Chapter 1 is officially here. If you didn't see up in the little corner box last time, that was the prolouge.
Since Firestar is dead, Brambleclaw is leader. I was debating if I should make Lionblaze deputy, but decided against it because he was younger. Therefor I put Thornclaw.
The apprenticeship and kit life will be through fast in this story, due to the fact most of Ravenpaw's story and troubles are in her warrior life.
I'll stop rambling now and let you read.
"Ravenkit! Wake up!"
A small light brown paw prodded into the side of a sleeping kit. Her green eyes tiredly fluttered open to look at her littermate. Heatherkit bounced up and down and Lightkit sat next to his mother, watching Heatherkit annoy their smaller sister.
Ravenkit groaned and rolled away from her sister. "Leave me alone, Heatherkit. I'm tired." Her black fur turned to face her sister, the dark red of her paws being hidden underneath her. Lightkit, a pale golden tom, walked over to Heatherkit. He grabbed her scruff in his teeth and dragged her away from Ravenkit. "Lightkit! What did you do that for?"
Daisy outreached her paw and scooped up her two kits. "Let your sister sleep." Her voice was kind and a purr rumbled in her throat. She began to lick the top of Heatherkit's head to calm her down. So much never ending energy in one kit.
Ravenkit opened one eye to watch as her mother pulled in her two littermates to keep them away from her. She was grateful, but a bit sad. Daisy always favored those two over her. She guessed it was most likely because she was the runt. She was so much smaller than Heatherkit and Lightkit. But her thoughts were interrupted as a black tom entered the nursery. "How are my little warriors doing?"
Heatherkit and Lightkit scampered away from Daisy and over to Spiderleg, who had just entered the nursery. Daisy stood up and walked over to her mate, touching muzzles with him. The black tom then looked around. "Where's Ravenkit?"
The small kit scrambled to her paws and raced over to her father, jumping at his paws and purring. "I'm right here."
The cat purred and put his dark muzzle against her black body. "There you are my little one."
A sigh escaped Daisy. "Today is the day, huh? My kits are finally six moons old. They are going to be apprentice's now. I'm so proud." She nuzzled into Lightkit's side and the light golden kit gave a squeak and pawed playfully at his mother's muzzle.
A yowl was heard from the clearing and the three kits scrambled out of the nursery, Daisy and Spiderleg following proudly.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting." ThunderClan's leader, Bramblestar, was up on the Highledge. His deputy, Thornclaw, was down at the base of the Highledge looking out as the Clan began to assemble.
Heatherkit, Lightkit, and Ravenkit ran to the front and then sat perfectly still. Ravenkit was shaking with excitement and she couldn't help but let out a slightly inaudible mew.
Bramblestar's dark brown fur seemed to shine a bit in the sun. Maybe it was the fact the kits were so excited. And thus, the apprentice ceremony began.
"Heatherkit, 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 Heatherpaw. Your mentor will be Blossomfall. I hope Blossomfall will pass down all she knows to you."
Heatherkit looked around the clearing excitedly and found her mentor sitting not far away with an adoring look in her eyes.
"Blossomfall, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from Hazeltail, and you have shown yourself to be trustworthy and quick. You will be the mentor of Heatherpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to Heatherpaw."
Heatherpaw jumped up to her paws. She ran over to Blossomfall at touched noses with the tortoiseshell she-cat. Blossomfall then looked up from her apprentice and over at Foxleap, her eyes shining. It wasn't hard to see the cat was trying to get his attention. Heatherpaw's light brown coat was ruffling in excitement.
Bramblestar turned to face the next kit.
"Ravenkit, 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 Ravenpaw. Your mentor will be Foxleap. I hope Foxleap will pass down all he knows to you."
Ravenpaw's fur ruffled slightly and she flattened her ears in embarrassment. She turned to look at Foxleap, who was simply watching her with curiosity. Ravenpaw quickly snapped her head back to look at Bramblestar.
"Foxleap, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from Squirrelflight, and you have shown yourself to be loyal and hard-working. You will be the mentor of Ravenpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to Ravenpaw."
Ravenpaw walked over to Foxleap. Her ears were still a little flattened and the older tom gave a small laugh. They touched noses and he whispered in her ear. "Don't be shy. I won't bite." Ravenpaw's fur burned with embarrassment and she sat beside her mentor.
All eyes were now on Lightkit. Bramblestar didn't continue on with the ceremony, yet he was joined by Jayfeather up on the Highledge. A crowd of whispers went through the Clan and Ravenpaw began to feel bad for her brother. Why was his ceremony any different than hers and Heatherkit's?
Then Bramblestar looked back to the Clan and continued on with the ceremony.
"Lightkit, 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 Lightpaw."
He said no more, and everyone was confused. Who was Lightpaw's mentor? Ravenpaw was bristling with questions. But her questions were mentally silenced as Jayfeather came forward, his sightless blue eyes looking down at the Clan.
"Cats of ThunderClan, as you know, I will not be around forever. So it's time I took an apprentice. I have chosen a cat that has shown interest, loyalty, and cleverness. Your next medicine cat will be Lightpaw."
Another round of whispers was cut off as Bramblestar spoke. "Lightpaw, do you accept the post of apprentice to Jayfeather?"
Lightpaw's golden body was shaking happily. "I do."
Jayfeather then continued to speak instead of Bramblestar. "Then at the half-moon, you must travel to the Moonpool to be accepted by StarClan before the other medicine cats."
Bramblestar dipped his head. "The good wishes of all ThunderClan will go with you."
Jayfeather climbed off the Highledge and walked over to his apprentice. They touched noses and Lightpaw gave a purr.
The Clan then started cheering. "Heatherpaw! Lightpaw! Ravenpaw!"
Ravenpaw ran over to her brother, Heatherpaw right behind her. "Lightpaw! You didn't tell us you wanted to be a medicine cat!"
The golden tom gave a laugh and licked his sister on the ear. "Well I have been secretly talking to Jayfeather and Bramblestar about it. I wanted it to be a surprise!"
Heatherpaw playfully swiped at her brother's ear. "You're so weird, Lightpaw. But don't worry. Even if you are a medicine cat, you, me, and Ravenpaw will always be together."
Lightpaw purred and nuzzled his sisters. "Always."
Ravenpaw gave a happy mew.
Always be together. Another lie that would haunt Ravenpaw forever.