Fixed the problem, didnt notice it before that it repeated at one point
--
Starpaw crouched low to the ground, ears perked, listening. Birds chirped in the trees above, she heard a scuffle from the side, and turned only her eyes to glance. She saw nothing. She took another careful step ahead, all senses perked, and ready for on-comming attacks. Her gaze all around.
A sudden sound of a twig snapping made her freeze. She looked around, trying to locate the sound. She saw a flash of gold, and she bolted ahead. She heard rustling behind her, knowing she was being pursued. She quickly launched herself up on a tree, and launched herself to the path she just came to, colliding with another cat.
Hissing she batted at the other cat with her paws, nipping at anything she could get to.
"All right, that is enough Starpaw! Training is over for now." The other cat said. Starpaw backed off, looking at her mentor, Blazestar, with excitement, and the hope that he was joking. The sun was setting, however, and she knew they had to return to camp.
Blazestar nodded to her, and began to lead the way back to camp, constantly checking to make sure she was following him. It was a habit formed after she had been returned to Sunclan. When she was a kit, a tom named Addertalon had his group of loners attack Starpaw and her group, which consisted of Braveheart, Willowpelt, Shadpaw, Fernpaw, Bluepaw, and herself. At the time, Fernpaw, Bluepaw, Shadepaw, and Starpaw herself had been kits, and werent actually allowed to leave camp, but had convinced Blazestar to let them go as far as the Training Clearing and back. Willowpelt and Braveheart where escorting them back, when Addertalon and his gang attacked them.
Starpaw was kit-napped by Addertalon, as a last revenge token, but Venomheart, a tom who was in Addertalon's group, had insisted that she was returned.
After trying to flee, Starpaw had ended up in the paws of Moonclan, and their leader, Shadowstar. Venomheart insisted upon her return to Sunclan, and that night, Shadowstar had escorted Venomheart and Starpaw to the Moonclan border, at Small Land.
From there, Venomheart brought Starpaw back to Sunclan, where she received a warm welcome. Venomheart even received an offer to join Sunclan, which he accepted.
Soon after that, Starpaw and her milk siblings became apprentices. Bluepaw was apprenticed to Lionclaw, Shadepaw to Braveheart, Fernpaw to Sandtail, and Starpaw herself was apprenticed to Blazestar.
From there, training started for the four cats, and Starpaw admitted, it was difficult. She got the hang of things pretty quickly, but her white fur made her stand out in the forest, which made it hard for her to hunt. She did the best she could, though, and after learning to stay down wind, and be as quiet as possible, she could hunt all right, though she was still a better fighter.
Fernpaw's training was going exceptionally well, as Starpaw found out. She had heard Blazestar and Sandtail talking about Fernpaw already becoming a warrior. Starpaw was a tad jealous, but she was proud of her milk sister.
Blazestar looked back at Starpaw one last time when they reached the enterance to camp, then ducked inside through the hollowed log. Starpaw followed, the familiar sounds and scents flooding her.
The queens all had their kits out, all playing and wrestling in the afternoon sun. The elders, One-Ear, and Mousefang lounged in the setting sun in Starpaw's favorite napping place, but she didnt complain.
Bluepaw and Shadepaw were sharing tongues while eating some mice near the apprentice's den. Starpaw glanced around as she walked to the fresh kill pile, to take a mouse for herself, and continued to look around as she went to eat with Shadepaw and Bluepaw. She was looking for Fernpaw, and to keep an eye out for Bramblekit and Wolfkit. Bramblekit had helped Wolfkit get into the habit of attacking Starpaw's tail, or just Starpaw in general, so she had to stay on her paws now when she was in the camp. She noticed everyone was in the camp, all warriors, elders, queens. Braveheart, Blazestar, and Ravenfur were near Highrock, talking about something she couldnt quite hear. She noticed as she reached Shadepaw and Bluepaw, that not only could she not locate Fernpaw, she could also not locate Leaftail.
"Hey Starpaw!" Bluepaw said as Starpaw situated herself.
"Hi Bluepaw. Have you seen Fernpaw?" Starpaw asked. Shadepaw gulped down another bite of mouse rather loudly.
"Yeah, she is with Leaftail. Guess what!" Shadepaw said excitedly. Starpaw looked at him curiously.
"Yeah?" she asked. Shadepaw gave a mewl of excitement.
"Fernpaw is having her warrior ceremony today!" He said. Starpaw's ears stood straight up, her eyes wide.
"What? Really?" She asked. She knew Fernpaw would be made into a warrior soon, but not this soon. Both Bluepaw and Shadepaw nodded.
"Yeah, that is where she is right now, getting groomed by Leaftail." Bluepaw said, before sighing, "I wish we could be warriors that fast."
"Fernpaw is just really smart and talented. Sandtail even complimented her on her ability to learn and adapt." Shadepaw said, trying to hide his envy, though he failed slightly at it. Starpaw mewled her approval, and began to eat. After the three finished, they talked about their training, before Blazestar jumped atop Highstones, and called a clan meeting.
"Let all those cats old enough to catch their prey join here beneath Highrock for a Clan meeting." Starpaw, Shadepaw, and Bluepaw went to join the other cats for the clan meeting. The three staying together, but between Lionclaw and Braveheart. Starpaw saw Leaftail and Fernpaw emurge from the nursery, Fernpaw's coat glistening from the grooming Leaftail had done. The two stood in front of Highrock, Fernpaw completely and utterly calm as she gazed up at Blazestar. She didnt look even excited, just calm and composed. Starpaw had to admit, she was awed by this.
"Today is a joyous event, though one that comes fairly quickly. I am told by Sandtail that her apprentice, Fernpaw, is ready to be made into a warrior. Sandtail, I ask you, is Fernpaw truly ready for the responsibility, and hardships warriors are delt?" He asked. Sandtail, who had taken place next to Fernpaw, nodded.
"Yes, I believe she is ready." She aid, her voice steady, and determined. Blazestar nodded, and then kept his gaze on Fernpaw.
"Then I, Blazestar, call upon our warrior ancestors to look upon this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn. Fernpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and defend this clan, even at the cost of your own life?" He asked. Fernpaw nodded her head.
"I do." She said, her voice even, calm, completely undisturbed by anything like nervousness, or excitement. Blazestar nodded.
"Then by the powers of Starclan I give you your warrior name: Fernpaw, from this moment you will be known as Fernwill. Starclan honors your bravery, and intellect." He said. Blazestar leaped down, and touched her bowed head with his muzzle. Fernwill then licked his shoulder respectfully, as the cats of the clan began to chant Fernwill's name.
"Fernwill! Fernwill! Fernwill!"
Starpaw darted forward, mewling happily at her sister. Fernwill's eyes were filled with a calm joy, as Leaftail licked her ear affectionately.
"In tradition of our warrior ancestors, Fernwill must sit silent vigil until dawn, and guard the camp while we sleep." Blazestar said. Fernwill nodded, and the cats began to disperse, some congradulating Fernwill, before going to their dens. Starpaw, Shadepaw, and Bluepaw all stayed outside the den, watching their sister for some time, before they as well retired for the night. Starpaw glanced once more at her sister, a pang of lonelyness, when she realized she wouldnt be able to sleep beside her sister again for some time. She shook it off, and slipped into the apprentice's den, to get some sleep. She had training tomarrow, after all.
-
Starpaw woke up with a start, and looked around the den in a panic. She calmed when she realized there were no enemies, and laid her head back down on her paws, sighing, and taking comfort in the warm heat coming from Shadepaw and Bluepaw. Starpaw had had a particularly bad dream that time. Normally, like the past few nights, it was the dream of the river being swallowed, and a falling star. This time, she had a terrifying dream of a battle. Cats were screeching in the mist, Starpaw could still smell the blood that hung thickly in it. She could see shapes in the mist, of three cats, but she couldnt quite make them out.
Bluepaw and Shadepaw began to stur, waking up finally. The three of them had training today, so Starpaw got up and streatched, yawned, and then left the den to get some breakfast.
-
Starpaw batted at Blazestar, dodging a swipe aimed at her head, and batted at him again. Blazestar had been teaching her fighting moves since they left for training at sunrise. It was now sun-high, and Starpaw was beginning to get hungry. Blazestar shook his head, and looked up at the sky.
"Starpaw, it is getting later in the day, so lets go on a bit of a hunting patrol, and return to the camp." Blazestar said. Starpaw nodded eagerly, and followed him as he led the way through the forest. She noticed they were heading towards the Riverclan boarder, and kept her ears alert for sounds of prey. Mice and squirrels were common in this area after all.
They came to a river that separated Riverclan and Sunclan, and the two departed on different ways to hunt, though they stayed on their side of the river. Starpaw spotted a mouse taking a drink, and crouched low, keeping her eyes on the mouse.
Before the mouse could react, she darted forward and caught it, killing it swiftly. She heard a mewl of approval from across the river, and looked up to see where it had come from.
The mewl had come from a pretty tortie-and white she-cat with a white tipped tail, her eyes a pretty amber color. It was Spottedleaf, the deputy of Riverclan. Starpaw had seen her once before, when she was shown the borders of Sunclan. Starpaw nodded to the she-cat, who nodded back, before disappearing into the thicket on her side of the river. Starpaw stared after her for a moment, before skuffing some leaves and dirt over the mouse. She felt someone watching her, and looked up again to across the river. She saw a cat she'd never seen before.
It was a white tom, with gray paws and tail tip, his cold yellow eyes staring at her. Starpaw shivered slightly, and turned back to covering her mouse. The feeling of him staring at her didnt leave, and she looked up to see him still staring intently at her. She gulped a little, but kept firm, and uncovered her mouse, and carried it into the thicket on Sunclan's side of the river, determined now to hide the mouse out of the tom's sight, and to get out of his sight in general. Before she could put the mouse down, though, Blazestar trodded up to her, three mice dangling from his jaws.
"Let's take these back to camp for now." He said. Starpaw nodded in agreement, and followed obediently. She still felt a chill from the tom she had seen. He must have been a Riverclan warrior, she decided. She wondered if she'd ever see him again.
-
Starpaw yawned. She jumped up slightly, to avoid another paw swipe form Bramblekit. After returning from training and getting moss for the elders, Bramblekit had wanted to play, so she decided to humor him for some time, before taking a nap.
"Starpaw, are you going to tomarrow's Gathering?" Bramblekit asked. Starpaw stared at him for a moment. It was true, that she hadnt been to one yet. Fernwill had gotten to go first, the Bluepaw and Shadepaw, but Starpaw herself had yet to go to a Gathering.
"I dunno." Starpaw said truthfully, sitting down. She yawned again, and Bramblekit tilted his head to the side slightly.
"You think Blazestar will let you go?" He asked. Starpaw blinked.
"Maybe, who knows." She said. She laid down, feeling a bit warn out. Starpaw hissed suddenly, when something had suddenly latched on and bitten her tail. She glanced around and saw Lightningkit, her tail in his small jaws. His eyes had a playfull glint. She hissed threateningly at him, baring her fangs, but he didnt take the hint, and so she batted him in the side of the head quickly, her claws sheatched. He bite down harder, though and Starpaw was losing patience. Wolfkit suddenly pounced on him though, suprising Lightningkit to make him let go. Lightningkit hissed at him, but Wolfkit just shook his head, and went back to the other kits. Lightningkit looked up at Starpaw once more, before trotting back to the other kits, where Flamekit promptly tackled him.
Starpaw yawned again, and laid down. Bramblekit laid down next to her, and she licked him on the head, before laying her head on her paws. She closed her eyes, intending on a nap, but was rudely interupted by a prod to her head by a paw. She cracked an eye open, and looked up to see Braveheart.
"Starpaw, Blazestar wants to see you." He said gently. Starpaw groaned, but got up. Bramblekit got up as well, and went to join the other kits.
Shaking away some of her tiredness, Starpaw trotted over to Blazestar's den. Once she was at the entrance, she called a greeting, and waited a few seconds for Blazestar to respond, before slipping inside.
"Starpaw." Blazestar said once Starpaw entered. He was laying on his bed of moss, a little tired looking himself. Starpaw nodded respectfully.
"Starpaw, tomarrow is the Gathering, as you know." He said. Starpaw nodded.
"You will be joining the group to go." He said. Starpaw stared at him wide eyed, before mewling happily. Blazestar gave a chuckle, before waving his tail at her to join him. Starpaw yawned as she laid next to him on the moss, feeling him lick her ear.
"You're like a daughter to me." She heard him mutter before she fell asleep.
-
The next day seemed to go by extremely fast, yet extremely slow for Starpaw. Blazestar decided not to have them train that day, since they were going to the Gathering. This meant Starpaw had the whole day to relax.
This also meant the kits were going to torment her all. Day. Long. Bramblekit eventually learned that her tail is not a chew toy, which she was thankful for, but Hawk-kit and Lightningkit insisted on biting onto it at random intervals of the day, causing her a constant pain. She now hated her unusually long tail.
She played with Snowkit, Flamekit, and Moonkit a bit, but the three of them lost interest in Starpaw once they learned she wasnt going to take them out of the camp. Smokekit and Palekit actually wanted to talk to her a bit, but at that point, Starpaw was in a bad mood from being annoyed by Lightningkit, and they decided against trying to play with her.
Wolfkit, suprisingly, turned to be one of her best companions that day. He was often there, keeping Lightningkit and Hawk-kit away, and didnt badger her with constant questions, which she was glad for. She actually got a nap in the day.
Starpaw spent a good portion of the day after that talking and playing with Wolfkit and Bramblekit. Shadepaw and Bluepaw had gone out training, Fernwill had gone to Moonstone for the first part of the morning with Blazestar, and only came back a little after Sun High. Warriors came and went, Smallclaw, as usual, tried to avoid staying in the camp. Starpaw really started to feel sorry for him. Ivykit really seemed intent on hanging around him at every moment in the day.
Starpaw also observed a rising affection between Sunkit and Skykit. It seems, that even at a young age, the two were already madly in love with each other. Starpaw couldn't help but wish them happiness.
Starpaw was now laying down in her favorite sunning spot, watching Bramblekit and Flamekit wrestle in front of her. Wolfkit was asleep next to her. Starpaw had eaten, and was now waiting for the time to go to the Gathering. In was sun fall, the setting sun bathing everything in a golden red light. Starpaw glanced over at Blazestar. He was talking with Braveheart and Ravenfur.
Starpaw knew she was going to the Gathering with Blazestar, and that Lionclaw, Fernwill, Ravenfur, Braveheart, Whitestorm, Shadepaw, and Sandtail would be joining them. Starpaw looked back to watching Bramblekit and Flamekit, mentally noting that whoever mentored them would have their hands full, when she heard Blazestar call for the cats that were attending the Gathering.