CHAPTER 9: By the end of the quarter moon of training for the Trial, I was covered in scratches and aching everywhere. As the quarter moon had gone on, my dread had been slowly rising. Almost everybody else had seemed excited about the Trial, but I couldn’t think of anything I wanted to do less. I had got to know Mosspaw and Highpaw quite well, as well as Highpaw’s sister Palepaw. But my new maybe-friends were about the only bright spot on the horizon. Nightpaw had been getting even meaner, insulting me more openly, and I dreaded having to partner with her in training. Adderpaw was just as bad as I had feared, if not worse, jumping at the chance to beat up anyone who looked weaker than herself. Nightpaw hurt cats with words; Adderpaw hurt with actions. The only good thing about that was that the two she-cats had started a ferocious rivalry with one another. The training was tough and demanding. If this was what you had to do in the Trial, I was not looking forward to it. We had to fight each other, learn incredibly complex new hunting techniques, spend days looking for things in the area of wasteland - maybe water, or prey - and get endlessly quizzed by the leaders. Practically the only fun thing to do in training was learn about herbs. Before I’d been a warrior apprentice, I’d been considering learning to be a medicine cat, so I already had a pretty good knowledge of herbs. The training quarter moon seemed to drag on forever and be over in a flash at the same time. Before I knew it, it was time for the Send-Off. I was dreading it. I had no idea what to expect from it - the leaders had said that it marked the beginning of the Trial and our families and friends would be there to say goodbye to us, but they hadn't explained any further than that. They'd looked quite uncomfortable while they were explaining this, actually, and had been very vague with details, so naturally I was terrified out of my wits. Why weren't the leaders explaining what would happen at the Send-Off? Did it involve a test? Or would our families get hurt, or something terrible like that? “Are you ok?” came a voice I recognised. “You’re being very quiet.” It was Mosspaw. “Fine,” I replied, the tip of my tail flicking from side to side. “Just nervous.” Mosspaw blinked at me sympathetically. “I guess we’re all a bit nervous.” I nodded. “Let all the Trial participants gather!” It was Russetstar calling, which surprised me. Russetstar rarely said anything during the Trial, mostly acting like the whole thing wasn’t happening. We all ran up to the mouth of the cave, where the five leaders were standing. Vixenstar was at the back, looking like she wanted to sink her claws into someone. I tried to avoid her gaze. “It’s time for the Send-Off,” Russetstar continued, his expression visibly pained, as if the words were hurting him. “We’ll take you to the Gathering Place, where your… families… are waiting for you.” He winced on the word ‘families’. I felt sorry for the elderly leader - clearly the pain of losing his daughter to the Trial was still raw, even after so many moons. We all filed out of the cave. I looked back at it - it had been my home for a while, and I’d miss it. Not as much as I was missing the WillowClan apprentice’s den, though. We were lead across the barren wastes of DustClan territory to the Gathering Place again. I was starting to get a bit sick of it, to be honest. But all that was forgotten when I saw who was waiting there. It was full of cats - I saw a black cat who looked exactly like Mosspaw, except for his blue eyes; my mentor Cedarstep, Mosspaw’s mother; a ginger mackerel tabby, who had to be related to Highpaw and Palepaw; a deep red tom who was clearly Scorchpaw’s father; and Shadowpaw, Nightpaw’s sister. There were also some random warriors who’d come to watch. But there were only two cats there who I cared about. A yellow she-cat and a brown-and-red tom. I ran at Cornpaw and Kitepaw, and they ran at me. We nuzzled each other, purring and laughing. I was ecstatic to see my siblings again, even if it was for the last time for a long time. Or maybe the last time ever... I pushed the thought to the back of my mind, focusing on the moment. "Wheatpaw!" Cornpaw purred. "It's so great to see you! It's been so lonely without you - I've been hanging out with the other apprentices, but they'll never be the same as you." "It's great to see you too." I looked up, surprised to see another cat standing a little way away from us, looking a little awkward but very happy. It was Breezepaw. "Breezepaw!" I mewed in amazement. "What are you doing here?" I put my head on one side. Cornpaw answered for him. "Kitepaw refused to leave without him. Didn't you?" She nudged our brother playfully. Kitepaw swatted at her in response. “I hope it’s okay that I came,” meowed Breezepaw. Continued in Notes and Credits
WARNING - The following chapter contains themes of death. It's not permanent death, but if it makes you feel uncomfortable then please proceed with caution. Chapter 9 of The Trial! Next one is double digits :D Inspired by @Chirpsong's Sky Secrets and @fav_Graywing's Life in LionClan. Question of the chapter: How will Kitepaw “tell” Wheatpaw? What this chapter contains: - Super long chapter!!! (The longest yet) - A lot happens - Ever-so-subtle hints - Sadness :( Next: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/620367365/ Previous: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/607810931/ Warriors belongs to Erin Hunter The character on the thumbnail is Appleflight, for no particular reason. Background music is called Goodbye by @-Xaf-. “Of course it’s okay! It’s great to see you, Breezepaw,” I purred. Breezepaw was almost exactly the same age as Cornpaw and I, and we used to play with each other all the time when we were kits. We’d drifted apart a little when we’d become apprentices, but we still considered each other friends. “There’s no other non-family-member I’d rather have at the Send-Off.” Breezepaw purred back. “Thanks.” “So… how are you, Wheatpaw? What’s training for the Trial like? Are you okay? You’re covered in scratches! Is Nightmare tormenting you?” Cornpaw began firing questions at me. I did my best to answer them all, and my siblings and Breezepaw told me about what had happened in WillowClan since I’d been gone. It was great to just talk to my friends for a while, like nothing had happened and nothing was ever going to happen. “Can I quickly talk to Kitepaw for a bit?” I asked, after we’d been chatting for a while. “I need to speak to him about something.” Breezepaw and Cornpaw looked a bit confused, but they nodded. “Sure, go ahead,” Breezepaw meowed. I nudged Kitepaw with my tail, and we went to stand at the edge of the hill, where we were unlikely to be overheard. Before I could speak, Kitepaw was gazing at me. “Is this about my dreams?” “Yes,” I confessed. “I haven’t had any more. But when I do, I’ll tell you.” “Kitepaw, I’ll be in the Trial. Remember? You won’t be able to tell me anything.” “I’ll tell you,” he repeated, gazing at me steadily. “Umm… okay…” I was starting to get a bit freaked out by my brother’s intense stare. “Let’s get back to the others.” *** “Let the Send-Off begin!” At the loud yowl, everyone fell silent. We looked up to where the leaders were standing. It was Ravenstar who had spoken. I was beginning to realise that Ravenstar was the leader who was the most involved in the Trial. "As you all know," he began, "the Trial begins today. You will say goodbye to your family and friends, and leave to face the Dangerlands." I shivered. "But, before we can do that," Ravenstar continued, "there is something we leaders need to do." The leaders were glancing at each other uncomfortably, with the exception of Russetstar, who looked weirdly happy, and Vixenstar, who just looked furious as usual. "In order... to watch over you apprentices and see what is happening in the Trial..." began Ivystar, haltingly. "Well, here's the thing. During the Choosing, each of us gets an extra life." I narrowed my eyes. Beside me, I could see my sister doing the same. /Where is this going?/ Ivystar was still talking. "On the day of the Send-Off, we each use up that life, so we can temporarily join StarClan and watch over you." The last phrase came out in a rush. There was a chorus of gasps. /I always wondered how leaders see what's happening in the Trial!/ I thought, in shock. "So..." Ivystar sighed. "Do any of the medicine cats have deathberries in their store?" "NO!" someone yelled. I recognised it as Appleflight, a young warrior of PoppyClan who'd come to watch the Send-Off. Her eyes were wide in horror. "Ivystar, you /can't/!" "We do this every Trial, Appleflight," Ivystar told her. There is no need for you to worry." Appleflight still looked distraught. I remembered that she and Ivystar had the same parents, but Appleflight was much younger. "Now," Ivystar spoke. "Deathberries." - END
