Characters:
Skykit (rather large tom with light grey fur, and very bright blue eyes.)
Mossclaw (small grey she-cat with adorable green eyes, and a long, skinny tail.)
Clawstar (large she-cat with sleek black fur, white stripes down her sides, legs, and muzzle. super bright blueish green eyes)
Sparrowtail (large she-cat with dark grey fur, light green eyes) Raineye (brown calico she-cat with dark blue eyes.)
Darkpool (sleek black tom with dark almost purple blue eyes. Apprentice, Nightpaw.)
Leafpaw (Bright greyish blue she-cat with green eyes.)
Mudkit (brown calico she-cat with one brown eye(left) and one blue eye(right).)
Cloudpelt (LARGE white tom with bright blue eyes.)
Nightpaw (small, dark deep midnight black she-cat with one dark green eye and one dark blue eye.)
A cold breeze tugged at the small kits fur. Mudkit mewled quietly as her mother cleaned her fur, and Clawstar called the clan together, and Skykit came up next to her.
"Are you ready?" He purred, and he licked her ear softly.
"Of course I am!" she giggled.
"How about you?" she purred, and he nodded
"Oh I'm ready. I wonder who our mentors are going to be..." he questioned, and she scanned the clearing.
"I think... Cloudpelt and Mossclaw" she said, and she watched his gaze follow hers to the two warriors as they shared tongues.
"You think so?" he mewled, and she nodded.
"All cats old enough to catch their own prey, meet under the high rock" Clawstar's loud voice yowled, and Mudkit and Skykit walked out proudly next to Mudkit's mother. They sat, looking up directly at Clawstar as she spoke.
"Today, two of our kits will become apprentices. Mudkit and Skykit, please step forward."
They stepped forward together, and their fur mingled as they did so.
"Mudkit. Do you promise to take on all responsibilities, and to always to as your told?" Clawstar said.
Mudkit nodded softly "I do"
"And Skykit, do you promised to take on all responsibilities, and to always do as your told?"
"I do" mewled Skykit, as he dipped his head.
"Then for now on, Mudkit will be knows as Mudpaw, and Skykit will be known as Skypaw." Clawstar announced.
The cats began to yowl loudly "MUDPAW! SKYPAW! MUDPAW! SKYPAW" Mudpaw and Skypaw mewled happily and everyone's voices dyed down.
"Mudpaw, your mentor shall be Mossclaw." Mossclaw pulled herself up, walking over to Mudpaw, the two touched noses. "And Skypaw, your mentor shall be Cloudpelt" Clawstar also announced, and Cloudpelt did the same as Mossclaw. "You will both start your training tomorrow as soon as the morning patrol leaves. Clan dismissed" she called, jumping down from high rock she trotted into her den.
"Well, I guess we should go meet the apprentices" Mudpaw suggested, and Skypaw nodded "Sure. Lets go!" they raced off to the apprentices den, trotting into the entrance.
"Whoa..." they purred in unison, and giggled. The apprentice den was a lot smaller then the nursery, but the beds were very comfy though. Mudpaw and Skypaw brought two of the moss balls together, and lay right next to each other. Mudpaw lay her head on Skypaw's paws, and Skypaw lay his head on her back softly.
That Next Morning...
Mudpaw yawned softly, waking up she softly pulled herself from underneath Skypaw's head. "Morning love" she whispered in his ear, unknowing he was awake.
"Morning to you too" he purred softly. She jumped, her face becoming an obviously bright red. He chuckled, stretching as he walked out. She gasped, slapping her forehead. Nice one, Mudpaw! She thought, padding out after him.
"Oh, you two are awake!" Cloudpelt mewled as he walked over to them. They nodded, and Mudpaw felt Skypaw wrap his tail around hers, intertwining them. "Are you two ready?" he asked.
Skypaw purred. "Of course"
"Lets get going while we have the sunlight. Today Mossclaw and I will be showing you the territory" he purred, and they both nodded.
"Alright, lets go!" purred Mossclaw, who blasted out of the camp. Cloudpelt quickly pounced after her, and Skypaw and Mudpaw followed close behind. As soon as they left the camp, a new, fresh forestry kind of scent hit them.
They slowed to a trot, and Cloudpelt stopped them. "Skypaw, do you smell anything?" he commanded, and Skypaw tasted the air.
"Umm... yes... is it, a squirrel..?" he mewled confusedly, and Cloudpelt purred.
"Good job! Lets continue." They continued, and a large shimmering river rushed up ahead. "Now you see Mudpaw, us girls are born with better swimming skills than boys, and to our advantage, that river is apart of our territory!" she teased, racing down the riverside with Mudpaw. Mudpaw giggled, touching the water with her paw. Mossclaw dived into the water, sending water flying. Mudpaw leaped in, the cold liquid sinking into her fur. Almost as an instinct she began to paddle her tiny paws, while Skypaw slipped on the rocks. He slid in, and splashed under. He lashed his paws every which way, and Mudpaw grabbed his scruff, pulling him to a nearby rock. She carefully threw him up onto it, and he shook off.
"How do you girls do that?" he laughed, and she chuckled.
"I... I actually don't know. It just kind of... happens." and with that, she plunged back into the water. Cloudpelt even slid all over the shore, and the two girls wadded out chuckling.
"Lets continue so we can get back soon" Mossclaw mewled, and the boys immediately agreed. On the way back they had went hunting, and came back with two plump squirrels, a vole, and a mouse. They carefully put their catches in the fresh kill pile. It was nearly sun down, and Mudpaw and Skypaw were super tired. As soon as Skypaw touched the moss, he was out.
Mudpaw lay herself carefully next to him, kissing his cheek softly. I wish he felt the same was as me... She thought silently, before falling asleep.
After that moon...
Skypaw awoke, looking down at Mudpaw. If only she felt the same way as me, I would love to be able to kiss her beautiful cheeks everyday. He purred, silently kissing her cheek. She gave a short smile, opening one eye.
"Peek-a-boo" she giggled, and sat up. "Yes, I was awake when you kissed - wait..." then she realized it. Wait... he kissed ME?! she thought, looking up at his obviously red face. She giggled, kissing his nose. "Don't worry, I feel the same way" she whispered, running her tail over his mouth as she padded out. He stood, shocked, as he watched her walk out. Wait... she...she actually DOES like me back! he thought excitedly, walking out he padded after her.
"Skypaw, Mudpaw! Are you ready to learn some fighting techniques?" Cloudpelt mewled, his brown eyes sparkling excitedly.
"OF COURSE I am!" Skypaw giggled, jumping up and down happily.
"Me too!" Mudpaw purred, and her eyes shone brightly.
"Then lets go!" Mossclaw mewled, trotting out of the camp. Mudpaw trotted up next to her, while Cloudpelt and Skypaw fell behind, talking quietly.
"So, any girls on your mind?" Cloudpelt questioned, and Skypaw's face became instantly red.
"Well... maybe..." he purred, and Cloudpelt pushed him softly.
"Come on, tell your old pa" he laughed, and Skypaw giggled.
"Maybe umm... Mudpaw..." he whispered, and Cloudpelt yowled.
"Mudpaw?! Really?! You guys would be adorable together!" Skypaw glanced at Mudpaw, who was giggling. He slapped Cloudpelt softly, hissing.
"Really? You would yell out like that!"
Mudpaws POV
Mosspelt gave a soft giggle, looking down at Mudpaw. "So... do you have any boys on your mind?" She purred, and Mudpaw looked down at her paws as she walked.
"Well... actually, I have been looking at Skypaw a little..." she mewled, and Cloudpelt giggled. Mossclaw stopped.
"Hey Skypaw..." "Yes...?" he said nervously. "You said you had feelings for Mudpaw, right?" The two apprentices began to blush.
"Ya..." he purred.
"And Mudpaw, you have feelings for Skypaw, correct?" he questioned. She nodded. "Well, then why don't you two be mates?" She suggested, and Skypaw licked her neck fur softly.
"Who said we weren't?" he purred, and Mudpaw giggled. Their tail intertwined, and Mossclaw purred.
"How adorable," she said, leaning her head into Cloudpelt's fur. He cleaned her fur, before meowing. "Okay, lovey birds, we have to return to training."
"Oh, ya!" the apprentices mewled in unison, and continued to trot towards the training hollow.
"Okay, first we will show you the basics." Cloudpelt explained, and both the apprentices nodded.
"Okay, so, lets begin. First, you plan your self out. If Mossclaw is standing to the right of the tree, by jumping left, and skidding under her, I can confuse her enough to give me just the amount of time to trip and and get onto her." he explained, leaping forward quickly. Mossclaw turned left, just as Cloudpelt flew under her. Mossclaw tried to spin around, but Cloudpelt had already tackled her from behind, and had his paws over her neck. She giggled, and pushed him off. "You see, if we were actually fighting I could have easily bit into her throat, and clawed her stomach at the same time." he explained, and smiled. "Now its your turn. Do exactly what I did." Cloudpelt ordered, sitting off in a low tree branch.
"Okay..." Skypaw whispered, looking at exactly where Mudpaw was standing. He swiftly pounced to the right, and she turned. He flew under her, and as she went to snap her head the other way, he tackled her, standing above her with his paws on her neck. "Amazing!" Cloudpelt yowled, and Skypaw softly got off of her. "Now Mudpaw, you get to try to do the same to Skypaw" Mossclaw said softly, and Mudpaw nodded. She quickly calculated her attack, jumping to the right. But Skypaw was too fast. He jumped to the left, and as she landed, he tackled her yet again. But, to Mudpaw's advantage she was just small enough to flip him off, and she shot up, jumping ontop of him, with her paws to his neck this time.
"Wonderful come back, Mudpaw" Mossclaw mewled proudly. "Good job" Skypaw giggled, and Mudpaw pounced off of him. "Thank you' She mewled. "Alright, lets get back to the camp. Its nearly night." Cloudpelt ordered, and the other fell behind them as they ran back to the camp. As Mudpaw lay down next to Skypaw in their den, Mudpaw yawned. "Goodnight, Skypaw" "Goodnight" he purred, "I... love you" he said quickly, lying down his head next to hers. "I love you too" She whispered, before drifting off into a deep sleep.
Next Morning...
Mudpaw awoke abruptly, to find that Skypaw's warm body was missing from next to her. She quickly pulled up, walking outside. The suns bright rays suddenly shot onto her fur, and made it look as though it was shining. She licked off her ruffled fur, and saw Clawstar approach her.
"Ah, Mudpaw. I was looking for you." she meowed, and Mudpaw looked up.
"I need you and Skypaw to go with Cloudpelt and Mossclaw to go on morning patrol" Clawstar continued, and her tail flicked.
"Alright Clawstar. I will find them and tell them" Mudpaw nodded, bowing her head she walked off. But as she searched the camp, there was no sign of any of the three. Then she got this eerie feeling that told her to run. Not just run, but run out of the camp. Every fur along her spine stood on end, as she quickly pelted out of the camp.
Mudpaw pelted out of the camp as quickly as her tiny paws would take her.
Her tinier then normal size was an advantage, as she could run faster than most cats.
A loud, eerie yowl could be heard, but it was cut short as another howl interrupted it. But this was no howl, it caused Mudpaw to stop where she was.
Dog... the thought flashed through her mind, and her heart began to pound.
"Oh Starclan... please help me..." she panicked, and as if Starclan was watching over her, the wind changed direction, sending the mingled scent of panicked cat and dog.
She raced after the scent, following it over logs and past enormous oak trees.
Then she noticed something.
The spine tingling scent of fresh spilled blood could be scented, and she saw the scene unfolding infront of her. There were three large dogs, each dog had a hold of one of the cats.
The largest dog had Skypaw, who was on the edge of fainting. Mudpaw planned everything out. She picked up a pebble, throwing it at a branch, and the pebble landed directly in the river. Each dog jumped up, racing over.
Mudpaw swiftly jumped on the middle dogs back, yowling loudly "RUN AND GET CLAWSTAR NOW!" she hissed, and all the cats pelted to camp.
Mudpaw shredded into the dogs neck, creating a large gash.
She leaped onto the left dog, digging her claws as deep as possible into the dogs eyes. An ear piercing yelp echoed through the forest, and the dog fell over.
As she jumped on the right dog, she noticed it was more swift. It immediately turned, about to catch Mudpaw in his jaws. She gasped, closing her eyes as she prepared for impact.
But a loud thud told her to open her eyes, and she turned around to see a black cat disappearing around the river bend, and the dog she was about to attack was dead.
She gasped, noticing the entire neck skin had been peeled off and thrown. She shivered.
As Clawstar raced down the small hill, she skidded to a stop.
"Holy Starclan..." she exclaimed, her eyes becoming large with amazement.
"Oh... my... Starclan..." Skypaw mewled.
Mudpaw looked up, her neck was slightly covered in blood from the fall, and her paw had a small cut.
"Lets get you to-" Clawstar started, but was interrupted.
"MY BABY!" shrieked Raineye, who came blasting from the group of cats, sliding down to Mudpaw. "Are you alright sweety?" she mewled, cleaning the blood from Mudpaws neck.
"YES, mom, I'm fine!" Mudpaw exclaimed, pulling herself up the hill, side by side with her mother and Skypaw.
"You alright, Mudpaw?" Skypaw asked, and just as she was about to scream, she noticed the concern in his eyes.
"I promise I'm fine, Skypaw" she purred, leaning her head on his shoulder.
As they entered camp, Darkpool escorted both apprentices into the den. grabbing poppy seeds and cobwebs, he expertly wrapped up her paw and cleaned off Skypaw where is neck had been shredded open by the dog that had lashed him around. He wrapped the cobwebs around Skypaws neck, and fed him a few extra poppy seeds. "Alright, Skypaw I need you to come visit me every morning so I can make sure it doesn't get infected" Darkpool said quietly, like he normally does, and Skypaw nodded.
"Yes sir" Skypaw mewled, pulling himself up, he and Mudpaw walked out together just as Clawstar was about to call a clan meeting.
"All cats old enough to catch their own prey, please meet beneath the high rock" she yowled loudly, and all of the warriors and apprentices swiftly came out into the clearing.
"Today, a very brave apprentice saved two of our best warriors, and another apprentice. Mudpaw and Skypaw, please step forward" Doing as they were told, the two apprentices stepped forward.
"Mudpaw, do you accept the responsibilities you are being given as a warrior, to sacrifice yourself for the safety of your clan?"
"I do" Mudpaw said proudly.
"Then from this moment on, you shall be known by your new warrior name, Mudflower"
"Skypaw, do you accept the responsibilities you are being given as a warriors, to sacrifice yourself for the safety of your clan?"
"Yes, I do" Skypaw said, his head held high.
"Then from this moment on, you shall be known by your new warrior name, Skyheart"
All the cats yowled loudly. "MUDFLOWER! SKYHEART! MUDFLOWER! SKYHEART!"
Mudflower and Skyheart touched noses, and Clawstar explained loudly "Now, you two must stand vigil the entire night, right in the middle of camp" Clawstar pointed to a small circle in the dirt, right in the middle of camp.
Mudflower and Skyheart walked to the middle of camp, sitting down back to back, to watch the clan for the entire night.
After vigil...
Skyheart's POV
Skyheart pulled himself up as Clawstar dismissed them from vigil. He quickly grabbed Mudflower, pulling her out of the camp quickly. "Hey, so we're warriors now..." he purred, a mischievous smile on his face.
"Mudflower gasped. Skyheart! Don't you think we're a little... young...?" she said, staring up at him with wide eyes.
"We're warriors now, that's ten moons old! We're not young at all." He purred, dragging her further into the darkest part of the territory.
Many, Many moons later...
Mudflower screeched loudly from inside the med den. A small mew was heard, then another, and yet another. Darkpool could be heard, silently whispering to her instructions to help her along.
It was obvious that Skyheart was ready to jump out of his pelt. Darkpool meowed as loud as he could."Skyheart, would you like to see your kits?"
"Of course I would" Skyheart said, slowly padding into the nursery. "Oh my..." He purred, looking down at his four adorable kits.
"So far I named two, they are Rosekit, and Ashkit" she purred.
"I'll name the last two Junekit, and Leafkit" Skyheart suggested, and Mudflower smiled. "Those are beautiful names" she purred, and he walked over to lay next to her. Junekit smelled the air, and crawled over to lay on Skyheart's paws.
"Aww, how cute!" Mudflower whispered, pulling the other kits over to her. She gave a quick yawn, laying her head down under his head, and with that, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.