Wow. The reviews I have now are the most I've gotten from three chapters! Thank you for every word! I hope you enjoy this next chapter.
One more thing, I know I'm probably not the best from writing from a kits's point of view. I've noticed myself that I am making Frozenkit a little too wise for one so young. Forgive me for the habit. Anyways, on to the story!
Disclaimer: Still don't own Warriors. Never have, never will. :(
Chapter Three
Leafpelt frantically licked Stonekit's head, trying to get his thick gray fur into place. The tom tried wriggling away from her, but she wouldn't let him escape her rasping tongue.
"Mama," he whined. "You've been doing this forever! Let's go!"
Leafpelt pulled away and purred, "Don't you want to look good for your apprentice ceremony?" Her ears angled outside, where ThunderClan was beginning to surround the Highrock.
"Of course I do!" Stonekit meowed. He puffed out his chest. "But I always look good!"
"Arrogant furball," grumbled Smallkit.
"Alright," Leafpelt said, peering outside. "The Clan is waiting for us. Let's hurry before the day grows short!"
She led her three kits outside. Frozenkit couldn't help but notice that Nettlekit's tail was drooping. A scratchy sound emitted from the ground as it dragged along the nursery floor. What is with the cat? she thought.
Lionkit shook with excitement. "Oh, Mama, can I please go out there and watch?" he asked.
"I guess so," Snowshine purred.
"Can I, mother?"
The white she-cat looked down at Frozenkit with soft yellow eyes. "I suppose," she replied. "Just don't go beyond your limit. I don't want you getting under anyone's paws."
Frozenkit bit back a retort. Arguing wouldn't help the privilage. Snowshine herded her outside before trotting over to sit by Oakshade.
The Clan was surrounding the giant silver rock that jutted from the ground. Atop it, stood a large ginger tom. His amber eyes shimmered in the sunlight. That must be the Clan leader, she thought.
Stonekit, Smallkit, and Nettlekit stood on the Highrock as well, on a small ledge that emerged from the side. Stonekit and Smallkit looked about ready to burst with excitement. Their pelts bristled with exhilaration. Nettlekit, however, stood with a completely expressionless face.
"I, Flickstar," the ginger tom said, "leader of ThunderClan am now going to perform one of my favorite ceremonies. The time when we gain three more apprentices. Stonekit, Smallkit and Nettlekit have reached their sixth moon, and it is my duty to award them with the apprentice names and mentors." He turned to the three kits, and a golden sheen flowed across his pelt like a liquid fire. "From now on, until you are ready to become warriors, you three shall be known as Stonepaw, Smallpaw, and Nettlepaw. Stonepaw, your mentor shall be Beetletooth. Beetletooth, you have trained Badgerfang into a fine warrior, and I trust that you will do the same for Stonepaw."
A dark gray tom rushed forward. Stonepaw beamed and hopped off of the Highrock to touch noses with his new mentor. A loud rumble of joy came from both Leafpelt, and their father, Wolfleap.
"Smallpaw, I have chosen Oakshade to mentor you. He was excellent battle skills, which I hope will be passed on to you."
Oakshade is Smallpaw's mentor! Frozenkit exclaimed in her head. What will that mean for his training sessions with Lionkit?
After the mentor and apprentice greeted each other, Flickerstar continued. "And lastly, Nettlekit, your mentor is Icyclaws. She has great confidence and loyalty, which will be great qualities for you in the future."
Unlike his littermates, Nettlekit did not rush down enthusiastically to meet his mentor, rather he sluggishly clawed his way down the Highrock and dragged himself to touch noses with the white she-cat that waited for him.
No one really seemed to take notice of the tom's behavior except Frozenkit. The Clan began shouting the three cats' names. Of all of them, Leafpelt's and Wolfleap's voices were the loudest.
Flickerstar looked down on Stonekit, Smallkit and Nettlekit with interest. "May StarClan bid you good luck," he said, just loud enough for the entire Clan to hear. His tail flicked to dismiss the warriors and he vanished behind the Highrock.
So this is what a real apprentice ceremony is like, she thought. She glanced around the camp, wondering who were mentor will be. Two moons, a quarter, and two days...
A high-pitched meow sounded from beside her. A white and silver she-cat was walking with a gray tom and a ginger and white tom. Lionkit was trailing behind them, as if he was trying to appear as one of them.
The she-cat parted her jaws in a yawn. "We better become warriors soon. Having two more apprentices with us is too much for our den to handle. She looked intensely at the gray tom. "I already lose enough sleep with you snoring all night."
"Whitepaw, don't be a fox-heart," he replied. "I don't snore."
"Yes you do."
"Do not!"
The ginger and white tom pushed himself between them until they stopped arguing. "Stop it! Do siblings really always fight like this?" he asked.
"You don't know what it's like Rabbitpaw, putting up with this one," Whitepaw muttered with a roll of her eyes. She paused and looked down at Lionkit, with a humorous smile she said, "You better not become apprentices before we leave. Trust me, it's for your own good."
The gray apprentice growled.
"Frozenkit!" called Snowshine.
Frozenkit turned around and padded into the nursery. Snowshine waited for her to settle into the nest before getting in herself.
"It looks like Lionkit is becoming friends with the apprentices," she said half to herself. "He'll be a very popular warrior."
"Mother, do you think I'll make a lot of friends?" asked Frozenkit.
Snowshine inhaled, as if she was going to say something but forgot what it is. She breathed out quietly and gazed at Frozenkit knowingly. "Oh, I'm sure you'll meet a few friendly cats during your training, but you have to remember that by that time, Rabbitpaw, Whitepaw and Stormpaw will all be warriors. The other three will be close to their final assessments."
Excuses, excuses...
"But," continued Snowshine, "I'm sure that one day, you'll be like me, nursing kits and raising them into fine cats. And for that to happen, you're going to need a mate." She chortled to herself softly.
"Like you have Oakshade?"
"Yes," she replied joyfully. She sighed with delight. "Every kit needs a father."
"Every kit?" Frozenkit asked. "Well, then...why does Oaksahde act like I don't exist?"
Snowshine paused, her tail stiffening. A low growl emitted from her thorat as she shot Frozenkit a boisterous glare. "You deny the love that your father feels for you." It wasn't a question.
"He doesn't interact with me," Frozenkit whined, and hating herself for sounding so childish. "It's like all he cares about is Lionkit becoming a warrior, and he isn't even an apprentice yet!"
"If it makes you feel any better, he won't be training Lionkit anymore, considering he has Smallpaw to worry about," Snowshine hissed. Her look of ire softened. "And he'll still love you the same."
Frozenkit didn't reply right away. What was Snowshine thinking she meant? Her gaze drifted to outside the nursery, where the Clan interacted with one another. She spotted Wolfleaf out of the corner of her eyes, his amber eyes glazed with pride that his kits had become apprentices. She snapped her eyes back to Snowshine, who was by that time grooming her long white fur. "Then why doesn't he show it?"
"Hmm?" asked her mother, looking up from her grooming.
"Oakshade, why doesn't he show that he loves me?"
Snowshine scowled with both annoyance and confusion. "You're such a smart kit, my daughter, do you really need him to prove his love to you? You should know very well that he loves you."
"Could you ask him to show me some moves he taught Lionkit?" Frozenkit asked. Half of herself regretted asking. She knew that Snowshine could get pretty worked up when it come to her doing things that she was too "small" for. But the other half was determined to for once hear a yes.
"Frozenkit," sighed the white she-cat, shaking her head. "I keep telling you-"
"No really!" she interrupted. "I'm sure I could learn some! I remember hearing Oakshade talking to Lionkit when he was complaining that it was too hard because Oakshade was bigger. He told him that size or strength didn't matter. It was skill." She pointed at Snowshine with her tail. "Didn't your mentor teach you that?"
Her mother looked down. "She never told me directly...but it was implied." She stretched, parting her jaws in a yawn. "But the answer is still no. At least by that time I was big enough. There's a reason that kits have to be six moons before they begin their training."
"Lionkit isn't six moons," muttered Frozenkit. Snowshine didn't seem to hear.
Frozenkit laid down, placing her head between her paws. It really wasn't fair. You're small and you aren't allowed to do anything except watch, watch and wait.
Suddenly, someone climbed I to the nest beside her, and curled up against her back. Frozenkit looked up, over her shoulder to see Lionkit, his yellow eyes closed, his fur brushing against hers. Did he even know about her feelings?
Lionkit's pelt gave off warmth to Frozenkit. The nice feeling started to make her feel sleepy, and with a last final thought, he drifted off to sleep. Two moons, one quarter and two days, you're getting their Frozenkit, you're getting there.
I hope you all enjoyed it! Please review!
~Destiny
