Chapter 1
"Mistkit!" A cat yowled Mistkit's name, "Miskit! Come out and play!"
Mistkit rolled over onto her flank, turning her back to her litter-mate, "go away Clearkit!" She growled.
"It's sun-high you lazy oaf come and play!" Clearkit shook her with her white front paws.
Mistkit groaned and slowly padded after her sister ignoring her mother's greeting
The clearing was empty today, most cats were on a patrol, training or hunting. Lightpool, the medicine cat, was talking too Whitestar and was smiling. Blueheart was staring at Rockpelt with love in her eyes, the blue furred warrior had only been made a warrior 2 moons ago and even as an apprentice she had heart eyes for the older tom.
The three apprentices were sitting under a tree sharing a sparrow and gossiping.
"Mistkit!" Stripedkit can running in front of her with a ball of moss in his mouth, "wanna play moss ball?"
"Sure," the white muzzled she cat muttered, she had won every time she played this game.
"Me vs you first!" Stripedkit placed the moss ball by his paws, "Okay g-!"
"Wait!" A voice interrupted Stripedkit, "I'll go against her!" It was Shadepaw
The rules to this game were simple. There was a defender and an attacker, the attacker had to grab the moss ball and bring it to the entrance of the nursery. Every Time someone had played against Mistkit as a defender or attacker she had beat them. She'd never played against an apprentice before.
"Okay then," Mistkit rolled her eyes, "but I warn you, i won't go easy."
"Ha!" A voice scoffed from behind Shadepaw, "My brother won't be beaten by a kit from Thunderclan let alone one from Shadowclan."
"Don't Snakepaw!" Shadepaw glared at the black she cat, "i'm pretty sure she gets enough of that from her other clanmates."
"My roots have nothing to do with this game!" Mistkit snarled.
Snakepaw sat next to Brownpaw who was pretty silent until this moment, "get on with it then!"
"I'll be defender this time then we swap over, okay?" Shadepaw asked
MIstkit nodded as she looked for a place to grab the ball.
"3…" Clearkit said, "2… 1!"
Mistkit lept in, the wind whipping her face. She sharply turned around the big grey tabby tom and lunged for the mossball. But unlike her adopted littermates, Shadepaw had training. He had trained for 3 moons and was quite a few moons older than her. He quickly sent his bushy tail towards her face sending her sprawling across the clearing.
Mistkit stood up and shook the dirt of her fur. Time to take it serious. She ran in once again and then it happened.
Every time she had become close to being beaten time would almost slow down, giving her a chance to look around for a spot to go in or dodge or whatever. She noticed how tall he was and the massive gap between his legs.
Time once again sped up and she dove straight underneath the belly without wasting a second. Shadepaw twisted around, but it was too late. Mistkit had the mossball dangling from her jaws and was legging it towards the nursery entrance.
Stripedkit grinned at the dark grey apprentice but didn't say a word.
"I win!" Mistkit said calmly but you could see the happiness in her eyes.
"I told you no one could beat my sister!" StripedKit chimed in. Mistkit grinned.
"She's not your sister," Snakepaw rudely butted in, "She's just pure Shadowclan!"
"I've lived with this clan for over 4 moons now," Mistkit said with a slightly agitated tone in her voice. "I think i can be excepted!"
"Pshh," the black she cat lifted up one paw, "your own birth clan didn't want you!" She shoved her muzzle in Mistkit's face and added in a slight whisper, "What makes you think we do."
Mistkit watched as the green eyed cat stalked off with Brownpaw just a fox-length behind her. Shadepaw shook his head.
"Sorry about her."
"It's fine," Mistkit tried to sound calm.
Clearkit, knowing she felt angry, padded up to her and ran her tail along her back. "You're our sister, don't let Snakepaw get you down! Wanna play against Stripedkit and beat his tail all the way up to Starclan!"
Mistkit smiled at the White she kit and trotted up to join her brother. But she couldn't help feel an emptiness in her heart.
…
It was night.
Stripedkit and Clearkit was cuddled up to Frostpool's belly. Silverlight lay on her side, her stomach was getting bigger, it wouldn't be long till she had her kits. Mistkit watched her adopted littermates flank rise upwards then sink back down, she listened to their steady breath to soothe her restless sleep. It didn't work.
Something was creeping at the back of her mind, it was the confrontation with Snakepaw. Clearkit thought that the reason she was feeling down was because of what the apprentice had said about her. It wasn't.
"Mistkit?" A voice disturbed her thoughts, "I know you're awake."
"I just can't sleep Silverlight," Mistkit sighed.
"What's wrong?"
"It's about my father."
"Sharpstar?"
"Hmm."
"What about him."
"Well, Snakepaw said that I didn't belong in Thunderclan." The gray she cat paused, "but as she walked of I felt the need to… hurt her."
Mistkit looked up at the silver queen and was surprised that she didn't look scared.
"So you're scared that you may be like your father?" Silverlight looked at the kit.
Mistkit nodded. She heard the stories, border skirmishes, Prey stealing accusations, full out battles and the most important. Sharpstar himself had killed Silverlights brother, the poor queen mourned over him for days it was only when she thought about her kits did she stop grieving. The pregnant queen claimed that her brother himself would sometimes visit her in dreams.
"You're nothing like your father, you were just angry. I felt like that sometimes as an apprentice."
"Really?"
"Yes, when I was younger Fallenheart used to tease me a lot."
"But he's your mate!"
"I know," Silverlight chuckled, "funny how things can change when you grow up. I'm sure that Snakepaw was just a bit angry! She didn't mean anything by it."
"Thank you Silverlight," Mistkit smiled and she placed her head in her paws. The queen always knew what to say to cheer her up.
"Night Mistkit," the silver tabby purred.
"Night!"
"Sleep well!"
"Believe me, I will!"
And as the night closed in around the Thunderclan camp.
Mistkit had never slept better.
…
(The next morning)
"Clearkit!" Frostpool's loud sigh made Mistkit look up in amusement, "why can't you just groom yourself properly!" Today the 3 kits were becoming Apprentices.
Behind Frostpool she could see Stripedkit being groomed by a amused Silverlight.
"Mistkit is so good at keeping her pelt smooth and she has much thicker fur than the two of you combined!" The amber-eyed queen shook her head.
"I've come too see my favourite kits!" A happy mew sounded from outside the nursery.
"Dad!" Stripedkit wriggled out of Silverlight's grasp and ran up to meet his father, Flamescar.
The ginger tom was a respected warrior and many said he would most likely come the next deputy considering Duskpelt was getting pretty old.
Clearkit attempted to join her brother but Frostpool held her so tight is surprised Mistkit that she could still breathe.
"Clearkit stop fidgeting I want you to look perfect for your apprentice ceremony," Frostpool muttered between licks.
"I can't wait to hunt and fight like dad," Stripedkit put in.
"Yeah!" Mistkit giggled, almost like the woes of last night had been forgotten.
Clearkit smiled but didn't say anything. Mistkit could have sworn that she'd seen pain behind her amber eyes.
Flamescar must have saw it too. "Are you Clearkit?"
"Yeah," I'm fine the young kit stumbled out of her mother's paws, "Just nerves." She shrugged.
"May all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather to hear my words!" Whitestar's voice echoed across the hollow. Mistkit trotted out of the nursery, her two littermates followed closely behind her.
"Today Thunderclan has to welcome 3 new apprentices." Whitestar smiled down at the three kits. Mistkit felt Stripedkit shuffle around next to her.
"Stripedkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Stripedpaw. Your mentor will be Rockpelt. Rockpelt, Lilyheart taught you well I hope you pass on this to Stripedpaw."
Stripedkit bounded up to Rockpelt and basically hit noses together. Gingerpool's nose twitched but she smiled at the new apprentice. "Calm down young one," The grey tom giggled.
"Clearkit," Whitestar continued, "from this day on you will be known as Clearpaw and your mentor will b- Lightpool?"
"Cats of Thunderclan!" The pale brown she-cat began. Whitestar's tail twitched but said nothing, "as you know I will not be around forever. It's time I took an apprentice, I have chosen a cat who has shown compassion for all her clanmates." Clearkit bush, "You'll next next medicine cat will be Clearpaw!"
"Clearpaw, do you accept the post of apprentice to Lightpool?" Whitestar asked.
"Yes, Yes and Yes!" Clearkit shook her head, "I mean I do."
"Then at the next half-moon you must travel to the moonpool to be accepted by Starclan before the other medicine cats," Lightpool said with an amused look on her face.
"The good wishes of Thunderclan go with you," Whitestar added with a nod.
Clearpaw touched noses with Lightpool with the biggest grin on her face.
Mistkit smiled but couldn't help but feel impatient.
"Mistkit, from this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you shall be Mistpaw! Your mentor will be Blueheart." Mistpaw felt her heart drop when Whitestar said that name. Blueheart? The warrior who constantly mooned over Rockpelt? She had to be kidding. "Blueheart you have recieved excellent training from Duskpelt I hope you pass this onto Mistpaw."
The gray apprentice touched noses with the blue warrior. Her surprised face made Mistpaw want to burst into a fit of giggles, she was so shocked that she had been chosen to mentor an apprentice whilst only being a warrior for a few moons especially if she was mentoring alongside Rockpelt.
Mistpaw suddenly changed her mind about Blueheart, she can't be that bad.
…
The ginger warrior sighed.
"What's wrong Firestar?" A pale cream she cat brushed her pelt along the fiery tom's.
"I'm worried about Blueheart and Mistpaw," Firestar sighed, "Blueheart will find it difficult to train such an important cat that's not even counting the prophecy that surrounds her!"
"Don't worry, Blueheart is the daughter of Dewnose. He was such a strong cat in your's and bramblestar's leadership, he and Snowbush will be moving to the elder's den soon."
"I don't know, Sandstorm!" Firestar rested his head onto Sandstorm's shoulder, "difficult times are ahead for all the clans."
"Yet they've overcome every challenge thrown at them, why would this be any different."
"I don't know Sandstorm, I don't know…"
…
AN: Yay! Done finally I really should update more, I just keep procrastinating. Don't forget to review ^_^
