Wow, Chapter 9 already and this story isn't close to over! You can probably guess what will happen in this chapter referring to the title. Also, I realized that Rosekit's littermates didn't really have much personality, so there are more of them in this chapter. It's a really short chapter though! But that's because that just because they only become apprentices. There will be plenty more in the next chapter, trust me. I am also including updated Allegiances at the end of this. Enjoy!
Chapter 9: Apprentices
Rosekit shrank at the pressure of her mother's tongue against her pelt. "Morningfeather! Stop, I am sure I look clean enough!" "Rosepaw!" Morningfeather meowed in shock. "It is your apprentice ceremony! You will look pleasant whether you like it or not!"
Rosekit rolled her eyes at her mother's comment. It had four moons since she returned to camp with Leopardheart and Stonekit. She had to admit, it was good to be back with her parents, but they still got on her nerves anyway.
Since the four moons had passed, all the apprentices (except for Petalpaw, the medicine cat apprentice) had received their warrior names. Forestclaw, Swanwhisker, Firestripe, and Featherfoot were full warriors of ThunderClan now, meaning ThunderClan had not working apprentices.
They'll have plenty with my siblings and me. Rosekit thought as another lick pressed her down. She noticed Grayblaze watching in amusement. "Do something!" Rosekit mewed. Her father purred. "Morningfeather, I think that's enough dear."
Morningfeather looked up at him, her green eyes frantic. "Are you sure?" she asked. Grayblaze padded up to her and gave her a lick on the cheek. "All of them are, I am positive." He meowed. Yuck! Rosekit thought, slipping away from their mother while there was still time.
She padded over to her siblings, who were as groomed as she was. "Are you guys excited?" She asked. Lionkit nodded. "Of course!" he squeaked. "I wonder who my mentor will be." He meowed, looking around at the warriors.
"Me too," Shinekit added. "I hope I get a good one!" "It doesn't matter that much." Brightkit meowed, her ginger tail flicking. "We'll all turn out to be good warriors." "A good mentor sure does help a lot though." Rosekit meowed.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the high ledge for a Clan meeting!" That set Morningfeather off. "Oh no!" she cried. "Do they look good enough?" she meowed, rushing over to her kits. "They're fine Morningfeather!" Grayblaze meowed, resting his tail on her. "Just sit down and relax.
Rosekit felt excitement course through her. She was finally going to be an apprentice! She joined Stonekit and Dawnkit beneath the high ledge. Stonekit's eyes shown with excitement equal to her own. "I don't think I've ever seen you so happy." Rosekit mewed. Stonekit just laughed. He looks pretty nervous. She noted.
"Stonekit, Dawnkit, Rosekit, Shinekit, Brightkit, and Lionkit, please step forward." Rosekit stepped towards Oakstar, her fur prickling. "You have reached the age of six moons." Oakstar meowed. "And are ready to become apprentices of ThunderClan."
"Stonekit, from now until you've reached your warrior name you will be called Stonepaw." He meowed. "Rockheart," Oakstar addressed the dark gray tabby. "You will mentor Stonepaw." Stonepaw stepped forward to touch noses with Rockheart, his eyes gleaming.
"Rosekit," Rosekit walked forward as bravely as she could. Her blue eyes shimmered, her whole body trembled. Oakstar sighed. Why did he sigh! Am I not becoming an apprentice? Rosekit opened her jaws to speak, but Oakstar beat her to it.
"You have been through more than our newest warriors have." He meowed. "And your only six moons old. "I hope to StarClan that you will continue to be brave, cunning, and forgiving as you have up until right now." Rosekit gasped. She couldn't believe it! Oakstar had actually complimented her!
"From this moment until you have received your warrior name, you will be known as Rosepaw," Rosepaw felt a new satisfaction shiver through her. I am actually an apprentice. I am Rosepaw now! "Hailwhisker," Rosepaw saw a gray she-cat with white patches look up through the crowd.
"I trust you to mentor Rosepaw well," he meowed. Rosepaw stepped to Hailwhisker, pressing her little nose to Hailwhisker's own. She couldn't believe it! It was unbelievable! She was an apprentice! This was amazing!
Rosepaw watched as her littermates and Stonepaw's were made apprentices. Dawnpaw had Firestripe as a mentor, Shinepaw had Featherfoot, Brightpaw got Forestclaw, and Lionpaw received Darkfoot.
"Rosepaw! Brightpaw! Shinepaw! Lionpaw! Dawnpaw!" The Clan called out, smiling widely. Rosepaw smiled. Finally she would be able to go hunting and go out of camp without getting in trouble! She ran over to Stonepaw.
"Hey Stonepaw!" she mewed happily, batting his ears with her paws playfully. Stonepaw hissed, bowling into her. "We're gonna be the best warriors ever, remember!" he meowed, his eyes glinting. "Yeah!" Rosepaw meowed cheerfully. "We'll get to go battle-training together and hunting too!"
She dropped down to the ground, wavering her tail in excitement. "What do you think of your mentor?" she asked. "I'm not sure yet." He meowed, sitting down. "He sounds good though, he is a senior warrior after all, and Firestripe and Swanwhisker's father."
Rosepaw nodded. "And my mentor is their mother," Rosepaw added. She turned her head to see Hailwhisker and Rockheart walking over. Rosepaw smiled. "So what do we do first?" Rosepaw asked. "Well, first we'll explore the territory." Hailwhisker meowed.
Rosepaw's tail drooped. "I've already seen the territory though." She mewed. Rosepaw could see Hailwhisker's pelt grow hot with embarrassment. "Oh, right sorry, I forgot." She murmured. Rockheart laid his tail on his mate's flank.
"Why don't I take Stonepaw and explore the territory while you take Rosepaw to practice hunting. Rosepaw's eyes lit up. "That sounds great! I want to go hunting!" Hailwhisker smiled. "Good idea Rockheart." She meowed.
Rosepaw smiled. "Okay come with me, Rosepaw," Hailwhisker meowed, flicking her gray tail as for Rosepaw to follow. "See you later Stonepaw," Rosepaw meowed as she followed her mentor out of the thorny barrier for the first time without going against the laws set by the Clans.
Yeah, super short, I know! Here are the Allegiances though! Also including warriors in other Clans!
Allegiances
ThunderClan
Leader Oakstar – Pale brown tabby tom with dark green eyes
Deputy Stormwhisper – dark gray tabby she-cat with deep blue eyes
Medicine Cat Iceblossom – white she-cat with pale gray paws and ears
Apprentice; Petalpaw
Warriors (toms and she-cats without kits)
Leafsparrow – Brown and white long-furred tabby she-cat with light green eyes
Darkfoot – Silver tabby tom with black paws and tail tip
Apprentice; Lionpaw
Thornbird – Golden tabby tom with green eyes
Hailwhisker – Gray she-cat with white patches and blue eyes
Apprentice; Rosepaw
Grayblaze – Long-furred gray tom with a white stripe running down his face
Lilyfrost – Cream-colored she-cat with brown ears and blue eyes
Rockheart – Dark gray tabby tom
Apprentice; Stonepaw
Forestclaw – Dark brown tabby tom with blue eyes
Apprentice; Brightpaw
Swanwhisker – Brown and white she-cat with blue eyes
Firestripe – Golden brown tabby tom with amber eyes
Apprentice; Dawnpaw
Featherfoot – Long furred silver tabby she-cat
Apprentice; Shinepaw
Morningfeather – Dark brown and white tabby she-cat
Bluedove – Blueish-gray she-cat
Apprentices (more than six moons old, in training to become warriors)
Petalpaw – Pretty white she-cat with light brown patches; medicine cat apprentice
Rosepaw – Long-furred light brown she-cat with light blue eyes and a red tail, ears, and paws
Brightpaw – Ginger she-cat
Shinepaw – Silver and white she-cat
Lionpaw – Dark ginger tom
Stonepaw – Gray tabby tom with green eyes
Dawnpaw – Cream and ginger she-cat
Queens (she-cats, expecting or nursing kits)
Flightbreeze – Light ginger she-cat; Mother to Thornbird's kits, Flamekit (bright ginger tom)
Elders (Former warriors, now retired)
Squirrelfang – Light brown she-cat
Troutclaw – Dark gray (almost black) tom
ShadowClan
Leader Clawstar – Tabby tom
Deputy Heatherfur – Golden she-cat
Medicine Cat Goldwhisker – Light brown tabby she-cat
Warriors (toms and she-cats without kits)
Pineclaw – Brown tabby tom
Apprentice; Blackpaw
Volefall – Dark brown tom
Heavyfang – Gray and white tom
Silverfur – Silver tabby she-cat
Yellowblossom – Bright ginger she-cat with green eyes
Apprentice; Whiskerpaw
Ridgewhisker – Pure black tom
Firestream – Dark ginger tom
Apprentice; Antpaw
Apprentices (More than six moons old, in training to become warriors)
Blackpaw – Black tom
Whiskerpaw – Black and white she-cat
Antpaw – Light brown tabby tom
Queens (she-cat, expecting or nursing kits)
Rowanflower – Ginger and white she-cat; mother of Clawstar's kits: Mousekit (little brown she-kit), and Darkkit (dark tabby tom with burning amber eyes)
Whitewind – tawny she-cat with white paws; expecting Firestream's kits
Elders (former warriors or queens now retired)
Amberclaw – Ginger she-cat
Tawnyfang – tortoiseshell she-cat with amber eyes
WindClan
Leader Adderstar – Huge tortoiseshell tom with long claws and amber eyes
Deputy Talonfox – Golden tom with amber eyes
Medicine Cat Bramblebreeze – Black and white tom
Warriors (toms and she-cat without kits)
Eveningbreeze – tortoiseshell she-cat
Apprentice; Sparrowpaw
Bloodwhisker – reddish tabby tom
Apprentice; Littlepaw
Blazepool – ginger tabby tom
Apprentice; Leafpaw
Streamfang – Gray tom
Apprentice; Ravenpaw
Gorgethorn – Dark tabby tom
Apprentice; Bluepaw
Fallowclaw – Golden she-cat
Burningheart – tortoiseshell and white tom
Rushtail – Black she-cat
Moorbelly – Light brown tom
Deadwhisker – dark brown tabby tom
Apprentices (more than six moons old, in training to become warriors)
Sparrowpaw – Dark brown tom
Littlepaw – Small tortoiseshell she-cat
Leafpaw – Light brown tabby she-cat
Ravenpaw – Black tom with white paws
Bluepaw – Blue-gray tabby she-cat
Queens (she-cats with or without kits)
Brightblood – White she-cat with reddish patches; expecting Blazepool's kits
Lakefeather – Dark gray she-cat; mother to Deadwhisker's kits: Troutkit (tabby tom) and Flowerkit (tortoiseshell she-cat)
Grassfur – Pale gray she-cat with long-fur; mother to Moorbelly's kit: Brownkit (Brown tabby tom)
Milkwhisker – Scarred cream she-cat; expecting Gorgethorn's kits
Elders (warriors and queens now retired)
Poppybloom – Light brown tabby and white she-cat
RiverClan
Leader Streamstar – Silver she-cat with green eyes
Deputy Boulderstorm – Dark gray tom
Medicine Cat Minnowbreath – Sleek tabby she-cat with blue eyes
Warriors (toms and she-cats without kits)
Splashingfire – Ginger tom
Apprentice; Rockpaw
Whiteflame – Large white tom with amber eyes
Sorrelfeather – Tortoiseshell, black, and white she-cat
Willowfur – Pale gray she-cat
Apprentice; Twistpaw
Beetleclaw – Dark brown tabby tom
Owlpelt – Pale gray and white tom
Apprentice; Larchpaw
Jaythorn – Dark gray tom
Birchfrost – Tabby tom
Apprentices (more than six moons old, in training to become warriors)
Rockpaw – Black tom
Twistpaw – Ginger tabby she-cat
Larchpaw – Golden she-cat
Queens (she-cats, expecting or nursing kits)
Flutterfur – Ginger queen
Gazeflight – Gray and white tabby she-cat; mother to Jaythorn's kits: Birdkit (gray and cream she-cat), Badgerkit (black and white tom), Sparkkit (ginger tom)
Elders (warriors and queens now retired)
Doveflower – Gray tabby she-cat
Oakfall – Brown tabby tom
