Scarlet River P169

            Riverfall opened her eyes on the fifth morning after the gathering. The two Thunderclan scouts, Smokefang and Nightclaw, had left four days prior with the other clans’ chosen scouts. Since then the clan had been determinedly calm. It was business as usual by all appearances, but Riverfall could sense the underlying apprehension. Would the scouts return with confirmation? If they did…what then?

            These were the questions that, although never spoken, Riverfall could tell were on the minds of each of her clanmates. Still, she tried to stay focused on training. Now that she had covered most all of the basics, Stonefrost suggested going into more complex moves and tactics.

        As the brown she-cat stretched, pushing herself to her paws, she felt her heart sink. Glancing to the side, she observed the empty place where Stonefrost usually lay curled beside her. He was out early again…and Echolight was gone as well. Pushing her way out into the clearing, Riverfall scanned the camp in search of her friends.

        The morning sun’s rays slanted into the clearing, decorating the high walls with bright light, the shadows a pleasant purple-grey. A cool breeze wafted across the space, and Riverfall breathed in for a moment. Another day was about to start. Her clanmates were already up, gathered in small groups around the camp or heading toward the entrance on whatever errand they had been assigned. Riverfall felt a flash of guilt for having been one of the few to wake up last.

        Padding over to Duststorm, the she-cat meowed,

        “Are the duties already assigned today?”

        The deputy glanced toward her. With a sly look, he replied,

        “Most have, yes. You’ll be on the evening patrol with Voletooth and Sparrowbreeze today. Before then, feel free to hunt with Amberclaw, Dappletail or Leafheart and Pinepaw. Everyone else is training on their own, doing tasks around camp, or on patrol.” Duststorm leaned toward Riverfall, lowering his voice slightly, “If I were you, I’d go with Leafheart and Pinepaw. I realize you’ve been teaching the past few weeks, but observing a mentor may help you.” The deputy gave her a meaningful look before padding away.

        Riverfall stared after him, feeling slightly uneasy. Was the tom implying that she was too dependent on others? Or could it be that she might be assigned an apprentice in the future, and was suggesting she get experience with training one on one? Either implication sent a shiver through the silver-striped warrior. An apprentice… Riverfall felt a worm of fear wiggling in her stomach. Swallowing, she shoved the feeling aside with a stern, No way. An apprentice will be way down the road. I just became a warrior a moon ago, and I’m nowhere near ready to train anyone myself.

        With that, the she-cat started across the clearing toward the elder’s den. She’d seen Amberclaw heading toward there, and he was certainly her choice for a hunting partner over Dappletail. As kind as the spotted she-cat was, she could also be a bit of a pain to hunt with.

        Despite herself however, Riverfall found her eyes wandering toward the nursery. Swiftflight, one of the current queens, was lying in the sun as her kits tumbled before her. Firekit, a ginger she-kit with bright yellow eyes, laughed as her sister Hawkkit, a brown tabby, tackled her. Brackenkit, a smaller tom with a darker brown pelt, watched the two for a moment before attempting to join the scuffle. All three were nearing their sixth moon…all three would need mentors within the month.

        Riverfall had barely considered an apprentice. She realized that many others looked forward to the responsibility and honor of becoming a mentor, but she often chose not to think about it. Training the clan was one thing. She had help and experienced warriors as her students, easily able to pick up and adjust to new tactics…to train a young cat with no previous experience...it seemed utterly impossible.

        “Riverfall?”

        The she-cat jumped at the sound of her name, turning swiftly. Amberclaw was standing a few paces away. He cocked his head, “You’ve been staring at those kits for a few minutes now.” His eyes widened as a realization seemed to dawn on him, “Are you expecting?!”

        Riverfall felt her heart spring up into her throat, and immediately her fur was on end.

        “Oh Starclan, NO!” the she-cat exclaimed, drawing the eyes of the surrounding cats.

        Amberclaw jumped back slightly at her extreme reaction. Riverfall attempted to calm herself, flustered as she continued, “I-I mean, no I’m not. I was just thinking about-well they’re soon to be apprentices after all-I mean, not that I’d want…I was just wondering…”

        “Ooooh,” the warrior meowed in understanding, ignoring her jumbled chattering. “I see. You were curious about who their mentor might be.” The tom leaned toward her, as if confiding, “I heard that Berryspot, Rippletail and Robinfire might get them, but that’s just a rumor.”

        “Oh…” Riverfall mewed. The tom smiled,

        “Were you hoping for one?”

        “N-no, actually…”

        “I was.” The tom sighed. Riverfall glanced at him in surprise. Slowly, she asked,

        “Have you not had an apprentice?”

        “Nope. Actually, when Stonefrost and Echolight were getting into their sixth moon I was thinking I’d get one of them, but that didn’t happen, obviously.” The tom shrugged. “Lightstar knows what she’s doing with mentor assignments, but you know…I can’t help being jealous.”

        Riverfall nodded in understanding. For a moment, the two said nothing, watching the three kits begin a game of war.

        “You never know, maybe one of them will be yours.” Riverfall murmured. Amberclaw smiled.

        “I remain hopeful.”

        “So…would you want to hunt with me? Duststorm said you were free, and the clan always needs food.”

        Amberclaw shrugged,

        “Sure. Just finished delivering some new moss to the elders anyway.” The warrior rolled his eyes, “There’s another reason why I’d like an apprentice: escaping from tasks like that.”           

        “Don’t apprentices normally do that anyway? Where are Rainpaw and Pinepaw?” Riverfall chuckled. The two padded swiftly toward the camp entrance, and Amberclaw sighed.

        “With all the increased training, some of us warriors are assigned apprentice duties. Gotta keep the clan running, but also gotta make sure those young cats are ready for war…if it comes to that.”

        Riverfall watched her paws passing smoothly over the sandy floor. The two warriors pushed passed the bracken barrier and emerged into forest. The sun’s rays remained angled beams as they broke through the thick foliage and dappled the forest floor. Amberclaw led the way toward the Great Oak as Riverfall tried to push the thought of training from her mind. Lately the topic had grown somewhat sour to her.

        The she-cat shook her head, allowing the smells and sounds of the forest to chase away her thoughts. It was hunting time, and she needed all her focus to be even half decent at catching anything.

        “We’ll meet back here by sun-high, sound good?” Amberclaw mewed, coming to a stop by a gnarled tree stump. Riverfall nodded and the two cats split up, slipping into the surrounding undergrowth.