Icekit
Learning how to climb a tree looked as easy as Icekit originally thought it would be- well, at least Lightkit made it look that way.
She realized that these cats had strong slender claws that hooked a little more inward than the alley cats at home did.
Before she was encouraged to try and scale downwards, Icekit clung to the very edge of the camp and peered down the large trunk. The ground seemed so far away, but it took very little effort for any of these cats. Any of the young alley cats would have been daunted by not only the height, but their skill to climb a tree trunk like these cats.
Lightkit naturally took to it; he easily slid down the trunk with little problem. She watched him cling to the bark and unsheathed her own claws. She was surprised when she noticed that they looked almost as hooked as the ForestClan cats' were, and she shivered in anticipation when Fawntail called to her.
"Since you're part of the Clan, you'll have to learn how to get out and in of camp." She mewed and started forward to show Icekit how to get down, but Icekit suddenly plunged forward with her claws flung forward.
Her claws nearly gave way when she slid downwards. She slowly gripped hard into the bark and slowly released when she wanted to drop a little lower. It was a slow process until Icekit got the hang of it and reached the ground next to Lightkit.
The pale ginger tom blinked at her but said nothing. Annoyance filled Icekit's belly and her fur on the back of her neck lifted just a little. Still mad at me then? Fine.
Icekit ignored him and looked up at the others who were looking at her strangely- more cats had come to watch the kits learn how to get in and out of camp and were staring at her with eyes wide. Icekit felt her fur on the back of her neck fluff up again and also felt a little pride. Robin would have been proud of me too, and so would Blaze.
Well, I'm not stupid. I can learn like any cat.
Fawntail had turned to Olivekit and said something to her. Olivekit lifted her head and nervously started downwards. The cats that were watching from the edge of the camp slowly dispersed- Icekit felt a tad bit sad for the she-kit.
"Hurry up, Olivekit! You're as slow as a slug!" Icekit snorted when Aspenkit called to her littermate. It reminded her of Blaze egging her on. Olivekit scowled and one her paws faltered.
Fawntail sharply looked at Aspenkit and gazed worriedly at Olivekit. Lightkit didn't seemed fazed at Olivekit's temporary peril as she regained footing and inched her way down to the ground.
Icekit stared up at Aspenkit. She looked sad all alone with the others climbing without her.
"Are you all getting older or is it just me?" Icekit flicked her ears and turned around. A red and brown she-cat was padding towards them. A younger cream colored she-cat followed her.
"We are, Larkblossom. I'm almost six moons old now." Lightkit mewed in reply.
"Almost a warrior!" Larkblossom exclaimed and then looked at Icekit. She smiled and her eyes grew soft.
"Hello Icekit. You seem a bit older than Lightkit here. Perhaps nine moons maybe?" She asked. Icekit shrugged- Robin never really told her or Blaze how old they were.
"You'd probably be an apprentice now." Larkblossom continued. Icekit felt uncomfortable by the way the older she-cat was looking at her.
"She's so small though. How would she be an apprentice- especially since she's mute?" Olivekit spoke up. Icekit narrowed her eyes. I'm mute, not weak!
"Olivekit, be nice."
The pale tan she-cat scowled but shut her mouth. Fawntail had climbed down while Larkblossom was talking to them.
"I already spoke to Littlestar about their apprenticeship…" Fawntail mewed and then suddenly directed her attention to the kits.
"How about you climb up? I'll be right behind you." She said and turned back to the other she-cat once she was sure that they were making their way back up.
Lightkit went first, and Icekit followed him alongside Olivekit. Icekit nearly lost her footing again but a friendly nose secured her safety.
Icekit didn't look to see her savior until she had made it up to the top. She then turned around and saw the cream colored she-cat that was standing behind Larkblossom.
"Hi, I'm Redpaw. You're Icekit, right?" The cream she-cat meowed. Icekit nodded.
"Hey Redpaw! Do you know what they're talking about? We should be apprentices now." Aspenkit called to Redpaw from behind. Redpaw's ears twitched and she sighed.
"Aspenkit...now's not the time for questions." She said and started walking away. Lightkit and his sisters followed her.
"Aw, come on. Please?" Aspenkit whined. Lightkit didn't say anything but looked curious, the same with Olivekit. Icekit didn't know what else to do other than follow after them.
What is even being an apprentice mean? She wondered. They followed her over to a pile of freshly killed prey. The aroma of a mouse caught Icekit's nose and made her stomach growl.
"We might not even have enough warriors to train you all. After the big battle...there are only really young warriors right now. Littlestar isn't too excited in giving less experienced warriors apprentices to train." Redpaw whispered to them as she grabbed a squirrel off the pile.
Aspenkit frowned. "What's the big deal in young warriors training apprentices? Wouldn't they remember their own training since they're young?"
Redpaw shrugged and nodded towards the edge of camp.
"There's your mother. I didn't say nothin, you hear me guys?" Redpaw meowed and sat down with her meal. Icekit nodded and trailed after the others towards Fawntail.
"You kits shouldn't be pestering Redpaw. Now go run off and play after you get something to eat. I have to take care of some things." Fawntail mewed and shooed them away.
Icekit gratefully gulped a mouse down, and the rest of the day was spent following and playing with the three other kits.
Redpaw
Larkblossom woke Redpaw up fairly early for a hunting patrol. Redpaw could feel the heat already increasing as she left the apprentices den and followed her mentor out of camp.
She noticed a change in Larkblossom's spirit; there was a lightness in her pawsteps and she smiled more than Redpaw have ever seen her do before.
She listened to her mentor talk about random things such as past elders and leaders.
They didn't catch much and decided to check the borders instead. Everything was much quieter than it was during Larkblossom's own apprenticeship.
They returned to camp later in the morning, seeing that the kits were learning how to get in and out of camp. Lightkit took to climbing naturally- he had his father's strength. The new addition to the Clan, Icekit, seemed to also take to climbing easily. Olivekit seemed to have a harder time but made it down safely.
Larkblossom made her way towards them.
"Are you all getting older or is it just me?" She asked the group of kits. They turned to the warrior once they heard her.
We are, Larkblossom. I'm almost six moons old now." Lightkit mewed in reply.
"Almost a warrior!" Larkblossom exclaimed and then looked at Icekit. Redpaw noticed that warmth in her look again.
Hello Icekit. You seem a bit older than Lightkit here. Perhaps nine moons maybe?" She asked. The little white kit looked a bit lost in thought.
You'd probably be an apprentice now." Larkblossom continued. Now the kit looked a bit uncomfortable.
"She's so small though. How would she be an apprentice- especially since she's mute?" Olivekit spoke up, and Redpaw could almost her the inward groans of annoyance from Lightkit.
Thankfully Fawntail had come down and told Olivekit to be nice. She approached Larkblossom.
"I already spoke to Littlestar about their apprenticeship..." The calico started, but she then turned to her kits.
"How about you climb up? I'll be right behind you." She mewed, and only resumed what she was saying earlier once she made sure the kits made their way upwards.
"He isn't so sure about Icekit becoming an apprentice. Kindlestrike offered to mentor her, but he already has Blossompaw."
Larkblossom sighed. "He thinks we're short on mentors. He's not confident in our young warriors training apprentices...Redpaw, thank you for your patience."
Redpaw knew she was being dismissed right then and hurried up when she noticed Icekit struggling. She scrambled towards the kit and nudged her nose behind her just as she had lost footing. She helped Icekit up to the top.
Icekit studied her once they got to safety.
"Hi, I'm Redpaw! You're Icekit, right?" She mewed. The white kit nodded, her dark eyes glinting with curiousity.
"Hey Redpaw! Do you know what they're talking about? We should be apprentices now." Aspenkit called to Redpaw from behind. Redpaw's ears twitched and she sighed.
"Aspenkit...now's not the time for questions." She said and started walking away. Lightkit and his sisters followed her.
"Aw, come on. Please?" Aspenkit whined. Redpaw scowled. You're so nosy.
She made her way to the fresh kill pile after noticing that her belly was rumbling. They followed her like they'd follow prey.
"We might not even have enough warriors to train you all. After the big battle...there are only really young warriors right now. Littlestar isn't too excited in giving less experienced warriors apprentices to train." Redpaw gave in and whispered to them as she grabbed a squirrel off the pile.
Redpaw saw a frown appear on Aspenkits face. "What's the big deal in young warriors training apprentices? Wouldn't they remember their own training since they're young?"
Redpaw shrugged and nodded towards the edge of camp when she saw Fawntail and Larkblossom appear.
"There's your mother. I didn't say nothin, you hear me guys?" Redpaw meowed and sat down with her meal. Icekit nodded and scampered after the others.
Redpaw watched while chewing her food as they were dismissed by their mother. They began playing as the two warriors headed up towards the Leader's den.
They were probably going to see if he would change his mind.
Redpaw wasn't too sure if he would as she finished her squirrel. She groomed herself right afterwards and thought about maybe making use of herself.
Blackpaw and Flarepaw were nearby, so she called to them.
"Hey guys, would you lend me a paw? The elders probably need their nests checked." They agreed and followed her to the elders den. After a few words to their father, they set in on their work.