"All cats strong enough to land on their feet, gather in the Gorge for a clan meeting!" Lurkingstar called, letting her slightly sad yowl echo through camp. Cheetahsong's death had struck a hard blow on them all. She shook her head, saddened by yesterday's events, and was glad to be delivering happier news.
"Its time that Beekit, Rainkit, and Nightkit became apprentices." She said, glad to see many eyes light up. She watched carefully at how each kit fell, for it was traditional for each kit to enter e gorge four the first time when they were becoming apprentices.
It was also customary for their fall to decided their mentors. She watched as, one by one, each cat jumped into the gorge. Dustclaw's leap was high, and his landing strong, while Spottedstream's was faster and more agile. She watched the kits land next.
She watched Beekit jump, and saw that he went higher when he leaped, and he landed solidly on his paws. Lurkingstar saw that Nightkit's jump was faster and she landed before her brothers. Then she watched Rainkit jump. Immediately she remembered her own jump, how her tail had moved slightly, just like his did. She knew who the mentors were going to be.
When the kits had padded in front of her, she looked at them. "Cats of GorgeClan, it has been six moons since Snakefang's kits were born, and today we celebrate their apprenticeship. Beekit, step forward." She said, looking down with amusement at his trembling paws.
"From this moment onward until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Beepaw. Dustclaw, step forward." The grey tom moved toward her, a look of surprise in his eyes. "You have shown loyalty and courage, pass these traits on to Beepaw." She told him, and the two touched noses.
"Nightkit, step forward." The kit seemed perfectly confident, stepping forward without a tremor. "From this moment onward until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Nightpaw. Spottedstream, come forward. You have shown agility and compassion, pass these traits on to Nightpaw." Mentor and apprentice touched noses.
"Rainkit, step forward. From this moment onward until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Rainpaw. I will be your mentor." She said. "I will teach you everything I know." She assured him as he padded up to touch noses with her.
"Strikefang, you are once again a warrior." She said, dismissing the clan with a flick of her tail. "So, waddarewegonnado?" Rainpaw asked, exited. "Woah, woah, slow down. What?" She said, laughing slightly at his enthusiasm. "Sorry. What are we going to to?" He asked, a bit of laughter in his own voice.
"Let's go see the territory." She said, and smiled at his look of incredulous delight. "Okay!" He said. She led him out of camp, and she could hear his small gasp of amazement as he observed the outside world. "Wow." He breathed. She lead him over a few minutes, until he was a little out of breath. She slowed down slightly, allowing him to catch up.
When she reached the Mountainclan border, she looked at him. "What do you smell?" She asked. He wrinkled his nose. "Ew! What is that?" He said. "Mountainclan." She replied.
"They stink!" Rainpaw remarked. She nodded. "I want to go somewhere else. It stinks!" She smiled. "Race you!" She called, and pelted off onto the trees.
~~~~~
She watched as Rainpaw padded happily up to his littermates, and they began exchanging stories. She padded into her den, the sunset lighting up her den with a bloody tinge. She curled up in her nest, tired.
I finally deserve to be leader.
