Chapter 5

Apprenticed

A new scent filled the tom's nose. He shouldered the tabby cat next to him in the bush. The sky blue eyes peirced his pelt as he ran into camp. Amber eyes looked him over as he neared the nursery.

"Where is Mousekit? I was told she was with you. Dovekit and Cinderkit are inside. The Clan has a vistor." Those amber eyes filled with worry and pain, he was so used to seeing with love in them, made it hard to regonize the old queen.

"Crowfur, Mousekit is alright," Ravenpaw tried to sooth the queen, "She's just outside the enterance. What is going on? What's happened?"

With a quick nod over her shoulder, the queen went back inside. Padding over where she had told him to he noticed the sound of meowing kits. Poking his head inside the wall of ferns, he saw two little bundles of fur. The kits huddled together, seeming scared of the black apprentice.

Why would Crowfur let them be out here in a cold breeze than in the nursery? Thought Ravenpaw. Then, so he wouldn't scare them more than he had, he crawled over to them and laid down close to them but not touching. If they want to, they can come over.

One of the kits finally got brave and dared to come and lay down next to him. "My name is Otter! Whats yours?" The kit looked up at him with orange-amber eyes. "Do you know where our dad is? He brought us here. It's really warm over here Moon, you should come over!" squeaked the tiny dusky brown kit.

Ravenpaw looked up to see if the kit's brother would come over, he didn't even move his eyes from his brother. "I'm Ravenpaw. No I do not know where your dad is."

At this moment three cats walked in. "Ravenpaw! What are you doing here! Where's Mousekit?"

"She's fine. she should be in the nursery by now. Now that you guys are here, I'm going to find Pebblepath and see if she needs me. Good-bye Otter, Moon." He dipped his head to the kits and left.

Mousekit's P.O.V

I stared at Ravenpaw. I can't believe he pushed me into a bush! The torns snagged at my fur as I got out. Just before the black apprentice went through the tunnel enterance the yowls stopped. Curiosity pricked my pelt. Waiting a few moments, I padded after Ravenpaw.

Just as I got the nursery into my view I saw a white tail-tip disappear behind a screen of ferns. The clearing was so silent, I think everyone could hear the other Clan's in their camps. I've had enough excitment to last the day, Crowfur's amber gaze seared my pelt.

"Are you okay? What happened early this morning?" The bramble tabby's eyes softened. "I've got a story to tell you!"

"I'm fine, I promise. My father and I got into an arguement. That's all," I didn't want to give the queen too much information because she takes thing too serious sometimes. "What kind of story!"

"Well, it's from when Midnightstar was younger. Your mother would get into the most trouble I could ever dream possible!" Dovekit and Cinderkit were now on the either side of me. "Did you guys know that your leader also had siblings?" She waited for a response. All three of us shook our heads.

"There was your mother of course, Mouseleg, and Sterlingpaw. Sterlingpaw amazed everyone b getting his apprentice name, for he tended to be very ill. His young vibrant self made it up to the day of his warrior assment, when he became very ill. Unfortunetly the Clan lost one of their best apprentice's that night." Crowfur's eyes darkened with sadness.

"What did he look like?" Cinderkit seemed to like this story. As to where Dovekit was already taking a nap.

"He was a dark russet tabby with black legs and tail. He and your mother were close. Mouseleg and your mother's relationship went wrong somewhere. I think it started when Mouseleg asked for her name to be change. Before it was "Mouseleg" it was "Mousepool", Midnightstar loved her name. They had... " As she trailed on, I fell asleep.

Otter and Moon moved into the nursery with us last night after we shared tongues. I've got to amit, it's weird having a tom sleep in the nursery.

"Yes! I'm sure Horizon slept in there! I saw him when I woke up!" Ravenpaw didn't believe me. "I think I can trust what my eyes see!" I purred.

"Whatever you say! I'll believe you. What do..." Before he could finish his question Midnightstar called for me again.

"What is it this time?" I asked padding toward her den. "Is this about the fight yesterday with Flowerfrost?"

"Yes and no. As I said yesterday, you've shown me what I already know so this is what I'm going to do. You, Cinderkit, and Dovekit will be apprenticed early." Dark green eyes looked down inviting her unto the stump. "You have shown courage, strength, and a stubborniness we all can use in the Clan."

I jumped up, accepting the invitation. I looked across the clearing, Cats were just waking up, eating prey, and then stalking over to Owlwing who sets patrols. Two pairs of eyes gleamed out of the nursery. Otter and Moon! They quickly moved away as Horizon stumbled out.

Green eyes looked at me from across the clearing where Owlwing sat. Told you! I tried to get the black tom to see, but he turned his head as Pebblepath called to him. Flowerfrost was coming from the warriors den straight toward us.

I looked at Midnightstar, but she wasn't there. I glanced back at the gray and orange tom. He wasn't there either. Instead I saw a field with frost on it. Flowers were poking up everywhere. There was no sun and there wasn't many stars either. In fact there was only one star that seemed to be right next to the moon. The moon was at its highest, midnight.

Everything seemed different. Hatered seeped from the ground and sky toward each other. A cat appeared. "Through your leader you will have the Clan to your will. Only when they piece together again will you be able to rest. Look to the sunrise for the answer." The tabby she cat was gone.

"Get down so I can apprentice you!" Hissed Midnightstar, bringing me back to the clearing. I jump as she starts to announce the meeting, "All cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather around the Stump." Her meow sounded like thunder compared to the silence of the morning.

"I know these cats are young, but they are showing strong will to become apprenticed early! Mousekit, Cinderkit, and Dovekit please come to the front. Mousekit, do you promise to learn and uphold the warrior code taught to you by your Clanmates?"

"Yes," I said strongly then added, "with my life"

"Dovekit, do you promise to learn and uphold the warrior code taught to you by your Clanmates?"

"Yes! With all the breath in me!" His eyes shown with pride.

"Cinderkit, do you promise to learn and uphold the warrior code taught to you by your Clanmates?"

"I do." The gray tabby purred.

"Flamecloud, Jayberry, and Hazemist." The green eyes of the queen turned looking at the three cats. "Flamecloud, you have the knowlegde of good hunting, I hope you pass that on to Mousepaw. Jayberry, skilled in almost everything but herbs I hope that you pass your knowlegde onto Cinderpaw. Hazemist, being one of the best fighters the Clan has ever seen, I hope you pass this on to Dovepaw!"

All three of the warriors nodded and strode to sit next to their apprentices. "Mousepaw! Dovepaw! Cinderpaw!" Their Clanmates shouted their new names over and over. A scent of illness reached me. Blue eyes were gazing at me. The red tabby turned and just disappeared.