Covet {Warrior Cats Fanfiction}

Chapter Two

-Ember -

Emberpaw woke up excited and energetic, but more than a little nervous. She knew that every single cat in Thunderclan had mixed feelings about her, but Lichenpaw, the she-cat she had met before, acted slightly differently than she expected-- like she didn't care of her at all. She was still deciding whether that was good or not.

 "Lichenpaw," she mewed tensely, "What do you think we're doing?" The other she-cat groaned, shifting in her nest. 

"I imagine I would have training. Bird catching training." Lichenpaw meowed, eyes still closed. Emberpaw's eyes widened in awe. "You would probably be shown around the forest, because you haven't seen it before."

 Lichenpaw opened one eye and glared at the young tortoiseshell. "Or have you?"

The question hung in the air for a while and Emberpaw shifted uncomfortably. "Well, when Specklewing and the white tom found me in your forest, I had already memorized some of the places I went through. Didn't want to get lost."

"Well, alright then," Lichenpaw relented, just as her mentor called, 

"Lichenpaw! I have a patrol later on, so please clean up the nursery den, will you?" 

"Yes, Fallingwhisker," Lichenpaw wearily got up and sighed, "Well, there's no use grumbling about it." But Emberpaw could clearly see that the white and black apprentice was not happy with the new arrangement. 

"Well, you'd better go on and find Smokestar. She's a good leader-- and hopefully a good mentor." 

Emberpaw nodded slowly. She could almost scent the hopelessness in her form, and guessed that she, in a way, had been rejected as well; something Emberpaw herself could relate to. 

"I'll be on my way." 

As Lichenpaw hurried out, Emberpaw sat in silence, glaring at the dusty ground, sighing in contempt.

"Is everything okay, Emberpaw?"

The voice startled Emberpaw, and she swished around to the dark gray she-cat.

Emberpaw's eyes widened and her mouth was left open.

"I can't believe it... Smokestar?"

***

The forest was whistling above Emberpaw. It was probably the most beautiful thing she had ever seen, and it was way larger than she had expected. "This is awesome..." she murmured to herself, not noticing that she was falling behind.

"Emberpaw! Hurry up!" A light voice sounded from ahead.