Driftspeckle's Serenity

Chapter Two

Camp bustled with excitement. Only two moons after Puddlecloud and Beetlepoppy's litter became Hunters, new apprentices were ready to start training and join the oldest five apprentices. The idea of more young joining the promising group only excited the Imperials.

Driftkit stepped up to face of some fifty-odd cats with an aura of calm and perseverance. Apprenticeship was his chance to prove that he could follow in Finchberry's pawsteps as a respected warrior. He needed to be more than an outsider. The tom-kit shivered as the gazed of generations fell upon him; however, his siblings stood beside him with their heads held high, and he joined them in their pride.

Goldenwind stood in front of the entire group, his long golden fur creating a halo to surround him. His mate, kits, and Council alertly guarded him with masks of duty and righteousness. The Seraphim walked closer to the six siblings, his long strides seeming to cause thundering booms in the otherwise silent camp.

"The time has come for Finchberry's kits to rise," Goldenwind said, his green eyes gleaming. "These six kits, born outside of these camp walls and founded by their adoptive mother and Fallowwhisper, have proved themselves to be worthy to become future Hunters. I have chosen your mentors with the aid of my Council. Step forward, kits."

Driftkit stepped forward with his littermates and kept his eyesight fixated on the gold leader. His ears twitched in anticipation as the giddiness he tried to hold in seemingly exploded.

"Vixenkit, you are the eldest of your siblings. The Skywalkers have deemed you a calm, wise, and forgiving soul. Because of your gentle personality, we have assigned Brightsun as your mentor. He will guide you with his wisdom and virtue," Goldenwind commanded. "We welcome you as Vixenpaw the gentle."

Vixenpaw's ginger coat puffed out in excitement as she touched her nose to Brightsun's. After the brief interaction, she left her unnamed siblings to join the cheering crowd in which she now belonged.

Goldenwind faced Volekit next. His eyes reflected a boredom Driftkit couldn't understand, but the kit shrugged it off.

"Volekit, you are the second-in-command to an otherwise uncontrolled group of kits. The Skywalkers have deemed you an energetic, strategic, and intelligent soul. Because of your strategic personality, we have assigned Skylarktuft as your mentor. He will guide you with his optimism and forethought. We welcome you as Volepaw the strategic."

Driftkit smiled as his sister's gold eyes beamed with unusual happiness as she licked the shoulder of her russet-colored mentor, Skylarktuft. He purred as he realized that she would get along with her young mentor quite well.

Infernokit stood to attention as the Seraphim faced her. She stared the leader right is his eyes, challenging him with her growing animosity towards him.

Goldenwind shared her gaze unflinchingly. "Infernokit, you are the leader of your siblings. The Skywalkers have deemed you as a loyal, brave, and leader-like soul. Because of your courageous personality, we have assigned Dewstrike as your mentor. He will guide you with his self-discipline and loyalty. We welcome you as Infernopaw the brave."

More cheers rang throughout camp, but some unwavering stares at his sister made Driftkit shift uncomfortably. Why were some of these cats so interested in Infernopaw? Just because of her well-known bravery?

Driftkit's wandering thoughts quickly snapped away as he shot to attention at the sight of Goldenwind standing before him. The moment he had been waiting for all of his life was finally coming true. He could prove himself to everyone.

"Driftkit, you are the loyal warrior to a fault of your siblings. The Skywalkers have deemed you as observant, quiet, and a plagued soul. We have assigned Swoopshade as your mentor. He will guide you with silent skills and quiet nature. We welcome you as Driftpaw the serene."

Driftpaw's vision blurred as he met a sleek-furred gray tom. Swoopshade, he assumed, touched his nose to his own, and the apprentice smiled widely. He was an apprentice! Following his mentor off to the side, the white tom's eyes filled up with unshed ears. I'm going to make you proud, he thought as he glanced over to a smiling Finchberry.

The newly-made apprentice vaguely heard Goldenwind proclaiming Acornpaw to be generous and Flamepool to be her mentor. Driftpaw let out a sigh of relief when his younger sister came bounding up to him with her mentor.

"We're apprentices!" she squealed, bouncing towards him. "And our mentors are siblings too! We're going to be able to spend so much time together."

Driftpaw purred in happiness as he rubbed his cheek against his sister's. He would never be alone, not with Acornpaw by his side.

Now, there only stood one lone brown tabby tom facing the intimidating Seraphim. Emberkit's eyes shimmered with pride and the thirst of glory, a nature he shared with Infernopaw.

Goldenwind nodded to the kit in acknowledgment. "Emberkit, you may the be the youngest of the litter, but you have a strength many cats wish they possessed. The Skywalkers have deemed you as a strong, cunning, and persevering soul. We have assigned Slatefallow as your mentor. He will guide you with his knowledge and experience. We welcome you as Emberpaw the mighty."

Driftpaw shouted in celebration with the rest of the Purists and Hunters. "Vixenpaw! Volepaw! Infernopaw! Driftpaw! Acornpaw! Emberpaw!" the tom yelled, smiling as the sound of his own name being chanted.

As the hype of the ceremony died down and cats went their separate ways, Swoopshade turned to Driftpaw with a countenance of pride. "I never thought Goldenwind give me another apprentice!"

Driftpaw quirked his head. "Why not? What happened to your other one?"

Swoopshade sighed. "Owlpaw died in the inferno that you were found in. Neither her, her sister, or a purist named Adderflick made it out."

The apprentice shuddered. "I never realized that cats died in that..." Driftpaw admitted quietly.

"Unfortunately, death is inevitable. It takes those who are young and old. The fire decided that three members of the same family would die that day. Things have never been the same for them."

"For who?" Driftpaw asked, curiosity getting the better of him.

"Wavewisp and Jaguarbite," Swoopshade murmured. "Adderflick was Jaguarbite's brother. Owlpaw and Gempaw were their daughters. They only have their son left."

The white-furred apprentice's ears flicked back. "That's horrible!" Driftpaw cried out. "I couldn't imagine that happening to my family. Is their son okay?"

Swoopshade flicked his tail to a smoky black figure on the far side of camp. "That's him. He's quiet and keeps to himself. He only ever talks to his parents it seems like. Most of us worry for him."

"What's his name?" Driftpaw questioned softly.

"Darkripple," Swoopshade whispered.

Driftpaw continued to glance at the mysterious tom, Darkripple, from where he sat. Something seemed off about the feline... and he couldn't figure out why.

Why do I feel like you are going to change everything?

♜

Chapter 2 is here! Some quick notes because some things might be a little confusing:

- Since apprenticeship ceremonies are never shown in the Imperials, I made up one to fit the group. This is absolutely not canon, and I don't believe they really operate like that, but I wanted to go with a unique approach
- The titles the apprentices are given is totally not from the command game but I thought it would fit with the self-righteous attitude of the originals Imperials because of course they would give themselves titles
- Volepaw was made an apprentice with her siblings instead of one moon after because I'm just too lazy to think of a good excuse

Driftpaw meets more cats from the Imperials next chapter. I was going to try and work in some this time, but this chapter just felt right to end it where it did.

Please point out any mistakes you see. I'm publishing this at 10pm, and I'm too lazy to proofread right now.