The Prophesied

Chapter 36 - Nightjaw

 Nightjaw was sitting next to Rosepelt, she watched the three kits standing in front of the Deer Rock, whispering to each other excitedly. Nightjaw felt their same excitement, Harewhisker had told Nightjaw she would mentor one of the kits, and instructed her on what to do during the ceremony.

Nightjaw smiled with joy, lifting her head and trying not to squeal with excitement. This was the apprentice ceremony of Darkkit, Toadkit, and Savorkit, Nightjaw was excited to become a mentor, and Rabbitrun was very happy for Nightjaw too. She wanted Nightjaw to mentor too and she wanted to watch Nightjaw train her apprentice. Rabbitrun showed Nightjaw as much as she could about all the sickness and injuries that they can heal, to prepare Nightjaw. Nightjaw was swishing her tail impatiently, beaming at the apprentices, curious who she would train, probably Savorkit, considering how StarClan sent Nightjaw a vision about her.

"From this day forward until you reach your warrior names you kits will be known as Darkpaw, Toadpaw, and Savorpaw." Wrenstar was saying, Nightjaw could barely contain herself, Rosepelt nudged her, "Calm down, it's almost as if you're the apprentice not Savorpaw, look at how calm she is." Rosepelt pointed at the calm apprentice, she was the same size as Toadpaw, Darkpaw being slightly taller than both of them but it was almost as if they were all littermates.

"Ryewhisker, you will mentor Darkpaw. May Ryewhisker pass down all his warrior knowledge down to you, Darkpaw." The apprentice turned around to Ryewhisker as he walked forward to touch noses with his new apprentice. "Toadpaw—" Wrenstar jumped off the Deer Rock and stood in front of the apprentice, "—I will mentor you," Wrenstar bent his head to touch noses with Toadpaw, who gasped with excitement. Wrenstar then lifted his head, "Savorpaw, your mentor will be Nightjaw, she will guide you on a different path of a warrior and show you the ways of the medicine cat." Wrenstar said, Nightjaw jumped to her paws and trotted to stand in front of Savorpaw. She bent her head and Savorpaw reached her head up to touch noses with Nightjaw.

"Darkpaw! Toadpaw! Savorpaw! Darkpaw, Toadpaw, and Savorpaw!" the Clan cheered, "Clan dismissed!" Wrenstar said, the warriors crowded around the three newly made apprentices, congratulating them, Robinwing was the first to the apprentices, she pulled them all into a hug, purring. "Ack!" Toadpaw yelped, "Mom! You're squishing me!" Darkpaw squeaked furiously, "Ahh!" Savorpaw squealing in surprise, they all yelped at once as Robinwing hugged them. Robinwing seemed to have grown to Toadpaw and Savorpaw as she was the one who mostly raised them, and treated them just as she treated Darkpaw, it seemed they were all family, Toadpaw and Savorpaw didn't know who their real father was but they knew their parents wasn't Robinwing and Guststar but didn't mind who Robinwing treated them like her own.

Robinwing then released the apprentices, still purring. "You're all going to be great warriors and medicine cat!" Robinwing added, "You'll still make me proud even if you are a medicine cat, Savorpaw." Robinwing purred, "Imagine! You three become leader, deputy, and medicine cat together!" Robinwing exclaimed, the three apprentices glanced at each other then back at Robinwing, "We may just do that," Toadpaw said confidently, "Harewhisker you may have some challengers." Ryewhisker laughed, "Ha! I don't plan on dying anytime soon you three!" Harewhisker said playfully, Nightjaw smiled at the apprentices and warriors.

"Let's take our apprentices on a tour of the territory, Nightjaw and Savorpaw can come too. Savorpaw will need to see the territory as well." Wrenstar said, Nightjaw and Ryewhisker nodded, agreeing.

As they started walking back from Outlook Rock Toadpaw pounced on Savorpaw and they started rolling around in a play fight. Savorpaw and Toadpaw were giggling as they swiped paws at each other, then Savorpaw broke away from Toadpaw and tackled him, they then started to roll down the slope and crashed into a bush with a yelp. Nightjaw and Wrenstar ran down the slope, Nightjaw helping pull the apprentices out of the bush, when Nightjaw finally broke Savorpaw out of the bush she shook most of the leaves and broken twigs off her, but a few leaves stayed tangled in her fur. "Woah! Savorpaw, you look like a real medicine cat!" Darkpaw yelled as she ran down the slope to see her denmates, "Really? How?" Savorpaw tilted her head to the side, Darkpaw pointed to the nearby puddle of melted snow.