Chapter 5

Fawnstar walked out of the medicine cat's den and hopped on top of the high rock. "May all cats who are old enough to hunt their own prey join beneath the high rock for a Clan meeting."



Flowerpaw and Stonepaw watched as all dens spilled out with cats, sitting below the high rock.



"We have two new apprentices! Stonepaw and Flowerpaw! They are the kits of Shadowstripe and Ashfur! We shall not treat them as prisoners nor guests. They have joined DuskClan and are now fully welcome them!" Fawnstar announced.



"Stonepaw! Flowerpaw!" the cats of the Clan yelled.



"These young cats have skills to learn! They need mentors!" Fawnstar yowled. Stonepaw and Flowerpaw watched as a large group of cats, probably warriors, began looking around to find which one had been chosen to mentor. "Silverheart, you will be mentor to Flowerpaw."



A light-grey she-cat stepped out from the crowd. She had blue-grey eyes and her tail had dark-grey stripes. She padded up to meet Flowerpaw and they both touched noses.



"Silverheart, I hope you teach everything you've learned to this young apprentice. I'm sure you'll be a great mentor." Fawnstar finished. Silverheart nodded and sat back down in the crowd with Flowerpaw by her side.



"As for Stonepaw." Fawnstar continued, "Crowpelt will be his new mentor."



Stonepaw's eyes got huge as the black tom stalked out of the crowd. Stonepaw forced himself to touch noses with Crowpelt as Fawnstar said, "Crowpelt, you are a loyal, fierce warrior. I hope you pass your skills and technique to this apprentice."



Fawnstar hopped down from the high rock, dismissing the cats. "How wonderful! I get to train a fox-brained kit!" Crowpelt spat at Stonepaw. Where did everything go wrong? Stonepaw thought. He did nothing but hiss at Crowpelt and walked away.



"Stonepaw! You really got the best mentor, didn't you?" Flowerpaw teased.



"It isn't funny! He just called me fox-brained! How am I supposed to respect him as a mentor if all he does is torment me?" Stonepaw desperately asked.



"Just talk to Fawnstar, she'll understand." Flowerpaw said.



"Good idea."



He walked around the high rock and into Fawnstar's den. "Fawnstar?" Stonepaw scanned her den.



"Oh, yes? I'm here," Fawnstar appeared. "I was just thinking. What do you need?"



"Well, Fawnstar... Crowpelt was assigned as my mentor. And, he isn't really the best mentor I could have."



"I see, you want a new mentor, then?" Fawnstar asked.



"Yes... You see, after the meeting was over, he called me a fox-brained kit! Honest, he did."



"Crowpelt? Are you sure it was him?" Fawnstar tilted her head.



"I know it! He said 'How wonderful, I get to train a fox-brained kit!' Don't you believe me?"



Fawnstar shook her head. "I believe you, but-"



"Fawnstar! Fawnstar! Ashfur is on a rampage!" Flamefur ran into the den.



"Ashfur? My mom is here?" Stonepaw pleaded. "Can I see her?"



"You don't understand, she's lost her mind!" Flamefur yelled.



Fawnstar ran out of her den, Flamefur and Stonepaw close behind.



Stonepaw saw a gray she-cat with dark gray-spots carrying a small kit in her mouth. She was dangling Morningkit, and spinning her around uncontrollably!



"Tha-That's my mom?" Stonepaw looked at Flamefur as if he was an injured kit.



Flamefur didn't answer, "I'll explain later."



"Leafwind!" Fawnstar yelled to the medicine cat's den.



Leafwind ran out of her den, pushing a small leaf ahead of her. When she got a hold of Ashfur, she took the leaf in her paws and brushed it against Ashfur's nose. Suddenly, Ashfur got dizzy, and she collapsed. Morningkit was being aided by her mom, Featherpelt.



"What did she just do to my mom!" Stonepaw pleaded.



Flamefur looked at Stonepaw. "Follow me," she ordered.



They ran out of the camp, and into a tall-grass field. They hid in there and Flamefur spoke. "Listen. You know that battle your father died in?"



Stonepaw nodded.



"A cat that was attacking DuskClan, injured your mother. And when she woke up, she lost her memory and went insane." Flamefur sighed. "Your father killed the cat that had attacked her."



Stonepaw shook his head in horror.



"It's true." Flamefur said, "She doesn't know who you are."



Stonepaw let out a yowl cry and buried his head under his paws. Flamefur licked him on the head continuously. "She's lost her mind, she went insane. Fawnstar has been debating for a long time whether or not she should kill her. She causes much pain to the camp."



"Kill her? Kill an innocent cat?" Stonepaw cried.



"I know... We know she's innocent. But it would be for the best if she was gone." Flamefur looked down at Stonepaw. "I'm sorry it had to be you who lost their parents."



Stonepaw looked up at her. "We should go back to camp." He gave a final sniff. "I'll tell Flowerpaw about this."