Featherstars curse

Chapter five

A spark of pain shot through the side of my cheek. I whip around and leap onto foxpaws back. With sheathed claws I shed them into her fur. She tries to dislodge my footing but I hold on. She whips around violently sending me flying through the air I hit the ground with a thud, but regain my footing just a quickly. I stand up and shake the sand out of my fur. I look questionly at Sandpatch and fuzzypelt. "That was great!" Fuzzypelt praised, "I know it hard with sheathed claws to cling on but use it as an opportunity to improve your balance." He adds. I nod at his advise and look to Sandpatch. "that was good... For a play fight!" He yowls sending me stepping back. "If this were a real battle imagine what a fully grown warrior could do! you need to stand on longer, improve the leap and regain footing immediately! Or you shouldn't fall off at all." He adds. I look at the sandy clearing floor, heat floods my fur. It seems like hours before he mews."Okay let foxpaw try" sandpatch meows gruffly.

Foxpaw and I share a vole out in the main clearing, all the cats around us are chatting, grooming and eating. The camp in new leaf is always cheerful and warm, no one has empty bellies. "Being a warrior is tough.. Plus having Sandpatch as my mentor" I mutter breaking the silence. Foxpaw finishes her bite and looks at me "Sandpatch is tough but you need to be tough to be a warrior" foxpaw replies, I think about it for a while before I respond, "I guess" i mutter. We eat in silence for a while, thoughts whizz through my head, I can't believe firestar gave sandpatch as my mentor! Sandpatch is so tough, maybe it's because he wants to make be a tough and determined warrior? Or is he just being cruel? I think.

"Could all cats gather beneath the high rock for a meeting!" Firestar yowls from atop the leader rock. I stand up. All the cats around me don't have a clue what's going on. We gather around firestar and wait for him to speak. I have a nagging feeling it's about Riverclan, Sandpatch didn't say anything after his meeting with firestar he told me that my father will sort it out, after all he is guided by starclan. "Cats of thunderclan," he breaks the silence scanning the cats below. "As you know, we are in possession of the sunning rocks. They are a valuable part of our territory, not just to relax your muscles but also as extra hunting ground." Everyone nods at his statement. "Leaf fall is around the corner, but as the months get colder leaf bare starts to set in. Extra territory could be all we need to survive." He mews. "We are all aware that Riverclan has always been fighting with our clan over the territory for years, ever since the first clans. Riverclan seem to be straying over the border line. Even though the rocks are ours we must be ready to fight!" He yowls, Everyone cheers and yowls in agreement. Foxpaw turns to me. "How could Riverclan dare mess with thunderclan!" She hisses. "I can't believe they have the courage to start a battle!" I reply. "But hey it's a chance to try out our new battle moves!" I add. Whispers and murmurs full the clan. "But on a more cheerful note" he adds " we have two kits to become apprentices! With a battle nearing it would be a good opportunity to gain some new apprentices!" He mews. I try to look over to the nursery where everyone has their eyes drawn, I try standing on my hind quarters but I just fall back into the crowd. I look behind me and realise that foxpaw has the same problem "argh! If we could just be taller" she complains. Firestar beckons the kits, that are out of view to come onto the leaders rock. A black she cat emerges from the shadows, she bounds easily up the rocks, she is followed by a dark grey Tom with very faint tabby markings. He is heavier set that the she cat, but bounds up just as fast. They stand on top of the rock which their heads held high. Firestar beckons the she cat closer. "Emberkit, I trust that you will be always loyal to your clan, no matter the cost." Firestar begins, "This means you will uphold the warrior code and learn the ways of being a warrior of thunderclan." He ends. "I do." Emberkit responds, "then my the power of starclan you will now be known as emberpaw!" Fire star yowls, the rest of the clan join in. "Brambleclaw, step forward" a brown tabby Tom steps forward from the clan. "You will guide emberpaw as she learns the warrior way, I trust that you will pass on your skills, as I once taught you myself." He adds as brambleclaw bounds up the leaders rock. Brambleclaw and emberpaw touch noses and stand together proudly, he whispers in her ear and a smile stretches across emberpaw said face. "Windkit step forward," firestar begins. The gray Tom steps forward, he has a straight face but I can tell from his eyes that he is excited. "Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and let it guide you?" He adds. "I do," windkit responds. "Then by the power of star clan, you shall now be known as windpaw!" He yowls, the rest of the clan follow. Windpaw has a wide smile across his face and he stands proud. "Cloudtail, step forward." A fluffy white Tom steps forward and bounds up the leaders rock. "Cloudtail i trust that you will guide this young apprentice through his journey to a warrior, I also trust that you won't let him make the same mistakes you did as an apprentice." Firestar mews, "I do," Cloudtail has a hint of laughter in his voice as he responds. The two touch noses and stand back. The clan cheers their names. "Emberpaw, windpaw, emberpaw, windpaw..."