Warriors | A Prophecy Reborn: Book 1. (The Legacy)

~The Legacy: Chapter 3~

When Spiralpaw woke up, it was dusk, and cats were outside, gathered beneath the Highledge.
She'd almost forgotten the Gathering tonight!
Not to mention Russetkit and Firkit's naming ceremony!
"Spiralpaw!" Reedpaw said, pushing her over. "Come on, we're lucky, it just started!"
Spiralpaw got up in an instant, following Reedpaw as she bounded into the clearing and sat beside Ashpaw and Irispaw, who seemed to be spending a lot of time together.
Stonestar's whiskers twitched as he saw her and Reedpaw stumbling out of the den.
"Specklefern's kits have both reached six moons," he said. Russetkit and Firkit were already gazing up at the leader.
"Russetkit and Firkit," he called to the kits below him. Darkkit looked like he wanted to become an apprentice right now. He'd puffed his chest out and looked serious.
"From now on, your new names will be Russetpaw and Firpaw. Russetpaw, I understand you have a love for herbs," he added to the red apprentice.
"Your mentor will be Crookedfire," he said, flicking his tail towards the gray Medicine Cat. "I trust that he will teach you all he knows. Firkit," he said, turning his head to look down at the brown-gold tom, "I will be your mentor."
Amazed gasps rippled along the clearing.
Surely Stonestar had taught an apprentice before? Or else he would not have become leader. Everyone in the Clan knew that a warrior had to have trained at least one apprentice before becoming a deputy, even the smallest kit knew this.
If anything, they looked more happy than they did afraid, though the shock in their gasps said otherwise.
"Lastly, Fernfeather and I have decided who shall go to the Gathering tonight," he said. "We will both come to gather you for when we depart," he added before jumping off the Highledge, dismissing the meeting.
Ashpaw bounded over to flop beside Reedpaw and Spiralpaw.
"We're going!" he meowed rolling on his back.
"Are we?" Spiralpaw said astonished and ecstatic. "How do you know? The meeting just finished, and Fernfeather's talking to Redpelt."
"I asked if we could go," he mewed simply.
Spiralpaw looked at her brother with a doubtful glare. "It's true!" he insisted. "All I did was ask if I could go with Voleroach and our father said yes."
Whitepaw suddenly came padding daintily toward them, Irispaw alongside her.
"That's 𝘯𝘰𝘵 true," Whitepaw said, huffing. "You asked Irispaw if she was going, and then Voleroach just came out of the leader's den and said that we could go."
Ashpaw frowned slightly. "At least we'll get to see other apprentices," he said, trying to ignore his sister. No matter how alike the two were, they had completely opposite attitudes.
Spiralpaw was the youngest of their litter, and was the odd-one-out. Even Darkkit and Stripedkit's pelts were identical, like Ashpaw and Whitepaw's. Their only differences were that Stripedkit and Darkkit wore brown tabby coats rather than the silver-and-white ones Whitepaw and Ashpaw wore.
Spiralpaw, however, felt special for looking like her mother.
"Well," said a voice she immediately recognised as her mentor, "I suggest you eat something before we leave tonight."
Reedpaw trotted alongside Flamepaw, Ashpaw and Whitepaw as they walked towards the fresh-kill pile.
"Spiralpaw," he said as she turned to follow her brother and sister.
"Yes, Tigerfur?" she said.
"I would like to speak with you for a moment." The dark brown tabby warrior beckoned her with his tail, and she obediently followed.
"Remember," he said once they were alone near the empty apprentice den, "do not give away any information that could be used against us in a battle with the other Clans."
Spiralpaw nodded.
"And also," he said to her, "remember the one rule that every Clan follows: you cannot mate with other cats from different Clans."
Spiralpaw looked shocked at the thought. Why would she even think of that?
"I have no intention in doing so," she reassured her mentor when she could speak.
"Besides," she said, standing, "I am but an apprentice, and do not wish for a mate."
She looked at Tigerfur, hoping he would believe her as much as she believed herself, but the senior warrior still looked highly doubtful.
"Very well," he said at last. "Go and eat something," he ordered. "Stonestar will be gathering the others in a moment."
Spiralpaw nodded, padding off to her friends and littermates.