Pineshade's Loss

Chapter 27

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the highbranch for a Clan meeting!" Pineshade hears Boulderstar call out from the top of the highbranch. Pineshade has just returned from a hunting patrol with Jaggedfoot, Volenose, Hawktalon, and Frogpaw, which makes it seem like his father was waiting for them to return before calling the meeting. He quickly drops his toad in the fresh kill pile before gathering with the rest of the Clan, sitting beside Milktail.

"Five ShadowClan kits have reached the age of six moons, meaning it is time for them to become apprentices," Boulderstar announces.

Wow, I remember when they were born like it was yesterday. Pineshade thinks. Pineshade has been especially close to his brother's and his kithood friend's kits. He would play with them occasionally. Wanting to be the best father he can be in the future, Pineshade thought it would be beneficial for him to spend time with the five kits, who all adored him. Pineshade can't help but beam with pride.

"Icekit, please step forward," Boulderstar meows. Pinepaw watches as the white she-kit hesitantly steps forward.

"Icekit, 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 warrior name, you will be known as Icepaw. Your mentor will be Jayflight. I hope Jayflight will pass down all he knows on to you," Boulderstar goes on, his gaze looking down at the quiet white-furred apprentice, but then it shifts over to the blue-gray tom. "Jayflight, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have received excellent training and you have shown yourself to be an alert and hardworking cat. You will be the mentor of Icepaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to her."

Pineshade watches as the apprentice slowly pads over to Jayflight. The warrior and apprentice then touch noses. The Clan cheers for the new apprentice.

"Now, Wolfkit, please step forward," Boulderstar meows. Pinepaw watches as the gray-and-white tabby confidently steps forward.

"Wolfkit, 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 warrior name, you will be known as Wolfpaw. Your mentor will be Juniperleaf. I hope Juniperleaf will pass down all she knows on to you," Boulderstar goes on, his gaze looking down at the prideful apprentice, but then it shifts over to the ginger she-cat. "Juniperleaf, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have received excellent training and you have shown yourself to be a brave and kind warrior. You will be the mentor of Wolfpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to her."

Pineshade watches as the apprentice pads over to Juniperleaf. The warrior and apprentice then touch noses. The Clan cheers for the new apprentice. As an apology to Juniperleaf and her kits, Boulderstar promised Juniperleaf to give her an apprentice. Thankfully, the dark gray tom kept his promise.

"Now, Ivykit, please step forward," Boulderstar meows. Pinepaw watches as the gray-and-white she-cat calmly steps forward as told.

"Ivykit, 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 warrior name, you will be known as Ivypaw. Your mentor will be Rosedawn. I hope Rosedawn will pass down all she knows on to you," Boulderstar goes on, his gaze looking down at the calm apprentice, but then it shifts over to the pale brown she-cat. "Rosedawn, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have received excellent training and you have shown yourself to be a skilled and loving warrior. You will be the mentor of Ivypaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to her."

Pineshade watches as the apprentice pads over to Rosedawn. The warrior and apprentice then touch noses. The Clan cheers for the new apprentice.

"Now, Fernkit, please step forward," Boulderstar meows. Pineshade gazes over at the black-and-gray she-kit, but she does not move a muscle.

"Fernkit, do what Boulderstar tells you. You're going to become an apprentice, isn't that exciting?" Stormmist meows to her kit. Fernkit gives her mother a simple nod as she shoves her forward so the rest of the Clan can see her.

"Fernkit, 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 warrior name, you will be known as Fernpaw. Your mentor will be Spikepelt. I hope Spikepelt will pass down all he knows on to you," Boulderstar goes on, his gaze looking down at the frightened apprentice, but then it shifts over to the gray-and-white tom. "Spikepelt, you are ready to take on your first apprentice. You have received excellent training from Snowpetal and you have shown yourself to be a courageous and loyal warrior. You will be the mentor of Fernpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to her."

Pineshade watches as the apprentice's frightened expression shifts to excitement once she looks over at Spikepelt. She dashes over to him and they quickly touch noses. The Clan cheers for the new apprentice.

"Finally, Swiftkit, please step forward," Boulderstar meows. Pineshade watches as the black tom-kit excitedly steps forward.

"Swiftkit, 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 warrior name, you will be known as Swiftpaw. Your mentor will be Pineshade. I hope Pineshade will pass down all he knows on to you," Boulderstar goes on, his gaze looking down at the prideful apprentice, but then it shifts over to Pineshade.

"What? Me?" Pineshade whispers under his breath.

"Pineshade, you are ready to take on your first apprentice. You have received excellent training and you have shown yourself to be a sacrificial and brave warrior. You will be the mentor of Swiftpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to him."

Pineshade purrs excitedly as his favorite of the five kits, dashes over to him, bursting with energy. Swiftpaw is the spitting image of Beetlenose, but he reminds Pineshade more of himself. They quickly touch noses.

"The Clan meeting is now dismissed," Boulderstar meows, hopping down from the Highbranch.

"Pineshade! I wanted you to be my mentor so badly!" Swiftpaw loudly meows. "I got so lucky!"

"Calm there a bit, little tom," Pineshade purrs.

"Pineshade," he then hears a familiar voice meow from beside him. The dark gray tom turns his head slightly to spot Beetlenose.

"I'm so glad my kits got you and Spikepelt as mentors," Beetlenose meows. "I know the two of you will train them well."

"Did you request them to Boulderstar?" Milktail asks Beetlenose with a smug look.

"How'd you know?" Beetlenose responds.

"Your kits got your brother and your best friend as mentors, isn't it obvious?" Milktail asks. "Not that there's anything wrong with it, I just wanted confirmation. It's just the perks of being the leader's kit."

"Well, yeah, I did," Beetlenose admits. "You never know, maybe I'll train one of your kits someday," he teases with purr of amusement.

"We'll see about that. I'm not letting Pineshade request you. I'd much rather have Flamepelt mentor one our kits. He's so brave," Milktail meows.

"You may be Pineshade's mate, but you can't control what he does," Beetlenose meows. "I'm not like that with Stormmist."

"Hey, stop it," Pineshade jumps in. "Stop bickering, the two of you aren't apprentices anymore."

Beetlenose and Milktail have bickered ever since Milktail learned how to speak when they were kits. After Milktail lost her memory, Pineshade had hoped they would stop bickering, but it only got worse.

"This is so pointless. Why bicker when we should just leave it up to Boulderstar anyway?" Pineshade meows. "Let it go," he adds, glancing over at Swiftpaw, who is watching with wide eyes.

"Let me show you around ShadowClan territory, alright?" Pineshade meows to Swiftpaw. He responds with a nod and the mentor and apprentice pad away as Beetlenose and Milktail apologize to each other.