Darkstar's Changing Future

Chapter 1

**13 moons earlier**

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath Highrock for a clan meeting" The flame colored she-cat looked down from her position on the rock and let out a faint smile. A tom with spikey brown fur tumbled out of the nursery and into the clearing in excitement, his long tail bristling in anticipation. "Specklepoppy where is Silverpaw?" He wailed. The white queen licked the brown kit behind his ear. "Stop wailing like a kit if you want to become an apprentice" She meowed sternly while sitting down in front of the Highrock. He copied his mother silently. The leader let her gaze wander around the clearing while the rest of her clan gathered before her. "I have two ceremonies to perform before I can tell you all which cats will be going to the Gathering tonight" She called out once every cat was in the clearing. "Darkkit and Oakkit please step forward" The spikey brown tom stepped forward eagerly and flicked his tail for his brother to follow him. Oakkit stood beside his brother impatiently, he flicked his tail slightly. "Darkkit come closer" Squirrelstar motioned with her tail for him to take a step forward. He eagerly took another step toward his leader and lifted his head and stared directly at her defiantly. "From this day forward until he has earned his warrior name this apprentice will be called Darkpaw. Hawkgaze you had myself as a mentor and I think it is time for you to have your first apprentice. We honor you for your loyalty and faith in this clan. May you pass down all you know to this young apprentice." The dark tabby tom took a few steps toward the big apprentice and bent down a little to touch noses with the other cat. Darkpaw reached up, eagerly touching his nose to his mentor's. The flame colored she-cat looked down fondly at the next kit her green gaze never wavering. "Oakkit please step closer" The light brown kit stepped forward more hesitantly than Darkpaw had. His light amber eyes keep glancing back at his brother nervously. "You shall be known as Oakpaw. Almondbreeze you trained side by side with me and since Goldeneyes is now a warrior you are ready to take on another apprentice. We honor you for your intelligence and independence" The deputy stepped away from her spot at the base of  Highrock. Almondbreeze bent down slowly. Oakpaw hesitantly reached up and touched noses with her then slunk back to his mentor's side at the base of Highrock. "Now I can tell you all which cats I have decided to bring to the Gathering tonight" Darkpaw heard murmuring all around him, he even caught his own mentor whispering to Flintnose beside him. "I think I know she won't be bringing Badgerscar. No one really trusts him" Flintnose shook his flame colored head, his ears twitching wearily. "I thought it was Lunapelt she didn't trust...That ugly rogue" The two warriors glanced over at the white tom sitting farther to the left deluded out of the clan circle. "Be quiet...You two sound like elders gossiping about the last Gathering" Darkpaw flicked his ear as a pretty voice sounded beside him, he turned to see the silver tabby, Silverpaw and smiled kindly. Hawkgaze shot the two apprentices an embarrassed look before falling quiet. Squirrelstar flicked her tail for the rest of the clan to go silent. "I have decided to take Hawkgaze, Creamfeather, Mouseleap, Willowpool, Darkpaw, Silverpaw, Specklepoppy and, Dawnleaf" The leader looked down as the clan meeting erupted into chaotic shouts. Darkpaw flicked his ear and grinned excitedly, his brown eyes glowing with pride. "What about leaving a medicine cat here with us!" Badgerscar piped up with a hint of sneer in his deep voice. Squirrelstar glanced down at the black tom and nodded. "Foxleap still remembers his medicine cat training" She replied and looked around while the clan grew quiet with only a few more murmurs echoing around the camp. Darkpaw looked around slowly then looked back up at his leader's flame colored pelt waiting for her to continue. "All cats attending the Gathering eat now please. Meeting dismissed" Squirrelstar leaped down and bounded over to her deputy. Darkpaw glanced at Silverpaw then padded off to the fresh kill pile. His tail and head were held high in back of him. He picked up a mouse and padded off to the tree stump outside the apprentice's den. Russetpaw sat there washing her paws and glared at him enviously. "Lucky" She muttered before getting up and stalking off toward the den. Her tail sticking out behind her. The spikey brown tom stared after her and gulped down his mouse in silence even after his brother and Silverpaw had come to join him.

How is it coming along so far? Comment any suggestions you have!
                                     ~Crow💜💖