Plushstar's Journey

Chapter 2

"Let all those old enough to catch their own prey, join here around the Fallen Tree to hear what I have to say!" Spotstar's voice rang throughout the camp. Ravenkit could barely contain her excitement as she and her brothers Crowkit and Eaglekit followed after her.

Plushkit and her siblings followed Mistyeyes out as the queen purred with excitement to watch her kits become apprentices. Briarkit yawned and watched for herself as Mistyeyes kits sat in the center of camp, looking up at their leader, waiting for him speak.

"Plushkit! Barkkit! Berrykit! Get back in here! You're not old enough to catch prey yet!" Snapped Pidgenfeather's voice from inside the nursery. Berryheart's voice snapped. "Leave them alone Pidgenfeather! They're not bothering anyone!" The queen hissed.

Briarkit stood next to Plushkit and mumbled. "I wonder who put mouse bile in her fresh kill?" She joked and Berrykit giggled. "Whoever it was put too much." Berryheart commented, walking up and sitting next to her kit, wrapping her tail around Brairkit.

Plushkit however barley payed attention to what was being said. Her best friend was becoming a apprentice and she wants to know what to expect when she came one as well in two moons. She would've watched Deerpaw become one, but he just turned an apprentice moons before she was born so she missed out on his ceremony. One thing she knows is she'll get watch him and Ravenkit become warriors one day and all three of them can go hunting and patroling together.

"I've called you together for one of the most important moments in the life of a clan, Ravenkit, Eaglekit and Crowkit have reached their sixth moon, and it's time for them to become apprentices. Ravenkit, Eaglekit and Crowkit," the siblings perked up and tails raised high. "from this day until you receive your warrior names, you will be called Ravenpaw, Eaglepaw and Crowpaw. Starclan, I ask you guide these new apprentices. Set their paws on the path they must follow to become a warrior."

Spotstar pointed his tail a greyish white she-cat and flicked his tail to tell her to come forward. "Dewdrop. You will be mentor to Ravenpaw. You are a quick thinker and stubborn fighter. I know you will pass these on qualities on to Ravenpaw."

Even though Plushkit couldn't see Ravenpaw's face, she just knew she had the biggest smile on her face.

Spotstar then looked at a ginger tom with a fluffy tail. The cat quickly jumped up and bounded forward. "Heavytail. You will be mentor to Crowkit. You are a great hunter. I know you will pass on these qualities on to Crowpaw."

Plushpelt watched as her father smiled with joy. She remembers Heavytail saying he hadn't had a mentor since Wolffur.

Spotstar looked around for the cat he wanted. Then finally spotted the cat in the back. "Frozentail, please come forward." He said in a teasing tone.

From the stories she heard from the elders and senior warriors, Spotstar has always been a playful warrior but turned serious when the time called for it. That's the cat Plushkit wish to be when she got older.

"Frozentail. You will be mentor to Eaglekit. You are a skilled warrior in battle and hunting and a kind cat to all. I know you will pass these qualities on to Eaglepaw."

When Spotstar finished speaking, the apprentices touched noses with their mentors.

Though Spotstar was finished with the apprentice ceremony, he didn't leave the Fallen Tree. Instead he spoke loudly over the chanting of the newly made apprentices.

"Before we wrap things up, there's one more ceremony that needs to be taken place!" The older cat announced. The cats muttered as he scanned the groups of cats and his eyes landed on the cat he was looking for. " Deerpaw, would you please step forward?" Though it sounded like a question, it was more if demand.

Deerpaw, hesitant, walked by the newly named apprentices and looked up nervously. Spotstar had a big smile on his face and spoke.

"I, Spotstar , leader of NightriseClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. He has trained hard to under stand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn." He looked down at Deerpaw. " Deerpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Deerpaw stammered over his words, surprised to be made a warrior without notice. "I-I-I do!"

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name: Deerpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Deerheart. StarClan honors your bravery and your fighting skills and we welcome you as a full warrior of NightriseClan."

Spotstar jumped down off the Fallen Tree and walked over to Deerheart. The bigger cat had to crouch down so his lead can rest his head on top of the warriors and Deerheart licked Spotstar's shoulder.

Then Spotstar muttered something to him and turned back to his den.

Plushkit was excited to see a apprentices AND warriors cememony in one day! She ran up to both Deerheart and Ravenpaw and skitted to a stop. She was the one of the first to congratulate them. "You both are warriors and apprentices now! How does it feel?" She asked and she looked up at the bigger cats. Ravenpaw smiled at her and before she can talk, Dewdrop walked up and spoke. "I know it's a little early, but get some rest, tomorrow I'll show you around the boarder." She spoke.

Ravenpaw smiled and watched her mentor walk through the warriors den. She then looked at the ginger tom, still surprised about his warrior ceremony. "So, you excited to be a warrior now?" She asked. Deerheart turned his head towards her and flicked his ear. "Huh? Oh! Yeah, just.. surprised is all." "Just two more moons and I can leave the camp with you both. I'm so jealous of of you Ravenpaw. "Plushkit said, pouting.

Deerheart opened his mouth but Pidgenfeather cut him off. "Get away from him Plushkit! No warrior wants to be associated with a kit like you!" The queen hissed. Plushkit felt her heart shatter. Is that how it was now? She can't talk to Deerheart now because he's a warrior?

Deerheart must've read the look on Plushkit's face because he stood up and hissed towards the queen. "Leave her alone Pidgenfeather! She's not bothering anyone!" "How dare you talk back to me! I'm her parent! What I say goes!" "You're a pretty lousy one if you don't let her talk to other cats!" Ravenpaw meowed. "Keep to yourself apprentice!" Pidgenfeather hissed, walking up.

The grey and black queen stood in front of Deerheart and growled. " I'd watch it if I were you. You're a warrior now. Cats will start talking if you hang around kits and apprentices that has nothing to with you." She growled.

Deerheart instantly backed off with a look of shock and disgust. He then looked at Plushkit and Ravenpaw, then quickly ran to the warriors den.

"Pretty suspicious that you just ran off after I mentioned that!" She called after him. "Deerheart?!" Plushkit called, running after the young warrior. "Plushkit get back here!" Pidgenfeather yowled but Plushkit ignored her. "What is wrong with you?! He's never done anything to us!" Ravenpaw hissed. "I'm only looking after my kits." "You're ruining their lives!"

Plushkit didn't know what they were talking about, but by the look on everyone's faces, it couldn't be good. Everyone shot Pidgenfeather a hateful looks and sympathetic looks towards Plushkit and Ravenpaw.

Deerheart would never hurt them. He was their best friend. She couldn't understand why they couldn't be with Deerheart anymore. He would never do anything to hurt them. Right?