"Tell me who is responsible for this!" BrambleStar's voice rose over the clearing.
The apprentices couldn't meet their leaders gaze. They knew what they did was wrong.
Cherryfall curled her tail around her kits. Fennelkit craned to see out the nursery. After the fight, they moved the kits back in and presented the apprentices to Bramblestar. She craved to see the look on Hollypaw's stupid face when she was put on extra elder-tick duties. A cream-coated queen entered, Daisy Fennelkit remembered, and began talking to her mother.
Quietly, Fennelkit hauled herself out of the nest and crept towards the entrance. Daisy and Cherryfall chatted like black-birds most of the time so it didn't bother her.
She peaked out of the den to see the three apprentices being scolded for their earlier actions. Things like 'we're sorry' and 'we didn't mean it' were used but Fennelkit just enjoyed the fact that she beat a warrior-in-training in a fight.
Fennelkit felt herself be lifted by her scruff and carried back towards her mother. Daisy dropped her beside her mother and paddled out of the nursery. Sending Fennelkit a last smile before disappearing. Cherryfall pulled her daughter closer and licked her fur furiously.
"Mom!" She groaned, holding out the word as her mothers tongue dragged over her back fur.
Cherryfall purred and nosed her kit, "Its not nice to take pleasure in your clan-mates suffering. Even if they did attempt to hurt you."
"I know..." Fennelkit sighed and turned to look at Chivekit, who was silently sitting by the corner of their mom's tail. She purred and trotted over to her brother, lieing down next to him.
She flicked her tail-tip on his forehead, playfully. He didn't budge. Fennelkit twitched her whiskers, thinking of ways to cheer her litter-mate up.
A dark brown she-cat dragged herself in as though she were an injured prey. Cherryfall lifted her head in surprise. Then she nodded as though understanding what she meant. Cherryfall stood, making Chivekit falter slightly upon removing her tail. She paddled towards the exit and motioned for her kits.
Fennelkit and Chivekit hurried after, stopping in front of the paralyzed warrior. Fennelkit tilted her head in confusion while Chivekit's ears dropped as he realized her dilemma.
"Fennelkit, Chivekit. This is Briarlight," Cherryfall flicked her tail in the direct of the warrior, "She is a warrior, like you sha'll become. But she has a bit of an issue."
The kits immediately knew what she meant. The she-cat bowed her head sadly but lifted up with a hopeful expression.
"Hi, yes I know I may look like an injured rabbit," Briarlight started with a drowsy laugh, "But- she paused- I hope you will understand if one of you becomes my apprentice that I may not be that mobile in your training."
Shock ran through Fennelkit. 'I don't want to be trained by a warrior who can't even walk!' she though, lashing her tail from side to side. Chivekit just stared. He didn't want to hurt the poor cats feelings. Briarlight smiled half-heartedly and hauled herself away from the den's entrance.
"May all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here before high-rock for a special announcement." Bramblestar's voice echoed all over the camp.
Fennelkit bounded out of the den, re-ruffling her fur again. Chivekit followed after her, curiously.
"Whats going on?" He asked her as the faced their leader. Fennelkit shrugged.
A hunting patrol had recently returned. Cloudtail and Ambermoon carried squirrels, Dewnose had a shrew, and Mousewhisker along with Fernpaw carried a thrush. Ivypool and Dovewing stopped chatting and looked up. The elders all grumbled and marched crossly out of their den. Hollypaw and Sorrelpaw slipped off the ledge they were sunning themselves under and returned along with the other clan-mates. Berrynose and Poppyfrost returned from sharing tongues and multiple cats emerged from their dens.
The kits gathered next to their mother and saw their father turn to meet their gaze. Fennelkit felt a snarl release and Chivekit bumped her with his nose to be silent.
"Do you think they are going to make Hollypaw, Fernpaw, and Sorrelpaw warriors now?" Chivekit asked under his breath.
"There too young. Maybe there is news from other clans." Fennelkit whispered, fascinated by the way Bramblestar presented himself above the whole clan.
"Look at Bramblestar..." She murmured. "One day I wanna be just like him. A leader!"
"Then you have a long way to go, Fennelkit." Cherryfall purred and nudged her with her paw. Chivekit and Fennelkit exchanged a glance and looked back at high-ledge. Bramblestar's eyes were on the two brown kits.
"Even after a recent incident, we can no longer pose-pone the apprenticeship of Fennelkit and Chivekit." He stated, "Fennelkit, step forwards."
Fennelkit gazed with longing green eyes to address the clan as he did. Still in a day dream. She made her way up to the front of the clan, with a few encouraging words from her clan-mates along the way.
"Fennelkit," He began, "Your new name will be Fennelpaw. Mousewhisker, you will be her mentor. I hope you will pass on your knowledge of clan life and your skilled battle-tactics to this new apprentice."
Fennelpaw's world seemed to spin around her. She looked down from high-ledge and surged with pride. She WOULD be a leader. One day...
"Chivekit, please come forwards."
Chivekit had been dreading this. He wasn't as angelic or enthusiastic about becoming a warrior as his sister. He slowly traced Fennelpaw's steps and climbed up the huge rock. He stopped beside his sister and she moved away slightly so Bramblestar could see him clearly. He tried desperately to meet any friendly faces but he could only feel fear. 'What if I mess up? What if a clan attacks? What if the apprentices kill me?' He though furiously.
His blood ran cold. 'The apprentices...!' What if they tried to kill him.
He whimpered. All eyes were on him. He felt so small, so puny. One moth could land on him and he'd be crushed. 'As easily as Sorrelpaw had crushed me.' He winced.
A paw gently stroked his side. Out of the corned of his eye he could see his litter-mates constant smile, and a brown paw resting on his flank. She mouthed, "It's ok. I'll always be here, brother."
"Chivekit you will be known as Chivepaw. Your mentor shall be-" "WAIT!"
Bramblestar stared at Chivepaw, shocked at his outburst. The clan gasped and looked from one another. Cherryfall and Stormcloud exchanged a mutter or two before turning with worried expressions.
"Yes, Chivepaw?" Bramblestar questioned, his gaze unreadable.
"I-I.." His confidence slipped away. "I wanted to be a medicine cat."
The clan erupted in a state of muttering and questions.
"We already have enough medicine cats!" Spiderleg hissed.
"How could an apprentice ever wanna be a medicine cat?" Snowbush asked his siblings.
"You should have said before hand." Berrynose called out.
"Enough!" Bramblestar howled to the warriors, along with an amused glance from his deputy and Fennelpaw.
"If Chivepaw wishes to be a medicine cat and believes that he is not fit to be a warrior who are we to decide. We cannot force a rouge to act like a clan cat; we cannot force a kit to act like an elder; In other words we cannot make a cat do what they wouldn't want to do. Leafpool and Jayfeather will be your mentor then, Chivepaw. May StarClan light your paths, Fennelpaw and Chivepaw!"
The clan went silent and then began to chant. "Fennelpaw, Chivepaw. Fennelpaw, Chivepaw!"
Fennelpaw didn't move. She stared at her litter-mate with a blank slate. Chivepaw let warmth flood his veins again and felt happy with his decision. He turned to his sibling with a short purr. She'd given him the courage to make the decision. But her face haw horrified.
"Fennelpaw?" He asked, he figured she'd be proud of him.
No Answer. She just stared until Bramblestar nudge the apprentice down the ledge.
Fennelpaw shook her brother from her mind and paddled towards her new mentor, Mousewhisker. He had been waiting for her at the end of the ledge. He purred and touched noses with her. She purred back and gave a grateful blink.
"I promise, you'll become the best warrior you can be." Mousewhisker purred and Fennelpaw gave a brisk nod. They parted and stood side by side. Fennelpaw couldn't bare to watch her brother climb down and meet his new mentors. Leafpool was sitting outside the medicine den with warmth in her gaze while Jayfeather was facing the other direct in a stance, meaning he was ready to leave somewhere.
'He must not want to get a new apprentice.' Fennelpaw concluded, then frowned, 'I understand Jayfeather, you grumpy old badger. I would have taken him off your hands if I could. Trust me...'
She approached the apprentices den and paused. She didn't want to meet her den-mates. Hollypaw, Fernpaw, and Sorrelpaw. Sleeping with the cruelest of apprentices made her stomach lurch. She didn't want to enter, but she didn't want her brother to see her. Reluctantly she entered, not bothering with the low bramble trundles scraping her spine or the sight of her father bounding after her.
Fennelpaw looked around and so no cat inside. Feeling the knot in her belly unwind, she gathered some scattered moss into a pile and threw in a couple sticks to keep her nest together. Satisfied, she lied down for what felt like the first time in moons. He legs cramped under the thorny sticks and the moss was old and dry but she didn't care. She was so exhausted and missed her brother.
Greif washed over her and eventually sleep took her. Two shadows appeared, drenched in black in front of the retreating dusk light.
"So what are we going to do?" Sorrelpaw snarled. Obviously angry, she clawed at the ground with her unsheltered claws.
"I don't wanna have to share my den with some kitty-pet!" Fernpaw muttered with a yawn, "And its getting late."
"Lets just wait till Hollypaw exits the medicine den to come up with a plan." Sorrelpaw looked up into the sky, "But she was injured by that incompetent crow-food-"
"Stop talking about my child!" Cherryfall's voice broke their conversation, "You apprentices should be ashamed, talking so harshly about your clan-mate. You should be encouraging her, not degrading her!"
The apprentices shadows lowered to the ground and began to back away along with utterances of 'sorry.'
The ginger warrior pushed her way into the apprentice den and continued to her kit. Fennelpaw, who until this point had been silent and half asleep, was now trying to keep herself from crying. Cherryfall crouched beside her daughter and licked her ear. Fennelpaw flicked it and sulked her shoulders more to the rocky floor. Cherryfall sounded amused and rested her muzzle on her daughters crooked head.
"Its alright, my kit. Your brother was just nervous." Her honey coated voice was muffled by something. "I'm sure all will be fine with you two in the morning."
Cherryfall dropped a bundle of moss at Fennelpaw's feet and she embarked on her way out. But she quickly turned and added, "And don't let those nasty apprentices discourage you. You truly have potential. Maybe even enough to be LEADER."
The last words restarted the fires of ambition in Fennelpaw's heart. She swelled with affection and stood up. She spread the moss her mother gave her and clumped in into her nest, along with some new sticks. She gazed fondly in the direct of her mother and new energy woke her up. It wasn't the best looking nest, but it would do for a few nights.
The sounds of her clan-mates buzzing outside like how bees would in a hive, but she just slumped down in her nest and passed out.
~~~ Chivepaw ~~~ - Forgot about this...
Chivepaw watched with unmoving eyes as his sister walked away from him without even a word.
"Good job, Chivepaw." A voice said from behind him. Leafpool stood in front of him as he'd stopped under high-ledge. She held her nose out but Chivepaw looked on with a worried expression. Leafpool curiously turned and smiled.
"Chivepaw, she'll be fine. She's a warrior." His mentor attempted to comfort him, but failed. He gave a grave nod and hung his head slightly. Snapping quick, he rose his head.
"The nose thing-" He had totally forgot. Leafpool rolled her eyes sarcastically and nosed him. Chivepaw felt a spark run through him after they touched. He bounced back.
"What's was that?!" He asked, wiping his nose with a paw.
"That's how we know your the chosen kit for a medicine cat." Jayfeather chimed in as he passed, he looked back a bit and waved his tail, "Well, you coming?"
Chivepaw realized he was talking to him and jumped along side him, Leafpool staying back to talk with the deputy about the choice probably.
'Am I really chosen.' He asked himself. 'Maybe StarClan told me and I just felt it. I mean, I never though about becoming a medicine cat till now but that was because.. of..." He stopped and felt his heart shatter.
"I'm a coward." He sobbed a bit to himself, but the blind medicine cat dipped his head.
"Yes, you are." Jayfeather complied a bit to Chivepaw's surprise, and discomfort, "But theses no changing, you are now training to be a medicine cat. Prepare to work you tail off morning till night, Chivepaw, because with this job, you need to be brave."
Chivepaw looked on with surprise. 'Brave...' He chanted in his brain, 'Brave, Brave, Brave...'
Then reality hit, he turned his head to the apprentice den and his heart sank, "Like Fennelpaw."
YAY! Done...! I Had The Best Idea For This Story. Fennelpaw Is Super Ambitious And Her Brother Is A Lazy, Coward.
Idk if anyone cares but i'll just be here making more because I love this story.