Berrystar's Experience

Chapter 3

            "All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather around the highest of rocks for an announcement!" Berry heard Hollowstar's meow. Brackenpaw purred,

            "Well, that's what clan meetings sound like. Also, it might be your apprenticeship!" He smiled at Berry. Berry jumped with excitement, while Ashpaw muttered under his breath,

           "Mine too..." The three walked over to the tall rock. Hollowstar stood on the highest of rocks, and waited till others had arrived. Eventually, murmurs from cats all around the camp quieted down. Hollowstar meowed boldly,

           "You may have noticed three cats have been wandering around the camp. Show no aggression to the three of them. I have called this meeting to announce the three will be joining our camp. Some may recognize Poppytail, a warrior of Sunsetclan, before she was chased out." Hollowstar's gaze shifted towards Poppytail. Hollowstar continued, "She will remain Poppytail. She has brought her kits. Berry, Stonehole, would you please come up here?" She asked. Berry opened her mouth the speak as the two got up, but Stonehole put his tail in front of her muzzle. She thought to herself,

           Hey! That was unnecessary. Then, she had already shrugged it off. She followed her brother onto the big rock. Hollowstar nodded to the two.

          "Berry, Stonehole, from this day forward, these two will be known as Berrypaw and Ashpaw, until they earn their warrior names." Ashpaw's mentor shall be Woodheart. Woodheart, you are brave and loyal. I hope you could pass this onto Ashpaw." She nodded. Ashpaw's eyes clouded with unsureness. Woodheart , a dark brown tabby walked onto the rock with the others. He touched noses with Ashpaw. Berry thought,

           Hey, what about me?! She looked up at Hollowstar. Hollowstar looked down at her and touched noses with her. After she did that, she smiled.

          "I shall mentor young Berrypaw. This young one is filled with determination and hope. I shall teach her the different things you need to care about in life, and how clans work." Ashpaw's eyes widened. Berrypaw was a bit embarrassed, but excited. She sensed jealousy from Ashpaw. Hollowstar finished.

          "The clan may go now." Hollowstar turned and found Berrypaw in front of her, but looking at Woodheart and Ashpaw. Berrypaw tried to figure out what they were talking about. Hollowstar rested her tail on Berrypaw's shoulder. "They are just talking about training." Berrypaw jumped and turned around.

          "Can I train?" She asked happily. Hollowstar locked gazes with the apprentice. She nodded slowly.

          "You see, Berrypaw. Before we start training, you would want to get some rest and I would have to show you around the territory tomorrow. If we have time, because tomorrow is the gathering, where all clans meet together in peace to inform each other about our clans, and how they are doing." Hollowstar explained. Berrypaw nodded.

        "You are a leader, don't you have so much other things to do than train me?" She asked. Hollowstar shook her head.

        "It'll be fine. No other apprentice is as excited and determined as you." She looked away. "It's getting dark, the moon is rising. You may as well go with Ashpaw and go settle into the apprentices den." Berrypaw nodded. She obeyed her not only mentor, but leader's orders. She ran off the rock and brushed her fur against Ashpaw's. He looked at her with disappointment.

         "I wanted us to both have a warrior mentor. A leader will have no time for training with another warrior." He sighed. Berrypaw grumbled,

         "Sorry. It wasn't my choice. Come on." Her tail flicked, and she started walking towards the apprentice den. Before she entered, Ashpaw stopped her.

        "It's okay. Just.. you know Brackenpaw?" He asked curiously.

       "Of course, I was having a conversation with him earlier until you interrupted!" Ashpaw opened his mouth to speak, but sighed. He didn't want to talk to her anymore, especially with that attitude. He turned around, and entered the apprentice den, without finishing what he started. Berrypaw looked at her paws.

        "Whoops." She mumbled to herself. Brackenpaw appeared beside her, without Berrypaw even noticing. She jumped as he greeted her.

         "Hello Berrypaw! I'm so jealous you are mentored by the leader!" He exclaimed. "I'm so happy for you!" He purred. Berrypaw nodded,

         "So is Ashpaw. He was just talking about you, until I upset him for some reason?" She sighed. "I don't know what I did wrong." Brackenpaw's tail flicked with curiosity.

         "Maybe he was just concerned why I talk with you a lot even though you are just a new recruit. If you are wondering that now, it's because I'm just trying to be friendly." He looked at his paws. "Sorry if you think it's not." Berrypaw looked at Brackenpaw with disbelief.

       "Of course it is just friendly! Ashpaw has been kind of a grump lately, so maybe that's why he thinks it may not be the best for me. He's also kind of protective of me, because he thinks he's older." She smiled. Brackenpaw nodded.

       "Let's get some sleep, maybe?" He asked. Berrypaw nodded.

       "Let's be friends." She purred happily. They walked into the den, and settled onto some moss. Ashpaw wasn't asleep yet. He noticed Berrypaw wasn't laying by him. He sighed, but noticed an apprentice he didn't meet before had laid by him. She muttered,

      "Looks like your littermate is upset with you. I'm Silverpaw, you probably did not meet with me before?" Silverpaw asked. No reply. Silverpaw nodded slowly, "You must be trying to sleep. Alright." She finished, and curled up, and slept. Berrypaw's ears flicked. She was still awake, struggling to get used to the new scents, and the new camp. It seemed as if every cat was sleeping. She noticed Brackenpaw twitching in his sleep.

        Berrypaw shut her eyes, and eventually fell into a peaceful, deep, sleep.