I opened my eyes and looked around. Swiftkit was snuggled up against me, Frostkit was lying at an awkward angle on Amberstone's paw. I got up carefully and took a few steps away from Swiftkit before stretching. Amberstone lift her head tiredly at my movement. "Hollykit?" Amberstone asked in a mumble. "The one and only." I replied quietly. "Why don't you-" Amberstone cut herself off in a yawn. "Wake up your brother and sister and go out and play?" "Take Hawkkit and Jaykit with you." Lilyshade, how had been woken by our small conversation, cut in. I nodded and nudged Frostkit.
"Five million more moons mom…" Frostkit complained. "Last time I checked, I wasn't you mother." I purred in his ear. Frostkit's head shot upward and his blind green eyes opened. "Swifkkit's not awake, is she?" Frostkit asked. Amberstone sent a questioning glance towards me. "No… not yet." He sighed with relief. "Stay here." I ordered. "Where am I going? Hunting?" He asked sarcastically. "Haha." I purred. Yawning, I padded over to Swiftkit and nudged her.
Swiftkit stirred slightly before jumping straight up. "I didn't do it!" She yelled. I rolled my eyes at her and asked, "Didn't do what?" Swiftkit turned sharply and knocked me over. "You are so mean!" She pouted. I pushed her off me. "Go wake up Hawkkit and Jaykit, then all five of us can go play." Swift nodded vigorously and trotted over to the two sleeping brothers.
I blinked when the two brown toms changed. Hawkkit's pelt turned to a dark ginger with barely visible lighter ginger stripes. Jaykit's pelt on the other paw had turned pure white with gray flecks. I blinked again and the moment was over as quickly as it had started. I shook my head and padded slowly over to Frostkit. "Hey, Frostkit!" I purred quietly. He had started to fall asleep again. "Hmm? What?" "We're going to play." I reminded him. Frostkit turned his blind eyes toward me. "Then let's go." Frostkit mewed before standing up wobbly.
I pressed myself against his side and helped him over to the entrance, avoiding any cats or kits in the way. Swiftkit, Hawkkit, and Jaykit were waiting there when we arrived. "Finally!" Swiftkit mewed impatiently. "I want to play!" I rolled my eyes and padded out with Frostkit by my side and a flustered group of kits following. "We'll be the clans. I'll be Swiftstar, leader of Thunderclan!" Swiftkit announced. "I'll be Hawkstar leader of Windclan with my deputy, Jaywing!" Hawkkit mewed. "I'm Hollystar of Shadowclan and this is Froststar of Riverclan."
Suddenly, Cherryfall's kits, Grasskit and Silverkit, Dovewing's kits, Ebonykit, Goldenkit, Mudkit and Featherkit, Poppyfrost's kit, Aspenkit, Blossomfall's kits Nightkit, Rapidkit, Sunkit and Flowerkit, Whitewing's kits, Greykit, Duskkit, and Skykit, and Ivypool's kits, Copperkit, Willowkit, Petalkit, and Sandkit came rushing out of the nursery with six tired queens following. "Great. Now they can play while we eat, share tongues, and sun ourselves." Dovewing mewed between yawns.
The rest of the queens nodded. "I'm Duskpelt, deputy of Shadowclan!" Duskkit squeaked. After a while we were done making clans, I was the leader of Shadowclan my deputy was Duskkit and my warriors were Aspenkit, Sandkit, Copperkit, and Featherkit. Frostkit was the leader of Riverclan with Nightkit as his deputy and his warrior were Greykit, Rapidkit, Flowerkit, and Silverkit.
Swiftkit was the leader of Thunderclan with Skykit as her deputy and her warrior were Willowkit, Petalkit, and Goldenkit. Hawkkit was the leader of Windclan with Jaykit as his deputy and his warrior were Ebonykit, Sunkit, and Mudkit. I let out a squeak and charged Swiftkit. I bowled her over and tousled with her on the ground. In a instance all the kits were play fighting. I came out on top and pretended to chase of Swiftkit. She huffed indignantly and sat to watch.
I whirled around and pounced on Hawkkit, who was battling Copperkit. "Hey! You Shadowclanners are teaming up! Afraid of losing?" Hawkkit taunted playfully. "Nope." I purred and flipped Hawkkit. "Tell your cats to retreat." I mewed to him. "Never!" He growled back and twisted around, hitting his chin on the ground. "Ow!" He whinned. A little blood leaked out of his mouth. "I think you bit your tongue." I mewed. "Ya think?" He asked with fake amazement.
He padded away and sat next to Swiftkit, who was fidgeting. I saw Frostkit, Skykit, Goldenkit, Willowkit and Jaykit 'drive off' Mudkit, Sunkit, Ebonykit, Sandkit and Nightkit. I leaped at Frostkit but he ducked just in time. He stumbled and ran into Duskkit, who was fighting Willowkit. "Riverclan, retreat!" He squeaked as Shadowclan charged them.
I helped Duskkit win her battle against Willowkit. "Shadowclan! Go after Windclan!" My small clan nodded and drove off Jaykit and Mudkit, who were the only Windclanners left. I watched as Duskkit and Aspenkit worked together in a fight against Goldenkit, who was twice the sisters' size. Duskkit and Aspenkit won. I slipped to the side as Copperkit and Skykit rolled by. Nearby, Featherkit and Sandkit were in a battle against Petalkit. Petalkit beat Featherkit but Sandkit took the opportunity and drove off Petalkit.
I glanced back at Copperkit and Skykit's fight. Copperkit flipped Skykit onto her back. "I won." He announced. "Shadowclan won." I returned. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting." Squirrelstar's voice echoed around camp. Cats flooded the clearing and gathered below Highledge.
"Today we celebrate two important ceremonies. The making of new apprentices and the making of new warriors." The clan sent up a cheer of joy. "Tinypaw, Skypaw, Lightningpaw, Lakepaw, Pinepaw, Wolfpaw, Maplepaw, Eaglepaw please step forward." Squirrelstar paused as the apprentices came forward. She looked especially proud of Pinepaw, Wolfpaw, and Maplepaw. 'That's right! There her kits!' I remembered.
"Tinypaw, Skypaw, Pinepaw, Lightningpaw, and Lakepaw fought bravely against a family of foxes discovered on our territory while Wolfpaw, Maplepaw, and Eaglepaw have finished their training. I, Squirrelstar, leader of Thunderclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code and I commend them to you as a warrior in her turn. Tinypaw, Pinepaw, Skypaw, Lightningpaw, Lakepaw, Wolfpaw, Maplepaw, and Eaglepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect the clan, even at the cost of your life?"
The apprentices didn't hesitate as they replied. "I do." "Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior names. Tinypaw, Pinepaw, Skypaw, Lightningpaw, Lakepaw, Wolfpaw, Maplepaw, and Eaglepaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Tinyshadow, Wolfspirit, Eaglefeather, Pineheart, Lakepelt, Skyfall, Mapleleaf, Lightningstrike, . Starclan honors your talents, and we welcome you as a full warriors of Thunderclan." Squirrelstar leans down and puts her head on each apprentices' shoulder. In return, they licked Squirrelstar's shoulder in a show of respect then went to sit by their mentors.
"Tinyshadow! Wolfspirit! Eaglefeather! Pineheart! Lakepelt! Skyfall! Mapleleaf! Lightningstrike! Tinyshadow! Wolfspirit! Eaglefeather! Pineheart! Lakepelt! Skyfall! Mapleleaf! Lightningstrike!" The clan cheered.
Squirrelstar signaled the clan to stop after a few seconds. "We are also celebrating the apprenticeship of Amberstone and Cherryfall's kits. Grasskit, Silverkit, Frostkit, Swiftkit, and Shadowkit step forward." I stood up and followed my brother to the highledge, my tail twitching with excitement. I glance at Silverkit and Grasskit. The two silver and ginger kits were whispering excitedly to each other. I looked at Swiftkit and Frostkit. My energetic sister was practically bursting with excitement while Frostkit looked slightly worried but excitement showed strongly through his eyes.
"Grasskit, 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 Grasspaw. Your mentor will be Birchfall. I hope Birchfall will pass down all he knows on to you." Birchfall comes up, surprise clear in his gaze. "Birchfall, you have shown yourself to be able to handle an apprentice. You will be the mentor of Grasspaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to Grasspaw." Grasspaw's green eyes lit up with joy as he touched noses with Birchfall.
"Silverkit, 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 Silverpaw. Your mentor will be Mousewhisker. I hope Mousewhisker will pass down all he knows on to you." A very confused Mousewhisker padded forward slowly. "Mousewhisker, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You did an excellent job training Lakepelt. You will be the mentor of Silverpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to Silverpaw." Silverpaw and Mousewhisker touched noses and went to stand next to Birchfall and Grasspaw.
"Frostkit, 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 Frostpaw. Your mentor will be Pineheart. Although a new warrior, she is very experienced and has proven her loyalty and cunning many times over." The surprised and confused warrior comes up. "Pineheart, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from your former mentor, and you have shown yourself to be honest and independent. You will be the mentor of Frostpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to Frostpaw." I flashed my brother a smile as he touched noses with his new mentor.
'At least she didn't call any attention to his blindness.' I thought happily. "Swiftkit, 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 Swiftpaw. Your mentor will be Brackenfur. I hope Brackenfur will pass down all he knows on to you." Brackenfur walks confidently up next to Swiftpaw.
"Brackenfur, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from your former mentor, and you have shown yourself to be determined and forethoughtful. You will be the mentor of Swiftpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to Swiftpaw." Swiftpaw reached up excitedly and Brackenfur barely had moved downward. "Hollykit, 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 Hollypaw. I will be your mentor. I hope to pass down all I know on to you. I received excellent training from Dustpelt."
I looked up quickly in surprise. I saw Squirrelstar's eyes darken as she looked at me. I reached up and touched her nose, confusion flashing through me. 'What did I ever do?'
"Frostpaw! Grasspaw! Swiftpaw! Silverpaw! Hollypaw! Frostpaw! Grasspaw! Swiftpaw! Silverpaw! Hollypaw!" The cheering clan brought me back from my thoughts. "The new warriors will have to sit vigil tonight as protocol. They will not be able to talk unless their is a threat they have to warn everybody about." Squirrelstar mewed before leaping down the rockfall that lead to the Highledge. "Come on. I'll show you the territory." Squirrelstar told me coldly as she neared. I nodded and followed her out of camp.
The trees loomed far above me as I exited the camp. Squirrelstar led me around, pointing out specific landmarks like the Sky Oak.
"We're at the lake." Squirrelstar growled. "What did I ever do to you to make you hate me?" "What do you mean?" Squirrelstar asked in a mixture of surprise, confusion, and nervousness.
"You just growled and where glaring at me during the ceremony for starters." I mewed. "For reasons!" Squirrelstar snapped. I saw a flash of black behind Squirrelstar. I instinctively bristled. "Squirrelstar." I warned quietly. I caught a glimpse of a brown cat slipping out of the water. "What?" Squirrelstar asked more calmly. "Cats. Coming out of the lake." I said quietly, motioning behind Squirrelstar. She turned just in time to see three brown cats slip out of the water. "Go get the warriors at camp, even the new ones." She mewed staring down the three cats. I nodded before turning and running.
A black cat stepped out of the undergrowth. 'He smells like the lake. Time ten.' I thought in disgust. I winced as I ran head first into the wet furred cat. Fortunately my weight and speed was enough to get him to stumble to the side. Stumbling, I continued along the path at top speed, the black cat quickly gaining on me. Thinking quickly, I pulled to a stop and ducked. The black cat was unable to stop quickly enough and he tripped over me.
I started running towards the camp again and got there with no more trouble. I raced over to the rockfall and scrambled up it. "Everyone! We are being attacked!" I yowled. The clan looked up at me in alarm. "Squirrelstar and I were attacked down by the lake!" The warriors quickly rounded themselves up. Birchfall, who had refused to leave camp with Grasspaw while Squirrelstar was out, calmed the clan down.
"Skyfall, Pineheart, Dewfur, Lakepelt, Thornclaw, Eaglefeather, Mousewhisker, Wolfspirit, Lionblaze, Snowfrost, Tinyshadow, Molewhisker, Lightningstrike, Mapleleaf, and I will go and Hollypaw will show us exactly where they were attacked. I scrambled down the rockfall and raced out of camp, running head first into the black cat again. My head buzzed slightly and I struggled as the black cat picked me up. I saw the clan bristling in front of me and the cat holding me.
"Don't do anything or you can watch as this apprentice and your leader are killed." The black cat's voice vibrated through my body. I saw Snowfrost and Ambestom look on in worry as the theat was made. Birchfall took a step forward. "Why are you doing this, Reedstar?" The cat, who I assumed was Reedstar, tightened his grip on me. "Your no leader if you threaten to kill." I choked out. Reedstar growled softly and he tightened his grip even more. "A leader i-is someone w-who treats everyone w-with kindness and r-respect. A leader h-helps not o-only his clan b-but all clans. The g-good leaders don't drive a-away other clans." I stammered, terrified he'd kill me.
Reedstar loosened his grip enough for me to slip to the ground. I padded over to him and nudged his paw back a little, ignoring my clans surprised stares and motions to join them. "What do I do then?" Reedstar asked in a whisper. "My clan is growing to big to be supported on our territory." "You could've asked. I'm sure Squirrelstar, being the good leader she is," I shot a glance at her. "will help you." Reedstar nodded numbly. "I'm sorry." I flicked my ears as he whispered 'I'm sorry mother' under his breath. I nudged his paw again. He took the sign and retreated with his clan. I turned to see Birchfall staring at me, mouth agape. "Close your mouth or you'll swallow a bug. Birchfall shook his head. Squirrelstar pushed roughly by me. I glared at her coldly in return. "Your welcome." Squirrelstar stopped and spun around. "All you did was play to his weaknesses. That's nothing to be thankful for." "It saved your life and stopped an impending battle!" I growled, exasperated. Squirrelstar sneered, turned, and left.
I hung my head and padded past the warriors and into the camp. I entered the apprentice den. "That was amazing! You talked to the leader of the other side who was trying to kill you! Where you scared? What did you say? I think-" Swiftpaw's words were cut off as Silverpaw slapped her tail over her mouth. "We made you a nest right here next to mine and Frostpaw's." Grasspaw mewed. I smiled in thanks and padded over. I collapsed in my nest, exhausted. Soon I fell into the dackness of sleep.
