Warrior Cats- The Journey

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

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The lumming forest was menacing and dark, as the cats walked away from the cave.

"We're here." Fallowsteep meowed, his ears leaning forward, listening to the sounds of the forest. Pawsteps where coming towards them. Four cats emerged from the undergrowth.

"What are you doing here?" Growled a chocolate tortoiseshell with yellow eyes, barly more than an kit. "Redfeather? Is that you?" A silver she-cat with gray stripes meows, leaning forward to sniff her fur. "It's me Silverwing. I'm back." She whispered. A yellow cat with black paws and black ears leaps forward to greet her. "Redfeather! Your back! Fallenstar will be delighted!" He meowed eagerly, touching noses with her. Then he spied Nightshadow, Badgerkit hanging from his jaws. His smile turned to a frown as he murmured,"Your still hanging around him?" Then he directed his gaze to the kits, piecing the puzzle together. His gaze went from excitement to disappointment. As hollow as they where when she told him she was leaving.

"I'm sorry Sparkfoot, it wouldn't have worked out." She pressed her muzzle to his ear. He glared at Nightshadow then the kits, before returning to the small chocolate and white cat, who was glaring menacingly at Lilykit. Lilykit sunk behind her mother, her fur standing on end. The last cat was unfamiliar, he was young, the size of the chocolate cat, except he had sleek black fur. His hazle eyes made Lilykits fur tingle with shyness and embarrasment. "This is my apprentice, Blackpaw, and Sparkfoots' apprentice Specklepaw." Silverwing meowed. Blackpaw, leaned forward, Lilykit unaware of his presense was surprised when he tapped her with the tip of his tail. Letting out a yelp of surprise, Lilykit jumped forward, accidently bumping noses with Blackpaw. Her fur growing hot, she quickly yelped,"Sorry!" and shrank back wrinkling her nose. Blackpaw rubbed his nose with his paw before saying, "Thats ok, I'm Blackpaw," He held out his tail to help her to her feet. "I'm Lilykit, these are my littermates Creamkit, Applekit, and Badgerkit." She meowed, staring deep into his hazel eyes. He smiled gently at her, and she blushed back. Suddenly Specklepaw was between them. She put her tail on Blackpaws shoulder and lead him away, shooting a glare at Lilykit. Sadness filled Lilykits stomach as he left with out a word.

"Well, lets head back to the clan, Fallenstar will be excited to finally meet the kits." Silverwing mews happily. The group of cats walked through the forest, through a bush leading into a clearing. There was a stump in the middle of the area, stalked with food. Then a fallen tree hung over the cliff side, sheltering a group of elderly cats. On one side of the clearing there was a rock wall, the other leading deeper into the forest. In the wall was a deep crack, leading to a cave, smelling of leaves and grasses. Then there was a hole leading under a bush, leading to another den smelling of milk. The other den, was smaller, but went farther back. It was placed under the shade of a tree and the shelter of a few fallen branches. Then the last den was high up on the cliff, a rock path leading up to a den sheltered by ferns. The ferns shook as a leopard looking cat stalked out. He was brown with black spots, and ice blue stunning eyes. "Redfeather! Its good to have my deputy back!" He yowled down to her. Jumping down from the cliff, his mussles flexed under his pelt. He landed gracefully, smiling down gently at the kits. Leaning his head down he murmured, "Why arn't you pretty." Applekit blushed, making a single hair come up, then licking it down in frustration. "Fallenstar, meet our kits, Applekit, Creamkit, Badgerkit, and Lilykit." Redfeather mewed bowing her head. By now a group had formed around the kits and Redfeather. Nightshadow shrank back, feeling out of place in the forest.

"It looks like they are ready to be apprenticed," Fallenstar mewed. Redfeathers eyes went wide. "But we just got here! An-And Raystar hasn't met them ye-"

"And Raystar won't get to, these are Thunderclan kits, unless they tell me other wise." He mewed subbornly. Before Redfeather could reply, Fallenstar jumped onto the cliff leading to his den announcing, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather here beneth the High Stone!" He yowled. Once all the cats had gathered, he motioned for the kits to come forward. Stalking slowly and nervously forward, the kits gathered at the base of the rock.

"Starclan has gifted us with these kits! And brought them home safely! Now we will honor them with apprenticeship!" He glanced down at Creamkit, "Creamkit, do you promise to honor your clan, and protect them even with the cost of your life?" he mewed. Creamkits eyes went wide, her mother had told her about being a Warrior, but she had never taken it this seriously. Her tail tip waving anshiously, she made her decision. "Yes. I do." She mewed her tail held high. "And do you Applekit, promise to do the same?"

"I promise my clan to protect them to my very last breath."

"And do you Badgerkit? Promise to live your life according to the laws of the clan?"

Badgerkit, shifted his paws nervously in the earth. "I do." He said his voice worried.

"Lilykit, do you promise to follow in your littermates path, and protect your clan with your life?"

Lilykit replyed without hesitation, "Yes, I will protect my clan with my life, even if it leads to death." She gulped at the last part.

"Then by the power Starclan has granted me, I give you your apprentice names! Creamkit, from now on you will be known as Creampaw, Applekit from this moment on you shall be known as Applepaw, Badgerkit from this moment on you shall be known as Badgerpaw, and Lilykit, you will be known as Lilypaw. Springhop, I hope you can train and teach Creampaw your speed and strength. Twigrain, I trust you can teach Applepaw your skill and your uniqueness, teach her to learn to think about others. Icedawn, I will you to teach Badgerpaw that all cats are equal, and teach him your strength. Riverleaf, I trust your knowledge and hunting ability, along with your Fighting skills, and I hope you can pass that on to Lilypaw." The newly made apprentices, searched the crowd of cats to find there mentors, then padded forward to touch noses with them. Riverleaf was a white cat with a black tail tip and golden back with black dots. Her ember eyes where gentle but controling, her voice soothing and yet forceful. "I look forward to get to know you!" She meowed cheerfully, touching noses with Lilypaw.

The clan started yowling joyously, "Creampaw! Applepaw! Badgerpaw! Lilypaw!" The kits blushed slightly as they yowled there names to the sun. "Why don't you ask Blackpaw to help you make a nest?" She suggested seeing Lilypaw staring in Blackpaw direction. Lilypaws eyes lit up at the idea mewing, "Thanks Riverleaf!" before racing off to Blackpaw, Riverleaf watching her all the way. "Hey Blackpaw!" Lilypaw meowed, "Can you show me where to make my nest?"

"Sure!" He mewed cheerfully, leading her to the tree den. Grabbing some moss from the base of the tree, he helped her carrie it next to his nest. "You can sleep next to me," He mewed pressing up agenst her accidently. Lilypaw blushed and stared into his deep hazel eyes, "Thanks, Blackpaw. I don't know what I'd do if you didn't show me around!" By the time they were done building the nest the moon was rising into the black sky. "Gosh, I'm starving! Where can we get prey around here?" Lilypaw asked. "Follow me!" Blackpaw mewed happily, as his stomach growed along with Lilypaws. They walked over to the tree stump, grabbing a squirrel, and splitting it in the moonlight.

"Wow..." Blackpaw mewed in awe.

"What is it?" Lilypaw asked.

"Your fur... its beautiful in the moon. Like you have stars in your fur."

Lilypaw blushed and stared down at her paws.

"Don't be embarrassed, your beautiful." Blackpaw pressed his nose agenst hers, and curled up agenst her side. For the first time, Lilypaw felt special. Like it was only her and Blackpaw in the world. They went back to there den and curled up together, the stars circling down to them. Two figures sit around them. "She is safe..." A golden cat with white chest fur and ears mutters to her companion. "Yes... but the danger lurks in the forest..." The black figure meows to her. The stars walked over to the Warriors den, searching the cats for one particular. Then the golden cat spies her. Ashfur opens her eyes with a start. "Splashlake! Darkshadow! Is she safe?"

The cats starte to fade, when they are gone the wind whispers, "She is safe kit... But not for long... Evil lurks in the forest." Stars circle around Ashfur, ruffling her fur, and sending a shiver up her spine. The stars circle back to the sky. Two particular stars shine brighter than the others.