Firetalon's Destiny

Chapter 1

“Ever so slowly, he approaches his prey,” I whispered to myself as I carefully stalked towards my target. It slowly moved back and forth, taunting me to leap. “It doesn’t seem to notice him as he continues to grow closer,” bunching up my muscles I pushed off the ground. I easily crossed the short distance between me and my furry prey, my claws digging into soft flesh and my jaws took in a mouthful of black fur.

            “Firekit, enough!” the owner of the tail tip I just attacked, snarled and I felt myself gently batted away from him. I defiantly glared up at his furious yellow eyes but I soon looked away, my ears flattening guilty against my skull.

            “Sorry Shadowstep…” with a snort, the warrior licked down his ruffled black fur before turning away. Grumbling softly underneath his breath, he walked away.

            “No one’s any fun,” I sighed while glancing around the camp, for three moons I had two other companions to play with but they had became apprentices a few days ago. My gaze found them sitting close together, talking over their apprentice duties. Rainpaw, a bluish she-cat with lighter spots was complaining animatedly to her sister Soulpaw, a silver she-cat with a darker back. They both had the same slim, lengthy build and their fluffy kit fur had been replaced by slick pelts. They easily towered over me and I couldn’t help but wonder if I would ever grow that big as well.

            “Firekit, you shouldn’t bother the warriors,” Dawnheart meowed as she joined me, her tongue roughly licking over a patch of fur that refused to stay down. She was much smaller than Flamestar, my dad, and I was constantly worried that I would be stuck being her size. While her white fur was nice and fluffy, I shrank away from the thought of being stuck with such fur. I wanted to be just like my father after all.

            “There’s nothing to do,” I grumped and I pouted at Dawnheart. “Everyone’s busy and got no time to play; even Rainhaze doesn’t want to talk.”

            Rainhaze was our Clan’s elder; he was a very skinny old tom with a ragged gray pelt and hazy blue eyes. His stories were a thrill to listen to, ones of adventure and action, but most of the time the old coot was fast asleep or in some sort of daze, one that no one can break him out of. I often caught a strange smell coming off him, a sour scent that made me think there was probably something wrong with him. “Say, say!” I was suddenly smiling as the brilliant idea formed inside my head. “How about we go out into the forest?! We don’t have to go far, so please take me out, Dawnheart.”

            “No,” Dawnheart growled sternly. “Kits aren’t allowed to leave the camp, it’s too dangerous outside.”
            “But you’d be with me…” I trailed off and my tail drooped, Dawnheart was too protective. She would never, ever let me leave the camp. “Never mind, pretend I said nothing,” I would just have to sneak out. When no one was looking, maybe during the night, I’d make my get away. My fur tingled at the thought of my own thrilling adventure, one that would be a lot like the ones Rainhaze told me.

            Dawnheart eyed me wearily and I quickly scrambled away, hoping she wouldn’t catch on.

            “Cats of FlameClan!” my father yowled loudly and my gaze quickly focused on the Water Rock. A large rock that sat near the edge of the camp, flowing around it was a stream which isolated it from the rest of the camp. Flamestar stood on top of the smooth rock; his chest puffed out confidently, and beside him sat his deputy, Tailfur. “Today we have three apprentices who are now worthy of becoming warriors; Willowpaw, Silverpaw and Shadepaw step forward.”

            The three siblings, as one, walked through the crowd and stopped inches from the small stream. Two of the siblings had lithe bodies with sleek silver pelts, the third was muscular and his fluffy pelt was a dark gray.

            I watched in complete silence, entranced by the ceremony, as Flamestar leapt down from the rock. He padded up to the three and looked thoughtfully into their eyes. “Tell me, apprentices of FlameClan, do you swear to protect this Clan even at the cost of your lives?”
            “We do,” they responded together, not a hint of hesitation in their proud voices.

            “And tell me, Autumnclaw, Icehawk and Whitefoot; are they truly ready to become warriors.”

            “They are.”

            “Than by the power of StarClan I give you your warrior names,” Flamestar’s attention turned towards the amber eyed sibling. “Willowpaw from this moment on you shall be known as Willowspirit,” he turned towards the yellow eyed sibling. “Silverpaw from this moment on, you shall be known as Silvereagle,” finally he turned toward the dark gray sibling. “Shadepaw from this moment on you shall be known as Shadestorm.”

            With their names announced, the Clan eagerly started to call out to their new warriors. “Willowspirit, Silvereagle, Shadestorm!”

            I found myself joining in, my small voice mixing in with the many others. They’ll be cheering for me someday! And I’ll be the best warrior, the best there ever was!