Amberclan: Twelve for Tragedy

by Cherryburg, Lack Thereof, and Kitty (Not a FFnet User)

Full Summary: Amberclan is a lone clan a few miles away from the four Clans. Living up in the mountains is never easy, especially with a group of loners aspiring to tear down Clan ideals, a father who's raising the bar too high, a scandalous romance between mentor and apprentice, and the identity of a young kit's real mother. The Clan of Twelve is only in for one thing- tragedy.

Prologue

The New Generation

"We are all gathered here for a certain, vital, and exciting cause." Garnetstar announced to her audience. Mews of applause erupted from the warriors, but no mews were louder than the ones of the young kits lined up in front of the leader. Today, they would no longer be considered little and helpless, but apprentices. Today they would leave their childish, narrow minds, and receive wisdom from mentors to pass on. They were the future generation of warriors, and they felt overwhelmingly proud of themselves.

And a quite big generation they were. They kits lined up in front of Garnetstar were Rougekit, the ambitious, yet lone son of Swallowtail and her late mate Redtail; the two sons of Hawkwing and Creamfur, free-spirited Lightkit and talkative Tankit, and their day dreamer sister, Sunkit; the three beautiful daughters of Scarletwing and Cloudfoot- Scarletkit, Snowkit, and Icekit, and at last, Garnetstar's own daughter, Foxkit- wait, scratch that- Foxkit was not present! Where was she? Garnetstar pretended not to be fazed, but she was truly afraid of all the embarrassment that would follow if the leader's own daughter didn't come to the mentor-apprentice ceremony. She glanced at the medicine cat, Silverdream. Silverdream dipped her head sympathetically.

Sunkit (to no one's surprise) was not paying attention but instead looking at the mountains away from Amberclan. In Sunkit's eyes, all of Amberclan's matters were just so trifling! Cats openly steered away from her, and even Creamfur had come to reason that her daughter's mind was not stable. They didn't understand her, because her mission in life was divine, beyond any natural comprehension. Silverdream was the nicest to her. Whenever Sunkit was having a troublesome day, or a very peculiar dream, Silverdream would try to work out any enigma that Sunkit's mind had conjured up.

Sunkit turned her attention back to the camp. She noticed Snowkit, another kit ready to be mentored, was ogling at an experienced apprentice, a young, energetic cat named Stormpaw. Sunkit huffed, "Please, he would never return feelings on a novice like her!"

Icekit wondered where Foxkit was. She hadn't seen her since that morning, but with all of the excitment about the upcoming ceremony, Icekit hadn't been paying much attention to Foxkit. Where would Foxkit go? wondered Icekit.

Foxkit, like any other kit, had gotten into mischief a few times for small things, such as raiding Silverdream's den and having a bellyache for half of a moon afterwards, but nothing major.

Icekit, being the calm-minded cat she was, didn't automatically expect the worst, like Icekit knew Garnetstar was at the moment. Icekit then noticed Swallowtail slip away from the rest of the clan. She must be going to look for Foxkit, Icekit realized. Icekit then let her mind wander to who her mentor would be. Quite a few warriors didn't have an apprentice, which one would she be paired up with...?

Scarletkit tore her gaze away from secretly watching Snowkit gawk at Stormpaw like if he was a god. Her sister could never end up with him- no matter how beautiful she was. He was going to become a warrior- and she just an apprentice! Imagine a scandal that would be!

Oh well. Her sister could have all the infatuations she wanted- Scarletkit had her eye on just one tom- Rougekit. She couldn't help but smile whenever she thought of the ambitious youth, however quiet he was (maybe his silence just made him attractively mysterious). And she couldn't stop admiring how cute they looked together. Maybe we can train together as apprentices, she thought dreamily.

While, on the other end of the line, Tankit was quietly urging Garnetstar to hurry up! What was she stalling for? Maybe it was in suspense before she announced her apprentice would be...him! He bounced up and down with excitement- being the leader's apprentice would be quite the honor to add to his personal resume! He wandered over to Icekit to talk to her, although his tail was clamped between claws and he was yanked back by his brother, Lightkit.

"I just want to talk." Tankit persisted. Lightkit grinned, and made a gesture as to say aye-yai-yai.

"You forget mousebrain..." Lightkit laughed, "We're in the middle of the mentor-apprentice ceremony!"

"Um..." Tankit felt him face grow hot, "Sorry."

"It's alright!" Lightkit assured him, "Father didn't see anyhow, so you're off the hook."

"Phew."

Lightkit shook his head, still laughing quietly to himself. His brother never resisted the urge to talk to someone. Luckily his father, Hawkwing, didn't see, or Tankit would get in trouble for not behaving during the mentor-apprentice ceremony, and Lightkit would get in trouble for not being more hard on his younger brother for his mistake. Lightkit was always getting in trouble for his care-free attitude. He hoped he didn't get his father as a mentor- that would make history as the worst mentor and apprentice ever recorded!

Just then he noticed Foxkit was not present at the ceremony. Stupid furball, he thought fondly, she never makes it on time anywhere.

All of a sudden the long awaited Foxkit went tearing across the clearing. Some of the warriors shook their heads. Garnetstar seemed to be resisting the urge to take cover under a rock.

"I'm sorry Garnetstar! I just found this cute little blue jay, and..." Garnetstar just motioned for her to sit down. Foxkit went over and sat next to Tankit. Garnetstar cleared her throat, and after a brief introduction, began the ceremony.

Garnetstar straightened her back, held her chin up, and announced, "The apprentice for Silverdream will be..."

Everyone held their breath to see who it would be. Sunkit was desperately longing for it to be her. She had a special connection to Starclan! Of course Silverdream WOULD select her. Her tail twitched in anticipation.

Tankit and Lightkit looked at Sunkit, knowing how much she wanted to be the medicine cat appprentice.

Garnetstar waited, then said, "Icekit!"

Sunkit felt numb. Everything went in slow motion as Icekit approached her mentor. She dug her claws into the earth below to resist from jumping at

Icekit in frustration. Her eyes cast downward so no one would see her bloodshot eyes as she abstained from crying like a frightened kit.

Tankit's tail touched his sister's shoulder in comfort.

Sunkit sighed, "I...I'm not good enough... No wonder why Silverdream didn't choose me... I... don't belong here..."

"Don't say that!" Tankit replied, "You belong here just like everyone else!"

"Not in Father's eyes..." Lightkit thought absentmindly.

Tankit huffed at his brother, "That's mean, Lightkit!"

Sunkit didn't say anything, and just continued watching the mentor-apprentice ceremony, retreating into her always welcoming imagination for sanctuary. Icekit was standing in front of Garnetstar, ready to receive her apprentice name.

Garnetstar told her, "Your apprentice name is Icepaw, and you are allowed to touch noses with your mentor now."

Rougekit sighed, waiting for his turn to come. He was tired of these novices acting like they were all that. They had no idea how to be a true warrior, no true drive. He, however did. His father was watching him from Starclan every moment of the day, and he will not disappoint his father for any of those moments.

Silverdream went and touched noses with Icepaw, and sat beside her apprentice as the ceremony progressed more.

Garnetstar continued, "Now, we shall choose my own apprentice."

Tankit bounced up and down, "I hope it's me!" He whispered excitedly to Foxkit.

Rougekit's ears peaked. This was his true moment to shine! He could feel the glare of his father watching him. The sun beat on his back, reminding him to win.

Foxkit turned to Tankit, "I hope so too! You deserve to be the leader's apprentice more then anyone! Maybe oneday you'll be sovereign of Amberclan!" Rougekit scoffed at Foxkit's lack of drive.

"You think so?" He asked, beaming.

Foxkit nodded.

"If you stop talking, then maybe!" Lightkit told him.

"My, the leader's, apprentice will be..." Everyone waited in suspense.

"Tankit." Tankit said.

Foxkit broke out laughing at the kit sense of humor.

Lightkit's ears pricked.

"Rougekit."

Tankit's ears dropped.

Rougekit assumed a proud position and trotted up to where Garnetstar was waiting. Scarletkit smiled at him. What a crush to be proud of! Now maybe one day that crush to be proud of would turn into a mate to be proud of...?

Scarletkit blushed at the thought.

Garnetstar looked down at the young Rougekit, "Your apprentice name is now Rougepaw, and I give your permission to touch noses with your mentor."

She touched noses with Rougepaw, and Lightkit could help but know Scarletkit was hoping she was Garnetstar instead. Rougepaw sat next to his mentor, and there was a twinkling of happiness in his eyes.

"Now," Garnetstar continued, "The deputy, Hawkwing's apprentice." Lightkit and Tankit held their breath. Their father, Hawkwing, although he was a great warrior, had a heart of stone. He never let you get off the hook for anything, and even worse, he seemed to be close friends with Icepath, a controversial warrior in Amberclan.

"Hawkwing's apprentice is..." Garnetstar said, "Lightkit."

Garnetstar looked down upon Lightkit, and said, "Your apprentice name is now Lightpaw, and you may proceed to touch noses with your mentor."

Tail between his legs, Lightpaw creeped over to his intimidating and hateful father, and looked up to touch noses with him. Hawkwing did, but when he did, he whispered so low no one could here him, "You'look like nothing but a scared mouse, Lightpaw."

Lightkit bit his lip and sat down next to Hawkwing and watched in misery as the ceremony continued.

Garnetstar exhaled and continued, "Now, the new warrior Stormpelt's apprentice..."

Stormpelt looked alarmed at getting an apprentice so early.

Silverdream responded, "Of course. Stormpelt has a fresh memory of his lessons he should be able to pass on, and his youth should make the apprentice more comfortable."

Next to Lightkit, he heard Hawkwing grumble, "Garnetstar has no tact in my opinion." Lightkit swallowed and continued listening, ignoring such treason.

Stormpelt beamed at the beautiful medicine cat's praise.

"Thank you Silverdream." Garnetstar mewed, and bowed her head toward the gray-furred cat genuinely, "Stormpelt's new apprentice will be Snowkit. Snowkit please come up to the front."

Scarletkit's giggle burst out a little louder than she expected. Snowkit glared at her sister, and hoped no one notice the blush creep up on her face.

All eyes turned toward the reddish-brown pelted she-kit. Garnetstar raised her brows at Scarletkit, "Is there a problem, young lady?"

"No..." Scarletkit lied, and sank back into the crowd. Snowkit had the biggest crush on Stormpelt, and now she was apprenticed to him! Scarletkit couldn't help but smile and feel a little ting of jealousy. If only she and Rougepaw could be stuck in the same situation...

Snowkit shyly approached her mentor.

"No..." Stormpelt purred, "You go to Garnetstar first."

Scarletkit started giggling all over again.

"Oh... yeah... Sorry..." Snowkit wanted to die. She quickly approached Garnetstar.

Garnetstar smiled, "Your apprentice name is Snowpaw, and you may touch noses with your mentor."

Snowpaw walked over to Stormpelt for the second time, and was terrified to touch noses with him, afraid she do something stupid...again.

Stormpelt softly touched noses with the young apprentice. His breath hugged her fur, and if it was not just her imagination, he seemed to smile.

Stormpelt greeted, "It's a pleasure to mentor you, young she-cat."

Snowpaw blushed furiously and answered, "As it is you also..." She walked past him, her fur brushing against his, sending a vibration across his skin.

Snowpaw grinned to herself as Stormpelt shifted with unease. Two can play this game, dear mentor..

Authors' Note: Remember, review rhymes with YOU.