"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath the Brightledge for a Clan meeting!"
Aurorastar stood atop the Brightledge, the morning sun shining on her fur. She tried to blink the tiredness from her eyes, but they still had a glazed over look. She was exhausted after spending most of her night out with Nightsun.
Waterfall padded forward, pride showing in her strong steps. Her four kits followed after her, their pelts groomed and eyes bright. They would become apprentices today.
The Clan had gathered within moments, since the apprentice ceremony had been well-known for many sunrises.
"Though the cold season of leaf-bare will be coming soon," Aurorastar started, meeting the many gazes that were focused on her from below, "that does not stop the growth of our Clan. Today, Waterfall's kits will become apprentices, and we are more than ready for them." She beckoned the four young cats forward with her tail.
"Rainkit, until you earn your warrior name, you shall be known as Rainpaw. Your mentor will be Silvertail."
Silvertail's eyes flashed with shock, but he quickly padded forward, his alarm forgotten, and touched noses with Rainpaw.
"Silvertail, though you have never had an apprentice, you have remarkable warrior skill. I know you will pass on what you have learned from your own mentor, Ravenecho, to Rainpaw."
Aurorastar then turned to Stormkit.
"Stormkit, until you earn your warrior name, you shall be known as Stormpaw. Your mentor will be Lionstrike."
The dark gray tom strolled forward, looking quite proud. Stormpaw raced up to him, raising her head to touch noses with the large tom.
"Lionstrike, you did a wonderful job in mentoring Eaglefeather. I know you will make Stormpaw just as skillful of a warrior."
Lightningkit shot forward, sitting directly in front of Aurorastar.
Amusement glimmered in her eyes. "Lightningkit, until you earn your warrior name, you shall be known as Lightningpaw. Your mentor will be Sunsplash."
Sunsplash's eyes shown with triumph. The she cat had been anxious to train an apprentice for a long time.
"Sunsplash, you are a loyal warrior and one of the best hunters in the Clan. I know you will make us proud of Lightningpaw as we are proud of you."
By now Thunderkit was growing impatient. The little black tom let out a growl. "I'm always last."
Aurorastar rested her tail on his shoulder. "But not least. Thunderkit, until you earn your warrior name, you shall be known as Thunderpaw. Your mentor will be Bluemoon."
Bluemoon bounded forward in a quick, enthusiastic pace. She touched noses with Thunderpaw, looking just as excited as her apprentice.
"Bluemoon, you have proven your warrior skill and loyalty to SunClan many times over. I know you will pass on these skills to Thunderpaw."
Bluemoon gave Aurorastar a nod of determination before touching noses with her apprentice.
A sudden yowl sounded from the camp entrance. It was a hunting patrol, consisting of Tigerlilly, Swiftpaw, Stoneclaw, Moonpaw, and Leopardsun.
"Aurorastar!" Stoneclaw called, skidding to a halt next to Brightledge. "You must come with us immediately!"
"What's wrong?" Aurorastar was instantly alert.
"It's back!" Fear made Tigerlilly's voice tremble. "The rogue scent of DarkClan, and it's mixed with fresh blood."
Great StarClan, no! Not this again! But Aurorastar was able to work up her courage. "I will come," she was able to say. "Let's go." She turned to Nightglow. "Guard the camp. Don't let anyone in or out."
"Got it," Nightglow growled, though her eyes were wide.
Aurorastar gave her Clan a reassuring nod before charging out of the camp. "Okay, lead me to the scent."
Stoneclaw took the lead, weaving among brambles, ferns, and trees. He stopped when they reached the far edge of their territory.
"Here!" Stoneclaw called, his mouth wide to taste the air.
Aurorastar closed her eyes, breathing in and focusing only on the scents around her. She immediately picked up the foul scent of the DarkClan rogues, though this scent seemed familiar. Her eyes flashed open.
"Everyone, calm down. We don't need to worry so much about this."
"Calm down?" Leopardsun spat. "This is the scent of DarkClan rogues, and there are a lot of them. Enough to match SunClan!"
Aurorastar met Leopardsun's hard stare. "Not many scents though. One scent. This is only the scent of one rogue cat, and I know exactly who it is."
The patrol eyed her intently.
"It was Darkstar's most valued rogue follower, Blood." She growled. I will always remember the scent of my killer.
"We should explore the area and find him," Tigerlilly suggested.
Aurorastar nodded. "I agree. Everyone, split up."
Ears flat, the patrol split in opposite directions. Aurorastar padded in the direction of ShadowClan, her paw steps quiet and ears pricked.
She prowled through the tall grass, wet with morning dew. The scent of fresh blood was still fresh in the air, but with every paw step, Blood's scent seemed to get more stale.
Please let this not be a trap, she willed.
She whipped around when she heard a thump behind her, but it was only a small stick falling from a large oak tree. Aurorastar looked up to see a squirrel skittering along a tree branch, oblivious to the danger below.
Aurorastar continued to move forward, wondering if they would even find Blood. It was then when she suddenly felt something soft and wet under her paw. Gazing down, she let out a gasp of shock.
Lying at her paws was the bloody body of a kit.
Hehe, I love ending chapters on cliffhangers. :) The kit is quite important for the many chapters to come. And yes, Blood, Darkstar's previous favorited rogue follower has returned. I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I did writing it! :3
Review Reply:
Wyldclaw: Thank you! They do have very interesting names, though I can't take credit for all of them. Very few were actually made by me!
RaphaelLover159: Thank you for Following and Favoriting! :)
-Lunar