Chapter 4
Willowkit and Fernkit went to play with Lionkit and Goldenkit, Fuzzytail's kits. Cloudpelt had just had Rowanfur's kits, Nightkit, Tawnykit and Dapplekit, but they were too small for them to play.
There were new warriors. Dustwing and Thornstep were the new warriors. They headed towards the highrock, since Tigerstar had called a clan meeting.
"Today, we are going to do one of the most important things in a clan: making new apprentices. Willowkit, Fernkit, come here!," said the big leader, looking proudly at his daughters.
"Stormpelt, you are a very skilled warrior and are ready for a new apprentice. You will train young Willowpaw. Teach your apprentice all the wonderful skills you've learned," said Tigerstar.
Willowpaw went and touched noses with Stormpelt. She couldn't believe she was finally an apprentice!
"Sandwhisker, you were an excellent mentor to Dawnheart, and I expect you to pass the same skills to your new apprentice, Fernpaw," said the LakeClan leader.
Fernpaw and Sandwhisker did the same gesture Willowpaw had done.
After the meeting, Willowpaw went towards her mentor. She wanted to learn everything, really fast.
"Greetings, Willopaw," said Stormpelt. "Today, we'll do a task all apprentices must do. It is taking care of the elders and queens. You will go to search the elders for ticks, and then you'll change their bedding. You'll go with Brownpaw; he'll show you how it's done."
Willowpaw felt absolutely disappointed. Fernpaw was going to see the territory while she was going to change the bedding with the most annoying cat, Brownpaw.
Stormpelt and Dawnheart, Brownpaw's mentor, were looking at their apprentices while they did the nasty jobs.
"Hi Willowpaw. I'm surprised you made it up to here, you know, as you're so weak," he said, looking at her really annoyed. "There are weaker cats though, like one you probably know, Hollykit was her name, wasn't it?"
Willowpaw felt anger pulse through her. Brownpaw was mocking her, and deserved to be taught a lesson.
Willowpaw launched herself on top of Brownpaw and raked his muzzle with her claws. Brownpaw shrieked in agony, and clawed Willowpaw's ears. Willowpaw aimed to Brownpaw's eyes, and left him bleeding badly.
Suddenly, Stormpelt noticed they were fighting and jumped.
"Stop!," he said, looking at the apprentices. "You will stay here all the day and do extra works as punishment," he said, looking at the apprentices.
"He was mocking me!," said Willowpaw.
"Willowpaw, I'm very disappointed of you. Your first day as an apprentice, and you start picking on Brownpaw", said her mentor, shaking his head.
Willowpaw grunted and continued working. She leaned to look for ticks in Graywillow, while Brownpaw checked on Mudtail. When they were done, Brownpaw checked the last elder while Willowpaw went to the medicine cat den for dry moss.
Inside the medicine cat den, Softpelt was resting. Willowpaw entered, but accidentally tripped with the medicine cat. Softpelt jumped in fright and looked at Willowpaw.
"Oh Willowpaw, it's just you," she said. "What do you need?"
"Dry moss for the elders," said Willowpaw.
Softpelt got up and went to the back of her den. When she came back, she was bringing a green bundle of moss.
"Here you have," she said, as she gave the moss to Willowpaw.
"Thank you!," said Willowpaw, as she ran towards the elders' den with the moss in her mouth.
Together with Brownpaw, they put dry moss to each elder. When they were done they went back to their mentors.
"We're done," said Brownpaw. "Well, actually I'm done because Willowpaw didn't do anything."
Willowpaw ignored Brownpaw's nasty comment. She didn't want more problems.
"Now, you two will help clean the nursery as your punishment. Squirrelpaw and Creamypaw were going to do it, but now they won't," said Dawnheart.
Willowpaw and Brownpaw went towards the nursery. Lionkit and Goldenkit were play - fighting, Lionkit's golden tabby pelt was very shiny, while Goldenkit's golden pelt was all dusty.
"Hi Willowpaw. Hi Brownpaw!," said Lionkit. "Do you want to see the excellent fighting moves Gingerpaw taught me?," asked the blue – eyed tom.
"Maybe later, little Lionkit. We have to clean your nest now!," replied Brownpaw.
"When I become an apprentice, I want you to be my mentor," said Lionkit.
Brownpaw gathered the dirty moss while Willowpaw changed it for new ones.
"I heard Gingerpaw and Creamypaw had passed their warrior assessments," said Cloudpelt, while she groomed her kits. "I wonder how their warrior names will be."
"Sandwhisker must be so proud," said Fuzzytail, looking at the dark ginger she – cat. She was Gingerpaw and Creamypaw's mother.
When Brownpaw and Willowpaw finished, they went to their mentors.
"Now you can take a piece from the fresh – kill pile," said Stormpelt, and the two apprentices went towards it, were their littermates lay eating.
"How was your day?," asked Willowpaw, as she crouched next to Fernpaw with a fish in her jaw.
"We went with Squirrelpaw to explore the territory. She caught a couple of fish, but when I tried, I fell to the water!," she said.
"My day was horrible," said Willowpaw.
"What happened to you?", asked her sister.
She told her sister everything she had been through with Brownpaw, and Fernpaw just nodded.
"Don't pay attention to Brownpaw. Maybe if you try to be gentle with him, he'll treat you better," said Fernpaw.
"I'll try that tomorrow. Thanks Fernpaw!," said Willowpaw, as she went to the apprentices' den. In it, Creamypaw and Gingerpaw were fast asleep, as they would probably become warriors the next day. Willowpaw crouched in her new nest, which was next to Squirrelpaw, and fell asleep.