I do not own warriors. As usual.
Story telling-talent fairy- Thank you for Honeytail. I don't need a medicine cat right now, so I've made her a warrior instead- That okay with you?
Ariana Mary Riddle- Is it? You tell me ;)
"Shadekit, please step forward."
A young tom stepped onto the Dust Rock, a large, flat rock covered in a thin layer of dust that scraped off easily. He was a deep shade of brown, almost black, with a black tabby snaking around his body like a thousand bramble tendrils. His amber eyes glowed with pride as he climbed clumsily up to join Snowstar at the top of Dust Rock.
"Shadekit, you have reached the age of six moons and are ready to be apprenticed. Pinefur, please step forward."
A tall tom walked steadily forward, cats whispering to each other in hushed voices. Pinefur, deputy of Rainclan, was a lighter brown color with dark, tabby markings. He was a senior warrior, and his cutting blue eyes missed nothing as he climbed up to Dust Rock.
"Shadekit, getting the deputy as a mentor! What an honor!"
"Lucky!"
"Snowstar must see something great in him."
"I hope he's up to the challenge."
"Pinefur, you have served as deputy of Rainclan for five moons, and have won and lost many battles for Rainclan. You are a strong, brave warrior. I hope you will pass on your strength to Shadekit so he may become a great warrior of Rainclan." Snowstar nodded to Pinefur, and the tom stepped towards Shadekit. "Shadekit, from this moment on you will be known as Shadepaw. Train hard, and you will do great things someday." With that, Pinefur and Shadepaw touched noses. Snowstar flicked her tail through the dust on the rock, covering both of them with a thin layer of white powder.
"Icekit, please step forward."
A slightly smaller, but no less capable, white kit stepped forward. Practically the opposite of his brother, Icekit was a pure white, like Snowstar, but more sleek. His ice blue eyes shone with excitement as he bounded eagerly up to Dust Rock. A gray patch over his left eye gave him a mischievous look, and Snowstar smiled down at the kit.
"Icekit, you have reached the age of six moons and are ready to be apprenticed. Windleap, please step forward."
A tall, lanky tom stepped forward. His pelt was a dull, light gray with smaller, darker flecks throughout. A younger warrior, his deep blue eyes shone with excitement as he prepared to receive his first apprentice. He clambered up onto the Dust Rock, his long legs making it easier for him than it had been for Icekit.
"Windleap, it was not too long ago that you yourself were made a warrior of Rainclan. Now, it is time for you to take on your first apprentice. You are a quick, cunning warrior. I hope you will pass on your speed and knowledge to Icekit so he may become a great warrior of Rainclan." Snowstar dipped her head to Windleap, who eagerly stepped towards Icekit. "Icekit, from this moment on you will be known as Icepaw. Train hard, and you will do great things someday." Windleap leaned down to a considerably shorter Icepaw, and the two touched noses. Snowstar flicked the fine, powdery dust on them, and the pair joined Pinefur and Shadepaw off to the side.
"Dawnkit, please step forward."
The smallest kit yet eagerly bounced forward, fur fluffed up from excitement. She was smaller than her brothers, and clearly more nervous and shy as she struggled up the side of Dust Rock, hiding slightly behind Snowstar when she reached the top. Her light brown fur was dotted with dark brown speckles, and her muzzle and lower face were a snowy white, as were her tail tip and paws. Her purple eyes shone with excitement even as her pelt burned with the intense stares of her clanmates.
"Dawnkit, you have reached the age of six moons and are ready to be apprenticed. Honeytail, please step forward."
A pale ginger she-cat stepped forward, her darker tail-tip and paws bouncing towards Dust Rock. She was sleek and graceful, and was to the top of Dust Rock in no time. Her bright green eyes sparkled as she smiled at Dawnkit. Honeytail was loud and boisterous, and was friendly with everyone. A superb hunter, she was quick and agile.
"Honeytail, you are a young warrior yourself, but your grace and agility make you one of the most valuable hunters in Rainclan. You are ready to take on your first apprentice. I hope you will pass on your agility and flair onto Dawnkit." She dipped her head to Honeytail, and the pale ginger she-cat turned to her new apprentice. "Dawnkit, from this moment on you will be known as Dawnpaw. Train hard, so that you may do great things someday." Honeytail leaned down to a very nervous Dawnpaw.
"Don't worry," she whispered, winking at her, "I'll help you every paw step of the way." Dawnpaw gulped, reaching up and touching her nose to Honeytail. Snowstar smiled happily, flipping and shower of powdery white dust onto mentor and apprentice. Dawnpaw sneezed, making Honeytail laugh, curling her tail around Dawnpaw.
"Shadepaw!"
"Icepaw!"
"Dawnpaw!"
"Shadepaw!"
"Icepaw!"
"Dawnpaw!"
The clan erupted into a symphony of excited yowls. They cheered for Rainclan's newest apprentices, while Shadepaw and Icepaw grinned excitedly. Dawnpaw smiled, leaning into Honeytail, as though the pale ginger she-cat could shield her from her clanmates.
Snowstar stood patiently off to the side, before turning to the three apprentices and their mentors. She dipped her head, and they all returned the sign of respect. They padded off Dust Rock, leaving Snowstar alone. The clan prepared to dissipate, but Snowstar held up her tail. They all paused, expectant and curious.
"Congratulations to the new apprentices and lucky warriors. I'm sure they will be wonderful warriors someday. However, that doesn't quite conclude today's meeting." She gave Nightheart a quick look. The black medicine cat simply nodded, a little sore over the events of early that morning. Her yellow eyes locked with Snowstar's green ones, a final plea to wait for Starclan's advice.
"Starting today, apprentices and warriors are going to be trained a little differently."
Nightheart deflated, eyes showing the bitter sting of defeat.
"All apprentices will be battle trained for the entire time after sun-high. From dawn until then, all hunting and patrolling must be taken care of. They can train during the night, if their mentors wish it. Warriors will be required to attend at least two border patrols a day, and the amount of patrols we go on will double. Apprentices are not required to go on any more than one. Three cats will guard the entrance at night, and one round of border patrols will happen around moon-high. We must fortify the camp as well, so I'll need cats to go and bring back brambles and sticks. Dismissed."
She leapt down from Dust Rock, and stalked up to her den. Nightheart padded slowly back to the medicine cat's den, checking her level of herbs. She had a feeling that more cats would need them than ever before.
Pinefur nodded to Shadepaw. "I'll be back later, and then we'll go on patrol. I want to speak with Snowstar, and then I need to organize patrols."
"Can't I help?" Shadepaw asked, amber eyes pleading.
Pinefur laughed, a low, rumbling sort of sound. "No, but maybe someday," he said in his deep voice, winking at Shadepaw as he padded towards Snowstar's den. Shadepaw sighed unhappily, turning to his siblings.
Icepaw looked at Windleap expectantly. "What are we going to do first?" he asked eagerly.
Windleap thought for a moment. "Well, we're going to wait until Pinefur gets back, and then we might as well go on a patrol since we're required to now." He gave Honeytail an uneasy look.
Honeytail simply smiled. "It'll be fine. Snowstar knows what she's talking about. We'll go on a patrol with you, Windleap." Windleap grinned, walking off to join the crowd of cats around Dust Rock. Icepaw watched him leave, excitement dancing in his eyes. Honeytail purred, joining them after nudging Dawnpaw playfully.
"This is so cool!" cried Shadepaw, clawing the air. "Battle training this afternoon!"
"I know, right?" Icepaw replied, dropping into a sloppy crouch. "I'm excited! How about you, Dawnpaw?"
Dawnpaw shrugged. "I don't see why it's so bad," she said quietly. "But everyone else seems really worried." She gestured with her fluffy tail over at the crowd of cats milling around by Dust Rock. Snippets of hushed murmurs reached Dawnpaw's ears, making her nervous.
"What is she thinking? They're still just kits!"
"This is crazy! There's no threat- even Swiftclan is quiet for a change!"
"I think it's a good idea. Apprentices need to learn how to fight, and what's wrong with a few more patrols? It can only help."
Shadepaw rolled his eyes. "C'mon, sis! They're just worriers, like you! Live a little- don't you want to battle Swiftclan and learn to fight and go on patrols and all that stuff?"
"Well, yeah. But why the sudden change?"
"Oh, please! She probably just wants Rainclan to be stronger, tougher. It'll be fun!"
"Shh! They're coming back!" hissed Icepaw, gesturing to their mentors.
Honeytail gave Windleap a knowing smile as they approached, and the younger warrior grinned back.
"Pinefur's still organizing patrols and answering questions," Honeytail told Shadepaw, Icepaw, and Dawnpaw. "He'll be over in a minute."
"Until then," Windleap continued, "would you like to grab a bite of prey? Looks like we're gonna have a big day ahead of us!"
Shadepaw nodded happily, always hungry. Icepaw frowned, crouching in front of Windleap. "Couldn't we battle train first?" he asked, swiping his claws through the air.
"No," Windleap said. "We have to do patrols and go hunting a bit, then we can battle train. That's blocking off the entirety of our afternoon, so we need to get our patrols done now. And trust me, you don't want to go on an empty stomach."
Icepaw sighed, reluctantly following his brother to the fresh-kill pile.
"You hungry, Dawnpaw?" Honeytail asked.
Dawnpaw nodded shyly, pelt flushing with heat.
Honeytail purred, curling her tail around Dawnpaw, walking with her to the fresh-kill pile. Dawnpaw smiled, choosing a small mouse for her meal. Honeytail grabbed a shrew, sitting across from her to eat.
"You're awfully shy, Dawnpaw," Honeytail commented offhandedly, not taking her eyes off her shrew.
Dawnpaw shrugged. "I don't have a lot to say."
"That's alright," Honeytail said with a smile, "I'll help you out."
Dawnpaw paused. I don't want to be helped. I'm perfectly happy just like I am. "Thanks," she said.