Hi all! Bluebird here! This is chapter two of SWS (too lazy to write it out XD). The answer to the question was... (drumroll)... Lightkit!
Review:
Moonlit Demise: SPECIAL THANKS TO MY ONLY REVIEWER FOR CHAPTER 1! Thanks so much. For reviewing, you get... *throws big cookie*. For getting the question right, you get... *throws extra large cookie and Willowkit plushie*!
Disclaimer:
Bluebird: Flamestar! I need you to tell everyone that I don't own Warriors! *slaps tail over mouth*
Flamestar: Nice job, Bluebird, nice job. Just to finish, Bluebird does not own Warriors. The Erin Hunters do and probably always will.
Bluebird: Mrrph. *still has tail over mouth*
Mosskit from BrookClan: I am randomly here and will be your translator! Bluebird says thanks.
Flamestar: No... *voice dripping with sarcasm*
BEGIN!
Chapter 2:
Willowkit turned over in her sleep. The six moon old she-kit sighed softly, disturbing her mother. Nightfeather, who was having a nightmare, snapped awake, which is turn woke Willowkit. She stretched, shaking herself crossly as she glared at her mother. Nightfeather pricked her ears as she heard soft pawsteps nearing the nursery. She forgot her silent dispute with Willowkit and got out of the nest. Her mate, Birchblaze, poked his broad golden-brown head inside the nursery. He whispered quietly, so as to not wake Larkpetal, Sandkit and Lionkit's mother, Heatherfur, a new queen who had just given birth, Lionkit, Sandkit, and newborn kits, Harekit, Petalkit, and Sorrelkit. Nightfeather nodded silently, and herded Willowkit out of the nursery. She then flicked her tail on Larkpetal's pelt and whispered in her ear. Larkpetal quickly stood and shook Lionkit and Sandkit awake. Willowkit huffed crossly, wondering what was going on, and earned a warning glance from her mother. When Willowkit had climbed out of the nursery with Nightfeather behind her, Nightfeather said quietly,
"Willowkit! Today you're becoming an apprentice! Now sit still and let me wash you, the ceremony should be soon."
Willowkit's blue eyes widened in surprise as her mother began to wash her silver fur. Larkpetal stalked out of the nursery, carrying a cross Lionkit and a sheepish looking Sandkit. Nightfeather paused in her grooming a cast a sympathetic glance at Larkpetal, who plopped down beside her. She began to groom Lionkit, leaving Sandkit sitting next to him. Nightfeather groomed Willowkit so hard she thought all of her fur was going to come off. Lick after lick after lick after…
"You're done."
Nightfeather stepped back to view her daughter, and Willowkit's brain seemed to shift to a memory a half moon ago…
Flashback - Quarter Moon Ago
Willowkit watched as Nightfeather groomed Birdkit. The she-kit's light brown fur and white paws were shining, and Willowkit was filled with jealousy. Willowkit looked over her shoulder at her own silver fur splashed with gray and rippled with jealousy. She envied Birdkit with her perfect fur and perfect everything! Even her name was better. Birds were caring, special, flying animals, while willows were-
Stop! Willowkit's conscious mind pushed away the memory. She had been almost in tears about a quarter moon ago, sad because Tigerpaw, a strong apprentice, had teased her about her name. Birchblaze had comforted her because Nightfeather was off hunting for the first time in moons. Willowkit had asked him why he and Nightfeather had named her Willowkit, and he had answered,
"Some say willows are bendy, weak, not strong enough to survive a big storm. But I think of willows a different way. Some say willows are bendy, I say that they adapt easily to changes, making kits named after them better learners. I remember that Tigerpaw, he took forever to learn the simple hunting crouch. Tigers may be strong, but they are stubborn, and learn slowly. I bet that you will learn the hunting crouch in half the time that Tigerpaw did. Who will be laughing then? Some say that willows are weak, but I say that willows are strong. During leaf-fall, who is the first to start eating less? Who gets adapted easily and never complains of hunger during leaf-bare? Willows do, that's who. And did it ever occur to anybody that maybe willows bend with the big storm to survive later? Willows bend low to the ground, protecting them from the worst of winds. And which trees are still there after a big tree? Come on, you answer."
Willowkit had quietly answered that willows were there, and Birchblaze had curled his tail around her and put her to sleep in Nightfeather's nest. But Willowkit did not sleep for a long time. Only when Nightfeather curled around her did she sleep.
"Willowkit! Snap out of it!"
Birdpaw's voice sounded harshly throughout Willowkit's head and confused her. She blinked open bright blue eyes and saw Birdpaw bristling.
"It's finally time for you to become an apprentice. I know for a fact that Flamestar is only making you an apprentice because she has to. You're to useless and kit-like to be leader."
Willowkit sighed. Obviously Birdpaw was still angry at her for not congratulating Birdpaw during her apprentice ceremony. Nightfeather glanced over, and Birdpaw became perfect little medicine cat apprentice again. She rested her tail on Willowkit's flank, and spoke softly.
"Willowkit! Aren't you excited for your apprentice ceremony? I sure am!"
Nightfeather gave an almost imperceptible nod and turned back towards where Flamestar was leaping on to the Pile of Rocks. The clan leader yowled out,
"Let all cats old enough to jump for their own prey gather beneath the Pile of Rocks for a meeting of SparrowClan!"
Nightfeather quickly used to tail to push Willowkit forward, and she padded beneath the Pile of Rocks. She was followed by Lionkit and Sandkit, who were looking subdued. Willowkit glanced back to see Nightfeather and Birchblaze almost bursting with pride. Larkpetal and her mate Stormclaw were gazing at their kits with undisguised pride. Willowkit turned her blue eyes back towards Flamestar. The fiery red she-cat yowled out again,
"Cats of SparrowClan. Here we have three kits, each of which has reached their sixth moon. Willowkit, Lionkit, and Sandkit. Willowkit has been Chosen by me and my advisor Jaystar. She was chosen for her intelligence and her leadership qualities, such as when she soothed and led the other kits back into the nursery during the NightClan attack. Jaystar and I agree that she is the right choice for leader. So from now on, until she has earned her warrior name, Willowkit will be known as Willowpaw. I will be her mentor. Jaystar was my mentor and predecessor, and I promise to pass down all the leadership skills I learned from him to Willowpaw."
The crowd of cats began to cheer for Willowpaw, as was custom. They chanting her name again and again, making Willowpaw feel slightly woozy. She smiled instead and turned a blue gaze on Flamestar, silently signaling for her to go on. Flamestar nodded and flicked her tail for silence. The flame colored she-cat continued the ceremony once all cats were silent.
"Lionkit. You are Willowpaw's backup, and will become leader if something happens to her. I Chose you as backup, with Jaystar's help, because you have the right qualities for a leader, you just are a little too enthusiastic. However, knowing when to be silly and when to be serious will come in time. Lionkit, until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Lionpaw. Thrushclaw, you were my backup and learned much from Brackenfeather, your mentor. I hope you pass down all the skills she taught you to Lionpaw."
Lionpaw's amber eyes gazed with delight around the clearing as the cats of SparrowClan chanted his name again and again. He puffed his chest out proudly, glad to be in the spotlight. Lionpaw glanced at Willowpaw, unsure how to get them to stop. Willowpaw caught his questioning look, and nodded towards Flamestar. Lionpaw bobbed his head towards the leader, who flicked her tail for silence. Flamestar smiled down at Lionpaw, then began Sandkit's ceremony.
"Sandkit. You are Birdpaw's backup, and will become a medicine cat if something happens to her. You will be a warrior, but Berryfern will teach you the ways of a medicine cat to be safe. Berryfern chose you as backup because you are gentle, but just need to learn the wisdom that comes with time. Sandkit, until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Sandpaw. Dewdrop, you are my confidant in almost all important matters. Being a senior warrior, you will be able to teach Sandpaw the wisdom she needs. Teach Sandpaw all you know, and make her a warrior for the clan to be proud of."
Sandpaw looked anxious as SparrowClan cheered for her, she looked as if she wanted to curl up in a small ball. Willowpaw had felt like that to, but she had hidden it, not wanting the clan to see her like that. Not at this crucial moment in her life. Flamestar flicked her tail for silence, obviously seeing that Sandkit wasn't going to do anything. Flamestar yowled out into the last calls of the crowd.
"SparrowClan! I present three new apprentices! Willowpaw, Lionpaw, and Sandpaw. Their mentors are me, Thrushclaw, and Dewdrop!"
"Willowpaw! Lionpaw! Sandpaw! Flamestar! Thrushclaw! Dewdrop! Willowpaw! Lionpaw! Sandpaw! Flamestar! Thrushclaw! Dewdrop! Willowpaw!..."
The Clan continued chanting while Flamestar leaped down the Pile of Rocks. Flamestar padded to Willowpaw, who touched noses with her. Lionpaw bounded across the clearing towards Thrushclaw, who sighed as he observed Lionpaw's boundless energy. Sandpaw padded carefully to Dewdrop, the older warrior waiting patiently for her new apprentice. The two siblings touched noses with their mentors, then…
A tail on Willowpaw's shoulders snapped her out of her reverie. She whipped around, finding Flamestar giving her a kind look. Willowpaw smiled back and then asked,
"Can we see the territory today?"
(A/N: I decided not to do territory exploring because nothing interesting happens and everybody does it)
Willowpaw groaned, her tired limbs aching at her attempts to get up. Lionpaw rolled over in his sleep, while Sandpaw was splayed out across her nest next to her brother's. The new Willowpaw had been an apprentice for a quarter moon, and she was already aching endlessly. All she could do was hope that it would get easier in time. She padded outside, finding Flamestar waiting for her. She saw the newest kits, Harekit, Petalkit, and Sorrelkit tussling in the clearing. Sorrelkit backed away then reared on her hind legs and called,
"I am Flamestar! You shall never win, GustClan crowfood! You stole our freshkill!"
Harekit reared up on his own hind legs,
"Fear me, Flamestar! I am Eaglestar, and although SparrowClan is way better than GustClan-"
Petalkit cut him off saying,
"Think, Harekit! Would Eaglestar really say that SparrowClan is better than GustClan?"
"Well, it is!"
harekit retorted, and all Petalkit did to respond was roll her eyes. Flamestar, whose green gaze had been watching the kits, purred quietly and turned back to Willowpaw.
"Willowpaw, we're going hunting. I want to work on some battle moves. Birdpaw's coming with us, she needs to learn some battle moves just in case as well. You can teach your sister that move I taught you."
"Leap and hold?"
"Yes. Go fetch your sister."
Willowpaw bounded off in the direction of the medicine den. Birdpaw and her had been on shaky terms lately, ever since Birdpaw's ceremony. But with Flamestar there, Birdpaw wouldn't do anything bad. Sticking her head in the medicine den, she yowled,
"Birdpaw! You're coming training with me and Flamestar!"
Birdpaw turned around, her blue eyes caught sight of Willowpaw and she frowned. Sighing, she followed Willowpaw as she bounded across the clearing to Flamestar. The leader nodded before beckoning the two apprentices out of camp. After all three of them were outside of camp, Flamestar turned to Willowpaw.
"Willowpaw. Surprise test. You will lead me and Birdpaw to the training area. Pretend we have no idea where we're going."
Willowpaw nodded, turning toward the right. Then she turned around with a frown of confusion on her face. She titled her head to the left as she asked,
"Flamestar, do you and Birdpaw know where we're going, or just not which way to go?"
Flamestar pondered for a second before answering,
"Just show us which way to go, Willowpaw."
Willowpaw nodded before turning and padding into the forest. The silvery she-cat leaped nimbly over fallen branches, twisting her head every so often to make sure Flamestar and Birdpaw were behind her. Soon, they arrived at a mossy clearing with trees lining the edges. The trees were useful for tree training, so that apprentices would fall on the moss if they fell. Flamestar nodded then announced,
"Good job, you made it here to Mossy Hollow. Willowpaw, I want you to do the leap and hold on me, then do it slowly so that Birdpaw will see clearly."
Willowpaw nodded and crouched, waiting for the best moment to leap on her mentor. Just as she sprang through the air, lightening flashed and rain began to pound hard on the three cats. Willowpaw stopped midair and crouched, shivering, on the moss floor. Flamestar flattened her ears and beckoned with her tail for Willowpaw and Birdpaw to follow her. The three cats pelted through the rain, trying to get back to camp. Finally, they burst into camp, finding Hazelberry, a new warrior, standing guard. Her golden-brown fur was soaked and she was shivering. Flamestar yowled to be heard over the rain,
"Hazelberry, go rest. I'll take over. Willowpaw and Birdpaw, go to your nests."
Willowpaw nodded, ears flattened, and raced into the apprentice's den. Lionpaw and Sandpaw were in there, sharing tongues. Willowpaw twitched her ears at them before flopping down in her nest, exhausted from her pelt through the rain. Willowpaw curled up and fell asleep, dreaming her way into dreamland….
Howdy, y'all! Surprise question for you, duh duh duh. Remember back in Chapter 1, when the kits were playing and Lionkit got yelled at by what's his name I can't remember? No the question isn't what his name is, it's... (drumroll)... what was the - erm - thing that Lionkit was standing on when he did his "clan meeting"? Don't go back and look! It spoils the game! If you review you get a sugar cookie! And if you get the question right you get... (drumroll again, I don't know what's in to me today)... an extra big chocolate chip cookie and a Flamestar plushie! YAY!
-Bluebirdy Wirdy (what?)