Legend's rise: Bluefire's Echo

CHAPTER 3: BLUEPAW

Warning: small amounts of blood
Thank you for understanding.

Murmurs of excitement and curiosity filled the clearing as the clan gathered beneath the great cliff. "Today." Rootstar began. "Bluekit will become and apprentice." His gaze shifted to his daughter. Bluekit was practically bouncing on her toes. I'm so excited! Finally I can hunt and fight! Rootstar blinked warmly. "Bluekit, do you promise to train your hardest and uphold our code?" Bluekit smiled and nodded. "I do." Silence filled the clearing as everyone waited to hear who would mentor her. "Then until you earn your warrior name, you will be called Bluepaw. Twistclaw will be your mentor. Twistclaw, stripetail was your mentor. I expect you to pass on everything you know to Bluepaw." Twistclaw stepped up and rested his nose on Bluepaw's forehead. "I'm happy to mentor you." He said kindly. "Bluepaw! Bluepaw!" Reedlight began, leading the clan into a chant. "BLUEPAW! BLUEPAW!" Rootstar was cheering too. Bluepaw felt embarrassed and gave her chest fur a small lick. Wait..where is jackalsong? Bluepaw spotted the she-cat outside of the nursery. Her fur wasnt groomed, and her eyes were dull. "Jackalsong?" Bluepaw stepped up to her. "What do you want?" Jackalsong closed her eyes. It was hardly a question, but more of a...you arent welcome here tone. "Didnt you hear? I'm an apprentice now!" Bluepaw gave a small smile as she looked into her mother's eyes. "Good I guess." Jackalsong closed her eyes again. "Now get on. Go make your nest." Bluepaw simply nodded. "Bluepaw! Over here!" Shouted one of the apprentices. "We'll help you make your nest!" Called another.  "I'm coming!" Bluepaw excitedly made her way over to the apprentices. "I'm scorchpaw." Said the smallest apprentice, who she assumed was the newest. "That's Woodpaw, and that's robinpaw." Bluepaw smiled as Woodpaw helped her lay out her bedding. "If you're lonely, I can move my nest next to yours." Scorchpaw offered kindly. "Ok. Thanks!" Bluepaw responded, settling into her nest. Scorchpaw finished moving hers and had settled down to sleep. "I'm so excited to start training." Bluepaw whispered. "Well keep it to yourself or go to sleep. Dont disturb the rest of us." Robinpaw growled. "Robinpaw dont be rude! That's okay Bluepaw. Go to sleep now." Scorchpaw began to drift to sleep. Bluepaw's eyes felt heavy at last. Goodnight Briarkit...and hawkkit.. Bluepaw finally fell into a dreamless sleep.
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"Move right! Use the move I taught you!" Twistclaw shouted commands to Bluepaw. Robinpaw lunged again, this time Bluepaw was able to dodge him. "Counter attack robinpaw! You cant lose this easily!" Hollowstep yowled. Bluepaw shot forward and under the bigger apprentice. "Where did you go you mouse!?" Robinpaw roared. Bluepaw leaped up from to ground behind him, and tackled him down. "Pinned you." Bluepaw smirked. "Mousebrain." Robinpaw grumbled. "Bluepaw don-" before her mentor could warm her, robinpaw had thrown her into the air with his hind legs. Bluepaw yowled as the ground became closer. Thud! Bluepaw hit the ground, winded. As she tried to catch her breath Robinpaw sank his teeth into her scruff.  Bluepaw tried to struggle in his grasp. Droplets of blood fell to the ground. "Robinpaw that's too far!" Twistclaw growled. The large apprentice completely ignored the warrior and tossed bluepaw into a tree. Need to get up... Bluepaw struggled shakily to her paws. Her ear stung, and blood ruined her vision. "ROBINPAW THAT IS ENOUGH!" Hollowstep yowled. Robinpaw snickered. "Bluepaw are you alright? Can you stand?" Twistclaw was at her side in an instant. "I-I-im f-fine.." she stood up, trembling. "Let's take you to frostfoot and Aspenpaw." Twistclaw took her back to camp to be healed. It had been three moons since she had started training..and Bluepaw always regretted going back to camp. Rootstar had become bloodthirsty and cold over the green leaf moons. It was as if it wasnt him anymore.
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"That should keep the infection off." Frostfoot's words were muffled as she applied herbs to Bluepaw's ear. "I'm afraid it'll scar." Bluepaw nodded. "That's alright. Every strong warrior has a little scar here and there." Bluepaw stood up from where she had been sitting. "Anyways, thanks frostfoot!" Bluepaw ran out of the medicine den, excited to resume training. "Stop." Rootstar blocked her path. Skidding to a halt, she looked up at her father. "You wont resume training today." Bluepaw looked confused. "Why not?" She asked. "Because you'll be attending the gathering instead." Rootstar replied quickly. "I'm busy, so go prepare yourself." Bluepaw smiled, nodded, and ran off towards the apprentices den. "Woodpaw! Scorchpaw!" The two apprentices were sharing tongues outside the gorse den. "You seem awfully excited about something." Woodpaw laughed. "Rootstar is letting me go to the gathering tonight!" Bluepaw giggled. "That's cool! Now we can go together." Woodpaw purred. "Aw..I wish I could go. But heatherwing wont let me." Scorchpaw sighed. "That's ok Scorchpaw. We can all go next time!" Bluepaw smiled. "Bluepaw." Jackalsong was standing behind her. "Jackalsong?" Her eyes lit up. "Follow me." Bluepaw did as her mother told. She led her out of camp and into the small forest that surrounded them. The out to the edge of the moor. "We need to talk. Listen. Your father..is-" Jackalsong jumped as Reedlight leaped onto Bluepaw. "Hey! I heard you were going to the gathering!" She sounded excited. "Oh- yeah, I am." Bluepaw smiled. She turned to look back at Jackalsong, but the senior warrior was gone. "Your fur is a mess! Let me help." Reedlight mewed and began to groom Bluepaw's pelt. "And lastly." She placed a pink petaled flower behind her ear. "Wow! You look wonderful bluepaw!" Reedlight purred happily. "Have you eaten?" Bluepaw shook her head. "Seriously!? Come on then!" Reedlight flicked her tail and grinned. "Race you." Bluepaw hurtled after her. The golden leaf fall grass brushed her legs as she bounded across the moor. Reedlight was a few bounds ahead of her. Bluepaw leaped into the bushes, and continued to bound through the forest and finally into camp. "I win!" Bluepaw declared. "Yeah great job!" Reedlight breathed. Stepped toward the fresh-kill pile she saw Robinpaw giving her a glare. "What's the matter?" Reedlight muffled, as she chewed her bite of field mouse. "I'm not hungry." Bluepaw replied. She padded over to where Robinpaw was sitting. "Don't give away clan secrets tonight. Got it? And dont let your gaurd down." He hissed. "O-oh! Yeah sure!" Bluepaw answered nervously. "All cats going to the gathering Gather at the camp entrance gorse." Rootstar called, snapping Bluepaw and Robinpaw's conversation. Bluepaw felt excitement burst through her. She was ready to take on her first gathering!

Stripetail: dark brown tabby tom with green eyes. Cause of death: old age.

Scorchpaw: white and orange patched she with golden eyes.

Woodpaw: light brown tom with light green eyes and a small scar on his nose.

Robinpaw: black and orange patched tom with amber eyes.

Hollowstep: gray tabby tom with amber eyes.

Aspenpaw: cream she with blue eyes