"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath the Brightledge for a clan meeting!"
Aurorastar's voice rang throughout the SunClan camp as she leaped onto the high ledge just outside her den. Her glossy pelt rippled, shining of gold, silver, and white. Her deep blue eyes shined, for it was time to welcome four new apprentices into SunClan.
Aurorastar smiled as Ravenecho trotted out of the nursery, her black fur gleaming in the morning sun. Her two kits, Tigerkit and Nightkit, leaped after her, their pelts smooth and glossy like the morning dew. Every young cat wanted to look grand for their apprentice ceremonies. Skykit and Mistkit were not far behind. Aurorastar was glad the kits were in such high spirits. Their mother, Fallowfoot, had died when the kits were only three moons old, and they had never met their father, Sagefur. Fortunately, Ravenecho had been happy to care for the kits in their last few moons of kit-hood.
Skykit raced ahead of the others in a flash of black and white fur. Mistkit, his sister, rolled her green eyes, but couldn't contain her excitement. She skipped around, her silver tabby fur bristling, then fell in next to Nightkit. Nightkit, who's pelt looked like the night sky, was quite mature for her age. Her sister, Tigerkit, was more enthusiastic, and began showing off her golden stripes over her black silky fur.
Aurorastar flicked her tail. She loved bringing new apprentices into the clan, and these were the first in this season of greenleaf.
A warm breeze blew through the camp, running through each cat's fur. The cats of SunClan gathered, their warm eyes resting on the kits. Aurorastar noticed a few pairs of eyes flashing with ambition, obviously hoping they could be the mentors of the new apprentices. Many cats of SunClan wanted to show their skills by mentoring an apprentice, but their were only so many apprentices to go around to each cat.
SunClan is growing stronger, Aurorastar thought. We have had many new warriors and kits these past few seasons.
Aurorastar realized that now all eyes were fixed on her. As leader, it was her job to perform these ceremonies.
The four kits sat in front of her, their eyes shining with respect for their leader. When Aurorastar had first become leader, the clan had shown her little respect. "They will soon, you'll see," her sister, Eclipsewing, had said. "They just need to know how intelligent and strong you are first."
Eclipsewing was right, Aurorastar thought with hope.
"It is time to welcome four new young apprentices into the clan!" Aurorastar started, her voice echoing through the camp. "Mistkit, Skykit, Tigerkit, and Nightkit have finally reached their sixth moon." Aurorastar beckoned the four young cats forward with a flick of her tail. "Mistkit, until you earn your warrior name, you shall be known as Mistpaw. Your mentor will be Dapplecloud."
The young she cat rose to her paws, her blue eyes shining and cream, gold, and light brown fur gleaming, and daintily trotted over to her apprentice. The two she cats touched noses, then sat down side by side in front of the crowd.
"Dapplecloud, you are young, but your great warrior skill has proven yourself worthy of an apprentice," Aurorastar mewed, giving Dapplecloud a friendly glance. Dapplecloud dipped her head, half proud, half embarrassed.
Skykit was next. "Skykit, until you have earned your warrior name, you shall be known as Skypaw. Your mentor will be Nightheart." Aurorastar flicked her golden tail at a sleek black she cat, who walked forward to her apprentice cheerfully. "Nightheart, you have been a loyal SunClan warrior, and I believe you will make us proud of you and Skypaw." Nightheart gave a respectful nod and sat next to Dapplecloud with Skypaw.
Tigerkit and Nightkit rushed forward, ignoring Ravenecho's words to be patient. Aurorastar's eyes sparkled with amusement. These two have gotten into much mischief as kits, and it's time they had a mentor to watch over them.
"Tigerkit, until you earn your warrior name, you shall be known as Tigerpaw. Your mentor will be Searose." The shy blue furred she cat padded forward and quietly touched noses with Tigerpaw. Aurorastar had hoped that with an apprentice of her own, Searose would open up more to SunClan and teach Tigerpaw all there is to know as a warrior.
"Searose, you have warrior skill and great intelligence. I hope you will make Tigerpaw just as great of a warrior," Aurorastar said, flicking an ear. The Clan looked please with Aurorastar's choices so far. They were all popular cats, and friendly among the Clan.
Nightkit began looking impatient. Aurorastar rested her tail on her shoulder. "And Nightkit, until you earn your warrior name, you shall be known as Nightpaw. Your mentor will be Bluegalaxy." The blue and white she cat rushed forward, her muscles rippling. Bluegalaxy had been very eager to prove herself, so Aurorastar had hoped having an apprentice would satisfy some of her ambition.
"Bluegalaxy, you have made SunClan proud many times over, and I know you will make us proud again of you and Nightpaw." Bluegalaxy looked proud from her leader's words, and sat beside the other mentors, keeping one blue eye on Nightpaw, who crouched next to her.
"Mistpaw! Skypaw! Tigerpaw! Nightpaw!" the Clan cheered, rising to their paws. Mistpaw ducked her head in embarrassment, while Skypaw puffed out his chest. Tigerpaw and Nightpaw smiled and took in all the praises being shot at them.
Soon, they will know that being an apprentice means more than just fun, Aurorastar thought. Being an apprentice means to care and work through training to become a warrior, along with helping the Clan.
Aurorastar dismissed the meeting, sitting on Brightledge and watching her Clan. The new mentors took their apprentices out to see the territory. Ravenecho joined a hunting patrol with Leopardsun, her friend, and Eaglefeather, a young orange tabby tom who became a warrior no less than a moon ago.
Nightglow, the deputy, was deep in conversation with Starwhisper, the medicine cat. The deputy's white fur sparkled, and the colorful shapes on her fur stood out like a leaf on a snowdrift. Starwhisper had sleek black fur with white specks, and her green eyes sparkled with the strange presence of StarClan. It with the medicine cat's role to heal the Clan and share with StarClan, the Clan's warrior ancestors.
Aurorastar noticed that the deputy and medicine cat were talking rather urgently; the words were obviously not for all ears. Aurorastar leaped down to join them. Starwhisper welcomed Aurorastar with a flick of her tail when she saw her leader.
"We were just about to come see you," Starwhisper mewed quietly.
"We have news from the dawn patrol this morning," Nightglow added.
"Why don't we take this conversation into my den," Aurorastar said, noticing a few pairs of curious eyes watching them.
Starwhisper and Nightglow nodded, and Aurorastar led them into her den, sitting down comfortably on her soft moss nest in the corner. Her den was a small cave in the wall of the stone hallow camp. Lichen grew over the doorway of the den, creating privacy for the leader. Soft sand lay on the floor of the den, and Starwhisper and Nightglow sat comfortably in it.
"So, what news do you bring?" Aurorastar asked after a long pause. Judging by the flat ears and wide eyes, she guessed the news was rather important.
"The dawn patrol found traces of strange scent on our territory," Nightglow said quickly. "The faint trace of blood was also detected."
"Was it from one of our cats?" Aurorastar asked urgently. She now realized why her deputy and medicine cat looked so worried and anxious.
"No cat of SunClan has any wounds at the moment, and it definitely wasn't prey blood," Starwhisper pointed out. "It could have been rogues fighting amongst themselves."
"Whatever it is, it's aggressive," Nightglow growled. Her tail lashed, but Aurorastar guessed that it was from more than just anger.
"You're right, Nightglow," Aurorastar said. "We will keep extra precaution in patrols and check for any traces of rogue or blood scent."
The two cats nodded, although Nightglow didn't look entirely satisfied. She's got to learn to respect my choices as leader. Aurorastar sighed. Nightglow and Starwhisper left, leaving Aurorastar alone in her den.
Sudden squeals of excitement rose from the nursery nearby. It must have been Ravenkit, Willowkit, Moonkit, and Swiftkit, who were due for their apprentice ceremonies soon. Aurorastar had found amusement in the four kits. None of them were siblings, but they acted like one big group of sisters, and roamed the camp as a group. Moonkit acted as leader since her two older sisters were Starwhisper and Bluemoon, a young, but intelligent and popular warrior.
They will be heartbroken as apprentices, Aurorastar thought. Being apprentices, they won't do everything together.
Aurorastar sat up, stretching her back, and trotted out of her den. She walked over to Nightsun, a young black tom with golden paws. She had been spending a lot of time with him lately, probably more than a leader should, but Aurorastar couldn't ignore the feelings of admiration for him. She knew Nightsun felt the same for her, but he didn't let anything get in the way of his feelings. He was even spending less time with his sister, Searose, to spend more with Aurorastar.
It's not bad getting a mate, Aurorastar thought as she greeted Nightsun with a friendly welcome. And Nightsun isn't a bad cat. Having a mate or kits won't get in the way of my responsibilities to the Clan.
Nightsun rubbed his muzzle along hers, ignoring the eyes fixed on the two cats. Aurorastar walked over to the fresh kill pile, picking up a rabbit, and brought it back to Nightsun. The two shared it, then began grooming one another's fur.
After a while, Aurorastar found her eyes closing with exhaustion, and sleep enclosed her like a black wave.
By the time she woke, the sun was already beginning to set. Nightsun still lay beside her, deep in conversation with Tigerfang, a tabby tom. Aurorastar said good bye to Nightsun and began to walk back to her own den. Worries of her own shot at her left and right, and her head began to ache with anxiety as she settled into her nest.
All will be fine soon, a voice in her head told her sympathetically.
I hope you all liked the first chapter. This was a long one, and many that I have already typed up are much shorter. Anyway, thanks to Stuffed Watermelon and Emberglade for reviewing!