Little known fact: Along with many other secrets, Medicine Cats have a very special ritual to do to initiate new Medicine Cat apprentices. They refer to this very special, ancient and
important ritual as….
Prank The Newbie!
Story one:
Spottedpaw was practically bouncing on her paws. Her? Really? No, it couldn't be. Could she really be a real Medicine Cat apprentice? She was bounding across the Clan's homes,
oblivious to everything except what had just happened. StarClan! She had truly and honestly met StarClan! They had accepted her! She was on her way to becoming a real Medicine
Cat now. While she was skipping joyfully in front of him, her new mentor, Featherwhisker, was very solemn on the way back from the MoonStone. His expression was far away, as if he
was in a daze. Spottedpaw soon noticed this, and asked
"What's wrong, Featherwhisker?" He just shook his head, as if trying to forget bad thoughts, and said in his raspy, low voice,
"I will tell you when we get back to camp."
They entered the ThunderClan camp, Spottedpaw looking very worried and morbid, the exact opposite of what she had been just a few hours ago. What was bothering Featherwhisker
was really eating away at her. What could be so horrible?
The two cats reached the Medicine Cat den, and crawled inside. Once in, Featherwhisker spoke,
"Young Spottedpaw, I am worried. There is a special skill that all Medicine Cats must have, and I fear you may not posses it." Trying to hide a grin, Featherwhisker looked at
Spottedpaw. Her face was grim and determined. Featherwhisker could burst with joy. What a great new apprentice he had! Trying not to let his mind wander too much, he coughed and
went on. "You see, StarClan did not only gift Medicine Cats with a knowledge of herbs and poultices, but also the ability to talk to……. rocks. But, you say, in your dream StarClan never
mentioned this?" Spottedpaw shook her head, face expressing only fear and worry. Featherwhisker tutted. "Well, then, that could mean that they don't really except you at all,"
Spottedpaw looked horrified. "But, perhaps they did grant you the ability, but you just didn't realize. Well, only one way to find out." Spottedpaw got the message. She ran over to the
first rock she could find and stared at it. "No, not telepathically, you fool! Try small-talking it." Spottedpaw, looking uncomfortable, paws shifting uneasily, tried to sound pleasant.
"Um, hello," She tried.
The rock said nothing.
"Nice weather we're having, isn't it?"
Still nothing. Spottedpaw furrowed her brow, looking determined at the task at hand.
"So, what's your name?"
Nothing.
All the while, Featherwhisker was near bursting from trying not to laugh. This was pure gold! Spottedpaw's mind was focused only on the rock, so Featherwhisker sneaked out for a
moment to bring Whitestorm the new Warrior to see it. Whitestorm seemed to be having more trouble than Featherwhisker did at not laughing. He tried to muffle one particular giggle,
and it came out as THTHHTHHTHHTHBBBBBT! This made Spottedpaw look up. Seeing the two full-grown cats rolling on the floor laughing at her attempts to talk to a rock angered her.
Featherwhisker, who noticed that his prank had been ruined, grinned in a good natured sort of way and told Spottedpaw all about the initiation ceremony of Medicine Cats: Prank The
Newbie! Spottedpaw, being a sweet and nonjudgmental cat, forgave Featherwhisker and Whitestorm and even laughed about it with them. But, all the while, Spottedleaf was secretly
plotting what she'd do to her own apprentice. She couldn't wait!