Here is Chapter 4. I hope you enjoy!
Chapter 4
ShadowClan
Waterkit's heart was beating so fast she thought it would explode. Cinderlight stood a few foxlengths away, grooming Snowkit's already shining fur. Firekit and Icekit were staring up at the High Rock in awe.
"Are you ready?" Flamestripe padded up behind his kits, an amused expression on his face.
"I've never felt more ready!" Waterkit squealed, straightening her back to look taller.
"I wonder who my mentor will be," Firekit's tail lashed back and forth as he paced the clearing. "I hope it's Hazelrose."
Waterkit rolled her eyes. Firekit had been trailing after Hazelrose since he met her, but a blind squirrel could see that Hazelrose and Oakdust only had eyes for each other.
"Get over her," Icekit nudged her brother, flashing him a grin. "Hazelrose probably doesn't even remember you."
Firekit glared at her and turned away, signaling that he wasn't speaking to her. Icekit caught Waterkit's gaze and she winked.
You should keep an eye on her, the voice told Waterkit. She could destroy ShadowClan.
Icekit would never do that! Waterkit silently protested. Her brow furrowed as she tried to figure out what the voice meant. She's as loyal as any warrior.
A loyal cat can still destroy their Clan, the voice said. Brokenstar was loyal only to ShadowClan, wasn't he?
Waterkit couldn't help the shiver than ran down her spine. Icekit won't destroy ShadowClan. I'll make sure she doesn't. Waterkit promised.
"All cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather around for a Clan meeting!" Redstar's call caught Waterkit's attention and she turned to look at Cinderlight. Her mother's face was torn between pride and fear, and Waterkit couldn't help but wonder why.
Once the Clan was gathered, Redstar continued. "Today we celebrate the making of four new apprentices." He announced. "Firekit, Snowkit, Icekit, and Waterkit, please come forwards."
Waterkit padded up to the High Rock with her littermates, her heartbeat speeding up.
"Firekit, from this day forth until you earn your warrior name, you shall be known as Firepaw." Redstar said. "Your mentor will be Mosstail. Mosstail, you trained Ravenwing well and I know that you will teach Firepaw the patience he needs to learn." Purrs of amusement met his statement.
Firepaw bounded over to Mosstail and excitedly bumped noses with her. Waterkit felt a rush of pity for her brother. Mosstail was known to be incredibly strict. She would be hard on Firepaw.
"Snowkit, from this day forth until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Snowpaw." Snowpaw was bouncing up and down. The warriors looked amused while Cinderlight was shaking her head in embarrassment. "Your mentor will be Ravenwing. Ravenwing, you are ready for your first apprentice. I trust that you will teach Snowpaw all she needs to know."
Snowpaw and Ravenwing swiftly touched noses.
"Icekit, from this day forth until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Icepaw. Your mentor will be Morningsky. Morningsky, you are brave and kind. I hope that you will pass these qualities on to Icepaw."
Icepaw grinned. She touched noses with Morningsky and sat down beside her, completely calm.
"Waterkit," Waterkit froze. This was it. She was becoming an apprentice. "from this day forth until you earn your warrior name, you shall be known as Waterpaw." Waterpaw, Waterpaw thought. I love it!"Your mentor will be Hazelrose. Hazelrose, you have shown great loyalty to your Clan and you are being rewarded with an apprentice."
Waterpaw bounded over to the sweet she-cat and excitedly touched noses with her. Hazelrose licked Waterpaw's shoulder.
"I'm going to be the best apprentice you've ever had!" Waterpaw whispered.
"That won't be hard." Hazelrose purred. "You're my first apprentice."
Waterpaw ducked her head in embarrassment and shuffled her paws while Hazelrose laughed. Redstar dismissed the meeting and quickly padded over to Nightpool. The black she-cat's tail curled around her stomach in a defensive fashion when she saw Redstar approach. Waterpaw narrowed her eyes.
What is she hiding?She wondered. She quickly shook herself, not wanting the voice to return.
"We'll go and see the territory now." Hazelrose mewed, catching the young blue-gray she-cat's attention.
"Okay!" Waterpaw chirped. She and Hazelrose padded towards the camp entrance when Mosstail's mew stopped them.
"Can Firepaw and I join you?" she asked, padding after them. Hazelrose nodded and soon they were off. Firepaw chattered happily to Waterpaw, letting her know just how beautiful Hazelrose was and how she was sooooo lucky that Hazelrose was her mentor.
Waterpaw blinked gratefully when Mosstail commanded Firepaw to shut up.
"This is the ThunderClan border." Mosstail mewed as they approached an awful smelling place. "Get a good sniff. You'll want to recognize their scent."
Waterpaw raised her nose in the air and inhaled. She almost choked on the horrible taste that filled her mouth. Hazelrose must have noticed her face because she burst out laughing.
"You should've seen your face!" Firepaw joined in. Mosstail didn't look amused. Waterpaw let out a low growl. She launched herself at her brother and the two tussled on the ground for a while. Mosstail howled at them to stop but both Waterpaw and Firepaw ignored her.
Waterpaw slammed into Firepaw's side. He grunted and spun around, his sheathed paws raking her side. Waterpaw stumbled into a bush and let out a howl of pain as her paw sunk down on a thorn. She limped back over to Hazelrose, casting her brother a glare as she did.
"It was your own fault," Hazelrose sighed. "Let's go back to camp. Have Nightpool take a look at you."
Waterpaw nodded. She glared at Firepaw once more and she and Hazelrose began on the path to return to camp.
…
Nightpool was cleaning her den when Waterpaw entered. The black medicine cat turned around and sighed when she saw Waterpaw.
"First day and you've already managed to injure yourself?" she asked. She didn't even wait for an answer. "Well, sit down and tell me what happened."
Waterpaw sat. "I've got a thorn in my paw." She grumbled. "Firepaw was laughing at me so I attacked him and he pushed me."
"Thorns aren't so hard to remove." Nightpool reassured her. "Here, just let me…" she trailed off and a sharp pain flooded Waterpaw. She yelped and was about to yell at the medicine cat when she realized that Nightpool held the thorn in her jaws. Nightpool spat the thorn out and licked Waterpaw's paw.
"Try to stay off that paw for a few days. If it hurts come and see me. We don't want it getting infected." She said. Waterpaw nodded and lowered her leg. She put a little weight on it and winced as pain shot up her leg. She turned to leave when Nightpool's voice stopped her.
"Four will become three, warmth and cold shall meet in battle and both will fall."
Waterpaw spun around. Nightpool's eyes were glossy and she stood up completely straight. She remained that way for a heartbeat before her frozen expression began to melt and she blinked.
"Is there a reason you're still in here?" she asked, throwing Waterpaw an annoyed look. Waterpaw shook her head numbly and slowly backed out of the den. Hazelrose was waiting outside.
"Did you get it out?" she asked. Waterpaw nodded. "Good. Get some sleep. We can continue the tour of the territory tomorrow."
She frowned when Waterpaw didn't object. The blue-gray she-cat padded over to the apprentices' den. Pinepaw greeted her excitedly and flicked her tail towards an empty nest. Waterpaw trudged over to it and flopped down in the moss.
She stared at the ground, ignoring Firepaw's inquiry about the thorn and Icepaw's excited rambling about the territory.
Four will become three. Four will become three.She blinked in horror as realization shot through her. Does that mean one of us will die?
Her eyes floated over her littermates. Firepaw was slumped in his nest, chatting to Tigerpaw about something or another. Icepaw and Pinepaw were sharing tongues and Snowpaw was sleeping, her flank rising and falling with each inhale and exhale. Thrushpaw stumbled into the den a few heartbeats later and fell into her nest. Within seconds she was asleep. Soon, the rest of Waterpaw's denmates were sleeping too and she was the only one left awake.
I may find them annoying, Waterpaw thought. But I don't want them to die.
She shuffled around in her nest, trying to get comfortable but Nightpool's prophecy kept ringing through her ears.
Warmth and cold will meet in battle. Well, Firepaw has a warm name. Snowpaw and Icepaw have cold names…and mine is in the middle.Waterpaw thought. She became more and more confused with every second and soon she found her thoughts starting to wonder.
Who is going to die? She wondered. There was no reply and for once, Waterpaw found herself wishing that the voice would talk to her. I hope that if one of us dies, Waterpaw's eyes started to blur. It's me.
Allegiances
ShadowClan
Leader: Redstar – dark ginger tabby tom with a white underbelly, chest, muzzle, and paws, and amber eyes
Deputy: Hawkshadow – dark gray and white tabby tom with yellow-amber eyes
Medicine Cat(s): Nightpool – sleek black she-cat
Warriors (toms and she-cats without kits)
Flamestripe – dark ginger and white tom
Eagleflame – ginger and white tabby tom with amber eyes
(Apprentice, Tigerpaw)
Morningsky – pale blue-gray she-cat with blue eyes
(Apprentice, Icepaw)
Cinderlight – blue-gray she-cat with blue-green eyes
Sunburst – small golden and orange tabby tom with green eyes (daughter: Wildkit)
Littleclaw – small dark gray tom with green eyes
(Apprentice, Pinepaw)
Mosstail – dark brown tabby she-cat
(Apprentice, Firepaw)
Oakdust – long-furred light sandy-brown tom with brown eyes
(Apprentice, Thrushpaw)
Hazelrose – brown and white tabby she-cat with green eyes
(Apprentice, Waterpaw)
Dustcloud – pale brown tom with a white underbelly, paws, and blue eyes
Ravenwing – sleek black she-cat
(Apprentice, Snowpaw)
Apprentices (toms and she-cats training to be warriors or medicine cats)
Tigerpaw – dark brown tabby tom with green eyes
Icepaw – white she-cat with blue eyes
Pinepaw – black she-cat with green eyes
Firepaw – dark ginger tabby tom
Thrushpaw – dark brown tabby she-cat
Waterpaw – pale blue-gray she-cat with green eyes
Snowpaw – gray and white tabby she-cat
Queens (she-cats nursing or expecting kits)
Sparkpelt – orange tabby she-cat; mother to Dustcloud's kit: Cherrykit (cream and ginger she-kit); foster mother to Stormkit (tortoiseshell and white she-kit) and Wildkit (small calico she-kit)
Elders (former queens and warriors who are now retired)
Patchtail – small black and white tom
ThunderClan
Leader: Foreststar – white tom with dark brown tabby patches and green eyes
Deputy: Emberfeather – small, short-furred ginger she-cat with amber eyes
(Apprentice, Sootpaw)
Medicine Cat(s): Leafheart – brown and white tabby she-cat
Warriors (toms and she-cats without kits)
Stagleg – black tom with brown legs and paws and yellow eyes
Dustwhisker – ginger she-cat with brown patches
(Apprentice, Smokepaw)
Honeyflower – slim golden tabby she-cat
Spottail – calico she-cat with pale green eyes
Pigeonwing – large dark brown tabby tom
Icefang – white she-cat with pale yellow eyes
(Apprentice, Patchpaw)
Blizzardfrost – large gray and white tom
(Apprentice, Lovepaw)
Dewtail – large black and gray tom
(Apprentice, Russetpaw)
Harestorm – ginger tabby tom
Rowanfur – dark brown tabby she-cat with green eyes
Apprentices (toms and she-cats training to be warriors or medicine cats)
Smokepaw – blue-gray she-cat
Sootpaw – dark gray tom
Patchpaw – ginger and white she-cat
Russetpaw – dark ginger she-cat
Lovepaw – black she-cat
Queens (she-cats nursing or expecting kits)
Lilyfoot – long-furred dark gray and gray she-cat with hazel eyes; mother to Stagleg's kit: Gracefulkit (silky, fluffy, black she-kit with hazel eyes)
Lavendermist – blue-gray she-cat; mother to Pigeonwing's kits: Redkit (cream she-kit with red stripes), Lambkit (white she-kit), and Bluekit (blue-silver she-kit)
Kits (toms and she-cats under six moons)
Breezekit – black tom with ice blue eyes
Elders (former queens and warriors who are now retired)
None
LightningClan
Leader: Silverstar – black she-cat with silver paws, spots and bright amber eyes
Deputy: Ashfang – gray and black tom
(Apprentice, Blizzardpaw)
Medicine Cat(s): Mistyheart – dark gray she-cat
Warriors (toms and she-cats without kits)
Rivertail – blue-gray tom with black and white paws
(Apprentice, Stagpaw)
Thrushtalon – pale brown tom with green eyes
(Apprentice, Frozenpaw)
Birchpelt – light gray tabby tom
(Apprentice, Crimsonpaw)
Timberclaw – brown tabby tom
Berryfur – orange she-cat
(Apprentice, Typhoonpaw)
Tawnysky – tawny brown she-cat with amber eyes
(Apprentice, Troutpaw)
Moonflash – silver she-cat
Fireblaze – fire coloured tom
Apprentices (toms and she-cats training to be warriors or medicine cats)
Stagpaw – gray tom with black ears and one black paw
Troutpaw – gray she-cat with golden eyes
Crimsonpaw – ginger tabby tom with aquamarine coloured eyes
Frozenpaw – pale gray she-cat
Typhoonpaw – gray tom with yellow eyes
Queens (she-cats nursing or expecting kits)
Blacksong – black she-cat with soft blue eyes; mother to Rivertail's kits: Shadekit (black tom with dark gray stripes and blue eyes and Bluekit (blue-gray she-kit with silver spots and green eyes)
Elders (former queens and warriors who are now retired)
Redhollow – black tom with russet spots and amber eyes
WindClan
Leader: Moorstar – light brown tabby tom with green eyes
Deputy: Whitesong (currently in the nursery)
Medicine Cat(s): Cloverleg – brown, gray, and white she-cat with golden eyes and a lame leg
Warriors (toms and she-cats without kits)
Fungustail – smoke gray and cream tom
(Apprentice, Duskpaw)
Mothtail – pale cream she-cat with three gray paws
(Apprentice, Emberpaw)
Clayspots – tortoiseshell tom with amber eyes
(Apprentice, Rainpaw)
Sunpatch – golden and white tom
(Apprentice, Stormpaw)
Brownfur – light brown tabby tom
Ashenwing – gray she-cat with green eyes
(Apprentice, Dustpaw)
Dashfoot – pale gray and white tom with green eyes
(Apprentice, Rabbitpaw)
Flowerfoot – pale brown tabby she-cat
(Apprentice, Murkpaw)
Apprentices (toms and she-cats training to be warriors or medicine cats)
Duskpaw – dark gray tabby tom
Emberpaw – gray tom with yellow eyes
Rainpaw – gray tabby she-cat with blue eyes
Stormpaw – dark gray she-cat with gray eyes
Dustpaw – pale brown tabby she-cat
Rabbitpaw – light brown tabby she-cat with a white muzzle, chest, and paws
Murkpaw – sleek black tom
Queens (she-cats nursing or expecting kits)
Whitesong – fluffy white she-cat with one amber eye and one ice blue eye; mother to Moorstar's kit: Iriskit (brown she-kit with a white chest and paws)
Ferndapple – dappled black, brown, and ginger she-cat with a white underbelly, chest, muzzle, and paws; mother to Nightkit (black tom) and Applekit (orange she-kit)
Squirrelfoot – dark brown tabby she-cat; mother to Snakefire's kits: Blackkit (black tabby she-kit), Bramblekit (dark brown tabby she-kit), and Beetlekit (black tabby she-kit)
Elders (former queens and warriors who are now retired)
Bluebreeze – blue-gray tabby she-cat with pale green eyes
Poppywing – blind tortoiseshell she-cat
Grayheart – battle scarred pale gray tom with deep green eyes
RiverClan
Leader: Alderstar – dark brown tom with yellow eyes
Deputy: Foxclaw – gray and ginger tom
(Apprentice, Minnowpaw)
Medicine Cat(s): Volestripe – dark brown tabby and white tom
Swiftbirch – messy furred cream and white tom with a light brown muzzle and yellow eyes
Warriors (toms and she-cats without kits)
Shadepelt – large black tom with dark green eyes
Reedtail – golden-brown tom with blue eyes
Icescar – white tom with a scar along his left flank
Trouttail – white tom with gray patches
(Apprentice, Perchpaw)
Pearlpelt – white she-cat with yellow eyes
Dewdust – mute dark gray she-cat with amber eyes
Palestripe – pale cream tabby she-cat with hazel eyes
Pinemask – very dark brown and black tom with hazel eyes
(Apprentice, Eskerpaw)
Smokefoot – black tom with white paws, muzzle, and tail tip
Lightningstrike – golden tom with amber-green eyes
(Apprentice, Rabbitpaw)
Mistywater – very pale gray she-cat with green eyes
Moonheart – brown she-cat with white paws, muzzle, and tail tip
Apprentices (toms and she-cats training to be warriors or medicine cats)
Minnowpaw – white she-cat with golden-brown spots and yellow eyes
Perchpaw – golden-brown tom with a white underbelly and yellow eyes
Eskerpaw – light gray tom with blue eyes
Rabbitpaw – very fluffy white tom with strong hind legs
Blizzardpaw – lean dark brown she-cat
Queens (she-cats nursing or expecting kits)
Featherheart – white she-cat with dark blue eyes; mother to Smokefoot's kits: Spottedkit (black and white tom), Darkkit (black tom), Shykit (white she-kit), and Dovekit (white she-kit)
Pebblespots – gray she-cat with darker spots; mother to Icescar's kits: Shadekit (gray and white she-kit), Mottlekit (gray tom with darker spots), Brackenkit (white tom with brown patches), and Sunnykit (gray and white she-kit)
Elders (former queens and warriors who are now retired)
Icyeye – gray and white tom with ice blue eyes
SkyClan
Leader: Stormstar – pure white tom with ice blue eyes
(Apprentice, Thornpaw)
Deputy: Ravenflight – black tabby she-cat with deep green eyes
(Apprentice, Bramblepaw)
Medicine Cat(s): Lilywish – pretty silver tabby she-cat with yellow-green eyes
(Apprentice, Morningpaw)
Warriors (toms and she-cats without kits)
Cloudsoar – gray and white tom with blue eyes
(Apprentice, Eveningpaw)
Iceflight – large white tom with golden eyes
(Apprentice, Lilacpaw)
Flightheart – white tom with ginger splotches
(Apprentice, Midnightpaw)
Blizzardshade – lean dark brown she-cat
(Apprentice, Sagepaw)
Nightspots – white tom with black spots
Hayblossom – dilute calico she-cat
Apprentices (toms and she-cats training to be warriors or medicine cats)
Thornpaw – sandy gray tom
Bramblepaw – small dark brown tabby tom with green eyes
Morningpaw – beautiful scrawny small white she-cat with golden, red, and orange patches and black paws; bright blue eyes
Eveningpaw – beautiful scrawny small white she-cat with golden, red, and orange patches, bright amber eyes
Lilacpaw – long-furred dull ginger she-cat with green eyes
Midnightpaw – black tom with golden, and yellow spots; amber eyes
Sagepaw – cream and white tom
Queens (she-cats nursing or expecting kits)
Bloomshadow – tortoiseshell she-cat with hazel eyes; mother to Stormstar's kits: Tanglekit (pure white tom) and Littlekit (small tortoiseshell she-kit)
Moonspirit – silver she-cat with gray stripes and green eyes; mother to Flightheart's kits: Whispkit (silver she-kit), Branchkit (brown tom), and Frostkit (silver and white she-kit)
Elders (former queens and warriors who are now retired)
Orchidpounce – cream coloured she-cat with brown paws
Cloudfang – white tom with green eyes
Treebird – brown she-cat with blue eyes
Pooltail – silver tom with green eyes
Cats Outside Clans
Willow – pale tortoiseshell and white she-cat
IMPORTANT: I am no longer accepting OCs. Please don't submit more because if you do, I will not be using them.
ALSO IMPORTANT: I just want everyone to know that if I kill your character off, it is because the story needs more dead cats...that sounds strange but oh well. The point is, some of your characters WILL die.
You guys honestly have no idea how many times I typed Waterkit and had to backspace and type Waterpaw. It was very frustrating.
- Hollyshade