Warriors: Falling Stars Book 1: Sunlight

Chapter 6

Spottedpaw mumbled in her sleep, pushing her bedding around with her paws. The apprentice sleepily tumbled out onto the floor, dazed and starting to wake up. The dull noise of the rain outside lulled her back to sleep as it came down from the sky. However, a sharp prod in her side caused her to yelp in surprise and spring to her paws.

"Sorry Spottedpaw!" Mudpaw stood in the doorway, looking guilty. "But Robinstar called a meeting, and you can't sleep all day!" He licked her ear apologetically and bounded out of the den with Spottedpaw behind him. With a yawn, the she-cat sat down beside Ivypelt who was already beneath the Fallen Tree, where Robinstar made all his announcements. Ivypelt looked down at Spottedpaw and smiled slightly before returning her attention to the gray tabby leader.

Robinstar looked down at the clan, and then to two cats in particular. Shadowfur, the black queen, licked her kits furiously as they tried to shake her off, but to no avail. They bounded forward and sat down at the front of the clan as Robinstar began to speak.

"Hailkit, Hazelkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Hailpaw and Hazelpaw. You mentors will be Leaftail for Hailpaw and Bramblefang for Hazelpaw. I hope they will pass down all they know to you."

"Leaftail, Bramblefang, you are ready to take on apprentices. You have received excellent training from Thornfur and Hawkwing, and you have shown yourselves to be brave and clever. You will be the mentors of these two apprentices, I expect you to pass down all you know to them." Leaftail's eyes brimmed with pride and grief as she remembered her previous mentor; killed in a vicious battle with badgers that had taken too many lives.

"Hailpaw! Hazelpaw! Hailpaw! Hazelpaw!" The hollow rung with the sound of the apprentices' names. They beamed proudly and dipped their heads to their new mentors, respectfully licking their shoulders.

Robinstar flicked his tail in dismissal and the cats started to disperse. Spottedpaw watched the leader as he retreated to his den.

"Spottedpaw! We're apprentices now!" Hailpaw mewed happily as he bounded over to Spottedpaw with his sister by his side. "We get to sleep in the same den again!"

Spottedpaw purred. "If there's enough room! Having five cats in there; I don't know if we'll all fit!"

"Especially with Fernpaw," Hazelpaw giggled. "That big lump took up all the space in the nursery."

"Hailpaw!" Spottedpaw turned to see her mother pad over to her new apprentice. She licked Spottedpaw's head, purring, before turning back to the white tom. "Ready for your first trip out as apprentices?"

"I've been ready for moons!" Hailpaw replied, bouncing up and down.

"Is Bramblefang coming with us?" Hazelpaw asked, looking around for the brown tom.

Leaftail nodded. "He stopped to get a bite to eat. He's been hunting all morning." As if on command, the young tom-cat trotted over beside the apprentices.

"Okay, let's head out!" Bramblefang said, starting to lead the others to the exit.

"I'll come with you too!" Spottedpaw mewed. She was about to run over to them when she felt a paw on her shoulder.

"Another time, Spottedpaw. You've still got to take care of the elders!" Ivypelt was there, her pelt starting to become soaked. "Clearmist is waiting for you. She said she has some mouse bile ready." Ivypelt purred in amusement at Spottedpaw's distressed look. "Oh, and be sure to bring them some prey before it's waterlogged. I don't think this rain will last long, but just in case. I know Firefoot hates soggy prey." Ivypelt waved goodbye as she headed over to eat with her siblings, Silverstripe and Robinstar. Spottedpaw was surprised to see the tabby leader out of his den. He seemed to be spending more time in there than usual. She wondered why.