Dark Destinies {Book 1}

chapter one

HOLLYPAW

   The large rock glistened with hoarfrost and towered above the gathered clan. Cats huddled in tight groups against the cold, sharing communal body heat as the sky darkened. Snow teased the air, falling gracefully and landing on their fluffy pelts.

   Hollykit sat next to her little grey brother, his downy kit pelt rubbed against hers and she leaned against him for added warmth. Their mother stood behind them, proud and statuesque, with her dove grey tail wrapped around their tiny bodies. The kits waited as calmly as possible, but Hollykit could feel the anxiety swirling around her.

   Suddenly, Hiddenstar leapt up onto the Snow Rock in one nimble motion. He sat above his gathered clan, and regarded them all in silence for a moment, his blue eyes unflinchingly focused on Hollykit and her brother. The small sliver of a moon behind him illuminated the white in his patchy pelt, it seemed almost iridescent in the moonlight.

   The clan settled into an expectant silence.

   Hollykit's anxiety seemingly doubled underneath the silence and the watchful gaze of her leader, today was the day she would be made an apprentice.

   Hiddenstar beckoned the two kits forward. Ashkit rushed forward, breaking away from his sister and mother as soon as it was appropriate. Hollykit found herself coming forward much more hesitantly, she could feel the gazes of her clanmates burning into her pelt.

   "Ashkit, you have reached the age of six moons, it is time for you to be apprenticed," Hiddenstar's meow resonated through the clearing, and Ashkit moved even closer to the Snow Rock. "From this day forward, until you receive your warrior name you will be known as Ashpaw. For your mentor, I have chosen Larkwind, and I trust she will pass down all she knows to you."

   At the sound of her name a lithe, young tortoiseshell tabby she-cat stepped through the crowd toward the newly named apprentice. She settled next to Ashpaw and waited for Hiddenstar to continue. "You are ready to take on an apprentice. You have received excellent training from Rabbitwhisker and have shown yourself to be both wise and kind. I expect you to pass down all your knowledge to Ashpaw."

   Larkwind dipped her head, "Of course".

   The young mentor and apprentice then touched noses. The clan erupted into cheers and murmured encouragements. Amongst the commotion, the pair then dipped their heads to Hiddenstar and joined the clan. Hollykit watched as her brother was greeted openly, her nervousness began to subside but only slightly.

   Breaking her from her thoughts was Hiddenstar's sudden voice.

   "Hollykit, you have reached the age of six moons and it is time for you to be apprenticed." Hollykit tried not to squirm, as suddenly the attention was brought back onto her. She could feel Hiddenstar's pensive stare, but she dared not look at him. "From this day forward, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Hollypaw. For your mentor, I have chosen Owlclaw and I expect he will pass down all his knowledge to you."

   Owlclaw weaved through the crowd and emerged before the kit. He towered over her, an intimidating and burly warrior, his grey pelt was speckled with snow. "Owlclaw, you are ready to take on an apprentice and have proven yourself to be a strong and quick-witted warrior. I expect you to pass down all your knowledge to Hollypaw."

   "I will." Owlclaw's voice was deep as a rumble of thunder. As he pressed his nose to hers, Hollypaw tried to remain still to keep herself from shaking.

   Once more the clan erupted into happy cheers and congratulations, for both the two warriors and apprentices. Their new names, Hollypaw and Ashpaw, floated upwards into the sky and then drifted downwards around them like the fallen snow.