Foxgaze's Haunting

Chapter 27

(Cat above is Reedpool)
"Falconkit! Step forward" Dawnstar yowled, her tail lashing through the air.

The skinny grey tom took a step forward, the fur on his shoulders bristled as every cat stared at him.

Dawnstar stared down at the apprentice "Falconkit, from this moment on, you shall be known as Falconpaw. Firefur shall be your mentor".

The big ginger tom grunted and touched noses with his apprentice. Falconpaw touched noses with him before scuttling away to where his already appointed brother, Tigerpaw was waiting. Tigerpaw had gotten Agileclaw as his mentor.

"Beechkit, please come forward" Dawnstar stared at the scrawny russet tabby.

Beechkit stepped forward, her head was held high as she glared up at Dawnstar.

Dawnstar snorted, as if amused by her pride "Beechkit, from this moment on you will be known as Beechpaw. Your mentor will be Orangetail".

After touching noses with him, Beechpaw walked away. Something in the she-cat's eyes made Foxgaze's blood run cold. Beechpaw's yellow eyes we're filled with a selfish pride when she looked at Orangetail, as if comparing herself to a rat. Its probably just a phase Foxgaze assured herself.

"Wolfkit, please come forward" Dawnstar said, looking nearly out of breath.

Wolfkit stepped forward, his blue eyes widened as he looked up at Dawnstar.

"From this moment onward, you shall be known as Wolfpaw" Dawnstar shifted her weight "Foxgaze shall be your mentor".

Foxgaze's heart was bursting with joy as she went up to touch noses with Wolfpaw. Her son had little trouble reaching her height and Foxgaze purred in amusement.

Finally, the ceremony was over after Snowkit became Snowpaw and was assigned Specklefrost. Foxgaze, with Wolfpaw bounding at her heels padded over to the group of new apprentices and mentors. Tigerpaw nuzzled Wolfpaw affectionately "We finally made it! We're apprentices!"

"Don't be too excited just yet Tigerpaw" Wolfpaw purred "It will be even better once we become warriors!"

Tigerpaw nodded in agreement. He crouched and swiped his paws through the air "My name is Tigerclaw! I'm the greatest warrior alive!"

For some odd reason, Foxgaze felt a chill go down her spine.

"Tigerpaw! Stop playing with Wolfpaw and let's go tour the territory!" Agileclaw mewed sternly.

"Come on Wolfpaw" Foxgaze beckoned him to her with her paw.

Wolfpaw padded over to Foxgaze, his tail held high in the air "What are we doing first?" he asked.

"Well lets see, I could make you clean out the elder's den..." Foxgaze saw the enthusiasm on his face fade before continuing "But that would be awful. Come on, let's go and explore our territory

Wolfpaw nodded enthusiastically. He got to his paws and walked by Foxgaze's side.

Foxgaze turned around and padded out of camp with Wolfpaw at her tail. The closest landmark was a grave one, the clearing where Adderpaw had been killed.

"Until you learn how to defend yourself, never go into the woods alone" Foxgaze told Wolfpaw. His blue eyes glinted in the green-leaf sun like the lake on a clear day.

The pine needles and cool soil made Foxgaze relax as they padded down the Twoleg trail. Sometimes during green-leaf and leaf-fall, Twolegs would come and walk down the trail up into the mountains. Sometimes they would have brightly colored sacks full of strange things strapped to their backs when they walked. The reason why they would bring all that stuff with them to Foxgaze was absurd. Why can't Twolegs be like every other creature and hunt for their food instead of being it with them?