End of a Lifetime

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Meadowkit opened her eyes to find herself on grassy plains. She looked straight ahead and spotted a cat heading towards her. The cat was wobbling and when she could see it clearly, saw foam around it's mouth. She backed up as it got closer to her. She snarled at the cat. She suddenly felt dizzy and saw foam surrounding her paws. Her eyes widened, and she fell. The cat reached her side and meowed, alarm in it's voice, "It's coming!! Warn the clans! Before it's too late!!" Meadowkit tried to nod, but her eyes started to close. She started standing up, but fell back down and everything went black.

~~~

The next Morning

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the highledge for a clan meeting!!" Snowstar yowled. Meadowkit popped up, fur prickling with excitement. She hurried outside, her brothers close behind her, and sat down beside her mother. She started cleaning herself as her mother cleaned Stormkit, and their fur was soon shining, Thornkit following them in cleaning himself. "We are here to welcome three new apprentices. Meadowkit, Thornkit, and Stormkit step forward. Meadowkit, 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 Meadowpaw. Your mentor will be Eaglethorn. I hope Eaglethorn will pass down all he knows on to you. Eaglethorn, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have received excellent training from Venomclaw, and you have shown yourself to be fierce, yet caring. You will be the mentor of Meadowpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to her." Meadowpaw hurried to Eaglethorn and they touched noses. "Stormkit, 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 Stormpaw. Your mentor will be Stormfrost. I hope Stormfrost will pass down all he knows on to you. Stormfrost, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have received excellent training from Fallingsnow, and you have shown yourself to be strong and brave. You will be the mentor of Stormpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to him." Stormpaw hurried to Stormfrost and they touched noses. "Thornkit, 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 Thornpaw. Your mentor will be Cherrydawn. I hope Cherrydawn will pass down all he knows on to you. Cherrydawn, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have received excellent training from Thornstorm, and you have shown yourself to be loving, yet fierce. You will be the mentor of Thornpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to Thornpaw." Thornpaw raced to Cherrydawn and they touched noses. "This gathering is dismissed."

Meadowpaw padded by her newly assigned mentor's side. "Eaglethorn, what are we going to do first?" She asked, curiously.

"Well, I'm going to show you the territory." Came the simple reply.

"Ok!!" Meadowpaw said, smiling happily. She bounced around him, but stopped when she spotted Roaringkit glaring at her from the entrance to the Nursery with contempt and jealousy shining in his eyes. She frowned, then smiled again when she left the camp, seeing the forest outside her world as a kit for the first time. Her eyes widened and she stood gaping at the scene before her. She then smiled and bounced happily towards her mentor. "Eaglethorn!! It's more than I ever imagined!!" She mewed.

Eaglethorn smiled back. "Good. Over there's the border to Shadowclan. You can smell the stench from miles away." Meadowpaw wrinkled her nose when the scent reached her nose. "Border patrols come along this scent every morning and recheck it. Always make sure that the line and scent is right here, no where else." Meadowpaw nodded. "And if you'll look ahead, there's the lake. We don't really put a scent line here, but we do check it for any other scent." Meadowpaw nodded again. She turned her head when she spotted movement to the side, and a mouse appeared. "For now, I'm showing you the territory. Tomorrow, though, I'll teach you how to hunt and fight." Meadowpaw lit up. They had now reached another spot. "Now, this area is Windclan's territory. Once we reach the plains, we mark the territory. Blackthorn!" Eaglethorn said warmly to a black tom walking up to them.

"Eaglethorn! How are you?" The tom, Blackthorn, asked.

"I'm great! I'm showing my new apprentice around."

Meadowpaw stepped forward cautiously. She didn't feel like she should trust this cat. Every part of her was telling her to back away. "Hello." She said curtly.

"Not very friendly, is she?" Blackthorn said. As Meadowpaw looked closer, she knew immediately why she shouldn't go near him. He had a evil twinkle in his eyes. She backed up, a snarl forming on her lips. Blackthorn glared at her, then forced a smile back on his face, looking back at Eaglethorn.

Meadowpaw whispered to Eaglethorn, "I don't trust him." She said, glaring at Blackthorn.

Eaglethorn nodded. He glared at Blackthorn. "My apprentice knows when to trust and to not trust a cat. Why would she not trust you?" He asked.

Blackthorn frowned, then smiled, evil written all over his face. "Maybe your apprentice is going crazy?" He suggested. Then he pounced onto Eaglethorn, whose face was filled with surprise. "Or maybe she's right not to trust me?" He suggested, snarling.