Chapter 2
Six moons had passed since her first day out of the nursery, and it was the day of Heatherkit's apprentice ceremony. So much had changed within the last 6 moons. Briarlight, Icecloud, Seedpaw and Foxleap had all died of green cough. But not all the change was bad. Blossumfall had had her kits and Lillypaw had received her warrior name, Lillyheart.
It was nearly sun-high and the ceremony was about to start. Blossumfall's kits, Ravenkit and Lionkit, were tumbling about outside the nursery.
"Can we be apprentices now?" Meowed Ravenkit as she circled Heatherkit. She puffed out her fur so she looked twice her size. "Look! I'm the same size as her!" she squealed. With a low growl Lionkit pounced on her and pinned her down.
"No you're not!" he meowed triumphantly. Heatherkit sighed as she watched the two kits tussling in the dirt she turned to Moonkit and exclaimed in a hushed voice.
"I'll be glad when we don't have to share a den with those two!" Moonkit purred then said with an amused glint in her eyes.
"I don't know, I'm kind of going to miss those to fur balls getting under your skin!" Heatherkit was about to come back with a sharp retort but Bramblestar called the clan together.
"May all those old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath high ledge for a clan meeting!" It was almost too hard to sit still as Bramblestar began the ceremony. So many questions were buzzing around her head "who will be my mentor? Will they like me? Will I make a good apprentice?" Heatherkit forced herself to calm down and listen to what Bramblestar was saying. "It is time for two of our kits to become apprentices. Heatherkit please step forward." Heatherkit stepped forwards and stood in the middle of the clearing. "Heatherkit, from this day on until you receive your warrior name you shall be known as Heatherpaw. Squirrelflight, you are ready to take on another apprentice, I'd like you to pass on all your skills to Heatherpaw." Squirrelflight padded up to Heatherpaw and touched noses with her. Heatherpaw could barely contain her excitement as she sat down next to her new mentor ready to watch Moonkit become an apprentice.
"Moonkit please step forwards. From this day forwards until you receive your warrior name you shall be known as Moonpaw. Jayfeather you have decided to take Moonpaw on as your apprentice and you will take her to the moon pool next half-moon so she can be greeted by StarClan."
"What! Why didn't she tell me she was going to be a medicine cat?" She thought as her sister touched noses with the medicine cat. As soon as the clan had finished chanting their names, she confronted Moonpaw.
"Why didn't you tell me you wanted to be a medicine cat?" she exclaimed "I would have been supportive. Don't you trust me?"
Moonpaw looked guiltily down at her paws.
"I wanted to tell you but Jayfeather said I couldn't because…" her reply was cut short by Jayfeather
"Hurry up! I want to show you my herb patch before we waste away of old age." He said impatiently.
"I guess we'll have to talk later." Moonpaw whispered as her mentor edged closer. "I'll explain everything, I promise." With that she stalked toward the thorn tunnel. Distracted Heatherpaw didn't notice Squirrelflight had approached her and jumped when she said
"So Heatherpaw what would you like to do first." Heatherpaw gave her chest an embarrassed lick after her reaction, then straightened up and replied
"Could you show me around the territory? It's such a nice day and Amberpaw says the lake looks beautiful when the sun shines." Squirrelflight gave a nod and headed towards the exit. When they got deeper into the forest Heatherpaw gave an astonished gasp. The trees stretched so high they could touch the clouds, their lush green leaves rustling in the cool green leaf breeze. "It's so beautiful!" she murmured, awestruck. Squirrelflight set of again at a quicker pace and Heatherpaw had to work twice as hard to keep up. Suddenly she ran into something hard and fell onto her back making an "Oof" sound.
"Watch where you're going!" growled a voice. Heatherpaw scrambled to her paws and saw Snowpaw standing in front of her. Snowpaw was one of the older apprentices but he already looked like a warrior. He had broad shoulders and a deep voice. He was by far the scariest cat Heatherpaw had met, and that was really saying something as she had met both Thornclaw and Dustpelt and hadn't got off to a great start with them. She squared her shoulders and said
"Sorry. I'm surprised I didn't see your fur a mile away! Speaking of which, I didn't see you at my apprentice ceremony, where were you?" Snowpaw narrowed his eyes and hissed
"I was busy trying to pass my warrior assessment, which you've just interrupted!" She gasped and exclaimed
"I am so sorry! I hope I haven't made you fail!" just then Poppyfrost emerged from the under growth.
"Don't worry, you haven't." She then turned to Snowpaw and added. "I think I've seen enough…you've passed!" Snowpaw dipped his head and said respectfully
"All thanks to you." Heatherpaw was about to congratulate him when she heard Squirrelflight calling her.
"I'd better get going. Sorry again for bumping into you." Before Snowpaw could reply Poppyfrost said.
"Yes we'd better get back to camp." With one last glare at Her, Snowpaw turned around and followed his mentor back to camp "What a rude little fur ball!" she thought but not even moody old Snowpaw could ruin her good mood, so she lifted her head and sprinted after her mentor.
Much later, Heatherpaw went back to camp and put her prey on the fresh kill pile. Her mother Cinderheart bounded up to her and meowed
"Is that your first catch?" Heatherpaw nodded and told her mother how she had learnt how to stalk prey and hunt. She decided to miss out the part about her encounter with Snowpaw. Once her mother had gone to talk to another warrior, Heatherpaw saw that Dewpaw, Amberpaw and Snowpaw were all sitting in the centre of the clearing looking freshly groomed. "Oh yes! They will be getting there warrior names!" As Bramblestar began the ceremony, Moonpaw quietly settled down next to her.
"Did I miss anything?" She whispered.
"Only a bit. You'll catch up." It was only when Heatherpaw started paying attention that she realised they were already receiving their warrior name.
"Snowpaw you will be called Snowclaw, Dewpaw you will be called Dewdrop and Amberpaw shall be called Amberlight." Heatherpaw chanted their names but was interrupted by a huge yawn.
"I think you need to get some rest." Squirrelflight said once the Ceremony was over. Heatherpaw nodded her head drowsily and staggered over to the apprentices den. Moonpaw was already asleep so she made a nest next to her and finally gave in to sleep.
Heatherpaw found herself blinking open her eyes to bright sunlight. Disorientated, she stood up and looked around. She was in a lush green meadow with exotic flowers and butterflies dancing above the long grass. She raised her head and looked up at the sky. It was the clearest blue imaginable, with not even a wisp of cloud in sight. She closed her eyes and breathed in the fresh air, enjoying the sun's rays on her fur.
"It's lovely here, isn't it?" Heatherpaw snapped open her eyes and looked at the owner of the voice. It was an entirely black she-cat with piercing, bright green eyes.
"Yes it is. Um… where am I? And who are you? The black she-cat looked amused as she said
"I am Hollyleaf, this is StarClan, and before you ask you aren't dead. You have been brought here for a reason. Follow me and all will become clear." The black she-cat, Hollyleaf beckoned with her tail. Heatherpaw followed silently. They walked through dense undergrowth until they finally reached a clearing. Four cats sat in the middle, one was a fire coloured tom, another was an important looking blue-grey she-cat, there was also a magnificent golden tom with long fur and finally, a grey she-cat with a squashed looking muzzle and matted fur. Hollyleaf cleared her throat.
"I have brought her." She announced then she went to sit with the other cats. The cats all put their heads together and started whispering amongst themselves. Heatherpaw waited patiently until the blue-grey cat got to her paws and approached her.
"I am Bluestar, one of ThunderClan's former leaders. We have bought you here today to give the gift of thunder. You will be given five gifts that will help you to become ThunderClan's next great leader. Hollyleaf, you shall give the first gift." Hollyleaf got to her paws and padded up to Heatherpaw and placed her front paws on her head.
"With this gift I give you a second chance, weather it is at life or to prove your loyalty. ThunderClan gave me a second chance after I killed Ashfur, and I hope your second chance is as good as mine was." Next the golden tom approached her and did the same as Hollyleaf.
"I am Lionheart, ThunderClan's old deputy. I give you the gift of protection in battle. Your father used this gift for the good of his clan and I hope you do the same." He then leaned forwards and whispered in her ear. "I know this is scary, but give it time and you will learn to manage your skills." As he drew back Heatherpaw saw warmth in his gaze and she knew that he had meant what he said. As grey she-cat with matted fur replaced Lionheart Heatherpaw thought "Why do I recognise this cat? Her and the Fire coloured tom." Suddenly a memory flashed into her head.
The grey she-cat and the tom where standing over her while she lay in her nest with her mother and sister. "This is the next great Leader of ThunderClan" the fire coloured tom said.
Heatherpaw looked into the cats eyes.
"You visited me in the nursery!" she exclaimed. The she-cat nodded
"I am Yellowfang." She announced "I give you the gift of loyalty. Put your clan before anything else and abide by the warrior code. I broke the code once and it caused pain and turmoil throughout the clans. Do not be tempted to make my mistakes. I know you are the path to ThunderClan's glory." Heatherpaw nodded rapidly. She knew she would never intentionally break the code. Yellowfang nodded to Bluestar, indicating that it was her tern. Bluestar put her paws on Heatherpaw's head and gave her gift.
"I place on you the gift of awareness. You must always know what is going on around you and never turn a blind eye on anything." Heatherpaw had understood what all her other gifts would bring her, but this one puzzled her. Bluestar saw her confusion and added "You will understand when the time comes." Finally the fire coloured tom stood up and stalked towards her, head held high. When he stopped he looked upon her with affection
"I am Firestar." He began. Heatherpaw's jaw dropped. She had herd of ThunderClan's former leader and all the great things he had done. "I am proud to give you your fifth and final gift. I give you the gift of mercy. Have mercy on those weaker than you, in battle and in normal clan life. I bent some of our clan's rules when I thought another cat needed a second chance. Did you know we are kin?" Heatherpaw shook her head, yet again shocked. "Your father is my daughter's son. I am proud to have you carry on my legacy." Firestar then went to join the other four cats. "You are now Heatherpaw, the gifted." All five cats then started chanting
"Gifted! Gifted!" Heatherpaw drew in a deep breath and took it all in "I am Heatherpaw, the gifted."