Bloodshed

Chapter Eleven

Btw guys, Featherfur belongs to a friend of mine, @SidneyVyver. Go check out her books that he's in!! And give her a follow, if you can. She's awesome :3

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather at the center of the cave for a Clan meeting." Stripedstar's loud mew woke Shadepaw the next morning. He staggered to his paws, still tired from his fight with Featherfur, and padded out of Brownfur's den.

Shadepaw noticed Blurrypaw standing in the center of the clearing, his eyes glowing with pride. His mother, Sunflower, sat beside him, grooming his pelt. Blurrypaw's warrior ceremony. He realised.

Spottedfeather was standing in the other side of Blurrypaw. She looked up when Shadepaw approached, her tail flicking in greeting. "Hello, Shadepaw."

"Hello." Shadepaw walked right on past them, settling down next to Rainpaw and Echokit instead. "It's about time we got a new warrior. You'll never become an apprentice; there's no one to mentor you!"

Echokit purred, wrapping her tail around her paws. "I really regret catching that stupid mouse. But hey, at least I can brag that I caught a mouse before I was ever an apprentice!"

"Yesterday, Eagletail and Jaytail held a training assessment for Shadepaw and Blurrypaw." Stripedstar began to speak, "The goal was to catch three pieces of prey. Blurrypaw brought back five; Three fish, a rabbit, and a vole. He is excellent at hunting, and I believe that it is time that he became a warrior."

"He is a very fine hunter." Rainpaw agreed quietly.

Jealously flared in Shadepaw's pelt. "Well, I think he's just a showoff."

"I, Stripedstar, leader of MudClan, call upon our warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I comment him to you as a warrior in his turn. Blurrypaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

There was no hesitation in Blurrypaw's voice. "I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Blurrypaw, from this moment on you will be known as Blurrypelt. StarClan honors your hunting skills and your courage, and we welcome you as a full warrior of MudClan." She bent her head to rest her muzzle on his head, and he dipped to lick her shoulder.

"Blurrypelt! Blurrypelt!" The Clan greeted him by his new name. Shadepaw had a hard time feeling happy for his friend. Every warrior in the Clan had an apprentice, and with three kits in the nursery and more on their way, Shadepaw knew that Blurrypelt would very quickly get his own apprentice very quickly.

"You can finally become an apprentice now," Shadepaw pointed out to Echokit. "Since Eagletail doesn't have one anymore. You think Stripedstar will apprentice you to him?"

"I hope." His sister sighed thoughtfully. "Did you hear about Moonbeam? Brownfur says that at the mooncave, Thorncloud said that she would have her kits today."

"Great, just what we needed. More mouths to feed." Came a voice behind them. Shadepaw turned to see Snowpaw, one of the older apprentices.

"More kits means more warriors." Shadepaw argued.

"And more warriors means more apprentices to train. We don't have nearly enough warriors! Someone will have to take on two apprentices." He sighed.

"I'm willing." Jaytail said, overhearing the conversation. "You and Redpaw will be warriors soon enough, Snowpaw. You will have apprentices yourself.. Possibly Owlkit or Flamekit."

"And Moonbeam will soon go back go being deputy." Sunflower, Jaytail's mate, added. "Once her kits are old enough."

"That's six moons from now!" Snowpaw hissed, "Our Clan is too small."

"And you think the solution to that is to have less kits?" Jaytail laughed.

"Well, no, but-"

"Brownfur, come quick!" Minnowleap burst from the nursery. "Moonbeam is kitting!"