Three gray paws, and one white, pounded at the floor. They carried to form of the gray and white Stormclan apprentice known as Salmonpaw. She was dashing after a rabbit through the trees. Her lean body, and quick mind allowed her to keep right behind the rabbit. Closer and closer, she inched towards it. Once the right distance was reached, she dug her claws into the rabbit's fur. Within seconds of Salmonpaw grabbing the rabbit, the apprentice was able to end the rabbit's struggle. She took deep breaths, standing up to look down at her fresh catch. Two sets of paws steps approached from behind her. A black and white tom followed by a gray tom with a white patch on his chest and forehead barreled through the bushes. Salmonpaw rolled her amber eyes.
"Slowpokes." She scoffed with a smile.
"Not everyone is you, Salmonpaw!" The other gray apprentice defended himself.
"You're related to me, Pigeonpaw!" Salmonpaw swatted at her brother's ear.
"Ok, you two. Our mentors are going to think we've run off." The black and white tom known as Moonpaw said.
"Fine, let's go." Salmonpaw grabbed her rabbit, and the three started on their way back to the clearing where their mentors, Crowdawn, Yellowbright, and Primrosefall, were waiting with the other catches.
"Well look at that! My apprentice, once again, got the biggest catch. It is Leaf fall too." Crowdawn purred, glaring at his siblings with pride.
"Both Pigeonpaw and Moonpaw made great catches!" Yellowbright glared at her brother.
"Relax, I was joking around. They all did amazing." Crowdawn rolled his eyes with an amused smile. Salmonpaw smirked at her mentor's teases. It was often thar Crowdawn bragged on her skills. The other apprentices had gotten used to his cocky spirit. He always made her seem like more than she was. Both Pigeonpaw and Mudpaw often mocked her for being invincible since her mentor made her seem that way. She would just laugh it off with her brothers.
"Grab your catches, let's get back to camp." Primrosefall told the three, who gladly grabbed their prey. Once in camp, the three apprentices dumped their prey in the pile and raced to where the other apprenitces, Mudpaw, Frozenpaw, and Scarepaw, were sitting.
"Guess whose mentor bragged on her rabbit today?" Moonpaw teased, sitting beside his sister. Pigeonpaw and Salmonnose sat beside their brother, Mudpaw. Frozenpaw, a orange and white tomcat, kept his eyes trained on Salmonpaw. She never questioned this, but often noticed him staring. Scarepaw, a poor sweet black shecat with a broken jaw, causing her to be mute, nudged Moonpaw.
"What's up?" He asked his little sister. She nodded her head to where their mentors were all talking with the leader at the time, Curlstar. The pretty tortoiseshell cat had a pleased look on her face.
"Well, look at that!"Mudpaw exclaimed," I think we may be getting pretty close to our warriors' assessment."
"You think?" Frozenpaw piped, excitement bubbling in his voice.
"Seems like it." Mudpaw shrugged. Salmonpaw pawed anxiously at the ground. She had been waiting for that day since she was a kit, and if she was truly close to it, she'd make sure to prove her worth.
"Mudpaw! Salmonpaw! Bramblerose and Dustycloud are back from the patrol!" Pigeonpaw purred, looking to where their parents were walking into the camp. The three siblings ran to see their parents.
"Hello, you three!" Bramblerose, a beautiful, lean, brown and white shecat with bright amber eyes smiled down at her kits.
"I caught a huge rabbit today!" Salmonpaw purred, but Pigeonpaw shoved her aside.
"I got two voles!" The tom cat said with a smile.
"Please you three, you're not kits." Their father, Dustycloud laughed. He was a pale gray and white tom with blue eyes, slightly darker than Pigeonpaw's.
"Oh you! Just enjoy that they like to talk to us!" Bramblerose nudged her mate playfully.
"We think our mentors may be trying to get us to have our warrior assessments!" Mudpaw finally said, which caught both parents' ears.
"Why is that?" Dustycloud asked.
"Scarepaw noticed our mentors talking with Curlstar." Salmonpaw looked the where the warriors and leader once were.
"Maybe then. Why don't you lot go eat. Keep us updated though. I love you three." Bramblerose purred, running her tongue over Mudpaw's head. The three sibling dashed back to their friends.
"Wow, that was the fastest conversation with your parents you've had all moon." Moonpaw teased.
"Oh, shut your muzzle." Salmonpaw playfully hissed," Come on, the clan's been fed, let's eat."
The six of them walked over to the prey pile, each getting something small to eat. Moonpaw ripped up bits of his mouse and made a pile for Scarepaw to eat, who gratefully purred in the best way she could. They all quickly finished their food. Salmonpaw licked her lips after her sparrow was gone.
"Now what do we do?" Salmonpaw asked, looking around.
"Chill?" Frozenpaw suggested. Salmonpaw shook her head.
"I have too much energy. I'm going to go see if Snakefall needs help." Salmonpaw turned around and ran over to the medicine den. The white tom was sorting some fresh caught herbs into different piles.
"Hi Snakefall! I'm bored, and already hunted. Crowdawn's on a patrol now. Can I help you?" Salmonpaw bubbled. The tom cat laughed a bit before turning and training his gray eyes on her.
"Hopefully, you remember the difference between thyme, catmint, and horsetail." He purred.
"I do!" Salmonpaw pipped, carefully walking over to help him sort the three out. Snakefall's previous apprentice, Gorgepaw, died of greencough, and no kits were old enough to be apprentices. Scarepaw was pushed to be one, but she had insisted she could be a warrior. Salmonpaw had gotten close with her father's brother, knowing he needed help now and them. While she was still training to be a warrior, her knowledge in healing and herbs made her a strong cat with a wide variety of skills.
"Done with the catmint!" Salmonpaw pipped, turning to look at Snakefall. She made sure her tail was off the ground as to not accidentally sweep the herbs into a mess. The white tabby smiled.
"You're getting fast as this. You sure you want to be a warrior?" Snakefall knew the answer already, Salmonpaw knew he did.
"Yea, I'm sure! I can always help until you get a new apprentice though." She grabbed a few stalks of horsetail and walked over to the crevice where it was kept.
"Of course, and the help is welcomed. If being a warrior doesn't work out, you got a place here for you." Snakefall turned back to the thyme he was sorting.
"Hey, Salmonpaw! Crowdawn's looking for you!" Jaypool, and older warrior, called to her.
"Oh, ok. I gotta go. Bye Snakefall!" The gray and white apprentice purred, running out of the den. The white medicine cat shook his head.
"At least she's got spirit." He chuckled to himself.
Salmonpaw raced to find her mentor, who was waiting beside the other apprentices. She slowed down, a confused look flashing onto her face. All the other apprentices held the same look on their faces.
"Oh, relax will you! It's good news!" Primrosefall scoffed. Salmonpaw gave her brothers a look of 'are you thinking what I am?' Both of her bothers nodded.
"Crowdawn, Primrosefall, Yellowbright, and I all agreed we believe Salmonpaw, Moonpaw, Pigeonpaw, and Mudpaw are ready to be warriors." Eaglewing, Mudpaw's mentor, purred.
"Rockdapple and I both decided to hold Scarepaw and Frozenpaw for at least another moon." Scarepaw's mentor, Tigerflower said, looking at the two who nodded. There was determination in their eyes.
"You four's assessment with be the day after tomorrow, so prepare yourself and don't slack off any." Yellowbright locked eyes with the four apprentices. Salmonpaw's claws dug into the ground, trying to help her contain her ever growing excitement. Crowdawn chuckled a bit.
"Man, I can't believe I won't be able to brag on Salmonpaw anymore." He shook his head.
"Oh, i'm sure you'll find a way, won't you." Yellowbright hisses playfully.
"You're right, I probably will." Crowdawn smiled smugly.
"Just be ready, ok?" Eaglewing looked at the four intently.
"We Will!" The four purred in union.
"We'll train are hardest to be warriors like you all will be too!" Frozenpaw pipped. Scarepaw nodded her head in agreement.
"Good. I'd expect no less." Rockdapple purred. Their mentors dismissed them and sent them on their way. Salmonpaw laughed joyously as she trotted away by her brothers.
"I've been waiting moons for this! Finally it's time!" She jumped up and down a few times.
"I wonder what our warrior names will be? Pigeonfeather? Pigeontail? Pigeonbright?" Pigeonpaw murmured to himself, and Mudpaw joined in.
"Mudfoot? Or maybe Mudclaw? Ooh! Mudstrike!" Mudpaw's amber eyes glittered with excitement.
"I don't care what name I get, as long as I can have one." Salmonpaw puffed her chest out. Salmonpaw ran ahead of her brother, over to highstone.
"One of these days, I'll be standing beside my leader up there. Who knows, maybe I'll even be leader." Salmonpaw wondered outloud as her brothers walked up on her either side of her flank. She narrowed her eyes and smilled proudly.
"One day." She thought to herself," One day."