Skyclan returns

Chapter 9

The next moon seemed to slip by for Hollywing. The weather gradually began to change from long, still, warm sunny days to short, cold evenings with lots of wind and fluttering gold and brown leaves. Prey was beginning to get scarcer and the fresh-kill pile was no longer as high as a full grown warrior.

Cinderpaw became Cinderoak, and it was almost time for Molekit's and Harekit's apprenticeship. Hollywing and Mousewhisker had become very close friends, and they hardly went anywhere without the other. Squirrelflight had become a queen again, and Hollywing was thrilled at the thought of having little siblings, but Squirrelflight continued her warrior duties, just as before when she was a queen, including training Foxpaw. Jaysight had become more of an outsider than he had been before SkyClan came, talking only when needed to and spending his time away from the rest of the Clan.

Hollywing had often wondered how the SkyClan cats were fairing in their new home, but no one had heard anything of the Clan. The Gathering was coming up, the first one that would fully include and recognize SkyClan as one of the Clans. Hollywing pleaded and begged with Firestar until she had his solemn promise that she could attend the Gathering as long as she didn't get into trouble.

The morning of the Gathering, Hollywing was curled into a tight ball, sleeping deeply, when Firestar called the Clan to a meeting. Hollywing stood up stiffly and stretched before following Mousewhisker out of the den and into the clearing. Millie was sitting with Harekit and Molekit, and both of the kits were well groomed, with their heads held up proudly.

"This must be their apprentice ceremony," Hollywing told Mousewhisker.

"Yeah," Mousewhisker agreed. "I wonder who the mentors are."

Hollywing looked around before replying. "I think it'll be Thornclaw and Spiderleg," she guessed.

"Hmm…I think it will be Birchfall and Ferncloud," Mousewhisker replied after looking around for a bit. "Birchfall hasn't had an apprentice yet, and if Ferncloud has had one, it hasn't been in awhile."

"We are gathered here today to make two kits apprentices," Firestar announced, and Hollywing could detect a hint of tiredness in his voice, but if anyone else did, they didn't show it. "Spiderleg, you are ready for an apprentice; you will be mentor to Molepaw."

Spiderleg stood up, clearly surprised, but pleased at the same time. "Spiderleg, you are a fierce fighter and a hard worker," Firestar continued. "Do your best to pass these skills on to Molepaw." Spiderleg and Molepaw touched noses and walked over to sit with Brackenfur and Sandstorm.

"Harepaw your mentor will be…" Firestar paused, as if suddenly uncertain about his choice. "Hollywing." Hollywing's head snapped up at the sound of her name and wondered if Firestar needed something. Firestar looked at her expectantly, and she realized that he had meant for her to be Harepaw's mentor.

Mousewhisker gently touched her shoulder with his tail, and she stumbled over to where Harepaw and Firestar were standing. This can't be right; Firestar must have made a mistake, she kept thinking. I can't be a mentor so soon. Harepaw's eyes shone with glee at the prospect of her friend being her mentor and Hollywing suddenly felt proud. Firestar wouldn't be disappointed in her.

"Hollywing, you are brave and loyal; do your best to pass these skills down to Harepaw," Firestar mewed. Harepaw and Hollywing touched noses and went to sit with Spiderleg and Molepaw.

"Molepaw! Harepaw! Molepaw! Harepaw!" the cats cheered. After the Clan had congratulated Harepaw and Molepaw, Hollywing decided it was time for Harepaw's training to begin.

"I'll show you around ThunderClan's territory first," Hollywing told her new apprentice.

"Okay," Harepaw replied excitedly, bouncing on her paws.

Hollywing smiled and turned, heading for the tunnel entrance. Mousewhisker bounded toward them and mewed, "Congratulations Hollywing, Harepaw," before running to the fresh-kill pile. Hollywing was greatly pleased with Mousewhisker's comment, and felt a little prouder and a bit more confident.

Hollywing decided to show Harepaw the borders first so that she wouldn't accidentally cross them. She headed over to the WindClan border, making small comments on the way. "Over that way is the old Thunderpath. The abandoned Twoleg nest is in that direction, too. I'll take you there after I show you the borders."

Harepaw drank in every word that Hollywing spoke, nodding her head. When they reached the WindClan border, Hollywing put fresh scent markers and told Harepaw to do the same. "This stream is the border between WindClan and ThunderClan," Hollywing explained. She started to follow the stream towards where she knew the Moonpool was located. "If you follow this stream long enough, you'll arrive at the Moonpool, where all of the medicine cats meet at the half moon."

After awhile, Hollywing veered back into the woodland, Harepaw right behind her. It didn't take long before they arrived at an old Thunderpath, now disused. "This Thunderpath stretches just past our camp and extends past the abandoned Twoleg nest," Hollywing mewed. "Monsters haven't used this Thunderpath as long as we've been here, but you should still be careful and watch out for them; you never know what a Twoleg will do."

Hollywing quickly crossed the Thunderpath and Harepaw followed like a shadow, silent but ever attentive. Hollywing trotted by the Thunderpath until the abandoned Twoleg nest hove into view. Hollywing shuddered at the sight of it, old and decrepit, it looked like it would fall in at any moment, and there was something about it that just didn't feel right.

"Jaysight and Leafpool come here to find some herbs, especially catmint," Hollywing told her apprentice. They cut off into the trees, away from the eerie nest and the old Thunderpath, towards the ShadowClan border.

"You never want to cross any borders, but especially not ShadowClan's," Hollywing told Harepaw. "They're very protective of their territory, so they'd claw you to pieces in seconds if they caught you on it."

"Is that what that yucky smell is?" Harepaw asked, wrinkling her nose.

"Every Clan has their own scent, each very different," Hollywing explained. They walked into sight of the ShadowClan border, and were surprised to see two cats there. Littlecloud and Tigerpaw were on their side of the border, collecting herbs. "Hi Littlecloud, hi Tigerpaw!" Hollywing called to them cheerfully.

"Hello Hollywing," Littlecloud replied, coming to stand near the border to talk to Hollywing and Harepaw, Tigerpaw following him cautiously. "Who's your friend?"

"This is my new apprentice, Harepaw," Hollywing told him.

"You've got an apprentice already?" Littlecloud asked in surprise. "Well, congratulations. I'm sure you've heard that Tigerpaw has become my medicine cat apprentice."

Littlecloud announced this so proudly that Hollywing didn't have the heart to tell him that she had heard nothing of it. "Oh, of course, of course," she replied. "Who hasn't heard it?" Hollywing turned to look at Tigerpaw, the sunlight gleaming off of her tiger-striped pelt. "How are you Tigerpaw?"

"I'm fine," Tigerpaw replied curtly.

"Well, it's nice to meet you," Harepaw mewed.

"You too," Tigerpaw muttered.

"Is something wrong?" Harepaw asked.

Tigerpaw sighed. "Well, one of our elders, Cedarheart, isn't doing too well; he might die," she answered. "We ran out of the herbs we needed, so we had to come out and collect some more."

"Well, I don't want to keep you any longer," Hollywing told Littlecloud and Tigerpaw. "I hope Cedarheart gets better!" Littlecloud and his apprentice went back to collecting herbs and Hollywing led Harepaw down along the ShadowClan border until they reached the lakeshore.

"Wow, the lake is so big!" Harepaw gasped in admiration. "What's that thing?"

Hollywing looked at where Harepaw had nodded. "That's the half-bridge," Hollywing explained. "Twolegs built it before we came here." Harepaw sprinted down to water's edge and poked her paw in the lake. "Careful Harepaw!" Hollywing warned her.

Harepaw reluctantly stepped away from the lake and followed Hollywing as she walked parallel to the shore. Harepaw pestered her with questions, like, why did RiverClan eat fish, why wasn't Silverpelt visible during the day, how were mentors for new apprentices chosen, and why were the Gatherings only once a moon?

"Here's the Sky Oak," Hollywing announced as a large, formidable oak reared in front of them.

Harepaw tilted her head upwards to try and see the top, but still couldn't. "It's tall," she meowed simply.

"We should head back to camp," Hollywing told her apprentice. "The Gathering's tonight and we need to rest up."

Hollywing raced through the forest, making sure she didn't lose Harepaw. Brambles and branches tugged at her fur, while twigs cracked under her paws; it took awhile, but they soon burst out of the trees ahead of the thorn tunnel. "Go ahead and get some fresh-kill," Hollywing told her apprentice.

After Harepaw bounded off, Hollywing looked around for Jaysight. It didn't seem as though he was in camp, so she left and went to the tree where they had talked to each other the day SkyClan left, a favorite place of both Jaysight and Hollywing now.

Jaysight was sitting there, looking as blank as ever. "Why didn't you tell me Tigerpaw was Littlecloud's apprentice?" Hollywing asked as she padded up.

"Because you didn't ask," Jaysight retorted a little harshly. "If you're only here to reprimand me, you should go back to camp."

"I wasn't going to reprimand you, I was just wondering why you didn't tell me, that's all," Hollywing replied, anger flaring in her stomach. "Since I can see you don't want company, I'll just leave then." She turned around, flicking her tail angrily behind her, but Jaysight didn't say or do anything.

By the time Hollywing entered camp again her anger had subsided to a dull throb. She saw Firestar alone under Highledge, having just sent Brambleclaw away to organize a hunting patrol. Hollywing padded up to him happily, the quarrel with Jaysight all but forgotten.

"Hi Firestar," Hollywing greeted the ThunderClan leader.

"Hello Hollywing," Firestar replied.

"Thanks for making me Harepaw's mentor," Hollywing mewed. "I mean, there were a lot of older, more experienced cats that you could've given an apprentice to, so I'm honored that you trust me this much."

"I trust all of my warriors," Firestar replied. "Actually, I had wanted Birchfall to mentor Harepaw, but Harepaw wanted you to be her mentor so badly, that I just couldn't say no."

Hollywing felt like she had eaten a piece of rotten fresh-kill; is that the only reason Firestar had chosen her? Because Harepaw had begged him for it? All of a sudden, Hollywing's previous joy and pride turned to ashes and she couldn't bear to look at Firestar anymore.
Hollywing padded away, feeling utterly and hopelessly crushed.