Cats near her border. From this distance, Bumblestar couldn't tell who, but it smelled like a male and a female. After the murder of Mushroompaw, she wasn't taking any chances, and she abandoned her hunt and made for the Outskirts markers.
It didn't take her long to find them, and she was kind of disappointed to see it wasn't someone who was going to get her claws in their eyes, but a mother and a kit. She pushed through the undergrowth and squinted. The mother looked familiar, but she couldn't place from where.
"You're on ThunderClan's border," she stated. "State your business or leave."
It was not Springlight that emerged from the trees, but instead an older she-cat. She had an air of confidence; perhaps this was one of the new highranks? Autumnpaw kept her seated position behind the border, not wanting to appear threatening. In all honesty, the former clan cat had hoped to avoid running into any other warriors besides her sister. It opened up a hole of guilt in her stomach that she would’ve preferred to keep shut. But it was too late now.
“My name is Autumnpaw, or Autumn,” she introduced herself, offering a friendly smile. “I was in Thunderclan about nine moons ago. This is my son, Kestrel. I wish for him to join the clan. Are you the right cat to speak with? I was supposed to meet my sister, Springlight. Do you know her?” That was a silly question. Springlight was the medicine cat, of course this cat would know her, highrank or not.
KESTREL
Squirrel smell, squirrel smell, BIG SQUIRREL SMELL! Kestrel’s head popped up from sniffing the border, eyes locking on to a warrior. This was great, his first meeting with a super cool clan warrior. He sat up straight, a calm expression on his face. Autumnpaw. That was the first time he’d heard his mother introduce herself by her clan name. It seemed weird. From the stories she’d told him? apprentices with the “paw” name were supposed to be his age. She was much too old.
Taking matters into his own paws, Kestrel spoke up. “My mother taught me everything she knows about clan life. I want to be an apprentice. She told me Springlight and all the warriors will teach me everything else.” He dropped into a hunting stance, crouched low and tense, ears pricked up. “See? I also memorized the code. Wanna hear it?” he inquired with bright, intense eyes, popping back up.
It was not Springlight that emerged from the trees, but instead an older she-cat. She had an air of confidence; perhaps this was one of the new highranks? Autumnpaw kept her seated position behind the border, not wanting to appear threatening. In all honesty, the former clan cat had hoped to avoid running into any other warriors besides her sister. It opened up a hole of guilt in her stomach that she would’ve preferred to keep shut. But it was too late now.
“My name is Autumnpaw, or Autumn,” she introduced herself, offering a friendly smile. “I was in Thunderclan about nine moons ago. This is my son, Kestrel. I wish for him to join the clan. Are you the right cat to speak with? I was supposed to meet my sister, Springlight. Do you know her?” That was a silly question. Springlight was the medicine cat, of course this cat would know her, highrank or not.
KESTREL
Squirrel smell, squirrel smell, BIG SQUIRREL SMELL! Kestrel’s head popped up from sniffing the border, eyes locking on to a warrior. This was great, his first meeting with a super cool clan warrior. He sat up straight, a calm expression on his face. Autumnpaw. That was the first time he’d heard his mother introduce herself by her clan name. It seemed weird. From the stories she’d told him? apprentices with the “paw” name were supposed to be his age. She was much too old.
Taking matters into his own paws, Kestrel spoke up. “My mother taught me everything she knows about clan life. I want to be an apprentice. She told me Springlight and all the warriors will teach me everything else.” He dropped into a hunting stance, crouched low and tense, ears pricked up. “See? I also memorized the code. Wanna hear it?” he inquired with bright, intense eyes, popping back up.
Autumnpaw. That name was familiar, too. Come to think of it, didn't Bumblestar know this cat? A former ThunderClan apprentice came to mind if she wracked her brain hard enough... Oh. Springlight's sister. That explained it.
Grief briefly marred Bumblestar's expression before she managed to rein it in again. "Springlight is dead. I'm sorry; you just missed her." How cruel was that? So close and yet so, so far.
But Autumnpaw had said nine moons ago, and in an instant, it was back to business as usual. Bumblestar narrowed her eyes, inspecting both of them (though ignoring the kit's antics aside from a passing glance). "Nine moons," she echoed. "You should know me, then. Bumblestar, if for some reason it's evadin' you. How come you want your kit here, if you left?"
"What?" came the startled reply, escaping Autumn's throat in wrangled shock and dread. Springlight was dead? Part of her wanted to start bawling, right then and there. Just when they'd reunited... Then she was really the last of them. Winterpaw and Summerpaw were gone as well, according to her sister. "H-how did she die? She was perfectly healthy when I saw her last," Autumn inquired, trying to keep her voice from breaking. There would be time to grieve later. For now she had to figure out is it was still a good idea for Kestrel to join Thunderclan without kin to depend on.
Autumn tilted her head at the she-cat's observation. Bumblestar, Bumblestar...oh! "Bumblebreak!" she said in realization. "You were the deputy. I remember, yes. Thrushstar had just gone missing last I remember, but you hadn't received your leader name yet..." Oh she was rambling. This was besides the point. Focusing on the leader's inquiry she replied, "Pax and I aren't suited for parenthood, not yet at least. I'm still learning to survive out there, and he's always off hunting or patrolling and so on. And we're both so young. I've been telling Kestrel stories about the clans since he was born, and teaching him what I remember from my training. It's been his dream, to join Thunderclan. He's a natural. And when I came to visit Springlight, we thought we found a solution. She could take him in, raise him until he's ready to be a warrior."
Of course, now that Springlight was...dead, everything was up in the air again. She looked over at her son, curious what his reaction would be. Would the absence of his aunt discourage him from wanting to join? And would Bumblestar even allow him in without a ward to vouch for him?
KESTREL
Springlight was dead? Kestrel was too young to fully comprehend the severity of death, but he knew that it meant she wouldn't be around. This disappointed him greatly. He'd been looking forward to meeting and learning from her. And his mother was sad. The six-moon-old kit brushed his tail against her flank in an effort at comfort, unsure what to do. He'd never seen her sad before.
Bumblystork was ignoring him. That was bothersome. He sighed and sat in obedient silence as Autumn proceeded to explain their reasoning. When she was done, he felt her gaze burning into him and looked up. Her eyes were full of concern and doubt. Oh no. Was she second-guessing letting him join the clan? He could still do it! He would find another warrior to teach him! He was impressive! He was a natural, right?!
Jerking his head to the stranger with wide eyes he added, "Bumblystork, I can still be a warrior! I mean, an apprentice! And then a warrior! I wanted to meet Springlight, but I can still help the clan without her guidance, promise!"
Re: ThunderClan Outsider Joining
