Ooo, boy. @rooted-clangen
While hiding his leader's most recent victim, Swiftfall finds a lone kit. He knows taking her back to his clan will be frowned upon by his dad, Snakestar, but he can't just leave her. So he takes her back to his clan.
And his leader is pissed. Whatever, Swiftfall is. Used to that. Even if he's the only cat allowed to look after and provide for her. Which he does. He juggles his duties as deputy, training an unwilling apprentice, taking care of a kit, and keeping his leader's double life a secret.
And it's fine, even if he's sure Snakestar is planning on getting rid of him soon. It's fine, even if he's barely getting any sleep. It's. Fine. And Rootkit is happy, for the most part. He thinks.
Amd then she becomes Rootpaw, and he has to train her too. Because Snakestar hates him. Swiftfall is running on fumes. He tries to train her, he really does. It goes miserably. She learns more from the older apprentices than she does from him.
After a moon of training, Rootpaw confesses that she feels like she's a better fit for a medicine cat, and. Something in Swiftfall crumbles. He can't let his brother, Oakleaf deal with the wrath that their father is sure to give him if he takes Rootpaw on as an apprentice.
He says that that can't happen, and that'll they'll just train harder so that she can be a better warrior. That's her only route in this clan. So he tries to set up a more vigorous training regimen and fails. Miserably.
Rootpaw tries to help him, using her newfound downtime to secretly train as a medicine cat, but Swiftfall doesn't accept it. He's not worthy of her attempts, he feels. He drags himself back together just in time for their leader to be slain by a badger while trying to dispose of Swiftfall.
Before Swiftfall officially goes to become leader, he names Rootpaw as a medicine cat apprentice. And then he leaves, ready to face StarClan and recieve his 9 lives.
With their leader gone, the clan is more willing to interact with Rootpaw, to finally form some form of visable relationship. And it's great for her. She's not the best at creating friendships, with her separation anxiety and poor social skills, among other things, but she tries her best. This clan finally starts to feel like home.
Even if Swiftfall disappeared before he got his leader name. She's sure he's okay! He'll be so happy when he returns and learns that she's become besties with Deerpaw and Twistedpaw! And she doesn't stay up at night worrying about him, or her new mentor, Oakleaf. She doesn't worry about the increasingly annoyed signs StarClan keeps sending her.
A moon passes. Then another. And then finally, Swiftfall and Oakleaf are back! All is well again, even if Swiftstar refuses to tell her or the clan where he went. Oakleaf immediately begins training Rootpaw, and everything is good. Rootpaw is happier than she's ever been — especially when she's named as a full medicine cat, with the name Rootspirit.
