Stonestar's Story

Chapter 1

         Starclaw padded through the camp of Thorn Clan. The black she-cat with golden spots walked into the nursery where Stonekit was playing with her clanmate, Featherkit. "Stonekit. Are you excited for today?" Starclaw asked the small kit. Stonekit leaped in front of Starclaw grinning excitedly. The kit nodded. Today was the day Stonekit became an apprentice along with Featherkit and his brother Jackalkit. Featherkit and Jackalkit's mother, Brownpelt smiled at her kits. Brownpelt began to groom her kits before the ceremony started.
        Starclaw nodded smiling "Good." A call sounded from the center of the clan.
        "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather together." The voice of Thorn Clan's leader, Fawnstar, called out. Stonekit bounced up and down smiling excitedly.
        "Alright you three, its time." Starclaw said leading the three kits out of the nursery. Stonekit raced ahead of the other cats. She bounded upwards climbing onto the ledge that jutted out of the leader's den. She stood behind Fawnstar smiling. Featherkit sat beside her followed by Jackalkit. Starclaw sat in the group of cats gatherng below the ledge. Fawnstar stepped forward once all the cats settled down.
         "My fellow warriors! I, Fawnstar, leader of Thorn Clan, call upon our warrior ancestors to look upon these three kits! Today is the day they start their journey in becoming warriors!" The crowd of cats cheered. "Featherkit step forward please!" Fawnstar said. Featherkit took a deep breath in and stepped forward. "From this day until you become a warrior I shall give you the name of Featherpaw!" Fawnstar said. The crowd began to cheer for Featherpaw. "Your mentor shall be a warrior known for his strength and swiftness. Your mentor shall be Scartail!" Fawnstar called. A brown tom cat with a black stripe across his back stepped forward.
         "I won't let you down." Scartail said smiling at his new apprentice and Fawnstar
         "Jackalkit please step forward!" Jackalkit smiled and did as he was told. "From this day until you become a warrior I shall give you the name of Jackalpaw!" The crowd of cats chanted Jackalpaw's name. "Ghostclaw! Your time for becoming a mentor has come. You shall now mentor Jackalpaw." A white and black spotted she-cat stepped forward smiling.
        "And finally Stonekit please step forward!" Fawnstar said. Stonekit bounded forward beside the clan leader. "From this day until you become a warrior I shall give you the name of Stonepaw!" Stonepaw awaited for the crowd to cheer her name but only silence was followed by the leader's speech. Starclaw looked around glaring at the other cats. But she turned her gaze forward looking straight at Stonepaw smiling.
        "Stonepaw! Stonepaw! Stonepaw!" Starclaw cheered. Finally after what seemed like moons the other cats joined in.
        "Stonepaw, your mentor shall be a cat known for her intelligence and quick thinking. Your mentor shall be Ferntail!" A gray she-cat stepped forward smiling. "That concludes the meeting thank you all." Fawnstar finished. The she-cat jumped down from the ledge to join a hunting patrol. Stonepaw jumped down from the ledge to meet her mentor. Ferntail was waiting for her by the entrance to the camp.
        "Hello Stonepaw," The warrior said in amusement. "Let's begin training right away!" Ferntail padded out of the camp smiling. Stonepaw hesitated with a worried expression. She looked back at the departing cats.
I wonder why they didn't cheer for me... Stonepaw thought. The she-cat looked back towards the entrance and shook her head. It was probably nothing to worry about...right? Stonepaw thought. She shook her head again and smiled.
        "Stonepaw! Hurry up!" Ferntail called from outside of the camp.
        "Coming!" Stonepaw called and padded out of the camp ready to train.