Thank you all so much for your reviews. I had to kinda edit the plan for this chapter so sorry if the next few updates are not as long/ well-written. I noticed something in the plan that would have come WAY to early if we left it as it was. But I think that other than that, we'll be good.
Nightstorm: You guys know what I say. Do I really have to say the same thing over and over again? Can you all believe this is my job?
Me: You're a fictional character. Get over it.
Nightstorm: Ugh! BornoftruedestinydoesnotownWarriors! Happy?
Ashkit cringed as his mother's tongue rasped over his head. "Mouseflight! You've been grooming me forever! Smokestar's about to start the ceremony!"
Mouseflight pulled away as pride sparked in her eyes. "Fine. But make sure you stand up straight when Smokestar calls your name! I can't believe my kits are finally becoming apprentices!"
Sunmask watched as Ashkit, Tinykit and Flowerkit all pushed out of the nursery. She felt someone nudge her side and looked down to see Clearkit staring up at her with her blue eyes. "Momma, when are we going to be made apprentices?" she asked with a whine to her voice.
"When you are six moons old," Sunmask replied. "Now come on. Would you like to watch the ceremony?"
Clearkit nodded and hopped away with Pinekit and Foreverkit on her tail. Sunmask followed them outside and gathered around the Oak with them, where Smokestar stood patiently on the Speaking Branch.
Flamekit's death was still fresh on everyone's minds, but they had really all gotten over their grief. Now it was all about the murderer, and Smokestar wasn't even close to discovering the killer. He was very careful in choosing the kits' mentors and even delayed their ceremony few days. Around the Clan, warriors still had a hard time trusting each other. Nothing along those lines have really changed since the death was announced, but no matter what anyone said or did, Sunmask still thought Soottail was the murderer. He always got uncomfortable when he heard cats talking about it, and Sunmask didn't know why no one else had the suspicions she had.
Smokestar flicked his tail for the Clan to silence, and then yowled out with happiness and pride. "It has been quite a while since we had any new apprentices for this Clan, and now ShadowClan is finally going to gain three new cats to learn to protect and serve this Clan." He turned to the three kits that trembled excitedly near him. Ashkit was the first to step forward. "Ashkit, until you earn your warrior name, you are to be known as Ashpaw. I have chosen Tigerpelt as your mentor because he is young and has excellent qualities to teach you the way of the warrior."
Or is it because you think family wouldn't harm family? Sunmask thought. Tigerpelt was after all, Mouseflight's brother.
Ashpaw thanked Smokestar and rushed down to greet his mentor with a touch to the nose. Tinykit was the next cat to step up, her legs quivering and a smile growing on her face.
"Tinykit, you are now known as Tinypaw for as long as you are training," Smokestar said. "And I believe Scarletfur is a fitting mentor for you. She is wise and encouraging, and I hope she will pass down these qualities for you."
As Tinypaw went to touch noses with her grandmother, Sunmask sighed. Smokestar could really only trust family to train these apprentices. She didn't really blame him, but she was sad that it had to come to that.
Suddenly, Pouncefoot was next to her, and seeing his face made her jump. As if he had read her mind he said. "I trained you, and you are my daughter."
"That's different," Sunmask whispered back as Flowerkit stepped up. "No one knows that you are my father."
"Flowerkit," Smokestar rumbled, and Sunmask looked back up at him. "You have decided to take the path of a medicine cat, right?"
She nodded eagerly. "Oh yes. Stormwhisker is so nice! I'd love to work with him!"
Smiling, Smokestar dipped his head. "Very well. From this moment on, until Stormwhisker decides to give you your full name, you shall be known as Flowerpaw. I trust that he trains you to be the best medicine cat this Clan has ever seen."
"You can count on that, Smokestar," said Stormwhisker as Flowerpaw went to touch noses with him. "I'll work very hard with her."
Smokestar nodded his head at the medicine cat and concluded the meeting with a wish of good luck to the new apprentices.
Foreverkit and Pinekit stood with their mouths hanging open. Clearkit tugged on Sunmask's hind leg. "That...was...awesome!" she yowled. "Is that really what it will be like when we become apprentices, momma?" she asked.
"Hopefully," she replied. It went so smoothly.
"I want you as my mentor," Pinekit said to Pouncefoot, looking up at the white and brown spotted tom. "You are deputy and you turned my mother into an awesome warrior!"
"That's not fair," Clearkit growled. "Why do you get the deputy? Obviously I would be the first choice for him, because I will be the greatest warrior ever!"
"I'll take a home as my mentor," Foreverkit purred. "Everyone in ShadowClan is great!"
"That's a load of crowfood," Clearkit said, rolling her eyes. "Come on, being trained by the deputy? That's every cat's dream!"
"Yeah, I guess so," Foreverkit mewed sheepishly.
Sunmask and Pouncefoot laughed. "Don't worry," he said to them, lowering his head so he could see them eye-to-eye. "You all will end up with great mentors. I don't know if I will be one of them, but you never know!"
"Come on, let's get back to the nursery." Sunmask herded them all gently towards their den, which they now had to themselves. Before she slipped through the entrance, she looked over her shoulder. Tinypaw and Ashpaw talked with their new mentors, each holding a genuine grin on their faces, and Flowerpaw followed Stormwhisker into the medicine den. Be safe, she thought.
She stared at Mouseflight's old nest, wide awake. She noticed Flamekit was missing there and later found that he was dead a few moons ago. Whoever this killer was, they did an amazing job on covering their tracks. No scent left behind or anything.
And considering the case hadn't been solved yet, there was still a good chance that they could strike again, sending another warning, as Soottail would say, and perhaps at her, according to the way his eyes rested on her. Lately, she'd been finding it hard to sleep, and whenever she did find herself falling into an empty darkness, she'd awaken at the smallest sound.
Her head turned when she heard some sort of bird called, and when she had time to process that it was only just a tiny creature, she sighed softly. When would this end, and what if she was wrong? Anything was possible after all, and she knew that after understanding what she was going through.
One day it would all be over though, and she would come out of it. She didn't know how, she didn't know when, but she hoped she would end up alive.
Filler, I know, but like I said, these next few updates might not be as long or well-written. Sorry.
But hey, I'd still like it if you reviewed. :)
~Destiny (and Nightstorm)
