Thunderpaw chewed on his mouse as he lay near the camp entrance. It was getting darker out, and the camp was beginning to get quieter. The evening patrol had just gone out: Oakfur, Cloverheart, Dustyclaw, and Shadowfoot. Thunderpaw was pretty tired, worn out from his assessment, but also disappointed that he didn’t do good enough.
As he swallowed the last bit of his mouse, the gorse tunnel right next to him russled. He quickly got up, not to get in anyone’s way. But what he saw come through the entrance confused and surprised him. Skypaw apparently had gone out of the medicine den, and found three other unfamiliar cats.
“Well, this is CloudClan’s camp,” Thunderpaw heard her murmur to the cats. Who were they? He wondered. He went over to Skypaw. “Skypaw, who are these cats?”
“Oh Thunderpaw, I heard. I’m so sorry about your assessment today. That must really sting that Rainflower was named warrior and not you,” She mewed to him sympathetically. Thunderpaw licked her ear, but he went on. “Skypaw, who are they? And why are they in our camp? They don’t even smell like clan cats!”
“That’s because they aren’t exactly clan cats.” She whispered. Thunderpaw held her stare, his eyes growing frigid. “Listen,” Skypaw flicked her gaze from the cats she had just found to Thunderpaw. “Remember that story Featherfur told us when we were much younger? About tha queen, Brindleheart, disappearing?” Thunderpaw nodded. “Thunderpaw, you won’t believe it! These cats are her kits!” Skypaw was right, Thunderpaw couldn’t believe it.
“And just how’d you come across them?” He hissed to her. Skypaw explained how she came across the three siblings. “They’re going to live in CloudClan?” He mewoed, stunned.
“They are CloudClan cats. And they’re our age, so they could be apprentices. Plus they already know some fighting and hunting skills. Now if you excuse me, I need to bring them to see Snowstar.” Skypaw made a point. They had CloudClan blood. Skypaw flicked her tail for them to follow, and they all flicked their ears and hurried towards Snowstar’s den. Thunderpaw thought for a moment then decided to follow them.
Skypaw and the other cats entered the leader’s den. Thunderpaw crept in after. “Who are these three?” Snowstar hissed.
“This is Kayla, Kairie, and Tomos, Snowstar,” Skypaw mewed calmly. She and the cats began to explain how she came upon them, as Thunderpaw watched.
When she had finished, Snowstar muttered, “I remember Brindleheart. She was a kind cat, but she never seemed confident. I suppose that mystery is solved, but I can’t believe I’m looking at her lost kits.” He proudly looked at each of Brindleheart’s children. “Well,” He sighed after a pause, “You three are welcome to join our clan. But I’m not sure you will be able to understand the ways we do things.” He cleared his throat, then meowed, “In the clans, cats are made apprentices after six moons of age. Apprentices learn from warrior mentors fighting and hunting skills. You will go on patrols with other cats to check scents and anything new in CloudClan territory. You will go hunting, to stock up CloudClan’s fresh-kill pile with prey. Then, when you are ready to become a warrior, you must be skilled and ready for anything, you will receive a warrior name and sleep in a different den from the apprentices. Life continues just as that. You may later have your own apprentice to mentor, even. Do you think you understand at least a little better now?” Snowstar finished, and the cats nodded. Thunderpaw was sure they took in every detail of what the leader of the clan had just explained. “Then I suppose we shall have your ceremony,” Snowstar got up, and when the three cats looked scared and confused, he mewed, “A simple ceremony for you to be officially named an apprentice.” They looked more relaxed and headed out of the den. Snowstar stopped before following them, and licked his daughter’s head. “I’m very proud of you, Skypaw.” Thunderpaw caught a gleam in his sister’s and father’s eyes before Skypaw made her way out of the den. Then, Snowstar turned to Thunderpaw. Oh, I hope he isn’t going to lecture me for what happened today! Thunderpaw thought. “Thunderpaw, I’m proud of you too. Sunpelt tells me you did do what you could, and it was decent, but it is okay that you were not named a warrior just yet. You may still have a lot to learn, and when it comes out in the end, I think you will a fine warrior, my son.” Well, it was the exact opposite of what Thuderpaw expected his father to say. He brightened, and blinked in gratitude. Snowstar padded out of his den with Thunderpaw behind him. Snowstar ran and leaped onto Streamingrock and once again for the day, yowled, “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath Streamingrock!” The cats gathered in the clearing, just as the evening patrol returned in perfect timing.
Snowstar explained what Skypaw had found once all cats were gathered, staring up at their leader. They all looked shocked, every while rolling their eyes over to the siblings who were sitting next to Skypaw and Thunderpaw. Then he called the three new cats up to stand beside him. “So now we must name these three cats official apprentices.” He gazed at them, then the rest of the clan below. Some of their faces were tense, knowing that they could be a next new mentor.
Cats murmured to eachother their excitement. These were Brindleheart’s kits! And the mystery was solved!
“Kairie!” Snowstar began. The eldest of her siblings stepped forward, and looked into her new leader’s eyes. “From this day until you receive your warrior name, you will be called Sparrowpaw.” Thunderpaw heard Skypaw start to chant the new apprentice’s name. He joined in, and then the rest of the clan.
“Oakfur,” Snowstar called. The deputy lifted his head and looked at his leader defiantly. “You will pass on all you know to your third apprentice now, Sparrowpaw. I know you will prove yourself again a great mentor to this new apprentice.” Oakfur dipped his head and Sparrowpaw’s eyes deffinately brightened. Her mentor was going to be the clan’s deputy!
“Tomos!” As Sparrowpaw stepped back, the shy tom stepped forward awkwardly.
“From this day until you receive your warrior name, you will be called Bramblepaw.” Again, a chorus of chants broke out among the cats, cries of the tom’s new name.
“Cloverheart!” The brown and white she-cat looked up at Bramblepaw, unexpectantly. Snowstar continued, “It is time for you to receive an apprentice. Pass on all your courage and cleverness to thisyoung cat.” Cloverheart nodded her head quickly, clearly satisfied she had been given an apprentice to mentor.
Bramblepaw blinked kindly at his new mentor and stepped back. Kayla immediately stepped forward. She had much obvious eager and excitement tingling in her, Thunderpaw noticed. “And Kayla! From this day until you receive your warrior name, you will be called Blossompaw.” The cats below chanted a new apprentice’s name for the last time that day.
“Ashpelt!” Snowstar called the warrior’s name. Ashpelt stood up, then sat back down again, and blinked at Blossompaw. “It is time for you also to receive your own apprentice. I trust you to pass on all your strength and courage to this new apprentice.” Ashpelt seemed most reliable and energetic, and mewoed to his leader,
“I won’t let CloudClan down, Snowstar.”
Blossompaw stepped back and the three new apprentices held their heads up proud. Snowstar yowled, “I ask StarClan to watch over each of you and guide you until you find in your paws the strength and bravery of a true warrior.”
The cats below uttered in approval and Snowstar licked each apprentices’ ears. The leader jumped down from Streamingrock and the apprentices followed. Thunderpaw and Skypaw went over to congratulate them, and soon the other cats came over too. Thunderpaw stepped back and went to Leafear’s den. There was a thorn caught in his ear, and it was beginning to bleed a bit. But when he got there, no one was there. He looked around the clearing outside for Thrushpaw. Her leg was still sore and she limped when she walked, so he figured she couldn’t walk too far. He looked around the clearing for Leafear, and saw the spotted tom slowly padding toward his den. “Hey Leafear, where’s Thrushpaw?” The medicine cat stared at Thunderpaw for a moment then mewed, “She isn’t back yet?”
“Back from where?”
“I sent her to fetch back Skypaw earlier because it was getting too dark.”
“But her leg!”
“I know, but I didn’t think—“
Suddenly a loud yowl rang around the camp. “Fox!” Thrushpaw burst through the gorse tunnel, her leg bleeding now probably from running from the fox. She limped as quickly as she could to the deputy. Thunderpaw went over to hear what was happening. “Oakfur,” She panted, “The fox we encountered the other day is back… and it’s heading towards the camp!” At that, Oakfur quickly yowled,
“Blossompaw, Sparrowpaw, Bramblepaw, go to the nearest den now!” The apprentices rushed to the nursery, their ears back, terrified of what was happening. Oakfur probably sent them to safety because if the fox came through to the camp, the apprentices would not know many fighting moves. “Sunpelt and Thunderpaw, come with me!” Thunderpaw wasn’t ready for Oakfur to call his name so suddenly. He was pretty worn out, but as the deputy and the golden warrior raced out of the camp, Thunderpaw bounded after them. He skidded to a hault as he saw dead ahead, the fox near the camp entrance.
Normally foxes would only take even a simple warrior and apprentice to drive off at least, but this fox was unusually large. Oakfur and Sunpelt were probably some of the strongest and noblest cats in the clan, so Thunderpaw needed to show them that he could do his best at fighting now.
They herded the enemy father back, away more from the camp. Thunderpaw leaped onto the fox while Sunpelt held its tail in his jaws and Oakfur scratched violently at its nose. Thunderpaw dug his claws as hard as he could into that red-orange fur and bit at the fox’s ears. The fox screeched and jumped into the air, knocking Sunpelt off its tail and Thunderpaw onto the ground. Thunderpaw got up and swooped his paws at the fox’s feet, the fox then pumling backwards loosing balance. Thunderpaw quickly rolled on his back and kicked the fox upwards as it was about to strike. “Well done!” Came a mew from Oakfur. Thunderpaw dipped his head quickly and him and Oakfur held down the fox, but unfortuantly the enemy escaped from Thunderpaw’s claw grip.
Suddenly, a screech came from his mentor, and Thunderpaw whipped around to see a younger fox on top of Sunpelt’s back! Thunderpaw caught another flash of red-orange as another younger fox appeared! A sharp pounce of another fox landed on top him. Thunderpaw flipped onto his belly and tried to grasp free from the fox’s weight but couldn’t. He was beginning to panic as the fox began clawing him. But he thought of something. The thorn in his ear! He reached his head to the fox’s head close enough and pointed his ear to the fox’s eyes. The thorn went loose and stuck the fox in the eye, troubling its vision! Thunderpaw sprang out from under the fox and kicked up at its head. It jerked a little, too buisy weeping over his hurt eye. Thunderpaw realized that this was a good chance to attack it for real! He sprang, pushing the fox to the ground, and bit its tail. He dragged it by the tail a little then pounced on top of it. A thought just came to the apprentice. These other three foxes must be the older fox’s young! No wonder they weren’t too heavy, but they weren’t cubs for sure. Thunderpawjumped on it, then bit down on its foot. The fox wriggled around and leaped up, aiming to the apprentice but missing as Thunderpaw ran to the left. The fox hit the ground with a thump and Thunderpaw again leaped at it, giving it a scruff shake as he pinned it down. The fox’s eye was bleeding.
Suddenly the fox went limp as Thunderpaw bit down on its shoulder for only a few seconds.
Thunderpaw had killed the young fox!
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