Rainstar's Destiny (COMPLETED)

Chapter 3

"Grrr! I'm a badger! You can't catch me! I'm going to eat you!" Bramblekit growled, trying to sound menacing.

He was half a moon old, and had only opened his eyes yesterday. Rainkit was two moons older than the litter. It's so fun playing with them! Rainkit suppressed a purr of amusement while Willowkit purred too.

"You look so silly!" WIllowkit laughed at her brother, his fur was matted with leaves because of their earlier play fighting.

"Let's practice the hunting crouch!" Rainkit suggested.

"Bet I'm better than you all!" Featherkit boasted to them.

"No way!" Amberkit protested, while Rainkit gave her sister a glare.

"Come on! Let's go," Rainkit padded to a part in the nursery with lots of moss.

"Not here!" WIllowkit complained, "let's do it in the clearing!"

"Yeah!" Bramblekit agreed. I guess that'd be fine.

"Okay then," Rainkit conceded, leading the way to the clearing near the apprentices den and stopped beside a patch of leaves, "here."

***

"Look at my hunting crouch!" Bramblekit squealed, your tail looks like a stick! Rainkit purred, swallowing back the words.

"Bramblekit, you look like a stick sticking out of nowhere!" Amberkit laughed, while Willowkit and Featherkit laughter so hard they rolled on the ground.

"It's not easy! You try it then Amberkit!" Bramblekit protested, challenging Amberkit.

"No way!" Amberkit's eyes rounded.

"Scaredy-mouse!" Willowkit teased.

"Am not! I'm not going to be a warrior, that's all!" Amberkit replied.

"What? Why? What are you going to be then?" Featherkit asked as Rainkit looked puzzled. Does Amberkit want to be a medicine cat? Living with the herbs? Gross! She wrinkled her nose at the thought.

"I'm going to be a medicine cat." Amberkit replied simply. She really does! Rainkit swallowed hard.

"What? The herbs are disgusting! Why?" Bramblekit screwed up his face and stared at Amberkit.

"I just want to, it's interesting." Amberkit looked back, unblinking.

***

"Hey! Come share fresh-kill with me Willowkit!" Rainkit called to her. She was old enough to eat fresh-kill now. And Rainkit and Featherkit were already almost 6 moons old! And she would be apprenticed tomorrow!

"Coming!" Willowkit squealed, racing to Rainkit's side. Willowkit was her best friend now, and Bramblekit too.

"Should we share this vole together?" Willowkit stared at the vole, it was right beside the fresh-kill pile, not too high.

"Sure, I'll go get it." Rainkit agreed, padding towards the fresh-kill pile.

Picking up the vole, she padded back to a spot beside the nursery, where Willowkit was sitting. It was very heavy.

"Here," Rainkit panted, tired from getting the vole there.

"Thanks," Willowkit blinked at her, then bit into the prey, beckoning Rainkit to do the same.

A strong tang flowed into Rainkit's mouth, relishing the fishy scent of it, she chewed, it was soft, and the flesh was very sweet. She liked vole, and fish. She swallowed, biting down into it's flesh again.

"Mmm," Willowkit licked her lips as soon as they were done eating. Rainkit started to wash herself, grooming her chest fur, and washing her face. I want to look the best for my ceremony later!

***

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting!" Froststar's yowl pierced the clearing. The cats poured out of their dens, gathering beneath the huge rock, waiting patiently for their leader's announcement.

Me and Featherkit's apprentice ceremony! Rainkit swallowed hard, she had waited for so long, and the day had finally come! She glanced back at Willowkit.

Willowkit glanced back, giving her an encouraging nudge and whispered, "go on you stupid furball!" Lightnose was somewhere behind, her eyes gleaming with approval.

"Featherkit, Rainkit! Come forward!" Froststar called, glancing around the clearing, searching for them.

Nervous, Rainkit padded forward, glancing up at Froststar, and Featherkit then padded forward too, stopping beside her.

Froststar looked down at them, "It's greenleaf, and there will be more kits being delivered, and more warriors will be made, very soon, in fact." She fixed her gaze towards the nursery, as if pointing out Splashnose and Stormwing's kits.

Then continued, "and today, we will have two new apprentices made! Rainkit and Featherkit are six moons old and is ready to become an apprentice." She fixed her gaze back at Rainkit and her sister, Rainkit could feel her sister trembling with excitement, and felt the same. Yes! My day has come!

"Featherkit, from this moment on till you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Featherpaw. Your mentor will be Flowerpetal. Flowerpetal, you are an experienced warrior, and I hope you will pass on your great skills to Featherkit. Train her well." Froststar turned to look at Flowerpetal, she gave Froststar and surprised look, and padded forward and touched noses with Featherpaw.

Featherpaw looked pleased, puffing out her chest as she waited for Rainkit.

"Rainkit, from this moment on till you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Rainpaw. Your mentor will be...me." Froststar finished. I'm going to be Froststar's apprentice? Wow! Rainpaw was so shocked she could hardly move a muscle.

Featherpaw was looking jealous now, scuffling her paws on the ground and not meeting Rainpaw's gaze. I must be so special that my leader is going to train me!

Choruses of their names rang in the clearing, "Featherpaw! Rainpaw! Featherpaw! Rainpaw!" Streamfur and Lightnose sang their names proudly, affection showing clearly. Rainpaw relished this moment, this was one of the most important part in life! How much I wish I was a warrior now! Rainpaw closed her eyes, trying to imagine that day.

"Rainpaw!" Willowkit scurried behind her, she suddenly looked smaller, more fragile.

"Willowkit!" Rainpaw turned around, looking at her best friend. "I'm an apprentice!" Rainpaw boasted proudly.

"I'll catch up soon! You just wait!" Willowkit snorted.

"In two moons, you mean!" Rainpaw purred, scoffing at Willowkit.

"Well, it's still great!" Willowkit protested.

"I can't wait till we train together!" Rainpaw admitted, excitement and energy flowed through her again. I'm going to see outside of the camp!

Rainpaw said farewell to Willowkit as she padded into the apprentices den, and settled down.

"Good night Featherpaw." Rainpaw closed her eyes, saying her sister's new name.

"Good night Rainpaw." Featherpaw's eyes gleamed in the darkness. I'm sleeping in the apprentices den!

***

"Come on Rainpaw! I'm going to show you the territory now." A mew sounded in Rainpaw's ear, waking her up. "Featherpaw and Flowerpetal is already waiting outside!" The mew sharpened into a urgent one, making Rainpaw open her eyes.

"Froststar!" Rainpaw woke with a start, Featherpaw was outside already, her claws clawing impatiently on the ground, Flowerpetal was beside her, waiting patiently. "Come on, wake up earlier next time, you shouldn't need your leader to wake you up!" Froststar told Rainpaw sternly.

"Sorry," Rainpaw lowered her gaze, she couldn't meet Froststar's gaze.

"Just remember." Froststar's mew softened. I can't wait to see the forest with Featherpaw! Excitement tickled through Rainpaw again, forgetting about Froststar's stern scolding.