Warriors AU CrowXLeaf, ¬ Fernclan.

Chapter 2

Padding out of the nursery Hollykit stared up at her father, sitting on the rock that the Clan have all helped move into their camp. Jaykit, Lionkit and Silentkit were all sitting together and chatting near a mossy log. Flowerkit and Fernkit were near the freshkill pile grabbing some food for their mother and also probably Sorreltail as well. A pinch of Hollykit's tail made her whip around and she saw that Cinderpaw was holding her tail down. "Cinderpaw! What's that for?" Hollykit asked before she started grooming her tail. Cinderpaw looked at Crowstar and smiled. "You're going to be an apprentice soon! I can't wait to have you in the apprentices' den." guilt flooded over Hollykit when she realised she hadn't told Cinderpaw that she wanted to be a medicine cat. You wouldn't understand though. She thought, You've only ever been a warrior apprentice and I want to be special. A medicine cat is the perfect role for me! Hollykit then wondered if she'd ever be able to be a medicine cat apprentice as her mother was still in the nursery and queens don't usually mentor their own kits. There still weren't enough warriors in the Clan and every cat knew it. Hollykit and her siblings have never actually been told why the Clan was always so low on Warriors, they just accepted that this is how Clan life will be for them. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the meeting rock for a Clan meeting." We really need to find a new name for this rock, Hollykit thought, bounding towards her father. With all her siblings sitting together she turned around to see her mother rushing out of the nursery in excitement. Hollykit forgot to ask her mother if she could be the medicine cat apprentice. Oh no! Hollykit stared at her mother, Leafpool's eyes were filled with pride. Now I'll never be a medicine cat. Staring up at her father, her pride and ambitions hurt, she flicked Jaykit on the ear with her tail. He's the smallest of the bunch of them, and blind as well so she wished him good luck, but he gave her a look that said You don't need to wish me good luck Hollykit! I'm blind but not hopeless. As Crowstar waited for his cats to gather, Hollykit let her mind travel. Now how will I be the most respected cat in the Clan? Becoming a clan leader will be hard and I'll have to wait longer for the respect as I'll have to prove myself worthy! "It is time for my kits to be apprenticed." Crowstar announced. "Though since there are so many I'll split them into two different ceremonies, three kits today and three tomorrow." Leaping down from the meeting rock, he licked Leafpool's ear and stared at Brackenfur, The deputy. "Can you arrange a cat to collect some more warriors? We've been thinking about doing this for a while. Maybe some cats from the barn would like to live here? Maybe cats from another Clan?" Crowfeather knew this was a tricky task so he waited for Brackenfur to nod before he began again. "You three have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed." He stared at the six apprentice sized cats and began "From this day on, until you receive your warrior names, you will be known as Fernpaw, Hollypaw and Lionpaw!" as all the cats around them stared happily at the three, the others who weren't picked stepped back. Leafpool's eyes were shining with pride as the light dripping in from the gaps between the trees warmed all of their pelts. Hollypaw gathered some of the warmth on her pelt and looked back at her father. "Fernpaw, your mentor will be Sorreltail. I hope Sorreltail will pass all she knows on to you." he finished as he watched Sorreltail and Fernpaw touch noses. Then he went up to her and laid his chin on her head as she licked his shoulder. Fernpaw ran up to Leafpool and Leafpool began grooming her with affection. "Hollypaw," Crowstar said, getting all of the cat's attention. Hollypaw looked excitedly at her father wondering who her new mentor will be. I hope it's Leafpool! "Your mentor will be Brackenfur and I hope Brackenfur will pass down all he knows on to you." The same thing happened and Hollypaw heard her father whisper "Again, I'm sorry Brackenfur. But you know we have very few cats in the Clan, and we can't make these cats stay in the nursery forever." Crowstar turned his eyes narrowing against the bright sun. "Finally, Lionpaw your mentor will be me and I will pass down all I know on to you." Again the same routine happened and once they had finished Crowstar sat up, eyes gleaming with pride. Leafpool had been waiting for this moment forever. Then everyone began to chant their names "Lionpaw! Fernpaw! Hollypaw!"