A New Form || A Warrior Cat Fanfiction Series \\

-|Chapter 14|-

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                                  Shiveringstar's voice rang out, commanding the attention of the Clan. "Cats of QuetzalClan," she began, her gaze sweeping over the cats. "We gather here today to celebrate the next generation of apprentices who will carry our Clan's legacy forward. With their strength and determination, QuetzalClan will thrive for generations to come."

Echokit's moment had arrived, and Shiveringstar addressed him first. "Echokit, 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 Echopaw. Your mentor will be Slowstride." The light-brown warrior stepped forward, touching noses with his eager apprentice.

Next, it was Northkit's turn. She listened intently as Shiveringstar called her name. "Northkit, 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 Northpaw." Her eyes widened with excitement as she locked gazes with her leader. "Your mentor will be Kestrelpelt. I trust that Kestrelpelt will pass down all his knowledge and skills to you."

The ceremony continued, and Shiveringstar turned her attention to Oddkit. "Oddkit, 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 Oddpaw. Your mentor will be Junipertail."

But the surprises didn't end there. Midgeberry, the Clan's wise and dedicated medicine cat, stepped forward with an announcement. "After careful consideration, I have chosen Sheepkit to be my apprentice," she declared, her voice filled with pride. "Sheepkit, 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 medicine name, you will be known as Sheeppaw. Your mentor will be Midgeberry."

Sheeppaw's eyes widened with a mixture of anticipation and admiration. The Clan erupted into chants of their names, celebrating the newly appointed apprentices.

"Oddpaw!"
"Sheeppaw!"
"Northpaw!"
"Echopaw!"

As the ceremony concluded, they returned to their Clan duties, now proud members of a group that boasted nine apprentices.

Heading over to their mother, Lightwhisper, who beamed with pride, Northpaw sensed a tinge of worry in her warm eyes. Lightwhisper looked at Sheeppaw, concern etching her features. "Are you sure about being a medicine cat apprentice, my dear? It is a path that requires great dedication and responsibility."

Sheeppaw approached his mother, giving her an affectionate lick. "Don't worry, Mom. This is my calling, my destiny, and I am proud to fulfill it." His words carried conviction and reassurance.

Lightwhisper nodded slowly, a mix of emotions flickering across her face. "Very well. Tomorrow, your training begins. Rest up now, my brave ones." With those words, she rose to her paws. "And I will return to my warrior duties as well, but I will still support my dearests with every paw step of the way."

As they bid their mother farewell for the night, Northpaw felt a surge of excitement and determination. The path of an apprentice stretched before her, filled with challenges and growth. Alongside her littermates, she knew they would face whatever lay ahead, united in their shared journey of becoming true warriors of QuetzalClan.

                                    The fresh scents covered Northpaw's nose as she walked alongside her mentor, Kestrelpelt. "What can you smell?" He asked, the apprentice opened her mouth to taste the air. She caught a scent, "Fox scent, a stale one luckily, five or six days maybe." Kestrelpelt nodded approvingly, "Let's take a tour 'round the territory."

Northpaw followed his lead close behind, she kept her directions in mind. Eastern, they were heading east. They soon stopped, standing in front of a worn-out Two-leg nest, plants, moss, herbs, and vines covered half of it.

There were no scents of two legs anywhere as it seemed so, only overgrown greens languished the place, and there were scents of prey around. "This is the abandoned Two-leg nest, this is where our medicine cats gather herbs. And we can practice your hunting skills here tomorrow as well." 

The two-leg den was pretty big, it was made out of wood. "Are you coming or not?" The sudden voice made her slightly startled. She turned her back to the Two-leg den and ran after her mentor. She kept up her pace, trotting beside her mentor. 

They found themselves teaming up with Slowstride, Junipertail, Echopaw, and Oddpaw. "Hi, Northpaw!" Echopaw greeted the apprentice, Oddpaw looked drowsy; she didn't get enough sleep last night. Oddpaw acknowledged Northpaw with her tail held up high, and Northpaw did the same.

"Do you guys want to team up with us? We were going to show Echopaw and Oddpaw the borders." Slowstride spoke, flicking his tail to the West. 

Northpaw looked up at the light-mottled tom with pleading eyes, he sighed wistfully in a small defeat. "Sure, I guess," He spoke, as they began to stalk off to MandevillaClan's borders.

MandevillaClan's territory was just up ahead, just over the small pile of boulders. The rainforest scents drifted into her nose, and each one of them started to climb the boulders one by one. Luckily the pile wasn't loose, or else it would have crumbled down on them.

The scents drew closer as they reached the top, the rainforest stood before them, deep in the territory had secrets MandevillaClan could know.

"This borders up MandevillaClan," spoke Junipertail sternly. The scents were fresh, a border patrol must have gone by here earlier.

"Do you three scent anything from it?" Slowstride asked Northpaw to open her mouth.

"Murky water, prey, lots of prey, and fresh MandevillaClan cat scents," Echopaw explained, which made Northpaw look surprised at him, same goes for Oddpaw.

'Yay! QuetzalClan now has a cat-walking intelligence by our side, a.k.a Echopaw!' Northpaw tried to obtain her laughter at the thought, but Kestrelpelt shot her a warning glance. She cleared her throat, but she scuffed out some chucklings.

'Concentrate, concentrate— walking cat intelligence pfft-' She finally managed to control her giggling thoughts, and exhaled deeply.

"Let's keep going, we're going to waste our time standing about." The stern voice had not left Junipertail, and don't think it will in the meantime, he is pretty tough. 

They leaped down the pile of boulders, and Oddpaw almost slipped on the loose rocks as they crumbled down, "Northpaw, watch out!" She yelled that Northpaw was likely underneath the falling rocks, and she whipped her head. Before she could quickly process anything, she was tugged by her scruff, and before she heard the loose boulder crashing altogether with rubble and dust covering the area.

Northpaw coughed, stumbling up to her paws, she looked beside her. Echopaw closed one of his eyes. Small trickles of warm scarlet blood dripped down from his muzzle, he got scratched from one of the falling sharp rocks. 

She winced in slight pain as she bent over. There was a small gash on her shoulder, drips of blood slowly made their way to the ground while some got absorbed by her fur. 

"Northpaw, Echopaw, are you guys okay?" Slowstride asked consciously. "Does it look like they are?" Junipertail scowled, displeased. The light brown warrior ignored his brother's hostile tensions. "We better get you two checked up on Midgeberry, we can't start training any time soon if the wounds get infected." It was Kestrelpelt who spoke.

"I'm sorry!" Oddpaw was still high up the pile of boulders, she couldn't get down without the boulder that had crashed down recently. "Oddpaw, can you get down somehow?" Junipertail asked bluntly as Oddpaw shook her head nervously, she wasn't very ideal to heights. 

"We're going to have to get you down somehow. . ."

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