Warriors, The Next Chapter; Spiderpaw's Journey

Chapter 18

Sparklight roused at her leader's yowling, "Let the cats of MoonClan gather for a Clan meeting!"

Shrewface and Rockyspots slipped past her out of the den and Sparklight more slowly. She spotted Tawnyflower ushering her kits forward from the den, Oatkit's fur was slicked back and Stumpykit was spotless, Leapkit and Tinykit emerged from the den, following their mother, their fur sleek from lots of cleaning.

Once the Clan was all gathered, Dappledstar eased the kits forward. "Tinykit, Leapkit, Stumpykit, and Oatkit, you have reached the age of six moons and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this moment onward until you become warriors, you will be known as Tinypaw, Leappaw, Stumpypaw, and Oatpaw."

"Tinypaw! Leappaw! Stumpypaw! Oatpaw!" The Clan yowled.

"Oatpaw, your mentor will be Ratskip. Ratskip, it's about time you had another apprentice, I hope you pass your skills and loyalty onto young Oatpaw," Dappledstar mewed, "Stumpypaw, your mentor will be Blackleaf, may he pass his wisdom and cunning onto you."

Sparklight listened as Dappledstar turned to Tinypaw, "Tinypaw, your mentor will be Birdflutter. Birdflutter, Tinypaw will be your first apprentice so if you feel that you need help, anyone can help you."

"Leappaw, your mentor will be Sparklight," She sat jolt upright at Dappledstar's words, surprised that she had been chosen to mentor the young she-cat, "Sparklight, Leappaw is also your first apprentice so feel free to seek guidance from any cat."

Leappaw hurried up to her and Sparklight touched noses with her new apprentice. "I won't let you down Sparklight! I'll be the best warrior for you," Leappaw promised.

Sparklight was scared that she wouldn't be skilled enough to mentor Leappaw and nodded, "I'll do all in my paws to help you reach your potential."

"Tawnyflight, you will remain in the nursery since you are currently expecting more kits for the Clan," Dappledstar mewed.

Sparklight guessed that the reason she was chosen to mentor Leappaw was to show that Dappledstar still had faith in her after her interaction with Primroseshine. 

"Can we learn to hunt!" Leappaw asked her excitedly.

"Let's start with a tour of the territory," She told her apprentice calmly as Birdflutter, Blackleaf, and Ratskip walked toward her with their own apprentices.

"Shall we go together to tour the territory?" Blackleaf asked.

Sparklight nodded and the eight cats headed for the entrance. As Blackleaf led them through the forest, Sparklight couldn't push down the feeling that MoonClan wasn't truly safe just yet.

***

Sparklight followed Volescramble and Hootstep through the forest, Lionpaw and Leappaw following quietly.

"Smell anything?" Hootstep asked Leappaw.

The silver apprentice parted her jaws and tasted the wind, "I smell magpie- wagtail, and vole."

"Great work!" Sparklight praised and her apprentice perked up.

"How about you and I go find that wagtail?" She mewed.

Leappaw nodded and Sparklight followed as her apprentice tracked the black and white bird. Once they were near, Sparklight signaled for her apprentice to go around and that she'd scare the bird to Leappaw.

Sparklight raised her tail to see if Leappaw was ready and her apprentice replied with a swish of her own long, silver tail. Sparklight strode from the bramble she was hiding in and stepped toward the wagtail. The little bird panicked and rushed into her apprentice's paws. Leappaw got up, holding the bird between her jaws.

"Great catch!" Sparklight mewed and Leappaw puffed out her chest with Sparklight's praise.

When they returned to the others, Hootstep was carrying two mice and Lionpaw had a vole, Volescramble emerged from the bushes behind his apprentice, holding a magpie.

As the hunting patrol headed back to camp, Sparklight listened as Lionpaw and Leappaw talked.

"I wish I were as good of a hunter as you! I nearly missed the vole!" Lionpaw complained.

"Your just bigger!" Leappaw mewed, "I bet your a great fighter!"

"I guess yeah," Lionpaw purred, "When Wrenpaw stumbles in fighting he normally makes up for it in hunting though."

Leappaw laughed softly, "Every cat has their strengths."

Volescramble hurried up beside Sparklight, "You thinking what I'm thinking?"

"Leappaw's merely a kit," Sparklight mewed, "She's just being nice."

But as they returned to camp, Sparklight couldn't help but wonder if she would end up as the only she-cat in the clan without a mate.