcheye for not warning the camp, then Starlingpaw for not grooming his bitten paw after the fight (“You could get an infection!”), then Adderscar for irritating his wounds, and lastly Morningshine for not telling anyone she was expecting (“I know going out and having kits is a Clan tradition, but you think you’d have the common sense to tell your healers!”). 

While Cranefeather began treating injuries, Saltfrost took charge. She ordered Darkheart to check Morningshine for her kits’ progress and told the counselor to “get your tail in the nursery or so help me StarClan I will trap you in there until those kits are born.” She kicked Vetcheye out of the holy den, as his wounds had merely stunned him and were treated, so the more injured could take a seat. She escorted Nutstar to her den. She dragged a stubborn Adderscar to the holy den, divided her fresh herbs among the patients, and ordered Hazelear to get the rest of the Clan back to camp. The deputy had opened her mouth to protest, but one angry look from the young healer sent her on her way.

Starlingpaw sat outside the apprentice’s den, grooming his paw until the smell of PuffinClan faded. Sunset streaked through the camp. Starlingpaw was one of the few uninjured cats Saltfrost hadn’t given a job. The hunting patrol gave their catches straight to the injured, never touching the fresh-kill pile. The mouse from earlier was still there, slowly turning to crowfood. No one went to Nutstar’s den. Maybe Starlingpaw could give her the mouse!

Starlingpaw grabbed the fresh-kill and strolled to the stump, paw itching. Nutstar was a dark shadow in her nest, cobwebs and poultices across her body. She was sleeping. Starlingpaw set the mouse by Nutstar’s muzzle. The leader twitched, and one of the bundles of cobweb rubbed onto the nest. A long wound slowly stained the moss. All this because Starlingpaw interfered with the other Clans. He turned to go, ears drooping.

Nutstar sighed, long and deep. Starlingpaw glanced back. His leader was still. 

His leader wasn’t breathing.

“Nutstar?” Starlingpaw whispered. He nudged the brown molly. She was limp. Starlingpaw felt sick. 

He’d just seen someone die.

“Tell me this isn’t your last life,” Starlingpaw gulped, shoving Nutstar. Her head slumped out of the nest. Starlingpaw stumbled back. What should he do? Call for Saltfrost? Or Cranefeather? Had he been witness to the end of Nutstar’s reign?

Nutstar’s long wound stopped bleeding. Missing tufts of fur sprouted out of her skin and grew with impossible speed. Starlingpaw held his breath as Nutstar’s eyes opened. Her pupils shifted, expanding into four-point stars. Nutstar gasped and flew up. She met Starlingpaw’s panicked gaze. She blinked, and her eyes returned to normal.

“Starlingpaw,” Nutstar panted. “What are you doing here?”
“I was getting you food,” Starlingpaw quickly explained, motioning to the mouse. “Did you just die?”

“Two lives left,” she muttered, scanning her wounds.

“I’ll get Cranefeather.” Starlingpaw turned to go.

“No.” The apprentice froze. “Starlingpaw, you can’t tell anyone what you witnessed.”

“Why?”

“It isn’t wise for others to know how many lives I have left. Even knowing I lost a life can make me seem weaker. I will tell Spiderstorm and Cranefeather in my own time, once I…” Nutstar laid back down, strained from the experience. “Once I fully heal. Thank you for the mouse. Can I trust you, Starlingpaw?” Starlingpaw hesitated. The truth was a hunt. He could share the prey, or…

“I won’t tell.”

“Good. Get some rest, Starlingpaw. You’ve done well for your Clan.” Starlingpaw left the den, unsure if that was true. For once, Starlingpaw knew something Adderscar didn’t.

“I’m going to miss ElkClan,” Honeypaw sighed the next day as Starlingpaw, Adderscar, Smalltail, and Cranefeather escorted her to the Stacked Stones. “I wish you were my clanmates.”

“You’d hate us as clanmates,” Smalltail laughed. “We don’t shut up!”

“I’ll miss you too,” Starlingpaw admitted. A terrible thought sprung to mind. “You don’t think we’ll have to fight each other one day, do you? I mean, we’re in different Clans.”

“Mistpaw said something about that,” Honeypaw hummed. “He’s friends with Tallfur and Swiftflake from PuffinClan. I was so confused, but he explained it to me. He’s not fighting Tallfur and Swiftflake, he fights PuffinClan. Even if we dig our claws into each other, we wouldn’t be very good friends if we couldn’t reconnect. That’s Clan life.”

“Just, uh, don’t kill me,” Starlingpaw chuckled awkwardly.

“I’ll try to avoid you,” Honeypaw promised. “Seeing my family, it’s what I needed to… get better.” The patrol slipped out of the trees. The Stacked Stones stood before them in all their mossy glory. CliffClan cats stood waiting for Honeypaw, Goldenshade and Harriershade among them.

“Go see your family,” Cranefeather hummed, nodding Honeypaw along. Honeypaw licked Starlingpaw’s foot, a sign of friendship, and scurried down the hill towards her family. 

“Let’s go through the trees,” Smalltail suggested, leaping up an oak.

“I haven’t learned to climb yet,” Starlingpaw pointed out as Cranefeather joined the young counselor.

“Copy me,” Adderscar sighed. He slowly climbed a pine and stood in the lower branches. It took Starlingpaw more than a few tries, but he managed to get up the tree. Once he was there, jumping from branch to branch was quite simple. A skill learned from Spiderstorm; watching his step. Smalltail and Cranefeather left the pair behind, shaking needles and leaves off twigs.

“Oleander,” Starlingpaw suddenly said. Adderscar landed in an elm and paused, watching his apprentice in the pine.

“Is that what you consider a sentence?” Adderscar scoffed.

“Your favorite flower is oleander,” Starlingpaw explained. “I figured out it wasn’t pine early on. I’ve been told the story of the Fire of the Long Heat, how you and your littermates were trapped in the elder’s den by burning pine branches. Your favorite tree wouldn’t be the one that scarred you. Yesterday, your wounds were itching before the battle. There was a mouse on the top of the fresh-kill pile, but you ignored it for other prey. Partridgeleg said cats go for their favorite prey when they’re hurting, and that’s what you did. So your favorite flower is oleander. Am I right?” Adderscar blinked slowly, his lazy eye pointed at Starlingpaw.

“Well aren’t you clever. You passed my test. I avoided the mouse to give you a chance.”

“You know I know you’re lying.”

“I’m not.”

“Yes you are.”

“I’m not.”

“Yes you are.”

“Liar says what?”

“What?” Adderscar purred as Starlingpaw groaned. How could he fall for such an easy trick? “There’s something else I wanted to bring up.” Starlingpaw sat on a branch, tail dangling. “You were right.” 

“I’m sorry, I was what now?” Adderscar tipped an ear closer.

“You were right.”

“Repeat that one more time.”

“YOU WERE RIGHT!”

“Yes!” Adderscar nearly fell out of the tree. He yowled to the sky, frightening Starlingpaw. He shook out his pelt, cheering “Yes! Yes! Finally! Finally, someone admits it! Thank you! Thank you! Yes!” Starlingpaw didn’t know Adderscar was capable of such excitement. Adderscar cleared his throat, smoothed his fur with a light shake, and quietly said “What was I right about?”

“I shouldn’t have interferred with PuffinClan,” Starlingpaw admitted. “I don’t regret saving Honeypaw, but I got ElkClan hurt. The battle was my fault.”

“Maybe you’ll learn to pick your battles. Hopefully you pick no battles. If you have a choice, just leave.”

“I don’t like that you lie all the time. You can be pretty mean.”

“Me? No!”

“I’m glad you’re my mentor, Adderscar.” The honest compliment shut Adderscar up. With a pleased flick of a whisker and a twitch of his tail, he marched further through the trees, his loyal apprentice at his heels.