Chapter Six
Hhheeeyyyy ppl, sorry it took me so long to update, I was lazy and didn't feel like typing! :D
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The Clan gathered beneath the giant tree where Stormstar had his den. Above was the branch where he addressed the clan. Rainkit maneuvered through the crowd, settling down next to Amberleaf and Lilykit. She craned her neck, trying to get a better view of what was happening. Stormstar waved his tail commandingly, and the cats below fell silent.
"Cats of ShadowClan!" Stormstar's voice echoed across the clearing. "I am pleased to announce that Cinderstorm and Squirrelfoot's kits have reached six moons, and are ready to start their apprenticeship. Owlkit, Sandkit, and Duskkit, please come forward."
The clan cheered as the three young cats nervously shuffled forward. Stormstar jumped down from the High Branch, and walked up to them.
"Sandkit," he meowed. The ginger tom seemed to shrink in his pelt and his eyes darted around wildly.
Is he nervous? Rainkit thought. Sandkit had seemed to be the most self-assured out of his littermates, but looking at him now, Rainkit could tell he was having some doubts. She caught his eye and nodded encouragingly. He straightened up, and moved closer. Stormstar touched her shoulder with his tail.
"Until the day you receive your warrior name," Stormstar continued, "You will be known as Sandpaw. Morningbreeze, you will be mentor to Sandpaw." A dusky brown she-cat with ice-blue eyes stepped out. As the two touched noses, Rainkit saw Sandpaw's blue eyes gleam. Stormstar moved on.
"Duskkit," the ShadowClan leader mewed, resting his tail on her shoulder. The black she-cat quivered in excitement. "Until the day you receive your warrior name, you shall be named Duskpaw. Pebblefur, you have not yet had an apprentice, but I trust you will train Duskpaw well."
He's going to have his paws full with her! Rainkit laughed silently as the pale gray tom stepped forward to touch noses with Duskpaw, a look of pleasant surprise on his face.
"And finally, Owlkit." Stormstar turned to face the mottled brown tom, now standing alone. Owlkit stared evenly at the ShadowClan leader as the grey-and-white tom touched his tail to his shoulder. "Until you become a warrior, you will be called Owlpaw. Your mentor will be Thornfang." As Owlpaw went to touch noses with Thornfang, a huge golden tabby with amber eyes, Rainkit thought he never looked happier.
"Duskpaw! Owlpaw! Sandpaw! Duskpaw! Owlpaw! Sandpaw!" the clan yowled in celebration. Cinderstorm and Squirrelfoot rushed over to their sons and daughter, eyes shining in pride.
"Oh, my precious kits! You are going to be amazing!" Squirrelfoot purred happily, moving to give them affectionate licks.
"Ugh, don't! We're not kits anymore!" Duskpaw complained, ducking away from her mother's tongue. Cinderstorm's eyes softened.
"You'll always be our kits." he reminded them. Rainkit dashed up to them.
"Congratulations!" she squealed. "How does it feel?" Owlpaw's green eyes glowed.
"Great!" Owlpaw turned to his mentor, Thornfang, who was approaching with Morningbreeze and Pebblefur. "Are we going on a tour of the territory?" he asked. Pebblefur nodded. "We sure are, as soon as Stormstar ends the meeting."
Stormstar had been watching quietly while the clan was crowding the new apprentices, but now he climbed back onto the branch, and meowed for attention.
"Now that the main purpose of this meeting is over, I want to ask the border patrols for updates." Amberleaf stood up.
"RiverClan hasn't been causing too much trouble, but we have noticed them using the half-bridge for fishing." A cat in the back yowled.
"Those fish-munchers know all the noise they make scares our prey off!" There were grumbles of agreement from the clan, but Stormstar raised his tail for silence.
"I will mention that at the next Gathering. For now, try to warn them off if you see them doing it. What about ThunderClan?" This time, Mudstripe spoke.
"We know they've been giving us trouble lately. And we caught ThunderClan scent markers on our side of the border again while we were hunting. Robinstar is making it pretty clear how badly she wants more territory." he finished, mentioning the ThunderClan leader.
Rainkit's pelt bristled as angry caterwauls split the air.
"Greedy snakes!"
"They need to be taught a lesson!"
"We should attack them now!"
"Enough!" Stormstar roared, blue eyes flickering angrily. "I told Robinstar at the last Gathering, and I will say it again now. ShadowClan will cede no territory to ThunderClan. However, we will not fight them. Not yet. The meeting is over"
"He said not yet." Lilykit gave a small jump of excitement as the cats dispersed, still agitated. "That means we're still going to fight!"
Rainkit frowned at Lilykit's battle-hunger.
I hope not! I really do.
"Dark times are coming." Rainkit whirled around to see Sweetflower sitting behind her, muttering to herself. "This is just the beginning. I only hope not too much blood is shed."
Blood! Rainkit shivered as she remembered her dream. Sweetflower shot Rainkit a worried glance, then quickly padded off to her den. Rainkit was soon alone in the clearing.
How much does she know? And what does she know? Rainkit wondered, her heart racing, suddenly frightened of what was yet to come.
So, how was it? Did you like it? Good! :D I might be able to post one more chapter before August 2nd, if not, thats when I'm going on vacation for a week, so expect a little wait. Okay, so R&R, don't flame, wait for chapter 7! XOXO, byyyyyeee