Heartstar's rise : Book one

Ch. 26

Heartkit raced towards the medicine den. Lionpaw was inside, sorting herbs. 

               "It's leaf-fall!" cried Heartkit. It had been a moon since Stormpelt's death. 

               "I know," sighed Lionpaw. "All our herbs will be harder to find and grow." 

                "It's awesome, after leaf-fall, it'll be leaf-bare which means snow!" squealed Heartkit. Lionpaw chuckled. 

              "You might not like leaf-bare when you realised how cold it's going to be," said Lionpaw then added, "not to mention all the diseases. I need to start stocking on catmint and tansy." 

              "Where's Eagleflight?" asked Heartkit. 

              "He went out on a walk. He need some exercise too," explained Lionpaw. 

              "Will he become an elder soon?" inquired Heartkit. 

              "I still have many moons in me," came a voice. Heartkit spun around to see the big Shadowclan medicine cat. He certainly didn't look old but not young either. 

              "Oh Eagleflight!" exclaimed Lionpaw. "Our stock on tansy and catmint are extremely low and you know the season coming up, we're going to need to restock." Eagleflight nodded thoughtfully. 

               "Don't worry Heartkit," Eagleflight nodded to Heartkit. "I've still got a lot of moons left in me. Which reminds me, how old are you now?"

               "Six moons!" squealed Heartkit. "I'm going to become an apprentice! Do you think Pinestar forgot? Should I go remind him?" Eagleflight chuckled. 

               "I already talked to him," Eagleflight assured to Heartkit then winked at Lionpaw. "It's going to be a special day for both of you." Lionpaw frowned, not knowing what Eagleflight was talking about. Heartkit stay in the medicine den the whole day, accompanying Lionpaw, practicing his fighting moves. He seemed to spend most of his time there. Lionpaw was Heartkit's new best friend. Firpaw entered the den. His fur ruffled, seeming distracted. 

                "Lionpaw," he said, nodding to his brother. Lionpaw trotted over to his brother, beaming, he sniffed. 

                 "I smell blood," frowned Lionpaw. 

                 "Not mine, probably the rats. We went to the Carionplace," explained Firpaw with a shudder. "The rats were giant. But I managed to kill a few." LIonpaw nodded. He noticed Firpaw limping slightly. 

                  "What's with your paw?" he asked. 

                  "I have a thorn. It's fine but Skytail said I needed to get it out," he growled. Heartkit watched, head tilted. Skytail was Firpaw's new mentor and Heartkit could see clearly he hated her. 

                  "Come on, show me your paw," instructed Lionpaw. Firpaw extended his front paw and Lionpaw pinched it then delicately took a thorn out with his teeth. 

                 "Thanks," nodded Firpaw. He trotted out. Lionpaw turned to Heartkit. 

                "Aren't you hungry?" he asked. 

                "Sorta," nodded Heartkit. Lionpaw smiled. 

               "Come on," he said. "Let's get something to eat." Heartkit sometimes forgot Lionpaw was still an apprentice, he always acted much older, like an experienced cat. 

                 "Can we share a mouse?" asked Heartkit. Lionpaw nodded. Heartkit picked a fat mouse and trotted back into the medicine den with Lionpaw behind him. They shared the mouse as light filtered through. 

                 "You're going to become an apprentice soon," smiled Lionpaw. "Are you excited?" 

                 "Of course!" cried Heartkit. 

                 "You're going to be a great warrior," grinned Lionpaw. He took a last gulp of the mouse just as Pinestar called a Clan meeting. Feeling excited, Heartkit pounded out and watched as Pinestar stood at the Tall Stump. Lionpaw and Eagleflight joined him. 

                "Heartkit please, step forward," said Pinestar. Heartkit hesitated but Eagleflight nudged him forward. Heartkit tripped and stumbled towards the Tall Stump, conscious of his Clanmates eyes on him. He felt himself burning with embarrassment as he scrambled onto the Tall Stump. Pinestar smiled at him warmly, his eyes looking down at the small cat. Stormpelt's kit.   

              "Heartkit, 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 warrior name, you will be known as Heartpaw. I will be your mentor and I will pass down everything I know to you to make you a loyal, noble and brave Shadowclan warrior," announced Pinestar. Heartkit looked up at Pinestar, shocked. His jaw hung open. Pinestar smiled warmly and touched noses with the stunned new apprentice.

               "Heartpaw!" Lionpaw was the first to yell out Heartpaw's name which shook the rest of the cats out of their stunned looks. 

             "Heartpaw! Heartpaw!" hollered all cats. Heartpaw puffed out his chest. He was an apprentice. But not only that, he was the leader's apprentice. He smiled broadly and jumped down. Lionpaw was first to congratulate him. 

            "Heartpaw!" he grinned. "You're going to be a great warrior." Each cat came up to Heartpaw to congratulate him. Firpaw watched from a distance then slipped out of camp. Eagleflight came up beside Lionpaw. 

            "Come, I have more news," he said. "You're going to become a medicine cat."

            "What you mean, as an apprentice?" stammered Lionpaw. 

            "No, we're meeting the other medicine cats today. It'll be your medicine cat ceremony," said Eagleflight. Lionpaw's jaw hung open. Pinestar joined them. 

           "I've already asked Pinestar," Eagleflight nodded to Pinestar. "Even if you have not reached the age, I know you have learnt everything. You are responsible and kind. And I may have moons left in me but they won't all be spent as a medicine cat. I will retire in a few moons." Lionpaw stood there, eyes bulging, mouth opening and closing. 

            "But but but," he stammered. "I don't know. It's great but I don't want you to leave." Eagleflight smiled kindly. 

            "Come on Heartpaw, I'm going to show you the territory," interrupted Pinestar then bowed his head to Lionpaw. "Today, you will become Shadowclan's new medicine cat." Pinestar slipped away with Heartpaw on his heels. Heartpaw felt his heart leap excitedly. He was finally going out of the camp. His paws tingled and his body seemed light as he slipped into the bracken tunnel. His senses sharpened. He was going out! His sense of smell sharpened, so many new smells. He crawled to the end of the tunnel and stepped out of camp.