Heartstar's rise : Book one

Ch. 11

Heartkit pushed his head into Stormpelt's warm fur. He sniffed the warm scent of his father and smiled blissfully. Stormpelt laughed and gave his kit a quick lick. 

            "How are you doing in the nursery?" asked Stormpelt. "Learnt any new skills?" 

           "Yes," nodded Heartkit. "But Sandwing is always grumpy." 

           "You need to let her rest and don't get on her nerves. Kits are a lot to handle," Stormpelt explained nicely. 

           "But she's so grumpy!" complained Heartkit. "Can't I sleep with you?"

            "Heartkit. We've gone over this," Stormpelt sighed. "I'm a warrior. Not to mention, the deputy. I need to tend for my Clan. I would love to stay the whole day in the nursery with you but I can't, the Clan needs me. And I'm very busy." 

            "Ok...," mumbled Heartkit. "But Firkit is going to be an apprentice soon." Stormpelt smiled. He had talked about it with Pinestar. He was always glad for new apprentices. He hadn't told Heartkit that the apprentice ceremony would be that day as Heartkit would surely go tell Firkit. 

            "And?" asked Stormpelt amused. 

            "I'll be alone with Sandwing," replied Heartkit. 

            "Sandwing has been nursing you since you were born," Stormpelt said sternly. "Show some respect." Heartkit sighed. Stormpelt looked up and noticed Pinestar watching him. Pinestar beckoned Stormpelt over with his tail. Stormpelt realised it was time for the ceremony. He quickly got up and asked Heartkit to stay where he was. Pinestar jumped onto the Tall Stump and called the Clan. Cats gathered around and Heartkit spotted Sandwing standing close to her kits. She was licking Lionkit's fur carefully. Heartkit suddenly understood. It was Firkit's apprentice ceremony! He grumbled inwardly. Sandwing then scolded Honeykit and quickly licked down some of her fur standing upright. Firkit sat up, straight to attention, brave and rigid. 

             "Firkit, Lionkit and Honeykit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your apprentice name, you will be known as Firpaw, Lionpaw and Honeypaw. Lionpaw, you have asked to take the path of a medicine cat and your mentor shall be Eagleflight. I hope Eagleflight will pass down all he knows on to you. Honeypaw, your mentor will be Oakfur. I hope Oakfur will pass down all he knows to you and teach you to follow the warrior code well. Firpaw, your mentor will be Stormpelt. I know Stormpelt will pass down to you all he knows and more," declared Pinestar. Heartkit gaped. Firpaw's mentor was Stormpelt! Sandwing's eyes shone with pride and happiness. One of her kits was being mentored by the deputy and the other was training to be a medicine cat. The new apprentices touched noses with their mentors. 

              "Firpaw!" 

              "Honeypaw!"

             "Lionpaw!" Cats called out the names of the new apprentices. They all crowded around them, especially Firpaw. A few apprentices and maybe even a warrior or two shot a jealous look at Firpaw. Heartkit shook away the feeling of sadness and rushed over to Firpaw. 

               "You're an apprentice!" he yelled happily. Firpaw puffed his chest out and beamed broadly with pride. 

              "I know! And my mentor is the deputy!" he cried in happiness. Stormpelt walked over to their side. His eyes shone with pride and happiness at the new apprentice he had to train. He was going to teach Firpaw everything there was to know about the warrior code and Shadowclan. Pinestar stood at the Tall Stump, watching Shadowclan with happiness. After the shouting had died down, he smiled and called the cats to attention once more. 

             "That is not the only good news today though!" said Pinestar. "Duskpaw, Darkpaw and Spiderpaw, please come up. I, Pinestar, leader of Shadowclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in their turn. Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" The young cats, shaking with pride and excitement looked down at the cats gathered around them and in strong voices declared in unison, "I do." 

              "Then by the powers of , I give you your warrior name. Duskpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Duskblaze. StarClan honours your bravery and intelligence. Darkpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Darkspeck and Starclan honours your fighting skill and strength. Spiderpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Spiderfur. Starclan honours your cunning and sharp senses. We welcome you all as full warriors of Shadowclan."

               "Duskblaze!" 

               "Darkspeck!"

               "Spiderfur!" The calls were even louder than before and the whole clan gathered around to welcome the new warriors. When the commotion had died down, Stormpelt turned to Firpaw. Heartkit watched his father expectantly. He had said they were going to share some food together then he would teach him a few tricks. But Stormpelt turned to Firpaw with a bright smile.  

               "Come on Firpaw, I'm going to bring you out to see Shadowclan's territory," Stormpelt said, touching his tail to Firpaw's shoulder. "You're going to love it!" Firpaw jumped excitedly, eyes sparkling. Heartkit's mouth hung open. 

             "But you said you were going to play with me," complained Heartkit. Firpaw frowned. Stormpelt sighed and gave Heartkit a stern look. 

             "Heartkit, go back to the nursery, please," said Stormpelt frustrated. "I'm sorry I can't play with you. I'm mentoring Firpaw." Heartkit's eyes almost popped out. 

             "But..but...," he stammered. 

             "Heartkit," said Firpaw harshly. "I'm an apprentice now, not a kit. I'm going to learn things. And Stormpelt needs to teach me things and he can't do that when he's playing with you." Stormpelt sighed. 

             "Heartkit, Firpaw is right. Go back to Sandwing alright? I'll be back tonight," Stormpelt said as if brushing away an annoying kit. Which was exactly what he was doing. Stormpelt turned tail and walked towards the camp entrance with Firpaw by his side. Heartkit watched them, his heart sinking.