Sorry this chapter took so long, I'm busy with 2 homeschooled groups, 1 play, and a MAJOR case of writers block. Again, Sorry!
Into The Light
Chptr 4
Apprentices!
When Starkit woke up, she felt a trill of joy. Today was her apprentice ceremony! It had been a little less than a moon ago since Daisy's kits had become apprentices. The apprentice's den was already getting very crowded. Stormpaw was the best fighter and springpaw was the best hunter out of the 6 apprentices. She hoped Jayfeather was in his den today, because she wanted to ask him if she could be his apprentice. She knew he was grumpy and that he intended to be around for a while yet, but he knew he would join Star Clan eventually so she hoped she would take her as his apprentice. If he didn't, she would be disappointed but Bramblestar would choose a good mentor for her and she would get over it. She gave herself a quick grooming before bounding off to Jayfeather's den.
Starkit's POV
When I reached Jayfeather's den, I peered inside. "I know you're there Starkit, do you need something?" Jayfeather's voice echoed from inside the herb stores. What if he says no? I thought. I pushed it down and meowed " Hi Jayfeather, I was just wondering if you were going to take an apprentice soon." I barely got the words out. I was terrified! "I would consider it. Why? Do you or one of your litter mates want to become a medicine cat?" His voice was questioning but I could hear a tinge of bitterness there too. I would have asked, but my apprentice ceremony was tonight and I needed to get my head on straight. "I like the idea of healing my clanmates more than fighting and I like the smell of the herbs. I kind of wanted to be your apprentice since my first day out of the nursery. Last night, I asked the starry cats if they thought I should ask you if I could be your apprentice and they told me to try, even if you say you don't want one yet. So, I tried. Can I please be your apprentice?" It all spilled out in one big breath. "Jayfeather stared at me with his sightless blue gaze. "Starry cats?" He meowed. "You know, the blue-gray cat, the tortoiseshell cat, the scary black cat, and the fire-y cat." I replied, a little wierded out. "Don't you know them?" "I know them.." He said, trailing off. He looked back at me. "You really want to be my apprentice?" He asked. "More than anything!" I meowed. I felt like a seed, or the bones of fresh kill between a cats jaws. About to crack. There was a long silence. "Alright." He meowed. "But only if you promise to do what I tell you to do, and when to do it." "I promise!" I yowled. I felt like running to highledge and yowling my happiness for the entire camp to hear. "First we need to ask Bramblestar if it's OK with him." Jayfeather meowed. "Alright." I replied cooly, trying not to expose how elated I was.
When I went back to the nursery, I tried to remember everything that had happened earlier but it was all a blur. I was going to be a medicine cat!
"Wake up! It's almost time for our ceremony! Bramblestar is going to call the meeting when the patrols get back!" Blinking open her eyes, she saw a silvery gray face above her. "Moonkit, get off of me!" She mewed, batting at her sister's whiskers. "If I can't get up, I can't go to the ceremony!" Pushing Moonkit off her, she stood up and shook the moss off of her fur. Outside, she heard Bramblestar calling the clan together. "The sunhigh patrols must be back already! Hurry up!" Sunkit meowed, he was sitting just inside the nursery entrance with his pelt glowing like the sun. Starkit gave herself a quick grooming (with Moonkit's help). Cinderheart was lying near the opposite wall, her belly heavy with her kits. As she got up to answer Bramblestar's summons, Dovewing came into the nursery with Lightkit, Darkkit, Daykit, and Nightkit right behind her. One her kits were inside, she started scolding them, telling them that since it was THEIR apprentice ceremony, they couldn't answer Bramblestar's summons. They needed to clean themselves up. She started liking Daykit's head, ignoring Daykit's protests. Then, Bramblestar called them out to stand before him. She tried not to bound over to where Bramblestar was waiting and unsteady walk out like a apprentice would if they were becoming a warrior, but she could barely contain her excitement! Bramblestar padded over to them and stood in front of Sunkit, gently resting his tail on Sunkit's shoulder. "From this day forward, this kit will be known as Sunpaw. Lionblaze, you have shown bravery and courage, and you are a swift and skilled fighter. I trust that you will pass on these qualities to your apprentice." Sunpaw bounded over to Lionblaze and gazed up at him in admiration before touching his new mentor's nose. "Sunpaw! Sunpaw! Sunpaw!" Sunpaw was glowing with pride as his clan cheered his name. Bramblestar moved to rest his tail on her shoulder. "From this day forward, this kit will be known as Starpaw. At the next half-moon, she will be traveling to the moonpool with Jayfeather to be accepted by Star Clan." A quiet murmuring broke out among the watching cats, she guessed that no one expected her to become a medicine cat apprentice except Jayfeather, Moonkit, and Sunkit, no, Sunpaw. As she padded over tostand beside Jayfeather, the clan started calling out her name and she felt she could almost burst with happiness. Moonkit became Moonpaw and got Ivypool as her mentor. Daykit became Daypaw, got Graystripe an her mentor. Nightkit-Nightpaw, got Bumblestripe as mentor. Lightkit-Lightpaw, got Poppyfrost as mentor. Darkkit-Darkpaw, got Leafpool as mentor. By the time the ceremony was over, the sun had set and the light from the stars lit up the newly named apprentices pelts like fire. By the time she fell asleep, all she could think about was: We're apprentices!
I hope you liked this chapter! The next one won't be out for a while yet because Tec Week is about to start for my play. Unfortunately, it's Tec 2-4 Weeks so I'll be really busy. Sorry you guys! Starkit🐱