Warriors: Eclipsepaw's Hatred (Complete)

Chapter 3

 ''Who do you think your mentor will be?''

 Eclipsekit didn't even bother opening her eyes. A moon passed since Russetkit joined the Clan, and her mother still didn't come to take her back. She was now getting along with Leopardkit, Violetkit, Sweetkit and Petalkit, and already knew the warrior code and all the ranks.

 ''I don't know.'' Russetkit murmured. ''But I don't want a strict mentor.'' She said. 

 Violetkit purred. ''I'm sure nobody wants a strict mentor, but not a mouse-brained one, either.''

 Did she just call some cats mouse-brained? Eclipsekit thought, surprised. Leopardkit laughed. ''Exactly! For example, if Juniperpaw becomes a warrior, I wouldn't want him to be my mentor! Yesterday, he got his paw bitten by a squirrel he wanted to catch. How dumb is that?''

 Eclipsekit opened her eyes just to see everyone's expressions. Sweetkit was silent. 

 ''Well, maybe it was another squirrel who bit him.. I mean, while he tried to hunt that squirrel, another one bit his paw.'' Petalkit meowed. 

 Sweetkit nodded. ''Yeah, no need to call him mouse-brain.''

 ''But it's embarrassing!'' Leopardkit meowed. ''I mean, getting bit by a squirrel? Seriously? Out of everything?'' 

 ''Honestly, of all cats, you should've been bit.'' Eclipsekit growled, and left the nursery before Leopardkit could respond. She looked around with her right eye, and padded towards Butterflykit, who was playing with a leaf.

 ''What are you doing?''

 ''Playing with a leaf. It's trying to take our fresh-kill!''

 Eclipsekit smiled. In two moons, they were going to be apprentices, but her friend was still playing with a leaf. ''Oh no, save us, Butterflystar!''

 Butterflykit purred. ''I will, Eclipseheart.'' She meowed. Before Eclipsekit could say something, Juniperpaw limped out of the medicine cat's den. Both kits looked at him.

 ''Are you okay, Juniperpaw?'' Butterflykit asked. 

 The white tom looked at the kits. His dark blue eyes gave a sign of annoyance. ''Yes, I'm okay. Just angry at myself for getting bit by a stupid squirrel while trying to hunt it.'' 

''Be happy that you didn't get killed by it!'' A dark brown tom laughed. ''It would've been really embarrassing if you got killed by it.''

 ''At least I would've been in StarClan then, Stonepaw. And nobody could laugh at me.'' Juniperpaw rolled his eyes. The brown apprentice laughed. His amber eyes were fixed on Juniperpaw's limp paw.

 ''It's just a small cut. Soon, it'll be healed and you can hunt and fight again- oh, hi Eclipsekit, Butterflykit!'' Stonepaw smiled. ''I didn't see you there.''

 ''Hi!'' Butterflykit responded. ''How is apprenticeship?'' She asked, going towards the apprentices. Eclipsekit followed. 

 ''Well, it's pretty interesting. You get to hunt and fight.''

 ''And take care of the elders if they have ticks.'' Juniperpaw added. 

 Stonepaw nudged him. ''Hush!'' He meowed. 

 The white apprentice rolled his eyes. ''It's the truth.''

 Eclipsekit smiled. ''I'll leave you alone now. Bye.'' She turned and left. Butterflykit followed Eclipsekit after saying goodbye to the two apprentices.

 ''I can't wait to become an apprentice!'' Butterflykit smiled. ''It sounds amazing, hunting and fighting.. poor Turtlepaw, she has to be stuck in the medicine cat's den!'' The black-and-ginger kit meowed. 

 ''Well, Turtlepaw likes being there, and I think she wanted to be a medicine cat, so it's her choice.'' Eclipsekit meowed. 

 Butterflykit nodded. ''True, but I don't want to be a medicine cat. I want to be a warrior!''

 ''Same!'' Eclipsekit purred. ''Just think about it. Hunting for your Clan, fighting for your Clan..'' The black-and-white kit meowed. ''But I wonder how life of a deputy is.. Barkclaw, my father, is the deputy!''

 Butterflykit stared at her, wide-eyed. ''Oh, yeah! I think deputy life is more interesting than warrior life!'' She purred. 

 Eclipsekit nodded. ''Yeah! Let's go ask my father.'' Butterflykit nodded and the two kits padded towards Barkclaw.

 The brown tabby tom was eating a bird. He then noticed the two kits padding towards him and he turned his amber eyes towards them. ''Eclipsekit, Butterflykit!'' He greeted the kits.

 ''Hi, father!'' Eclipsekit smiled. 

 Barkclaw looked at them. ''I know you want to ask something. What is it?'' He asked. 

 Butterflykit sat. ''Well, me and Eclipsekit were wondering how deputy life is. So? Can you please explain?''

 ''Yes, father, please!'' Eclipsekit meowed. 

 Barkclaw laughed. ''Of course. Well, a deputy, of course, hunts and fight, but they also make patrols. They tell cats when to hunt or patrol. So they do more than warriors.''

 ''But is it true that deputies become leaders after the current leader dies or retires?'' She asked. 

 Barkclaw nodded. ''Yes, so one day, I might become Barkstar, but I hope not soon. Dreamstar is a great leader.''

 Butterflykit looked at the leader's den. ''For how long has Dreamstar been leader?'' She asked. 

 Barkclaw thought for a little before answering. ''For around eight moons.'' He told them. ''I'm her first deputy. I'm lucky to still be alive.''

''Woah, that's a lot!'' Eclipsekit meowed. 

 Barkclaw nodded. ''Well, some leaders live even more, I can't say for how long. Until StarClan calls them.'' He added.

 Butterflykit smiled. ''I'm sure StarClan is a wonderful place.'' She murmured. 

 Barkclaw nodded. ''It sure is. And everyone there is watching over their Clan.''

 ''I hope we'll be there one day.'' Eclipsekit meowed. 

 Barkclaw nodded. ''You both sure will be, but you still have a lot to learn, so not very soon.''

 ''I wouldn't want to join StarClan soon.'' Butterflykit meowed. ''I want to live to become a warrior.'' She added. 

 Eclipsekit nodded. ''Me too! We'll be the best warriors, and we will protect each other in battles!''

 Barkclaw purred. ''I'm happy to see that you two have a really strong bond. I'm sure you'll be great warriors. Now, if you excuse me, I have to talk with Dreamstar.'' Barkclaw finished his bird and got up, padding towards the leader's den.

 Butterflykit stared after him. ''Deputy life seems interesting, but hard.'' She meowed. 

 Eclipsekit nodded. ''Exactly, but I don't want to become deputy. My dream is to serve my Clan as a warrior.''

 ''Same!'' Butterflykit meowed. ''But.. did you really mean it? That.. we'll protect each other in battles?'' She asked. 

 Eclipsekit looked surprised. ''Of course! Why do you ask?''

 ''Well, Sweetkit and Petalkit promised that to me when we were friends, but now they only hang out with Leopardkit and Violetkit.. I don't want that to happen again.'' Butterflykit sighed.

 Eclipsekit smiled. ''Don't worry. We will be friends forever and we will protect each other from battles. Always.''

 Butterflykit looked at Eclipsekit, surprised, but then purred. ''Thank you, Eclipsekit, you're the best friend I could've hoped for.''