Dark Skies- Book #2 in Sunrise

                                                                                                  Chapter 5
Jadekit trembled with excitement. Finally! I'm going to be an apprentice! Ravenstar was on Highrock, ready to make seven kits apprentices. Starlight began to lick his paw and draw it over her ear, and Jadekit sat still. "Cloudkit!" The Clan stilled at his aggressive way of silencing the Clan. Cloudkit stepped forward, and Jadekit could see his paws trembling. "You have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to become an apprentice. From this day until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Cloudpaw. Your mentor will be Scatfur. I hope Scatfur can pass on all that he knows down to you. Scatfur, please step forward." From the crowd, a dark brown tom with hazel eyes stepped forward, his tail twitching.

"Scatfur, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have received excellent training from Creamcall, and you have shown yourself to be hardworking and loyal. You will be the mentor of Cloudpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to him." Cloudpaw and Scatfur touched noses, and when they fell back into the crowd, the Clan began to cheer. "Cloudpaw! Cloudpaw! Cloudpaw!" Jadekit cheered, looking happily around at her Clanmates. When Goldenpaw and Hawkpaw got apprenticed to Peppernose and Twitchheart, Jadekit began to grow anxious for her turn to arrive.

"Deathkit, please step forward." That cat makes my fur stand on end. Drizzlekit hesitantly stepped out from the crowd, looking towards the sunny sky to meet eyes with Ravenstar. "You have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to become an apprentice. From this day until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Deathpaw. Your mentor will be Clawbark. I hope Clawbark can pass on all that he knows down to you. Clawbark, please step forward." A muscular dark-colored tom stepped up to Highrock, the sun reflecting off of his pelt. "Clawbark, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have received excellent training from Flipnose, and you have shown yourself to be determined and kind to your Clanmates. You will be the mentor of Deathpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to him."

Again, the Clan began to cheer Drizzlepaw's new name. "Deathpaw! Deathpaw! Deathpaw!" They didn't cheer as loud, though, as if they weren't sure what to call him. Almost every cat in the Clan had heard his sad story. "Jadekit, please step forward." With a speeding heart and shaking paws, Jadekit did so. "You have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to become an apprentice. From this day until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Jadepaw." Wow, Jadepaw! It sounds real nice. "I will be your mentor." Jadekit felt her heart freeze and stop beating before it resumed, beating faster than ever.

Oh no, not with him! He'll make a fool of me and I'll never be made deputy because he'll.... The Clan quieted, breaths being taken in. "How long has it been since a leader took an apprentice?" She heard Bristlefur whisper from behind her. Ravenstar climbed down from the rock, and Jadekit's fur tingled at the silence. She could hear Ravenstar's paws stepping on the springy dew covered grass. "I feel that I am ready to take on an apprentice." This was the most awkward speech Jadekit had heard in her life. "And, to be Clan leader, it is required that you be brave and loyal to my Clan." Ravenstar let out an awkward sigh. "Which is why I have decided to become your mentor. I will pass on all I know to you."

When she and Ravenstar touched noses, she felt electricity spark through her. His nose was cold, as if all it had experienced was Leaf-Bare. As he drew back, she felt his gray whiskers brush her cheek. "Jadepaw! Jadepaw! Jadepaw! Jadepaw!" The Clan cheered her whole name, and she felt special that out of six other kits, he had chosen her.
                                                                                                        .  .  .
Jadepaw padded nervously through the woods with Ravenstar. They were taking a tour of the territory, and it was, she soon learned, a lot colder when the trees shaded them from the sun. He knelt down to face Jadepaw at eye level. "Okay, listen to me. If I order you to do something, you do it. I hope we can be friends, just, it's a lot of pressure mentoring an apprentice. My reputation depends on you becoming an excellent warrior." So that's why leaders don't take apprentices. Jadekit was shaking. Again, she didn't like being looked at, especially not like this.