Pineshade's Loss

Chapter 14

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the high branch for a Clan meeting!" Pinepaw hears his father's voice call out as he exits the medicine cat den.

Milkpaw still hasn't woke up, and the more time passes, the more Pinepaw worries. Thankfully, she is still alive, but Silvertuft said she's afraid Milkpaw will never wake up again. The medicine cat's words had struck Pinepaw like lightning, which has not helped his worries at all. Pinepaw would no idea how to live without Milkpaw by his side. He gathers with the rest of the Clan, sitting next to Beetlepaw and Spikepaw.

"I wonder what this is for," Pinepaw thinks out loud, looking up at Boulderstar on top of the high branch.

"I wonder too, do you think Acornkit is going to become an apprentice?" Beetlepaw asks.

"Maybe," Spikepaw quickly responds. "But, we won't know until we find out," he meows. Then, the dark gray leader speaks up.

"A ShadowClan kit as reached the age of six moons, meaning it is time for him to become an apprentice," Boulderstar meows.

Wow, time flies by. Pinepaw thinks, looking over at the small pale brown tabby sitting next to his mother, Rosedawn.

"Acornkit, please step forward," Boulderstar meows. Pinepaw watches as the kit slowly and hesitantly steps forward.

He must be nervous. Pinepaw thinks.

"Acornkit, 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 full medicine cat name, you will be known as Acornpaw. Since she is wanting an apprentice of her own and she thinks you will fit the role, your mentor will be Silvertuft. I hope Silvertuft will pass down all she knows on to you," Boulderstar goes on, his gaze looking down at the pale tabby apprentice, but then it shifts over to the Clan's medicine cat. "Silvertuft, you are ready to take on your first apprentice. You have received excellent training and you have shown yourself to be an intelligent and caring mediocre cat. You will be the mentor of Acornpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to him."

A medicine cat apprentice! Then maybe he can help Silvertuft with Milkpaw. I can't wait to get to know him. Pinepaw thinks. He watches as the small apprentice walks nervously over to Silvertuft. The medicine cat and her new apprentice then touch noses. The Clan cheers for the new apprentice.

"The Clan meeting is now dismissed," Boulderstar meows, hopping down from the Highbranch. Pinepaw glances over at the two other warrior apprentices and they pad over to the new medicine cat apprentice, who is currently beginning to chat with Rosedawn, Volenose, and Silvertuft. Once they get closer to the other cats, they can hear their conversation.

"Acornpaw is very quiet and anxious, but he is very intelligent. He will be a great medicine cat in the future," Rosedawn meows about her kit.

"We did not really think becoming a warrior would be the best choice for him, so we are glad you're willing to take in an apprentice," Volenose mentions. Acornpaw is just sitting there silently, letting the adult cats speak. He then turns his head once he hears the other apprentices behind him, staring at them with wide eyes.

"Acornpaw!" Pinepaw then hears Spikepaw whisper, trying to get the younger apprentice to speak.

"O-oh, hi," Acornpaw then meows.

"Hello," Beetlepaw meows. "I just want to say congratulations."

"T-thank you.." Acornpaw meows, looking down at his front paws.

"You have pretty eyes," Pinepaw compliments, admiring the tom's deep blue eyes. A few purrs of amusement come from Beetlepaw and Spikepaw.

"Oh, t-thanks!" Acornpaw meows with a stutter.

"What's so funny?" Pinepaw asks his brother and friend.

"That was so random, that's all," Beetlepaw responds with a purr of amusement.

"That's something you say to Milkpaw!" Spikepaw adds, stilling purring with amusement.

"M-Milkpaw? Isn't she knocked out?" Acornpaw asks. Pinepaw responds with a simple nod.

"I'm s-sorry," Acornpaw responds.

"There's no reason to be sorry for anything," Pinepaw responds. "Hopefully she will wake up soon."

"Acornpaw, want to share a snake with us?" Beetlepaw asks the medicine cat apprentice.

"S-Sure," Acornpaw responds, glancing over at Rosedawn, who gives him a proud look back.

Then, the four apprentices share a snake together that was caught in a recent hunting patrol.

"H-Hopefully Milkpaw can join us s-soon," Acornpaw meows.

Hopefully. Pinepaw thinks.