Smokepaw's Story

Those of you who have done Warriors roleplays with me are familiar with my character, Smokepaw. But some of you may be wondering,"How did he become blind?""How did he and Wolfpaw escape the fire, and how did his parents and sister die?". Well, I've finally gotten around to answering those questions. Here is Smokepaw's story:
(Yay!!! I finally finished it!!! Keep your eyes open for the upcoming Tangletail's Story)

Smokekit's eyes fluttered open as sunlight streamed into the nursery. He got up and stretched, hardly awake at all.
He looked beside him to see his mother, Brightflower, sleeping quite peacefully. To his right lay his brother, Wolfkit, sprawled across the sandy floor. Smokekit smiled to himself and realized someone was missing.
He quietly creeped out of the nursery, not wanting to disturb the sleeping queens and kits. When he walked out, he saw a few cats in the camp.
Silvermoon was padding out of the warriors den. Her emerald eyes gleamed in the sunlight. When you looked at Silvermoon, the first thing your eyes noticed was her strange birthmark in the shape of a small, silver crescent moon which was on her chest. She saw Smokekit and nodded in his direction, then padded out of the camp, probably to go hunting.
Robinheart, a small red she-cat with a white chest and olive green eyes, was talking to a dark grey she-cat with dazzling blue eyes, who happened to be her sister, Duskflower.
Then, Smokekit saw her.
Laying by the freshkill pile was a small white and brown kit. A half-finished mouse lay underneath one of her paws. A smile spread across Smokekit's face as he padded over to her.
He poked her in the stomache with his paw. Her head rose slowly, as if in slow motion, and the kit let out a large yawn. Her eyelids opened ever so slowly, too, revealing her beautiful saphire eyes.
"What is it, Smokekit?" the kit asked him.
Smokekit smiled at her. "Are you going to finish that?"
Gingerkit jumped up, now fairly awake. "Shut up!" she sneered at him playfully.
Just then, Wolfkit came out of the ThunderClan nursery, his dark grey pelt blending in with the still dark camp. He noticed them and ran over, his yellow eyes gleaming with excitement.
"What are you two doing up so early?" Wolfkit asked his siblings.
"Trying to get an easy meal," replied Smokekit with a smile.
"Well, just like your brain, you failed," Gingerkit told her brother.
Wolfkit let out a mrroww of laughter. "I guess this means-"
"Smokeit! Wolfkit! Gingerkit!" yelled a voice from behind them. Smokekit turned to see it was Brightflower, running across the camp to them.
She stopped when she reached her kits, a look of anger in her brown eyes, her muscles tense under her white and brown pelt.
"What have I told you about leaving the nursery without letting me know where you are?"
The three kits sighed. "Sorry, Brightflower."
Brightflower's face loosened up and she sighed, too. "Come back with me and DON'T DO IT AGAIN."


Smokekit sat at the nursery entrance, watching Skyheart's kits, Petalkit, Amberkit, and Fawnkit, playing in the clearing. Skyheart watched from nearby, wearing a collosal grin.
Smokekit's head rose as he saw Silvermoon, who had went on a border patrol shortly after returning from her hunting trip, Sunspot, and his father, Grayfur, entering the camp. They muttered something to each other and then Silvermoon walked over to Eaglestar's, the Thunderclan leader, den. Something was wrong.
Smokekit ran over to Grayfur, his eyes wide with curiosity. "Hello, Smokekit," his father said with a smile.
"Hi, Grayfur," Smokekit replied, returning the smile. "What did you find on your patrol?"
Grayfur's smile faded, replaced by a stern frown. "Nothing out of the ordinary."
Smokekit opened his mouth to protest, but then Eaglestar padded out with Silvermoon right behind him. Grayfur didn't notice this, though, so Smokekit decided to use it to his advantage. "Okay," he told Grayfur and walked away.
He grabbed a vole from the freshkill pile and began eating it within hearing distance of the two.
"...But, Eaglestar!" Silvermoon protested in a low voice. "More Twolegs than usual are at Tree-Cut Place, and they're making less noise! Surely this must mean something?"
But Eaglestar just shook his white head. "Silvermoon, Twolegs are strange. Them doing strange things doesn't mean anything to us."
But Silvermoon wasn't going to give up that easily. She moved around her leader and stood in front of him, causing his dark brown legs to stop. "It's probably not strange to them. They probably know what they're doing. Maybe this means something about the drought going on."
Eaglestar closed his eyes and sighed. "Silvermoon, how does this affect us?" he asked his former apprentice.
"I don't know," she admitted. "But still think it could mean something!"
"Silvermoon!" Eaglestar said angrily, and several heads turned in their direction. Eaglestar moved his face only a mouse-length away from hers. "I don't want to hear anything more on the matter. Understood?"
Silvermoon lowered her head. "Yes, sir," she said in a barely audible voice.
Eaglestar glanced in Smokekit's direction and narrowed his eyes. "What are you looking at?!?" he hissed. Frightened, Smokekit picked up his unfinished vole and ran over to the nursery. He sat down and began eating, making sure that he was hidden from his leader's gaze.
"What's wrong with you?"
Smokekit jumped up at the sudden voice and realized it was Gingerkit. He beckoned her with his tail and she came closer.
"Silvermoon says there are more Twolegs than usual at Tree-Cut Place," he whispered to her. "AND they're even being quiet! At least, as quiet as you can be when you're a Twoleg."
Gingerkit tilted her head. "So?" she asked him. "What's so great about that?"
"I don't know," admitted Smokekit sheepishly. "But it has to mean SOMETHING, right?"
Gingerkit rolled her eyes. "Smokekit, even if it DOES mean something, how are we supposed to know?"
Smokekit was silent for a moment, lost in thought. How WOULD they know what it meant? Suddenly, an idea dawned on him.
"We'll sneak out!" he exclaimed suddenly.
Gingerkit was staring at him, completely bewildered. "What?" she asked him.
Smokekit smiled, the plan forming in his head. "Tonight, after everyone's asleep, maybe around midnight, we'll sneak out of the camp and over to Tree-Cut Place. We'll watch the Twolegs, from a distance of course, and see if we can figure out what's going on!"
Gingerkit shook her head, her saphire eyes filled with a mixture of amusement and worry. "You're crazy," she told him.
Smokekit stood up, his sky blue eyes filled with determination. "Well, I'm going. You can, too, if you want. But no matter what you say, I'm going. This could be vital information for the clan!"
Gingerkit stood up, her blue eyes suddenly fierce. "I won't let you go alone. I'm coming, too."
Smokekit smiled. "Really?"
"Of course!" she said with a smile. "Someone's got to keep you out of trouble!" She paused. "What about Wolfkit?" she asked.
"What about me?"
The sudden voice made both Smokekit and Gingerkit jump. Smokekit relaxed when he saw it was only his brother.
"We're sneaking off to Tree-Cut Place," Gingerkit replied.
Wolfkit's yellow eyes grew round. "Why?"
Smokekit looked at the sky to see the sun had almost set. Brightflower would be calling them back into the nursery any minute now. "We'll explain later," he said quickly, turning back to his brother. "Are you coming?"
Wolfkit stared at him, confused. "I don't know what this is all about, but I'm not letting you two go anywhere without me. Count me in."
Smokekit smiled, thankful for his brother's company. He nodded. "Good. We leave at midnight."


Smokekit, Gingerkit, and Wolfkit had managed to get out of the nursery. They quickly, but silently, ran around the nursery's outer wall. There was a hole, barely big enough for a kit of their age, that led into the forest. Gingerkit managed to slip through it quite easily, being the smallest. It took Smokekit a little more time, though, but he still managed to get through to the other side. Wolfkit, on the other hand, actually needed help getting through. Eventually, they all got through.
Smokekit looked around the forest in awe. He closed his eyes and sniffed the air, trying to absorb every single scent in the forest. He smelled cedar trees, oak trees, pine trees, mouse, vole, starling....and there was something else. He sniffed again and coughed, trying to get the acrid smell out of his lungs.
"What is it?" Gingerkit asked with worried eyes.
Smokekit shook his head. "Nothing," he said, not wanting to worry her, and he padded on.
After a while, it became harder and harder to tell where they were going. Wolfkit began to cough, too. "Man! What is this stuff?!?" he asked, still coughing.
Gingerkit froze, her saphire eyes growing wide. "Look."
Up ahead was a very bright light. "What is it?" Wolfkit asked in wonder. Smokekit shrugged his gray shoulders. "I don't know," he answered.
He sniffed the air, trying to identify the strange light, and his eyes began to water. The strange scent had completely filled the air here.
Suddenly, loud screaming broke out and Twolegs were seen running in all directions. The bright light grew bigger and bigger, and Smokekit realized what it was from the elder's tales. Fire.
"Run!" he screamed and started running through the forest, Gingerkit and Wolfkit close behind. The flames quickly spread, burning anything and everything in its path.
Suddenly, they were very close to the camp. The kits screamed as loud as they could, trying to warn the others. Instantly, cats started running out of their dens, some helping the kits and elders.
All of a sudden, Gingerkit, who was right next to Smokekit now, froze, looking at something behind him. Confused, Smokekit turned around just in time to see a burning tree collapse, knocking into another tree, which was about to fall on top of them.
It all happened in a flash. Smokekit heard Gingerkit scream. He felt the tree hit him on the head very hard, but somehow, he was still alive.
He heard screams coming from the nursery, and he identified them as Brightflower and Grayfur. "Mom? Dad?" he whispered.
Smokekit thought he felt someone dragging him out and carrying him away, but the throbbing in his head was growing worse and worse by the minute. Then, everything was black.


Smokekit heard worried voices from all around him. The throbbing in his head wasn't as bad now, but the pain was still there. His eyes were still closed, afraid that the pain would increase if he opened them. He groaned, and the voices around him were filled with relief.
"Smokekit!" He was able to identify his brother's worried but relieved voice. "I-I'm so sorry! If only been me back there instead of you and Gingerkit!"
"Gingerkit!" Smokekit exclaimed, suddenly jumping up and opening his eyes. But it didn't help much. Everything was so...dark? Where were they? He decided to put this aside and focus on his sister. "Where is she?!? Where is-"
He didn't finished, because he picked up her scent. He turned his head in her direction and realized she was right next to him. He smiled and poked her. "Hey, Gingerkit! I can't believe we survived that!"
The voices around him were now silent. There was no response from Gingerkit. He frowned and poked her again. "I know it was scary, but at least we're alive, right?" There was still no response. "Gingerkit?" he asked and pressed his muzzle in her fur. He breathed on her cold, ashy body. Her sides were still. Tears started to fill his eyes. "Gingerkit?" he asked once more, even though he knew it was no good. Gingerkit was gone.
He turned back to his brother. "Mom and Dad? I-I heard screams coming from-" Wolfkit was silent. Smokekit realized where he was when the tree fell. He was standing in front of the nursery.
"No..." he whispered and collapsed to the ground. "Th-they can't be...."
"Smokekit?" Smokekit recognized the voice as Silvermoon's. "Smokekit, I'm so sorry. I-I don't really know what I can say right now that can comfort you."
Smokekit turned to her. "How did I survive?" he asked her.
Instead, Wolfkit spoke. "You were lucky. It was only a branch that got you. A big one, but still, just a branch." He paused and took a breath, as if remembering what had happened was just as bad as if it were going on right then. "I-I heard Gingerkit and turned around to see it fall on top of you. I found Silvermoon and got her to help me get you guys out." Smokekit remembered feeling someone dragging him and shuddered.
"What about the fire?" Smokekit asked them.
"The extra Twolegs I saw at Tree-Cut Place sprayed water to put it out," Silvermoon replied, and Smokekit could've sworn he heard a little bit of pride in her voice, as if she were happy that her information was helpful.
Smokekit took in a deep breath and froze. He realized they were in the medicine den. "Silvermoon? Wolfkit? Why is it so dark?" he asked them.
"What do you mean? It's sunhigh! How could it be dark?"
Smokekit's eyes grew wide. His brother was right. He could feel the sun's heat on his fur. But why could Smokekit see nothing?
The hairs on Smokekit's pelt bristled up with fear. "What is it, Smokekit?" Silvermoon asked him, obviously worried by his actions.
Smokekit paused and said shakily,"I-I think I'm....blind."
He heard Wolfkit gasp. "Wh-what?" he asked in shock.
Smokekit gulped. "I think I'm blind."
"Is...is that possible?" he heard Silvermoon ask in disbelief.
"I'm afraid so."
Smokekit spun around. He recognized the voice as Dewpelt's-the Thunderclan medicine cat who didn't socialize very much.
Smokekit heard Silvermoon's pawsteps as she padded over to Dewpelt. "How?" she asked, still in shock.
"There are four ways to become blind," Dewpelt said matter-of-factly. "First, you can be born blind. Second, you can become blind if you look at a very bright object, such as the sun, long enough. Third, you can become blind if you damage your eyes, like getting them scratched. And lastly, there is a weak spot on the head that can cause you to go blind if you hit it hard enough. If you hit it any harder than that, it could kill you. This last reason is the why Smokekit here is blind."
Smokekit heard her coming closer to him. He could feel her breath on his shoulder. "You're very lucky, young man," she said, resting her tail on his shoulder.
Then, everything suddenly rushed back on Smokekit, as if it wanted him to never stop knowing these things. Gingerkit was gone. Grayfur was gone. Brightflower was gone. He would never see Brightflower's lovely face again, or Grayfur's compassionate smile, or Gingerkit's bright saphire blue eyes.
Anger began to build up inside of him. He narrowed his eyes and moved so Dewpelt's tail fell to the ground. He glared at her with a look of pure hatred and disgust in his eyes.
"No, I'm not," he hissed at her. "Do you consider losing your family 'lucky'?!?" He spat the last word. The anger continued to rise, until there was no more room for it. It needed to come out.
"I may be standing here, alive, but does that even matter when the three most important cats in my life are....gone?!?" he hissed fiercly, all of his anger coming out into this one sentence.
The room was silent. He smelled Robinheart and Duskflower walking away, the hairs on their fur raised from fear. The rest of the cats left seconds later, leaving only him, Wolfkit, Silvermoon, and Dewpelt.
He could sense Silvermoon's and Wolfkit's silence was from fear and pain. But for some reason, it seemed that Dewpelt remained silent only because she was calm. "I know this must be hard for you, Smokekit," she said quietly, with no trace of compassion in her voice.
"How could you know?!?" he yelled and he could tell that his brother flinched. "Did you lose your parents and sister in a fire? Did you become blind at the same time it all happened?!? No! You didn't!" He spun around angrily and walked out of the medicine den. No one stopped him.
Smokekit didn't really know where he was going. He wasn't going to leave Thunderclan; he was still loyal to his birth clan. While he was walking past the warriors den, he heard weeping and turned his head.
He took in a deep breath and was able to identify Skyheart, Sunspot, and Robinheart. Sunspot had his brown tail around his mate, Skyheart, trying to comfort her.
"Why them?" she asked miserably. "It's all my fault."
Robinheart padded over to her and gave her a lick behind the ear. "It's not your fault; stop blaming yourself. At least Fawnkit is safe. There's nothing you could hav done."
Skyheart sniffed sadly. "But if I hadn't taken Fawnkit to the medicine den because she was coughing, I could have gotten ALL of them out." Skyheart's eyes filled with tears and she began sobbing again.
Sunspot rubbed his big brown head against hers. "Shhhh. There, there. It's okay."
Smokekit turned his head and closed his eyes. He didn't want to listen to this.
He continued walking till he realized he had left the camp. Should he turn around and go back into the camp? No, he thought to himself. He needed to be alone.
Smokekit carried on walking, showing no interest in the surrounding forest scenery. After a while, he felt pebbles and sand underneath his paws instead of grass and dirt. He sniffed the air and knew he was on the Thunderclan shore.
Smokekit sighed and sat down on the ground. He closed his eyes, trying to relax. But as soon as he closed his eyes, pictures came flooding into his head. Brightflower sleeping in the nursery, Grayfur coming back into the camp with Sunspot and Silvermoon, the bright light in the distance, Gingerkit's terrified face just before the tree collapsed on them.
Smokekit's eyes flew open at the last image. His face screwed up and he stomped up to the water. "Ugh!" he growled angrily and splashed the water.
He looked up at the sky, nothing but pure hatred in his eyes. "Why did you do this, Starclan? Do you have no mercy for us?"
Smokekit closed his eyes and lowered his head. Tears soon began to flow down his face.
Smokekit didn't know how long he sat there. He felt water on his pelt and looked up at the sky to see rain falling, as if Starclan were mourning with him too. The drought had finally ended.
"Smokekit?"
Smokekit spun around, suprised to hear someone calling his name. He sniffed a little, mainly because his nose was very stuffy. He was still able to recognize Silvermoon's scent.
He heard the leaves barely crack beneath her light steps as she padded over to him. When she was only a mouse-length away from him, she hesitated, as if she wasn't sure how to act. After a moment, she rested her tail around his shoulders. "Come on," she said quietly. "Let's get back to the camp."
Smokekit got up and moved so her tail fell to the pebbly shore. "Fine," he muttered quietly and began padding through the forest. He sniffed the air, trying to find his scent trail so he could follow it back to camp.

That night, Smokekit sat vigil with the three cats he had lost during the fire. Silvermoon sat vigil with Grayfur, who was also her brother and her best friend. Everyone in the camp knew how close they were. Pebblepelt and
Silverclaw, who were Grayfur's parents, also sat vigil. Smokekit could her Pebblepelt weeping silently for her lost son. Wolfkit came beside Smokekit and the three lifeless bodies, keeping silent for one other reason that had nothing to do with the vigil. Skyheart and Sunspot sat vigil next to Petalkit and Amberkit, the two kits Smokekit would never see playing with their sister again.
After several long hours that seemed to go on forever, it was time to bury the bodies.
Smokekit padded slowly to the nursery, his tail dragging on the ground as he walked. Wolfkit was already there, curled up in one of the corners. Skyheart wasn't back yet; she was probably mourning as some of the warriors buried her kits. Smokekit padded slowly around the other sleeping kits and queens. None of them would have to worry about losing each other for many moons.
He laid down by one of the walls-putting a great distance between himself and the other resting cats. Smokekit's eyelids shut almost automatically, and soon he was in a deep dreamless sleep...

The next two moons, Smokekit practiced using his ears and nose to identify things and get around. After a while, it became extremely easy. He practiced by tracking each and every cat in the camp; from the smallest kit to the oldest elder. He memerized the scents of all the herbs, all the cats, all the trees, all the prey, and the entire camp. He soon realized that he could become a skilled warrior even though he was handicapped.
Finally, the day had come. Today was the day that everything changed. Today was the day that Smokekit would prove he could fight and hunt and track just as well as any cat in Thunderclan. Today his dream came true. Today he was six moons old. Today, he was going to become an apprentice.
Smokekit padded over to the freshkill pile that morning, just as the sun was rising in the sky. He grabbed a mouse, ate it slowly, not wanting to rush. When he had finished, he got up and walked over to the nursery. He sat there for several hours.
During sunhigh, Smokekit scented Wolfkit padding over to him, a vole clamped in his jaws. For the past two moons, Wolfkit didn't really talk to him much. Smokekit did miss his brother's company, and he figured his brother must think that he was in a better mood today.
Wolfkit sat down next to him and dropped the vole. Smokekit was easily able to tell Wolfkit was excited; he was quivering and his tail was twitching back and forth constantly. "I thought you might be hungry," Wolfkit said a little quietly. Smokekit nodded in thanks and began to eat the vole.
After a few minutes of silence, Wolfkit took in a deep breath and said to Smokekit,"You've been training hard for this, haven't you?"
Smokekit paused and raised his head. He nodded, then said,"Yes, I have. I don't know if there was ever a kit that trained harder than I have."
He scented Wolfkit's head move, and guessed he had nodded in agreement.
"I'm gonna go grab something to eat," Wolfkit told him, and stood up. He heard Wolfkit run off towards the fresh kill pile, and heard him yell,"See you tonight!" over his shoulder.
Smokekit smiled to himself. Now that his brother had finally spoken to him again, he was positive that everything was going to work out fine.
Suddenly, Smokekit smelled Eaglestar coming out of his den. He stopped for a second, looking around the camp, then padded in Silvermoon's direction, who was enjoying a plump squirrel. What did he want with her? They stood together, then Eaglestar headed in another direction-towards the medicine den. Silvermoon padded off to Eaglestar's den.
Eaglestar must need to tell her something important, Smokekit thought to himself. After all, Silvermoon WAS the Thunderclan deputy.
After a few moments though, Eaglestar came out of the medicine den, but not alone. Right behind him was Dewpelt, walking lightly across the camp. The two of them walked into Eaglestar's den, and there was no activity for quite some time.
Finally, Dewpelt and Silvermoon came out;Dewpelt went back to her den while Silvermoon left the camp, probably to go hunt.
"What was that all about...."Smokekit murmured to himself, confused by what had just happened. Suddenly, he realized the heat from his pelt was fading. The sun must be going down, and his ceremony would be held soon.
Shrugging the thought aside, he ran inside of the nursery and sat down. He sat motionless for a while, until he smelled cats emerging from their dens and padding into the clearing. Smokekit stood up, excitement pulsing through his every limb. THIS was was what he had spent two moons training for-the day he would become a warrior apprentice.
Wearing a huge grin, Smokekit padded out of the nursery and over to the Great Rock.
Smokekit smiled when he smelled every Thunderclan cat in the clearing. Pebblepelt and Silverclaw were sitting together near the Great Rock, anxious to see their grandchildren become apprentices. Skyheart was leaning against Sunspot right by the nursery, though her tail was wrapped protectively around Fawnkit. Robinheart was talking quietly, though happily, to Duskflower, with their parents, Earthpelt and Blacknose, sitting close behind. Silvermoon was waiting for him with Wolfkit at her side. She dipped her head in acknowledgement and lead him up to the Great Rock.
Smokekit was suprised when he smelled Dewpelt sitting in the clearing, and rather close to the Great Rock at that. Perhaps she was interested to see him finally become an apprentice...?, Smokekit wondered to himself. He pushed the thought away and focused on what was going on.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey come forward for a clan meeting," Eaglestar announced, though it wasn't necessary, for everyone was already at the Great Rock.
"It is time for one of my favorite leader duties. Wolkit and Smokekit are now six moons old. They're kithood has been a little more....interesting than most, but now it is time for them to become apprentices."
The entire clan cheered in approval.
"Wolfkit," Eaglestar called. Wolfkit took a nervous breath and stepped forward to Eaglestar.
"From this day forward until you recieve your warrior name, you will be known as Lionpaw." The entire clan cheered and chanted Wolfpaw's new name. Smokekit could even make out Fawnkit's little mew from the nursery, cheering on her former denmate.
"I ask StarClan to watch over you and guide you until you find in your paws the strength and courage of a warrior." Smokekit could tell Wolfpaw was shaking with excitement, wondering who his mentor would be.
"Silvermoon," Eaglestar called. Wow, Smokekit thought to himself. Silvermoon is going to mentor Wolfpaw! What and honor! He heard the young she-cat step forward.
"You may be young, but I picked you as my deputy for a reason, and I want you to prove yourself my mentoring Wolfpaw," Eaglestar mewed to Silvermoon. "I trust you to pass on everything you have learned to Wolfpaw and help him become a warrior the clan can be proud of."
Silvermoon dipped her head. "I won't let ThunderClan down." Wolfpaw padded over to the deputy and touched noses with her.
"Smokekit," Eaglestar called. With a smile, Smokekit stepped forward.
"From this day forward until you recieve your warrior name, you will be known as Smokepaw." The Clan cheered in approval, though, they strangely weren't as enthusiastic this time.
"Dewpelt," Eaglestar called and Dewpelt came forward. Why had Eaglestar called her? Smokekpaw wondered to himself. Did Eaglestar think Smokekpaw would need help with something?
"I know that I am putting Smokepaw in safe paws," Eaglestar meowed, while Smokepaw's curiousity grew bigger. "I pray that StarClan gives him all of the strength and wisdom he will need."
"I will teach him everything I know," mewed Dewpelt.
Smokepaw froze when he realized what was going on. He wasn't going to be a warrior. He wasn't even going to be a warrior apprentice. He was going to be a medicine cat. The Clan grew silent as they too realized what was going on. A few still cheered, but Smokepaw sensed disappointment from the rest.
Dewpelt touched noses with him, and the two of them walked away. When he passed Wolfpaw and Silvemoon, he turned his head, not wanting the last two family members he had left see his pain.
How could this happen? He had done everything, EVERYTHING in his power to prove he could become a warrior. Had it not been enough? With a stab of pain, Smokepaw thought that maybe Eaglestar hadn't noticed. He padded inside of the medicine den with Dewpelt, though he didn't notice her. He padded over to his new nest and layed down, begging to wake up from this terrible nightmare. But no matter how hard he fought the truth, he remained awake.


THE END