A/N:
WARNING: THE FIRST PART OF THE FOLLOWING CHAPTER IS NOT FLUFFY BUNNIES AND UNICORNS FARTING RAINBOWS! READ AT YOUR OWN RISK. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
The faces of cats he once called friends towered over him. Leering at him jeering. Hurting. Nipping his heels. Circling. Surrounding. Trapping. Snaring. Preying. Feeding. Hunting.
He screamed. And screamed. Screaming 'til his lungs knew no air.
Falling. Twirling. Tumbling. Spinning. Spiraling.
Down.
Down.
Down.
Darkness. Black. Starless skies and moonless nights. Shadows climbing the walls. Thickening the air.
Drowning,
Drowning.
Drowning.
Running. Away. Faster. Chased by Dark's monsters. Eyes. Watching. Plotting. Planing. Biding their time. Cunning. Overseeing his downfall. Howls echoing off the walls.
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
Nothing. Not a word. His bellowing screams unherd. No foot falls to echo. No voices to hear.
Forever.
Forever.
Forever.
He woke, his unheard cries dying in his lungs.
'It's just a dream, just a nightmare.' He thought through shallow breaths.
'Then why do I here the silence echoing ringing in my ears? Why can I still feel their gazes cutting my skin? Why is the darkness still flooding my lungs? Yes, it's just a dream.'
With to many questions and not enough answers, he walked outside.
'And the sad thing is, I'm just a kit.'
Sighing he trudged up the path leading to the vast expanse of territory that lay beyond.
"I haven't done this in a while," He murmured.
"Lonekit!?"
He jumped a mile out of his skin. He turned around. "Hi Fernpaw," He said meekly.
"What are you doing?" She said wearily.
"I'm leaving."
"What!? You can't leave!" Panic etched all over her face.
"I just need to clear my head," His voice was shaky.
Concern sparked in her eyes. "Are you okay, well obviously your not, but did something happen? Was Battlepaw being a foxheart again?"
He'd never herd Fernpaw speak poorly of her brother, or anyone. "No, no, it's okay-"
"No, it's not okay. You're going to tell me what happened and you're going to tell me now."
He let out a shaky breath. "I've been having these dreams ..."
...
The next morning he rose to the sound of Swallowtail buzzing about the nersery.
"Swallowtail, what's happening?"
She took him by the scruff and dumped him unceremoniously on the other side of the room.
"It's time!" She squealed.
"Time for what?"
"For your 'paw ceremony, of course! Don't tell me you forgot it, you've been looking forward to it for moons!"
In truth him been to wrapped up in his melancholy state to think about apprenticeship. "That's today!"
"Yes,"
"I thought it was tomorrow!" He started liking his chest fur furiously.
"Let me do that!" His mother figure cried.
He remained perfectly still as the queen began licking at his fur. He was going to be an apprentice! He'd move in with Fernpaw, and sleep in his own nest! He'd become Lonepaw! He'd see the territory, not that he hadn't seen it all those times when he'd left camp.
Fernpaw and Battlepaw bounded into the den.
"Hi," Fernpaw said brightly, her eyes falling on Lonekit. "You're going to be a 'paw! This is so exciting!" She turned to Swallowtail, "let me do that, you clean out his nest. if you want to."
Swallowtail grabbed the bundle of moss and galloped out of the room.
He shivered as Fernpaw ran her tongue over his pelt.
"Okay, Lonekit, this is what you have to do ..."
Battlepaw lectured Lonekit about proper behavior 'til the call went out.
"Let all cats old enough to hunt their own prey gather under the Rockpile."
"Wait, Lonekit," Fernpaw bounded up to him, her eyes searching his face, "You'll be okay, and if anything happens you come strait to me, okay?"
He nodded.
She gave his head one final lick. "You're ready."
"It is time for a new apprentice," Sharpstar said, "Lonekit, come forth."
He gulped and took a step forward.
"It is time for you to become a member of Clan in full, from this day on, until you receive your Warrior Name, you shall be known as Lonepaw."
He cast a glance at Fernpaw. Her eyes were glowing in the afternoon light, her tortoise-shell pelt glittered. She nodded encouragingly.
"Rabbitleap, step forward."
Lonepaw watched as the brown Tom padded towards him.
"Rabbitleap, will you teach Lonepaw your skill in hunting and your knowledge of the Warrior Code?"
"I will." The brown tabby replied, his eyes fixed on the kit in front of him.
Sharpstar nodded.
"Lonepaw! Lonepaw! Lonepaw!"
'That's my name they're calling, I'm Lonepaw now,' He thought.
Fernpaw hared over to him. "Your an apprentice now! This is going to be great! We can hunt together and share prey and ..."
Fernpaw babbled, her eyes barely containing her pure joy. He stared at her, wondering what had come over him. It was like a wall had tumbled down inside him. Like he was now reunited with a part of him that he'd never knew was gone.
"And then we can-"
"Come on Fernpaw, I'm sure Lonepaw doesn't need all the details just yet." A friendly voice issued from behind him.
He turned look at his mentor. "I don't mind, I'll learn more this way."
Rabbitleap chuckled good-heartedly."That may be so, but I still need to show you the borders."
"Fernpaw could come with us!" Lonepaw blurted, "If that's okay with her mentor." He added hastily.
Rabbitleap sent a questioning look at Eyestorm, who was watching from near by.
She nodded approval.
"That's great!" Fernpaw bounced beside him. "Where was I ... that's right, and we can go to gatherings together and this is gonna be great!"
Fernpaw continued talking as they headed out of camp.
A/N:
Sorry for not updating sooner, I've been so busy with homework and school and other stuff. But I'm back now. Thanks Hunter for the review. Here, everyone can have my special allergy safe biscuits.