Chapter 6
For some reason, today was supposed to be an important day. But Foxkit didn't know why. Sleekwhisker had stopped by and had said something to Twistedbranch, and before leaving she had said hi to Foxkit. Of course, it wasn't Sleekwhisker that had tipped her off, it was Twistedbranch. In quite an obvious way too.
" Don't steal the moss from the bedding Lightkit. No, we both know it wasn't Darkkit's idea. Foxkit, stop lying down, today is going to be important! We need to get ready to not laze around. '' Twistedbranch shook herself, nudging Foxkit.
" Why? '' Lightkit muttered, pawing the moss, lashing her tail. Darkkit crouched, blinking at them. Foxkit got to her paws, holding back any grumbling. If today is so important, why don't you tell us why? She thought, not asking out loud, because Twistedbranch seemed to be in a good mood and she didn't want to be the one to ruin it.
" Well, you'll get to find out soon. " Twistedbranch said, her eyes bright. Foxkit couldn't remember the last time she saw Twistedbranch look so happy.
Lightkit grumbled something under her breath, turning away from the moss. Twistedbranch shook her head with a sigh. She turned and grabbed Darkkit, placing him next to his sister.
Foxkit took a few steps out of their nest, shaking herself. Twistedbranch's paw grabbed her and pushed her towards Darkkit and Lightkit. Twistedbranch paused, looking at Lightkit and Darkkit with a conflicted expression.
" Erm, well, I guess today might be as important to some of you, but important in general. " Twistedbranch said after a moment of thought.
" Are we trading Fox to IceClan for prey? " Lightkit said quietly, flicking her gaze to Foxkit, who ignored her.
" What was that, Lightkit?" Twistedbranch said, staring at the white she-kit. Lightkit looked away, flicking her tail. Darkkit winced and looked down, avoiding eye contact. This was a habit he had gained, looking down whenever Lightkit got in trouble, and probably when she embarrassed him. Twistedbranch sighed, before returning her gaze to Foxkit.
" Well, don't let whatever Lightkit says get to you, Foxkit. '' she said, blinking at Lightkit before returning her gaze to Foxkit. I'll try not to. Foxkit thought, determined to do just that.
" Can we go now? " Lightkit asked, widening her eyes. Twistedbranch sighed.
" You won't have much time, but you two can go. '' she said, nodding her head at Lightkit and Darkkit. Lightkit leaped to her feet and darted out, only to have Icekit perform a small sneak attack on her with his sister, Fernkit. Foxkit guessed that they had been waiting at the entrance of the nursery, hidden by the brambles and ferns that covered the nursery entrance.
" Hey! '' Lightkit said indignantly, bristling her fur. Foxkit almost snorted, watching the scene intently. Both of the younger kits looked at each other, nodded, and let go of Lightkit, darting away in different directions. Lightkit hissed, turning her gaze to Darkkit.
" You get Fernkit, I'll get Icekit!" She said, jerking her head towards Fernkit. Darkkit hesitantly got to his paws, before going in the direction Lightkit had told him to. Lightkit turned and darted towards Icekit, her paws beating against the ground. Twistedbranch watched them go, before looking back at Foxkit.
" Well, I need to get you ready before it's too late. " Twistedbranch purred.
" All cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather around tall tree for a Clan meeting! " Swiftstar yowled. Foxkit peeked out of the den, her neatly groomed fur twitching. Twistedbranch appeared behind her, giving Foxkit a nudge.
" Come with me. " she said, leaving the nursery. Foxkit looked around before following her into the crowd of gathered cats. A cold breeze blew through the camp. Swifstar's gaze swept the crowd, watching the gathering cats. His gaze found Foxkit, and he paused, his gaze lingering on her for a second.
" As some of you know, today we will have a- " he started. Risingdusk turned to her leader.
" Right, we know. We don't need you to make a spectacle of every ceremony. '' the deputy said, twitching her tail. Swiftstar gave his deputy a look, looking like he wanted to say something, before pausing. He twitched his ears, turning his gaze back to the crowd.
" Right, so what I was getting at, before I was interrupted, today we will have a new apprentice! " He said, giving Risingdusk a look while saying interrupted.
" Foxkit," he said, bringing his gaze towards her again. She heard muttering in the crowd. " Step forward. " A few disapproving looks. She took a few steps forward, looking at Twistedbranch. " All the way to the tree. '' she said, blinking at her. Foxkit turned away and walked through the gathered cats, pausing at the edge of the crowd, before taking a few more steps forward.
" Foxkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and so it's time for apprenticed. " He paused, taking a breath and twitching his ears at the faint muttering that happened below him. He shifted on his branch, his eyes scanning the ground, slightly narrowed.
" If you object so much, you can say it loud enough for me to hear. Though I'd much rather you keep your thoughts to yourself. " He said, lashing his tail. The grumbling stopped instantly, and Swiftstar went back into the position he was in before.
" Right. From this day on- " He was saying, before another cat interrupted him.
" If she's getting apprenticed, why aren't Lightkit and Darkkit getting apprenticed as well? " a voice called out. Swiftstar sighed. " Because they're younger. " He said, fluffing his fur.
" As I was saying, from this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you shall be known as Foxpaw. Your mentor will be Quillfeather. " He said, letting his gaze drop on a cat that was in the crowd, supposedly Quillfeather. Foxkit turned her head to see if she could see the tom. I hope that Quillfeather will pass down all he knows to you. "
" Quillfeather, " Swiftstar said, as a lithe grey tom walked forward. Foxpaw remembered watching him come back from different patrol's. " you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have received excellent training from Risingdusk, and you have shown yourself to be thoughtful and brave. You will be the mentor of Foxkit, and I expect you to pass on all you know to her. " He said. An elder leaped up from his spot by the den.
" What's the point of making her an apprentice? She can't patrol, or go to gatherings! Who knows what IceClan will do! " They said, hissing the last sentence. The leader gazed at the elder
" Since when did we care what IceClan thought of us? " He said, tipping his head. The elder glanced at Foxpaw for a brief second, before continuing.
"I'm more worried about what they'll do, they're already untrustworthy enough. " He growled, looking back at the leader. Swiftstar rolled his eyes.
" We can deal with them. " He said, before leaping off the tree to complete the last part of the ceremony.
Swiftstar and Foxkit, no Foxpaw, touched noses. She watched as Swiftstar turned away, flicking his tail. " Meeting dismissed. Risingdusk? " He announced, before turning to his deputy. The deputy got to her paws and followed her leader into his den, casting a look over her shoulder at Foxpaw.
The elder huffed and entered the den again, leaving Foxpaw's sight. Quillfeather nudged her, snapping her out of whatever focus she had. I'm an… apprentice. I'm an apprentice! The late reaction, or response, take your pick, hit her like a fallen tree. She shuddered at the thought, turning towards her mentor with a little hop.
" What are we doing today? " She asked, tipping her head. Her mentor gave her a look before replying.
" Exploring the territory. "
_
Alliances of the clans(As of now)
BirchClan
Leader:. Swiftstar
Deputy: Risingdusk
Medicine cat: Oakleaf
Warriors:
Sleekwhisker
App: Yarrowpaw
Cloverleaf
Tigerblaze ( Shadow of Song)
Whiteapple
App: Leafpaw
Wavewhisker
Nightstorm
Deerleap
App: Thistlepaw
Rubyblaze (Shadow of Song)
Anteyes
Tansybark
Snailsplash
Adderbite ( Dapplestarr)
Apprentices:
Yarrowpaw
Leafpaw
Thistlepaw (Eliza Loves Gaming)
Foxpaw
Queens:
Twistedbranch
Rainpool
Kits:
Lightkit
Darkkit
Icekit
Fernkit
Elders:
Houndeye
IceClan
Leader: Froststar
Deputy: Frozenivy
Medicine cat: Dockleaf
App Honeydew
Warriors:
Ivytail
Coldwhisker
App: Iceypaw
Blackice
Asheye
App: Gruffpaw
Duskear
Poppyfall
Snowslash
Dewfur
Emberdash
Snowfire ( Moonglade)
Frozenfur (Moonglade)
Breezewhisper
Eeriecall (Catspider
Silentsong (Catspider)
Apprentices:
Iceypaw ( Chaos of the Crimson)
Gruffpaw ( Chaos of the Crimson)
Queens:
Kits
Shatteredkit (Wolfiepirate)
Elders:
Sunshade
Quietbreeze
Bonescar (Cinderella)