Half hidden in the shadows of the nursery, Wolfkit stared at Snowspots and Stagkit. His mother had never given him the same attention as his brother. Right now she had Stagkit pinned under her paw and was giving him a thorough grooming.
Keenly aware that his own fur was matted, the little tom stood up and padded out of the nursery. The camp was alive with activity – since Pounceshade and Blackwolf had brought home the haunch of a freshly-killed moose left behind by wolves, the rest of the cats didn’t have to hunt.
Wolfkit looked around for a little while and finally decided to approach Larchspeckle. She was standing guard at the Snow Chamber, where Sootpaw was currently imprisoned. The former BrookClan cat was shivering, huddled in the center of the small ice cave.
“What’s wrong with him?” Wolfkit asked, glancing at Larchspeckle. The she-cat snorted and used her tail to move Wolfkit away from the chamber.
“He’s only been through half a moon of Snow Chants.” The Carver explained. “He’ll be right as rain as soon as he finishes.”
Wolfkit blinked. “Oh. Alright. What do they do in the Snow Chants?”
Larchspeckle lowered her head until they were eye to eye. “It’s what happens to disloyal cats, Wolfkit. They have to learn why FrostClan is their home. Eventually, they’ll forget they were ever part of another Clan.”
“Oh.” Wolfkit wasn’t quite sure what to say.
“Not yet! Please!” Snowspots’s shriek ripped through the cavern. Wolfkit fluffed up, feeling terror shoot through his fur. When he turned, his mother had thrown herself in front of Stagkit. Viperstar and a few cats Wolfkit had never seen before were trying to take the kit. He couldn’t hear their words, only saw the pitiful looks from the strangers.
Viperstar scooped Stagkit up and nudged him over to the stranger. Wolfkit’s heart skipped. They’re taking us away? Why? Before he could ask Larchspeckle, the strangers picked up Stagkit and padded out of the camp.
Larchspeckle’s tail curled around Wolfkit, but his heart still raced. “What happened? Why did they take him? Did they not want me too?”
“Oh, little one.” Larchspeckle licked the kit’s head. “It’s alright. Stagkit just wasn’t… made for FrostClan.”
As much as he knew he should be sad, Wolfkit actually felt… hopeful. Untangling himself from Larchspeckle, he made his way back over to Snowspots. The she-cat was curled up in a ball outside of the nursery, her tail over her ears.
“Snowspots?” Wolfkit asked, putting a paw on her side. His mother didn’t respond. He gently pushed her and she finally looked up, looking at her son with a blank face.
Wolfkit felt his stomach lurch at the utter lack of interest in Snowspots’s eyes. He backed away, mumbling a half-hearted sorry, and stared around the camp. His gaze landed on Viperstar, who was watching him steadily.
“It’s alright,” Viperstar said. She stood up and flicked her tail, motioning the kit over.”I’ll take care of you.”
Wolfkit blinked. “Okay?” He took one more look at Snowspots, curled up in a ball, then turned back to Viperstar. “… okay.”
The Clan watched Wolfkit as he trembled, his heart pounding. They were in the Den of the Ancients, in front of the long-fanged skeleton of the First Pure One.
“StarClan and Ancestors, hear us,” Viperstar said. “We have brought this young tom to you. He wishes to become a medicine cat and must now prove his determination to you. Wolfkit, come forward.”
Hearing his cue, the kit stumbled over on trembling paws. He was barely a hare-length away from the skeleton now.
Viperstar was the one to speak, but it sounded like there were a thousand whispers in her words. “Do you, Wolfkit, truly want to join the ranks of our medicine cats? To continue the traditions passed down from one Sage to the next?”
“I do.” Wolfkit’s voice was dry and scratchy from anticipation.
“Do you understand the personal cost? If you should fail your training, you would be worse than a loner – a cat who cannot help themselves.”
“I understand.”
“Will you undergo the Sight Ceremony?”
“Without hesitation.”
Viperstar looked pleased. “So be it. Ancestors, you have heard this kit’s vows. Now we will ask you to judge his worth, to decide if he should be the future Sage!”
Wolfkit dug his claws into the icy floor. He silently prayed to every Ancestor he could think of – Sharpstar the cunning, Jackdawflight the wise, Bluesight the powerful – that they would let him become the medicine cat. It was the only way to wash away the stain that his father wasn’t a FrostClan cat, the only way to prove to Viperstar he could be her son even if he didn’t have her blood.
Suddenly the light above, filtering in from the ice above, grew more intensely. Wolfkit had to squint before he realized the light was centered around him. His heart soared and he felt light-headed in relief. StarClan accepts me!
Viperstar had a purr in her voice. “Then so be it. Wolfkit, you shall now be known as Wolfpaw. We will honor your sacrifice and look eagerly forward to your improvement.” Her tone turned grim. “Now you know what must be done.”
Wolfpaw’s heart sank, but he moved forward anyway. Dread filled his stomach as he came face to face with the First One’s skull. His long fangs gleamed devilishly in the light.
It’ll be over quickly. Wolfpaw told himself. He thought of the cat skulls Viperstar had him practice on. Just… a quick, simple movement… He was an apprentice now. He wasn’t scared of anything!
Trembling, Wolfpaw lined himself up and, with one quick movement, pierced his eyes with the fangs.
Pain exploded in Wolfpaw’s skull and he screamed, digging his claws into the ice. He felt every second as the curved fangs mercilessly ripped out his eyes, tearing the nerves away. Blood poured onto his cheeks, wet and hot, and dripped onto his paws.
Wolfpaw screamed until his throat was ragged. Someone was placing cobwebs and moss over his eyes, but it didn’t help the pain. He thrashed and wailed until finally, the pain made him faint.
When he awoke, Wolfpaw was alone. His face still hurt, but it wasn’t as bad anymore. Cobwebs still covered his eyes, but he could feel the start emptiness of his eye sockets.
Cats were talking not too far away from the tom, but he couldn’t quite make out their words. Thre was Viperstar, yes, but also a tom he’d never met. The voice was deep and raspy but held musical wisdom to it.
Wolfpaw couldn’t muster the strength to stand yet. Everything was hazy around him and as much as he wanted to get up and meet this stranger, he just couldn’t.
With a heavy sigh, the tom slipped back into unconsciousness. I’ll just sleep for a little longer…
Wolfpaw climbed to his paws, trembling as he worked the muscles.
“That’s right.” A hazy vision swam before Wolfpaw – a gray and white tomcat. “Just keep moving.”
“I know, Snowshade.” Wolfpaw huffed. “It’s not easy, you know.”
Snowshade sighed. “I have to go soon.”
“You always do.”
Warm breath brushed over Wolfpaw’s head as the ghostly warrior licked his forehead. “Just be patient. Your teacher is coming.”
Wolfpaw nodded. “You always say that, too.”
Snowshade snorted. “I will be back, little one.” Then he was gone.
Wolfpaw sighed heavily and forced himself to his paws, hobbling out of the den and sitting at the entrance. He had learned through much trial and error where the walls were and could navigate his den with relative ease now.
Though he lost his sight, Wolfpaw could see clearly now. Cats from long ago, their pelts melding and moving together, were walking among the living. Ancient queens and elders sat beside Blackwolf as he entertained his kits. Leaders of a time long past sat in a circle around the moose skull, watching Viperstar.
Sighing, Wolfpaw laid down and watched everything. Soon, his teacher would come. Then, when he was old enough, he would no longer be Wolfpaw – he would be the Sage. He would forsake his earthly desires and become the guide for his Clan.
He just needed to be patient.