Hello all! I know I always take forever to update, but bear with me, please. No one correctly guessed the trivia, so I will keep up for one more chapter. Anyway, here is chapter six!
"Hey Beechkit!" Beechkit looked away from the glowing form of the newly-named Sweetdapple as Swankit gently nudged her with a forepaw. The young white-and-black tom's amber eyes shone with excitement.
He almost looks more excited than I am! Beechkit thought, nervously sheathing and unsheathing her claws as Sweetdapple padded away from the Tallrock and met Goldwhisker and Rabbittail, the calls of her new name slowly dying away.
"Yes, Swankit?" Beechkit whispered as Leafstar opened his jaws to make a second announcement to the Clan.
"I just wanted to say-"
"Beechkit, Cherrykit, Fishkit, Claykit, please step forward." Leafstar called, silencing the Clan completely as the four kits bounded forward.
"Good luck!" Swankit called softly after her. Beechkit flicked her tail to show she had heard, and followed after her littermates as they raced to stand in a line before Tallrock, eyes shining and tails twitching impatiently.
"These kits have reached the age of six moons, so it is now time to welcome four new apprentices to WindClan." Leafstar meowed. Beechkit felt as if she had a hundred flies buzzing within her as Leafstar cleared his throat to continue with the ceremony.
"Fishkit, from now until you join the ranks of our warriors, you shall be known as Fishpaw. Russetrose, you are a senior warrior, and a wonderful asset to WindClan. I trust that you will pass on your skill to your new apprentice."
Beechkit could feel the joy flying off her sister's pelt as the russet she-cat padded to the front of the camp, a look of surprise flickering behind her eyes.
I thought Leafstar always told the mentors before the ceremony. Beechkit thought silently. It looks like Russetrose had no clue she was about to become a mentor.
Fishpaw stretched upward to touch noses with her new mentor, and the two she-cats padded to sit out of the way of the remainder of the ceremony.
"Claykit, from this moment forward, until you earn your true, warrior name, you shall be known as Claypaw. Skinktooth will pass on all he knows to you." Leafstar meowed.
Unlike Russetrose, Skinktooth looked as if he had been aware of the ceremony, and of the fact that he was now a mentor. The skinny black tom's eyes shone with excitement as he touched noses with his nervous apprentice.
"Beechkit," Beechkit jumped in surprise as her name echoed through the hollow. "From this moment forward, until you prove yourself as a warrior of WindClan, you shall be known as Beechpaw." Beechpaw felt herself swell with pride as Leafstar announced her new name; her apprentice name.
"Crowleap, you have proven your loyalty and dedication to this Clan many times over, and it is my hope that you pass on these qualities, and well as your skills, to your apprentice."
Beechpaw felt nervousness pricking at her paws as she watched Crowleap pad to the front of the Clan, his amber gaze fixed on her as he approached. She closed her eyes and gently bumped noses with the long-haired grey tom, then followed after him to sit beside Fishpaw and Claypaw.
"And finally, Cherrykit. Cherrykit, from now until I name you a warrior of WindClan, you shall be known as Cherrypaw. I have led this Clan for many seasons, and I feel that it is time for me to once again take an apprentice. I will mentor you, Cherrypaw." Leafstar meowed, leaping down from the Tallrock to touch noses with the young white she-cat.
Beechpaw felt her chest twist with jealousy as Cherrypaw shot a smug grin toward her littermates as the Clan began calling out their names.
Stuck-up furball! Beechpaw spat silently.
"Cherrypaw! Fishpaw!"
"Beechpaw! Claypaw!"
Despite Cherrypaw's actions, Beechpaw couldn't help but feel an overwhelmingly powerful surge of pride as the Clan yowled her name to the sky, telling StarClan of their good fortune.
"Are you going to show us the territory?" Fishpaw asked, leaping to her paws as the cries of the Clan died down. Before Russetrose could answer, Leafstar leaped back onto the Tallrock and waved his tail for complete silence.
"This meeting is not yet over! We still have to discuss battle against RiverClan!" Leafstar yowled.
Beechpaw could hear surprised murmurs and delighted hisses ripple through the assembled cats as Leafstar announced the battle. Near the back of the crowd, Beechpaw saw Wolfkit and Alderkit exchange excited glances, while Charbreeze shot a troubled toward Crowleap.
"RiverClan's actions toward us cannot go unpunished. Stealing kits and herbs is against the warrior code. On the next no moon, we will attack RiverClan's camp and take back the herbs which are rightfully ours." Leafstar growled.
"Leafstar is right." Beechpaw turned in surprise at the sound of her father's voice. "RiverClan must be repaid for their wrongs. We'll need to work much more on battle training."
Leafstar nodded. "Foxflame will be in charge of the battle training. We must be prepared to fight. Every car will play a role in this attack."
Beechpaw blinked in horror and exchanged a worried look with Claypaw.
Every cat? How are we supposed to survive a battle, if we couldn't even avoid capture by RiverClan?
Trivia: Who is Leafstar's daughter?
Whoever gets it right will get a shout out in the next chapter!
