The Clans Beside the Waves - A Beginning | A ClanGen Story

Chapter 9

Oatpaw couldn't sleep. Today was his assessment after all. How could he sleep? He remembered that Wolfblotch had told him that he had to get some sleep, so he was prepared to, and he tried, he really tried. It was just so hard. Even though he was super excited, he was frightened as well. What if he made a mistake? Or he did something mouse-brain and would be held back?

Dawn light started to shine above Oatpaw pressed his face deeper into his nest, trying to block it out because he had finally managed to block it out. He groaned and put his tail on his closed eyes so the rays couldn't make strange red splotches in the darkness.

"Oatpaw?" Mewed a soft voice.

Oatpaw slowly opened his hazel eyes and a blurry figure of Wolfblotch started to sharpen into his view. "Are you ready for your assessment?" She asked. Oatpaw spring up, his pelt bristling in horror. "Is it right now?" He asked, his breathing becoming unsteady. If it was right then, he felt so unsure, so unprepared. He thought that it would be a little later. And not only that but he felt hungry, and he wouldn't be able to eat during his assessment because Wolfblotch and maybe even Fuzzstar would be watching. Pressure that almost felt crushing started to become a large weight onto his shoulders.

Wolfblotch shook her and pressed Oatpaw down, making his sit. She slowly started to groom his pelt, which calmed Oatpaw down. "No, no. I was just asking in general. Are you ready? I didn't mean to frightened you." She explained. Oatpaw steadied his breathing and let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Wolfblotch." He murmured. "Also, not really." He mumbled. Wolfblotch studied her apprentice. "No problem." She replied.

Oatpaw looked at the den. Clawpaw was calmly sleeping next to him, her flank rising up and down. He suddenly remembered that Howlkit was six moons old and would also become an apprentice when he became a warrior. His gaze soon caught onto the fresh-kill pile and his stomach started to rumble in hunger. Wolfblotch's whiskers twitched. "You okay?" She asked jokingly. Oatpaw glanced back up at his mentor. "My stomach thinks that my throat's been torn out." He replied and bounded toward the fresh-kill pile, quickly picking up a mouse. Wolfblotch purred and went to pick up a vole as well.

Oatpaw quickly ate the mouse and when he had finished, he licked his whiskers clean from the prey. As he was grooming, the two kits Honeykit and Howlkit tackled Oatpaw to the ground with excited paws. Well, more like Honeykit had tackled Oatpaw and Howlkit followed. The black tabby tom's polite nature had grown from just being polite and nice to becoming calmer, but still seemed ready to fight. "Oatpaw! Oatpaw!" Honeykit squeaked. "Are you becoming a warrior today?" He asked very rapidly. Oatpaw smiled and shook the kits off his pelt. "No, but I am taking my assessment today." He replied. Honeykit frowned. "An... assessment?" He mewed, obviously confused. "An assessment is what an apprentice must do to prove that they are worthy of their warrior name." Oatpaw explained. Honeykit frowned. "But you're so anxious all the time, are you okay?" He mewed. Oatpaw hesitated, unsure on how to answer that question. "I'm... not sure how to feel honestly." He replied.

Howlkit placed one of his paws on Oatpaw's comfortingly. "Hey, you're going to do a great job." Howkit promised, looking into the ginger cat's eyes. Oatpaw smiled and licked Howlkit gently, thanking him. "Thanks you two." He mewed. Howlkit and Honeykit quickly mewed good-bye before racing back to the nursery.

"Are you ready?" Wolfblotch asked, walking up to him. Oatpaw hesitated and went through a bit of a thought process. Am I? This test will determine whether or not I become a warrior. Something from legends. He looked back into Wolfblotch's gray eyes, feeling very comforted by them and new trust started to build in him. "Yes, yes I am." He replied. The black and brown mottled she-cat nodded. "Good, now let's go talk to Fuzzstar."

***

Oatpaw walked across the territory, the sun was shining, and the wind gently brushed against his fur, carrying the salty but now very comforting and familiar scent of the sea. It was the best time for an assessment. Or hunting at least. Wolfblotch and Fuzzstar were walking behind Oatpaw, ready to show him what he needed to do during this assessment.