World of Scars

Chapter 3 ~New Beginnings~

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"So, Echo, where are you originally from?" the large tom asked as we sat in front of a large rock, "I used to live with a two-leg," I replied, "I see, how was it there?" he asked, "it was great," I smile to myself, the tom seemed to smile but then turned his attention to the she from before jumping up onto the large rock, "All cats of Riverclan! Gather around the wet rock for a clan meeting!" she called; her voice echoed through the camp, all the cats sat around me and Flaming'Skys looking up at the she, "most of you may be wondering about the young cat I walked in with, well I can say confidently the young tom wishes to join our clan," she spoke, the greenish cat from before sat on a smaller part of the rock, "Ember'Star, do you think this is a wise decision?" the she asked, "I do," Ember said confidence filling her tone, "does anyone have an issue with this young tom joining?" Ember asked, nobody said anything, "very well then, Echo please stand before me under the wet rock," Ember spoke moving the attention to me, Flaming'Skys gave me a little nudge forward, I step out of the crowd stopping when I feel I am far enough. "Echo, by joining this clan you are promising to learn and follow the way of the clans, you promise to protect the cats you see around you today and new ones to come," the she spoke, at that moment I noticed the she's stomach was rather round, "do you understand?" the she asked, "yes," I say confidently, the she nodded, "Then from now on you will start life under Starclan, your new name shall be Echo'paw, and once you complete your training you shall be granted your warrior name, you will be mentored by Horne'Tear, may she pass all she knows to you," the she fished with a nod, "treat Echo'paw as you would another apprentice, Mitsuri'Blossom please send out patrols, Flaming'Skys, Lupus'Eye, and Wishing'Flames, my den, please. Meeting dismissed!" Ember'Star finished. I look around for my mentor, and I see a white she with cream-colored, and dark blue brindled spots, the she smiled and touched our noises together, "let's begin training, follow me," she said, her voice was soft and sweet. I follow the graceful she to the entrance of the camp, "Horne'Tear, you finally have an apprentice," a she smiled walking over, her pelt was short and a blue color, Horne'Tear nodded, "Oh! seance you've trained apprentices before you could bring Tiger'paw and train with us," Horne'Tear smiled, "that's a great idea, let me go get her," the she said before padding away, "You'll get a lot more training with Rain'Whisper helping, and Tiger'paw will help you fit in with the apprentices," the she smiled, we talk a little bit before Rain'Whisper walked back over but two other cats followed behind, a she-cat around my age, she's a ginger tabby but instead of lighter stripes they are black, and her eyes are an amber yellow, the other is a rather young she, probably 18 moons old, her pelt is white as the clouds above, her eye was cloudy and the other missing, a large scar goes right across the she's face, scars litter the she's body and her long coat is shorter in parts, a chunk of the she's ear is also missing. "Horne I hope you don't mind but Cloudy'Eye wants to tag along," Rain'Whisper said motioning to the white she, "it's not a problem, the more the merrier," Horne'Tear smiled, "Echo'paw, this is Tiger'paw, and Cloudy'Eye," Horne'Tear introduced, Cloudy'Eye gave a nod, "what happened to your eye?" Tiger'paw blurted out, "Tiger'paw!" Rain'Whisper hissed, "no, it's fine, it was just a snake," I speak up, "I'm very sorry about that," Rain whisper said dipping her head, "Let's get going before sundown," Horne said, "lets," Rain said leading the way. We get to an open area, Cloudy'Eye sits under a fallen tree as me and Tiger'paw sit in front of Rain'Whisper and Horne'Tear. For the next 2 moons, it was the same, we'd wake up, go out to train, come back, and talk with other apprentices, but as we get ready to go to sleep one night there's a yowl from next to the apprentices' den. I get up seeing Mitsuri'Blossom rushing over to Ember'Star's den, I make my way over there to see the elder Night'Scar helping the she to the medicine den, I see Mitsuri'Blossom give me a look before following after the two darker cats. I sit by the entrance to the apprentice den, I watch as Night'Scar, a large tomcat with a shiny black pelt, paces back and forth as he waits outside the medicine den. I feel a small body step in between my tail and me, "Echo'paw what's happening?" a small kit asked looking up at me, "you're going to have some new friends soon Moon'kit," I said as Night'Scar was finally let into the med den. As I turn to go back to my nest another yowl is heard, I see Juniper'Snow run to the elder's den, "you can sleep with me tonight," I say to the small dark tabby kit, "ok!" the kit smiled happily.

The next morning when everyone wakes up a meeting is called, I stammer out and sit amongst the clan, "last night we had 9 new lives begin here in our camp," Mitsuri'Blossom announced, "Ember'Star has borne 4 kits, and our youngest elder, at 19 moons gave birth to her first litter, 5 kits total, until further notice I will take over Ember'Stars usual duties, I will now send out patrols, meeting dismissed," the she said jumping off the wet rock. I look over to the nursery to see the nine new kits by their mothers. I zone out as I stare at the kits, images of gore and violence flash in my mind, I shake my head, "What in the name of Starclan-" I begin, "psst," I hear, looking around my eyes land on a black cat, their eyes seemed to be black and the area around them dark and eerie, "come with me," the cat smiled creepily.

-total word count 1041-