[Hellion]

i'm headed straight for the castle

THEY WANNA MAKE ME THEIR QUEEN

The calico coated leader chased the warmth by choosing to lead the sun-high patrol. As she trekked on it became more and more apparent to her that Leafbare was going to be harsh. The cold air numbed her nose and made her eyes water. Clearly more suited for the warmer moons of the year.

Pausing for a moment, Firestar glanced behind her to the cat following. Cloudypaw and her brother Niko walked together. Firestar had to admit she wasn't eager to bring along the tom-cat that so clearly didn't bother to adjust to his new life. However regardless of which side of the border he landed on. Firestar wanted him to have a full understanding of where LightingClan ended and another Clan began.

Half a stride after them was Bramblethorn, a tom-cat that Firestar wanted on a patrol in case they came across some StoneClan cats. He was suited for fighting and would allow the two apprentices time to run for help if they were caught.

Normally Firestar kept the patrols along the Sunstone border with a minimum of five, but this day she settled for four. Most of ther classmates were busy hunting or patrolling other parts of their territory. Rumors and knowledge of foxes kept them all on edge.

"We will be arriving shortly at the border. I'll make it while the three of you keep watch." Firestar explained to them catching a nod of approval from Bramblethorn before she directed him with a nod to take the lead. Firestar's pawsteps carried her to the two siblings before opening her maw to ask them a question.

"Why do we patrol our borders so often?" She asked, looking for the she-cat then the tom-cat waiting for either of them to answer. Firestar was perhaps being less lenient on the two of them. Her worried about their history and that concern constantly on her mind. Niko however, remained her utmost concern. She didn't want him to leave and have his sibling follow after him. She wanted him to let go of his loner name and take on a new one. As leafbare drew near, Firestar continued to worry that he never will.

She feared that the young tom would become a burden on the Clan that took him in.

FIRESTAR

background image | castle | table by phoenix | Fawn Amber

[Deleted]

NIKO

you're always gonna fly away

just because you know you can

The coal-colored tabby tom padded in silence beside his sister. Unlike his siblings, he hadn't been assigned a proper mentor, and though it was never said, Niko knew it was because he had refused to change his name. He could see it in the way Firestar acted around him, looked at him. She didn't quite trust him for not taking a Clan name. But how could he let go of the only thing his mother had give him other than his life? His memories of her had faded considerably since the toms he called Dad and Father had saved him and his siblings from that icy log three seasons ago. The only thing he had left of her was his name, and it broke his heart to even consider letting it go.

As it was, calling his siblings by their new names was difficult, and he often slipped up. It was heartbreaking, listening to them correct him. It was like they'd all let go, had forgotten and given up their mother completely, while he was stuck running in circles still clinging to her fading memory.

Firestar's voice struck through his somber mood and he looked up. "We will be arriving shortly at the border. I'll mark it while the three of you keep watch." He gave a small nod of acknowledgement before Firestar padded closer.

"Why do we patrol our borders so often?" Though he didn't have a proper mentor, Dad and Father had taught him a lot, acting as two mentors to him while other apprentices only had one. He knew the answer, and realized that answering it correctly might be a step toward earning Firestar's approval.

"We have to keep our Clan secure. Regular patrols keep the borders strong and discourage trespassers from crossing into our territory." With a jolt, he realized that that's basically what his mother had done; crossed Clan boundaries. He resisted the urge to hang his head in shame. Here he was, explaining the importance of keeping borders strong, while he himself had been on the other side of those borders at one point. The only reason he was still alive today is because of the choice his mother had made to ignore whatever scents had lingered that cold leafbare evening and take shelter withing LightningClan's borders. Though he wasn't exactly at fault, he still felt Firestar blamed him and even his siblings for wandering onto her territory and eventually into her camp. His gaze lowered and he shifted his paws, uncomfortable at the thoughts rolling around in his mind.

Fawn | Hellion

never gonna learn there's no such

place as neverland, you don't understand

[Fawn]

When Cloudypaw had first been assigned a patrol with Firestar, the tabby and white she-cat could scarcely believe her eyes; taken aback, she had at once looked around for Nightstep, and with one encouraging nod from him, she mustered as much courage as the little feline could. At least Niko got to come along with them; it had been a while since she had last spoken with her brother. They used to be so close... Yet coming to the Clan, taking different names - his decision to remain Niko - had put a wedge between them that Cloudypaw didn't like at all.

Meant to convey soft affection, Cloudypaw's smile was directed at her littermate, letting her pelt briefly brush against his as they walked step-for-step out of LightningClan's camp. A cool wind rustled the pelts of every cat present, and Cloudypaw shivered, at once wishing they had been assigned a hunting patrol instead; at least then she'd have a chance to warm up.

"Why do we patrol our borders so often?"

Cloudypaw squeaked in surprise, though the sound was barely audible to all save Niko, who was physically closest to her. O-Oh no! Firestar's asking us questions! A thousand ways to fail flitted across the she-cat's mind like shooting stars, at once compelling her to hunker down and disappear into the grasses like rain on a hot day. To her immense relief, Niko replied first. Don't let Nightstep down. He taught me about border patrols. Think Cloudypaw, think. Why did he say they always did border patrols? And scent-marked them?
It wasn't just to deter trespassers... was it?

"T-To let the other Clans know we're strong. A w-weak Clan can't protect it's borders." It was a rather accurate if not militaristic answer, and Cloudypaw would not have thought of it by herself. Fortunately, that was the purpose of having mentors - to learn, and consider Clan life in a perspective that normally wouldn't have crossed her mind at all.

Word Count: 326 Words
Tags: Hellion Amber
Notes:

[Hellion]

i'm headed straight for the castle

THEY WANNA MAKE ME THEIR QUEEN

Firestar's ears twitched at Niko's reply. She was glad that he knew that. In truth Firestar hadn't spent much time tending to Niko's overall training. The calico leader had faith in that fact that his fathers would teach him all he needed to know. There wasn't a warrior name for him to earn, he would be with them until he was old enough to be on his own. A ending Firestar didn't want to see.

While she clung to her beliefs and didn't want Niko to hold on to his past anymore, Firestar secretly wished the tom-cat would accept a new name. Didn't he want to embrace his new home? While she didn't know why she had a strong feeling that it was because of his mother. However, his siblings accepted their new names quickly enough, why did he feel the need to cling to their awful past?

Cloudypaw added to her brother's answer and Firestar offered the shy she-cat a soft smile. "You both are correct," She praised them both. "Its also important we keep this border well marked. We've taken over the sun stones and that means StoneClan will be quite eager to take it back. With that said no apprentice should come to this border alone. I don't want to risk a fight starting," Firestar explained before taking a few strides toward the scent markers and making sure they were well scented before returning. Bramblethorn carried on by himself to mark the rest of it.

"Do either of you have questions about our borders?" She asked as an attempt to carry on the conversation as Bramblethorn went about marking.

FIRESTAR

background image | castle | table by phoenix | Fawn Amber