Next chappie! YAY~!
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A New Day, A New Name
"WHAT?!" Burningkit exclaimed. He turned around, gaping in astonishment at the white warrior. "Why didn't you just say so in the first place?"
Crystalshard snorted and winked, "You were kind of in a grumpy mood. Besides, I kind of figgered that I'd wait until you'd calmed down a bit. I mean, growling at me like that won't catch prey, you know!"
Trying to contain his excitement, Burningkit breathed, "Yeah… right… sorry about that…"
"No problem, little man," Crystalshard purred. "But if you want to get there in time, you'd better hurry. Dreamstar told me earlier that it would be held at sundown, and twilight's nearly here."
"Well, come on then!" Faster than a thunderclap, the young tom raced as fast as he could to the camp.
"Hey!" Crystalshard laughed. "Wait for me!"
Burningkit didn't hear him. The kit sped through the underbrush, leaping over brambles and stumbling over tree roots. Falling leaves were kicked in the air as he ran, his tail swishing around eagerly in the prospect of his apprentice ceremony. As his eyes watered against the wind, Burningkit felt energy build up underneath his paws, begging to be released in his first day as an apprentice.
--
It seemed like forever for Burningkit, but at long last he could feel the mossy padding beneath his feet, indicating that the FrostClan camp was just beyond the thicker trees. With a rush, a jump, and a whoop of pure enthusiasm, the kit leaped into the camp, his thick, brown pelt rippling against the sky.
With a thud, he landed on top of a warrior who was sitting in a row of cats along the right half of the hollow. "Sorry," Burningkit mumbled as he stumbled into the middle of the FrostClan camp.
"Watch it, mousebrain!" the warrior hissed. Burningkit's heart did a quick back flip when he realized it was Falconcry, whose temper was unmatchable by any other cat in the entire valley. He could tell that she was barely restraining unsheathing her claws.
Burningkit smiled sheepishly and turned slowly around. He gaped. Almost all of the FrostClan cats were gathered below the Stonetree, staring at him.
From above, Burningkit heard a long, low yowl, like the sound of a badger moaning in pain. Dreamstar, on her thick, leaning branch of the Stonetree, was making the sound, her silver pelt sparkling with dampness and her dark stripes clashing against her sharp blue eyes. All the other cats returned the yowl, starting with Bluedawn, then Rosepetal, and finally progressing to the other cats who were all waiting for their leader to speak.
"Hello, Burningkit. I was beginning to think that you wouldn't show up." Dreamstar swished her long, furry tail with the slightest hint of impatience.
"I'm sorry Dreamstar," Burningkit panted, still exhilarated from his run.
Dreamstar, whose expression was unreadable, only meowed, "Come forth."
As Burningkit walked up the makeshift 'steps' of the Stonetree, he could feel a new light hit his back. The whole clearing was suddenly illuminated with a bright glow. Burningkit glanced up briefly to see a blue sky for the first time in his waking memory.
It's beautiful… he thought as he stood up before his leader. Towering above him like a MoonClan spirit, she boomed, "From this day forward, until he has earned his warrior name, this apprentice will be called Burningpaw."
With a thrill of happiness, Burningpaw felt the cold nose of his leader against his shoulder. The chills sent a new wave of ripples across his back.
"As for his mentor…" Dreamstar paused, stepping back a pace from the young tom. "I shall do it. It has been moons since I have taken on an apprentice, and something tells me that this one will need a little extra care." With a good natured grin, Dreamstar touched noses with Burningpaw.
Burningpaw had to breathe slowly to stifle a gasp of delight. Dreamstar, my new mentor? the young tom mentally gaped, absolutely gobsmacked. He, of all young cats, was going to be mentored by the noble leader of FrostClan.
"Burningpaw! Burningpaw!" the whole clan chanted, looking up at the small tom who, after much pain and sorrow, had become an apprentice at last.
"BURNINGPAW!" One cry was shouted above all others. Burningpaw turned to see Crystalshard coming in from the side of the clearing with sticks poking out of his pelt. Overjoyed at seeing his best friend over the low ridge, the newly-named apprentice ran towards him.
Crystalshard laughed as he was bowled over by Burningpaw. "I'm an apprentice!" he shouted, perking his ears up happily.
"Congratulations."
"Congrats!"
Burningpaw shimmied off of Crystalshard and looked at Dragonpaw and Littlepaw approaching him. Quickly turning back to face his companion, he gaped, "How'd you do it? I was starting to think that I'd never be apprenticed!"
Crystalshard sat up and mock-loftily meowed, "Yeah, well, I just gave her the ol' Crystalshard charm and she instantly agreed!" He puffed out his chest and posed in front of the young apprentices, making all three of them snicker.
"You were getting kind of old for the nursery," Dragonpaw meowed in her throaty voice. Her unpleasant yellowy eyes were flickering with pleasure. "You could say that I was looking forward to it, too."
"Why's that?" Burningpaw asked, curious to as what could make him sound as if he were wanted.
Littlepaw whispered shyly, "Well… we…"
"Aw, man! Your entry was BEAUTIFUL!" Dragonpaw interjected. "You flew in here! I mean, it looked as if you had suddenly sprouted wings! How'd you do that?"
Burningpaw was just about to answer his peer's eager question when he heard Dreamstar padding up to him. He turned around, dark eyes wide with a sudden pulse of fear, and quickly bowed his head in respect.
Dreamstar chuckled, "There's no need to be so formal, Burningpaw."
"There isn't?" The apprentice opened one eye to look up at his leader.
"I come to you right now as your mentor rather than clan leader. I only wanted to say that I expect to see you at first light by the camp entrance, so I can give you a tour of the territory. I'll educate you on the earth around us, and after a while we can perhaps do a little combat or hunting practice before dark." The silver tabby turned to look at her pupil. "Is that all right with you?"
Burningpaw wiggled with delight and bit his lip to restrain a giggle. He looked up at Dreamstar with large, excited eyes and stuttered, "Yes, ma'am!"
"Excellent," Dreamstar smiled. Her sharp eyes seemed to be just as confident as Burningpaw felt. In one fluid movement, she got up as a wave of silver and black and padded off to where Bluedawn sat discussing with the senior warriors.
"Anyway…" Dragonpaw beamed, "if you want to be rested for tomorrow, you'd better get a good night's sleep." Her auburn tail swished around happily, glowing like a brand of fire in the sun.
Burningpaw, grinning like an idiot, laughed, "All right! Time to go to the apprentices' den!" He quivered with delight. Apprentice. The word tasted so nice on his tongue, like the succulent flesh of a fresh-killed mouse.
As he raced towards his new place of sleep, Burningpaw bumped into Darkspirit, who was hovering by the apprentices' den entrance. Staring up into the eyes of his mother, he bid a quick, "Sorry, mom."
"So, you're going to sleep in the apprentices' den tonight?"
Burningpaw looked up at his mother, enthusiasm shining in his dark eyes. "Of course, mother. I'm an apprentice now!" He rubbed against his mother, who was as rigid as a tree trunk.
"I'm happy for you, son." Her voice sounded bitter.
Burningpaw took no heat of this. He raced into the den and jumped into a pile of old bedding.
The moss, though old, felt like down beneath his head. Burningpaw purred as he felt the cool dirt and moss beneath his pelt, absorbing some of the warmth of the setting sun.
"I see you've found Crystalshard's old bed," came a small, polite voice. Burningpaw sleepily opened one eye up to Littlepaw, who was entering the den with Dragonpaw. "Since he doesn't sleep there anymore, I'm sure that you can make a nest there."
Burningpaw didn't respond. He only closed his eyes again. His purring grew louder as he felt the warmth of Dragonpaw and Littlepaw's bodies snuggling close to him like a blanket of warmth over the chilly, approaching night.
Almost subconsciously, he noticed that the pain in his ear had vanished.
--
Things are looking up!
I've been looking the landscape over
And it's covered with four leaf clover,
Oh things are looking up
Since love looked up at me.
Bitter was my heart,
But no more will I be the mourner,
For I've certainly turned the corner.
Oh things are looking up
The lyrics are from the song "Things are Looking Up" from… some artist I don't know.
For the first time in about twenty bajillion years, I've finally found song lyrics for my story! YES! I also managed to write something happy, so I'm officially appeased. :3