Echokit was dreaming vividly of trying to catch a vole. She crept after it like Icepaw had shown her, pounced… and crashed into a cat much smaller than she was, holding the dead vole under his paws. Echokit jerked back in fright. This cat was black with white splotches, like Blackfang. Almost identical. The cat snorted. “Who are you?” Echokit asked. “You’ve never met me, but you know who I am. Think.” “You’re my brother,” Echokit realized. The cat raised an eyebrow. “Fangkit.” Fangkit snorted again. “You found that out faster than Windpaw did, and you’ve never seen me.” "I...?” “Whatever. You’ve heard of the cat whose wings will shade the forest.” “Yeah.” “That wasn’t a question. You and your siblings will play large roles in defeating this cat.” “You’re saying I know this cat?” “I didn't say that, but yes, you do.” Echokit exploded. “What? There’s a cat in the clan who’s evil?” “Not yet…” Fangkit whispered so that Echokit nearly didn’t catch it. “WHAT IN SHINECLAN-?” “You’ll know soon. Just remember, you will make it all happen.” Fangkit faded and Echokit started waking up. She panicked. “Wait!” Echokit was walking on air. She was finally becoming an apprentice! But one thing was missing… “Where’s Windpaw?” she asked Thistlestrike. “I don’t know, actually,” he said, looking at the trees outside camp, as if Windpaw might spring out and land in front of them. “I sent him to the meadow yesterday. He's not there.” Icepaw’s tail twitched. “I’m sure I know where he is,” she snarled, following Thistlestrike’s gaze. “I’ll be back for the ceremony.” She bounded off, leaving Echokit alone with Thistlestrike. “So who do you think your mentor will be?” Thistlestrike asked. “I’m not sure,” Echokit said. “Maybe Mintspring, or Curlgreen, or Beespark, she’s old enough now… or….” Echokit continued. They discussed mentor choices for a bit. After a while, the camp entrance covering shivered. “I found him!” yowled Icepaw. She stormed into the camp, Windpaw following her with wide eyes full of surprise and fear. “Windpaw!” Echokit squealed, running to meet her brother. “Where were you?” “He was in a Hindwalker den all night,” Icepaw growled. “I can smell kittypet on him.” Crystalstar approached, looking stern. Windpaw fidgeted. “Windpaw, you have been reminded several times not to go to the Hindwalker dens. How many times must we tell you that?” “I’m sorry! It’s just that Icepaw is depressed and I’m scared and going to the Hindwalkerplace makes me feel better because there are other cats!” “There are other cats here." “Besides, Windpaw, I can handle my own depression,” Icepaw hissed. “I don’t need your help.” “Yeah right. Every night you're either awake or having nightmares. You can’t deal with it,” Windpaw told her. “So? I’ll ask someone else for help. Next time, wait until I ask for help before ‘helping’ me.” “Icepaw, you should take some poppy seeds,” Irismoon said, coming up behind them so she could talk to Crystalstar. “They help you sleep and keep away nightmares. Stop by the den tonight to get some.” “Okay, let’s go,” Windpaw said, bounding towards the clearing and towards Thistlestrike, who started talking to him with a firm expression. In one great leap, Crystalstar jumped onto the Bigrock. “Let all cats old enough to fetch their own prey gather beneath the Bigrock for a Clan meeting!” Her voice brought cats out from every den, saying the words every leader had said and will say. Even Flamesight’s kits came bouncing out of the nursery. Skykit was jumping over Frostkit and Spanglekit was staring at them with a perplexed expression, even though every time she saw a leaf she leapt back in fright. Songcloud licked Echokit ferociously and made her fur smooth and shiny as the sun above. Echokit was quivering with thrill and anxiety. She was so excited to go to Gatherings, hunt prey, but she was also nervous. What if the cats didn’t like her? What if she couldn’t catch prey? It’ll be fine, whispered a small voice. “Echokit, you've reached the age of six moons and are ready to become an apprentice. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Echopaw. Five cats want to be your mentor: Beespark, Curlgreen, Mintspring, Stonefoot, and Doetail.” Echokit’s insides froze. “I’d like my mentor to be Mintspring,” she said loud and clear. Mintspring, though quiet, was a fierce fighter and a good hunter, and unlike Beespark and Curlgreen, was not often distracted by other cats. Doetail was too shy and skittish. Stonefoot wasn’t nice enough and didn’t get along with others. Echopaw was surprised at how many cats wanted to be her mentor. Five? Basically unheard of. “In the case that your mentor is injured or dies…" Crystalstar choked on her words. “Who would you like to be your backup mentor?” Crystalstar finished. Echopaw inspected the four other cats. “Beespark,” she decided. Beespark smiled. Mintspring licked the tip of Echopaw’s ear. A small promise.
Oh, geez. Sorry for the wait, everyone, @Iceflower5 and I have been EXTREMELY busy... *relaxes for half a second* OKAY ON TO THE NEXT CHAPTER *wheeze* Oh I'm going to make a better thumb for PoS (the chapters, not the studio thumb) LOL dreams Icekit: Happiness and bliss Windkit: Annoyance and humor Echokit: Oh boi Previous: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/777619998 First: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/737784560/ Next: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/790268984