"Snowkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Snowpaw. Your mentor will be Tigerstrike. I hope Tigerstrike will pass down all he knows on to you." Snowpaw stared up at Whitestar eagerly, her pelt newly groomed. She was serious on the outside. On the inside, she was excited, and she couldn't wait to begin training.

"Tigerstrike, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from Oakleaf, and you have shown yourself to be strong and deft in battle. You will be the mentor of Snowpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to Snowpaw." The dark tabby tom nodded, his yellow eyes glowing in the dim morning sun. He sat on the other edge of the clearing away from Snowpaw. Whitestar nodded to Tigerstrike and he rose to his paws. Snowpaw rose to nervous paws as she walked to meet him, touching noses with the strong warrior. She was proud to have him as her mentor, and she looked forward to working her hardest.

"The Clan welcomes you, Snowpaw." Whitestar meowed from the Fallen Maple.

The whole Clan began the chorus of cheering her name. "Snowpaw! Snowpaw! Snowpaw!" Snowpaw smiled as she looked over at her mother, Leafclaw, sitting outside the nursery. The brown she-cat was smiling with pride. She looked around at the rest of her Clan and her tail curled with happiness. When the chorus died out, Whitestar ended the meeting and let the Clan duties resume for the day.

Snowpaw turned to Tigerstrike for guidance. The large tomcat stared down at her warmly.

"Why don't you introduce yourself to the other apprentices and get some food before we start our first lessons?" He suggested. Snowpaw nodded. She couldn't wait to eat her first meal as an apprentice! She spotted Squirrelpaw and Mousepaw with ease, as they were waiting for her at the fresh kill pile. She padded over, doing her best to maintain composure. She didn't want to make herself look like a mouse-brain her first day.

"Hey, Snowpaw!" Squirrelpaw was the first to greet her. The dark red tom's tail raised in greeting. Snowpaw smiled and greeted him warmly.

"Yeah, hey! You're our new denmate!" Mousepaw agreed. She was a tannish brown she-cat. Snowpaw greeted her warmly as well, happy to have such warm denmates.

"Since you're new, why don't you pick something for us to share?" Squirrelpaw suggested. Mousepaw nodded in agreement.

"Well, alright. Thank you." Snowpaw dipped her head in agreement. She nosed through the pile before finding a small rabbit they could easily share between the three of them. She carried it off to the side before digging in with the other two apprentices.

"Are you excited about being an apprentice?" Squirrelpaw asked.

"Yeah, I mean, Tigerstrike is a great warrior! You must be so proud to have him as a mentor!" Mousepaw exclaimed. Snowpaw let out a purr of amusement.

"Oh, thank you. I'm really excited. I can't wait to see what he will teach me today!" She confessed. Squirrelpaw jumped up.

"Maybe he will teach you a battle move! That's what Pinestrike has been teaching me!" Squirrelpaw did a few mock battle moves in the air, much to Snowpaw and Mousepaw's amusement.

"Calm down, Squirrelpaw! You'll upset your breakfast!" Mousepaw chided gently, resting her tail in his flank. Squirrelpaw stared at them before a look of mild embarassment crossed his features.

"Right, thanks." He sat back down again. "Anyway, if you ever want to practice in your off time, you can come to me, okay?" He offered. Snowpaw nodded and smiled.

"I will be sure to keep that in mind." She promised. After her meal, she went to meet up with Tigerstrike, who was just finishing his own meal with the other warriors. He turned and regarded Snowpaw with a gentle nod.

"Did you have a good meal?" He asked her. She nodded slowly. She didn't want to make him think she was just an overly energetic kit fresh from the nursery.

"Good. I thought we could do something simple today, like beginning hunting moves." Tigerstrike said as he began walking out of camp, motioning for her to follow. She bounded after him, her legs still quite shorter than his.

"There's a clearing not far off from a stream. When we are done training, I will show you some more of the territory." Tigerstrike was explaining. Snowpaw nodded, letting him know she was listening. "But for now, the basics of hunting." He turned to her as they entered the clearing. Snowpaw stood upright and waited for his directions.

"Here. Mimic what I do the best you can." He said. He crouched low, as if he were stalking prey. Snowpaw crouched as well, her haunches high in the air. Tigerstrike audibly fought his laughter as he came over.

"Good, but try lowering your back a little." He said, gently resting a paw on her haunches. Snowpaw lowered them, feeling her body get used to the new position. She felt more pressure from Tigerstrike's paw, and she struggled to lower her back anymore. When he noticed her discomfort, the pressure ceased. She strained and managed to hold the position.

"Good. Your form needs work, but your dedication is noteworthy. Now, put some of the wait from your front to your back so your paw steps aren't so heavy." Tigerstrike instructed. She did, and she found lowering her back was much easier.

"Good. Now, straighten out and watch me again." Snowpaw did as instructed and watched as Tigerstrike went back into the crouch before slowly moving forward, stalking towards a stray flower in the grass.

"Do it like I'm doing. Keep your paw steps light and quick." Tigerstrike said, holding the position. Snowpaw dropped back into position, first setting herself in the proper way before beginning to slowly work her way forwards. She worked to keep her paws light, although it was difficult with the new position. However, she was praised by Tigerstrike.

"Now, practice that a few more times, and we will go visit the stream and explore a little." Tigerstrike said. Snowpaw nodded, and did as told.

"This stream marks the border between ForestClan and MarshClan." Tigerstrike explained. Snowpaw sat silently and nodded. She didn't say much, not wanting to appear disrespectful and accidentally interrupt.

"What do you know about MarshClan?" Tigerstrike inquired. Snowpaw shook her head.

"Very little. Only that they live with wet paws almost all the time." She explained. Tigerstrike nodded.

"MarshClan cats live in, well, the marsh. Kits are taught from a young age to fight snakes and other dangerous creatures."

"What? Wow!" Snowpaw couldn't help but exclaim this. She tried to imagine ForestClan kits fighting snakes, and she shook her head. Tigerstrike nodded.

"They're also quite skilled in battle. If you ever meet a MarshClan cat in a fight, it is best to use your size to your advantage. However, we will cover that in battle training." Tigerstrike rose to his paws. "Shall we go back to camp?" He asked her with a faint smile. Snowpaw blinked and nodded.

"I-I mean, it's your decision. You're my mentor." She said. Tigerstrike laughed softly and bent down so that he was at her level.

"Snowpaw, I know you're trying to impress me, but you don't have to be so stoic. Don't be afraid to show me what you're feeling." He said softly. Snowpaw nodded, feeling her fur warm in embarassment.

"What did I just say?" Tigerstrike asked. Snowpaw apologized.

"Alright, Tigerstrike." She corrected herself. Tigerstrike smiled and nodded.

"That's better. Alright, then. Let's head back to camp before sun high." Tigerstrike said. Snowpaw nodded eagerly, and followed him back to camp in time to talk and gossip with her two new friends.


And that's the first Chapter! What do you guys think? Too slow? Just right? Too fast? Please leave a review to let me know what you think, and I will see you guys on chapter two!