I have chosen to stray from the traditional POV path associated with warriors and to do this story in First Person. I find it easier for me to write from first person than third. Please review. I am open to constructive criticism.
I padded through the undergrowth. The warm scent of prey bathing my tongue made my mouth water. The ferns rustled, I froze, waiting. A squirrel appeared no more than two tail lengths in front of me. Completely unaware I was even there. I crouched down and wriggled my haunches preparing to pounce when, suddenly, a paw whacked me on my muzzle. I jerked awake a feeling of irritation wriggling in my belly. I scanned the nursery for the culprit. Poppyfrost lay curled in her nest with her kits. My brother, Nightpaw, sat nearby amusement lighting his blue gaze. "Nightpaw! I was about to catch a squirrel bigger than both of us." I grumbled. He twitched his whiskers in amusement.
"It is almost time for your naming ceremony." He meowed lightly.
A jolt went through me. "What! Why didn't you wake me up sooner?" I scrabbled into a sitting position and began grooming the bits of moss and bracken from my pelt.
"Didn't Ivypool tell you?" Nightpaw tilted his head to the side.
"No, but she obviously found time to tell you." I snapped. Nightpaw was not really my littermate; Ivypool had nursed him alongside Dovekit and me when Dovewing died from greencough during leaf-bare. I looked up and saw the hurt in the tawny tom's gaze. "I'm sorry," I sighed. "It just hurts that Ivypool told you, but not me. It feels like she blames me for Dovekit being so small and weak. She never comes to see me. She's always in Jayfeather's den." Maybe she will think twice about having kits in leaf-bare and taking on an extra mouth next time I added silently. "How do I look?" I raised my head after giving my chest one final lick.
Nightpaw walked around me and plucked a stray piece of moss from behind my ear before giving his approval. "Now come on."
I followed him out of the nursery with an affectionate shake of my head. The air outside was warm and filled with the scent of newleaf. I looked around the clearing feeling a pang of grief as I realized how many of my clan mates now walked with Starclan. Sandstorm, Graystripe and Mille all died from the same bout of greencough that killed Dovewing. Many more died from wounds received in the battle with Shadowclan over territory in the middle of leafbare.
"Hey Flowerkit!" the sound of Owlpaw's voice brought me from my thoughts. The tawny tom was trotting over with Larkpaw and Leafpaw. "Are you excited about starting your warrior training?"
I sat down and wrapped my tail neatly over my paws. "Of course."
"I bet you can't wait to get away from Poppyfrost's kits." Leafpaw meowed.
"They are four moons old now," I said defensively.
Leafpaw stuck her nose in the air, "They're still kits."
The fur on my neck began to bristle. Nightpaw pressed himself against my flank, calming me. "I find them less annoying than some apprentices." This was true because I would rather be around Sweetkit or Rainkit than Leafpaw.
"Just stop it, Leafpaw." Nightpaw snapped when the tortoiseshell opened her mouth to retort. She lashed her tail then padded back toward the apprentice den. Larkpaw gave us an apologetic look before following his littermate. "Who do you hope to have as your mentor?" Nightpaw asked once Leafpaw and Larkpaw were gone.
"I'm not sure," I said slowly. "I will be happy with anyone, really."
Owlpaw rolled his eyes and gave my shoulder a playful nudge, "Come on if you could choose who would it be?" he pressed.
I licked a paw and drew it over my muzzle. "I think I would choose Bumblestripe." Owlpaw blinked his round amber eyes at me in surprise.
"Why?" Nightpaw asked.
"Because, he has loads of experience, but still enjoys joking around." I explained. "I don't want to be stuck with some cat that is always serious and doesn't have a sense of humor." I wrinkled my nose at the thought.
"I'm sure Bramblestar has chosen well for you," a purr rumbled from behind us. I spun around.
"Stormcloud!" I yowled pouncing on my father. He used to be a kittypet, but you would not guess that if you saw him now. His pelt was no longer soft and fluffy. His muscles were lean and hard from fighting and hunting for his Clan.
"Are you ready?" Stormcloud asked, pride glowing in his eyes. I looked toward the screen of brambles that separated the medicine clearing from the rest of the camp. "Is Ivypool coming?"
"I'm sure she will," Stormcloud licked me between the ears.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highledge for a clan meeting." Bramblestar yowled. I stiffened as butterflies fluttered in my stomach.
The Clan quickly gathered in the main clearing. Nightpaw touched his nose to my shoulder, "See you soon." He murmured then padded over to Fernsong. Once the Clan settled down Bramblestar began the ceremony.
"One of our kits is ready to become an apprentice." Yowls rose meeting his words in the warm air. "Come forward Flowerkit."
This is it. I cast one last glance toward Jayfeather's den and joy rushed through me. Ivypool was sitting outside the brambles, her dark blue gaze glowing with pride. I trotted forward with my head and tail held high.
"From this moment, until she completes her warrior training this apprentice will be known as Flowerpaw." Bramblestar paused for a few moments then called, "Sparkheart, you will mentor Flowerpaw."
I watched as the orange tabby she-cat padded forward confidently and proudly. She ignored the mutters of discontent that rose around her. She was young, having only finished her training a moon ago. I shuffled my paws; many of my clanmates might see Bramblestar's choice as favoritism toward his kin.
"Sparkheart, you are young with only a moon of experience." Bramblestar meowed, acknowledging the reason his warriors were grumbling. "But I chose you because you have shown your natural ability to lead and teach. You have proven yourself a great hunter and fierce fighter. I trust you will make Flowerpaw into a warrior Thunderclan can be proud of."
I stepped forward to touch noses with Sparkheart and felt relieved to see the same nervousness in me reflected in the orange tabby's own eyes.
"Flowerpaw! Flowerpaw!" The clan yowled filling me with pride. Once my clanmates began drifting away, Sparkheart touched her nose to my ear.
"Come on. I want to show you the territory."
I nodded, "May I go tell Dovekit about my ceremony first?" I knew that my sister would want to hear about it.
Sympathy flashed in my mentor's eyes as she nodded. "But hurry."
"Thanks." I meowed before dashing across the clearing to Jayfeather's den. Only three days had passed since I had seen Dovekit, but shock washed over me when I saw how much smaller she seemed.
Dovekit lifted her head and blinked her streaming eyes. "Flowerpaw!" she rasped. A bout of coughing shook her small body. "Ivypool told me about the ceremony. I'm sorry I missed it."
Affection washed over me for my littermate. I lowered my head and licked her ears, "Don't worry you'll soon have your own ceremony," I purred.
"Flowerpaw!" I turned to face Ivypool and shrunk back. The warmth and pride that had glowed so brightly in her dark blue eyes was no longer there. "Quit pestering Dovekit and go to Sparkheart."
I opened my jaws to speak, but Dovekit rested a tiny paw on my leg. "Just go," she whispered. "She is in one of her moods." Raising her voice, she added. "The sooner you go the sooner you can get back and tell me about our territory." Dovekit gave into another coughing fit.
"Alright." I sighed before licking her ear affectionately and leaving the den.
"I wish you wouldn't be so cold toward her, Ivypool." I heard Jayfeather rebuke my mother. "She is still your daughter and she is just as worried about Dovekit as you are."
I made my way slowly across the clearing, my tail dragging in the dust.
"Flowerpaw. Nightpaw and Fernsong will be joining us." Sparkheart informed me when I reached them.
"Great." I muttered. How can I be excited to explore the territory when my own mother hated me?
"What's wrong?" Nightpaw nudged my shoulder.
"Nothing." I shook my pelt. "Let's just go."
Fernsong exchanged a significant glance with Sparkheart before taking the lead.
"It's Ivypool isn't it?" Nightpaw asked gently. I nodded silently. "Don't worry she'll come around. It must be hard for her to have lost her littermate and she is probably scared she'll lose Dovekit too."
I blinked at the black and white tom, I hadn't thought of that. I touched my nose to his ear, "Thanks Nightpaw."