Young

Chapter 1 - A New Beginning

Smallkit shifted from paw to paw nervously in front of the nursery. "Stop Fidgeting Smallkit!" The more beautiful and confident she-cat next to her said as she gave Smallkit as a light shove. "Sorry, Mintkit, I am just nervous! Who do you think our mentors will be?" Mintkit rolled her eyes, "We will find out soon, just calm yourself." Soon cats began to gather around as Breezestar comes into the clearing, his long beautiful fur perfectly groomed and her beautiful green eyes shining with pride. The clan gathered all around to see who would get the privilege of mentoring their leader's kits.

Breezestar let everyone settle down before she began, "Today, I am happy to make two kits apprentices." She motioned for The two she-kits to come away from the crowd which they had gathered in with the clan. "Mintkit, please step forward." Mintkit stepped forward confidently to face her mother with excitement in her big turquoise gaze. "Mintkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Mintpaw. I ask StarClan to watch over you and guide you until you find in your paws the strength and courage of a warrior." Breezestar motioned for a large dark gray tabby tom to come closer. "Mossclaw, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from Flamefur, and you have shown yourself to be fierce and brave. You will be the mentor of Mintpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to her."The mentor and apprentice touched noses and stepped back.

Smallkit wasn't all too surprised when Mintpaw received the deputy and bravest cat of the clan as her mentor while she was stuck with a normal warrior. Breezestar motioned for her to step forward. She felt her legs wobbling as she moved into the center of the clearing with everyone staring at her. "Smallkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Smallpaw. I ask StarClan to watch over you and guide you until you find in your paws the strength and courage of a warrior."Millions of thoughts ran through Smallkit's head in that short pause as Breezeclan motioned for her mentor to step forward. What if I get a strict mentor? What if I can't hunt or fight? What if I never become a warrior? "Molefur, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from Hawktalon, and you have shown yourself to be fierce and brave. You will be the mentor of Smallpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to her."Smallkit touched her nose to the slightly smaller brown tabby tom in a daze. The clan called out their names as she sat next to Mintpaw who sat proudly and confident while Smallkit had her head low and gave her chest fur a few licks.

The clan soon dispersed leaving the two new apprentices with their mentors and leader. Breezestar gave each apprentice a lick between the ears and gazed at them proudly. "You two will make great warriors one day." She paused, her face becoming a little more serious, "Remember to listen to not only your mentors and senior warriors but to always follow your hearts no matter what comes to tear your path in two directions." She gave one last nod to the two mentors before leaving them. Smallpaw felt a mixture of worry but excitement at what lay before her. Her life begins now and everything that she does from now on will determine how it will end.