Featherstars curse

Chapter four

"You will here by be known as, foxpaw!" Firestar announces. The rest of the clan cheer. "Now featherkit, step forward." I take a few proud steps to stand beside my father, underneath the great rock. I was surprised myself, that after the whole badger problem, foxkit and I got to become apprentices. We had gotten into a whole lot of trouble, and we had punishments, like cleaning out the elders ticks, changing bedding, it had been an embarrassment. Our ceremony had even been delayed. It had seemed like almost a dozen moons before this day. I stand proud beside my father and a smile stretches across my face. "Featherkit do you take upon the responsibilities and requirements of an apprentice?" Firestar mews staring at me. "I do." I respond with a nod. "And will you serve your clan with pride and obey the warrior code?" He sounds again. "Of course!" I mew. "Then by the power of star clan, you will now be known as featherpaw!" He cheers. The clan cheers with him. Warmth fills my chest, I'm an apprentice! I think. I look out over the crowded clearing fulled with warriors. "Sandpatch, step forward" a sandy coloured Tom, who has a gruff look on his face, steps forward. I don't think I have ever seen this cat, but I haven't all of the cats in the clan yet. "Sandpatch have will become your mentor, and teach you the most important qualities of being a warrior. I hope he will pass on his smart skills." Fire star says. Sandpatch stares at me with an expressionless look and we come to touch noses. I'm finally an apprentice! I think. I walk with Fuzzypelt beside me to stand next to foxpaw and her mentor fuzzy pelt, a black Tom with fur sticking out on end. He was the cat on the patrol that saved us from the badger. He was the cat that recognised the odour that clung to my fur. I reach her side and turn to the clan. They chant "foxpaw, featherpaw!" I smile, I'm proud to call thunderclan my clan, I think as they chorus.

"Come on!" Sandpatch mewed in frustration. "Don't you know how to walk?!" He whips around. My body jumps up in surprise, I had been admiring the bushes surrounding me. So much had changed since fox paw and I had ventured out of camp as kits. The shrubs had no traces of dew droplets, and the air was warm. The ground beneath my paws was still laden with leaves but crunched under my paws. I scamper up to sand patch "sorry" I mumble looking down at my paws. He sighs and turns away. The forest is alive with bird calls. It must be new leaf I think.

Sand patch and I emerge from the forest to the sound of cascading water. As we venture out into the green grass I make out a river. The sun shines on the crystal clear waters creating sparkling shimmers. There are a cluster of large rocks beside the river where we seem to be advancing. The rocks have flat tops and the sun beats down on them. I look out behind me. Forest surrounds the river and sunning rocks, however in the distance were the river is flowing from and can make out a small gap in the bush. I turn back to the river. Reeds grow on the shore of the river. The waters rage, sending droplets everywhere. The shore is clustered with reeds and butterflies dance above the waters.

Across the river the reeds sway in the breeze. A disturbance rustles the reeds and they part, revealing a pale ginger cat. She gives us a hostile look and walks towards the river. Sandpatch approaches the river his fur on end. He stops about halfway to examine the rest of the patrol that emerged from the reeds. A black and silver Tom patrols the river followed by a dark brown tabby she cat. The pale ginger warrior dives into the water. She emerges from her dive and paddles around effortlessly. She dives under the water and it seemes like minutes before her head breaks the surface, in her jaws a huge fish squirms. Sandpatch becons me towards the sunning rocks but my gaze never leaves the cat in the water as I walk towards him. Sandpatch bends down to sniff the air. He looks at me with a knowing glance. I come towards him and he shows me how to check for scents. The smell that enters my nose is not thunderclan... I look up at Sandpatch.

We walk back through the forest. " what is Riverclan doing in our territory?" I exclaim. "At the moment the sunning rocks are in our possession, the rocks have been owned by both clans, because it's new leaf and it's sunny, Riverclan want the rocks." Sandpatch answers. "But they can't do that! It's our territory!" We are going to tell firestar and he will decide what's best." Sandpatch replies.

We march into camp just as the sun is going down. Sandpatch scampers over to the other side of the clearing he stops at the leaders den.