Banditkit heaved her way up from her nest, yawning. It was still dark out, but close enough to dawn that she didn't mind leaving the Medicine den. It looked so weird to her to see an empty camp. She softly padded across the clearing, eventually reaching a rock next to one of the dens. She couldn't believe that this was her last sunrise as a kit, and she was excited. She watched as the sun rose, she eventually got up from the stone. She knew that the dawn patrol would be up soon, and she didn't want to get in their way.
She grabbed a mouse, noticing a she-cat heaving across the clearing over to her. It was Willowsplash "Uhh... Hey there, Willowsplash. Getting yourself some prey?" Banditkit meowed shakily, scared. They were the only two awake.
"Yes, Banditkit. It's obvious" She meowed bitterly, hissing as she stomped off. Obviously mad about something "What's wrong, what did I do?" Banditkit retorted angrily. Willowsplash would stop in her tracks, surprised that she actually stood up for herself "What did you just say to me?" she hissed, turning around.
"You heard me." Banditkit meowed coldly "And I won't be in trouble, my apprentice ceremony is today!" She meowed, angry and excited at the same time.
Willowsplash scoffed, grimacing at the kit "looks like on your first day of apprenticeship you'll be in the elders den!" She hissed.
"If my kit days are over, yours are!" She hissed, angry "You don't get to control my life!" she blurted out.
'did I really just stand up for myself?' she thought, she couldn't believe it. She had actually stood up for herself!
"Banditkit, you don't talk to a queen that way!" She hissed in reply, rolling her eyes "And obviously my kit days are over!" she added on angrily.
"But you're still acting like a kit!" Banditkit retorted "I can't even have peace on the day I become an apprentice? How foolish!" She hissed.
"Fine, just get your prey. This doesn't mean I'll leave you alone, however. And you won't be seeing me at you-" she meowed coldly, Banditkit stormed off before Willowsplash could finish her sentence, despite being interested.
"I don't care" Banditkit cut off the she-cat "How does it feel to be interrupted?" she hissed.
Willowsplash grumbled something inaudible, storming off back to the nursery. Banditkit ate the mouse swiftly, waiting in the clearing for another cat to wake up and come out and chat with her. Eventually, after a few minutes of waiting the dawn patrol emerged from their dens along with Tidestar and Lostforest.
"You're up early, Banditkit! Excited, I suppose?" Tidestar meowed as Lostforest sent out the dawn patrol.
"Yes! Are you?" She meowed, excited. Circling the she-cat with a happy gaze.
"Yes, very! You'll do amazing! You've come so far, Banditkit." Tidestar meowed, proud of Banditkit for being so brave.
"I can't wait!" She squeaked.
Tidestar gave the kit a soft, friendly gaze "You sure are excited! Your ceremony will be soon!" She mewed.
"I wonder who my mentor will be!" Banditkit mewed, excited.
Tidestar gave Banditkit a gentle lick before walking back off into the clearing to talk to Lostforest. Leaving Banditkit there in the other half of the clearing.
"I'm gonna go play with Silentkit and Coalkit!" she announced to Tidestar and Lostforest as cats emerged from their dens.
Tidestar nodded, Banditkit running over to the nursery. "Psst! Coalkit, Silentkit. Wanna play?" She whispered, careful not to wake up Willowsplash.
"No! You attacked me the other day, and it hurt really bad!" Coalkit hissed, glaring at Banditkit angrily, obviously trying to take on his mother's fierce personality to avoid getting in trouble.
"Sure!" Silentkit mewed happily, shooting up from her nest.
"Silentkit! You shouldn't play with Banditkit, she'll either hurt you or curse you with bad luck!" Coalkit hissed nervously.
This made Banditkit mad, she was about ready to attack the other kit, but she fought the urge. She didn't want Willowspalsh to get mad and hurt her too.
"No she won't! You complain too much, Coalkit!" Silentkit hissed in a slightly playful tone.
"No I don't, now get back in here before Willowsplash wakes up." Coalkit meowed nervously.
Willowsplash shot up at the sound of her name, baring her teeth and raising her lip as soon as she noticed Banditkit "Leave Coalkit and Silentkit ALONE!" She hissed, clawing at the kit.
Coalkit and Silentkit jumped back in surprise as she lashed out at Banditkit. Not expecting a sudden burst of anger for no reason. Banditkit shot out of the den, panicked.
Banditkit paused, Tidestar was right in front of her "Are you ready for your apprentice ceremony?" Banditkit's eyes lit up, she was so excited, yet so overstimulated. She let out a sigh, "Yes!" She replied eagerly.
"Well then, once the dawn patrol is back, which will be a few minutes or so, we will begin the ceremony! How does that sound?" Tidestar meowed, proud for the kit.
"It's the perfect amount of time to prepare!" She meowed enthusiastically.
"Good to know, treat yourself to some prey, first." Tidestar meowed mindfully, making sure the kit was full before her ceremony.
"I already ate this morning, but thanks!" Banditkit meowed politely, padding back into the clearing and laying down next to a warrior that she didn't care to identify.
"Everything okay, Banditkit?" A cat meowed, she still didn't bother to look up and check who it was.
"Yeah" She meowed, tired.
After a bit a of waiting the dawn patrol had finally returned, it was time for her ceremony! She shot up excitedly, sitting up as straight and tall as possible.
"Let all cats old enough to catch prey gather beneath the Tallrock for a Clan meeting!" Tidestar called out to her clan, all the cats huddling up into a crowd under the Tallrock.
"Banditkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Banditpaw. Your mentor will be Fogstorm. I hope Fogstorm will pass down all he knows on to you." She spoke firmly.
She continued to speak "Fogstorm, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have received excellent training from Morningear, and you have shown yourself to be Tenacious, respectful, and bold. You will be the mentor of Banditpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to her." She meowed, having faith in the warrior.
She approached her new mentor awkwardly, touching noses with him. "So, when would you like to start training?" Banditpaw mewed, anxious.
"Tomorrow, I'll teach ya all about the warrior code then!" He meowed somewhat teasingly
There was a bit of hesitation in the crowd of cats, but eventually they all started chanting and cheering "Banditpaw, Banditpaw, Banditpaw!" They meowed.
Banditpaw was so proud of herself, yet felt like since she's older she'd be forced out of grieving. She eventually found her way to the apprentice's den after as bit of searching, exhausted after such a big event. She laid down in her nest, drifting off to sleep swiftly. Ready for tomorrow.
(Chapter end)
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Banditfoot's sorrow (WIP)
FantasyWho'd ever suspect that a simple secret could ruin a warriors life and whole reputation so easily? Banditfoot was a good cat, but once she figured out the who other cat who carried this secret was, it was too late. She had made the biggest mistake o...
