Ch. 2

Apprentices

"Flamekit, from this day forward, until she has earned her warrior name, this apprentice shall be called Flamepaw, her mentor Cherryfall!" Falconstar shouted from his side of the clearing the whole clan of Riverclan was gathered at. We were finally becoming apprentices.

"Flamepaw! Flamepaw! Flamepaw!" the crowd shouted out her new name.

Flamepaw ran up to touch noses with Cherryfall, her warrior mentor, just as Thornkit, Fishkit, and Icekit and Eaglekit had done not moments before. Well, now they were apprentices, so now their names were just like Flamepaw's.

"Smallkit."

My name ran through the crowd like tossing a pebble into a calm stream. Falconstar gestured me forward with a flick of his tail. I lifted my chin high, determined not to trip on anything. This was the most important day yet! My paws slipped and slid in the watery reeds were I was supposed to stand, but I didn't fall. My father's eyes flickered into the crowd for a moment, and then he called out a single name.

"Creekfoot."

My heart ached. Creekfoot was Falconstar's best warrior. He had been to so many battles, he could barely use two of his own limbs. Many were surprised he hadn't joined the elders yet, but since he hadn't, my father chose him to be my mentor! The one who's supposed to teach me how to protect the Clan and be of actual use! The poor cat could barely even use two of his own legs!

Falconstar looked down at us, nodding his head slightly as if he had chosen the right warrior.

"Smallkit, from this day forward, until he has earned his warrior name, he shall be called Smallpaw, apprentice to Creekfoot! Creekfoot, you know much about the warrior ways, and understand Smallpaw's situation. I trust that you will guide him to become the cat the Clan needs him to be."

"Smallpaw! Smallpaw! Smallpaw!"

The clan cheered.

I touched noses with Creekfoot, like a good apprentice, then ran to the others were they sat, Creekfoot the same with the mentors. As I sat down, Thornpaw shoved my shoulder, almost sending me sprawling to the ground, but I caught myself last second. "Nice mentor." He snickered. I flicked my ear, ignoring him, but he was right. I didn't want to be Creekfoot's apprentice!

0o0o0

"When do we get to go and see the territory? When?" Fishpaw ambushed his mentor, Sleekleaf, when the ceremony was finished. Sleekleaf looked up at Shiningbrook, Icepaw's mentor, with a teasingly worried expression. "I don't know what I'm going to do with him…" she muttered. Shiningbrook mrrowed with laughter. Fishpaw backed up, ashamed, but was reassured when Sleekleaf put her tail on his shoulders, answering his question. "Tommorrow at sun-high. It's sun-set now, and you need to get use to your new dens."

0o0o0

"I call this den!"

"No, I want it!"

"Let me have it, mousebrain!"

"Foxdung!"

"Crowfood!"

The siblings continued to insult each other over dens as the rest of us settled down to rest. I ended up with the den closest to outside, so it was slightly damp, but I didn't mind. I looked up at the stars shining bright in Silverpelt, wondering if I'll ever make it to Starclan, when Eaglepaw's and Icepaw's bickering was drowned out as I feel into a deep sleep, exhausted from the day.

0o0o0

"Wake up! Our mentors are here! Wake up, mousebrain!" someone yowled into my ear.

I felt paws prodding me, and I opened my eyes to find Flamepaw nudging me, staring in the direction of outside the den.

"W-What's going on?" I asked sleepy.

"Our mentors are here! You're lucky I woke you when I did, otherwise Creekfoot would've had your fur as lining for his nest!" she hissed.

I nodded my thanks, and stretched, trying to shake off any residue from sleep. I bolted out into the clearing, noticing how the sun hadn't even risen yet. "I thought we were beginning at sun-high?" I questioned.

"That's when we're going around the territory, idiot!" Thornpaw exclaimed from where he was sitting, washing himself, next to his mentor, Redwillow.

I rolled my eyes and mimicked him, then growled, joining the group. Eaglepaw and Icepaw were wrestling on the ground. But by many visual scratches, I could tellthey were doing damage to each other. "Stop that!" Shiningbrook hissed, nudging them apart.

"Sorry-"

"Yeah-"

"We just wanted to practice-"

"To be warriors!"

They both said hurriedly. Kestralwing, Eaglepaw's mentor, sighed and rolled his eyes. "Well if we're going to hunt, we better do it now, before all the patrols come out and fish it clean." He said.

0o0o0

I limped over to the river, behind the rest of the apperentices.

"Alright, if you want to learn to fish, the first thing you'll need to know is- your shadow. You can't let it fall onto the water."

A/N: I know, I know, bad place to end, but I had to post something! I'll try and make my next chapter longer