Warrior Cats: Hidden Secrets (Book One)

Chapter Three (REVISED)

  Meadowkit wriggled as Bluebird's tongue smoothed the fur between her ears.
  "Sit still! I'm almost done."
  "I want to go out now!" Meadowkit ducked her head to avoid her mother and spun around to face her. "I look good enough!"

  "Hmph, fine. Now, I want you to walk out like a sensible apprentice, like Cinderkit."

  Meadowkit's heart dropped at her mother's firm tone. She dearly missed her best friend ever since the enemy cats, StormClan warriors, attacked the camp three moons ago. Her Clanmates mourned the loss and were eager for revenge. However, Meadowkit's noble father did not attack StormClan, but increased patrols and allowed his cats to challenge StormClan. Meadowkit feared an all out fight, but hopefully it would never come.
 
  "I miss Pidgeonkit."
  "I do too, but she is in StarClan now, a warrior herself." As Bluebird spoke, a yowl came from the camp. Birchstar called a Clan Meeting, and Meadowkit saw pawsteps rushing to the foot of a large rock. Sudden exhilaration filled her paws and she gave a little bounce.

  "Let's go!"
  "Remember, walk, not run."
  "Okay okay..." Meadowkit muttered as she exited the den. Cinderkit was already waiting in front of Birchstar. By the dull look in his eyes, he was thinking of his sister. Pushing away any thoughts, she padded to sit down next to Cinderkit.

  "Cheer up. We're going to be apprentices."
  "But I miss Pidgeonkit," He whispered, shuffling his paws, "Nothing is the same without her."
  "Don't worry. She's in StarClan and she is watching us. I bet she would want you to be happy, right?"

  "Right." Cinderkit lifted his head and sighed. "I'll become a warrior for Pidgeonkit."
  "So I will I." Meadowkit agreed, solumn. She fell silent as her father spoke,
 
  "Cats of HurricaneClan, Cinderkit and Meadowkit have reached their sixth moon. They are ready to be apprentices. Cinderkit."

  The tom beconed him with a flick of his tail, and Cinderkit walked forward. Even though he was sad, Meadowkit could see that his eyes were shining with pride and excitement.

  "From this day forward, this apprentice will be known as Cinderpaw. Ashwood will be your mentor."
Cinderpaw turned around and met eyes with the ginger senior warrior, who padded forward.
  "Buszardtail, you've delt with loss and heartbreak, but you did not let these losses stop you. I trust that you pass the skills you possess to this apprentice."
  "Thank you, Birchstar."

  The two cats touched noses, and Meadowkit could hear Buzzardtail mew quietly to Cinderpaw,
  "You and I will make a great team."

The apprentice nodded, and fixed his eyes to Meadowkit. She swallowed, and turned her attention back to her father. What mentor did he choose for her? Tanglebush?

  "From this day forward, this kit will be known as Meadowpaw. Iceclaw will be your mentor."

  I get to be the deputy's apprentice! Wow! She thought, her tail quivering in excitement. She turned around and met Iceclaw's amber eyes. But will he like me? He's such a great warrior...
  Meadowpaw did not her the rest of the words her father said as she padded to the large white tom. She swallowed, nervous, but the tom looked excited to have an apprentice.

  "I won't let you down." She mewed, and the deputy purred,
  "You will be fine. I'll make you the best warrior that you can possibly be."

  The two cats touched noses, and she padded to his side. The two older apprentices, Nightpaw and Hollypaw, cheered,

  "Cinderpaw! Meadowpaw!"

  The rest of the Clan followed in suit, and Meadowkit tilted her head out, feeling proud. Finally, she is an apprentice.

||

 
  "When you stalk the mouse, step lightly." Instructed Iceclaw, who demonstrated how to stalk a mouse. Meadowpaw nodded, watching every move with her green eyes.
  "You give it a try. I can smell a mouse by that root of the tree."

  "Okay." Meadowpaw dropped into a crouch and silently crept through the undergrowth towards the mouse. She could see it nibbling on a seed, oblivious to the danger. The prey's warm scent filled her jaws and Meadowpaw sprang, fast as a snake. The mouse squeaked, trying to duck out of the way of her sharp claws, but she was much faster. Proud, Meadowpaw picked up the still-warm body and padded to her mentor, tail high.

  "Great job, Meadowpaw. You have natural talent."
  "Thank you!" She purred, dropping to the ground. Iceclaw dipped his head and covered the mouse with dirt.
  "We will pick it up later. I agreed with Buzzardtail to show you and Cinderpaw StormClan's border, and their scent. Mapleheart and Feralclaw will be there too."
  "Alright. Why are they coming with us?"
  "Birchstar ordered to double the patrols, remember?"
  "Yes...I remember now."
  "Good, let's get going." Iceclaw turned away and started to pad to the direction of the border. Meadowpaw scrambled after him, picking up the stale scent of the markers and her fellow Clanmates. She sat down next to Cinderpaw, who looked eager. The tom mewed,

  "I caught my first shrew. Buzzardtail is the best mentor."
  "I caught something too!" Purred Meadowpaw. Cinderpaw dipped his head, proud that she caught something, and turned his attention back to their mentors.

  "Now, Mapleheart will show you how to place the markers. Mapleheart?"
  "Like this," The she-cat mewed, demonstrating how to mark the border. Meadowpaw eagerly waited and once it was her turn, she placed a scent-marker.
  The border patrol continued to place markers when a sudden movement on StormClan's border caught her eye, and a fowl scent.

  "I smell StormClan." Meadowpaw mewed, turning her attention to an approching patrol. Iceclaw gently pushed his apprentice behind him, protectivly, and so did Buzzartail with Cinderpaw. The tom's eyes widened in fear. No doubt the tragic accident with Pidgeonkit terrifed the young tom.

  "What are you doing here, Acornfur." Growling Iceclaw. An unfamiliar brown tom approched with his own apprentice, a yellow tom.
  "Showing Yellowpaw HurricaneClan scum."

  The amber eyes of that tom searched the patrol, and his eyes landed on Meadowpaw. She gulped.

  "So, you brought Birchstar's kit, eh? I might just take her back to Fieldstar and solve the problem."
  "If you want this apprentice, you'll have to go through me." Hissed the deputy, hackles raised. Acornfur hissed back as more StormClan cats joined Acornfur. Meadowpaw felt her heart drop. On her first day there was going to be a fight.

  "Attack!" Screeched Acornfur, jumping towards Iceclaw. The tom hissed and jumped to meet him. Will the battle really be today?