Warriors: An Enemy's Victory #1, Fanfiction

Chapter 3

"Crowkit, You have reached the age of six moons and it's time you were apprenticed. From this day forward until you receive your warrior name you will be known as Crowpaw. Your mentor will be Talltail." The black apprentice padded calmly to the tom, touching noses. Eaglekit's fur was groomed carefully, Mudfur sitting beside Tigerstar.

"Eaglekit. It has come to my attention that you have asked Mudfur to take you on as his apprentice. You shall not train as a warrior, but a medicine cat apprentice. From this day forward until you receive your warrior name, you shall be known as Eaglepaw and your mentor will be Mudfur."

"Eaglepaw! Crowpaw! Eaglepaw! Crowpaw!" The cats in the clearing cheered them on. Thistlepaw was disappointed to not train with Eaglepaw, but was happy he got to be what he always wanted to be.

"I can't wait until I'm a warrior apprentice!" Squirrelkit squealed, fluffing her ginger fur out. Her littermate Leafkit was pressed against Sandstorm, her tortoiseshell fur groomed cleanly. Thistlepaw narrowed his eyes at Sandstorm. He had seen the queen take her kits out of camp a moon ago at moonhigh, when every cat was asleep. He didn't follow, nor say anything, though he wanted to.

Brightheart's only kit, Whitekit, was dancing around Ferncloud's paws. The fluffy white she-kit had been born only a half moon after Squirrelkit and Leafkit. Yellowfang had retired two moons ago when a fox scratched her eyes out.

"Thistlepaw, do you wanna come hunting with Aspentail and I?" Tunnelpaw squeaked, fluffing her fur out against the leaf-bare breeze. Thistlepaw hadn't been hunting in a while and he thought it would be fun to go.

"Sure!" He loved hunting with Tunnelpaw. She was great at team hunting and quiet enough to let him hunt without help. Her eyes lit up with excitement and she gave him a quick nuzzle.

"Great! I'll see you at the tunnel at Sunhigh!" She purred, padding over to Tawnypelt, Yellowpaw, and Bumblepaw. He purred padding to his older kin instead. Sandpaw and Gorseclaw were already over with him.

"Your so lucky, Thistlepaw." Sandpaw meowed teasingly, batting a paw at him. Thistlepaw dodged it and batted back.

"What do you mean? I have to deal with Dustpelt having me spent a quarter moon at a time on a battle move and I have to put up with chasing rabbits." He hissed amusingly.

"Have you got bee's in your brain? You have a she-cat who follows you around like your leader and she's deputy!" Gorseclaw exclaimed, his eyes wide at Thistlepaw.

"What do you mean?" He figured they were talking about Tunnelpaw, but he had to be sure.

"You mouse-brain. Tunnelpaw has been mooning over you since you became apprentices!" Brambleclaw snorted, looking off at the tortoiseshell apprentice now.

"I never noticed.." he murmured, "She is quite a beautiful cat." he purred when the Brambleclaw leaped onto him playfully. He screeched as the weight crashed onto him.

"You like her too, don't you?" He teased, wrestling with him in the clearing. Thistlepaw wrestled back to hide his embarrassment. He did like her. She was beautiful and a great hunter.

"Are you going to play or come hunting?" Tunnelpaw batted his muzzle playfully, a warm glow in her eyes. He pushed Brambleclaw off and jumped up embarrassed. When he padded after her, he could feel the amused stares of his clanmates burning into his back. He couldn't help but race through the tunnel.

Out of breath, he stopped in search of where to hunt. Dustpelt caught up to him, Aspentail and Tunnelpaw following from behind.

"I don't think you were chosen to lead us, Thistlepaw." Dustpelt scolded. Thistlepaw stepped back to let him lead as they padded towards the thicker part of the forest. He opened his mouth, scenting for prey. Squirrel washed over him, and he instantly dropped into a crouch after checking the wind. He used his tail to signal Tunnelpaw, who stalked on the other side of the squirrel. She let out a loud hiss, scaring it his way. He pounced when it came in range, stunning it to give it a killing bite.