Chapter One: An Apprentice with Dreams
"Stormkit, get back in the nursery!" My father, Sparrowfeather, yells. I grumble and pad back toward the nursery. He never let's me play outside. Even though I'm only a few days away from being an apprentice, he won't stop treating me like a kit. I enter and see my litter mates, Cloudkit and Thunderkit, sleeping next to our mother, CherryPelt. Her red-orange pelt shines from the sun peeking through the walls of the nursery.
I climb over tot hem and curl up next to Cloudkit. She twitches in her sleep, pawing the air. Her paw is crooked backwards, a birth defect. I don't know how'll she'll be a warrior. She has spoken about the Medicine cat, Jayfeather, though. Maybe she wants to take that path.
Thunderkit, on the other hand, is strong and a very rambunctious companion. He was named in honor of the clan. He is always up to getting in trouble with me. This one time, we snuck out of the nursery and went to check out the warrior den. Bramblestar and Sparrowfeather weren't happy. I laugh quietly and sweep my tail around my paws. That was the best thing we'd ever done.
I slowly drift to sleep, the steady breathing of the cats around me lulling me to sleep. The scent of milk envelopes me.
Times Skip
I can't believe I'm going to be an apprentice! I jump around excitedly as CherryPelt cleans Thunderkit.
"Mum...I can clean myself." He grumbles.
"Oh shush. You need to look nice for the ceremony." She scolds, continuing to lick his pelt. When she finishes, we head out into the clearing. Cloudkit is sitting near the edge, fidgeting nervously. I pad over to her and lick her ear comfortingly. She smiles and we turn our heads to the high ledge, where Bramblestar now stands.
"May all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather around the high rock for a clan meeting!" He howls. Cats start to trickle out around us, filling the clearing. "We gather today for an apprentice ceremony. Thunderkit, please step forward." He pads slowly up to him, his head held high. "Thunderkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Thunderpaw. Your mentor will be Ivypool. I hope Ivypool will pass down all he knows on to you." Ivypool has a look of pride in her eyes as she walks up to them.
"Ivypool, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have learned well from your mentor Cinderheart and have shown yourself to be loyal and strong. You will be the mentor of Thunderpaw and I expect you to pass all you know on to him." Thunderpaw runs over to Ivypool and they touch noses.
"Stormkit, step forward." I lick my chest one last time and nervously walk up to him. "It is time you become Ana prentice as well. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will he know as Stormpaw. Your mentor will be Lionblaze. I hope he will pass down all he knows to you." Lionblaze steps up and Bramblestar continues. "Lionblaze, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have learned well from your mentor Ashfur," I see him wince slightly at the name. I've heard the stories of what's happened, so I'm not surprised. "And you have shown yourself to be brave and battle ready. You will be mentor to Stormpaw and I expect you to pass all you know, down to him." I touch noses with Lionblaze and he pulls me to the edge of the crowd. Jayfeather steps up to Bramblestar and he steps back. The blind medicine cat scan the crowd with piercing, unseeing blue eyes.
"Cats of Thunderclan, as you know, I will not be around forever. So it's time I took an apprentice. I have chosen a cat who has shown determination and willingness to learn. Your next medicine cat will be Cloudpaw."
"Cloudpaw, do you accept the post of apprentice to Jayfeather?" Bramblestar asks. I'm so proud of my sister, her face looks like she may burst from happiness.
"I do." She says firmly.
"Then at the half-moon, you must travel to the Moonpool to be accepted by StarClan before the other medicine cats."
"The good wishes of all Thunderclan will go with you." Bramble claw murmurs. That's when cats start chanting.
"Thunderpaw, Stormpaw, Cloudpaw! Thunderpaw, Stormpaw, Cloudpaw!" All cats chant. A feeling of pride swells in my chest. Now I can serve my clan! Lionblaze leads me to the apprentice den and I look around for a nest. Out of nowhere, Thunderpaw jumps out and we tumble to the ground together.
"We're apprentices!" He mews happily. I push him off me and climb off the dirt floor. "Can you believe it?!"
"I can't! I'm so proud of Cloudpaw! She is going to be an amazing medicine cat!" I say. Just then, Cloudpaw comes in. "There she is!" I pad over to her and touch noses. "You'll be the best medicine cat around!"
"You guys will be the best warriors around." She says back. I smile and flick her ear with my tail. "Well, I got to go to the medicine den. See you guys later!" She flicks the tip of her tail in farewell and walks out.
"We should also get some rest." I say and lay down in a miss nest. Thunderpaw curls up next to me and we both drift into a dreamless sleep.
Two days later...
Yesterday, Lionblaze took me on a tour of the territory. It was amazing, and the lake was beautiful. Today though, I am much more excited. Today we start training!
Someone nudges me, trying to wake me. I groggily raise my head to see Lionblaze standing over me.
"Come on Stormpaw, we're going hunting." He pushes me again and I get up. "Meet me at the entrance." He says and walks out. I yawn, arching my back. What a wake up call, I think. I slowly pad out of the den and head over to the fresh kill pile, where Thunderpaw already lays. I come up beside him and grab a plump mouse.
"what you doing today?" I ask.
"Ivypool is taking me hunting." He says excitedly, puffing out his chest. That's my brother all right.
"Same here." I take a large bite of the plump mouse. It's savory taste lingering on my tongue. I quickly finish it and lick the blood off my muzzle. "Got to go." I stand up quickly and head over to where Lionblaze waits. He nods and we head out. I try to scratch up conversation. "Is it true?" I ask.
"Is what true?"
"That you have powers."
"Oh yah. It's true. I can't be hurt in a fight if I'm fighting back."He states. That's really cool. "And my brother, Jayfeather, can read thoughts and enter dreams."
"That's aweso-" I'm cut off by him placing his tail over my mouth.
"Shh...do you smell that?" He whisper asks. I let my tongue dart out and sniff the air. The distinct smell of mice fills my senses. I nod slightly and my eyes scan the area. "Let's see what you can do."
I see the mouse on the roots of the tree. I crouch down, making sure to copy the pose I've seen the other apprentices do. I keeps my tail still and creeps forward silently. I make sure not to stir any leaves or patches of grass as I creep forward. Sadly, that does not work out. A leaf stirs lightly and the mouse perks his head up from the nut he's munching on. He starts to bolt and I pounce out. I chase it through the brush and jump on it. I catch it just by the tail and bites it's neck. It falls limp and I pull it back to Lionblaze.
"Very good. Just make sure to be aware of your surrounding. Your fur stick out clearly in the grass, so you need to be even stealthier." I lock those tips in my brain, keeping hold of the mouse. The sun has climbed high in the sky, time must fly by when you're having fun. I carry the mouse back to the camp and drop it in the fresh kill pile. "Good job today, Stormpaw." I glow at his praise, my heart full of joy. I hope I can make my whole clan proud.
I pad to the med cat den, my mind thinking of my sister. I poke my head in to see her and Jayfeather sorting herbs on the floor.
"These are Borage leaves. They are good for fevers and to help queens have milk." Jayfeather explains and pushes them aside. I watch them go over different herbs and smile at Cloudpaws expression. It's full of joy and a yearning to learn. I quietly pull away and head to the apprentice den. Thunderpaw is already asleep in his neat. I curl up next to him and breathe in the scent of family. I slowly fall asleep, thoughts on my litter mates.
Next day...
"Come on Stormpaw, be quick on your feet." Lionblaze calls out. I stand in my toes, ready to move at any time. He pounces at me and I dart to the side, clawing his side with sheathed paws. "Better." We've been working on fighting techniques all day. My muscles are starting to ache from the exercises. He dives at me again and I jump over his head, pushing him forward with my back feet. He stumbles forward and I slash a paw out at his legs, tripping him. I smile proudly and wait for him to get up.
He slowly climbs to his feet and looks at me with pride. He tells me to try more moves while giving me tips. At the end of the day, my whole body is tired and aching. We walk back to camp and I head over to the fresh kill pile. I grab a robin and start munching on it.
"I'm tired." Thunderpaw groans. I flick him with my tail and finish my robin.
"Eat quickly and we can go sleep." I say. He eats a mouse and trudges to the den with me. I can barely move a paw when I plop down in my nest.
"Ivypool trained me till I dropped. I think I'm just gonna sleep the rest of the day." He mutters, his eyes falling closed. I watch him doze off and feel my eyelids grow heavy. They close and my breathing evens out.
Dream
I'm in a meadow, a sweet breeze flowing through my pelt. I glance around, squinting because the sun is so bright. A grey-blue she-cat appears in front of me, her eyes shining. Who is she?
"Who are you?" I ask.
"Think Stormpaw," how does she know my names? "Past leaders of your clan." I rack my brain and something hits me. Before Bramblestar there was Firestar, a mighty heroic cat. Before him it was...Bluestar? Yes, Bluestar. I glance at the cat and study her.
"Bluestar?" I ask quietly. Her eyes sparkle and she nods.
"Yes, Stormpaw. I come to warn you of trouble, trouble you must face. A blue amulet rests in a tree, awaiting it's user to approach. A user with white fur with grey splotches. An apprentice with blue eyes." She slowly starts to fade.
"Wait! What trouble?" I wail. Suddenly, I'm back in my nest, my sleeping brother beside me. My breath is sharp and I look around. Trouble, amulet, apprentice. Wait, a white furred cat with grey splotches. I look down at my fur and realize that's what it is. And blue eyes. Could she have been speaking of me? And what's this about a blue amulet?! Maybe I just ate a bad robin. I close my eyes again, willing for sleep to overcome me again. It eventually does, taking me back into blackness.