A Planted Bug | Chapter 7

Instructions

Chapter 7: {Basil} Scroll down to read. I may remake these later so they're like Chapter 2, but I don't have the time right now. This chapter took so so long I’m sorry. First: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/496765211/ Previous: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/498994334/ Next: https://scratch.mit.edu/studios/29875580/comments/ Basil feels a spark of excitement as she watches her new-found friends walk up to their leader. Quiverstar nods at both of them and climbs up the thickest and largest tree in the camp, if not in the forest. She isn’t sure, but Basil thinks that there might be some dens in that tree as well. She decides to inspect it more thoroughly later if she can. Right now, it’s time Lynxpaw’s and Mulchpaw’s big.....thing. When Quiverstar settles on an oddly shaped branch that extends over the clearing, Basil realizes there was a reason all of the dens were on the outskirts of the clearing. Quiverstar’s voice now echos through the camp, “All cats that have tasted their first prey, gather below the Crooked Branch for a clan meeting!” Cats spill out of various dens, including a couple elderly ones, and a few kittens. She meets the eyes of a pure-white cat watching from the shade along with another cat and a kit. Flashlight notices who she’s looking at and whispers, “That’s Winterwisp, with his mate Brokenrose and their daughter, Ironkit. I’ll take you to talk to them after this. Winterwisp is pretty unique.” Basil wonders both about what that means and why the little family isn’t closer until the white cat dips his head with a little smile. She repays the gesture, and returns her attention to the matter at hand. Quiverstar calls down to her clan and announces, “Lynxpaw and Mulchpaw, you have trained hard for many moons, and it is time for you to become full warriors. Lynxpaw, please climb up.” She waits until Lynxpaw swiftly joins her on the large overhanging branch before continuing, “Phoenixwing was your mentor, and he among many others have praised your spirit and determination to do your best for HiddenClan on more than one occasion. I thank you for your dedication and so I give you your warrior name. You will now be known as Lynxshade.” The newly named Lynxshade bows her head respectfully and Quiverstar touches her nose to Lynxshade’s head. Basil watches Lynxshade’s eyes glitter with joy as she returns to the ground. She walks over to where the adult cats are gathered and sits next to her father, Whirlybird, and a small white she-cat dappled with little black spots. From the way they leaned into each other, and because the white she-cat had a stubby black tail and black ear fluffs, Basil guessed that was Lynxshade’s and Mulchpaw’s mother. While Basil was watching this, Quiverstar had called out, “Mulchpaw, please climb up.” And once again, she had paused to allow him to reach her. Basil quickly turns to Zeze and asks, “Who is that cat with Whirlybird and Lynxshade?” Zeze glances over and answers, “Dreamgaze. She’s her mother.” Basil feels pretty smart. Once Mulchpaw reaches her, Quiverstar proceeds with his ceremony. “I, myself was your mentor, so I have been able to watch you grow throughout your training.” Basil glances over briefly when she hears the rustling of someone entering camp. No other cat seems concerned, so she resumes listening to Quiverstar’s speech. “You have demonstrated both your strength and your devotion to HiddenClan by how you commit to your training. You...” Quiverstar trails off suddenly to stare at the entering cat, and asks quietly, “Sleetshower? Where did you get that?” Flashlight and Zeze both turn to stare towards the entrance in clear confusion. Basil snaps her head curiously to see what’s going on, and she watches as a slender pale grey cat gently sets a small slightly darker grey bundle of fur down beside him. The cat she assumes must be Sleetshower glances around the clearing, before opening his mouth and staring blankly at the small crowd with wide eyes. Quiverstar repeats her question to him, slower this time, and Basil winces slightly in sympathy for the slim tom, pitying that he returned at such a bad time. Sleetshower awkwardly stares down at the small kitten next to him, looks back up at Quiverstar, and answers, “Uh...I found this.”