“Viperpaw, it’s time to go.” Jaggedclaw’s voice echoed off the ice walls and jolted the young apprentice into waking.
“Mmm?” The black she-cat blinked open her eyes, rolling to her paws. “I’m awake. Was just dozing, you know. I can fight still.”
“I’m sure,” Jaggedclaw growled out, “and Brightflame’s kits have grown wings. Hurry up and groom yourself. I will not be presenting you to our ancestors when you look like that.”
Viperpaw rolled her eyes and stretched out, ignoring Jaggedclaw’s thorny glare. She was used to her mentor’s icy demeanor. He was, in essence, the stereotype of a FrostClan cat in the eyes of other Clans – sharp-tongued and cold. She still adored him.
After a quick bath, Viperpaw hurried after her mentor. They passed the Ancestor’s Perch, where Antlerpaw and his brother Lichenpaw were tidying up the base of the giant bone pile. Polarclaw, the oldest cat in the Clan and probably the oldest cat in the world was sitting beside the Perch while reciting the stories to a gaggle of kits.
“Everyone is lively today,” Viperpaw commented to Jaggedclaw as they left the Heart of Ice, the large cavern that made their camp, and headed down the Mother Tunnel.
Jaggedclaw grunted. “Squirrelsnow’s kits were born last night. She had two Pure kits and the Sage thinks it’s a sign from the ancestors.”
“The Sage thinks there’s a sign every time the wind blows,” Viperpaw replied, sneaking a glance at the aging black and white medicine cat who was carving a bone in front of his den.
Jaggedclaw grunted in response but Viperpaw could tell from the flick of his tail that he found it funny. She perked up, feeling lighter now that she had amused her mentor. They walked in companionable silence until they came to the Den of the Ancients.
Viperpaw’s heart thudded in her chest as they approached the bones of the First One. The light, filtered from above by the thick, pure ice that created the cavern, glinted off the glistening bones of their eldest ancestor.
He was huge! She thought, her eyes widening. The sight was nothing new to her – every FrostClan kit was presented to the First One as soon as they were old enough to open their eyes – but it was still awe-inspiring. His skull alone was larger than a normal cat’s entire body and his fangs jutted out longer than Viperpaw’s tail.
“Sit, and hear the story of our beginnings.” Jaggedclaw began the ceremonial words and settled down beside the alabaster skull. Viperpaw could recite the story word for word but said nothing as she eagerly waited to hear it again.
“Long ago, when the world was one big forest, the Ancient Ones ruled the lands.” Jaggedclaw began, his voice becoming dreamy. “There was Oceanstar, Mountainstar, Marshstar, Sandstar, and Icestar. Icestar, of course, was the First Pure One. His pelt was made of pure snow and his eyes were made of stars.”
Viperpaw wiggled. “And his claws were made of icicles!” She blurted out despite herself.
Jaggedclaw gave her a stern look. “Yes, I know. Now be quiet.” Clearing his throat, he continued on. “The Ancient Ones had their own unique powers that set them apart from one another. Icestar, the greatest of them all, created ice and frost with every breath he took. However, the other Ancient Ones were afraid of him.”
“Because he was the strongest!” Viperpaw interrupted again.
“Correct,” Jaggedclaw said, “but stop interrupting me. Icestar was hated by the other Ancient Ones because they knew no one could stop him. Thus he became an outcast and retreated to the far north. There, he found a place where he could live peacefully. He carved out our tunnels to make his den and created the tundra, but he soon became lonely.
“He created two cats – one from frost and one from shadows. They were named Whiteflower and Shadestorm and were the beginnings of the Pure Ones. They lived with Icestar for many years until he passed away. Driven by the desire to find other cats, they returned to the other Ancient Ones only to find they were all dead and their descendants ruled their Clans in their place. Thus the Pure Ones joined the forest cats again and their blood was spread.”
“Until we came back to the tundra, right?” Viperpaw, as always, couldn’t help herself. She hopped to her paws, feeling excitement coursing through her body. “Because Froststar was-”
“If you would ever let me finish,” Jaggedclaw cut her off by putting a paw on her muzzle, “I would have gotten there. But it’s time for you to present yourself to Icestar and we will see if he accepts you as one of us.”
Viperpaw shook off her mentor’s paw and hurried to the skull of the First One, touching her nose to the smooth surface. At once, she felt a wave of vigor and heard cheering. Her ears started ringing from the intensity of the rallying cry, but she realized she couldn’t move away at all.
Is this normal?! Viperpaw’s heart froze in her chest. Did all apprentices feel like this when they were presented to the ancestors? In her mind’s eye, she could see a graceful white she-cat and a powerful black tom staring at her intently. What do you want from me? She begged silently. They offered no reply.
Viperpaw was frozen in place for what felt like an eternity, though in reality couldn’t have been more than a couple of heartbeats, then suddenly collapsed. She was breathing heavily, feeling as if she had just run the entire length of the tunnels.
“J-Jaggedclaw.” The apprentice wheezed, struggling to stand. She suddenly felt her mentor’s solid body helping her stand.
“It’s alright.” The tom said soothingly. “Talking to our ancestors is exhausting. Get some rest. When you wake, I’ll help you back to camp and you will get your warrior name tonight after your littermates have been presented.” He led her over to the massive paw of the First One, which was big enough to hold two cats.
Viperpaw nodded numbly, then felt herself drift into sleep, cradled in the paws of the First One.
“Viperfang! Echospring! Sedgebreeze!” As FrostClan chanted the names of their newest warriors, Viperfang felt herself swell with pride. Jaggedclaw was silent, but his eyes brimmed with approval for her, and her parents – Snowymask and Moonhawk – cheered the loudest.
As she leaped off the moose antlers that made up the meeting perch, she was absorbed by her Clanmates, all safe and happy. She purred, but her mind was back in the Den of the Ancients. The sharp stare of the two cats still was still burned in her mind.
What did you want from me? Viperfang wondered as she went with her littermates to find a nest. As she laid down to sleep, she could have sworn she heard a gentle murmur say, “For now, grow strong. One day we will need you.”
“Need me?” Viperfang murmured. “For what? The Clan is strong.”
“One day, it will not be. You will need to rebuild. Be ready, my child.”