Chapter 3: Smokekit

Smokekit woke up in yawned. That was a strange dream, she thought. But that golden tom with that blazing flame colored streak and sparkling green eyes amazed her. His name suits him. She couldn't admit that she was falling for him, but why shouldn't she? She could play with Blazekit in her dreams, as Smokekit was the only kit in ShadowClan, and there was no one else to play with.

"Smokekit, are you okay? You were mewling in your sleep again." Her mother, Shrewfoot, asked.

Smokekit was the only survivor of her litter, the daughter of Shrewfoot and Scorchfur. Smokekit had been having the strange dreams of the whispers of cats on their way to the lake for a while know, thought she had only just met Blazekit last night. "Absolutely. I'm fine." She reassured her mother. Sometimes Shrewfoot could be really worrisome.

"What's all this talk about strange dreams?" Her father, Scorchfur, asked as he entered the den. "If something's wrong, then you should go see Littlecloud."

"I'm fine! Could I please go outside, now?" Smokekit stated.

Shrewfoot and Scorchfur looked at each other. Shrewfoot sighed, "Fine, just be careful. And remember not to leave the camp!" She yowled the last part as Smokekit was already scampering outside.

"Hey, Smokekit!" Called a familiar voice. Smokekit turned her head to see a dust colored apprentice.

"Hello, Branchpaw. How's it like being a medicine cat?" She asked her friend. Branchpaw had only just been made an apprentice a moon ago, and before that the two were close friends.

"Exhausting," he exclaimed. "I have to do the entire herb collecting because Littlecloud is too old to do it. I really hope that I can finish my training before he dies. And I don't think I'll ever get the smell of herbs out of my nose."

"You shouldn't talk like that about Littlecloud; he has the experience to match his years. You should be grateful that he has more to teach you."

"Yea, I suppose. But still, it is exhausting."

Smokekit nodded as Branchpaw padded away to do whatever exhausting activities that Littlecloud had planned. She wondered if she should tell her friend about the dreams, but decided to wait until he was farther into his training.

Smokekit padded to the middle of camp and sat down. She was waiting for the dawn patrol to return.

Suddenly, there was rustling in the bushes. The dawn patrol's back, she thought as Rowanclaw, Pinenose, and Owlclaw entered the camp. They seemed to have an atmosphere of happiness around them. Smokekit thought, Good, the Clans are at peace. That battle with the Dark Forest must've brought everyone closer together.

Smokekit spotted a swishing tabby tail from behind the apprentices' den. She silently crept forward, than she leapt from a tail length away. Neetlepaw let out a yowl of surprise when Smokekit landed on his tail. He turned around and purred with amusement when he saw Smokekit.

"Bored, are you, Smokekit?" He asked. "If you want, I can show you how you do a hunting crouch."

"Yes, please! It would put me ahead in my training. And it would also give me something to do." She mewed, excited.

Neetlepaw purred. He would be a warrior soon, and he loved teaching new moves to younger apprentices and kits. He silently hoped that he would be a warrior in time to get Smokekit as his apprentice.

The two padded out into the middle of camp. "Okay, show me your crouch," Neetlepaw ordered.

Smokekit crouched into a near perfect hunter's crouch, obviously Scorchfur had taught it to her before. "Like this?" She asked.

"Close, that's almost perfect, actually. Make sure that your tail isn't touching the ground, but is low enough that it doesn't disturb anything above you. And try to balance you weight more; this would make your paw steps lighter. Put a little more weight in you hunches to get the farthest leap." Neetlepaw explained to Smokekit step by step until she could do the crouch better than he could.

"All cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather to hear my words."

"What's that about?" Smokekit asked.

Neetlepaw purred, "I think that's my warrior ceremony!"

"Neetlepaw, Beachpaw, step forward."

Neetlepaw nodded to Smokekit as we went to stand next to his brother.

"Smokefoot, is Neetlepaw ready to join us as a warrior?" Blackstar asked the mentor.

Smokefoot replied, "Far beyond ready, Blackstar."

Blackstar nodded, "And, Tigerheart, is Beachpaw ready?"

The young warrior responded, "He is."

"Then I ask StarClan to look down on these apprentices, for they have learned the ways of your noble code. Neetlepaw, Beachpaw, do you promise to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

The two apprentices responded in unison. "I do."

"Then I grant you your warrior names. Neetlepaw, you shall join us as Neetletail, we honor your hunting skill and your willingness to teach. Beachpaw, you shall join us as Beachpelt, we honor your courage and you skill in battle." Blackstar rested his muzzle on the head of each warrior, and they both individually gave him a respected lick to the shoulder.

"Neetletail, Beachpelt! Neetletail, Beachpelt!" The Clan cheered, Smokekit was cheering as loud as she could.

Neetletail bounded over to Smokekit. "Now you will be able to be my mentor!" She exclaimed.

Neetletail purred, "Hopefully, but I still need to prove myself."

Smokekit cocked her head. "What is there more to prove? Being a great mentor was one of the reasons why you became a warrior!"

Neetletail purred. "We'll see, but there are no promises."

Smokekit nodded, "Never any guarantees."

He stared are Smokekit. "What does that mean?"

"Nothing, Neetletail, just that you can't be absolutely certain of anything. Nothing is promised to you." She responded.

Neetletail nodded. "Well, why don't you get some freshkill and go to your nest? I need to start my vigil." He commented when he saw the sun begin to dip beyond the horizon.

Smokekit scampered of and grabbed a juicy frog to share with Shrewfoot. After she had eaten her fill, she drifted off to sleep.

I hope I get to see Blazekit tonight! She thought. She was greeted by the usual dreams before she entered the field and saw Blazekit waiting.

The two kits raced around together until they were so tired they curled up in the field together and fell asleep in their dream world.

Blazekit's great fun! Smokekit thought as she drifted off. I wonder what Clan he is in. I can't wait until we are apprentices!