Burrfleck's Demise

Chapter 1

        "Quit it, Burrkit! Papa said not to mess up my fur!"

"Who cares what papa said! You're going to look like a dunce anyway."

A small light grey tabby shape leaped upon a white-and-grey patched she-kit. The she-kit let out a yelp of surprise and pushed the tabby shape off of her, giggling.

"Burrkit!" She squealed. "Our apprentice ceremony is happening today and you still want to act like a kit!" She lifted her chin and lashed her tiny tail. Burrkit frowned and rose to his paws.

"Whatever, Willowkit. You know you're still going to wake me at moonhigh to play mossball --" Burrkit stopped as he heard the clearing of one's throat behind him. He whipped around and was faced with a towering dark grey shape.

"Papa!" Willowkit squeaked first, shoving Burrkit aside to fall into her father's chest fur. "Have you come to see us become apprentices? Have you? Have you?"

The dark grey tomcat chuckled and ruffled the fur on his daughter's head. "Of course, sweetheart," He cooed, "I wouldn't miss it for anything in the world. Hey -- has your brother been bothering you?"

"Oh! Yes! Burrkit messed up my fur!" Willowkit pouted her lip and shot a glare at Burrkit.

"She started it, Dancingleaf!" Burrkit protested, his fur spiking up a bit at his sister's accusation. Willowkit rolled on the ground in a fit of laughter.

"See! Your fur got all dirty anyway. You don't need to be a brat!" Burrkit was about to sit down but suddenly, Dancingleaf pulled him close. He let out a mew of protest as his father pushed him closer to his sister.

"Apologize to your sister," Dancingleaf told him sternly. Burrkit looked away stubbornly but finally, met eyes with Willowkit.

"Sorry," He mumbled, but Willowkit seemed to have forgotten about the whole ordeal, because as soon as he apologized she smiled brightly and nodded.

"Who cares! How could I be sad the day of our warrior ceremony? Let's go! Wrenstar's going to call the meeting any heartbeat now!"

Sure enough the brown oriental shorthair made her way up the high rock, her large ears angled towards the floor of the camp. Wind whistled past her whiskers and her short fur was ruffled. Burrkit lifted his chin and gazed at her excitedly. Their apprentice ceremony was about to begin!

"May all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath the high rock for a Clan meeting!" Wrenstar's voice boomed throughout the camp. Dancingleaf glanced at his kits and smiled proudly.

"I'm very happy with you," He told his kits honestly. "Your mother would have been... very proud to see you now."

"Really?" Burrkit leapt up. "Would she really? Would mama really be proud?"

"Yes," Dancingleaf closed his eyes and sighed. "She would."

"Quit thinking about mama and get over here, Burrkit!" Willowkit yelped, scampering towards the high rock.

"C-coming!" Burrkit called after her, bounding after his sister excitedly.

The two kittens stood beneath the high rock, their eyes dancing with excitement as their leader looked down upon them with proud eyes. Their denmates, Fernkit and Darkkit, stood not too far from the siblings, their eyes sparkling with joy and jealousy. The other two kits were only three moons old -- they'd be made into apprentices later.

"As most of you are aware, we have two kits who are ready to become apprentices." Wrenstar called, her thin tail risen high in the air. Her yellow eyes lowered to meet the gazes of Burrkit and Willowkit, before she continued.

"Willowkit, please step forward." The long-haired grey-and-white she-kit grinned widely and bounded towards the high rock. She halted at the very bottom and gazed up at Wrenstar happily.

"Willowkit, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and defend the Clan, even at the cost of your life?" Wrenstar inquired, eyeing the young kit. Willowkit nodded vigorously.

"Yes! I do!" She chirped, fur bushing up.

"Then, until you receive your warrior name, you shall be known as Willowpaw. Batsong, you shall mentor her. You are a new warrior but you were a stellar apprentice, and I do not doubt your ability for a second."

"I won't let you down, Wrenstar," Batsong replied honestly, pressing his muzzle to Willowpaw's forehead.

Wrenstar nodded once and jerked her head towards Burrkit. "Burrkit, please step forward!" She called. Burrkit's heart pounded fast. This is it. I'm going to become an apprentice!

"Burrkit, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and defend the Clan, even at the cost of your life?" Wrenstar boomed. Don't mess this up. You've got this.

"I do." He replied confidently, puffing out his chest. I did it! I really did it! This isn't a dream! Oh, StarClan, don't let this be a dream!

"Then, until you receive your warrior name, you shall be known as Burrpaw. Cloudstorm, as my previous apprentice, I trust you will pass down all you know to Burrpaw."

"Willowpaw! Burrpaw! Willowpaw! Burrpaw!" The crowd erupted into cheers. Some of the loudest came from Fernkit, Darkkit, and their father, Dancingleaf, pride shimmering in his gaze.

Finally, Burrpaw thought in content. I'm an apprentice... at last.