A/N-I got a PM that was really stupid. Look, it's called FanFICTION for a reason! Why can't people understand that? Anyway, here's the next chappie.
(Edited)
Chapter 3: Apprentices and Warriors
Falconkit and Maplekit, along with Squirrelflight's kits, were looking at the other warriors as they went about with their duties in camp. Brambleclaw, as the deputy, was sitting in front of Highledge with Firestar. They were discussing something the kits couldn't hear.
"Hey, Falconkit," Sunkit mewed, "when do you think we'll be apprenticed?"
Falconkit answered, "Maybe today. I mean, Squirrelflight says we're old enough." Falconkit was a light brown tabby she-cat with a white underbelly and ice-blue eyes. She was slightly bigger than her brother Maplekit.
Ravenkit stretched her back by standing up on her hindlegs. Satisfied by a loud 'pop', she sat down on her haunches again. "Yeah, and so does Brambleclaw."
Maplekit, a dark brown tabby with white paws and amber eyes, nodded. "And Badgerpaw and Larkpaw will definitely be getting their warrior names today."
"Why do you say that?" Sunkit looked at him.
"Well, they've both been to the Moonpool and they went on a patrol with Brambleclaw and Brackenfur yesterday," Maplekit pointed out.
"That doesn't mean that they'll get their warrior names."
"Brambleclaw and Brackenfur are the most honored warriors in the Clan."
"Yeah, that is true."
The four kits sat in silence again, until Brambleclaw loped over to them. "All right," he meowed. "Firestar and I have decided that you will be apprenticed at sunset."
Falconkit opened her mouth, but closed it when she received a look from Brambleclaw.
"Being apprentices doesn't mean fun and games; it means duties in camp and battling other cats." He paused. "And it means taking care and watching out for your Clanmates."
"We can do that!" Falconkit squeaked.
Brambleclaw looked at her again. For the time being, until their parents were found, Falconkit and Maplekit were classified as rogues. Brambleclaw didn't trust any rogue here.
But they look so familiar, like Clan cats. Why don't I trust them?
O.O.O.O.O.O
Mothwing settled herself beside the Moonpool. She stared into its clear blue waters, her reflection staring back at her. She sighed.
"If Tigerstar wasn't bad, and Sasha was a Clan cat, maybe we would be trusted fully," she mewed to herself.
"Why do you say that?" Hawkfrost stormed to her side, glaring down at her. His ice-blue eyes looked like blue flames. "Isn't being a medicine cat enough?"
Mothwing stood hurriedly. "No! I mean, well..." She looked at him, trying not to flinch. "Maybe we would live normal lives."
"We already live normal lives," growled Hawkfrost. "I have an apprentice, you are a medicine cat, everyone respects us." He paused, shaking his head. "Tigerstar says I have the right idea of things in this world. You're too soft for it."
"Tigerstar?" Mothwing tilted her head to the side. "You had a dream, didn't you?"
"Of course! I'm his son!" Hawkfrost sat down, ears splaying sideways. "It was last night. Tawnypelt and Brambleclaw and you were in it as well..."
Mothwing gaped at her brother. "What... What was it about?"
Hawkfrost didn't move. "Tigerstar said that I was going to have a great future, but something disrupted it."
"Disrupted?" echoed Mothwing.
"That's what I said!" he snapped. Mothwing recoiled. Hawkfrost shook his head again, and left. Mothwing followed him with a heavy mind.
Why has he been acting so strangely? Has he done something wrong?
O.O.O.O.O.O
Tawnypelt smiled at Applepaw. Her apprentice was nervous about getting her warrior name. "You'll do fine," Tawnypelt reassured.
"Really?" Applepaw asked.
"Really." Tawnypelt looked over at Blackstar, who was watching his Clan with pride. He caught her gaze and nodded, leaping onto Highbranch.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather below Highbranch for a Clan meeting!" he yowled.
The Clan assembled beneath him, chattering amongst themselves. Tawnypelt padded to the front with Applepaw. Toadpaw and Marshpaw were already there.
"Today I would like to honor three new warriors. Step forward, you three." Blackstar looked down at the apprentices. They strode forward.
Blackstar raised his head. "I, Blackstar, leader of ShadowClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in their turn. Toadpaw, Marshpaw, Applepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
Applepaw's voice rang out clearly across the clearing. "I do."
Marshpaw nodded. "I do."
Toadpaw was a little tentative, but he meowed firmly, "I do."
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Applepaw, from this moment you shall be known as Applepool. StarClan honors your spirit and determination, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan." Blackstar leaped down from Highbranch, resting his muzzle on Applepool's head. She licked his shoulder and padded back to Tawnypelt's side.
Blackstar turned to Marshpaw. "Marshpaw, from this moment you shall be known as Marshfeather. StarClan honors your honesty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan." He did the same as he did with Applepool, and Marshfeather licked his shoulder.
Finally, after Marshfeather was sitting next to Tawnypelt, Blackstar looked at Toadpaw. "Toadpaw, from this moment you shall be known as Toadfrost. StarClan honors your patience, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan." They did the same as before, and Toadfrost trotted to his siblings.
"Applepool! Marshfeather! Toadfrost!" the Clan chanted. The new warriors padded to their places around the clearing, ready to keep vigil.
Tawnpelt yawned widely, flexing her claws. She had to assemble the sunset patrol. "Rowanclaw!" The ginger warrior turned around. "Take three warriors with you on the sunset patrol!"
Rowanclaw nodded. "Yes, Tawnypelt!"
Tawnypelt's eyes drooped. She dragged herself over to the warrior's den, collapsing in a heap beside Cedarheart, who was looking exhausted as well.
"What's wrong with you?" asked Tawnypelt.
Cedarheart shrugged. "Nothing. Just thinking."
Tawnypelt nodded. She lay her head on her paws. "Don't think too much, you might hurt yourself."
Cedarheart glared at her, but curled up in a tight ball without a word. Soon, they were both asleep.
A/N-How was it? Bad? Okay? Great? I can't really tell. Please say something!
