Rustpaw opened his eyes: the smell of the night rain filled him with energy. It was cloudy that day. He looked around the den to search for Sliverstone, but he couldn't find him. There was someone sitting outside the den.
He also noticed that Sliverstone left a squirrel for him. The apprentice ate it and peeked out of the den: a ginger tabby tom was sitting outside.
-Erm... hello?
-Oh, greetings.- mewed the warrior. -Remember me? I'm Firedusk!
Rustpaw smiled:-Oh, hi! Where's Sliverstone, by the way?
-He went to collect some herbs. He told me to leave something for you, so I got you that squirrel.
-Thanks!- purred the apprentice.
-No worries!- meowed the warrior. -And by the way, he told me to bring you to Frondstar. Whenever you're ready, of course.
-Um, sure... just let me groom my fur.
He quickly licked his chest and his back to look presentable and headed off to the leaders' den with Firedusk.
-Good morning, Rustpaw.- said Frondstar once he entered the den. -So, have you decided?
-Yes. I'd like to join!- said Rustpaw with determination.
-Are you sure? You can always go back... I understand if it's hard to leave your clan.
Rustpaw stopped for a moment but brushed it off:-Yes!
-Good.- mewed the tom. -I might as well call a clan meeting, since it's almost sunhigh... you can go now.
The apprentice nodded and padded away. He returned to the medicine den and curled up in his nest for a while. "Still no Sliverstone..."
Then, the medicine cat finally appeared:-Good morning.
-Hi, Sliverstone...
-Have you told Frondstar the news?
-Yeah!
-Good! Soon, when all of the patrols return, he'll call a clan meeting. You see that giant pine tree near the leader's den? That's Tall Pine. There, the leader sits on one of the branches and speaks... specifically, the highest visible one. The deputy sits beside it, on the slightly lower one. I'll give you a proper camp tour after the ceremony...
Meanwhile more cats were heard, all chatting and sitting in camp. Finally, Frondstar and Bristleglade climbed the tree. The leader yowled:-Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Tall Pine for a clan meeting!
All of the cats gathered around. Sliverstone and Rustpaw sat in front of the medicine den, near the Tall Pine.
-I've gathered you all here to make some announcements...- he meowed. -First of all, Bristleglade will now retire, and Sliverstone will remain the clan medicine cat. Second, we'll have a new apprentice joining us. Rustpaw, come forward.
The warriors made way for Rustpaw to sit in front of the crowd: it reminded him of how he joined StormClan...
-Rustpaw, you have already reached the age of six moons long ago, but you're still young enough to be an apprentice. Until you receive your warrior name, you shall still be known as Rustpaw. Your mentor will be...- he sighed before he could finish the sentence. -Viperbite. I hope he'll pass all he knows onto you. Viperbite, despite already having Patchpaw as an apprentice, which I will get to later, you volunteered to be Rustpaw's mentor. You have shown yourself to be brave and patient, and I expect you to pass all you know onto Rustpaw.
-Rustpaw! Rustpaw!- all of the cats yowled.
Viperbite gently pushed his nose on Rustpaw's forehead. -Thanks for wanting to train me here...
YOU ARE READING
Bright Forest
FanfictionDisclaimer: First of all, I want to make clear that this is heavily inspired by Maltose's au, but in a different setting. Also, if you're familiar with West Woods from Moss-shadow, there's a little bit of that too, especially with the name Sliversto...
