Warriors™️ FanFic #1: CrescentSwirl's Pride

Moon 5

Moon 5

He was ecstatic. His nagging had finally paid off. RoseStar had decided to make them apprentices a few nights after the next full moon, instead of waiting to get close to the moon after that one. The litter was born seven or eight or nine days prior to the full moon, under a slim crescent. Technically, making them apprentices to warriors this soon would mean that they'd be apprenticed at about five and a half moons, or five and a little bit more than that. But the kittens were almost their full size, and KestrelFace's one and only son was impatient to start the next chapter of his life.

OwlKit and RoseKit were ambivalent. It didn't really matter to them who their mentor was, as much as it mattered to MoonKit. He was under PaintedPearl's thrall, his time taken by her moreso than any other feline. Sure, he enjoyed playing games, pranking denmates, and joking with his siblings, but the coffee colored queen let him dream futures in her eyes and find stories in her paws. He loved his mother, but PaintedPeart was simply amazing. Who else could tell him about WindStar and GoresStar, or let him see Outlook Rock from the camp's ridge? Occasionally she'd let him try some herbs, some which he didn't even understand but just enjoyed the taste of. It was like their little secret, their little hush hush activity that nobody could know of. That would be true if he could ever keep it hidden, of course.

"MoonKit, what do you have there?"

He didn't even realize OwlKit was watching him paw into his little corner of the nursery.

"Oh, nothing!" he exclaimed, quickly turning around and dusting his paws off. "Just making our home neat."

"How so?" OwlKit further inquired. "Let me see."

"Oh, uh—"

OwlKit had already started sniffing around, crouching and taking a close look. Her eyes turned to slits, face disapproving. "Ugh, MoonKit!"

"What now?" He asked nervously, eyes dilating as she looked him right in the eye. "What do you want?"

"You've been sneaking in catnip again, haven't you!" OwlKit said.

"I, uh, you see—"

"Mom!!!!" she hollered out.

MoonKit panicked. What now? "OwlKit, shhh! Why would you call her?" he hissed, ears pinned back as his mother made her way over to the two siblings.

"What is it now, OwlKit?"

"Nothing! I—"

"MoonKit is sniffing catnip again!" his sister interjected.

"No I'm not!" He protested vehemently.

"Well, you were going to!" OwlKit countered. "I stopped him."

He relented quickly. "PaintedPearl said it was a secret." he pouted, face hot with shame.

"I'm very disappointed in you, and her! You return everything this instant." the brown and white queen commanded. Her face held an obvious scowl.

It was so unfair! His mother was upset with him, and now his aunt would be upset as well. All before his apprenticeship ceremony too— what would happen if the OrangePaw told one of the warriors? What if one of the warriors told RoseStar? That would be the end of him. He'd end up with a mentor like GrayField or SpiritWish. Were those the warriors that PaintedPearl didn't like? He'd be made to train with them, that would be horrible! Oh, what was he to do?!

"MOONKIT!" KestrelFace shouted.

He didn't realize he had zoned out. "Oh, uh..."

"Did you hear what I said?" she asked, her tail slowly wagging in impatience.