*Drum Roll* This is what you've finally been waiting for! Shatterpad's POV! *noise maker, confetti streamers, amazing music* ON WITH THE SHOW!
Chapter 10: The Ceremony
Shatterpad awoke to the sound of her mother' voice crying out in the clearing. "Let all cats old enough to kill dogs gather under Bloodrock. Kits as well."
Did I hear her right? Kits too? She thought as she, groggily, got to her paws. The other kits had heard as well, and started to race out of the den before she could even stand up all the way. Lynxpad ran into her right side, and she lurched left, right into the incoming Blazepad. She was knocked off her paws, and became tangled with Dewpad.
"Ahh! Hey, watch it!" he spat, untangling himself and pushing off of her stomach to catch up with the others. She let out an 'oof' as his paws dug into her abdomen, knocking the air out of her. She rolled onto her side, gasping for air.
She suddenly felt a body press against her, helping her to her paws and blocking the river of kits pouring out of the den. She looked into the ice blue eyes of Stonepad. She felt her paws growing warm from embarrassment. "Um…Thanks." She stammered. Nice comeback, mousebrain. Act normal! He's just a cat. A really nice, handsome-
Stonepad smiled, and then frowned. "Isn't Dewpad, Blazepad, Kestrelpad, and Ridgepad a moon or so younger than us? We're six moons…"
Shatterpad shrugged. "Well, we are about to fight in a war. We'll need all the paws we can get!"
He flashed his smooth, heart-melting grin. "Yeah. I guess you're right. We should probably get to the meeting. Your mom wouldn't be happy if we're late."
"Yeah. Right, let's go." Smooth, Shatterpad. A real tom-getter.
The two bounded out of the den, padding to go sit with the other kits. Scarletpad sat off to the side, shifting from paw to paw. The newest ones, Robinpad and Sunpad, were quiet. She could smell a hint of fear-scent on their pelts as they shot quick, nervous glances at their mother, who bore long, deep wounds on her chest and back. Her pelt was thinning, and matted with dried blood. Darkshard had deemed Sand, now known as Sandwhisper, worthy of a warrior after she was forced to battle Bracken. Bracken was ruthless, but the she-cat fought with the strength and determination of ten cats, only because her kits' lives were on the line. There could be no bad blood in the clan.
The two intruders had been let out of the holder as well. Coldbreeze, now Colddusk, was cleaning his whiskers, swiping off bits of rat that had gotten on them. Brightflame, now Flamewhisper, sat next to him, eating a skinny crow. A few other previous loners, Duskpatch, Duskraven, Twilightwhisper, Tanglewhisper, Duskowl, and Dusktiger sat next to Sandwhisper. Barley still sat in the Twoleg holder. Shatterpad could count every one of his ribs through is dulling pelt. His eyes were sunken in, and his stomach was laced with bright, angry red scars. Shatterpad turned, seeing Ashface next to the other Unchoosens, ears flat and eyes averted. Her missing clump of fur showed deep claw marks, and she also wore battle wounds, but unlike the others, she was not victorious.
Ashface looked at Shatterpad for a brief moment. Frowning, Shatterpad felt her head tilt a little. She couldn't place the emotion in the she-cat's eyes, but it was mesmerizingly heartbreaking.
With a flick of Darkshard's tail, the chattering of the kits quieted. The sudden silence broke the spell. Shatterpad snorted toward the she-cat, and looked up at her mother.
"Kits, today is the day when you will start your training." Excited whispers started rising up among the kits. Her mother continued. "You will be given a name and a mentor."
The ceremony went agonizingly slow for Shatterpad, who was the last to receive her name. First, Lynxpad was named Lynxbreeze, and was apprenticed to Silver. Wolfclaw got Chill. Dewclaw received Russet. Ridgebreeze is mentored by Eclipse. Sunclaw was given to Tanglewhisper and Robinbreeze got Twilightwhisper. Kestrelbreeze was mentored by Bracken. Stoneclaw was apprenticed by Cinder. Swiftbreeze was mentored by Duskpatch. Mistbreeze was given to Duskowl, and Blazeclaw got Dusktiger. Scarletbreeze was given to Duskraven. Finally, her mother called her name.
"Shatterpad, please join me on the Bloodrock."
The kit scrambled up the rocks, excitement and fear crashing through her veins. Her mother's eyes scanned the clearing, before settling on the cat who would be her mentor. Shatterpad quivered, attempting to follow her mother's gaze.
"Shatterpad, you'll be known as Shatterbreeze, and be mentored by…"
Shatterbreeze closed her eyes, a smile plastered on her face.
"Colddusk."
The smile disappeared.
