~ It's a new world, it's a new start, it's alive with the beating of young hearts. It's a new day, it's a new plan, I've been waiting for you... Here I am. ~ Here I Am, by Bryan Adams

Chapter 26

"Here I Am."

5/31/17 - 6/1/17

~ Aspenkit ~

Gingershine's rough tongue brushes his fur into sleek grooves. Making his fur coat shine in a glossy, gold brown color.

"Stop!" He squeaks. Every stroke on his fur takes his attention from the clamor of cats before him and his mind can't focus on that and Gingershine's grooming.

I can't focus!

Gingershine huffs teasingly. "Grown up already?" She moves on to Flashkit, but he moves away and grooms his own pelt. Gingershine flicks her ear.

"Toms. Cherrykit - don't you run from me!"

Aspenkit sits with Hollykit and Poppykit outside the nursery that morning in May. Maplecloud sits outside while her kits trying to leave the nursery first.

"Make way!" Shouts Cloudykit.

"Ow! Step on me one more time you - you, puffball!" Lightningkit exclaims.

"Oh, move it! She-cats first!" Honeykit pushes both of her brothers aside to sit next to Maplecloud. Cloudykit and Lightningkit follow after, shouldering each other while doing so.

Thrushwing sits with Maplecloud, her belly slightly swollen with kits. Foxflame moved to the elder's den with Ashcloud, so this will very well be their last litter of kits and Stormwhisker and Lionfang's younger littermates, and kin to Tigerflame and Goldheart, who were Thrushwing's oldest sons from a different litter, and their descendants.

The newest warriors Emberheart and Leopardstripe were sitting proudly, awaiting for the ceremony.

Littlestar waits until all cats are gathered around the Highledge, Aspenkit hears Cherrykit complain.

"Why do we have to wait another moon to become an apprentice? We're just as big as Hollykit and their stupid brother!"

"It's the warrior code." Timberclaw told her.

"Unbelievable. If a slow cat can become a warrior-."

Gingershine cuts off Flashkit with a hiss. Aspenkit growls and flattens his ears. Flashkit's near death experience hasn't made him appreciate life, instead he just became more insufferable toward Aspenkit than any of his sisters.

Flashkit is different now. Aspenkit can't explain it, but Flashkit gives him cold looks that frighten him.

Aspenkit ruffles his fur and tries to ignore him.

Littlestar looks on his Clan and starts the ceremony, calling over Aspenkit and his sisters.

"As you all remember, we lost Whitefur to the wolves, and shortly after Goldflame dies giving their kits, these young cats we see before us. We will honor Goldflame and Whitefur's legacy through these three cats and trust that they will just as honorable as their parents."

What does that mean? Does Littlestar think I can't do it?

Aspenkit's breathing becomes hitched.

Littlestar believes in you, aspen.

M-Mom?! Aspenkit's heart swelled with happiness and sorrow hearing Goldflame's voice after so long. He feels her soft fur coat and tail winding around him.

"Mom is here!" He told his sisters. Hollykit glances at him strangely before looking back, Poppykit is on the other side of Hollykit, so she didn't hear him.

Aspenkit's ears burn with embarrassment with what he had done.

I wish you could speak to them.

Littlestar nods to the three kits, and they pad toward their leader. Gingershine tries not to cry as she rests her head on Timberclaw's shoulder.

"Poppykit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Poppypaw."

"Mistpool. You are a gifted hunter and Timberclaw was a great mentor for you. I trust you to pass your skills down to Poppypaw."

The pale grey and white striped she-cat blinks in surprise. Poppypaw pads to her and touches noses with Mistpool before sitting next to her.

"Hollykit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Hollypaw."

Don't be someone dumb. Hollypaw begs silently.

"Raccoontail. You are a great fighter, and Gingershine was a great mentor for you. I trust you to pass your skills down to Hollypaw."

The tom with the black ringed tail stands up and waits for her. Hollypaw doesn't know what to think about him, she expected Finchblaze, Oakstorm or Rosefoot. Heck, she even expected that grumpy badger, Blazefrost.

Hollypaw pads to Raccoontail and touches noses with him before sitting next to him.

Aspenkit puts one paw on his other and almost trips. His fur burns with the stares of his Clanmates and his anxiety prepares to take over.

Breathe, aspen. I'm here.

The gold brown tom takes in a shaky breath and stops in front of Littlestar.

"Aspenkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Aspenpaw."

Breathe. Breathe. Breathe!

"Snowpelt."

Aspenpaw's anxiety is instantly forgotten. The white-silver flecked she-cat blinks in surprise, Thistlefang looks at her proudly.

"You have traveled to and from the mountains, and fought in the Wolf Battle. Thanks to Driftcloud's training, you are a capable cat of honor and compassion, and I trust you to pass your skills down to Aspenpaw."

Aspenpaw turns around to face his new mentor. Snowpelt's white fur coat catches the sunlight and brightens up her fur, drowning out the silver dots on her fur.

So bright as usual. Maybe too bright, though…

Aspenpaw approaches Snowpelt and touches noses with her. With the ceremony completed, the ThunderClan cats went back to work.

~ Snowpelt ~

Aspenpaw stares up at her with wide gold eyes. Snowpelt coughs.

"Okay. Let's go and look at the territory."

Snowpelt bids farewell to Thistlefang before leaving the camp with Aspenpaw next to her. Suddenly, Aspenpaw is three to four fox lengths ahead of her, looking around every tree and noisily stepping on leaves and sticks.

"Aspenpaw, don't go ahead of me!"

The gold brown tom looks back and quickly returns to her with his head low.

Every so often Aspenpaw would get ahead of her when admiring the view, and she snaps him out of his trance with a firm nip on his shoulder.

Aspenpaw suddenly gags. "What's that disgusting smell?!"

Snowpelt scents the air, and catches the sharp tang of fish.

RiverClan again? She seethes.

"That is RiverClan. They are only supposed to hunt for fish in their water, but they have been trespassing on our territory for prey."

"Is it a bad thing?"

"Very."

Aspenpaw growls. "We should march over there and tell them to stop it!"

Snowpelt smirks at the thought of Aspenpaw demanding Olivestar to keep out of their territory, the bewildered faces of her and her warriors would be a sight to see.

"In cases like this we tell Littlestar, he will set them straight."

Aspenpaw nods slowly and continues to follow her.

~ Aspenpaw ~

Snowpelt and Aspenpaw approach the stream near WindClan when a patrol comes by.

"Hawkflight, Goldentail, Nutbranch." Snowpelt says to the cats.

"Greetings." Hawkflight said, although it was cautious. Aspenpaw feels his pelt prick. Someone is staring at him.

A dark grey tom, probably is leering at him while his mentor is talking. Aspenpaw frowns and his tail twitches and curls into a tight curl, similar to the groove on a snail's shell, looks at the ground under his paws.

"Is this your apprentice?" Hawkflight nods to Aspenpaw.

Nutbranch narrows his eyes. "What's wrong with him? Did you drop him on his head?"

Aspenpaw glares at Nutbranch. "Nothing is wrong with me."

"Something's wrong with you if you talk back to a warrior." Nutbranch sneers.

Hawkflight hissed at Nutbranch. Aspenpaw falls silent to which Nutbranch smirks in triumph, infuriating Aspenpaw even more.

Jerk.

"Nothing is wrong with Aspenpaw." Snowpelt told Nutbranch coldly. "He is just different, that's all."

"He looks slow." Nutbranch mutters.

Aspenpaw's temper flares. "And you're ignorant!"

Hawkflight glares at Nutbranch before he could say anymore. "Go back, now. I will report to Brackenstar when I come back."

The brown and black tabby growls and glares at Aspenpaw before leaving. Snowpelt sweeps her tail around Aspenpaw.

"We should probably get going."

Annoyance still lingering on his face, Hawkflight nods in agreement.

"Yes, you should."

"Aspenpaw!"

The gold brown tom pads to Hollypaw and Poppypaw near the fresh kill pile.

Hollypaw said,

"Raccoontail showed me the ShadowClan territory with Poppypaw and Mistpool."

"Where did you and Snowpelt go?" Poppypaw asks him.

Aspenpaw pokes a squirrel with his front paw. "WindClan. Some jerk made fun of me, called me slow."

Hollypaw bristles her fur. "Seriously? Who was it?"

"His name is Nutbranch, he's black and brown with stripes."

Hollypaw scrapes the ground with her claws. "At least I got a description. I can't wait to have a little 'talk' with this nut job."

Poppypaw reprimands Hollypaw with a stern glare before turning to Aspenpaw.

"Did you really run into WindClan?"

Aspenpaw looks over his shoulder to see Flashkit's cold stare.

"Mind your business, Flash-kit." Hollypaw growls.

The light grey tom scoffs and looks at Aspenpaw with a condescending tone.

"I bet you got into a fight and lost. Cats your speed wouldn't have lasted in my day."

Hollypaw shakes her head.

"'Your day'? You sound like an elder, plus you're a kit! How would you know?"

Flashkit ignores her and strides away, leaving Aspenpaw very confused by his words.

Some of you suggested that Snowpelt becomes Aspenpaw's mentor, I was almost close to making Lightstripe his mentor until the Snowpelt idea stuck to me like glue.

But RiverClan's repeated trespassing is becoming an increasing problem. I feel that it's going to have a tipping point if this continues...

I also re watched the latest Steven Universe episode and... well, it's left me a lot of questions. Let's leave it at that. ~ Kyubi