Warriors - The Leopard's Apprentice

-Chapter 5 - A Waste-

          "We have two kits who have reached their sixth moon, and will be apprenticed. Burntkit please step forward", eagerly Burntkit stepped up onto the adjacent branch from Sprucestar, "from this day forward until you receive your warrior name you will be known as Burntpaw, your mentor shall be... Darkhollow! I trust he will teach you his bravery and selflessness." Burntpaw looked up eagerly to face Darkhollow with a grin, Darkhollow walked slowly up to the Oaktree and bent down to touch noses with the eager apprentice. "Shadowkit, please step forward." Sprucestar continued with a smile "from this day forward until you recieve your warrior name you will be known as Shadowpaw, your mentor will be... Timberheart!" Timberheart looked pleased as he walked forward to touch noses with his new apprentice.

"It is time for two apprentices to recieve their warrior names, Streampaw, Brightpaw please step forward. I call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon these young apprentices, they have trained by Fallenbranch, and Silverlake for many moons and are ready to receive their warrior names. Streampaw, Brightpaw do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect this clan even at the cost of your lives?" Sprucestar asked his eyes shone in delight; it was his first warrior ceremony after all, "I do." said Streampaw with excitement, "I do." Brightpaw said hesitating for a second. "Then from this moment forward you will be known as Streamstone, ForestClan honors your courage and curiousity." Sprucestar said nuzzling noses with Streamstone who stood up straighter and grinned, staring down at all the other cats below the Oaktree. "And you shall be known as Brightsun, ForestClan honors your ingenuity and creativity." Brightsun looked towards Streamstone and both cats grinned as Sprucestar touched noses with him. "Burntpaw! Shadowpaw! Brightsun! Streamstone!" cats called with happiness as they sat and adored the new warriors and apprentices. "Clan dismissed!" Sprucestar called from his perch as all the cats dispersed from the clearing.

Leopardwillow looked at Timberheart and smiled "I see you finally got an apprentice." she said with a grin, Timberheart nodded "I can't believe I've gone from being a warrior to a deputy without an apprentice yet- speaking of which how's Smokepaw?" he asked. Leopardwillow frowned "he's fine his assessment is coming up in three moons along with Dandelionpaw and Snakepaw I bet he'll be happy with other apprentices around for once." she said absent mindedly. Timberheart chuckled "so that's how it's going huh? I noticed he didn't sit with you and I thought that was weird." Leopardwillow blushed "oh really, I didn't know apprentices were supposed to do that all the time-" trying hurriedly to come up with an excuse, Timberheart gave her a look of genuine sympathy and brushed her cheek slightly with his tail, her earrings made a metallic clinking noise as his furry tail crept to her ear, "don't be too hard on him okay? I know your a great mentor." he said before walking away.

She stood in shock, did that just happen? She thought, before she was rudely awakened by Smokepaw "how was the ceremony." he said with a yawn. "You didn't come?!" she answered in disgust don't be too hard on him okay? Leopardwillow thought about Timberheart's words for a second but shook them away this was disrespecting his clanmates she thought. Smokepaw thought for a second thinking of how to respond to his mentor "I was catching prey." he shrugged like it was no big deal. Leopardwillow gave him a friendly smile before saying "okay great because now your having elder duties for a moon for that. I can't believe you completely missed the ceremony going out hunting - IN GREENLEAF" she growled "I was just trying to be helpful is it really my fault that I didn't want to watch OTHER cats get their warrior names before me or two six moon kits get apprenticed." he said rolling his eyes. Leopardwillow looked him directly in the eyes she was not one to forgive so easily, "just because your siblings are getting their assessments in three moons doesn't mean you are." she said coldly before adding "elder duties, one moon."

Smokepaw growled as she padded away "two-leg freak." he muttered, "keep up with that attitude and Burntpaw and Shadowpaw will be getting their warrior names before you." Leopardwillow snarled she was so not in the mood for his back talk. "Hey, Leopardwillow." Foxbristle said padding over to her sister - it had been a moon since they talked, "excited for Leaf-fall? I'm hoping to show my kits the pretty leaves." she said casually "Leaf-fall means less prey and colder weat- wait did you say kits?!" Leopardwillow practically announced by now everyone was staring at her she bashfully blushed. Foxbristle laughed as Fallenbranch came to join the two sisters, "hi." Foxbristle purred burying her head in his chest. "I'm so happy for you! I can't wait to see them!" Leopardwillow exclaimed excitedly "how's life without an apprentice?" she asked Fallenbranch curiously.

He shrugged "I guess it's nice but I do miss him. He reminded me of myself so much as an apprentice and I'm happy he's a warrior now." he answered curling his tail around Foxbristle. "How's you and Timberheart?" Foxbristle asked, Leopardwillow blushed "he's fine I guess he's been really supportive ever since I got Smokepaw as my apprentice, speaking of which can you both make sure Smokepaw isn't leaving camp so often- every time I go to find him he's either at 'the Dirtplace' or 'out hunting' and I really feel like somehow his disappearances are connected to me-" she sighed. Fallenbranch looked at her sympathetically "we all have our ups and downs I'm sure Smokepaw is just avoiding you because you always seem to yell at him." Leopardwillow looked at him in disbelief did he seriously just say he was avoiding me?! "Leopardwillow?" Foxbristle asked, "huh?" she asked clearly distracted. A screech interrupted the three cats from their conversation, and Dovesong rushed past them with Ivypaw right behind her, "Ivypaw what's wrong?!" Leopardwillow said trailing after her, "1. It's Ivyspirit now and 2. Lilypad is finally having her kits." Ivyspirit said matter-of-factly before disappearing with Dovesong into the nursery; Lilypad was the only inhabitant at the time since Boulderleap had moved back into the warrior's den once her kits had been apprenticed.

Timberheart seemed in no hurry to get to his screeching sister as he calmly started bathing himself, "Timberheart why aren't you waiting for Dovesong and Lilypad?" Leopardwillow asked curiosity in her voice. All she heard him mumble was "what a waste of my sister." And little did she know, Timberheart was right. What a waste indeed.