Hey guys, sorry for not updating sooner, I've been under a lot of stress and haven't been able to write. I'm back now and I'm going to be updating this story more along with a new Warriors story I just started writing. That will be uploaded soon. Enjoy Chapter 3 everyone :D
Chapter 3
Three moons have passed since Mosskit and Snakekit snuck out of camp. Mosskit and Amberkit were now six moons old, and ready to become apprentices. The two soon-to-be apprentices were in the nursery with their parents, and Chervilleaf fretting over her kit's appearances.
"Relax Chervilleaf, they look great." Stormshade mewed to his worried mate.
Chervilleaf sighed. "I guess." She looked over her kits one last time. "Maybe one more grooming…" She grabbed Amberkit and she squealed and struggled as her mother tried to groom her pelt again.
Mosskit pulled Amberkit away from her mother and meowed. "We look fine Chervilleaf." Mosskit meowed.
"Yeah! Stop grooming me! I'm not a kit anymore." Amberkit meowed irritated.
Chervilleaf purred. "You two will always be my kits."
Stormshade chuckled. "Are you two ready? Brightstar will be calling the meeting any minute now."
Mosskit and Amberkit nodded.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather around the High-Branch for a clan meeting!"
Stormshade smiled. "It's time." Stormshade, Chervilleaf and the kits exited the nursery and padded to the High-Branch. The High-Branch was on a small tree located next to the leader's den. Brightstar was on the highest stable branch in the tree, hence the name. Mosskit, Amberkit and her parents sat with their clanmates as Brightstar started the meeting.
"We have two ceremonies to preform today." Brightstar meowed. "Oakpaw, Firepaw, step forward." The two ginger toms stepped forward at Brightstar's command.
Brightstar turned to Eagleflight and Squirreltail, their mentors. "Are Oakpaw and Firepaw ready to become warriors?"
"Oakpaw is ready." Eagleflight meowed with pride.
"Firepaw is ready as well." Squirreltail meowed, her voice equally as prideful.
Brightstar nodded. "I Brightstar, leader of SunClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. Oakpaw has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend Oakpaw to you as a warrior in turn. Oakpaw, do you promise do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do." Oakpaw meowed, his eyes shining with excitement and his tail held high.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Oakpaw, from this moment you will be known as Oakfur. StarClan honors your spirit, and we welcome you as a full warrior of SunClan."
She performed the same ceremony for Firepaw, naming him Firespirit. Brightstar jumped down from her position on the branch to touch her nose to the two new warrior's heads. They licked her shoulder in response as the clan cheered Oakfur and Firespirit's new names.
Brightstar jumped up to her branch again and quieted the clan down. "I have one more ceremony to perform. Amberkit, Mosskit, step forward."
Mosskit and Amberkit exchanged excited glances as they padded beneath Brightstar under the High-Branch.
"Amberkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Amberpaw. Your mentor will be Wolfstride. I hope Wolfstride will pass down all he knows on to you. Wolfstride you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from Jaggedfur, and you have shown yourself to be brave and loyal to your clan. You will be the mentor of Amberpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to her." Brightstar meowed.
Wolfstride and Amberpaw touched noses, and the two went to go sit back next to Stormshade and Chervilleaf.
Brightstar continued. "Mosskit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed." She mewed. "From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Mosspaw. Your mentor will be me."
The whole clan gasped in shock. It was rare for a leader to mentor an apprentice, any apprentice was lucky to get the leader as a mentor. Mosspaw stared at Brightstar in shock as her leader jumped down and touched her nose to Mosspaw's.
After the clan got over their shock, they chanted Amberpaw and Mosspaw's names. Amberpaw ran up to Mosspaw, and Mosspaw noticed Snakekit and his siblings behind her. "You got Brightstar as a mentor!" Amberpaw mewed. "That's amazing." She purred.
"You are so lucky." Tigerkit mewed. Frogkit and Leafkit nodded in agreement.
"I'll miss you in the nursery. I know it's only a half-moon longer until I become an apprentice but…" Snakekit meowed trailing off.
Mosspaw touched her nose to Snakekit's and mewed. "I'll miss you too."
Snakekit smiled and meowed. "Tell me all about your first day. If you explore the territory, don't get attacked by any foxes."
Mosspaw purred and mewed. "I'd say that to you if you were going."
Chervilleaf and Stormshade approached Mosspaw and Amberpaw. "I'm so proud of you two." Chervilleaf meowed touching her nose to each of their cheeks.
"Listen to your mentors," Stormshade pointed out. "and train hard."
"Mosspaw, Amberpaw!" Brightstar called from a few fox-lengths away.
"Let's explore the territory." Wolfstride mewed.
The two apprentices said goodbye to their friends and parents and padded over to their mentors, eager to see the clan's territory.
The four cats exited the camp and headed out into the forest. Amberpaw and Mosspaw stayed close to their mentors as they padded through the trees, looking at everything and anything they could. They had to know the territory like the pads of their paws. The trees were just as tall as Mosspaw remembered them, and the scents were familiar as well. However, she hoped that not everything was the same as her last exploration.
Brightstar seemed to sense her wariness, and meowed with a purr. "No need to worry Mosspaw. There hasn't been a fox in the territory since the one you encountered."
Mosspaw chuckled. "Glad to hear it."
Amberpaw stopped and lifted up her nose and sniffed. "I smell prey."
Wolfstride smiled at his apprentice. "I do as well. What do you smell?"
Amberpaw sniffed again. "Mouse?" Amberpaw speculated.
"Actually it's squirrel." Mosspaw mewed, the aroma of her favorite meal filling her nose.
"Very good Mosspaw." Brightstar meowed proudly.
"Well I've been out here before. I recognize the scent. I recognize a lot actually." Mosspaw pointed out, ignoring her sister's irritated glare. "Over near that tree is where Snakekit and I encountered that fox." Mosspaw walked over to the tree and stood in front of the trunk. "Snakekit was standing right here when it snuck up on him."
"You have a very keen memory Mosspaw." Wolfstride commented. "Knowing your territory is important."
Mosspaw nodded, and her heart swelled with pride. I'm going to memorize this territory from top to bottom!
"Can we keep going?" Amberpaw meowed impatiently. "I want to see the border."
Brightstar nodded. "Yes, we are wasting daylight standing here."
"Let's get to the MoonClan border. It's closest to here." Wolfstride meowed.
The four cats made their way through the trees to the MoonClan border. Mosspaw noticed that on the MoonClan side instead of oak and birch trees, the territory was covered in spruce and pine trees. "Don't the needles hurt their paws?" Mosspaw mewed curiously.
"They probably get used to it." Amberpaw replied. "I have no clue how I would though. I would go crazy if needles got stuck in my paws."
Brightstar let out an amused purr. "Every clan has different ways of living Amberpaw. For example, CloudClan cats sleep in trees."
Amberpaw made a face. "Why would a cat want to sleep in a tree? We aren't squirrels."
"No idea, the other clans are weird." Wolfstride mewed with a chuckle.
Suddenly a voice called out. "What's going on here?"
A group of cats approached and Mosspaw assumed they were a MoonClan border patrol. The leader of the group was a muscular brown tabby tom with piercing green eyes. He bristled with anger as he stared at them. Behind him were a black she-cat with amber eyes, a brown tom with blue eyes and a small black tom with white patches and paws. "What are you doing at our border?"
"Relax Brambledusk." Brightstar meowed calmly to the MoonClan deputy. "We didn't cross into your territory. We were only showing these apprentices around."
"So you say." He growled. "How do I know you or your mangy apprentices won't sneak into our territory and steal some prey after you leave?"
Mosspaw growled and felt anger travel through her like a powerful wave. How dare he? "Who are you calling mangy? You MoonClan fox-hearts are the ones with the mangy pelts." She snapped. The MoonClan cats behind Brambledusk stared at Mosspaw with hatred in their eyes.
Brightstar shot her an irritated look as Brambledusk snarled. "How dare you! Do you know who you are speaking to?"
"You aren't my deputy! I have no respect for you, especially if you insult my leader or my clan!" Mosspaw snarled.
"Enough Mosspaw!" Brightstar growled. She turned back to Brambledusk. "I'm sorry about my apprentice. We will leave now. We only wanted to show the apprentices the territory. There is no need to start a fight, come on." She beckoned Wolfstride and the apprentices with her tail. Mosspaw sent the MoonClan warriors a glare as she turned around and followed her leader.
"You better leave!" Mosspaw heard Brambledusk snarl. "If I see you here again, I will not hesitate to claw your fur off!" Mosspaw growled, unsheathed her claws and allowed them to dig into the ground as she walked away. If I see that mange-pelt again I'll claw his ears off.
Mosspaw entered camp behind Brightstar, Amberpaw and Wolfstride behind her. Brightstar turned to Mosspaw and Amberpaw and meowed. "Tomorrow, Wolfstride and I will teach you how to hunt. Go take some prey to the elders then you can grab some prey. You've had a long day."
"We all have." Wolfstride muttered.
The leader and warrior padded off and Mosspaw and her sister went to the fresh-kill pile to retrieve prey for the elders. Mosspaw picked up a sparrow and Amberpaw picked up a finch. The pair made their way to the elders den and entered. As soon as they entered, Patchfur turned his head and saw them. "Hey Mosskit and Amberkit!" He meowed.
"They are apprentices now you stupid fur-ball." Ravenfeather meowed. "Their ceremony was earlier today. Don't you remember anything?"
Patchfur blinked a few times and murmured. "So that's why the cats were cheering…"
Gingerfur ran a paw over her face in annoyance and Ravenfeather groaned.
Mosspaw chuckled and put down her sparrow. "It's ok Patchfur." She mewed with a purr. "We know that you are forgetful."
"Yeah." Amberpaw meowed. "We brought you guys some fresh-kill."
Ravenfeather purred. "Thank you, both of you. How was your first day of apprenticeship?"
"We ran into a MoonClan patrol." Amberpaw meowed. "Nothing to serious."
"You're kidding right?" Mosspaw snarled. "That mange-pelt Brambledusk threatened us. Next time I see him I'll claw his fur off."
"Brambledusk? The MoonClan deputy?" Gingerfur asked. Mosspaw nodded. "I know of him. I saw him at gatherings when I was still a warrior." Gingerfur meowed. "He was always an ambitious cat. He acted like he was the strongest warrior in all of the clans. He was very violent too."
"I don't like him." Mosspaw growled.
"Neither do I Mosspaw," Gingerfur agreed "but he's MoonClan's problem not ours. Don't let him get to you."
Mosspaw let out a sigh and nodded even though she had no intention of letting the encounter go. "Okay."
"Good." Gingerfur purred. "Now I believe you have a kit you need to go visit Mosspaw. He was talking to us earlier about how excited he is to hear about your day."
Snakekit! Of course! Mosspaw thought. "You're right! I got to go. I'll see you all soon." She meowed to the elders as she started to walk away. "Are you coming Amberpaw?"
Amberpaw nodded. "I'm going to grab a piece of prey." She mewed following her.
"Save me a squirrel." Mosspaw meowed.
Amberpaw smiled. "Of course."
Mosspaw padded across the sandy clearing with Amberpaw until they reached the fresh-kill pile. Amberpaw went to get her meal, and Mosspaw made her way past the fresh-kill and towards the nursery. She entered her old den and saw the brown tabby she was looking for lying on his belly having a conversation with his siblings and mother. Mousewatcher saw Mosspaw enter and smiled. "Hello Mosspaw how was your first day?"
Snakekit head whipped towards Mosspaw and he let out an excited yell. "You're back!" He scampered up to her and meowed. "How was exploring the forest?"
Mosspaw smiled at his excitement. "It was wonderful." She let out a low growl. "Until Brambledusk showed up."
"You mean the MoonClan deputy?" Mousewatcher meowed before Snakekit could speak. "What did he do?"
"He was acting aggressive and insulting us because we were at the border." Mosspaw snarled.
"What did you do?" Snakekit asked.
"I bet Brightstar and Wolfstride kicked their tails." Tigerkit butted in.
"Yeah." Frogkit agreed.
"I know I would." Leafkit meowed.
Mosspaw shook her head. "Brightstar didn't fight him, she just made us leave."
"Lame." Tigerkit muttered.
"It's not lame." Mousewatcher mewed to Tigerkit. "Brightstar didn't want to fight a pointless battle."
"I wanted to claw his ears off for insulting us. I wanted Brightstar to start a fight." Mosspaw admitted.
"She should have." Snakekit put in.
"I don't blame you, but injuring two warriors and apprentices over a border squabble is not something Brightstar would do." Mousewatcher meowed. "She only fights if absolutely necessary."
Mosspaw pondered Mousewatcher's words for a second and meowed. "I guess you're right. Amberpaw and I don't know how to fight yet. We would have lost against three warriors and a possibly trained apprentice."
Mousewatcher nodded. "I'm glad you understand Mosspaw. That understanding will make you a good warrior someday." She looked down at her kits. "Remember that you four."
Mosspaw smiled at her friend's obedient nods. She looked around the nursery and realized someone was missing. "I just realized something." Mosspaw mewed. "Where are Daisypatch and her kits?"
"At Cloudysky's den." Mousewatcher replied. "Berrykit and Foxkit started coughing."
"Oh no." Mosspaw gasped. "Is it greencough?"
"I don't think so. It didn't seem serious, could have just been a little cough. It doesn't hurt to check though." Mousewatcher answered.
"That's good I guess." Mosspaw meowed. Suddenly she let out a huge yawn and Snakekit giggled.
"I think you are tired Mosspaw." He meowed amused.
"You try exploring the whole territory without getting tired." She shot back. "I'm going to grab some fresh-kill then turn in. I'll see you guys tomorrow."
"Bye Mosspaw." The kits mewed in unison as Mosspaw turned to leave.
As Mosspaw made her way towards her smiling sister at the fresh-kill pile, she couldn't help but wonder what tomorrow held for her and Amberpaw.
