A/N: Here it is, folks, Chapter 3 ~ All in a row :3
WarriorCat99: Aweh, thank you so much! Haha, maybe that'll change a bit later... ;)
Hikari: Of course! Haha, I know, Petalkit is kinda selfish but she's supposed to be adorable :3
Chapter 3
T h e next moon rolled by. Silverkit had watched Blizzardpaw flirt with Lightningpaw and she had seen the hurt look on Grasspaw's face when Blizzardpaw refused to speak to him. She'd also seen the proud gaze on the white she-cat's face whenever someone congratulated her on getting Furzeclaw as her mentor.
It was finally her turn. It was her turn to become an apprentice, and she would visit Breezepaw and tell him that she was doing fine. She didn't feel as excited for this day as she should have. She didn't feel like she needed to impress anyone or work for anything.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!"
Silverkit trotted slowly out of the den as Petalkit whizzed past her, her tail held high.
Maplestar was waiting for them. Lakesong quickly hurried to their sides and licked them one by one, and while Petalkit let out mewls of protest, Silverkit just sulked under her foster mother's tongue, letting the warm rasps cover her ears.
Maplestar cleared her throat. "Lakesong, I think these kits are beautiful now," she meowed, amusement clearly marked in her tone.
Blizzardkit snorted scornfully at the "beautiful" part, but all the other cats drowned her out with laughs.
"Yes, well, Petalkit, please step up."
Petalkit padded up the Highledge, clambering towards her leader. She dipped her head as Maplestar continued, "By naming apprentices, we show that ThunderClan remains strong. Now, Petalkit and Silverkit have reached their sixth moon. First, Petalkit, you will be known from now until you have received your warrior name as Petalpaw." The lean ThunderClan leader looked down at the crowd of cats below her and beckoned to one with her tail. "Brownfur, you are ready for an apprentice. You are a warrior of great skill and wisdom. I hope you will pass those qualities on to your apprentice."
"Certainly, Maplestar," Brownfur mewed, pleased. She touched noses with Petalpaw.
"Petalpaw! Petalpaw!"
"Silverkit, you will be known as Silverpaw." Maplestar nodded. Newly named Silverpaw hurried up to Maplestar and dipped her head. "Whitefeather, you are ready for another apprentice. You have great courage and strength, and I hope you will pass those on to your apprentice as well."
Oh, no! He's the cat that challenged ShadowClan! Silverpaw thought in distress. But she held her head up high as the white tom approached and touched noses with him.
"Silverpaw! Silverpaw!"
"You have both changed so much." Maplestar's eyes were gleaming. "We are glad to report of the new apprentices. However, we have no more kits." She looked over at the nursery worriedly. "But ThunderClan will remain strong. We must keep on thriving." She lifted her chin. "Right, then, everyone. That's all."
Cats split into their separate groups and murmured to each other as they padded away. Some of them came to greet Silverpaw and Petalpaw.
Petalpaw purred. "This is great!" she whispered.
Silverpaw nodded. What would it be like to be an apprentice in ShadowClan? she wondered.
Meadowpaw looked at Petalpaw meekly, and then to Silverpaw. "Hi, new apprentices," he meowed. "Blizzardpaw is probably not going to say hi to you, but all the other apprentices will. I'm glad you're joining us." He shyly looked at his paws. "I'll see you later. I still have to train today." With an awkward good-bye, he walked away. Silverpaw and Petalpaw exchanged glances.
Soon after, Lightningpaw padded up to them. "Welcome," he meowed, and he turned his brilliant gaze on Silverpaw. "So, you've gotten over your clumsiness."
Silverpaw dug her claws into the ground. "Yeah, and I can rake my claws across your muzzle," she snapped, not meaning to. It was true, though. If Lightningpaw was really not a great fighter, she could beat him easily. She had already been trained in ShadowClan when she was a kit.
Lightningpaw stepped back, but not in a cowardly way. "Try me," he growled.
Silverpaw crouched. Petalpaw whimpered. Suddenly, Silverpaw was thrown over by a white-furred cat. She expected to see Whitefeather, scolding her, but instead, she caught the furious look of Blizzardpaw.
"Get away from him, you maggot!" she snarled.
Lightningpaw pushed her with his paw. "Stop," he snapped. "She was challenging me."
Blizzardpaw looked embarrassed and sulked to his side, then walked away a few pawsteps.
Silverpaw threw herself at Lightningpaw at that moment, and he quickly sidestepped. She knew that was coming and leaped under his belly, slashing with her claws. Then, she kicked with her hind legs and flipped the older apprentice over. Lightningpaw let out a gasp, and Blizzardpaw tried to hurry to his side, only to be stopped by a snarling Petalpaw.
Silverpaw was back on her paws in a matter of seconds, while Lightningpaw was panting heavily. He looked at her, wide-eyed.
"You're…you're something else," he meowed.
"I can do it again if you want," she spat.
Blizzardpaw raced away from Petalpaw and nudged Lightningpaw. "Are you okay?" she asked.
"Fine." Lightningpaw's eyes were still on Silverpaw. He turned without another word and walked away.
Silverpaw watched as Blizzardpaw raced after him. Petalpaw came up to her, jaws wide open.
"You're so lucky Maplestar didn't see you! Neither of you were making much noise, so nobody even saw that!" Petalpaw looked around hastily. "But if Blizzardpaw tells, you could get into so much trouble, it's not even funny…"
"I don't care. He was teasing me," Silverpaw insisted.
"I know, right!"
Silverpaw gasped as Grasspaw appeared right behind her. "Hey," she croaked.
"Hi, there! Apprentice now, huh? Well, you're still not as pretty as Blizzardpaw, but that doesn't make you any less cool than you really are! And right, you should always pick on Lightningpaw! He sucks! Okay, I'm going. See you later!" He raced away.
"What. Was. That?" Silverpaw panted.
Petalpaw shrugged. "He's a fathead. Let's go." She flicked her tail. "Brownfur told me I could rest today and tomorrow we could start training. Ask Whitefeather if that's okay."
Silverpaw nodded and walked over to her mentor, who was speaking with Eagletalon about something. He saw her approaching and nodded. "What's up?" he asked coolly.
"Petalpaw said she's taking today off, and it was fine with Brownfur," Silverpaw announced.
Whitefeather narrowed his eyes. "You expect me to do the same?"
Silverpaw's heart leaped quickly. "Er – I meant that…"
"No, it's fine." Whitefeather's eyes lit with amusement. "Go ahead."
Silverpaw let out a breath of relief. Then, she lifted her eyes instinctively to the sky to say thanks to StarClan, when…
Oh, great StarClan! It's sunhigh! I have to meet Breezepaw!
She raced off, not caring if anyone saw her. If she failed this mission as a Secret…
She tore through bushes and leaves, the path to ShadowClan memorized by her first trip here. Finally, she reached the dark forest of ShadowClan and waited at the border.
"Breezepaw?" she whispered timidly.
Something crashed into her and covered her jaws before she could scream. She looked up as she saw the familiar large tom on top of her.
"Breezepaw!" she yowled softly.
"That's Breezestorm to you, runt," he snapped, getting off of her and shaking his pelt. "So, Silverpaw, how's life in ThunderClan? Wimpy?"
Silverpaw flattened her ears. "I'm fine."
"I didn't ask how you were." Breezestorm rolled his eyes. "Report."
Silverpaw didn't know what to say. "There are no good toms over there," she snapped.
What was that expression that had flashed over Breezestorm's face for that split second? "Well, you'd better find one, quick." He started to walk away and looked over his shoulder. "Nothing much happened in that no-good Clan, did it? Well, listen. You'd better find someone, because we depend on you. The kits you'll have will be the new Secrets that go to WindClan and RiverClan. Just know that. You'd better hurry. Your time is almost up." He turned and whisked away.
Great. Great news. Thanks a lot, Breezestorm. Though Silverpaw was indignant, part of her was afraid, too. She knew he was right. She padded back to ThunderClan, her fur tingling, her paws suddenly feeling very heavy.
A/N: There you are! Now, here's the next poll…
NOW who do you think should be paired with Silverpaw?
a. Breezestorm
b. Lightningpaw
c. Grasspaw
d. Meadowpaw
e. I don't think she should like anyone!
'Kay, thanks you guys!