Alright, welcome to my second book! This book will focus on all of them getting their powers, and etc. Hope you enjoy, and love ya'll! Thanks to Goldenstar for suggestions
Cloud followed Shadowstar and Bladeshadow into DuskClan camp. The pine trees were strangely familiar.
"Do you remember anything?" Coalfoot murmured. The medicine cat stayed next to her, comforting her.
"I only feel... strangely at home here." Cloud meowed. Rainpaw looked at her. He had saw her before! It was that kittypet who trespassed his territory!
"Don't worry, we DuskClan cats aren't as horrible as they say." Coalfoot meowed "This is my apprentice, Rainpaw." Rainpaw dipped his head, hoping she won't say anything.
"Hello." She said in her soft voice. Her voice was strangely familiar, yet distant all at once.
"We're almost there. A little more ahead."
Shadowstar led them through a opening in the trees. Cloud's heart pounded as she padded in the camp. Who were her real parents? The DuskClan cats stared at Cloud as she padded in with the others. A white and gray she cat gasped
"My kit!"
She padded forward, eyes wide
"Sorry?" Cloud stuttered. As far as she knows, she has no parents
"Cloudkit! You came back!" Bladeshadow pushed her back, pain in his eyes. Something must have happened
"Snowglow, stop it."
"She's Cloudkit. I know it!" Snowglow cried. Rainpaw pressed against her, unable to see his mother like this.
"Mom..."
Shadowstar coughed "Let all cats gather around the great pine!"
More cats came out from the dens. They gathered around and perked their ears.
"You all must be wondering why I have brought a stranger into camp." He started. More eyes darted at Cloud. "This is Cloud. She is... is a special cat. She came from the twolegplace, and we believe she's from DuskClan. We will all welcome her as part of us." His gaze raked across the clearing
"Why?" A white tom stepped out. "She might be a spy."
"She's no spy," Bladeshadow growled
"how are you so sure?" The tom's blue eyes glittered with anger.
"That's enough!" Shadowstar meowed, voice hard "Coldfur, get back to your duties. She will stay. That is how StarClan wants it to be"
Coldfur turned around and padded away, fur bristling, cursing under his breath. Shadowstar ignored him. He seemed to be use to Coldfur's rudeness "Cloud, you'll sleep in the apprentice den and train with Reedpaw and Dawnpaw."
"Shadowstar, you said you were going to hold the apprentice ceremony today." a white queen spoke up, with her kit behind her. The kit looked scared and nervous
"Of course, Frostflake." He meowed and cleared his throat. The cats got quiet "From this day forward, until she earns her warrior name, this apprentice will be called Mousepaw. Gingerleaf, you have proved yourself to be a warrior of wisdom though you are young. You shall be mentor to Mousepaw, I trust that you will pass on all you know to Mousepaw."
They touched noses, and the whole clan chanted
"Mousepaw! Mousepaw!" Cloud joined in. She's never been to a formal clan ceremony before, though Skyblaze had told her about them.
"Alright, it's getting late. Dawnpaw, help Cloud and Mousepaw to the apprentice den." A dark ginger she cat padded forward.
"Hey, I'm Dawnpaw." She meowed cheerfully "Come on, I'll show you the den!" She led Cloud and Mousepaw to the den. It was bigger than FireClan's apprentice den. It was lined with pine needles, and surprisingly warm and cozy.
"Not bad, eh?" Dawnpaw meowed. Cloud shook her head
"No, not bad at all!" It felt like home. She felt like she belonged.
"Here, I made a nest for you." A brown tom meowed "I'm Reedpaw, by the way."
"Welcome to DuskClan!" Dawnpaw announced "So, what'd you want to know?"
"Who was that cat who said I was her kit?" Cloud blurted. She had to know
"Snowglow," Reedpaw answered her "Rainpaw and Willowpaw's mother."
"Willowpaw?"
"She... she passed away during leafbare. Because of greencough." Dawnpaw meowed softly
"What about Cloudkit?"
"She.." Reedpaw started "Well, I heard from the elders. Apparently when Snowglow had her kits, foxes attacked the camp. Cloudkit... well she was left because the foxes attacked too close to camp. And they had to save the other kits and they though she died."
Cloud gasped. It was almost exactly like her dream... What is going on?
"Cloud, you okay?" Dawnpaw meowed
"Yes, I'm fine..." Snowglow is right. She is her kit!
"They weren't sure if Cloudkit was actually dead when they left her." Reedpaw added, trying to help with whatever she's thinking about
"Oh.. really..." Cloud didn't know what she was feeling.
"You should get to sleep." Dawnpaw announced "We have training tomorrow."
"Me too?" Cloud meowed
"Yeah," Dawnpaw settled down into her nest "We're all going!"
I finally get to train!Cloud felt happiness bloom inside her. Even when she was in FireClan Thornstar did not allow her to train with the others.
"What do we do in training?" She couldn't help but ask
"Well," Dawnpaw turned around in her nest, facing Mousepaw and Cloud "We usually do battle training and hunting, but our assessment is coming up soon, so..."
"How long do you train?" Cloud couldn't wait to be a warrior
Reedpaw answered her "We DuskClan apprentices usually train longer that the other clans, so around.." He scrunched his eyes in thought "six to eight moons?"
"Really?" Cloud gasped. That was an extremely long time... Skyblaze only trained for five moons!
"I know what you're thinking." Dawnpaw yawned "But honestly, it's worth it. You learn a lot more from your mentors."
Cloud nodded in understanding. DuskClan was ... unfamiliar, but it felt like home. The scent of the pines was extremely comforting.
"Goodnight.." She yawned. The soft moss warmed her fur, and she quickly fell asleep.
The sun shone through the woven branches of the apprentice den. Cloud stretched, yawning. Dawnpaw and Reedpaw were missing, only Mousepaw was still snoring in his nest.
"Hey," Cloud prodded her side "Wake up!" Mousepaw opened her eyes, yawning.
"We're late!" She squeaked when she realized they were the only ones in the den. She scrambled outside, with Cloud on her heels.
The camp was already bustling with activity. The elders were out, sharing tongues. Reedpaw and Dawnpaw were underneath a tree, eating.
"Hey!" Dawnpaw waved her tail in greeting. Mousepaw padded towards the fresh-kill pile. Cloud followed. She couldn't help but gag. Right on top was a frog. It's slimy eyes bulged out of its head. She reached for a shrew underneath, but a white claw flashed out and snatched it away.
"Taking our food." Coldfur muttered and padded away. Cloud reached instead for a small mouse and padded over to the rest of the apprentices.
Dawnpaw meowed sympathetically "Coldfur is rude to everyone, ignore him." Cloud nodded, upset. He seemed to hate her
"Hurry and eat," Reedpaw urged "Creekcloud is in charge today, and he is extremely impatient."
Cloud tore into the mouse, realizing how hungry she was. The mouse was cold, but still tender and juicy. She licked her lips, savoring the taste.
"You all! Let's go!" a gray and white tom meowed impatiently.
"That's Creekcloud," Dawnpaw meowed "My mentor."
"What about Reedpaw's mentor? Isn't he coming?"
Reedpaw rolled his eyes "My mentor is Coldfur. Shadowstar ordered him to stay away." lowering his voice, he added "He's... very violent."
Dawnpaw nodded vigorously "He hurt..." She was interrupted by Creekcloud
"Stop talking! We've got lots to do today!" Dawnpaw opened her mouth to protest. "Do you want to be a warrior?"
Dawnpaw snapped her mouth shut. They followed Creekcloud out of camp. He led them through a path into a clearing.
"This is the training clearing," Dawnpaw whispered "The path was cleared by generations of DuskClan cats."
"Thank you, Dawnpaw." Creekcloud spoke loudly. She dipped her head, embarrassed "Anyways, today, we'll be working on some basics, since we have two newcomers. Besides, you and Reedpaw need the review."
They nodded, ears perked
"Alright, let's start with back kicks." He looked at Dawnpaw and Reedpaw "Demonstrate for them."
Reedpaw and Dawnpaw padded forward, one in front of the other. Suddenly, Dawnpaw kicked out with both her hindlegs out and knocked Reedpaw off his feet.
"Good." Creekcloud nodded his approval. "Explain what you did."
Dawnpaw spoke up "I put all my weight on my forepaws and kicked both my hind legs up quickly so Reedpaw would be surprised."
"Were you surprised?"
"Yes!" Reedpaw coughed "We just got in line!"
Dawnpaw looked extremely pleased with herself.
"Alright, how about you first, Cloud." She got in line, just like they had. Then, when Mousepaw got behind her, she pressed onto her forepaws and kicked her hindpaws high in the air. She felt it connect with Mousepaw's chest. Her paws strained.
"Great job!" Creekcloud meowed, sounding pleased. "That was well executed for a beginner!"
Cloud felt her heart grow warm and fuzzy. "Thank you!"
"I'll talk to Shadowstar about getting you a mentor, but keep practicing!" Creekcloud grunted, but he was obviously happy.
The afternoon passed quickly, and finally Dawnpaw spoke up
"We should show Cloud and Mousepaw the territory! They need to know."
Creekcloud tilted his head in thought. "Yes, I suppose you're right. Let's go then."
Dawnpaw waved her tail happily, "Follow me!" She led them to the border.
"BreezeClan is there, and RippleClan is over there. FireClan is the furthest, across the moors."
Reedpaw stepped into the front. "Over there is the grove, come on!" He led them towards camp, but turned. Ahead, a cluster of pines was set in the middle of a clearing. Cloud's head suddenly hurt. Blood, I see blood... Foxes! Help me!She fainted, Dawnpaw and Reedpaw rushing to support her.
"Coalfoot! Coalfoot, come quickly!" Mousepaw scrambled back to camp "Cloud fainted!"
Coalfoot rushed towards the group, and helped Cloud to his den. He pressed his paw against her chest and sighed
"She's fine.. just shocked."
"Oh, thank StarClan." Reedpaw sighed
"Now, you all back out. She needs air! Go hunting or something!" He chased them out. Cloud slept for hours, then finally woke up near sunset.
"Your awake." Coalfoot meowed as she blinked awake "What happened."
"I remember.." She breathed "I remember..."