Chapter 4.

"Cats of OceanTide," yowled ShiningFeather from the High Rock, "Today is the day when our young learners will get their own mentors and will one day join the other warriors when they are ready."

StepStorm swallowed. She hated being in front of the crowd of cats. Next to her, stood StepLight and StepClaw. Both she-cats were standing up tall like they wanted to be there. StepLight's siblings, StepPalm and StepRiver were the same. She couldn't believe how different she was from the other cats.

"Now. Let me assign these learners their mentors so they can finally begin their training," yowled ShiningFeather, "StepRiver. For your mentor I have chosen Wavewhisker. Wavewhisker, train this young learner and teach her all you know about the ocean."

Wavewhisker, a black tabby stepped out of the group of OceanTide warriors. He touched his nose to StepRiver's shoulder and then the mentor and learner stepped to the side of the High Rock.

"Next, StepPalm. For your mentor I have chosen CurlingStream. CurlingStream, this is your first learner. Teach him all that you learned from your own mentor."

CurlingStream, a tortoiseshell she-cat stepped out of the crowd and approached StepPalm. Instead of touching StepPalm on the shoulder like WaveWhisker, she touched him on the head with her nose. The two then joined StepRiver and WaveWhisker.

StepStorm wanted to ask StepLight or StepClaw about it but ShiningFeather had continued the ceremony. "StepLight. For your mentor…I shall be your mentor."

Gasps ran throughout the tribe. StepStorm had learned it was rare for a leader to take on a learner. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed SpiritCave nodding in agreement. Did this mean that the Spirit Wind was involved in this decision?

StepClaw poked StepLight and the she-cat sprung into action. She whirled around and dipped her head to the leader. "I thank you for choosing me," said StepLight. She joined the other cats on the side, leaving StepClaw and StepStorm alone.

"Let's continue on," said ShiningFeather, "StepClaw. For your mentor I have chosen SunTalon. SunTalon. Unlike many cats you have asked specifically for StepClaw to be your first learner. I have decided to grant your request. Train this young learner well."

This also caused murmurs to run through the tribe cats. StepClaw also seemed to be surprised by this. The light ginger tom approached StepClaw and stood before her.

"Why did you ask for me?" asked StepClaw.

"We'll talk about that later," replied SunTalon, touching her on the head with his nose. StepStorm figured that first time mentors had to touch their learners on the head.

The two went to the side leaving StepStorm alone in the front. She gulped. Would she get a mentor? She had hoped ShiningFeather would have been her mentor. Then she wouldn't have to worry about what the other cats thought.

"StepStorm. For your mentor, I have chosen SpiralClam. SpiralClam, you have trained many young learners, teach this one like you taught the others."

StepStorm watched as a light gray she-cat came out of the group of cats. StepStorm had heard from StepLight that SpiralClam had trained more learners than any other warrior.

"I hope we can get along," purred SpiralClam, touching her nose to StepStorm's shoulder.

"That concludes this gathering," yowled ShiningFeather, "Let's hope all our learners can one day become brave warriors of OceanTide." She jumped off the High Rock and the gathering cats scattered to do whatever they were doing before the ceremony started.

StepLight hurried over to her mentor and the two left the camp together. StepStorm watched the other learners leave with their mentors before following SpiralClam out. Once they were outside, SpiralClam took her to beach. She noticed most of the other learners and warriors were heading up to the forest.

"Why are we down here?" asked StepStorm.

SpiralClam didn't answer. Instead she waded into the salt water until her paws were covered. "StepStorm. I think we should talk before beginning your training."

"Talk?"

"Yes. Talk," SpiralClam walked out of the water and settled on the warm sand. She gestured for StepStorm to sit down in front of her. StepStorm obeyed, wondering where SpiralClam was going with this. "I want to know more about you. From I heard, it seems you don't want to learn how to swim."

"I…," StepStorm looked towards the ocean, at the pulling and pushing water. "When I see all the OceanTide cats swim around…it makes me feel like I can't do it. You are all so graceful in the water and you have abilities to help you swim! How can I compete with that?"

SpiralClam nodded, "That makes sense. I can understand where you are coming from. You feel like you are beneath us."

StepStorm couldn't believe it! SpiralClam understood how she felt. She was suddenly happy that SpiralClam was chosen to be her mentor. She seemed to understand what StepStorm was going through.

"But there are still many things that a warrior does other than fishing," reminded SpiralClam, "We defend the tribe and gather food from the shore. That's something you can do. Plus." She gestured with her tail to a huge rock that went out into the ocean on the other side of the territory. "That's the jumping rock. Cats jump from there to get to the deep water quickly. A cat needs to stand watch to keep an eye for sharks. What I am trying to say is that there are things you can do. Don't think that being different means you need to think poorly of yourself."

"Thanks," purred StepStorm. She really liked SpiralClam now. Maybe becoming a warrior won't be as bad as she thought it would be.

"Now," said SpiralClam getting up, "Let's explore the territory shall we?"