Dustpaw walked alongside his brother and Mutepaw. Smokebreeze was ahead of the group, scanning the area carefully.
Mutepaw's small paws made quiet steps as she stepped through the dry grass.
Dustpaw glared around, sniffing at the air for any trace of prey.
Mudpaw glanced around curiously.
Dustpaw was at the back of the group, trailing after his brother with a scowl.
Mutepaw perked her folded ears at the scent of thrush. She signaled she was leaving and dashed into the grasses to hunt.
Mutepaw glanced around in the grasses desperately sniffing and looking for the prey for about 5 cloud-shifts.
Where is it? I smell it so I kno-
The she cat spotted a plump thrush pecking at some nuts or something in the dirt.
She fell into a crouch, raising her tail slightly above the ground. She took gentle, quiet steps. Slowly...Slowly... and-
Mutepaw leaped out of the bush, forcing her paw into the thrush and snapping its neck. She dipped her head before picking it up to join her group.
Yay! Hunting is fun! Hm. I wonder if Mudpaw caught anything...
She found her group, dropping her bird and smearing dirt over it before rejoining them on their mini patrol.
Dustpaw appeared out of the grass, a plump hare in his mouth. He buried it before taking his brother's side.
Smokebreeze mumbled something before pausing.
"Something wrong?" Mudpaw meowed.
"No." His mentor responded. "Let's go back. Get the prey you caught."
Mudpaw had uncovered a magpie, Dustpaw uncovered his hare, Mutepaw got her thrush.
Smokebreeze gave a sigh. "Stay here- I'm gonna go catch something real quick."
The apprentices nodded.
Mudpaw turned to his friend. "Nice thrush, Mutepaw!"
Mutepaw gave a nod, sending a quick glance to Dustpaw.
Dustpaw glared away.
Smokebreeze returned with a rabbit in his mouth. He gave a nod to the apprentices before guiding them back to camp.
Mutepaw narrowed her pale amber eyes. Mudpaw was sparring with her now. She was gonna beat him. Well, she was gonna try.
Mudpaw's eyes studied his surroundings carefully. He gave a smile.
What is he...what's he doing?
Mudpaw began circling her. Mutepaw remained where she was, ears flicking at the slightest sound.
Mudpaw ran at her. She jolted to move, but Mudpaw had already tackled her.
Smokebreeze and Fernpad watched with approval as the pair batted and swatted at each other.
Mudpaw avoided a swat from his friend, tackling her once again and pinning her. He gave a triumphant meow.
"Ha! I finally beat you!" He bragged.
Mutepaw scoffed, pushing him off and glancing to the mentors.
"That was a nice dodge, Mudpaw." Smokebreeze mewled. "But, it won't always be avoided."
Fernpad glanced to her apprentice. "And Mutepaw. You need to avoid his tackles! You need to react faster, alright?"
Mutepaw gave a nod.
The pair sparred a few more times before returning to camp. Perhaps to find out if they were gonna become warriors?
Mutepaw glanced at her friend. Come to think of it, she was almost 12 moons. In about...a week or so, she's be 12 moons!
Dragonflystar was sitting on her rock. She studied the cats below. But she didn't call a meeting.
The cream and brown tabby hopped off, returning to her nest and laying down tiredly.
Seeing the leader so tired, made Mutepaw think of how many lives she had left.
Hm. Well I can't exactly ask her... Ugh.
Mutepaw glanced over her shoulder.
Dustpaw was talking with Lionpaw and Leafpaw.
Mudpaw was playing with Dewkit and Volekit.
Mutepaw began feeling as if something was missing. She glanced around. It didn't appear something was missing... wait! Where was Leopardleg? Maybe on a patrol?
Hm. Probably just on a patrol! No need to worry myself.
Dragonflystar slipped back onto her rock.
"All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather 'round for a Clan meeting!"
The Clan slowly assembled.
"I have talked to their mentors- Two apprentices ready to become warriors!"
Tigerpaw and Lionpaw slipped into the front of the assembled Clan.
"Tigerpaw! Step forward!" The cream she cat yowled.
"I, Dragonflystar, leader of WindClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code and I commend them to you as a warrior in their turn." Dragonflystar drifted her stern gaze across the Clan before back to the pale brown tabby.
"Tigerpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
The large brown tabby gave a proud smile. "I do."
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Tigerpaw, you shall now be known as Tigerblaze!"
The Clan began cheering as the leader jumped off her rock, resting her head on Tigerblaze's the tom responding with a lick to the shoulder.
"And Lionpaw!"
The gold tom stepped forward proudly, his fluffy fur puffing with pride.
"Lionpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do!"
The leader gave a smile. "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Lionpaw, from now on, you'll be known as Lionfall!"
The leader rested her head on his and he licked her shoulder.
Wow! Congrats! I cant wait until it's me up there, getting my name. Mutepaw thought, glancing to the newly made warriors.
Lionfall approached Mutepaw and Mudpaw.
Mudpaw gave a smile. "Congrats, Lionp- Lionfall!"
Mutepaw gave an agreeing nod.
"Thanks, Mudpaw! I've waites for this moment for moons!" The fluffy tom turned to his brother, Tigerblaze.
"What's the first thing you're gonna do as a warrior, Tigerblaze?"
The tabby glared away. "Get away from the apprentices." He grumbled.
Lionfall perked his ears. "Er...what else?"
"Dunno. Hunt or somethin'."
Lion fall glanced back at the apprentices. "Erm... well, anyways, I'm gonna go..." He glanced out of camp. "Go on a patrol...Hey, Leafpaw? Wanna go on a patrol?"
The cream she cat that had just approached gave a quick nod. "Sure! With anyone else or..?"
"Well, maybe Tigerblaze. Wanna go find someone else to come or...?"
Mutepaw could sense an...awkwardness between them.
The pair wandered off.
Well, that leaves me with Mudpaw. The blue calico glanced to her friend.
"Hm. Oh! Wanna go help the elders? Then go hunting with Leafpaw and Lionfall?"
Mutepaw gave a brisk nod, glancing to the elders' nests then towards Leafpaw and Lionfall.
The pair padded to the elders'.
Mutepaw tilted her head. Tallfern and Copperthroat were watching a limp Harescar with concern.
"Why isnt he moving?" Mudpaw mumbled, walking to the old brown tom. Mudpaw pressed his black nose to the pale tom's patchy fur.
"Harescar?" Copperthroat yawned.
Is he...? No, he can't be!
Mudpaw let out a shaky meow. "H-he's dead."