Warriors: Heronpaw's Secret (Complete)

Chapter 9

 A few moons passed since Cougarpaw became an apprentice. She and Heronkit didn't speak as much anymore, because Cougarpaw had many duties to do, but that was going to change today.

 Heronkit flicked his tail and looked at the Tallrock from near the nursery, purring. I'm going to become an apprentice today! Finally!

 He then looked around, wondering who his mentor would be. Hawkgrowl is the deputy, but he seems a little scary.. and Beesun-

 Heronkit froze when he saw Beesun. He remembered the hostile yellow-and-white tabby she-cat, the one who didn't hesitate to let Heronkit know that she didn't trust or like him in his first life. He grunted. He knew that she didn't mind him now, but he didn't want to have her as a mentor. She seemed to regret how she treated him in his first life, though, and felt bad about his death, but he still didn't like her.

 Hmm, the other options are Brownbranch and Sandypelt.. however, Mushroompaw, Dovepaw, and Vinepaw might become warriors today.

 ''Are you ready to become an apprentice?'' Nightshine asked and padded out of the nursery, sitting near Heronkit. 

 The tom nodded, purring. ''Yes! I can't wait for Rosestar to call the Clan!''

 Nightshine purred, then bent down and licked Heronkit's head. ''I'm so proud of you. Time passed so fast! It seems like yesterday you were just a tiny kit..''

 ''Let all cats old enough to run the moors gather beneath the Tallrock for a Clan meeting!'' Rosestar's yowl interrupted Nightshine. 

 Heronkit instantly looked up. ''Yes! I can't wait!''

 ''Calm down, Heronkit.'' Nightshine chuckled. ''Now come on, Whitelion is waiting.''

 Heronkit looked at his father, who was already sitting in front of the Tallrock. He quickly padded toward him and sat down next to him. Whitelion looked proudly at him, and Nightshine sat down behind him.

 ''Today, four kits are ready to become apprentices. Needlekit, Lightningkit, Foggykit, and Heronkit, step forward.'' Rosestar meowed.

 Heronkit quickly stepped forward, along with the other kits. He looked at them. Needlekit looked confident and proud, Lightningkit looked happy, and Foggykit looked a bit scared.

 ''Today, all four of you have reached your sixth moon, and you are ready to become apprentices. Needlekit, from this day forward, until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Needlepaw. Sandypelt will mentor you.''

 Needlepaw nodded, although Heronkit noticed that she looked a bit disappointed.

 ''Lightningkit, until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Lightningpaw. Brownbranch will mentor you.''

 Lightningpaw's tail twitched happily.

 ''Foggykit, until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Foggypaw. Your mentor will be Hawkgrowl.''

 Foggypaw looked at the Clan deputy and nodded hesitantly.

 ''And Heronkit, until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Heronpaw. Your mentor will be Beesun.''

 Beesun?

 Heronpaw hesitated. Why Beesun? I don't like her.. why did I have to get her as my mentor?

 Heronpaw sighed and got up, turning around. Beesun padded toward him, looking quite happy, and touched her nose with his. ''I'm happy to be your mentor, Heronpaw. I'll train you as best as I can!''

 The tom snorted. She was never this kind to me before. She obviously wouldn't have been like this if Nectar wouldn't have killed me. But Heronpaw didn't say anything. There was nothing he could do now.

 ''Needlepaw! Lightningpaw! Foggypaw! Heronpaw!'' The Clan chanted. 

 Heronpaw purred and backed off, sitting close to Beesun.

 ''Now, there is one more ceremony I must make.'' Rosestar meowed. ''Three apprentices are ready to become warriors. Mushroompaw, Vinepaw, and Dovepaw, step forward.''

 The three siblings stepped forward, looking happy. Heronpaw watched them.

 ''Do you three promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?'' Rosestar asked.

 ''I do.'' Mushroompaw meowed.

 ''I do.'' Vinepaw nodded.

 ''I do!'' Dovepaw purred, flicking her tail.

 ''Then, by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names.'' Rosestar meowed. ''Mushroompaw, from now on, you will be known as Mushroomspot.''

 Mushroomspot nodded.

 ''Vinepaw, from now on, you will be known as Vinebreeze.''

 Vinebreeze flicked his tail, looking happy.

 ''Dovepaw, from now on, you will be known as Dovestorm.''

 Dovestorm raised her head, looking confident.

 ''Mushroomspot! Vinebreeze! Dovestorm!'' The Clan chanted.

 ''Meeting dismissed.'' Rosestar meowed. 

 Heronpaw saw Volehiss rush toward his three kits, followed by Cloudpaw. He then turned around and saw Whitelion and Nightshine approach him.

 ''Congratulations, Heronpaw!'' Whitelion purred. ''I told you that time was going to pass fast!''

 Nightshine nodded. ''Yes! Congratulations, Heronpaw! You will be a great warrior one day. Make me proud and listen to your mentor.''

 Heronpaw tried not to gag while thinking that he had to train with Beesun for six more moons, or even more. ''Thank you! And I will.''

 Whitelion and Nightshine nodded and padded away, and before Heronpaw could do anything, Cougarpaw rushed toward him. ''We're finally going to share a den again! I can't wait to train together, but you have a lot to catch up to.''

 Heronpaw purred. ''I know. Anyway, I should go talk with Beesun now.'' He meowed.

 Cougarpaw nodded, looking a bit skeptical. ''All right, but be careful around her. I'm not sure I trust her. She used to be so rude to Heronkit..''

 Heronpaw froze. She remembered! But he nodded. ''Oh, er, all right. Thanks.''

 Cougarpaw nodded and padded toward Whitelion. Heronpaw turned around and rushed toward Beesun, who was waiting for him.

 ''Are you ready to start training?'' The she-cat asked. 

 Heronpaw nodded. ''Yes!''

 ''All right, but for now I'll give you a tour of the territory, and you can get moss for your nest.'' Beesun meowed. ''I want you to get a lot of rest tonight, because training begins at dawn.''

 Heronpaw tried to listen as carefully as he could, but he still couldn't forget how rude Beesun used to be to him. He then shook his head. No, this is my second life, I have to act as if my first life didn't happen at all.

 But as Beesun started leading Heronpaw out of camp, he couldn't help but wonder longingly. How can I act like my first life never happened, when most of my happy memories happened back then?