Me: Okay, I noticed that I put Rosekit as Nightkit's sister. I made a namechange.. Rosekit is actually Amberkit! Didn't see that one coming, did you?
Lilykit: I don't want a namechange! I like my warrior/medicine cat name!
Me: Then be a good little apprentice and don't stress anyone out too much.
Lilykit: -mutter cough- Dawnstreak doesn't own Warriors, only Lilykit, Thistlekit, Nightkit, Amberkit, and Dawnstreak.
Me: And with that, here's chappy two! Enjoy!
Chapter 2
"I can't believe it! We're going to be apprentices tomorrow!" Thistlekit paced in front of the nursery excitedly. Lilykit sat in a comfortable patch of moss.
"Yeah, no more games, taking care of the elders," Lilykit rolled her blue eyes. "Oh, joy."
Thistlekit bounced in front of her. "I wonder who our mentors are going to be. I want Brambleclaw!"
"Firestar picks our mentors, mousebrain!" But, as she spoke, she glanced at the medicine cat den. "Hey, Thistlekit, do you think medicine cats are cool?"
Her brother followed her gaze. "Yeah, I guess. I mean, they talk to Starclan, but they're always stuck in their dens, patching up scratches." He wrinkled his nose. "I feel sorry for Jayfeather. Not only is he stuck being a medicine cat, but he's blind, too!"
"He's probably stuck there because of that."
One of their denmates, Nightkit, padded out and walked towards the two. Her emerald eyes glimmered lightly. "I guess there'll be a lot less noise and more space now." She meowed, crouching down. For once, Nightkit's eyes were filled with sadness as she gazed up at her two denmates. "Amberkit is always so quiet. I'm going to miss you two!"
Thistlekit purred as he playfully tackled Nightkit. She mewed, surprised, finding herself pinned on the ground. He lowered his muzzle to her ear, whispering, "I'm going to miss you too, you small lump of fur."
He backed off of her. She hopped up and shook the dust out of her pelt, then gave Thistlekit a mock glare. "Then again, maybe I won't."
Lilykit purred. "We'll still be close. And we'll visit you often."
"Until you guys are apprentices, too!" Thistlekit added. "Aren't you excited?"
Nightkit bounced excitedly, as if she were going to become an apprentice tomorrow herself. "Oh, I can't wait! Then I won't be trapped with 'goody goody' in there!"
The three of them continued talking until Amberkit came out. When she did, though, Lilykit slipped into a crack between the nursery and the rock wall, fetching the ball of moss and playing around with the other three. Since it was her last day as a kit, she would participate in whatever they threw at her. Toadpaw, Nightkit and Amberkit's older brother, joined in, and was soon tackled by the kits.
"Okay, okay, get off of me!" When the kits finally stopped attacking his ears, he shook his pelt and gazed at them. "Well, Thistlekit, Lilykit, I guess you're going to be joining the apprentice den soon."
Thistlekit nodded eagerly. "You better prepare our beds for us!"
Toadpaw purred, then turned away, throwing over his shoulder, "I'll tell Rosepaw your request!"
------
Lilykit turned over for what seemed the one hundredth time that night. Sitting up, she blinked at her brother, then the other two kits, curled up beside their mother. She pricked her ears for any sign that a cat was awake outside. No – Birchfall was the only one, guarding their entrance tonight.
Now was her only chance. She had to... otherwise, she would be called out in front of the whole clan as a warrior apprentice. Lightly stepping past the sleeping cats in the den, she padded outside. The stars shone brightly in the sky, as if Starclan was approving what she was about to do.
She quickly made her way to the medicine cat den. Pausing outside of the entrance, she pondered what she would be gaining – and losing. I'll gain the knowledge of herbs and the way to heal cats. I'll learn about Starclan, our warrior ancestors. But I'll also be drifting farther from my friends, who are going to take a different path than I. And I'll never be able to have kits...
Bracing herself, she raced through the entrance, her heart pounding in her ears. She skidded to a stop right in front of Jayfeather's nest, waking him up in the process. "What's going on?" He asked hoarsely, having just woken up.
"I-I want to become a medicine cat!"
Jayfeather blinked his blue eyes, now fully alert. He scrambled up and stretched before sitting back down and gazing down at her – even though he couldn't see. "A medicine cat apprentice, huh? I knew it.."
"Knew what?"
He shook his head, "Nothing." Crouching down, his blue eyes bore into hers. "Medicine cats have very different life styles than warriors. Think about your choice, Lilykit. You'll hardly ever be in battles, you'll be in here most of the time, and you will see blood and treat the ill and injured. Are you sure that's the life you want?"
Taking a deep breath, she meowed, "Yes. I have thought about it, Jayfeather. I want to share tongues with Starclan! I want to memorize every herb, so that I can be as useful to my clan as possible! I want to heal and treat injured and sick cats!" Lilykit puffed her chest out, her paws itching.
Jayfeather purred loudly, then stood up again. "Well, then, I'll talk to Firestar first thing in the morning. You'll be called out and given your apprentice name, but you'll still have to be accepted by Starclan at the halfmoon. For now, though, go back to sleep. You have a big day ahead of you."
Lilykit's eyes glowed as she scrambled out of the den and back into her nest, breathing rather heavily. She was going to be a medicine cat apprentice! Her heart beat frantically, trying to catch up with her. She felt as if she could fly!
"Lilykit? What are you doing up?" Lilykit turned around quickly. The soft voice of her mother, Dawnstreak, reminded her that she was in the middle of a bunch of sleeping kits.
"Sorry! I-I just couldn't sleep. I'm so excited!" She mewed quietly, settling down in her nest. Tomorrow, her nest would be vacant. It was her last night sleeping in it.
Dawnstreak purred gently. "You have an exciting day tomorrow, yes," her mother gave her a quick lick on her head. "But you should be prepared for it. Sleep now, my dear little one."
Lilykit rested her feathery tail over her nose. Tomorrow, it would be announced it front of the whole clan... she would be the next medicine cat.
--- ---
"Lilykit! Lilykit, wake up! It's almost time!!"
Thistlekit was making small gouges in the earth with his claws. His pelt almost shone. Apparently, mother was excited, too.
"I'm up, I'm up!" She meowed, scrambling to her paws and shaking a scrap of moss from her fur. Quickly licking her shoulders and running a paw over her muzzle, she tried to clean herself up. I haven't told anyone about my apprenticeship. Not even Thistlekit knows. Suddenly, her eyes widened. What if Firestar refused making her a medicine cat apprentice? What if he condemned her to be a warrior apprentice, fighting and wounding other cats?!
Shivering once, she stepped out into the day. Thistlekit was crouching down and hopping up, shaking with excitement. In front of him was their mother and father, Dawnstreak and Lionblaze. Padding over to them, she waved her tail in greeting.
"Oh, Lilykit, you must've rolled over in dust! Look at you!" Dawnstreak waved her tail around her daughter, suddenly covering her in licks. Squirming, Lilykit finally was able to break free from her mother. She turned to her father, suddenly nervous. Lionblaze was one of the best fighters in Thunderclan, and he could be somewhat intimidating sometimes.
"My two kits are going to become apprentices. I remember when I was one – the adventures I had back then!" He purred, flicking both of his kits gently with his tail. Thistlekit's eyes lit up.
"So we're going to have adventures, too?"
"Some of them will be challenging, though."
He lashed his tail. "Try me! I'll fight a badger to prove myself to my clan!"
Lionblaze gave him a quick lick on an ear. "Don't go and get into things you can't dig yourself out of." A faraway look came into his eyes, and he looked as if he were now somewhere else instead of talking to his son and daughter. Lilykit had always wondered what made her father have such looks – what adventures did he have when he was younger?
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highledge for a clan meeting!" Firestar's yowl echoed through the camp. Cats from the separate dens made their way under the Highledge. Thistlekit stood up, as high as he could, and began walking to the Highledge. He was going to be an apprentice!
Lilykit padded beside her brother. Anxiety gnawed at her stomach. As they weaved through the crowd of cats, she thought over and over again what her brother's reaction may be – he had always wanted them to train together, hunt together, and do patrols side by side. They came to a stop on the edge of Highledge, sitting down and looking up at the fiery cat that stood at the top. Lilykit could almost taste her brother's happiness as she wrapped her tail around her paws as neatly as she could.
"This is a proud day for Thunderclan. As we gain more apprentices, we are showing that Thunderclan will survive and remain strong." He beckoned for Thistlekit. Thistlekit stood up, barely controlling his energy. He came to a stop in front of Firestar, standing up tall. His brown and black pelt almost glowed in the sunlight.
"Thistlekit, from now on until you receive your warrior name, you shall be known as Thistlepaw." Lilykit noticed how his eyes gleamed brightly.
Turning to face the cats again, he called out to the clan. "Hollyleaf, come forward." The black she-cat bounded up to the Highledge quickly. "You are ready for an apprentice, so you will be Thistlepaw's mentor. I know you will pass on your wisdom and strength to Thistlepaw, and teach him the skills that will make him a brave warrior of Thunderclan."
Hollyleaf and Thistlepaw turned to each other. Mentor and apprentice quickly touched noses, and waves of excitement coursed through Thistlepaw. Turning back to the clan, cheers went through them. "Thistlepaw! Thistlepaw! Thistlepaw!"
Thistlepaw padded down the Highledge, stopping by the other apprentices. Rosepaw and Toadpaw greeted him warmly, Icepaw and Foxpaw congratulating him. Firestar waited until the noise died down before beckoning to the crowd. The cats parted to let one cat get through – Lilykit realized it was Jayfeather. So, was it true? She really was going to become a medicine cat!
"Cats of Thunderclan," Jayfeather began as he stopped at the bottom of Highledge, near Lilykit. "It is time I took an apprentice of my own. I have chosen a cat for her fondness of herbs and her closeness to Starclan." He raised his voice a little. "Your next medicine cat shall be Lilypaw."
Firestar turned to her. "Lilypaw, do you accept the post of apprenticeship to Jayfeather?"
"Yes, Firestar." Lilypaw meowed breathlessly.
"Then at halfmoon, you must travel to the Moonpool to be accepted by Starclan before the other medicine cats." Jayfeather recited.
"The good wishes of all Thunderclan go with you, Lilypaw." Firestar's emerald eyes sparkled slightly.
Jayfeather padded up to his new apprentice, gently placing his muzzle out. Lilypaw reached her nose up to his, and mentor and apprentice were bound.
Lilypaw gazed out at the clan. They began cheering as well. "Lilypaw! Lilypaw! Lilypaw!"
Only one stuttered slightly, shocked. Lilypaw gazed at her brother as her brother watched her, deep amber eyes piercing. She could easily read the message within them.
Why didn't you tell me?
--- ---
Me: Wow! -sniffle- My little kits are growing up so fast!
Lilypaw: ... It's only our apprenticeship. I haven't even gone to the Moonpool yet!
Me: In short time.. short time. You may have noticed, but I didn't add many clan cat names. This is in the future, so some of them might have died in battle or of sickness.. and then, some I can't remember the names (like Millie's kits, it's bothering me). Also, I tried as best I could on the ceremonies!
Lilypaw: Despite her flaws, Dawnstreak would absolutely love you forever if you reviewed! Go on, the button is right there!!
