Warriors; Out Of The Fire

Chapter Three

Leopardfur and Frost sat in the clearing in the middle of the camp, the setting sun's light casting shadows. Dapperstar emerged from his den and stood on the stone platform, "Gather round, ThunderClan!" Bellowed the elderly leader. Cats emerged from their dens and stood before the rock face. "I have gathered you all here today to welcome a new member to our clan; Frost." The white she-cat stepped to the front of the crowd with Leopardfur, cats gasped when they saw her and turned their heads at the smell of two leg on her. The cats were shocked that their leader would allow such a disgrace to join their clan, the crowd started to yell and protest the welcoming of Frost. "Silence!" Dapperstar yowled, "now, I would like to continue with the apprentice ceremony. Frost, you are joining our clan after being a two leg pet. It is time that you be apprenticed and start training to be a warrior of ThunderClan. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Frostpaw. Your mentor will be Leopardfur. I hope that Leopardfur will pass down all she knows on to you. Leopardfur, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from Rippedear, and you have shown yourself to be loyal and brave. You will be the mentor of Frostpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to Frostpaw." Leopardfur faced Frostpaw, "ok, we're going to touch noses now" she wispered. The tall golden she-cat stood before the small Frostpaw and leaned in to touch noses. Only one cat cheered, a light grey she-kit in at the back of the crowd, "Frostpaw, Frostpaw, Frostpaw!" She squeaked. Her mother stared at the small kit, signalling her to be quiet. The cats dispersed and went back to their dens, grumbling as they walked. Dapperstar leapt down from the rock to talk to Frostpaw, "you will sleep in the apprentice's den in the nest closest to the door since you are the newest apprentice. Leopardfur, could you please show Frostpaw to her nest?" Leopardfur nodded, "come on Frostpaw, lets get you settled." The two cats walked to a den surrounded by clumps of ferns and a tree stump next to it. The den's roof was made of vines covered in moss. The entrance was barely big enough for Leopardfur to fit through, and inside sat 5 other cats, a red tabby she-cat with forest green eyes, a bluish grey tabby tom with blue eyes, a mottled brown tom with light brown eyes, a grey tom with brown mottles and blue eyes, and a small white she-cat with green eyes. "Hello everyone, I'm just showing Frostpaw to her nest. Frostpaw, this is Cherrypaw," Leopardfur pointed to the red tabby she-cat, "Riverpaw" she looked at the bluish grey tom, "Barkpaw," the mottled brown tom stuck up his head to look at Leopardfur, "Ashcroftpaw," the grey tom with brown mottling let out a little grunt of acknowledgement, "and Snowpaw." A little white she-cat walked up to Frostpaw, "hi Frostpaw, I guess we're nest neighbours now!" The little cat was a bundle of energy. "Now, I'll see you in the morning for training, alright Frostpaw?" Leopardfur said as she squeezed through the den entrance, "Yes Leopardfur" Frostpaw replied.

The den was damp and drafty and her nest wasn't as comfortable as she would've liked it to be but it was much better than being attacked by creatures. By the time the moon started to rise, all of the other apprentices had fallen asleep. Riverpaw was snoring loudly, Barkpaw was on his back, feet twitching as if chasing a mouse, Cherrypaw was on her belly, legs tucked in like a statue, Ashcroftpaw was curled up at the back of the den, and Snowpaw had moved during her sleep and was now curled up beside Frostpaw. The little cat's fur was as soft as silk and her breathing was somehow calming slowly lulling Frostpaw to sleep.