Warriors || Rose's Path

Chapter 1

       A crisp leaf-bare breeze stirred the yellow moorland grass. What would be morning dew had turned to frost. Cats gathered excitedly around the Tallrock in the WindClan camp. Fawnstar, the black and white leader with an unusual ginger tipped tail, stood on the Tallrock.
      A black tom with yellow eyes sat beside the Tallrock; he was the deputy, Sandheart. A black and white tom padded over to the nursery, which was under a gorse bush, and poked his head inside. A gray tabby and white she-cat stood with two kits bouncing excitedly at her paws.
"Calm down, Puddlekit," Addertuft scolded the white tom-kit. "I have to groom your fur!"
Although Addertuft's voice was firm, her gaze sparkled with amusement. A gray and white she-kit, that looked very similar to her mother, poked her head curiously outside the den.
Addertuft swept her back with her tail. "Your father will guide you to the clearing once Fawnstar has called the meeting."
Jaggedswirl blinked, copper gaze full of love for his mate and kits.

Rosekit followed quietly behind her father and brother. Fawnstar had called the meeting, and they were making their way to the front of the crowd. Addertuft found her place to sit beside her mother, Crystalflame.
Jaggedswirl sat down at the front of the gathered cats, motioning to his kits to join him. Puddlekit bounced excitedly to his side, while Rosekit crept up beside them.
       Fawnstar leaped down from the Tallrock, motioning with her tail to the kits. I hope Puddlekit goes first. Nerves stirred inside Rosekit. Who will mentor me?
       "Puddlekit, please come forward."
       Relief flooded through Rosekit, but the nerves still tingled at her paws. The young white tom stepped forward, confidence shinning in his copper eyes.
       "Puddlekit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed," Fawnstar's voice was loud, but gentle. "From this day on until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Puddlepaw."
        She reached down to touch noses with Puddlepaw, before moving on. "Your mentor will be Dapplesplash. I hope she will pass down all she knows to you."
       Dapplesplash came forward to lick Puddlepaw's shoulder, before leading him with her white tail into the crowd. Rosekit gave a small shudder. It was her turn.
       Fawnstar motioned her forward. Rosekit's paws seemed frozen to the spot. She trembled with nerves. Jaggedswirl gave her a small nudge with his tail.
       She padded up to her leader, tail quivering.
       "Rosekit, from this moment on you will be known as Rosepaw," Fawnstar hesitated for a moment, searching the crowd with worry in her amber eyes.
        She turned back to Rosepaw, expression unreadable. "Crookedwing will be your mentor until you receive your warrior name."
        The ginger she-cat padded forward, touching Rosepaw on the nose with her's. Her gaze was hard and unmoving. She turned and padded into the crowd, without saying anything to Rosepaw. I would chose Crookedwing's sister, Dapplesplash, as a mentor over Crookedwing any day.
       Rosepaw had heard Crookedwing argue with younger warriors. She was not a cat to be messed with. She's not as bad as her other sister, though. The medicine cat, Firepool had a sharp tongue and short temper. Although Crookedwing liked to argue, Firepool had a tongue of fire.
       Another thought struck Rosepaw. She would be sleeping out under the stars from now on. Unless there was bad weather, the warriors, apprentices, deputy, and leader slept in the shallow dip of the camp. The medicine cat slept in a rock cleft, the queens under a gorse bush, and elders in an old badger set.
       The sky was starting to darken, so Rosepaw glanced around the clearing. Cats were staring  to settle down. She saw her mother finding a place to lay beside Jaggedswirl. Her mentor slept a tail-length away from Dapplesplash.
     Sandheart and Duskspots curled up beside each other while Fawnstar slept near Frozenheart and Snowleap. Oliveclaw slept beside her brother, Mallowfall. A group of young cats sat in a semi-circle at the edge of the camp.
      Rosepaw trotted over to join her fellow apprentices. Before she could reach the spot where Puddlepaw and the others chatted, a green gaze caught her eyes from the shadows. They were watching her intensely, some unknown emotion glittering in them.
        Rosepaw felt self-conscious, giving her chest fur a nervous lick. Who's watching me, and why?