Chapter Text
Echosong strolled through the forest, keeping her eyes and nose pricked. In the moon since Firestar and Sandstorm had left SkyClan, she had come to know herbs like she knew her own pelt. Unfortunately, that meant she was even more certain of the lack of marigold available throughout the territory.
The plants had been eaten away by rabbits, and although warriors had happily hunted the creatures down, there was no chance at regrowth in Leaf-fall. Sharpclaw had asked patrols to pick any up if they saw some, but Echosong was certain that she would have to expand her search in order to find the plant.
Gazing up at the fence bordering Twolegplace, she felt a flood of emotions. Fear that she would fail her search, or get attacked and leave SkyClan without a medicine cat. Nostalgia for her days as a kittypet, which felt like a lifetime ago. Guilt for leaving her twolegs without closure, for they likely thought she died and would never know she would she was finally happy. Frustration for having to travel so far for a few StarClan forsaken plants. Relief, as she could smell marigold nearby along with chamomile and catmint.
Steeling herself, Echosong sprang and landed lightly on top of the fence. She traveled along the wooden planks, keeping a careful eye out for her desired herbs.
There. A patch of marigold right along the fence. Eagerly jumping into the yard, Echosong quickly nipped at the stems, forming a pile.
“What are you doing?” Echosong jolted her head up to see a black molly balancing on the fence. Where did she come from? I didn’t hear her at all. The newcomer sprang down and gave Echosong a curious sniff. “You’re not from around here, are you?” There was curiosity in her gaze.
“I’m from the gorge near here,” Echosong explained. “I’m trying to stock up on herbs before Leafbare.”
“Oh! You’re one of those clan cats who live around here.” The black molly’s eyes lit with interest. “My name is Ebony,” she introduced herself. “I’m Echosong.”
Ebony looked back at the fence. A thoughtful expression crossed her face.“What is it like, living wild?”
Echosong was slightly caught off guard. She had expected much more absurd questions. From what Firestar had said, I expected her to ask if I ate bones. Though I shouldn’t be one to judge considering my past.
Ebonyclaw reflected for a moment before giving her answer. “Living as a clan cat is fulfilling. I always felt unsatisfied with my life as a kittypet, and I feel like I make a real difference as a medicine cat.”
Ebony’s eyes widened. “You were a kittypet? And they still let you join?”
Echosong nodded. “Many SkyClan cats are former kittypets. The clan only formed a couple moons ago from us and loners.”
“So the stories were true!” Ebony’s tail twitched in excitement. “I heard from some of the neighborhood cats that a strange ginger tom had talked to them about an ancient clan that he was trying to rebuild. I thought they were making it up!”
“That would be Firestar. He isn’t here anymore, but we have him and a cat named Sandstorm to thank for the reformation of SkyClan.”
Echosong remembered her first days in SkyClan. Sandstorm had attempted to teach her as much as she knew. The pale ginger molly had seemed impressed, though not entirely surprised, at the speed and accuracy in which she had memorized the distinctions and uses of herbs.
The medicine cat looked down at her pile. It was reasonably sized, although she wished she could bring back more. “That will have to be enough. I should get these back to my clan.”
Echosong looked around for a fresh leaf. In leaf-fall, it was difficult to find one that weren’t already stiff and crumbling.
“I can help you with those.” Ebony gestured to the marigold. “I’d be happy to walk back to the gorge with you.”
This ‘Ebony’ keeps surprising me. The black kittypet’s expression was sincere, if not a touch eager. Echosong didn’t know how to let her down gently.
”It’s pretty far from here. Besides, my clanmates would chase you out if they saw you.”
”Not if you explain that I’m with you. Please? I want to see the gorge.”
Echosong hesitated. Could there be any harm? She’s just one cat. Besides, it would let me gather some catmint as well.
She let out a deep breath. “Alright. But you have to listen to everything I say and don’t wander off.”
Ebony’s eyes lit up with delight, but just nodded in agreement.
Echosong looked up at an oak tree. She could see a few leaves that still looked fresh enough to bend and roll. Running forward, she bunch her muscles and sprang, sinking her claws into the trunk as her paws met bark. She hauled herself up into the branches and made her way to her target with agility that was starting to rival a warrior’s. The medicine cat carefully nipped a couple leaves off and carried them back down.
Ebony looked on in awe. “The way you climbed that tree… you looked so quick and confident.”
Echosong licked her chest, her fur warm from the praise. “It took a while to get that good. I admit I was a bit hopeless when I first started climbing. Here, put the marigold on this leaf while I gather catmint.”
After quickly gathering the delicious smelling plant, the two mollies left the garden for the trek back to SkyClan camp.
Echosong watched with quiet amusement as Ebony gazed around the territory. It was obvious that the molly had questions, but she held her tongue until the two finally reached the gorge.
It was fairly empty, with most cats likely being out for battle training. Clovertail was watching Petalnose’s kits, Sagekit and Mintkit, while Sharpclaw and Leafstar were talking beside the river. The leader turned her attention to Echosong and Ebony.
”Who is this?” Leafstar approached the pair. “A kittypet?”
Ebony looked at Echosong, who nodded for her to talk. The black molly set down her bundle and dipped her head. “Greetings. My name is Ebony. I met Echosong while she was picking marigold and offered to help her carry it back.”
Leafstar looked conflicted. “That’s very nice of you Ebony, but we usually don’t allow cats outside our clan on our territory.”
Echosong set down her herbs. ”Leafstar, can we talk for a moment? Ebony, stay there.”
Both cats looked surprised by the silver molly’s authoritative tone. Nevertheless, Leafstar agreed and the two padded away.
”Leafstar, I’d like to offer Ebony a place in SkyClan.” Echosong winced slightly at her own bluntness and Leafstar’s surprise, but kept going.
”She was so eager to come into our territory, and her curiosity reminds me of how I felt when I joined.”
Leafstar didn’t look entirely convinced. “I don’t know. Remember what happened with Shortwhisker? I don’t want to spend all that time training up a cat just for them to leave. Besides, have you asked Ebony if she would want to be a warrior?”
Echosong had to admit that she hadn’t. But I’m sure she would say yes.
“Maybe we could give her a trial period of sorts? Let her learn about what it means to be a warrior before deciding if she wants to commit.”
Leafstar thought for a few moments. “It’s a good idea,” she admitted. “I’m willing to try it.”
”We should go ask her now,” Echosong suggested. Leafstar agreed and they made their way back to Ebony, who had ran into Petalnose and was asking her questions.
The gray queen stopped talking as she noticed her leader. Leafstar dipped her head to Petalnose as she made her way back to her kits. Leafstar’s face grew more serious as she addressed Ebony.
“Echosong tells me that you have an interest in clan life and suggested I extend an offer for you to learn more. You could train with our apprentices and help with camp duties, to get an understanding of clan life. Do you accept?”
Ebony was quick to agree. Leafstar instructed her to wait on a border until the dawn patrol came by, and request to be brought to camp.
The next day, before sunhigh, Ebony was there. With her was a ginger and white tom. “I’m Billy. Ebony told me that you were allowing her to try clan life, and I was hoping you would let me do the same.”
Sharpclaw frowned, but Leafstar smiled. “Of course. I wouldn’t turn away any cat who wants to learn our way of life.”
Sharpclaw huffed. “Fine. You have fun with them. I’m going to send out a hunting patrol.”
The two kittypets had done well. According to Leafstar, Ebony was very clever, and Billy had abundant optimism. After a quarter-moon, Leafstar had decided that they should be given a chance to join.
“Would you both like to join SkyClan?” Echosong waited for their faces to light up and them to eagerly accept. To her surprise, Ebony and Billy exchanged a glance. “I don’t know,” Billy said. “I’d miss my housefolk, and I don’t want to worry them by disappearing.” Ebony nodded. “Remember when Cherry and Boris vanished? Their housefolk were devastated. I don’t want to do that to mine.” She turned back to Leafstar and dipped her head. “I think I may need a few more days to decide. As much as I care about my housefolk, I also want to be a clan cat.”
Leafstar nodded. “I see. Can I still expect you both back tomorrow?” The two kittypets agreed.
Once they had left, Leafstar turned to Echosong. “We have quite the dilemma. Let’s meet in my den with Sharpclaw.”
The three cats gathered, and Leafstar addressed Echosong first. “You left your twolegs to join us. Do you ever miss them?”
Echosong’s stomach tightened. Despite how distant she had been growing to her former twolegs, the medicine cat still remembered them fondly.
“It’s a very difficult choice,” she admitted. “I still wonder how my twolegs felt and I don’t want to make any other cat feel that way.”
“What if they didn’t have to choose?”
Echosong’s eyes widened. “What do you mean?”
Leafstar looked thoughtful. “What if Echo and Billy continued what they were already doing? Coming to the gorge every day for warrior duties and returning to their Twoleg nests at night?”
”What?” Spat Sharpclaw. “Letting kittypets be warriors? It’s one thing if they started as kittypets before joining like Echosong and Cherrytail, but having uncommitted cats who go back to a Twoleg nest every night? Absolute not!”
Echosong’s hackles raised.. “You forget, Sharpclaw, that we can’t afford to give ultimatums. SkyClan is still very small. Besides you two, there are only four warriors. Three of whom need to time extra time for training their apprentices.”
Leafstar flicked her tail. “Exactly. We can barely support ourselves with such a small clan. Echosong, I think maybe these kittypets could be part of our clan after all. I propose we start a new rank in our clan. We can call them… Daylight Warriors, perhaps?”
Echosong pondered the idea. It was quite reasonable considering how desperately they needed warriors, and she rather liked the idea of seeing Ebony again.
Sharpclaw still looked disgruntled. Echosong wished that Leafstar would be more firm with Sharpclaw, but the brown and cream molly was still struggling to be firm in her decisions.
I hope this doesn’t lead to too much trouble. Hopefully our clanmates will accept this idea without high protest.
The next day, when the two kittypets returned, Leafstar explained her idea. Ebony and Billy quickly agreed, the former even mentioning other cats who could be willing to do the same.
“Then it’s settled.” Leafstar bounded onto the rockpile and let out a yowl. “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Rockpile for a clan meeting.” Echosong watched her clanmates rise from where they were talking, bathing, or eating. They slowly gathered, some cats giving the kittypets confused looks.
“I’m sure you’re wondering about the two new cats who have been coming here recently. For those who don’t know, their names are Ebony and Billy...”
While Leafstar explained her new proposal, Echosong watched the faces of the crowd. Some wore looks of approval, but others had expressions of disdain, confusion, or frustration.
“Now that that’s been said, it’s time for you both to receive clan names.”
“I, Leafstar, leader of SkyClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon these two cats. They have a true desire to learn the ways of your noble code and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn. Ebony, Billy, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your lives?”
“I do,” the two cats replied.
“Then by the power of StarClan I give you your warrior names. Billy, from this moment on you will be known as Billystorm. StarClan honors your courage and spirit and we welcome you as a full member of SkyClan. Ebony, from this moment in your will be known as Ebonyclaw. We honor your intelligence and determination and we welcome you as a full warrior of SkyClan.”
”Billystorm! Ebonyclaw!” Echosong yowled.
The two new warriors exchanged delighted looks.
“Normally you would sit vigil overnight,” Leafstar continued, “but instead I just ask that you take the evening to reflect on your new lives. You have permission to travel to the gorge without meeting a border patrol every morning, and I trust that you know the way by now.”
Echosong slipped up to Echosong. “Congratulations,” she mewed. The new warrior dipped her head. “I’m looking forward to living here,” she replied. “Thank you and Leafstar for giving me the chance.”
Echosong purred. “Thank you for giving me the idea. I look forward to seeing you become an accomplished warrior.”
Ebonyclaw nodded, determination in her eyes. “I won’t let you or SkyClan down.”