Challenge #3 for forum BunnyClan

Royals

A young apprentice comes from a long line of losers. Every relative they can remember did something that the clan looked down upon. This apprentice wants to be leader.

Chapter 1

"Applekit, 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 Applepaw. Your mentor will be Rabbitfang. I hope Rabbitfang will pass down all he knows on to you." My eyes gleamed up to my leader, Lionstar.

"Rabbitfang, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have shown yourself to be honest and loyal. You will be the mentor of Applepaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to Applepaw." I leaned forward and touched noses with Rabbitfang.

"Applepaw! Applepaw!" The clan called my name as I stood next to my mentor and the other apprentices. Everyone started to disperse and I turned to Honeypaw but was cut short by Rabbitfang.

"Apprentices, come along, no time to socialize." He turned toward the exit and the mentors followed, with the apprentices, dragging behind.

"I can't believe you got Rabbitfang. He's one of the grumpiest senior warriors ever." Honeypaw came up behind me.

"I know, just my luck." I scuffed my paws in the leaves.

"Hey, cheer up Applepaw! At least you know you'll be trained by one of our best." Rosepaw walked up on my other side.

"One of the best? Your mentor is the deputy Rosepaw." I joked with her. We watched all the mentors converse before us. Specifically Wolfheart, the deputy, and Rabbitfang.

"I don't care what Rabbitfang makes me do. I'm going to be leader some day!" I puffed my chest out and stood tall.

"Hahaha, you? Leader?" Wasppaw turned his head to look over his shoulder as the three of us.

"You two come from a long line of disappointments, Applepaw." Ocelotpaw laughed with him. Honeypaw and I just looked at each other, before I slouched, looking at my paws.

"Just look at Morningfall, I heard she fell out of a tree when she was an apprentice, that's why she has the twisted foot." Wasppaw laughed.

"Yeah! I bet Acornslip has the crooked tail from stepping on it." Ocelotpaw sneered.

"Well with the way you two mousebrains are acting, you'll never be leaders, or deputies for that matter." Rosepaw hissed at them. Wasppaw and Ocelotpaw laughed at her attempt and kept walking without another word.

"Don't listen to those two you guys. Acornslip and Morningfall are great warriors, despite the rumors." Rosepaw tried to cheer us up.

"Just stop Rosepaw, you three have Lionstar and Dapplefeather. The best hunters and fighters in the clan!" Honeypaw hissed at her before running ahead to catch up with the rest of our patrol.

"I'm sorry Rosepaw. Honeypaw and I just hate getting glares from others just because were kin to Acornslip and Morningfall." I looked at her.

"Well that's dumb. You guys can't blame yourselves for the mistakes they've done. I completely believe you can be leader. You have to believe you can be leader too. I support you Applepaw." Rosepaw purred with happiness for me.

"You're right. I do believe I can be leader and I will! Come on. I'll race you." I took off toward Honeypaw, a little ways ahead of us. I could hear Rosepaw kicking up leaves behind me. She caught up with me easily and our fun was cut short as Rabbitfang appeared suddenly in front of us and we crashed into him.

"You both are no longer kits, you're apprentices, so act like it." As we got to our feet Wolfheart approached.

"No need to be so harsh Rabbitfang, it's their first day, they'll learn." Wolfheart eyed us as he turned to the other mentors, Emberstrike, Beetlestep, and Bluewhisker.

"This is the training clearing. This is where you'll learn all your fighting techniques." Wolfheart continued.

"Are we going to learn anything today?" Wasppaw got down on a basic crouch, eyeing up Ocelotpaw's tail.

"No. Today we are showing you Dawnclan's territory. Tomorrow we will train." Wolfheart instructed the eager tom. Wasppaw stood up from the crouch as we kept walking to the border of the clan once more.

"Do you smell that?" Wolfheart walked along what seemed to be a line of shadow going away from us.

"That's the stench of DuskClan." Rabbitfang seemed to spat across.

"DuskClan likes to start unnecessary fights. If you are to start a fight with them be sure to have a legitimate reason. The most of the time you can just send them off with a warning if they cross and report to me." Wolfheart explained to us.

"Those scum!" Wasppaw spat across as we continued walking.

"Hey, watch it kit!" A dark ginger tom came out of the shadows as he turned you could see large scar down his flank, his patrol followed him.

"He didn't mean it Redscar, it's their first day out." Wolfheart walked up to the warrior.

"Oh really?" Redscar eyed us all and I shivered from his glance.

"Apprentices, this is Redscar, DuskClan's deputy." Wolfheart introduced. We all stood there and didn't say a word.

"Redscar we should get going, it's already fairly past sunhigh." A delicate black she-cat stepped forward. A nervous young tom standing next to her, probably her apprentice.

"Watch your apprentices Wolfheart." Redscar turned away from us.

"Blackheart, and I plan on it Redscar" Wolfheart nodded politely to the she-cat before turning to leave as well.

"That was intense…" Ocelotpaw sighed.

"Is he always like that?" Rosepaw asked the warriors before us.

"Unfortunately yes, he's a big jerk to everyone. I don't know what Antstar see's in him." Flamewing commented.

"Isn't it obvious? Antstar is the same way." Emberstrike continued.

"Hmm, I wonder what happened to get his tail in a twist…" Honeypaw asked as the conversation died down.

"Don't know, maybe it's that long scar, whatever it is, it was something big." I suggested. We arrived to the other side of the border where there was a lot of commotion.

"This is a thunderpath, those big shiny things are monsters. You do not go near here usually, two-legs live on the other side." Wolfheart shouted above the noise. He motioned with his tail for us to follow him as we made our way back to camp.

"Our territory is so big?!" Rosepaw walked up next to me.

"I know! It's all going to be mine someday!" I smirked.

"Ha! Don't get your head stuck in the stars now." Rosepaw bumped into me gently. We walked into camp, Wolfheart immediately reporting back to Lionstar, walking over to Lionstar's den.

"I'm going to hit the moss. I'm exhausted." Honeypaw came up behind me.

"I think I'm going to join you, today's been nuts." I followed Honeypaw into the apprentice den where we made our nest real quick before curling up and sleeping the night away.

Chapter 2

1 Moon Later

"Again Applepaw!? How many times do I have to show you?" I pushed Wasppaw off me, getting to my feet once more. We both stepped out of the circle letting Emberstrike and Rabbitfang step forward again to demonstrate. Rabbitfang grabbed her by the shoulders and rolled to dizzy the opponent before kicking them away and finishing with a tackle.

"Again." Emberstrike shook her head clear from the rolling as Wasppaw and I stepped into the clearing. Wasppaw looked exhausted but over all, furious. He must be annoyed that I can't seem to get this move down and is the one playing bait.

I ran toward him, again digging my paws into his shoulder as I took him down into a roll. "You better get this right or you're crowfood." Wasppaw spat at me as we continued rolling. I hissed at him as i kicked him away. He was a bit slower, probably from doing it so much that I had time to run and finish it with a tackle, pinning him to the ground.

"Get off me kittypet!" He kicked my back feet from under me and flipped me off with his front paws.

"Wasppaw!" Emberstrike stepped forward, scolding her apprentice as he got up right away and left, Emberstrike following him. Rabbitfang stepped forward, looking down on me as I got up slowly.

"Get up. We're done for today." With that he turned and left. I hissed with frustration digging my claws into the ground with each step as I made my way back to camp, alone.

I walked into camp just as Lionstar was calling an announcement. "All those old enough to catch their own prey join me under the highstone." I looked for Rosepaw and Honeypaw as everyone trickled into the clearing.

"There has been sightings of DuskClan patrols going over our border stealing food, because of this we are going to up our patrols to four times a day instead of just two. If you run into a DuskClan cat, teach them a lesson about stealing." Lionstar instructed. He leaped down from the tall rock, signaling the end of the announcement.

"Applepaw, Rabbitfang would like you to go on a patrol." Wolfheart, and Rosepaw walked over to me.

"Is he not joining us?" I asked, standing to follow him.

"No, Rabbitfang went to lay down." Wolfheart said simply. That's odd I thought following him out of camp.

"Hey. Hows your training going?" Rosepaw walked beside me as we followed Wolfheart,

"Not so good. I can't seem to get the moves down as fast as Rabbitfang or even Wasppaw would like." I shared with her.

"This stuff just takes practice you know?" Rosepaw attempted to cheer me up.

"Wasppaw even used a move I haven't even learned yet! He's a natural, that little fleabrain…" I growled.

"Don't let Wasppaw get to you. He's starting to turn into those blood thirsty warriors, like Redscar. You can just tell, he's scary good." Rosepaw whispered to me.

"Take your time learning the moves Applepaw, it's not a competition." Wolfheart turned to the two of us.

"I'll have a word with Rabbitfang about his training methods, don't worry." Wolfheart marked the border and we walked a circle back to camp.

"See? Wolfhearts' got it covered." Rosepaw smiled as we both walked into camp behind Wolfheart.

Chapter 3

2 Moons Later

"Excellent Applepaw!" I stood above Ocelotpaw, the both of us out of breath, but I had won. I got off him quick before he could kick me off and he glared at me as Rabbitfang came over to congratulate me.

"We need to work on your speed a bit more but we can be done for today." Wasppaw and Ocelotpaw were whispering to each other as we left the clearing. Rabbitfang talked about what he wanted to teach me next but was cut short as Honeypaw thundered toward us.

"Rabbitfang! Rabbitfang! DuskClan patrol! Starting a fight!" Honeypaw came to a stop, catching her breath.

"Who's with you?" Rabbitfang confronted her.

"Wolfheart, Beetlestep, Rosepaw…follow me." She turned tail and headed back where she came and we followed. We came into a clearing where Wolfheart and Redscar were at each other's throats. Rosepaw was battling another apprentice that didn't stand a chance but she let him go with barely a scratch. The same black she-cat from before tackled Rosepaw after scaring away the apprentices.

"Rosepaw!" I bolted it and grabbed Blackheart by the shoulders with my claws, dragging her off.

"Go high, I'll go low." I told Rosepaw who was at my side right away. I went first sliding under Blackheart, knocking her back legs from under her and Rosepaw leaped over me, pinning Blackheart down. I saw Rosepaw dig her claws into her shoulders and Blackheart hissed with defeat and pain.

We let her go, chasing her across the border, and out of the corner of my eyes I saw Beetlestep and Wolfheart chase Redscar off our territory.

"Rosepaw, that surprise leap was fantastic." Rabbitfang confronted the two of us.

"It was all Applepaw's plan Rabbitfang, I just followed her orders." Rosepaw glanced at me.

"Nice job Applepaw." Rabbitfang had a proud look in him.

"Rabbitfang! Wolfheart is injured!" Beetlestep called from the clearing. Rabbitfang looked shocked as he ran toward the fallen warrior. Wolfheart was on his side, one of his paws bleeding and missing fur.

"I'm fine Beetlestep!" Wolfheart tried to get to his paws but his one leg buckled, making him almost fall on his face.

"Redscar mangled my paw. I need to get to Willowroot, Rabbitfang let me lean on your shoulder." Rabbitfang rested his shoulder underneath Wolfheart's shoulder and we hobbled to camp.

"Honeypaw, Beetlestep, go inform Willowroot." Rabbitfang ordered. The two cats left our sides, running ahead. Eventually we made it to camp where Willowroot was pacing in front of the entrance.

"Wolfheart! Oh my StarClan! What did you do to your paw?!" Willowroot looked it over and the rest of us.

"Redscar is what happened." Wolfheart sighed.

"There's a new moss nest already for you. Come along." Rosepaw and I followed our mentors as they walked into the Medicine Den. We watched from the entrance as Rabbitfang lowered himself to lower Wolfheart and stepped aside as Willowroot got to work.

"Redscar has really outdone himself this time, you won't be able to walk for quite some time and this will definitely scar." Willowroot observed. Lionstar walked into the Medicine Den, eyeing up Wolfheart.

"Will you be able to do your Deputy duties?" He asked as Wolfheart attempted to stand, against Willowroot's pleas for him to lay down.

"Of course Lionstar." Wolfheart nodded to the golden leader.

"What about your apprentice?" Rabbitfang asked.

"Oh Rosepaw…" Wolfheart looked crushed that he didn't think of his apprentice.

"I will take care of Rosepaw. You take care of yourself Wolfheart." Lionstar stood walking out of the den. Rosepaw and I scampered away from the entrance and sat at attention.

"Rosepaw, until Wolfheart is able to walk again your mentor is going to be Flamewing. I suggest you share the news with him right away." Lionstar instructed Rosepaw.

"Is he…" Rosepaw asked, her tail twitching.

"He's going to be fine, a little sore for awhile, but he's okay." Lionstar seemed to soften a little as he assured Rosepaw. Lionstar got up to leave and I turned to Rosepaw.

"Why did Redscar's patrol attack?" I questioned her.

"That mousebrained apprentice was over our border, hunting for prey! Wolfheart confronted him and was just going to escort him to the border when Redscar came out of nowhere tackling Wolfheart. He kept shouting that we were taking the apprentice as hostage. It was crazy Applepaw."

"Well I'm glad you're okay." I said to her.

"Thanks Applepaw…"

Chapter 4

2 Moons Later

"Faster Rosepaw!" I stared Rosepaw down, we were both out of breath and tired but Wolfheart wouldn't let up. Ever since Lionstar had finally let him leave the camp and go back to his duties, he's had a burr in his pelt.

"Wolfheart, she did it perfectly." Rabbitfang tried to negotiate.

"Don't tell me how to train my apprentice!" He snapped. Rabbitfang backed away, this was the first time I've seen him be surprised or shocked. I could tell he wanted to snap back but didn't say anything as he motioned for me to continue.

I ran at Rosepaw, feeling sorry as I tackled her onto her back. In a single second she kicked my legs out under me and flipped me over her shoulders. She didn't even need to pin me as I knew I was done for today.

"That's what I'm talking about!" Wolfheart stood to congratulate his apprentice. Rosepaw and Wolfheart we already starting to walk away when I stood.

"You alright?" Rabbitfang watched from the edge of the clearing. Another first, him showing sympathy for me.

"I'll be okay, but there's only so many times you can be thrown in the air." I joked walking over to him.

"I knew Wolfheart was in the camp for too long. He thinks he hasn't been there for his clan and has to push himself and others to get the clan back where it was. Do you remember when you first became an apprentice?" Rabbitfang looked over at me. I was almost his height now and the thought of day one of being an apprentice felt like ages ago.

"I said I wasn't going to let the names of Acornslip and Morningfall define me, by becoming leader." I told him.

"That's right and even though others may not believe it, I see it in you. You're an excellent fighter, hunter, and friend, to those who don't even want you as one." I could tell he meant every word.

"Like Wasppaw…" I hissed.

"Wasppaw is a good fighter, but that's about it." Rabbitfang joked. We walked into camp where Lionstar was calling for an announcement.

"All those old enough to catch prey join me under the tallstone." Leopardclaw's kits came stumbling out of the nursery in excitement for an announcement with Leopardclaw following and everyone else trickled into the center of camp.

"Duskclan scents have been found more frequently on our side. We are going to put an end to this nonsense tomorrow, right at dawn. We are going to ambush the Duskclan camp and show them we mean business. They do not stand a chance against our great clan!" Lionstar stood proud as everyone cheered with acceptance.

"You're ready for this Applepaw, don't worry." Rabbitfang told me before he left my side to go talk to Wolfheart.

"I don't know about this Applepaw…" Rosepaw walked up next to me.

"You guys excited?" Honeypaw appeared right after.

"I'm excited, and Rabbitfang just told me that he thinks I'm ready, but you guys promise to be careful though right?" I asked the both of them.

"Of course we will Applepaw and Beetlestep told me the same thing." Honeypaw told me.

"Wolfheart told me I act like I have four left paws…" Rosepaw sighed.

"Don't listen to him Rosepaw, he's just mad he's been stuck in camp for so long. You're a great fighter!" I attempted to cheer her up. "Thanks Applepaw…"

"We should go to sleep early, big day tomorrow!" We followed Honeypaw to our den where Rosepaw and I gladly fell asleep early.

"DuskClan! DuskClan in camp!" My eyes flew open to paws thundering outside our den.

"They attacked first!" Wasppaw shot out of the den and we all followed. Shrieks and howls exploded in the camp as cat hit cat.

I found Rosepaw right away, fighting two warriors at once, but I could tell she was struggling. I tackled one of the warriors in attempt for her to focus on one. The bigger ginger she-cat hissed and growled at me as I pinned her down. She kicked and trashed about, but that didn't stop me from racking my claws on her stomach. She eventually found a hole and kicked me off.

"You ruthless DawnClan!" She hissed, getting to her paws. I got a good swipe across her muzzle, almost knocking her down again, but she caught herself. I let her go as she turned away, shooting me a glare first. Claws hit my flank and I hissed with pain as I turned toward a black tom with white paws. He started to back away when I turned to him, he looked terrified.

I swiped at him, purposely missing as his eyes got wider and wider with each swipe. I jumped toward him and he sprinted away. "He fights like a kittypet" I purred.

"Applepaw! Help!" I turned to the shout and saw Honeypaw struggling under a bigger grey tom. I barreled into him, scratching pelt any time I could. He was vicious, as he threw me off of him and pounced on me, kicking Honeypaw away in the process. I watched Honeypaw hit a rock next to us and lay still.

I cried out in anguish and glared at him. "Oh? Did I hurt your little friend?" He teased. I was smaller then him and wiggled out of his grasp to be completely under him where I kicked straight up using my claws. Doing so I somehow kicked him off me and he fell over, vibrating the ground around me with the fall. I raked my claws against his sides, running around him as fast as I could. He stood up slowly, looking me over. He acted like his pelt wasn't even bloody.

"Lionstar! It's Wolfheart!" I turned the slightest to see Rabbitfang stand over the fallen body of Wolfheart, who was scaringly still. That was a mistake as I felt the full force of claws rake against the side of my head. I fell on my side from the blow and awaited the tom to pounce on me, but he never came. I looked over and Rabbitfang had him pinned, his claws kneading into his shoulder.

"Don't you dare touch our future deputy!" He hissed at him.

"Retreat DuskClan! Retreat!" Antstar called from the entrance. Rabbitfang let him go and he left along with the rest of DuskClan.

"Are you okay? Did he do that too you?" Rabbitfang stood over me, seeing the scratches on my face.

"Yes, but I'll be okay." I told him. Honeypaw walked up to us.

"Thanks for saving my tail out there." She purred with laughter.

"Yeah, mine too." Rosepaw came up next to us.

"All those able, please join me under the tallstone." The three of us gasped at the sight of Lionstar standing over the fallen body of Wolfheart.

"Applepaw. Step forward." Lionstar called me forward. I looked at Rabbitfang who nodded for me to continue. I sat before Lionstar, next to Wolfheart.

"I, Lionstar, leader of Dawnclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn." Lionstar paused, watching over the clan.

"Applepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" He finally asked me.

"I do."

"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Applepaw, from this moment you will be known as Appleblossom. Starclan honors your quick thinking and bravery, and we welcome you as a full warrior of DawnClan." He rested his head on mine and I licked his shoulder shortly after.

"I say these words before Starclan, which the spirit of Wolfheart may hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of DawnClan is Appleblossom."

"Appleblossom! Appleblossom!" The clan shouted my name and I stood tall before them.

"We will now sit vigil for Wolfheart." Everyone slowly stepped forward, surrounding Wolfheart.

Chapter 5

1 moon later

"Waspgaze! Ocelottooth! Rosebreeze! Honeynose!" I watched the four of them stand tall, looking over the clan.

"Appleblossom can I have a word with you?" Willowroot approached me after the clan went on with their duties.

"Of course Willowroot." With a flick of her tail I followed her to her den where we sat in the sweet smelling aroma of the herbs.

"It's Lionstar, he's developed greencough. He never came to me before now and it looks bad Appleblossom. I don't think he has much longer." Willowroot suggested.

"What do you mean? He didn't cough once during the ceremonies?" I can't believe Lionstar would do this to himself.

"That's because I gave him catmint before he gave the announcement. He's coughing in his den now, herbs can only do so much." We sat in silence for awhile as we thought it over.

"What does this mean?" I finally asked her.

"It means we wait and see, I was just warning you for the tough times ahead." Willowroot stood up.

"Thank you Willowroot." I stood with her.

"I'm going to check on him now." She walked past me, leaving me in her den where I walked out to be greeted by Rosebreeze.

"What was that about?" She asked. "You aren't expecting are you?" She backed away looking me over.

"What? No!" I glared at her. She walked back up to me with a mighty purr of laughter.

"Want to go for a walk? Since were both warriors now and we can do that?" She asked

"Yes actually. I need to stretch my legs." I followed her out of the camp and into the brisk leafbare forest.

"Are patrols finding enough prey?" I spoke to myself really, smelling the air around us.

"Hey, stop being the deputy for one second and instead, be my friend." Rosebreeze pushed me playfully.

"Fine, fine and I'm sorry." I pushed her back.

"Was the meeting you had with Willowroot about Lionstar? I heard him coughing pretty bad when we left." Rosebreeze looked over at me as I kept looking at my paws.

"Yes. He has greencough and he's on his last life. I'm sorry Rosebreeze." I looked over at her and she was looking at her paws this time.

"He's basically an elder, that's how long he's been leader, so it makes sense that whitecough and greencough would affect him so much." Rosebreeze told me.

"I wanted to be a medicine cat apprentice for awhile, but then Waspgaze and Ocelottooth convinced me not to." Rosebreeze replied to my staring.

"You can still be Willowroot's apprentice. She'd appreciate it, otherwise one of Leopardclaw's kits will probably become medicine cat apprentice." I informed her.

"Are you sure?" Rosebreeze turned to me hopeful.

"Of course I'm sure. I mean, if I was leader I'd let you. You'd just be put back on apprentice duties. Let me talk to Willowroot when we get back." I told her.

"Thanks Appleblossom, honestly." We walked through the bare forest, jumping for the leaves still on the branches and racing around the border. As the sun came down we walked into camp, and Willowroot approached me.

"Lionstar has passed. I think you should make the announcement." I nodded to Willowroot before turning to Rosebreeze who was watching Dapplefeather, Waspgaze, and Ocelottooth as they shared tongues.

"They have no idea." She said simply before walking over to them. I walked to the tallstone and looked it over. So many leaders have stood upon this stone, now it's my turn. I jumped, easily, onto the top of the stone. Wrapping my tail around my paws as I sat calmly before them, I spoke.

"All those old enough to catch their own prey, join me under the tall stone."