After the ceremony, I gazed at Birchfall. "What are we going to do first?" I asked. Birchfall looked back at me, and shrugged. "Don't know." He replied. His gaze swept across the clearing, until he spotted Sandstorm talking with Honeypaw. "Sandstorm!" he called out to the pale ginger she-cat. Sandstorm tore her gaze away from Honeypaw, and then spotted Birchfall. She then meowed something to Honeypaw, and they walked up to us. "Yes?" she asked.
"Do you want to join me and Echopaw here on a tour of the forest?" he asked.
Sandstorm paused for a second, turned to her apprentice, and then nodded. "Sure." She meowed. "Honeypaw could use a refresh."
I turned to the light brown tabby. "Hi, I'm Echopaw." I meowed. Honeypaw turned her amber gaze at me, and smiled. "I'm Honeypaw. It's nice to meet you, Echopaw." She meowed.
"Let's get going." Birchfall meowed, nudging me. I nodded, then the four of us treaded off into the forest.
"This is Thunderclan territory, as you well know." Birchfall meowed. "Over there, where you were found, is near the Shadowclan border. Farther down, near the moor, is Windclan. And around the river, with more marshy places, with ferns and reeds, is Riverclan."
I nodded, already knowing where all the clans were. And most of the cats in each clan. Heck, I even knew where the past clans lived!
"This way." Sandstorm meowed. I followed, walking beside Honeypaw. "What's it like being a Thunderclan apprentice?" I asked her. Honeypaw turned her amber gaze at me. "It's really exciting!" she meowed. "We get to learn the ways of a real warrior. Once we've trained enough, we'll be able to become one as well! Berrypaw and his littermates are becoming warriors later today." Honeypaw added. "They're having their assessments."
I nodded, remembering Honeyfern's love story with Berrynose with a pain. The pretty light brown tabby loved the cream-colored warrior, and when they were sharing tongues one day, Honeyfern got bit by a snake, trying to protect Briarkit. My gaze narrowed. I am not going to let that happen!
Honeypaw tilted her head. "What's wrong?" she meowed. I shook my head, and smiled. "N-nothing!" I meowed, as we walked on.
"This is the clearing." Birchfall announced. "Here, we train apprentices with battle moves."
My eyes shined. "Can we learn some now?" I asked. Birchfall's amber gaze gleamed. "Maybe later." He answered, as we walked on.
After we had explored the whole Thunderclan territory, my paws felt as if they would fall off.
"I guess we're done for now." Birchfall meowed, seeing my state. "Let's go back to camp."
I yawned. After I had rested, Birchfall took me to the clearing to teach me battle moves. I felt sore, but I was happy that I was able to learn the moves that I've read about so often.
A finch plopped down in front of me. I looked up to see a pretty brown tabby she-cat, with gray eyes. "Hello." She meowed. Her voice was slightly deeper then most of the she-cats here. I nodded to her. "Hello."
"I'm Brook Where Small Fish Swim," the brown tabby continued. "But you can call me Brook for short."
I smiled to her. "I'm Echopaw."
Brook nodded. "You look hungry." She commented, nodding to the finch. "Eat. You'll be even more exhausted if you don't at least eat something."
I nodded, staring down at the bird. I wonder what bird tastes like? I thought, as I bent down, and took a bite.
It was good. Flavors danced across my mouth; flavors of the forest. "Thanks." I meowed after I swallowed.
Brook nodded. "Don't mention it" she meowed kindly, as she padded off.
I continued eating. After I was done, I buried the bones of the bird, and then sat up, and began grooming myself.
"Hi there." A voice meowed.
I looked up, and saw a long-furred black she-cat, with green eyes. "Hollylea-paw!" I meowed. Crap…I almost gave away her warrior name….I thought nervously.
Hollypaw smiled. "I'll take you to the Apprentice's Den." She meowed. I nodded, my eyes getting heavy. I stood up, and followed the black she-cat to a den. Inside, there were already some apprentices gathered.
Hollypaw led me farther into the den, to an empty moss bed. "Here's your nest." She meowed. I nodded, and then layed down.
Hollypaw rested down beside me in a nest. "Good Night." I meowed to her. Hollypaw nodded. "Night." She meowed, as I closed my eyes, and fell asleep.