RainClan Shorts

Juniperpaw and the Mystic Mentor

"Juniperkit! Wake up! It's our ceremony day!" Squealed the high-pitched voice of Juniperpaw's brother, Toadkit.

"SHHhhh! Toadkit! be quiet! You'll wake the other queens," Hissed Kestrelbird, their mother.

"Oh... right" Whispered Toadkit. he looked down, then prodded Juniperkit again.

"KYAA!" He then shrieked, and was bowled over as Juniperkit leapt on him. "No fair, no fair!" He whined. "I wasn't ready."

"Oh my StarClan," Kestrelbird groaned. "Alright. Out. out of the nursery. Come along now." She swept the kits with her tail, then followed them out.

"Kestrelbird! Kits! Did you hear? The ceremony's today!" Darklight, their father, rushed up to them as soon as they set paw outside the nursery.

"Yes honey, we did. That's why they're up so early," Kestrelbird replied.

"Oh. Right. I hope Dewstar gives them both good mentors..." Darklight fretted. "She better,"he added, suddenly stern and angry. "Ah! I can't stand the wait! I'll go tell her to start it now," he was turning in circles, nervously grinding his teeth.

"Oookay, honey, get a hold of yourself," Kestrelbird commanded. Juniperkit giggled. Her Papa was so funny.

".....Okay fine," Muttered Darklight, and hunched his shoulders.

"He's like fire and water," Muttered Kestrelbird, and led the kits toward the fern clump, and began to groom them. "Dewstar.. said that... she would... hold... the ceremony... right after... the... Dawn patrol... gets back," She informed them between licks.

"Hurry up Dawn patrol!" Squealed Toadkit, kneading the ground.

Juniperkit was silent, thinking. Who would be her mentor? She hoped it was someone kind, and a good fighter. She didn't really know all the names of the older warriors, but she had seen a sweet looking grey tabby who might be good.

Poppyquail trotted up to them. "Congrats, kits!" She exclaimed. She was their mother's best friend, and a very nice she-cat in general.

"Thanks!" Toadkit announced, then stuck out his little chest. "I'm gonna be Clan leader one day!"

Poppyquail purred. "Watch out Dewstar!" Then she turned to Juniperkit. "What will you be?"

Juniperkit scrunched up her eyes, thinking. "Well... I guess...  I'll be a cat that... you'd want to fight beside..."

Poppyquail's eyes softened. "A very noble goal," She agreed.

Suddeny, they heard many pawsteps pounding outside the spruce tunnel.

"It's the Dawn Patrol!" shrieked Toadkit, then whirled in a circle, his eyes bulging excitedly. Indeed, it was. Let's see... Thought Juniperkit. There's Mossywhisker leading, with her apprentice Tinypaw... And Frozenmist... and... uh-oh, Talonclaw. Talonclaw scared Juniperkit. He just seemed so battle-hungry and violent. If he's my mentor... She shuddered at the thought. 

Other cats were emerging from their dens. She saw the sweet grey tabby cat. "Mama, who's that?" she asked Kestrelbird.

"Oh, that's Lilacbirch," Responded Kestrelbird. "She's kind, that one."

"Will she be my mentor?" Asked Juniperkit. 

"Oh, I doubt it. There are younger cats who've not yet had one." Kestrelbird said, flicking her tail dismissively.

"Like...?" Juniperkit was determined to get any information she could.

"Oh... Well, Applesun. She's enthusiastic, and has been visiting you kits." Her mother responded.

"Oh yeah..." Juniperkit muttered, thinking of the sweet brown tabby she-cat.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own fish gather beneath the High Branch for a Clan meeting!" Suddenly rang out. Juniperkit looked up to see Dewstar perched high above them.

"IT'S STARTING!" Toadkit shrieked. Kestrelbird nudged them toward the center of the clearing. Juniperkit tried to sit tall, and be serious-looking so that she would get a good mentor.

"We have reached a very important point in two of our kits lives," Dewstar began, her grey fur shimmering in the sunrise. "Toadkit and Juniperkit, please come forward." Juniperkit stepped farther into the clearing, followed by Toadkit. "Tuftynose," Dewstar began. Juniperkit looked quickly around the attending cats, until she caught site of an excited orange and white she-cat. She had seen her around. She always seemed to be joking or laughing. She would be a nice mentor... Juniperkit thought. But I might want a more serious one...

"You are ready to have your first apprentice," Dewstar continued. "You were trained well by Egretneck, and we hope you will pass this on to your apprentice," She paused dramatically "Toadkit."

Juniperkit was relieved and disappointed.

"Toadkit, from this day until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Toadpaw."

"Toadpaw! Toadpaw! Toadpaw!" The cries of the surrounding cats filled the air. Toadkit stepped up to Tuftynose, and touched noses with her.

"Now Shadowsquirrel," Dewstar continued. Juniperkit inwardly sighed. So it won't be Applesun... "You are ready to have your first apprentice. You were trained well by... Our lost friend Blackowl, and we hope... you will pass this knowledge onto your apprentice, Juniperkit. Juniperkit, from this day until your earn your warrior name, you will be known as Juniperpaw."

"Juniperpaw! Juniperpaw! Juniperpaw!" The cry filled the air. Juniperkit raised her head proudly. Then she turned to touch noses with her mentor.

A dark she-cat met her eyes. She had one orange ear, and orange patches on her nose, legs, and tail. Her eyes were a dark amber. Juniperpaw shyly touched the she-cat's nose with her own.

                                           *                                            *                                         *

After the ceremony, Juniperpaw looked up at Shadowsquirrel. "So... um... what will we do first?"

"Special training," Her mentor replied. Juniperpaw quivered with anticipation. 

Shadowsquirrel led her out of camp, and up into the forest. Juniperpaw turned to look at her "So..." Juniperpaw gasped. Shadowsquirrel had disappeared.