Disclaimer- I do not own Warriors in any way. Don't you get it? I just own the plot and some of the characters!
Starshine sighed, watching Wolfkit and Hawkkit tumbling about outside the nursery in the morning sun. They were at six moons today- they would be made apprentices. She hadn't the heart to separate them as kits, but now… she sighed again. Wolfkit was already almost as large as some young warriors, and he was quite aggressive, bowling Hawkkit gently over with his long limbs. Hawkkit… Hawkkit seemed stunted, but she was always quiet, listening, taking in everything she could. But they were together too often- everything must me made to delay the prophecy!
Starshine lurched to her paws, sadly thinking it was time for the talk about Hawkkit's future. She padded over to the play-fighting kits and mewed, "Hawkkit, can I have a meow with you?"
Hawkkit nimbly slithered out from where she was pinned under Wolfkit's sheathed claws and trotted over, mewing a respectful greeting. Starshine wondered how to begin.
"You're getting apprenticed today," Starshine stated, rummaging in her brain for how to say this.
"I know!" The mottled young cat's eyes sparkled with excitement. "The way of a warrior seems rather harsh though…"
Perfect! Starshine thought.
"If the way of a warrior would be tough for you…" The silver medicine cat replied, choosing her words carefully, "…how would you like to become my apprentice?"
Hawkkit almost leapt with delight. "Of course! I've been watching you whenever you treat cats, and it's fascinating! Oh please, oh please oh please…"
Starshine smiled. "However, it's not just healing that a medicine cat has to do."
"I know." Hawkkit grew grave and replied, "You have to bear the weight of the clan, and StarClan trusts in you. You can never doubt them, and you're the only one in the Clan who can do some things."
Starshine was impressed. "How do you know of this?" she asked curiously.
"I can see it in you. Sometimes you're very stressed, and you think that StarClan gives you too many tasks sometimes. But I don't know why… the Clan is safe…"
Two pairs of sky-blue eyes stared deep into each other. One full of wisdom, the other confusion. Or maybe it was vice versa…
Starshine blinked and drew her gaze away and Hawkkit looked at her paws.
"So, you've decided to become my apprentice?" Starshine mewed, still dazed over what Hawkkit had said.
Hawkkit nodded enthusiastically. "Oh yes."
Starshine shook herself and stood up. "Well, soon you and Wolfkit will be apprenticed." At this she padded to her den and lay at the entrance and watched Hawkkit bound up to the impatiently waiting Wolfkit, and she could hear her excited mews, "Wolfkit, we're going to be apprenticed today!"
Starshine sighed and retreated into her den. Spiderstar already knew of Hawkkit's choice- well, he knew the Starshine would persuade her.
Starshine closed her eyes and immediately sank into a deep sleep. She saw the sun, brilliant against the crystal blue sky. But a shadow was coming, seemingly out of nowhere, and the sun was eaten, bit by bit, until it was gone, and darkness reigned, and something had gone wrong, or right, the emotions were all mixed up…
Starshine woke, panting. Eyes glazed with fear, she then calmed down as she saw her familiar den. Not another dream…she thought. Hawkkit had been right. Sometime StarClan told her just too much. She hastened out of the den, for the sun was beginning to set, and soon the kits would be made apprentices.
"All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here under Highrock!"
Spiderstar stood on the Highrock, silhouetted against the blazing setting sun. Starshine sat at the base, on the other side of Whiteheart, twitching her tail. Wolfkit and Hawkkit bounded over along with the other cats who hastened to the rock to hear their leader. Riverpool, Flameheart, Nightpelt, and Dayrise followed them proudly and Starshine caught Dustyclaw's gaze again. The eyes met, but the Dustyclaw looked away to Spiderstar as Starshine felt a pang in her stomach.
"Today we have many announcements. One, I call forth two apprentices to take on their warrior names. Moonpaw and Snowpaw, please step up to the Highrock."
Two apprentices, one white and one sleek tabby, approached the Highrock.
"StarClan, look down on these two apprentices. They have learned the warrior code and respect it, you, and their clan. They would give their lives to serve their clans and are ready to become warriors in your name. Moonpaw, from this moment on, you shall be known as Moonflower. Snowpaw, from now on you shall be called Snowstorm. Do you both promise to obey the warrior code and serve the clan wholeheartedly, even at the cost of your lives?"
"We do!" the two apprentices mewed.
"Snowstorm and Moonflower, tonight StarClan wishes to honor you by welcoming you as a full warrior into ThunderClan."
"Tonight you will sit vigil alone and guard the camp. Congratulations!" With that, Moonflower and Snowstorm stepped down from the Highrock. Spiderstar remained.
"Moonflower! Snowstorm! Moonflower! Snowstorm!" The cats mewed in praise.
Spiderstar waved his tail for silence and mewed, "Wolfkit, come forth."
The gray kit eagerly bounded up to the Highrock. Spiderstar flinched, and Starshine could tell he was thinking of the prophecy.
"Today, I call upon our warrior ancestors to look down upon this young kit. Whiteheart, you have been a faithful deputy and a hard-working member of our clan. I want you to pass down all of your knowledge to Wolfkit and be a good mentor to him. Wolfkit, obey Whiteheart like you would me. From this moment on, your name will be Wolfpaw." Spiderstar mewed gravely. The new apprentice ran to touch noses with his new mentor. As he settled down, Spiderstar continued, "Hawkkit, step forward."
Hawkkit gingerly padded up to the Highrock, shy.
"I call upon our warrior ancestors to also look on this kit," Spiderstar yowled and looked up to Silverpelt. "Hawkkit, you have decided to not take the warrior way but to learn the path of a medicine cat. Starshine has no mentor. Starshine, pass down all your knowledge to this kit and teach her all you can." Spiderstar's baleful gaze looked into Starshine's and Starshine knew that he needed help with trying to prevent the prophecy. "Hawkkit, obey Starshine as you would me. From now on, you will be called Hawkpaw."
Hawkpaw's eyes shined with happiness and she joined Wolfpaw as the Clan chanted their names, "Wolfpaw! Hawkpaw! Wolfpaw! Hawkpaw! Wolfpaw!"
Starshine sighed. The separation had to be put into effect.
"Hawkpaw!" Starshine called and the mottled apprentice padded over to her. "Come, it has been a long day. Are you ready to turn in?"
The apprentice yawned. "Oh yes," she murmured sleepily. "Do I get to sleep in the warrior's den?"
Starshine felt a pang in her stomach as she mewed, "Come, I have a spot just for you in my den."
Hawkpaw looked slightly dismayed but followed without argument. Starshine showed her a pile of moss and curled up in her own bedding, feeling a little awkward.
Hawkpaw closed her eyes, and Starshine could feel her own drooping…
That was really really long! Please review! I combined two chapters...
