Alright, so I'm aware that the story is moving on a little slowly. I apologize for this, but I'm really trying to slow myself down so this story doesn't turn out like all my other stories: a totally random piece of crap that barely has a recognizable plot or personable characters. Not that this is top-notch either, but I'd like to think it's a pawstep above what I usually spit out. So bear with me while I attempt to create one or two semi-developed characters.
Lucky for you, I'm skipping the boring parts, which include many many days of training, hunting, and doing random stuff that you don't need to read about. With that, feast your eyes on chapter 10. O.0
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Somewhere in the distance, a dog barked. In answer, a pair of sparrows erupted from the ground where they had been pecking at seeds a moment before. The first bird reached a high branch with a few flaps of its delicate wings – the second was not so lucky. A white shape rocketed from beneath a shrub and launched after the sparrow, snagging it from the air with one pawswipe. The bird gave a feeble scree of resignation before it was dragged to its death.
"Lucky catch, Icepaw" came a sullen murmur from behind the shrub.
The victor, a slender white cat, turned, the sparrow dangling from its jaws.
"Oh, don't be such a downer, Robinpaw," Icepaw mewed as she buried the sparrow beside the shrub. Robinpaw trudged out from the shadows, her tail between her legs.
"It's just that we've been hunting since sunrise and I haven't caught anything. Look at you – what is that, your fourth sparrow?" the ginger tabby grunted, her tail flicking toward the upturned earth where the prey was buried.
"That's my first sparrow," Icepaw corrected her, leading the way deeper into the forest. "And we haven't been out since sunrise! If you'd stop being such a mouse-brain maybe you'd actually catch something."
Robinpaw grimaced. "Oakshadow will skin me alive if I don't bring anything back!" she wailed. "He thinks I'm not trying hard enough. But I am! I swear!"
"Of course you are. Oakshadow's just being hard on you because we're getting older. The more we learn, the less forgiving he'll be. Now concentrate – the forest is practically swarming with prey, you'll find something in no time," Icepaw reassured her gently.
Her words came true - by the time Icepaw did catch her second sparrow, Robinpaw was as happy as a kit at her apprentice ceremony, having brought down two fat squirrels.
They returned to camp laden with prey just as the sun was reaching its highest point over the forest, beating down on the camp with blazing rays. Flies buzzed incessantly around Icepaw's head, and she watched as Palenose prowled around the fresh kill pile keeping the insects away from the prey.
The two apprentices deposited their catches quickly and then trotted over to the shade beneath an overhanging oak tree. Ashpaw was already there, snoozing out of the glare sun. As Icepaw and Robinpaw approached, the gray tom lifted his head, blinking lazily.
"Oh, hello Icepaw," he mewed in greeting. His ears flickered as his jaws opened into a wide, slow yawn.
"Hey Ashpaw," Icepaw replied. Though Ashpaw was usually glued to his sister Tansypaw's side, he wasn't quite as cold towards Icepaw as the bad-tempered brown she-cat.
"Were you guys out hunting?" he questioned casually, his gaze moving to Robinpaw. The ginger tabby shrugged.
"Yup. It's so hot though…ugh, my pads are sticky." Robinpaw flopped down beside him in the shade, sending up a cloud of pale dust. Icepaw dropped down beside her and began to slowly groom her friend's pelt.
"Guess what I was doing this morning?" Ashpaw meowed, his voice suddenly dropping lower. Eager, as always, to know things other people didn't, Robinpaw immediately stopped washing her forepaw and focused her attention on Ashpaw.
"What?" she questioned breathlessly.
The gray tom closed his eyes for a moment, a smug smile curling his lip. "Tansypaw and I had our warrior assessments!"
Icepaw heard a whoosh as Robinpaw gasped. "Really? You lucky furballs! What was it like? What'd Cinderstar make you do?"
"I'm not really supposed to talk about it," purred Ashpaw haughtily. His tail twitched as he watched Robinpaw squirm out of the corner of his eye. Icepaw rolled her eyes. She might not be as nosy as Robinpaw, but the thought of becoming a warrior made her interested.
"Come on Ashpaw, tell us something," she pleaded, scooting closer to make sure she didn't miss his reply.
Ashpaw opened his mouth to speak, but he was interrupted by a needling yowl. "Ashpaw! Come over here!" It was Tansypaw. The she-cat was standing outside the apprentice's den with a murderous look on her face as she noticed her brother conversing with the Icepaw. "Don't get your paws dirty before the ceremony," she meowed, narrowing her eyes at Icepaw.
"Great StarClan, why does she despise me?" growled Icepaw, rolling onto her back as Ashpaw scrambled away. She waved a paw lazily at a butterfly that danced over her head, twitching her whisker as the bug flapped its wings desperately in an attempt at escape. I'll be the merciful one today, thought the she-cat, and resisted clawing the creature out of the air as it soared away.
"Who knows," huffed Robinpaw. She was obviously still disappointed that Ashpaw hadn't shared his secrets with her. "She's got bees in her brain, just like everyone else."
It wasn't long before Icepaw saw Cinderstar climb slowly onto the Highrock though half-lidded eyes. With a huge yawn, she rose to her paws, prodding Robinpaw in the ribs. The tabby cracked open one yellow eye and blinked at Icepaw.
"What?" she grumbled.
"Cinderstar's about to-"
"May all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting!" came a loud cry.
"-call a meeting," Icepaw finished with a sigh. Robinpaw leapt to her feet and stalked to the Highrock with a petulant grunt.
"Today we are fortunate to name two new warriors," Cinderstar meowed as soon as the entire Clan was assembled at his feet. He looked like he meant it when he said 'fortunate' – as far as Icepaw new, Ashpaw and Tansypaw were the first new warriors since long before last leafbare.
The long-legged gray tom dropped down from the Highrock and beckoned to Tansypaw and Ashpaw with a wave of his tail. "Tansypaw and Ashpaw, you have trained hard and learned everything you could from your mentors. It is time that you received your warrior names."
He stopped before Ashpaw, who's gray pelt look newly washed. The tom stood tall and rigid, looking straight ahead. "Ashpaw, you have trained hard to understand the warrior code, and you have served your Clan well as an apprentice. From this moment on, until you join the ranks of our warrior ancestors, your name will be Ashfoot. StarClan honors your cunning and your kindness."
Ashfoot padded forward and licked Cinderstar's shoulder respectfully, before turning to face his Clan.
Now Cinderstar moved on to Tansypaw, who's eyes were wide with anticipation. "Tansypaw, you too have come to understand the warrior code. From this moment on you will be called Tansyleaf. StarClan honors your bravery and your spirit." The gray tom waited while Tansyleaf licked his shoulder, and then he clambered back onto the Highrock amidst shouts of "Tansyleaf! Ashfoot! Tansyleaf! Ashfoot!"
"Tansyleaf and Ashfoot will begin their vigil as soon as the moon rises. Remember, they are forbidden to speak to any cat once their vigil has begun."
With a nod to the two new warriors, the leader descended once more and disappeared into the shadows of his den.
The crowd of cats pressed around the new warriors, murmuring congratulations. Icepaw found her way to the front and greeted Ashfoot warmly.
"Congratulations!" she purred, Robinpaw nodding enthusiastically at her side.
"Thanks," mewed Ashfoot. The grin on his face seemed permanently fixed since Cinderstar had first called his name.
Tansyleaf was suddenly at her brother's side, her nose wrinkled. Before the warrior could get a word in, Icepaw opened her mouth and meowed, "Congratulations, Tansyleaf. You deserve it."
The pale brown she-cat stared at Icepaw in surprise – as did Ashfoot and Robinpaw, their eyes wide. "Thanks," Tansyleaf snapped, but her voice wasn't quite as acidic as usual. She nodded curtly to Icepaw before steering her brother away.
"Why'd you congratulate her?" Robinpaw asked as they padded away from the Highrock. The sun was descending now, but it was still sickeningly hot.
"I just figured it'd be better to have her on my good side now that she's a warrior," Icepaw mewed matter-of-factly. Besides, if Mossfur were going to be her enemy forever, he'd be enough without Tansyleaf throwing in extra insults on the side.
Robinpaw have a skeptical harrumph. "Just wait until we're warriors. Then Tansyleaf will be congratulating you."
As they padded back to the apprentice's den, a sudden yowl split the heavy silence. Every cat in the clearing stopped in their tracks and turned back to see what had made the sound. It was as still as ever – nothing out of the ordinary.
"What the-" Icepaw began, but she never had a chance to finish her question, because at that moment, a dark form crashed through the bramble tunnel, dragging a bundle of thorns with it. It stumbled to the center of the clearing, paused for a moment as if catching its breath, and then gasped out, "We have to hurry! RiverClan is attacking!"
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Hmm….I just remembered something….or wait…was it the Highstone or the Highrock? I really don't know why I've been calling it the Highrock at all, and I just realized that I might be wrong. 0.o