Turtleheart's Path

Chapter 5

Turtlekit slipped a paw over her ear, Bramblestar said it was almost time for their apprentice ceremony. It had been two moons since she'd dreamt of Ivykit. She lifted her head as Lionkit and Briarkit, well-groomed and taller than her, sat in the clearing. Turtlekit padded over to them, purring. "Hey little sister!" Lionkit burst into a purr, looking slightly down at her. "So short!" Briarkit teased. "Let all cats gather to hear my words!" Bramblestar's commanding mew sounded and all three kits swung their heads to look at their mother. Echolight sat at the base of the rock, gray flecks showed on his muzzle in the sunlight. "Today we are gathered to celebrate the apprenticeship of three kits. Step forward Lionkit, Briarkit, and Turtlekit." As they did so they stood tall, Turtlekit tried to lift her chin to appear taller than she was. "Lionkit, you shall be known as Lionpaw. Your mentor will be Graytooth. Graytooth, pass on your wisdom and strength to Lionpaw." The two touched noses and sat down. "Briarkit, you shall be known as Briarpaw, your mentor shall be Redcall. Redcall, pass on your grace and courage to Briarpaw." As the two touched noses Turtlekit's heart pounded, she looked around to see who her mentor would be. "Turtlekit, you shall be known as Turtlepaw. Your mentor will be Haresprint. Haresprint, share your speed and accuracy to Turtlepaw." She touched noses with the tom and sat next to him. "Lionpaw! Briarpaw! Turtlepaw!" The clan chanted their names into the sky. Are you watching Ivykit? Turtlepaw thought as she looked into the partially cloudy sky. "Ready to see the territory?" Haresprint asked. Turtlepaw nodded and followed the tom to the exit of camp. She looked as Sparrowfeather watched her pass. What was he thinking?.
"We'll start at fourtrees, but be ready, it's a long journey." Haresprint broke into a run. Turtlepaw hesitated before sprinting after him, watching as his strides were long she lengthened her own. This easily helped her catch up. "A good learner!" Haresprint halted, breathing heavily. Turtlepaw halted, panting loudly. "It felt like my paws didnt even touch the ground!" She purred before turning and seeing a large hollow with four oak trees around it. "Woolfur said his father's father claimed there was a fifth oak tree but no cat knows if that was true. If there was, that means there is a missing clan. But Starclan only knows." Haresprint mewed and padded into the clearing of the hollow. Turtlepaw bounded into the hollow, skitting on the fallen leaves of leaf-fall. "Careful, Turtlepaw. Other clans may be showing their apprentice's here." She lifted her head, seeing Bramblestar leading a patrol of Hawkgrowl and Mumblejaw. The bushes on the other side of the hollow rattled and two thunderclan cats padded into the clearing. "How are you?" Haresprint mewed. "Splashfur and Bugpaw." The thunderclan warrior mewed, moving in front of his apprentice. "Splashpaw- fur?" Bramblestar plunged into the clearing. "Bramblestar!" The warrior rushed over to meet her mentor. "How is Windclan?" He purred. Turtlepaw looked as Haresprint sat down, she padded to her mother's side. "Bugpaw, is it?" She asked the other apprentice, the small she nodded. "I'm Turtlepaw! It's my first time out!" She smiled. Splashfur flicked his tail. "Bramblestar, is Turtlepaw your daughter?" He asked. "Yes, she has- had three other siblings. One of them passed away a few moons ago." Splashfur flicked Turtlepaw's ear with his tail. "I grieve for you. "Splashfur, how do you know Bramblestar?" Bugpaw meowed. "She was my mentor when I was dragged away from Thunderclan camp while Cedarstar was Windclan's leader. She showed me some of these moves I have shown you. Now come on, we should hunt." Splashfur gave one more goodbye before leaving with Bugpaw behind him. Bramblestar smiled and took her patrol off. "Look around before we go. Make sure you get a good smell of Thunderclan's scent."
Turtlepaw bounded around before seeing two more shapes near the twoleg bridge that connected above the river into Riverclan's territory. "More cats." She mewed, sitting down near Haresprint. "Windclan is here, Brackenpaw, stay behind me." The raspy voice of a Riverclan warrior sounded from the path. "That is the Riverclan deputy, Suntail." Haresprint said. "It is Haresprint and his new apprentice, Suntail." Her mentor mewed loudly. "Oh, Haresprint. Come, Brackenpaw." Suntail bounded into the hollow. "Who is this?" He asked. "This is Turtlepaw. We are leaving soon." Suntail nodded. "Why don't we let our two meet? Brackenpaw, say hi." Suntail sat back on his haunches, wrapping his long tail around his large paws. "Hi! I'm Turtlepaw!" She bounded forwards, touching noses with the tom. "Brackenpaw, nice to meet you." The silver tabby dipped his head. Turtlepaw smiled. "Guess I better go! See you around?" Brackenpaw purred and nodded, following Suntail from the hollow. Turtlepaw followed Haresprint towards Outlook rock and the path on their territory.