Chapter 23

Snowpaws POV

As we walked toward the Starpool I took in the smells around me. Then the smell of other clan cats caught my nose. Turning my head I saw Waterpaw with Reedwhisker from Fireclan, next I saw Stormflower with Acornpaw from Duskclan, and lastly I saw Rootspot who nodded and smiled at me then Ravenfeather who just looked away and walked on. Letting out a purr I walked u over to Waterpaw and Acornpaw who were talking about herbs and other stuff. "Hey." I called out as I neared them. Turning their heads they smiled and answered "hey I heard you are getting your full name today." Surprise overwhelmed me. "What, where did you hear that?" I asked as they gestured their heads toward the older cats. "We heard them talking and then Spottedpelt said you were getting your full name today." Nodding as a smile stretched across my face.

Once we got there Spottedpelt turned toward me and started the ceremony. "I Spottedpelt medicine cat of Moonclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of a medicine cat and with your help will serve his Clan for many moons to come. Snowpaw, do you promise to uphold the ways of a medicine cat, to stand apart from rivalry between Clan and Clan and to protect all cats equally, even at the cost of your life?" "I do." "Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your true name as a medicine cat. Snowpaw, from this moment you will be known as Snowshine. Starclan honors you for your kindness and your bravery, and we welcome you as a full medicine cat." Spottedpelt rested her muzzle on the top of my head as I licked her shoulder in respect. I could here the other cats chant my new name. "Snowshine! Snowshine!"

Happiness shown through me as I lay down and began to dream. Wisped away into darkness I fell into a sleep that was quickly woken up by a blinding light. Sitting up I saw cats around me. My head seemed to swirl. I was a full medicine cat now. Stuck in my thoughts until I heard Stonestars voice break in. "Hello there, so you're finally a full medicine cat. Well this is not my place so I will let Featherheart take over." I saw a gray she-cat walk towards me "Thank you Stonestar. Hello my name is Featherheart I was the medicine cat before Spottedpelt. I have a message for you the long lived herb cat soon will fall ." Nodding as the cats faded.

Standing up as other cats around me woke up. Feathetpelts words buzzed in my head like an angry bee. I decided I would tell Spottedpelt when we got home. As we walked I was eager to run so I could tell her sooner, but I stayed behind next to Ravenfeather. We talked a little and he congratulated me on receiving my full name. Other than that he didn't seem like he liked to talk a lot. In my early apprentice days I had learned he lost his father before he was born and he had watched his mom dye of a snake bite when he was an apprentice. So far he had a tough life. I felt bad for him and I could tell he didn't want to talk about it. For the first time I found out about his history and I had asked he nearly ripped my head off. From that day I learned to be careful for what I said to him.

As we neared the place where we separated I nuzzled the other cats before charging home. As I raced into the camp I was dead tired and I had won the race that we always had coming home. I had decided I would tell her tomorrow. Walking toward the den I curled up in my nest and went into a deep sleep.

Wavepaws POV

As light came into where I was asleep I woke up and let out a groan. I was still tired from the battle yesterday, but then I remembered I was going hunting today. Jumping out of bed I woke up Skypaw and Pinepaw.

I walked outside followed by Skypaw and Pinepaw who were both still half asleep. I went to find Nightstar. I found him in the medicine cats den saying good morning to Rainstorm who was healing well now. Calling Nightstar we padded out into the woods. I stopped all of a sudden, I had heard a raven. As it flew away I jumped up into the air and caught it swiftly coming down I snapped its neck. Nightstar sat there with a proud look on his face. Then with his tail he pointed to a squirrel. Spinning around I pounced on it and with a clean bite to the neck it went limp in my paws. Looking up at my father he nodded his approval. "At this rate you'll be a warrior in no time!" he commented. I buried my kills and we continued through the forest.

Stopping at the training clearing we started to do some battle training. "We will start with the back kick. This move is an explosive surprise move to catch opponent from behind. Judge opponent's distance from you carefully, then lash out with your back legs, taking your weight on your front paws." Nodding I tried it out on Nightstar. Doing what I was told it took a couple of tries, but I finally got it. "Next we will try the belly rake it's a fight-stopper. Slice with unsheathed claws across soft flesh of opponent's belly. If you're pinned down, the belly rake quickly puts you back in control." Jumping at my dad he pinned me down, but using the belly rake with my claws sheathed I took control again. "Wow, you catch on quickly. We have three more moves today. How about the front paw blow. It's a Frontal attack. Bring your front paw down hard on your opponent's head. Claws sheathed. For my sake do it lightly." Nodding I leaped at him with all my might using what he told me I did it perfectly on my first try. "Next is not very hard it's called the Front paw strike. It's another Frontal attack. Slice downward with your front paw at the body or face of your opponent. Claws unsheathed." This time without hesitation I leapt at him taking him down and with my claws sheathed I clawed at his body and face with both paws. Getting up he continued his lesson "This will be the last move you will learn today its called leap-and-hold. It's Ideal for a small cat facing a large opponent. Spring onto your opponent's back and grip with unsheathed claws. Be careful and watch for the drop-and-roll countermove, and try to jump free before you get squashed." Thinking for a second I attacked all of a sudden and used all the moves he had taught me.

Jumping out of battle I had a nic in my right ear and a small scratch on my leg. Sitting next to Nightstar I tried to catch my breath. Glancing over to him I saw he had a scratch on his stomach and two on his side then one near his tail. I sat there laughing. He looked at me and asked "what are you laughing about?" "This, I mean it's not even a battle and I got my first battle scars. I just thought it was funny is all." Looking at me for a moment then breaking into a fit of laughs we sat there laughing at ourselves.

"We better go collect you prey and head back to camp." Nodding we raced to the tree I had left my raven and squirrel under. As we dug them up I noticed we hadn't re done are scent marks. "Can we go and re-new are scent marks?" I asked. "Sure over here." Following him we sprayed are scents on the trees that bordered us and Fireclan.

Nightstars POV

Padding back to camp we met up with Skypaw and Sandheart. Nuzzling my sister we walked toward the camp with Skypaw and Wavepaw leading us talking about their first day as an apprentice. Reaching the camp I placed the fresh kill in the pile and turned to Wavepaw "Why don't you go find your brothers and relax then could you help the elders?" Nodding she scampered away. Heading toward the medicine cats den I got some Burdock. Padding in he asked polity for some. "What have you been doing that got you all scratched up like this?" Snowshine asked as he applied the Burdock to his wounds. "Practicing battle moves." Nodding he let out a chuckle. As he left he headed to his den to get a well earned rest.

Wavepaws POV

I decided to go help out the elders. Walking into their tree I nodded my hello to Twisttail and laid my tail on Cloudeyes shoulder to tell him where I was. "Do either of you need anything?" I asked. "Well actually I have a few ticks on my lower back and one up by my ear if you don't mind getting those." Twisttail answered. "Of course not I'll be right back with some Mousebile."

Padding over to the medicine cats den I pasted Leafpaw. Oh, he was so cute I loved him he was my crush. Bumping into him I was snapped out of my thoughts. "Hey, I was wondering if you wanted to share a rabbit later or something." Looking at him I answered "once in done with taking care of the elders I would love to." "Great if you don't mind I could help you." Surprise smashed into me. "Umm, Ya that would be great." "K lets go get Mousebile for ticks." Following him I thought does he like me oh I hope so.

Once we were done with cleaning out the elders den and taking their ticks off we went over to grab the rabbit. Dragging it over near the apprentice den we sat down to eat. One thing I didn't notice was Snowshine looking at us from a far his eyes gently. Thinking to himself wow they would look great together.

Leafpaws POV

Sharing the rabbit with one of the cutest cats in the world made my heart almost skip a beat. She was a beautiful cat. She seemed to really like me to. I wonder what she would say if I moved my nest near hers I think I will. "I'll be right back." "Ok." Racing into the apprentice den I moved my nest and came back out. I had cleaned my fur and it was now slick and shiny. Smiling she giggled. Her laugh, oh how I loved her laugh. It was like the beat of humming bird's wings. Soft, gentle, and smooth almost like honey. Her voice broke through my thoughts "Do you want to go hunting with me?" She looked at me with her sea blue eyes. I could melt into those eyes. "Sure!" I meowed eagerly.

Wavepaws POV

Padding into the forest after asking Nightstar for permission we headed toward the great oaks. It was a great place to hunt on a starry night like this. With the moons light guiding us and our pelts brushing we headed through the forest. We walked slowly, I took in his scent. It was an earthy sweet scent that you can't forget easily and his eyes were a light brown color or even a honey color, but his pelt was soft and tan with a dark stripe down his back, he had a white underside. I could walk like this forever. Just the two of us. As the moonlight hit my back it seemed to make my light stripes shine like stars. As his pelt mixed in with mine I could feel heat coming off of him to me. As it grew darker I asked "Can we go back it's getting late and dark?" "Sure we can take the shot cut."Nodding as I followed when he all of a sudden turned to the right. Then just like that I could see the camp.

Padding into camp the two of us walked over to the apprentice den. Noticing he had moved his nest near mine I smiled as he laid down next to ne, as our pelts brushed and all I could hear was his shallow deep breathing. I to went into a deep sleep.

WOW!!! That was a long chapter!! I also put in some love bettween Wavepaw and Leafpaw. Oh, they look so cute. Please review. i might not write as much comming up. Sadly my vaction ended back in school = (