Adderstripe and Mudpaw(NPC)_________________________________________________________
Adderpaw settled down in his new nest, thrilled that he was finally an apprentice. His paws ached after exploring the territory with his mentor, but he still felt full of energy. He forced his eyes closed, hoping sleep would come to him soon. Just before he drifted off, the entrance to the den rustled, startling Adderpaw awake.
"Hey, Adderkit!"
Adderpaw looked up to see Mudpaw standing above him. The Bishop's apprentice had been Adderpaw's best friend ever since he had to spend a moon in the healer's den after a bout of sickness when he was younger.
"You know I'm Adderpaw now!" he said, playfully rolling on his back and batting at the older apprentice.
"Are you sure? You're acting a lot like a kit right now," Mudpaw teased, halfheartedly swiping back at him.
"You say that like you didn't cheer my name the loudest," Adderpaw retorted, sitting up in his nest.
"Whatever," Mudpaw rolled his eyes. "So, are you going to tell me about your day or what?"
****four moons later****Adderpaw padded beside Mudpaw as the two followed Adderpaw's mentor, Webstripe, toward Hawk's Point, the towering rock formation that was home to an herb that the Bishop desperately needed. They were looking for a certain type of red flower that would cure the sickness one of the elders, Daisyfur, had come down with. The sun had already disappeared under the horizon before the rain had stopped. Clouds still lurked in the sky, covering the moon and the stars.
"Remember to be very careful, the rocks will be slick after all the rain." Webstripe meowed, glancing back at the two apprentices to be sure they were listening.
"Yeah, we get it," Adderpaw muttered under his breath. "You've only said that five times now."
"What was that?" Webstripe asked, angling his ears towards the apprentices. The older warrior seemed to have trouble hearing many things nowadays, much to Adderpaw's advantage.
"Be nice!" Mudpaw whispered as he bumped his shoulder into Adderpaw's, whiskers twitching in amusement. "He said we'll be extra careful, Webstripe."
Webstripe nodded, continuing on. Soon the small patrol reached Hawk's Point and slowly climbed up the side of the rock. Mudpaw stopped them when they were about halfway up, glancing around. "There should be a patch growing on the ledge over here," he said, signaling with his tail for the other two to wait where they were. Mudpaw crept forward slowly along a narrow pathway towards the ledge, then lashed his tail in frustration. "The rain must have washed the red flowers away." Mudpaw returned to the group, glancing up at the peak of Hawk's Point. "We'll have to go up there. It's the only other place the flowers grow."
*****Webstripe anxiously watched the two apprentices climb up to the top of Hawk's Point. The older warrior had begun to struggle to catch his breath while climbing and had been ordered by Mudpaw to stay put before he overexerted himself. The two apprentices disappeared from sight as they climbed up to the top of the rock.
"Ugh, it's really muddy up here," Adderpaw complained as they reached the top. "You must feel right at home,
Mudpaw."
"Shut up!" Mudpaw laughed, then shook his head. "Okay, focus on the mission. There!" Mudpaw flicked his tail towards a small patch of red flowers barely visible under the mud, ominously close to the edge of the peak. "Wait here, I'll get them."
Before Adderpaw could stop him, Mudpaw began to make his way forward. "Mudpaw, wait-"
Adderpaw's heart stopped as he watched Mudpaw lose his grip and slip towards the edge of the rock. The apprentice struggled to regain his footing, but only managed to slip further away.
"Stop, don't move!" Adderpaw shouted. Terror was etched on Mudpaw's face as he stopped moving and looked over at Adderpaw.
"No, I have to get the flowers, Daisyfur will die without them!"
"Mudpaw, please! It's too dangerous, just come back to me," Adderpaw pleaded as Mudpaw steadied himself and stubbornly made his way towards the flowers.
"It's okay, I-"
Adderpaw could only watch as Mudpaw slipped and disappeared over the edge of the peak. Adderpaw remained frozen for a few heartbeats, staring at the spot where Mudpaw had fallen. Webstripe's voice brought him back to reality as the warrior shouted up to him. "Did you find the flowers?"
"Mudpaw, he fell! We have to find him!" Adderpaw raced back to his mentor recklessly, slipping and crashing into the old tom and knocking him down.
"Oh Spirits, no," Webstripe whispered a small prayer under his breath. "Let's check the ledge, he could have landed down there."
Adderpaw raced down, ignoring Webstripe shouting after him to be careful. He reached the side and braced himself. His heart pounding, Adderpaw looked down, hoping to see his friend's bright eyes peering back up at him, but there was nothing in the darkness. He inhaled a shaky breath as he stepped back, his mind trying to process what had happened. Mudpaw was gone, there was no way he could have survived the fall.
"Adderpaw! Did you see him?" Webstripe had finally caught up to him; the old tom gasped for breath as he approached.
Adderpaw could only shake his head before pushing past Webstripe and making his way down the rock face. Small raindrops began to fall from the clouds that covered the moon and stars, as though they were weeping along with Adderpaw.
***three moons later***"Adderstripe!" "Adderstripe!"
Adderstripe glanced up at the sky as the Clan cheered his new warrior name. He wondered if Mudpaw was up there among the stars, cheering for him as well.
The next day, Adderstripe curled into his next, exhausted after keeping vigil that night. He closed his eyes, letting sleep overtake him. When he opened his eyes, he seemed to be in the middle of the forest, but as he looked closer, the ground and the trees shimmered with stardust.
"Hey, Adderpaw!"
Adderstripe froze as he heard Mudpaw's voice behind him. He turned to see his old friend, looking as cheerful and bright as Adderstripe remembered. Mudpaw padded up to him, smiling brightly. Adderstripe couldn't help the grin that spread across his muzzle.
"You know I'm Adderstripe now."
"I know. I cheered for you the loudest." Mudpaw said, then looked down, the joy vanishing from his expression. "Adderstripe, please don’t be mad about what I'm going to say."
"What are you talking about?"
"The Bishop, Willowfur, she...isn't well. I’m afraid she only has a few moons before she joins the Spirits." Mudpaw said sadly. "And since I died, she has no replacement. The Clan is in danger of having no healer."
"But why are you telling me?" Adderstripe asked, though in the back of his mind he had already figured out what Mudpaw was going to say.
"I know you always wanted to be a warrior, and someday even a leader," Mudpaw began timidly. "So I know you're going to be upset when I say this. Adderstripe, I want you to become the Bishop when Willowfur dies."
"But why me?" Adderstripe challenged, the fur on his back bristling in anger. "Why not any of the other cats? I want to be a warrior!"
"They would say the same thing!" Mudpaw replied in exasperation. "Don't you think they all want to be warriors too?"
"Of course they do!" Adderstripe shot back. "Why should any of us be forced to be something we don't want to be?"
"Not all of us get to choose our fate," Mudpaw said bitterly, casting his gaze aside for a moment. "Do you think I wanted to die?"
"No! I'm sorry, Mudpaw, you didn't deserve that."
"I know that. I also know that you were my best friend, Adderstripe. I'm asking you to do this for me. Please." Mudpaw met Adderstripe's gaze, his eyes clouded with emotion. "Please become the Bishop's apprentice."
Adderstripe took a deep breath, knowing that his life would never be the same. He would never be a warrior or a leader like he always dreamed of. He had to do this, for the Clan. And for his best friend. "Okay. Fine, I'll do it. For you."
"Thank you, Adderstripe, you have no idea how much this means to me," Mudpaw breathed a sigh of relief. "I'll be with you, every pawstep of the way."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
