StarClan isn't real..

Chapter 5

"Let all cats old enough to run the moor join here beneath the Tallrock for a Clan meeting."

Yellowkit blinked open her eyes. She was laying in the moss nest, with Blacktooth beside her. She rose to her paws and stretched, her tail sticking high up in the air. Blacktooth was already awake, and sat up. "Can I go to the meeting this time?" Yellowkit asked. She hardly ever got to go, and she suspected it was because Blacktooth didn't want her to watch another cat have a ceremony.

But Blacktooth looked enthusiastic this time. "Of course you can."

Yellowkit, confused, followed her mother out of the nursery. Applestar was sitting on the Tallrock, his white tail wrapped over his paws. Most of the Clan was already gathered, except for the long-haired cats, who had gathered in the shade around the edges of camp. Logpaw tumbled out of the apprentices' den with a playful purr, Fallowpaw bounding after him. Finchpaw followed less slowly, her pelt ruffled and stiff. Yellowkit frowned as she saw a bruise on Finchpaw's paw. It was swelling and purple, and as she walked, Finchpaw brushed some fur over it to hide it.

Despite being confused, Yellowkit simply sat down beside Blacktooth and raised her head to look at Applestar. Is he looking at me? Yellowkit wondered, but couldn't tell from the glare of the sun.

"Cats of WindClan, today we make a new apprentice." Applestar mewed. "Yellowkit, step up."

Excitement pulsing through her paws, Yellowkit rose to her feet and padded into the clearing. She noticed Logpaw sniff and glare at her, but she ignored it. She had waited for this day for moons now! She would finally become an apprentice with her "littermates"! As she stood in the clearing, gazing up at the white-furred leader, she felt a pang of guilt for leaving Casperkit behind, but shook it off.

"Yellowkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and are now ready to become an apprentice." Applestar began, his meow clear and carrying softly through the breeze. "From this moment onward, until you recieve your warrior name, you will be known as Yellowpaw." As Applestar scanned the warriors, Yellowpaw's claws were itching. She was finally an apprentice! She couldn't help but glance backward at the warriors. Who would her mentor be? Hopefully not Ryepelt... he always eyed her in a weird way. Yellowpaw turned back to Applestar. "Yellowpaw, your mentor will be Fallenthroat."

Fallenthroat? Yellowpaw turned her head. She'd never heard of a warrior named Fallenthroat. Then she saw small black ears pushing through the crowd, and then a short-tailed torbie she-cat emerged into the clearing.

Remembering what Finchpaw, Logpaw, and Fallowpaw had done during, Yellowpaw hesitantly edged forward and reached up to touch noses with her mentor. Fallenthroat seemed young and fast, and as the two broke apart, Yellowpaw noticed her short tail. Of course; Applestar had chosen her due to the tail. Yellowpaw frowned, but decided she could work with it.

As Applestar leapt down from the Tallrock, the Clan began to cheer.

"Yellowpaw! Yellowpaw!"

Ducking her head in emberassment, Yellowpaw padded after her mentor as she headed to the edge of the clearing. The Clan began to disperse, and the cheering died down. Fallenthroat sat down beside the fresh-kill pile and motioned with her tail for Yellowpaw to sit down beside her.

Nervously, Yellowpaw obeyed, her paws twitching.

"So, Yellowpaw," Fallenthroat began, looking kindly at her apprentice. "I'm Fallenthroat." Yellowpaw bit back the words, 'I knew that already', and simply listened to her mentor. "I've heard a lot about you from the other warriors. I've heard that you're a little hot-headed... a little fierce," She gave Yellowpaw a playful nudge. "But that can be good, especially while patrolling the borders." She lifted her chin. "Speaking of that, we are going to go out to explore the territory. Show you the best hunting spots, training areas, and landmarks."