Lion and Tiger: Paw prints (A Warriors Fanfiction)

{chapter 2}

Tigerpaw trotted off to meet Lionpaw. His eyes gleamed with pride.

Lionpaw was sitting next to their mother, Snowbriar.

"So, you'll be a warrior now?"

"Oh, yes."

"But, what if something happens to you?! And, and we'll be the youngest kits you've ever had! And--"

Snowbriar hushed Lionpaw with her bushy tail. "Go to the apprentices' den, now. Unless you want to say bye to the other kits."

Tigerpaw meowed, "We'll say bye first."

The new apprentices dashed into the nursery, grinning. The nursery had a rock in the middle. On the right of the rock, there used to be three queens; Snowbriar included. Now they were all warriors again. On the other side were two queens; still having more kits. There were some other queens at far, too, without kits, waiting.

Lionpaw and Tigerpaw headed to the left side. The first queen was Spottedalder. She was a lean, white queen with one kit: Rabbitkit. He was the son of Whitestar. Like both his parents, he was white.

"He's gonna catch rabbits for us," Spottedalder smiled. She licked the kit behind his ear. "Reminds me of Cloudtail," she mumbled while nodding at the apprentices.

"Does he play?"

"Of course! He plays with Gorsedapple's kits," she grinned, nodding towards a grey cat. 
"He and Rainkit will become apprentices soon. The rest of Gorsedapple's kits are too young."

The apprentices headed towards the gray queen. She had a bundle of five kits, all healthy. "It's rare, but it's here," she purred, licking her kits.

The apprentices finally headed to their new home, leaving their old one. 

Lionpaw stepped outside and perked his ears when he saw Whitestar. He was mumbling to Roseheather.

"You heard Spottedleaf?"

"Yes! Spottedleaf! She said a prophecy about stripes and mane and a hop!" Roseheather protested.

"Stripes and a mane and a...hop, whatever that means," Whitestar retorted, glancing at the camp. "That's helpful. Perhaps you heard it wrong," he growled. 

Roseheather frowned. "Whitestar, you were always my den-mate. Stop blabbering nonsense. It's almost as if you don't believe me. I was one of your oldest friend."

Whitestar blushed. "Um, well, the Gathering is soon, you can talk to the medicine cats then."

Lionpaw heard Tigerpaw. "C'mon, Lionpaw!" his brother hollered. Lionpaw darted towards the apprentices' den. 

Foxpaw and Bearpaw were waiting for them. Foxpaw's long snout opened and he greeted, "Welcome, Lionpaw!" 

Bearpaw pressed his nose against Lionpaw's flank and purred. "I've missed you." Lionpaw licked his old friend. 

Tigerpaw meowed at Foxpaw, "I want to meet the others. Wanna come?"

"Yeah!" Foxpaw grinned. 

Tigerpaw walked towards Twigpaw. "Hi, Twigpaw!" he greeted. Twigpaw used to come to the nursery a bunch of times before Tigerpaw was apprenticed. So did his sister, Lilypaw, frequently with her best friend, Honeypaw.

Ashpaw nudged Blossompaw. "Get up!" Lionpaw headed towards the gray apprentice.

 "Are you alright?" 

"Blossompaw has whitecough."

"I don't," Blossompaw protested, coughing. 

"If you're not coming, I'm bringing Littlepaw. Or Roseheather."

Blossompaw groaned and finally gave in.

Bloompaw was curled up in a corner, chomping on a mouse.

Lionpaw padded towards his brother. "Tigerpaw?"

"Yes?"

"I overheard Whitestar say something...weird."

Tigerpaw nudged Lionpaw towards a corner. "What?" he whispered.

"Well, Roseheather told him a prophecy. She said it was about stripes and a mane. Whitestar looked at camp, and couldn't believe Roseheather. He--he looked at me. What if--what do you think it means?"

Tigerpaw looked at the ground. "You should stop eavesdropping," he answered at last.