"Now remember when I told you that's the last you'll see of me, Remember when I broke you down to tears, I know I took the path that you, would never want for me I gave you hell through all the years, So I, I bet my life, I bet my life..." I Bet My Life, Imagine Dragons
CHAPTER FIVE
"The kits are ready to become apprentices." Whiteflower's anxious mew made Blazekit peer outside the den. He had been awake all morning because of their anxious whispers. Whiteflower and Fernshadow were busy chattering outside. They hadn't even noticed that half of the kits were awake. "What are we going to do?"
"I'm not going to let those foxhearted cowards take away my kits," Fernshadow spat. The anger in her voice made Blazekit shrink away in fear. He hadn't heard the queens talk like this for some time now. But their worry started getting to him. He knew that something was up, and they wouldn't tell their own kits what was wrong.
"But that isn't your decision to make," Whiteflower pointed out. "Hollystar already said that she wouldn't hurt them, or let anyone else hurt them." Blazekit flinched when his mother looked in his direction. The longer he stayed here the more likely they would catch him.
Slowly but surely he backed away and let them continue. Mossykit and Wrenkit were already wide awake. They had heard the arguing as well and were glancing anxiously at the nursery entrance. Blazekit hung his head low as he joined them.
"So, what are they talking about?" Mossykit asked, eyes dark with worry as she pressed her nose to his fur. Blazekit resisted the urge to glare at her, having realized that she was aware of the dangers that lay outside.
"They were talking about what to do with us," he replied in an almost bitter tone. Mossykit stared at him in surprise until he explained what they had said. Her eyes widened in disbelief while Wrenkit glanced at her sister anxiously.
"But why the two of you?" Wrenkit asked in a whisper.
"I don't know," he muttered. Wrenkit was about to say something else when a yowl sounded from outside the nursery. Blazekit whipped around in time to see that Hollystar had jumped onto the Highledge. Her light golden pelt was fluffed out with unease as she gazed out across the hollow.
"Let all cats old enough gather beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!" she called. Blazekit's heart nearly skipped with excitement. He had almost forgotten what today marked. Oakkit and Poppykit were the last to wake at the sound of Hollystar's yowl.
"Wha's—" Wrenkit didn't give her sister a chance to finish her yawn. Poppykit let out a squeal of surprise as Wrenkit toppled her over. It took a moment for Oakkit to register what was actually happening. Than his eyes widened in excitement.
"Come on you lot," Whiteflower purred after nearly getting trampled over by five kits. "Time for your ceremonies." Poppykit and Wrenkit were the first to rush out of the nursery, shoving past Whiteflower as she cleaned Oakkit's forehead. Somehow it had gotten dirty while he was sleeping.
Once all of her kits were well groomed, Whiteflower swept her tail across the nursery and led them out. Amberlight lifted her head as the four of them left the nursery. Blazekit didn't miss the look of relief in her eyes.
She's probably glad to get some peace and quiet, he thought with glee. Amberlight was the oldest queen in the nursery. But that didn't stop her from caring for every kit she could. She was after all, Hollystar's sister.
"By naming apprentices we show that our Clan will remain strong," Hollystar began as all five kits were placed in a perfect line. Well, as perfect as boisterous kits could get. Blazekit's paws were itching with anticipation at what lay ahead. "And it is with great honor that these kits shall become apprentices." There was a hidden meaning to her words that reflected in her eyes.
Blazekit looked at her in surprise as she gave Poppypaw and Wrenpaw their apprentice names. Hollystar had been with Whiteflower and Fernshadow during their many discussions. It was obvious that she was concerned for what future he and his denmates would have.
"Blazekit, until you have received your warrior name, you will be known as Blazepaw. Fuzzytail, you are a brave and young warrior, yet you have not had an apprentice. I hope that you can teach what you have learned to Blazepaw."
His heart nearly fell when he turned to Fuzzytail. The light gray tom flicked his namesake tail and touched noses with Blazekit. Fuzzytail was a young warrior with ambitions of his own. While he was quiet and even tempered, Blazekit had often heard him complaining about how the kits were allowed to live. He claimed that such kits shouldn't exist because they were a curse from StarClan. And of course Grayleaf had said that she had never heard such nonsense.
"Oakkit, until you have received your warrior name, you will be known as Oakpaw. Olivelight, you are ready for an apprentice. I expect you to pass on what you have learned to Oakpaw." Hollystar nodded in satisfaction as Oakpaw and Olivelight touched noses.
"Mossykit, until you have received your warrior name, you will be known as Mossypaw. Nutwhisker, you are ready for an apprentice as well. I expect you to teach Mossykit kindness and learn the fighting skills that you have in order to survive."
Nutwhisker's fur was fluffed out with pride as she touched noses with Mossypaw. The golden brown tabby was known for her fierce fighting skills, despite her gentle name. In fact, she often used her name and soft appearance to her advantage in battles. Or so Blazekit had heard from Coalheart.
"I can't believe we're apprentices now!" Mossypaw purred once the ceremony was over. Poppypaw was given Sorrelfern as a mentor, while Wrenpaw had gotten Leafstorm as a mentor. Both were good choices, as Sorrelfern was gentle and kind towards younger cats. Leafstorm could easily keep Wrenpaw in her place.
"Yeah, no more sleeping in the nursery for us," Blazepaw nodded in agreement. He couldn't wait to explore the forest and become a warrior. He could already picture himself becoming leader of the Clan. It was a good vision, and one that made him wish time would move faster.
"Let's go and explore the territory," Fuzzytail suggested. "It will be a good chance for you to stretch your legs." He glanced at Nutwhisker and Olivelight, who nodded in agreement. This was going to be a long day for the three mentors.
...
Poppypaw was fuming with jealousy as she trudged after the other apprentices. She could have gotten a better mentor. But instead she was stuck with Sorrelfern. Sorrelfern was a senior warrior, and showed obvious signs of aging.
Why couldn't I get someone like Coalheart? Or Leafstorm? she thought angrily. She tried shaking off the thoughts as they just finished exploring the territory. Since they were such a large group, they had to split up and explore different areas.
Sorrelfern was with Olivelight and Oakpaw, while Nutwhisker, Fuzzytail and Leafstorm had taken the others towards the ShadowClan border. Poppypaw didn't find the WindClan border all that exciting. What she did find interesting though were the different scents that filled her lungs.
She wasn't familiar with the forest or how many different scents there actually were out here. From the undergrowth to WindClan, to even the ferns that grew between her paws. To make matters even worse, she had seen many different colors around her Clanmates as well.
"Well, I suppose that everyone has seen the borders than," Sorrelfern meowed. Poppypaw rolled her eyes at the tone of Sorrelfern's voice. "We should start with some basic battle training since they're so new." Olivelight nodded in agreement as they reached the training hollow.
It was in a sandy clearing surrounded by many different types of trees. Poppypaw looked about her and noticed that the lights around Olivelight kept changing colors. They had changed from blue to purple and than to red when Oakpaw wouldn't stop talking. Now they were back to blue again.
"Oakpaw, I want you to try and attack me," Olivelight suggested as she stood beside Sorrelfern. Oakpaw was about two sizes bigger than Poppypaw. His strength and size gave him an advantage. She watched with interest as Oakpaw sized up his enemy.
He couldn't tackle her that easy, she reminded herself. He barely managed to pin down his own brother in their playfights. Blazepaw was faster and a bit more cunning than Oakpaw would ever admit. And Poppypaw herself rarely admitted that too.
Suddenly Oakpaw leaped forward, using his back legs to give him more speed and power. But Olivelight had seen the move coming. Instead of pinning her to the ground, Oakpaw only landed on the dirt face-first. Poppypaw held back a mrrow of laughter when he looked up in annoyance.
"Fighting isn't just about using brute strength," Sorrelfern explained as she dodged a quick attack from Olivelight. "Technique and skill are required in battle, especially when it comes to fighting more experienced warriors."
Olivelight barely had time to register what was happening when she was suddenly tripped to the ground. Sorrelfern simply turned around and gave her a curious look as she shook off the dust.
"Which is exactly what we will be teaching you," Olivelight meowed. She showed them another move that Poppypaw had seen the other apprentices practice. Fallenpaw had used the move many times on Mudpaw when he was making fun of her name.
Olivelight simply dropped to a crouch, using one paw to inch forward until she was suddenly behind Sorrelfern. The older cat was taken by surprise when Olivelight jumped on her shoulders, careful not to hurt her.
"By using that move you can sneak on any enemy," Sorrelfern explained after Olivelight climbed off. "Why don't you two try practicing it?" She nodded to Poppypaw and Oakpaw. Both young cats had been watching with interest until now.
Poppypaw turned to face Oakpaw and noticed the mischievous gleam in his eyes. With a roll of her own, she stalked away from him and hid herself in a patch of ferns. She crept around as slowly and quietly as her paws would allow before reaching the back of Sorrelfern. She was so focused on her mentor that she didn't even notice Oakpaw's advancement towards her. She let out a yowl of surprise when he suddenly landed on her, pinning her beneath his heavy paws.
"Looks like I win, yet again," he growled triumphantly before she pushed him off. Without warning Poppypaw lunged at him, ignoring the glares he sent her when she managed to pummel him with sheathed paws. Unlike her sibling, she wasn't going to let him push her around.
"That's enough," Olivelight growled as she pried him off. "We should get you two back. It's already getting late." Poppypaw held back a sigh of relief before sending him another glare. Oakpaw returned the look with a glare of his own as they headed back to camp.
"The Clans are supposed to meet up tomorrow night." Poppypaw's ears pricked forward when Sorrelfern whispered that. The light around her had suddenly changed to yellow as she glanced over her shoulder. "I'm worried about what decision they will make."
"It doesn't matter what the Clans say or do," Olivelight replied. The light around her had changed from blue to orange. Poppypaw tilted her head and wondered if that meant Olivelight was confused. "Hollystar already said that the kits will stay, no matter what."
What does she mean by that? Poppypaw wondered anxiously. She had heard other cats talking about it as well during her time alone. Something was clearly going to happen tomorrow night. And she was determined to find out what that something was.
AN: Sorry, I know these chapters have been kind of boring. Well, this one has anyways. But the next few will definitely pick up the pace :) And look at me finally updating this!
QOTD: What do you think will happen to them?
Silverbird22 - XD You can refer to her as that :P And Otterkit is probably my favorite character out of all of them... although Poppypaw is a close second.
Skyfrost14 - It's fine, her name is spelled right :) And yeah, she is a bit of a jerk to her own kit.
Frostdawn - Hehe, thanks! I'm glad that you're enjoying it, and sorry for the lack of updates... life and all ;)
boscyboo - Thanks! And yeah, they really are alike... although Hailkit's going to be much more dangerous than Thornpaw, I can tell ya that much :P