AU belongs to me Art belongs to me Credits to Warriors Emberpaw belongs to @RingingBells Birdkit and Sunkit belong to me Wolfkit and Eaglekit belong to @RingingBells --> Story <-- Birdkit watched from the nursery, her brother sleeping in the curve of his mother's belly. But Birdkit wasn't sleepy. Besides, she was NEARLY a moon old. That meant she was PROBABLY old enough to attend a meeting. A very important meeting! APPRENTICES WERE BEING MADE HERE, hellOO? And Warriors too! Well. Maybe. Her only denmates were Wolfkit and Eaglekit, who were two moons older than her, and were getting too big for Birdkit to play mossball with. Birdkit lashed her short, fluffy tail. She was technically still in the nursery, just watching FROM it. She snapped to attention as Redstar climbed the Highrock. "All cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting." Birdkit saw Tigerclaw, the fierce deputy, sitting below Redstar, and the old leader, who retired before she was born, Bluefur, watching Redstar with admiration in her deep blue eyes. "Today I have a ceremony to announce." Redstar mewed, loud enough for Birdkit to hear. "Emberkit, step forwards." Birdkit saw the oldest kit, Emberkit, step ahead and out of Birdkit's line of sight. "Emberkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your Warrior name, you will be known as Emberpaw." Redstar flicked his tail, elegantly. "Your mentor will be Darkstripe, and I hope he will pass down all he knows on to you." Redstar then proceeded to talk to Darkstripe, but Birdkit didn't hear the rest. She saw Emberpaw bounce over to Darkstripe and touch noses, then run over to Ravenpaw and Firepaw. Birdkit watched, enviously. But she was getting tired, and went to join her brother next to Frostfur. --> Part 2 (of ch. 9) <-- Firepaw bounced up and down, Ravenpaw laughing. "Emberpaw, Emberpaw, finally joins us as an Apprentice!" Emberpaw looked embarrassed. It had been one day since she was promoted and she had trouble sleeping in the den without her mother. Firepaw could tell this because he felt it when he was brought to new housefolk, away from his own mother. "Yeah, but we're still apprentices because of you!" Ravenpaw teased. Emberpaw curled her tail. "Why don't we get some fresh-kill and go see if we can go hunting?" Firepaw suggested. "No," A voice sounded. As Firepaw looked up, it was revealed to be none other than Spottedleaf. "Emberpaw needs to train by herself today." Spottedleaf sounded distant. "You're not her mentor!" Firepaw said, hotly. "I have common sense," Spottedleaf retorted. "And Darkstripe does, too. Even if he doesn't always show it. Just because you and Ravenpaw are ready to be Warriors doesn't mean Redstar will make you Warriors right away. Now, go tend to the elders." Firepaw was taken aback by the usually calm she-cat's words. He didn't know how to respond. Ravenpaw muttered apologies, and Emberpaw left to find Darkstripe. Then, Tigerclaw came and told Ravenpaw to join patrol with him, leaving Firepaw to pull out ticks on his own. He hissed as he walked to the elder's den, and saw Graypaw walking towards him. "Need some help with the elders? I know Halftail can be grumpy some-" Firepaw interrupted him. "I don't need any help, thankyouverymuch." He spat at the gray apprentice. Graypaw looked at the ground, his eyes wide. "Sorry," He murmured to Firepaw, before walking away. Firepaw thought he felt something deep inside him, that made him want to apologize. But he remembered what Tigerclaw and Longtail had told him, and he pushed that feeling down deep, far away. It didn't matter, anyway. Next: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/507332752
