Crowsong watched from the medicine den as Sootstar's voice rang from the camp, calling a clan meeting.
It must be Adderkit, Stonekit, and Russetkit's apprentice ceremony, they are so young hopefully they won't have the same fate as Flamepaw.
Flamepaw was a flame-colored tom who died in a battle with a rogue… He was only four moons old, the age of an apprentice when he was only old enough to eat fresh-kill, Sootstar's "warrior code" or so he called it said that kits where to be apprenticed at four moons, most died either in training or in battle, leaving the clan always needing kits, which is why Specklenose was expecting kits, if it was her choice she wouldn't have had them but Thornhawk insisted.
"Adderkit, Stonekit and Russetkit, you all have reached the age of four 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 Adderpaw, Stonepaw and Russetpaw.
"Hollyheart, you are ready to take on your second apprentice. You had received excellent training from Reedclaw, and you have shown yourself to be brave and loyal. You will be the mentor of Adderpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to him."
Hollyheart touches noses with Adderpaw.
"Oakshade, you are ready to take on your third apprentice. You have already mentored Darkfur and Mousestripe, and I know I can trust you with Stonepaw."
Oakshade bends towards Stonepaw, gently touching noses with her.
"Mintclaw, you are ready to take on your first apprentice. You had received excellent training from me, and you have shown yourself to be worthy of an apprentice. You will be the mentor of Russetpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to her."
Russetpaw eagerly touches noses with her new mentor.
"Stonepaw! Adderpaw! Russetpaw! Stonepaw! Adderpaw! Russetpaw!" The clan shouts for them and Crowsong joins in. Once the chanting finally dies down, the three new apprentices race each other to the apprentice den.
They are very competitive, I'll make sure to mention to them not to be competitive in battle, or else I might have a lot more injured cats to care for.
Fern's POV
Fern tackles her sister Emerald to the ground, her light brown flecked fur standing out in the bright green grass of the garden. Fern looks up to notice the sky had begun to darken, that meant it was time to return to her own housefolk, so she could cuddle up with them and have her evening meal.
"Sorry Emerald, I really have to go, my housefolk will lock me out if I'm not home in time, I'll see ya tomorrow though!" Emerald shrugs her glossy black fur shinning in the last lights from the sun.
"Okay then, See ya!" Fern nods quickly then races with the sun to get back in time for her housefolk to let her in.
If I'm late, I am never forgiving Emerald! I told her I had to go before the sun sunk into the ground!
Relief flowed through Fern when she saw that she was indeed not late, and her housefolk was calling her name. Fern rushed inside the open door before the person could even think about closing the door.
Fern crouched down then sprang, barely missing the dark gray mouse, and hung her head down. Fern normally had dreams about getting so close to catching a mouse, then it ran off without warning. She never tasted a mouse before, and was very eager to try one, if only she could catch one. Her sisters, Star and Emerald couldn't catch one either, however Star's new found friend could though, his name was Scar and Fern tried to keep away from him.
A dark gray tabby with light green eyes appears from the forest in Fern's dream, she was holding a plump gray mouse that made Fern drool.
"Hello Fern, my name's Willowshine, I was from a clan of cats from a long time ago, and would you like to share this mouse with me?" The dark gray she-cat asked.
"What's a clan? And what's with your name, Willow's don't Shine, at least not the once I've seen." Fern asked the stranger, Willowshine.
"Well, a clan is where cats in the forest live, fight, and hunt with each other, and then there are that cats that heal, like me, anyway they have a way of naming cats, Kits for kittens under six moons old, paw for apprentices training to be warriors, and warriors have many names. So it works like this: When I was a kitten I was named Willowkit, then when I was six moons old I was renamed Willowpaw and given a mentor, someone to teach me, and when I was ready to be a warrior I was named Willowshine, get it?" Willowshine paused, trying not to confuse Fern.
Fern took a step toward Willowshine and took a bite of the mouse, it tasted amazing, and fresh. "Why are you here, in my dream?"
Willowshine smiled, "I'll tell you that later, all you need to know is this, and don't be confused, you'll figure it out very soon.
"Ashes from a fire's past forever stain the ground,
Underneath lies the solid ground,
To get there you must rid the ashes,
So the forest can regrow,
and only then may the willow grow."
Willowshine's voice and body faded leaving fern to think about what she could have meant.
There's the prophecy again, if you think you can figure it out, review and I'll tell you how right or wrong you are:)
-Feather
