Coon of the Woods

1

"Welcome to Riverclan, DustKit," DustKit heard a voice say. It's been one moon since he'd been born. His eyes slowly opened to see a beautiful she-cat above him. She was a mackerel tabby with black spots, brown stripes lying within the spots. Her eyes were a bright green, complimenting her colors. Everyone was so excited about this miraculous birth, so much to when his eyes had opened, a queen had notified the leader. The queen returned to the nursery, the leader following after. The leader was a white tom cat, his tail a bright silver color. "Hello there little one, I'm SilverStar," he said, sitting next to the young kit who had just stood up. DustKit had yet to grow into his colors, for now he was a black kit with his ear a dusty brown. His tail faded into a white as it reached the end. DustKit looked around. He spotted two kits who have yet to open their eyes. "Come with me, DustKit." SilverStar stood up and padded out of the nursery. DustKit wobbled a bit but was soon able to follow his leader. Apprentices noticed the leader and this kit as they stopped playing and ran to them. "Woah look at that kit!" One of them said. "He's the size of us!" The other said, returning the energy. SilverStar picked DustKit up by his scruff before jumping upon the wetrock. "Let all cats old enough to swim gather to hear my words!" He sat down DustKit as warriors and medicine cats emerged from their dens. They all gathered around the rock before DustKit, the deputy standing beside her leader.

As the cats settled, the leader began. "I would like to say that there has been a miracle given to our clan in the form of a Kit!" SilverStar smiled. DustKit walked to the edge of the rock as everyone looked at him. "The first Maine Coon in many moons has been sent from Starclan to serve us! May we teach him well in his years as he grows!" Cats all said their welcomes to DustKit before settling again. "Thank you for listening, you have been dismissed." All cats went to their everyday activities as SilverStar picked up DustKit and carried him back to the nursery. "The clan is happy to hear that Maine Coons have returned to our forest." The Queen smiled. "Rest easy, PetalCross." SilverStar padded out of the nursery and to his clan. "You're the gift from our ancestors, DustKit, so serve us well!" A medicine cat said as he smiled. "We thank you for your service, BrindleLeaf," the other Queen said to him. "You're welcome FeatherMane. Just call if you need anything else." BrindleLeaf left the nursery as DustKit turned to PetalCross. "Can I be like BrindleLeaf?" DustKit asked her. She looked a little taken aback, but smiled. "No honey, you are to be a warrior. To help us hunt and fight our enemies!" DustKit was a little disappointed by this, but that feeling went away after a feather floated past him. He ran off to follow it and try attacking it.

Nothing new really happened cooped up in the nursery. DustKit is now DustPaw, apprentice of DovePelt. He was about the size of a young warrior and will probably crush DovePelt in training. For that reason, SilverStar has stepped in to help with battle training.

"Keep the movements steady, your paws should just barely come above the waters surface!" DovePelt shouted. It was DustPaw's first day of training and he was swimming in the waters, trying not to let his head fall below the surface of the water. "If you can't swim this then you'll never survive as a warrior DustPaw!" After a few more paddles, DustPaw's head had fallen. DovePelt jumped straight into the water and pulled him out. "You've got long moons of training if you want to be a warrior DustPaw." "Well I don't want to be a warrior!" DustPaw snapped back. "Well guess who doesn't have a choice. You were gifted to us by Starclan to fight for us, not heal us!" DustPaw only glared at DovePelt before running back into camp.

DustPaw ran straight to BrindleLeaf and QuillPaw. "I hate this clan BrindleLeaf! I hate it!" DustPaw shouted, slamming one of his paws on the ground. "I know you wanted to be a medicine cat apprentice, DustPaw, but I just don't think SilverStar knows how well you heal," BrindleLeaf said calmly. "You taught me herbs as a kit because we thought I was going to be your apprentice, but now I'm stuck training to be a warrior! I wish I could live in a place where I could be a medicine cat." DustPaw's ears flattened against his head. "Don't worry DustPaw, I'll tell you everything I learn so you can help us when necessary!" QuillPaw said brightly. "DustPaw," SilverStar growled lowly. "Walk." DustPaw turned to see his leader walking off before running to catch up to him. "Do you think that you're more capable than us all because you're special?" DustPaw remained silent for a second. "No SilverStar, I just-" "Well then straighten up and act like it. You're not a kit anymore and you need to act as if you have some sense." DustPaw lowered himself as the words. He never meant whatever he did or said, but he was forced down a path he didn't want to take. "Go to your den." DustPaw didn't hesitate, trotting off to the apprentice den. "Someone is in trouble!" GopherPaw laughed. DustPaw just shook it off and laid in his nest. Things won't be easy when training starts again, he wasn't prepared for it at all. Maybe another day can tell tales.