ThornClaw's Destiny

Chapter 7

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather below the highrock for a clan meeting!" Frostfur licked the top of Thornkit's ginger head, smoothing down his fur and stood back, her eyes gleaming with pride as she looked at her remaining kits. "Alright. You're ready," she meowed. "Now, remember, walk, don't run. You are almost apprentices and you have to be prepared to show the clan that you are old, and patient enough to be one." She ushered them out to where the clan was waiting patiently for them to arrive. "Cats of Thunderclan, we are gathered here to give two clan kits their apprentice names." Bluestar mewed. Thornkit jumped up with excitement, and immediately looked at Frostfur, expecting to be scolded, however all he could see in her eyes was love. "Yes, come forward, both of you," Bluestar invited warmly. Thornkit dashed into the circle, forgetting what Frostfur had told him earlier about walking. Brightkit walked slowly behind him. Thornkit was so excited. Now he could work hard to be warrior, then deputy, and then leader. "Mousefur," meowed Bluestar, "you have told me that you are ready to take on an apprentice. You will be mentor to Thornpaw." "Mousefur!" thought Thornpaw, as he bounced over to her. "She's a great cat but what if she doesn't like me?" "Mousefur," Bluestar went on, "you have shown yourself a brave and intelligent warrior. See that you pass on your courage and wisdom to your new apprentice." Thornpaw touched his nose to Mousefur and noticed pride and joy in her eyes. Together, they retired to the edge of the clearing. "Can I do battle training? And go hunting! When can I hunt! I'm so excited!" Thornpaw mewed excitedly. "Calm down, Thornpaw. We'll go for a tour of the territory with your littermate once she's been apprenticed." Thornkit looked back into the circle. Brightkit stood, alone, in the middle, her whisker quivering with anticipation. "Whitestorm," Bluestar announced, "You are free to take a new apprentice now that Sandstorm has become a warrior. You will be mentor to Brightpaw." Whitestorm looked up from the front of the gathering, surprise, and pleasure lighting in his eyes. He padded over to Brightpaw. "Whitestorm," Bluestar meowed, "you are a warrior of great skill and experience. I know that you will pass on all you know to this young apprentice." "Certainly," Whitestorm purred. "Welcome, Brightpaw." He touched noses with her and led her back to where Thornpaw and Mousefur were waiting. "Thornpaw! Brightpaw! Thornpaw! Brightpaw!" the cats yowled. Thornpaw looked up at Frostfur, who sat near the front of the circle, with Brackenpaw and Cinderpaw at her side. Cinderpaw had woken up a few days before and had been perfectly healthy- except for her leg. It sat awkwardly behind her, and when she sprang up to greet them, she winced, as she put weight on her injured hindleg. "That's so great! Now we're all apprentices together!" Cinderpaw mewed excitedly. Mousefur and Whitestorm came up to them. "Come along, now. Let's go for a tour of the territory," rumbled Whitestorm. "I agree," meowed Mousefur. "Let's go." "Have fun!" mewed Cinderpaw. He knew she was trying to be happy for their sakes, but her eyes were filled with sadness. Thornpaw knew why. A few days ago, Thornpaw had been on his way to the fresh-kill pile and had overheard Fireheart and Cinderpaw in the medicine den. He was about to go in, when he heard Cinderpaw ask Fireheart, in a miserable voice "I'm never going to be a warrior, am I?" "Come on! Reassure her! Tell her that she will be!" Thornpaw had screamed in his head. "You're doing really well," Fireheart told her, his voice catching slightly. "No," he whispered. "You will never be a warrior. I'm sorry." Thornpaw had listened, shocked. He had crept away from the medicine den and repeated what he had heard to Brightpaw. The echo of Brightpaw's wail still echoed in Thornpaw's ears. A soft cuff over Thornpaw's ear snapped him out of his trance. "Go on, slow slug," Cinderpaw teased, "or else you'll get left behind!" Thornpaw walked halfway across the clearing, then turned and looked back and Cinderpaw. She had turned away and was limping back into Yellowfang's den. "I wish you were coming too," he whispered. He dipped his head, turned around and padded over to where Brightpaw, Whitestorm and Mousefur stood waiting. From the looks on their faces, he could guess that they knew what he was thinking about. "Just because she has a limp will not stop her from earning her clan's affection and respect," Whitestorm's rumbled. "She will still be able to help out around camp! And she's still alive," mewed Brightpaw. They stood there for a few minutes, until Mousefur gave her pelt a shake and said "Well, standing here won't do anything. Territory's don't explore themselves; you know." With that, she turned and padded off into the undergrowth. As Whitestorm padded after her, Thornpaw and Brightpaw exchanged a troubled glance. No-one knew what Cinderpaw could do now since she could not be a warrior. Maybe a medicine cat? She couldn't become a warrior now, surely. Thornpaw sighed. "Oi, you two! Are you going to stand there all day?" yowled Mousefur up ahead. "Coming Mousefur!" yelped the littermates in unison. "Race you!" Brightpaw called and shot away into the undergrowth. Thornpaw grinned and raced away to catch up.

so i had an entire layout on word for this book, and then i just stopped writing it. 

It ended at like chapter 9, and theres half a word written there- Thorn

anyways thanks for reading and your awesome today

Aivil