Longstar AU — Chapter Twenty-One
“Cats of ThunderClan and WindClan. These three kits are ready to be apprenticed,” Firestar began, gazing at the three kits sitting below the Wind Rock. Sandkit and Silverkit were practically bouncing up and down, meanwhile Dustkit sat completely still, his ears even flattened a bit. “Sandkit, Silverkit and Dustkit, until you have earned your warrior names, you will be known as Sandpaw, Silverpaw and Dustpaw.”
“Sandpaw! Silverpaw! Dustpaw!”
“I and my deputy have chosen wonderful mentors for the each of you. Sandpaw, you will be mentored by Sorreltail. Though you are a newer warrior, Sorreltail, I trust you with an apprentice. You went through so much just to get where you are, and I’m sure you'll teach Sandpaw the importance of perseverance and patience.” Firestar smiled, the mentor and apprentice duo padded into the crowd, “Silverpaw, you'll be mentored by Swiftflame. You also have gone through so much trial and error to become a warrior, and yet here you are—strong as ever.” Swiftflame dipped his head to the ginger-tabby tom, touching noses with his apprentice and padded into the crowd. “And last but not least, Dustpaw.”
Dustpaw lowered his muzzle to the ground, taking a few small paw-steps forward. The small brown tom gently bumped into the Wind Rock, slowly backing up.
With a gentle twitch of his whiskers, Firestar continued, “Though you may have a disability, Dustpaw, your clan has no doubt in you. Your own father is able to make it on his own, despite being partially blind. And though it’s a bit different, I have no doubt,” He paused for a moment. “Your mentor will be Brightheart. I trust that you will teach him everything you know.”
“I promise I will, Firestar,” Brightheart dipped her head, curling her tail around the small brown tom. She slowly bent down, murmuring something to Dustpaw before touching her nose to his. The apprentices whiskers twitched, padding back into the group of cats.
“May StarClan guide us all.” Firestar dipped his head, slipping off the Wind Rock, Deadstar in toe.
“You seriously think he’s going to be a warrior?”
A voice growled from behind Longtail, making his ears perk up. He slow,y turned over his shoulder, a enraged expression across his face as he saw where the voice was coming from. Mudclaw, talking to a apprentice like that! Let alone his very own son. And he dare talk to one of ThunderClan's warriors that way!
“Of course he will.” Brightheart growled back, her teeth bared at the older WindClan warrior. “There is no reason he shouldn’t be, Mudclaw. He is the same as you and I.”
Longtail backed off for a second. Brightheart was Dustpaw's mentor, and a warrior who could hold her own. She didn’t need his help. But that was his son—and Mudclaw.
“You aren’t a warrior like myself, though,” Mudclaw flicked his tail, an air of.. self-imposed importance, flowing off the WindClan tom. “I am a deputy of my clan. A leader, one day. You are simply a young warrior who can barley see.”
“Don’t you talk to my warriors that way.” Longtail snarled, “Brightheart is a better and more compassionate warrior than you'll ever be. And just because your deputy now,” He looked him up and down. “Doesn’t mean you'll be in the near future.”
“Is that a threat, Longtail?” Mudclaw hissed.
“If that’s how you're taking it,” Longtail took a few pawsteps backward. “Leave my warriors and my son, alone.”
Mudclaw let out a low growl, turning away from the three ThunderClan cats.
“Why don’t you two go out for a little,” Longtail suggested, nudging Dustpaw toward Brightheart.
“I agree,” Brightheart mewed softly, licking Dustpaw’s ear, “Just follow my scent, okay?”
Longtail watched as Dustpaw slowly followed after Brightheart. She’d be a good teacher for him; and a good friend, too. He knew it.
“He really is a foxheart,” Blizzardspots growled, “Talking to our son like that!”
Longtail snarled, “He’s insane, is what he is,” He sighed, flicking his tail over his mates back. “But Brightheart will care for Dustpaw. He will never be thought of as different, as long as he has her. And us.”
She pressed into his side, “I know she will. She’ll be good for him.”
“She will,” He purred softly, nuzzling his muzzle against Blizzardspots’ head.
“Brightheart?” Dustpaw flattened his ears.
“I’m still here,” She murmured. “Is something wrong?”
“Sort of,” He shrugged. “Was Mudclaw right?”
Brightheart seemed a bit stunned; though she looked like she half-expected that question.
“No,” She tapped her tail on the ground, signaling for him to sit. He slowly sat down, her tail curling around him. Brightheart sighed, gazing up at the stars twinkling in the night sky, “If he was right, Dustpaw, then why did Firestar make you a warriors apprentice?”
Dustpaw shrugged, again. “Because my dad is the deputy. He’s taking pity on me.”
Brightheart shook her head, “No. Because he knows you can do everything a warrior with two eyes can do,” She hissed, her tone firmer than before. “Just because your father is the deputy of our clan doesn’t mean anything. Everything is left up to Firestar, in the end. And Firestar believes you can do it. I do. Your parents do.. even your siblings do.”
Dustpaw sighed, “But what if I screw it up, Brightheart?”
“We all make our mistakes, Dustpaw.” She nudged him gently, “I’ve made my fair share, and so has your father. You can’t compare yourself to your father. You are.. similar, yet not the same. You were born without your sight, your father lost it. You face different issues than he does.”
Dustpaw took in a sharp breath, “Then how do we know I can be any good? He was a warrior for moons before he lost his eyesight.”
“You will be good,” Brightheart rose to her paws, nudging him to do the same, “You have the backing of your clan behind you. You will be a warrior, if that’s what you want. And you will be strong warrior. Is that understood, Dustpaw?”
Dustpaw slowly nodded, “I understand,” He murmured. “Thank you, Brightheart.”
“Of course,” She lent down, licking the top of his head. “Let’s head back to camp.”
As they reentered camp, Longtail’s fixed his eyes on them. He could only make out Dustpaw’s dark fur and Brightheart’s soft expression, but he knew it was them. He sighed, heaving himself to his paws.
“I’m sorry he said all that, Dustpaw,” Longtail nudged Dustpaw, licking the young tom’s cheek.
“It’s okay,” Dustpaw let’s a smile cross his muzzle, “Brightheart helped.”
Longtail lifted his head and fixed his gaze on Brightheart, giving the younger she-cat a dip of his head. A sign of deep respect, especially coming from her deputy.
“Oh, it was nothing, Longtail…” Brightheart laughs, nudging Dustpaw with her tail, “He’s my apprentice.“
“That he is,” Longtail hums, “You’ll take could care him, I know you will.”
“I’ll do everything in my power.” Brightheart mewed confidently, her head held high.
“I would expect nothing less,” He chuckles, “Now get to bed, you two. Go meet the other apprentices, Dustpaw.”
“Okay, papa,” Dustpaw reached up to lick his fathers cheek, before heading toward the apprentice den. Brightheart dipped her head to Longtail, heading to the warriors den.
His son was going to be okay.
