Warriors: Lost

Chapter 1

Cinderpaw's eyes shone as she was given her mentor and apprentice name. Goodbye Cinderkit! Hello Cinderpaw!

"Your mentor will be Dawnfur," purred her leader Lakestar. "Dawnfur, pass all of your courage and determination onto Cinderpaw, and make sure she does well in her training."

Dawnfur nodded and touched noses with Cinderpaw. Cinderpaw's eyes sparkled with delight. Dawnfur was the deputy. Her brother Rainpaw is going to be the medicine cat apprentice to the medicine cat, Hearttail.

"Congratulations!" Rainpaw mewed. "Your finally being an apprentice. I wish I could sleep in the apprentice den with you."

Cinderpaw felt a pang of sympathy for Rainpaw. When they were kits, a rogue attacking the camp was cruel enough to shred Rainpaw's left hind leg, and Lakestar decided it was best for him to be a medicine cat apprentice.

He really wanted to be a warrior, and dreaded the idea, but accepted it anyways. "Who cares about the past when there's nothing to gain from it?" Dawnfur meowed, trotting up to them. "StarClan makes you who you are."

Cinderpaw smiled, approving of her mentor's idea. "Come on. I want to show you how to swim."

——————

It was time! Shinekit could feel his paws twitching with excitement; it was finally time for him to become an apprentice! I'll make my clan proud of me! I'll be the best WindClan warrior ever!

"Shinekit," yowled Mudstar. "You have reached the age of six moons. It's time for you to become an apprentice. For now on, until you've earned your warrior name, you will be known as Shinepaw."

Mudstar paused before continuing. "Brambletail, you have trained long and hard to understand the warrior code. Now you are ready for an apprentice. Train Shinepaw well, and pass on your courage and undeniable loyalty."

Shinepaw didn't think he could be more excited. Brambletail was an amazing warrior! She saved him when a ShadowClan cat tried attacking!!

"Well, looks like I'm mentoring my secret admirer?" purred Brambletail with amusement clear in her voice. "You're my hero, Brambletail! I'll follow whatever order you give me!" He promised excitedly.

Brambletail and Shinepaw touched noses affectionately. "Come on. I'm going to show you around the territory."

——————

I want to be a medicine cat!

Redkit stared up at Stormstar with hope clear in his eyes. The medicine cat Runningpelt purred when looking at him. "Redkit, you have reached the point of six moons and are ready for your apprentice name." Stormstar meowed.

I want to be a medicine cat! I want to be a medicine cat! Oh, Stormstar, in the name of StarClan, please let me be a medicine cat, I'm begging you!

"For now on until Runningpelt chooses your full medicine cat name, you will be known as Redpaw and your mentor will be Runningpelt. Do you accept to be a medicine cat?" asked Stormstar.

"Yes!" The shriek was called out before he could control it.

"Then it is decided. Clan dismissed." Stormstar yowled.

Redpaw bounded up to Runningpelt. "I can't believe I'm going to be a medicine cat! This is the best day of my life!" He meowed. "You're gonna love learning about the herbs if you keep up that positive attitude." Runningpelt purred.

"I'll try!" mewed Redpaw.

"Come on," his mentor said. "Let's start learning about herbs."

——————

"For now on, your apprentice name shall be Luckypaw. Your mentor will be Flypelt. Flypelt, pass on your courage and unwavering loyalty onto Luckypaw."

As he and Flypelt touched noses, Luckypaw was super excited as he looked at StarClan expectantly. I hope they are proud of me! I hope they accept me as a SkyClan warrior!

"You will make a great warrior," Flypelt promised. The tom licked his chest as Luckypaw yowled, "I hope so! I really want to be a warrior; I don't understand why Hawkpaw wanted to be a medicine cat's apprentice!"

"Cats want different things," Flypelt snapped. "Now are you going to stand there, or actually train? We're going around the territory to gather moss for the elders, queens, kits, and senior warriors."

Luckypaw nodded quickly. I'll never let SkyClan down!

——————

"Nightkit, you have reached the age of six moons. You are now ready to become an apprentice," meowed Rapidstar, the ShadowClan leader. "You are apprenticed to Foxfeather. Foxfeather, pass on your clear determination and skill to young Nightpaw."

"Nightpaw! Nightpaw! Nightpaw!"

Nightpaw snarled. I don't want to be an apprentice yet! It's so boring, doing all the work! I want to stay in the nursery!

When Foxfeather padded over, Nightpaw hesitated to touch noses but did anyway. Now I'm going to be forced to do what I don't want to do. I'm just going to wait for some comment about how I have to gather moss.

Why does everyone seem to enjoy being an apprentice so much?