Short chapter this time, sorry. -
Chapter 5: The Introductions
"We sleep here," Webpaw said, nodding at a lone bush sitting by the side of the sandy hollow. Smokepaw and Webpaw approached the bush, whose leaves were dry and branches were prickly.
"There's a small space underneath the branches where we sleep. We're right by Outlook Rock too," Webpaw said distractedly, dipping his head so he could pass under the bush's sticks and leaves.
"What's Outlook Rock?" inquired Smokepaw.
"Oh right. It's a huge boulder just outside of camp. If a cat stands on it, they can see everything in our territory. It's great, we're never ambushed!" Webpaw said, "Apprentices have to watch WindClan's land from Outlook Rock to make sure there are no intruders. We each get a different time of day. I'm dawn and Bamboopaw is sunhigh and I think Cherrypaw is afternoon. So you'll probably be sundown. Breezepaw is lucky, he doesn't have to take a watch because he's training to be a medicine cat."
Smokepaw took all this information in, processing it quickly. He realized he had a lot to learn. He didn't know the first thing about these cats' way of life.
"So this is the apprentice's den?" Smokepaw said conversationally, stepping into the cool shade of the bush and staring around.
"Yep."
Bundles of moss lined the den, blocking out the frigid coldness. Piles of leaves marked where each apprentice slept. It was a plain den but it was functional. Smokepaw could just see the darkening sky outside through the branches. He shivered slightly; night was bringing a fierce chill.
Webpaw must have spotted Smokepaw's shiver because he said, "Leafbare is coming soon. We only have a few days left of leaf-fall. I hope we're prepared for the freezing moons ahead."
At that moment, three cats entered the den. Smokepaw recognized the orange she-cat that was sitting with Webpaw. The other two were unfamiliar.
"Hey look Cherrypaw," the tan she-cat with a white tail said, "it's the loser loner who decided to parade into our Clan and join it."
Smokepaw stared at the she-cat, perplexed by her hostility. Hadn't he explained himself during the ceremony?
"Just because your sister died on the Thunderpath, doesn't mean you have the right to join our Clan," the tan cat continued.
"Oh shut up Bamboopaw," Webpaw said cheerfully, whacking her across the face.
Bamboopaw hissed in anger and pain and lunged at Webpaw. While the two apprentices tussled and scratched at each other on the floor, a white tom with black spots on his tail sheepishly smiled at Smokepaw.
"I'm Breezepaw," he said, "and this is Cherrypaw. The furball on the floor is Bamboopaw."
"Hi," Smokepaw replied awkwardly, "so you guys don't hate me?"
Cherrypaw smiled at him. Smokepaw noted the bright, intense green of her eyes.
"I don't hate you. I don't even know you yet. Welcome to WindClan," Cherrypaw said simply.
Webpaw struggled to his feet, throwing a spitting Bamboopaw on to the ground. The she-cat stiffly got up, glared at Smokepaw and then curled up into a ball on a stack of leaves in the corner.
"Don't mind her," Webpaw said, licking his dark fur, "she doesn't like any cats."
Bamboopaw grunted angrily from the corner. Smokepaw couldn't help smiling. Webpaw reminded him of Thistle.
"You should get some sleep," advised Breezepaw, taking his place on the pile of leaves, "you'll want to be in top shape tomorrow if you're going to be training."
Cherrypaw nodded and then she too, settled down on the soft ground, next to Breezepaw. Smokepaw thought that Breezepaw was right. He wanted to show WindClan that he was a good addition to their ranks. He hesitantly lay down by a free space near the entrance of the den and when nobody protested, Smokepaw carefully wrapped his black tail around his paws, smoothed down his fur with his tongue and then swiftly dropped off into a deep sleep.