“They’re more than ready,” Bunnystar growled low in her throat.
Windpaw curled her tail around her, silently crying in her head. Why am I here? Icethorn had managed to escape before Bunnystar called for the medicine cats, so it was just Windpaw alone with the three most powerful cats in the Clan. They had been ushered into Bunnystar’s den and were now lounging around the flat stone she and her kits ate on.
Darkmoth and Dandeliontuft glanced at each other awkwardly before Dandeliontuft gingerly said, “It might be best if Moonkit was held back a little more.”
“He has no eyes. He can’t become an apprentice.” Darkmoth’s bluntness made Windpaw wince. Moonkit had been born without eyes, of course, and every cat in the Clan knew it. That doesn’t mean he can be so… rude about it.
“He’s more than capable of making his own decisions,” Bunnystar replied, her voice rumbling with a growl. “He doesn’t want to retire as an elder. He wants to serve his Clan.”
“It’s unlikely…” Dandeliontuft trailed off and looked to Darkmoth for help.
“He’ll never be a warrior,” Darkmoth stated.
Windpaw wanted to die inside as Bunnystar’s eyes narrowed into slits. “Are you implying my son is weaker than others?”
“I am stating the facts,” Darkmoth replied evenly. “He has no affinity for herbalism, cannot see for hunting or fighting, and has no prophetic abilities. How could he possibly help the Clan?”
“Bunnystar,” Dandeliontuft stepped between the leader and the deputy, possibly protecting Darkmoth from dying to Bunnystar’s claws, and said, “It’s not like we won’t take care of him. He’s our Clanmate, right?”
“This isn’t about the rest of the Clan!” Bunnystar snapped. “This is about Moonkit and how he wants to live his life.”
“If we let him be a warrior, he will die.” Darkmoth shook his head adamantly.
Dandeliontuft was more gentle. “We could try to let him be a medicine cat. But…”
Windpaw thought about Moonkit gagging at the scent of herbs and shook her head. That was never going to happen.
Bunnystar’s eyes shot to Windpaw, and the apprentice felt her heart drop to her paws. Dandeliontuft tilted her head to the said and asked, “What’s on your mind, Windpaw?”
Windpaw’s throat felt dry and itchy as the others turned their eyes to her. Damn you, Dandeliontuft! Why me? “I uh… well…” She shifted on her paws. “I… we could… ask…” her voice got quieter as she rambled on, not really saying anything. Her mind blanked.
“Spit it out.” Bunnystar snapped, and Windpaw’s heart leaped to her throat.
“W-what about Duskblaze? Isn’t he… a m-mediator? Moonkit… could be like that…”
“We’re not like ScorchedClan,” Darkmoth said flatly.
“And certainly not like Duskblaze,” Dandeliontuft’s lash twitched irritably.
Windpaw wanted the ground to open up and swallow her, but surprisingly, Bunnystar looked thoughtful. “What does a mediator do?”
Windpaw cleared her throat a couple of times before saying, “T-they… uh, mediate. Arguments between Clanmates or arguments between Clans and rogues. Moonkit is very s-sweet and helpful, and cats like him a lot…” She stared at her paws, wanting to simply disappear. They hate me. By the stars, they’re going to demote me. I can’t be a warrior… I can only be a medicine cat…
“Very well,” Bunnystar said. “I’ll ask Moonkit.”
Windpaw’s head shot up. Huh?
Windpaw gently patted the petals of yucca and desert paeonia into Moonkit’s fur. The ravens were tugging and pulling at the intertwined flower stems, squawking at each other as they tried to create a small enough flower crown.
This should have been the job of Moonkit’s future mentor, but since he was becoming a mediator and had no one to train him, Windpaw was assigned the job. After all, it had been her suggestion.
I wish they’d stop saying that. Windpaw had said the words thoughtlessly. She didn’t actually think Moonkit would be interested in becoming a mentor – she just couldn’t think of a better idea.
The silence eventually got too much, and Windpaw said, “H-how are you feeling?”
“I’m excited,” Moonkit replied placidly. “Thank you for suggesting becoming a mediator. I hadn’t thought about it, but it’s undoubtedly what I want to be.”
“Ha… how did your brother take it?” Windpaw glanced to the other side of the ceremonial chamber, where Nightchaser was twisting desert willow and vetch into a crown for Eclipsekit.
“He’s angry,” Moonkit shrugged. “But that’s how it is.”
“He wanted you to be a warrior with him,” Windpaw murmured. “I can’t blame him for being disappointed, especially after Novakit left.”
“It is what it is,” Moonkit murmured. “He will get over it eventually. We have little siblings on the way.”
Windpaw shifted uncomfortably. She knew Bunnystar was pregnant because she had told Dandeliontuft, and naturally, Windpaw was assigned to be the midwife who would assist Bunnystar every moment until the kits were delivered.
Yet, no one had told Moonkit. There was no way he should know. “Well… you promised that you could keep it between us.”
“And I will.”
One of the ravens hopped over to Moonkit, the flower crown complete. Windpaw gently helped the kit lean over to accept it, then settled it on his head when it began to tilt. “You’re ready now.”
“Okay,” Moonkit stood and waited patiently, his tail up and kinked slightly.
Eclipsekit appeared beside them like a phantom, giving Windpaw a sharp look as he approached his brother. “Let’s go.” Moonkit leaned slightly against Eclipsekit’s side, and the brothers made their way outside to the cheers of the Clan.
Windpaw scurried out after them and shot over to where her littermates were clustered together. Cottonpaw and Duskpaw had saved a space between them that was the perfect size for her, and Bloompaw immediately leaned against her back once she settled down.
As Moonkit and Eclipsekit sat below Bunnystar, Windpaw’s eyes couldn’t help but drift to Eclipsekit. The little tom had such an icy air to him, but no one else seemed to notice. It always made Windpaw’s skin prickle, but who was she to say anything?
“Cats and friends of RavenClan,” Bunnystar began. Windpaw tore her gaze away from Eclipsekit to focus on the leader. “Today marks the day that Eclipsekit and Moonkit leave the nursery and start their lives as working members of RavenClan. Eclipsekit has chosen the path of a warrior. I name him now as Eclipsepaw, and Nightchaser will be his mentor. Nightchaser, I entrust Eclipsepaw to you. Guide him and protect him as he trains.”
Eclipsepaw approached Nightchaser, who put a coreopsis flower behind the new apprentice’s ear. Windpaw tried to ignore the sharp gleam in Eclipsepaw’s eye as he turned to face the cheering crowd.
Once the Clan quieted, Bunnystar turned to her other son. “… Moonkit has chosen the path of a mediator. I name him now as Moonpaw. There is no one to teach you, Moonpaw, so you must work twice as hard to learn. You are wise and courageous – I have complete faith in you. Your Clan will be behind you as you train, and we will not let you falter.”
Bunnystar leaped from the ledge she was perched on and approached Moonpaw, gently touching his whiskers with a paw to let him know she was there. She placed the coreopsis flower behind his ear and murmured something to the new apprentice, who turned to face the Clan.
Windpaw felt a sense of dread as the Clan cheered and rushed to see Eclipsepaw and Moonpaw. She hoped that the young tom was indeed able to thrive as a mediator. Please, StarClan, she silently prayed as she approached with her littermates to give congratulations, don’t let Moonpaw suffer because of my suggestion.
Windpaw touched her nose to Moonpaw’s ear and looked up, her heart freezing as she saw Eclipsepaw’s eyes on her. She felt as if he could read her mind and sense her doubts. His eyes seemed to say, If Moonpaw suffers, you will too. Unable to approach Eclipsepaw, she simply stared at him before the crowd forced her away.