Hi everyone! Thanks for 200 views! Love y'all! In this chapter, there's FINALLY some conflict. I was betting really bored writing this. Anyways, it might be a little choppy, so just tell me what's wrong in a review down below! I also have a "trivia" question for y'all.

So far, the main character is Birdkit. Three more main character's will be appearing! Try to guess their role, and their names. Cookie for anyone who guesses! (Two are currently not in the clan)

So..thanks again, and I hope you enjoy!


Chapter 6: A New Era

I'm going to be an apprentice! Birdkit thought. Three moons had passed since Mossfeather's litter had been apprenticed, and now it was her turn. Today at sun-high, she would start a new era of her life. Dizzy with excitement, she bolted out of the nursery past Honeystream, who let out a mrrow of laughter, and dashed into the clearing. It was green-leaf now, and the leaves spiraled in he warm air, a combination of pale and bright green. The tabby kit let out a sigh. So much had happened in the past three moons! Sleetkit and her littermates were so cute! She hoped that she could see them, as often as now when she was an apprentice.


At sun-high, the clan gathered in the shallow dip beneath the Jagged-ledge. They already knew what was going to be happening. Birdkit's pelt was groomed to perfection, not a single strand of fur out of place. Her light brown striped fur shone in the harsh sunlight, and her emerald eyes glistened. She padded into the sandy dip and carefully sat down, wrapping her bushy tail around her paws. Sandkit joined her, and they whispered excitedly as Thistlestar exited his den.

"We're going to be apprentices!" Sandkit meowed to Birdkit.

"I know right! I'm so excited!" The two were interrupted as Thistlestar cleared his throat.

The silver mottled leader raised his scarred muzzle and called out in a booming voice, "Cats of Stormclan! As you may know, we have two new apprentices today. Birdkit, Sandkit, step forward." Birdkit padded toward Jagged-ledge, barely able to contain her excitement. She glanced over at her sister, and noticed that she also was visibly ecstatic. The tabby kit leaped up onto the low overhang below the large leader. Sandkit did the same.

Thistlestar faced Sandkit and continued, "Sandkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Sandpaw. Your mentor will be Ripplenose. I hope Ripplenose will pass down all he knows on to you." Then, he turned to the proud, gray and white warrior.

"Ripplenose, please step forward, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from Leafheart, and you have shown yourself to be wise and brave. You will be the mentor of Sandpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to her." Shaking with happiness, Sandpaw reached her muzzle forwards and touched noses with Ripplenose.

Then, Thistlestar turned to Birdkit, his amber eyes boring in her, "Birdkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Birdpaw. Your mentor will be Flameleap. I hope Flameleap will pass down all he knows on to you." The gray leader faced the excited, ginger warrior.

"Flameleap, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from Softfur, and you have shown yourself to be determined and loyal. You will be the mentor of Birdpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to her." Flameleap bounced forward, and stretched his neck, gently tapping noses with Birdpaw. This is so exciting!

"Sandpaw, Birdpaw, Sandpaw, Birdpaw!" The clan cheered.

"I expect you to train your apprentices into strong, faithful warriors." Rumbled Thistlestar, once the cheering had died down. Then, he leaped down from the Jagged-ledge.

Birdpaw let out a squeak of excitement, and purred.

"I hope we get to train together!" She purred, facing Sandpaw.

"Me too!" the pale ginger she-cat replied.

"Congratulations Birdpaw, Sandpaw!" Nightpaw, Cinderpaw, and Mossfeather's litter had come to greet the newly named apprentices.

"Thanks!" She meowed, "But I should be going. I'll be starting training soon!" The apprentices nodded, and left.

Next Honeystream and Buzzardfire rushed over, purring over how big their kits had grown. The two littermates chatted for a bit, then headed to the apprentices' den.

When they ducked into the den, they found two nests, which were unoccupied. Birdpaw kneaded the soft moss. Being an apprentice is great so far! Using her sense of smell, she could tell her nest was next to Morningpaw's and Ryepaw's. After she had scoped out her new den, she stepped into the bright green-leaf sunlight. She looked around camp. Even though she had been a kit this morning, she felt like she was in a whole new world. She could see the nursery, and Sleetkit wrestling with Thrushkit. Then, she frowned. She had noticed the unusually large amount of guards in front of the nursery, but she hadn't given it much thought. Now, it just seemed odd. Not to mention the sudden business of camp when it had turned green-leaf.

"Birdpaw!" A young voice called near the camp entrance. Flameleap! I better go with him. Birdpaw padded over the orange warrior.

"Are you ready to check out the territory?" he meowed once she arrived at the camp entrance.

"Of course!" she nodded, "But can Sandpaw come with us?"

"Sandkit and Ripplenose already left, but we could see if we can catch up." Flameleap replied. Then, he catiously stepped outside of camp. Birdpaw took a deep breath, then padded out of camp. She looked around. The sight was beautiful! She tried to run to see the rest of the territory, but Flameleap barred her way with his tail.

"Aw! Come on Flameleap!" She pleaded.

Instead of the reply Birdpaw expected, he hissed at her, "Mousebrain! You always need to check where you walk. You almost fell off Thunder Gorge!" He motioned downwards with his tail. The forested entrance gradually fell into a steep gorge with a river flowing through it. It was at least 12 tail-lengths high. Her paws were nerve-wrackingly close to the edge. She slowly edged away from the rocky cliff.

Flameleap mrrowed in amusement. "Luckily, it doesn't get steep into the end. The river flowing through the gorge is called Lightning Stream. Great for catching fish!" He swiped his tongue over his muzzle and continued, "C'mon. I'll show you the rest of territory!" He bounded away, and Birdpaw leaped after him. Soon enough, they reached the end of the gorge.

"Look, there's a shallow drop that leads into the river banks. When you want to come into Thunder Gorge, just use this entrance instead of falling of the edge!" He chuckled, "The edge of the gorge is forested. We call it the Storming Forest, after the sound the birds make during migration season." Birdpaw's mentor lead them deeper into the forest, showing them the Mossy Hollow, the place where apprentices train, the Eagle Rocks, where birds of prey seem to hover above, and the Stepping Stream, a series of small rivers forming the border between Mountainclan and Leafclan. At the end of their tour, Birdpaw was exhausted, her paws sore and rubbed raw.

"Don't worry, you'll get used to it. Since we haven't explored the whole territory, we can finish tomorrow. It's getting dark outside."

Birdpaw nodded, still tuckered out. Should I ask him? She wondered. A question had been at the back of her mind since the start of the day. She took a deep breath, and decided to ask.

"Why are there extra guards around the nursery? Why is the clan busier during green-leaf? Are we being attacked?" She blurted out.

Flameleap turned around and sat on his haunches. He sighed, "Look, this is usually a lesson we teach apprentices during their first battle lesson, but it'll do no harm telling you now. Yes, we are being attacked, to some extent. A group of rogues lurks around our territory, often stealing kits, and sometimes apprentices. They appear every green-leaf. Every year, we try to drive them off and build reinforcements, but it never works. They always steal, kill, raid, and much worse." He shivered and went on, "They grow larger in numbers every year, and it just gets worse. Just be on the look out. Okay?" He hung his head and guided Birdpaw towards camp.

The lively warrior was suddenly morose, but that wasn't what was on Birdpaw's mind. Problems were popping up here and there, and her mind was a whirl. The whole walk back to camp, she jumped at every shadow, every sound, even the gentle swishing of the river. All she could imagine was cold, sharp teeth, and bloodshed.