Hello everybody and welcome to my first book, and not to mention my very first chapter of the series "Blue Skies"!

Thank you for checking this story out and taking the time to read it. Hopefully you enjoy,

- Sheep

The trees swept through the wind, throwing the noises around the foot of the cavern back and forth, whisking away the heat, leaving chills tingling Bluepaw's spine. She couldn't quite tell the difference between her goosebumps of total fear and nerves, or her goosebumps from the cold air. The thought hadn't crossed her mind. She gulped, shifting on her feet along the mossy undergrowth as she awaited her turn to enter the dark cave, and fulfill her first step in training as an apprentice.

She hadn't exactly understood why this was necessary in training, but it was. A new code had been added not too long ago, deciding that all apprentices must undergo three stages of training. The first exhibiting the idea of entering a cave alone, and attempting to catch not one, not two, but three prey from within, and making it out alive without any large wounds. Her mentor had assured her that it wasn't too big of a deal, but she knew it was. The older apprentices had explained it to be one of most horrifying experiences they'd gone through; although, they weren't too old themselves, so she wasn't sure what they had experienced otherwise. She didn't know of the other two stages, those were kept secret until the time was right.

The unknown lived within the cave, seeking something new to stalk upon. No apprentices knew what was down there, whether it was a fox, a badger, a raccoon, it was never seen. It lived in the depths of the chamber, although it spoke eerily every now and again, it's calls ferocious as can be.

Bluepaw sat at the entrance, gazing along the lineup as she noticed she was third in line. It practically took the entire day for just three apprentices to pass through, so she most likely would go tomorrow, seeing as some other cats had already gone, and it was nearly midday already.

Suddenly, a loud hiss sounded from within the cave, and a splash that made one of the nearby warriors cringe lingered in the air. She wasn't sure if whoever had fallen in the water-if they had fallen into the water-could swim.

She fidgeted more, unable to keep still as she acknowledged the many injuries she could sustain if she finished poorly. That was, if she finished at all.

"Bluepaw," a voice whispered from her side, and she whirled around to face her mentor, who gestured for her to step out of the line, and speak with him. She slowly padded over, tipping her head as she awaited his inquiry.

"I'm afraid you and Sparrowpaw are a tad bit too young to do this stage of training. I've spoken with Sparrowpaw's mentor, and she agrees. We're going to have to wait another quarter moon. You both aren't ready just yet." He explained, leaving Bluepaw conflicted, unsure of whether to feel over the moon with relief, or to feel desperate to move on with training to get through it quicker, and become a warrior sooner rather than later.

"I don't understand... You've already trained us, and we'll be behind when the other litter has their ceremony!" Bluepaw protested, making up her mind as her mentor, Grayleaf's ears merely twitched in response.

"They won't be ahead of you, don't worry. Stormbreeze and I will make sure of it. All you have to do is be on top of your game, otherwise you have no option but to be behind and miss your ceremony." Grayleaf stated, his tail flicking contently.

Bluepaw groaned in frustration, lowered her head, and exited the outside of the cavern, rushing over to the campsite in an attempt to fall into her nest in the apprentice den, only to be abruptly stopped when she bumped into an older apprentice.

"Sorry." She mewed lowly, followed by a disgruntled huff. He seemed angry, but he didn't show it much as he gathered the prey he was carrying in his jaws.

"Whatever. It's fine. Watch where you're going next time, alright?" He retorted dully, showing absolutely no sign of emotion. Bluepaw nodded, although she regretted it soon after when he narrowed his eyes, as if he was surprised she had done so. She probably made a complete-and bigger-fool of herself now. He stepped away, shook off his pelt and carried the prey he had caught towards the fresh kill pile.

"Jaypaw, over here!" His friend hollered at him, sending him to scurry after out the exit. Bluepaw frowned, settling down in her bushy moss nest, her head resting on her fluffy white and blue paws as she felt her envy wash through her veins. She wanted to be like Jaypaw, finished with his first and second stages of training, nearing the end of his apprenticeship entirely. It was unfair, why did she have to fall behind the others. She and Sparrowpaw were the lamest of the crowd now; but even he was better at her in everything. She sighed, initially on the edge of sleep, but at that moment, all she could do was watch the blue skies.