Chapter 2 – Apprenticeship

Just wanted to let you know…. Later on cats don't know that Whisperpaw is Whispersong now. All clans will know the name change at the Gathering. Plus she is still a Medicine Cat Apprentice.

On with the Chapter!

Goldenkit looked at her brother and sister. They sat beside her, pride showing in their eyes. Owlpaw, her older brother, had Violetpelt, the clan deputy for his mentor. Snakepaw, her sister, had Oceanstorm, a warrior that Snakepaw admired, for a mentor. Goldenkit trembled in excitement as all eyes were on her.

"And I will mentor Goldenpaw myself," Wolfstar ended.

Silence reigned as Snakepaw's and Owlpaw's jaws dropped in surprise. Goldenpaw's eyes widened in disbelief. She was to be Wolfstar's apprentice!

Wolfstar didn't have an apprentice for seasons. Adding to that, he only has two apprentices before. Brackentail was his first and he mentored Lightheart only for half of her apprenticeship. Lightheart's beginning mentor, passed on, so Wolfstar (Wolftail back then) finished her apprenticeship.

"Goldenpaw! Goldenpaw! Snakepaw! Owlpaw!" Fangpaw, an older apprentice, chanted.

The cats looked at each other and slowly, yowls of approval arose.

Goldenpaw's heart swelled in pride as ambition shone in her eyes.

Whispersong padded around the marshy, Shadowclan territory with her mentor, Smallflower, and her best friend, Pebblerain.

"Where are the poppy seeds Whispersong? I thought you said you found a lot here. Cloudedeye needs help sleeping," Smallflower mewed.

Whispersong blinked in confusion as she walked over to Smallflower's side. She looked around the bushes and flowers.

"There were poppy seeds here! I know it… I just got some of it yesterday!" Whispersong cried.

Pebblerain sniffed as she bristled. "Riverclan," she growled.

Smallflower glanced at the young warrior. "Riverclan?" she echoed.

Pebblerain nodded sharply as she sniffed the area once more. "Riverclan was here… I just know it. Their scent is here… and it's recent," she hissed as her yellow eyes hardened.

Whispersong looked at the area where the poppy seeds were the previous day. "But Quickfoot and Pinepaw wouldn't steal or go through Shadowclan territory!" she protested. Quickfoot was the Riverclan Medicine Cat. She wouldn't do this… she was too good-natured. Pinepaw was Quickfoot's apprentice. Pinepaw was shy and quiet…

"Maybe they would! Or maybe they got someone else to do it for them!" Pebblerain meowed.

"We should report this to Lionstar," Smallflower murmured.

Pebblerain nodded as all three she-cats began walking back to camp. Whispersong sighed heavily as she glanced over her shoulder and shivered. Her whiskers twitched as she took her steps lightly. She felt cautious… like something or someone was there… watching her.

Duskpaw purred in amusement as he saw Bluepaw with Stormyflame, a tom who was just made a warrior.

"Rainstar wanted me to take a patrol with you, Bluepaw, Foxpaw and Stripedtail," a husky voice meowed.

Duskpaw's eyes lit up as he saw Flameshadow towering over him. The apprentice idolized the Windclan deputy.

"Really?! Let's go then. I'll get Bluepaw," he meowed in excitement.

Duskpaw bounded across the blearing, over to his sister. Bluepaw glanced at Duskpaw as she mewed her goodbyes to Stormyflame.

"What is it Duskpaw? This better be good," Bluepaw snapped.

"Yeah! We're going on patrol with Flameshadow, Stripedtail and Foxpaw! Flameshadow is meeting us with the patrol out near Shadowclan territory."

Bluepaw's tail twitched excitedly as her and her brother padded out of camp. The two walked in silence as an odd feeling ran up their spines.

"Duskpaw… Don't think I'm weird for asking you this… But lately do you sense that you're being watched? I mean… I feel awkward these days," Bluepaw murmured.

Duskpaw gazed at his sister in agreement. "Yeah. When I'm alone... I don't feel like I'm alone," he replied.

"Can you two hurry up?!" a voice growled.

The two apprentices looked up at Foxpaw, who impatiently kneaded the ground.

Bluepaw and Duskpaw caught up with the rest of the patrol and all the cats padded over to the Shadowclan border. They sniffed as Stripedtail hissed unexpectedly.

"What is it Stripedtail?" Flameshadow demanded.

The warrior she-cat dragged out a bloody rabbit, from the bushes, with her paws. The rabbit was ripped open with dark, crimson red blood clinging to its fur. "Crowfood," she spat.

Alarmed, the deputy padded over to inspect the rabbit. He glared at it in disgust. "It's been hunted but they didn't eat it…"

Duskpaw squeezed his way between the two warriors as he sniffed the rabbit and cringed. "Is it just me…. Or does the rabbit also reek of Shadowclan?" he meowed.

"Hey… This whole area smells like Shadowclan!" Foxpaw stated.

Flameshadow sniffed as a furious growl escaped his throat. "I knew Shadowclan was up to no good… But this?!" he roared. The deputy was known to have a horrible temper and a strict nature.

"Do we attack Shadowclan?" Duskpaw asked hopefully.

The deputy shook his head. "No… Not yet anyway."

"So we're going to tell Rainstar?" Bluepaw murmured. Bluepaw was sweet yet she did lose her temper once in a while. But she disliked fighting against clans.

"Yes, of course. We have to let her know. Sooner or later, Shadowclan will try to take over Windclan. But we aren't weak," Flameshadow answered.

"And we'll be ready," Duskpaw mewed.

Blizzardpaw peered through some tall grass as he saw a white-silver she-cat along with two other Shadowclan she-cats. The white she-cat he obvious beauty as she padded away. Blizzardpaw tilted his head as he accidentally meowed aloud, "Beautiful…"

"Whisperpaw? Of course. All toms know Whisperpaw of Shadowclan," Snowpaw growled playfully.

Blizzardpaw quickly stood up as he shook his head. "What in Starclan's name are you talking about?" he replied defensively.

Snowpaw had a playful glint in his eyes. "Whisperpaw is stunning! Admit it!"

Blizzardpaw's eyes narrowed. "Why are you here in the first place? It's a hunting patrol with Swiftwind, Talonthroat and me. You're not in it."

Snowpaw hissed, but not in a friendly, playful tone. Snowpaw and Blizzardpaw were brother. Blizzardpaw was younger. Snowpaw always heard elders saying that Blizzardpaw was the perfect apprentice and was soon to be… the perfect warrior. Snowpaw was… Well just average. Blizzardpaw would always be invited to go to patrols and hunt. Of course Snowpaw was insanely jealous of his brother!

Blizzardpaw sighed heavily as Snowpaw left. "Why in Starclans' name did I have to say that?" he growled to himself.

"Blizzardpaw! Get back here!" Swiftwind's voice broke his thoughts.

Blizzardpaw rushed back to the hunting patrol, anxiously. The elder warriors looked ominous as they flicked their ears to acknowledge the apprentice.

"What is it?" he panted.

"Inhaled," Talonthroat replied simply.

Blizzardpaw's ears pointed as the fur on his neck stood up in alarm.

"Thunderclan," Swiftwind hissed.

In a sudden, a image came to Blizzardpaw's mind. A golden coloured coat… shining, bright amber-red eyes. He could barely remember her… but it finally cam to him. Someone he only seen once before…

"Thunderclan…," he repeated, though he thought of only one she-cat.

"Who would dare cross into our territory?" Talonthroat grunted.

Blizzardpaw lashed his tail from side to side as he looked up at the red sun. "Goldenkit.."

End.

I hope you liked it! Which couples do you think will be good for this story? The most obvious one here so far is… Stormyflame and Bluepaw!

So what's up with clan scents on each other's territory? The leaders are going to be very mad kitties aren't they? The plot is thickening! But not yet… you'll find out when the next chapter… a few cats will find out the truth about what is going on right now! Tell me who your favourite cats so far is… Blizzardpaw is my favourite… along with Goldenpaw of course! Review!