YAY! New Chapter!
Sorry to anyone that cried when Snowbird died. It was important to the story. In other words, she did not die an unnecessary death.
shyannada141: It's okay! Now that I have a description for Shykit, well, she'll be at the gathering. Yeah.
The Judge: Okay... Well, think about it. Ivypool fell for it. Lionblaze, Bramblestar, and Crookedstar fell for it. As did Icewing. And Birchfall. And Blossomfall. They didn't realize what was happening until it was too late. They all believed that they were learning from good cats. Most of them. Volepaw knew that Tigerstar was a killer, but thought that Tigerstar had done it on accident, because of the way Bramblestar put it. If Bramblestar had said, "Yes, he killed many cats, and even injured some, and he had wanted to kill those cats," then Volepaw would know that Thistleclaw and Mapleshade were trying to manipulate him. Plus, he trusted Tigerstar, because he had protected him from the cats that were chasing him. This is also my first Fanfiction.
Thunderandshadowcats: I had to do that to Eaglekit. :( I was crying as well when I wrote that, because, isn't it wonderful when we make ourselves cry?
Sorry for the ceremony after ceremony after ceremony. It's just that these three needed to become warriors.
Guess what. I was looking at warriors wikipedia, and it turns out that Snowpaw/bush has kits with Lilyheart. Whoopdy doo.
Volepaw's POV
"Snowbush! Ambermoon! Dewnose!"
Volepaw chanted alongside his clan.
"Now," Bramblestar called. "These three warriors will sit vigil while we rest!" The clan dispersed, into various dens, as did Volepaw.
He curled up in his nest, and, lulled by the breathing of Lightpaw, fell into a deep sleep.
"Volepaw." He heard Mapleshade's growl of a purr. Volepaw stood up and stretched.
"Mapleshade!" he mewed. "What are we learning today?" It had been half a moon since his apprenticeship, and he had already learned so much, from Graystripe and Mapleshade.
"Today, is your first assessment." Thistleclaw jumped off of the branch he was on. Thistleclaw had been teaching him fighting techniques, while Mapleshade mostly stayed with hunting.
"Your opponent will be me." Thistleclaw lunged at Volepaw, who had no time to react. Thistleclaw had Volepaw pinned to the ground. Volepaw tensed, then remembered what Graystripe had taught him. When pinned by a bigger cat, play dead. See how they react. Volepaw relaxed his shoulders.
"You give up too easily," Thistleclaw snarled, about to make the killing bite.
Wait, wait, and now! Volepaw felt teeth in his skin, the jumped up with all his might, throwing Thistleclaw back enough for him to get up.
Volepaw threw his forepaw at Thistleclaw, hitting his face. Thistleclaw growled.
"Unsheath you claws!"
"But, in Thunderclan," Volepaw began.
"I don't care what you do in Thunderclan! Here, you fight with your claws unsheathed!" Volepaw titled his head, but decided not to argue. Thistleclaw was already preparing for another attack. Thistleclaw clawed at Volepaw's ear, drawing blood. Volepaw ducked to the side, and jumped onto Thistleclaw's back, digging in his claws. Thistleclaw grunted, and rolled onto his back.
Volepaw tried to jump, but was squashed under Thistleclaw. Thistleclaw got up, and Volepaw just about lunged, but then noticed that Thistleclaw had sat down and was licking a paw. Volepaw sheathed his claws, and sat down as well. Mapleshade looked at the two toms and nodded.
"Not bad for a first assessment, Volepaw." Mapleshade got up and padded over to Volepaw.
"I think you deserve a reward." Thistleclaw stopped licking and froze, his tongue still sticking out as he looked towards Mapleshade with a glare.
Volepaw had to resist the urge to laugh.
"I don't think he's ready to meet them yet." Thistleclaw growled.
Meet who? Volepaw always felt that Thistleclaw was hiding something from him.
It was Mapleshade's turn to glare. "He's going to have to meet them sometime."
Thistleclaw growled, and left. Mapleshade ignored him. Volepaw often witnessed this 'warmness' between his mentors.
"Keep up," Mapleshade mewed, "If you get lost, then you won't get to meet them."
Meet who? Where are we going? Volepaw was just about to voice his thoughts when Mapleshade bounded into the shadows.
Volepaw scurried after her. They bounded through dark, shrubbery and trees, and he followed her through a river, with water so thick and dark, you wouldn't think it was water.
After a while, Volepaw got tired, but Mapleshade showed no signs of slowing down.
Then suddenly, she jumped up into a tree. Volepaw skidded to a stop, and climbed after her. Graystripe had taught him how to climb trees, and although he wasn't very good at it, he made it up, without falling down.
"Good." Mapleshade hissed. "You didn't get lost."
"Now just keep quiet and look down in the clearing." Volepaw gazed down to find two cats in the clearing; One, a large ragged silver tom, and the other was a smaller dark brown tom, with a kink in his tail.
"The gray tom is Silverhawk," Mapleshade flicked her tail. "The other one you will be meeting very soon."Soon?
Volepaw felt strangely pulled to the tom. He was familiar, but at the same time, Volepaw had no idea who he was.
"Come." Volepaw barely heard Mapleshade's whisper, but then she was gone. Volepaw found her scent, but was soon lost. He felt as if Mapleshade had intentionally lost crossed over her tracks to mess him up.
Volepaw looked up from the ground, and noticed the forest begin to fade away. Volepaw started to panic.
Volepaw woke up with a start. He stretched and padded outside to see Jayfeather sorting herbs, and the dawn patrol leave. Volepaw sat down and started to groom himself, only to feel something sticky on his ear.
Volepaw looked at his paw, and what appeared to be blood was on it.
Isn't that the ear Thistleclaw tore up? Volepaw wondered. Volepaw shook it off and went to see Jayfeather.
Right when Volepaw was about to say something, Jayfeather looked up.
"What happened to your ear?" Jayfeather went back to work.
A startled Volepaw was going to question the blind medicine cat, when Jayfeather spoke again.
"Come, I'll get you something to put on that." Volepaw just padded on in.
After Jayfeather had put on some herbs, Volepaw left, and heard Graystripe call him.
"Volepaw!" Volepaw looked in Graystripe's direction. "What happened to your ear?"
Volepaw shrugged. "Must have been a thorn in my nest." Graystripe stared at him.
"I was thinking we could do some hunting." Graystripe mewed, tearing his eyes away from Volepaw. Volepaw nodded. Graystripe had only taught him a little about hunting, but Volepaw had aced it with ease.
Graystripe stood up and headed towards the entrance, when Volepaw heard a squeak of delight. Dovewing raced over to Bumblestripe.
"Take it easy." Jayfeather snorted.
"Bumblestripe!" Dovewing ignored Jayfeather. "Were going to have kits!" Bumblestripe's face brightened. Before Volepaw could see anymore, Graystripe tapped his shoulder with his tail.
"Let's go!"
Volepaw sighed but followed.
When they were well away from camp, Graystripe stopped.
"Whoever brings the most prey back here by sunhigh wins!" Volepaw looked at his mentor. Graystripe always had the spirit of a kit.
Volepaw felt adrenaline rush through him at the thought of a competition.
"I'm going to win!" Volepaw bounced up and down.
"You young cats and your energy." Graystripe laughed. "With my old bones, and aching joints, I'll have to find the dumbest mouse in the territory, and sit on him until he surrenders!" Graystripe looked lost in thought.
Graystripe often did this, and whenever Volepaw asked about it, Graystripe just said he was remembering the times when he was young.
"Go!" Graystripe yowled, and they were off.
By sunhigh, Volepaw had caught a thrush, a vole, and some mice. He carried back his prey triumphantly.
I'm going to win! He thought.
When he returned to the starting place, he saw Graystripe holding a mouse and a squirrel. Graystripe dropped his prey when he saw Volepaw's haul.
"Well done Volepaw!" Volepaw shined at the praise. "Looks like you won!" Volepaw carried his prey back to camp, only tripping twice. When Bramblestar saw them, his eyes lighted, and he bounded over to his son.
"Great job Volepaw!" Volepaw said something, but it was muffled behind the prey. Bramblestar nodded and jumped up onto Highledge.
"Cats of Thunderclan!" Bramblestar looked down on his cats. Volepaw set his prey next to Graystripe's and sat down to see most of the clan gathered.
"Tonight is the night of the gathering!" The gathering! Volepaw had almost forgotten. "The cats that will be going are Poppyfrost, Thornclaw, Dustpelt, Berrynose, Mousewhisker, Spiderleg, Whitewing, Ivypool, Graystripe, Lionblaze, Volepaw, and Lightpaw!" The cats that had been chosen jumped with excitement.
My first gathering! The clan began to leave but Bramblestar called them back.
"It is time to name two new apprentices." Volepaw looked to see a well groomed Darkkit and Shrewkit. Graystripe and Millie stood beside them, eyes sparkling. What caught his attention was Darkkit. She looks so nice. He turned back to Highledge.
"Shrewkit and Darkkit, 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 Shrewpaw and Darkpaw. Your mentors will be Brackenfur and Cherryfall. I hope they will pass down all they know on to you." Bramblestar paused.
"Cherryfall, you are ready to take on your first apprentice. You had received excellent training from Foxleap, and you have shown yourself to be brave and knowing what is right. You will be the mentor of Darkpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to her." Darkpaw touched noses with Cherryfall.
"Brackenfur, " Bramblestar mewed, "You are ready to take on another apprentice. You are a seasoned warrior, and Thunderclan respects your cunning patience. You will be the mentor of Shrewpaw, and I know you will pass on all you know to him."
"Shrewpaw! Darkpaw!"
Their calls rose high into the afternoon sky.
"This meeting is over." Bramblestar called. "Cats who are going to the gathering, you might want to get some sleep before we leave."
Bramblestar jumped down and padded over to Squirrelflight.
Graystripe ushered Volepaw into his den, and Volepaw tried to sleep but couldn't.
He looked at the roof of his den, and then heard something, deep within his mind. Volepaw closed his eyes, and the calls grew louder.
"Brokenstar... I can help you if you help me..." Volepaw drifted off, with those words in his mind.