Chapter 13~ My new apprentice
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath the Clanrock for a clan meeting!" Cedarstar called across the bramble thicket that we called our home.
The recently apprenticed Brokenpaw was padding from the apprentices den, complaining to his brother, Runningpaw about how his mentor, Nightpelt, never teaches him any battle moves.
I rolled my eyes at the apprentice's whiny complaints. Nightkit's litter was being apprenticed, and I was hoping to be able to train one of them.
Once the clan was gathered, Cedarstar spoke again; his voice was booming and god-like.
"It is time for these three young sisters to become full apprentices in the eyes of forest cats, and of StarClan!"
The clan began to murmur excitedly, hoping to get chosen as a mentor. Cedarstar silenced them with a flick of his tail. He carried on.
"Darkkit, from this moment on, until you receive your warrior name, you shall be known as Darkpaw. Your mentor will be Clawface.
The two cats rushed forward to touch noses, and accept each other in the way of training. Cedarstar turned to Tallkit, and again bellowed, so that the entire clan could hear;
"Tallkit, from this moment on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Tallpaw. Your mentor will be Blackfoot!"
I jumped up. I hadn't really been expecting such an honor! I crept forward and quietly touched noses with her as the leader carried on to my favorite soon-to-be apprentice.
"Nightkit, from this moment on, until you receive your warrior name, you shall be known as Nightpaw. Your mentor will be Lizardstripe!"
My heart sank as the little black she-cat with the silver speckles ran over to touch noses with the mean-hearted Lizardstripe.
What would her new mentor put her through?
I shook my head. Lizardstripe is an experienced warrior, and she'll be able to offer great training to Nightpaw, who could really take anything thrown at her. Besides, I've got my own apprentice to worry about.
I looked down at Tallpaw, who was staring up at me excitedly.
Oh, yes, there was much training to be done.
I lead her out of camp to teach her some basic hunting skills.
"Keep very still, even out your weight to all four paws, so that prey will be oblivious to your coming." I mewed to her. She vainly flattened herself to the ground. "Like this?" she asked awkwardly. Her gait was crooked and she stumbled.
I sighed. "put your paws under your shoulders."
She corrected her posture and began walking easier. I slunk down beside her and whispered; "a lizard is just up ahead, try and catch it!" she nodded, looking very serious now, and began stalking forward. I walked with her and instructed her quietly.
"When you're ready to pounce, bunch up your ankles and the spring up, releasing the tension." She nodded again, and I let her take it by herself. She got up pretty close, but them when she pounced, she fell short and landed on the lizard's tail.
"I got it-ah!" she screamed as the tail broke off and writhed under her paws. I gave a huge leap and landed squarely on top of the small creatue before it could escape. I looked at Tallpaw. "They do that sometimes."
She was staring at me with awe. "How'd you do that!?" she asked, her eyes shining with admiration. I gave her a joking grin.
"With pure, awesome skills."
We laughed and made our way home.