A Misty Path (A Warrior Cats Fanfiction)

Chapter 2

"Congratulations, Mistkit!" squealed Mudkit, his short stout body bouncing about excitedly. "Oh, I'm so excited!"

Sandkit placed one pale ginger paw on his brother's head. "Shut up, Mudkit," he meowed, but his green eyes glowed with joy as well. He beamed at the silver striped she-cat. "It'll be Mistpaw soon," he reminded his brother.

Mistkit looked over the younger kits' heads, and saw the gray figure of Palestar, the young leader of RiverClan, talking with a small group of warriors. Excitement tingled at her paws. This is it! she thought, thrilled. After sunhigh today, I'll be a fully fledged apprentice of RiverClan! Then Frostspike's kits will have to respect me!

"Are you excited?" Cloudpool appeared at her daughter's side. She inspected her kit's groomed fur, searching for bits of moss and dust in her gray pelt. Finally, she purred, "You're ready, my kit."

"Are you nervous?" asked Sandkit anxiously.

Mistkit twitched an ear. "Not really," she replied. "I'm too excited!"

Cloudpool laughed. "Well, you'll have to wait a little while longer," she meowed. "Palestar still needs to find you a mentor."

A mentor! Another surge of hype flowed through her body and warmed her pelt. "Who was your mentor?" she asked her mother.

Cloudpool smiled and flicked her tail at an elderly pale ginger warrior. "Sandycove. She was excellent."

"I want her as a mentor then!" Mistkit declared. "I want your mentor!"

Cloudpool smiled. "I doubt you'll get her," she confessed. "She's getting old; in fact, she should be an elder by now, but she always refuses." She wrapped her tail over her kit's shoulders. "Let's go, it looks like Palestar is ready."

The group padded into the crowd, where Palestar was summoning the Clan: "Let all cats old enough to swim gather in the clearing for a Clan meeting!"

"Let's go!" chanted Mudkit as Speckledkit appeared from the nursery, her slim eyes wide. She nodded at Mistkit as she accompanied her brothers to the front, where they excitedly sat. Mistkit followed Cloudpool to the front beside Tawnytail's children. Palestar smiled down at her, and stepped forwards. Beside him was the radiant and brave deputy Iceshine and the kind beautiful medicine cat Mistlefrost.

"Today is a ceremony we have not had in a very long while," Palestar began. "For the first time in years, we have been blessed with kits. And today, the first apprentice in many seasons will be made! Mistkit. Step forth."

Standing up, Mistkit padded up to her leader. She gazed up at him, his hard yellow eyes, his pale gray face, his gentle smile. He grinned proudly down at her. "Mistkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to begin your training as an apprentice. From this day forth, until you earn your full warrior name, you will be known as Mistpaw." He lifted his head, scanning the crowd for the warrior he had chosen as her mentor. Finally, he spoke: "Perchscale." The dark gray warrior, so similar to his brother Beetleshell, stepped forwards into the clearing. He stood before Mistpaw, his green eyes identical to his littermate's. "You are ready for your first apprentice. You are a brave and ambitious warrior, and I hope you pass on all your skills to Mistpaw."

Perchscale dipped his dark head. "I won't let you down, Palestar." He then turned to Mistpaw, and bent his head. She gulped. What do I do? She had never watched an apprentice ceremony before, what was she supposed to do? Should I say something? Should I touch him? Am I supposed to lick him or something? Seeing her uncertainty, Perchscale leaned forwards and touched her nose gently with his. He straightened up, and she gazed, awed, at the crowd as they joyously cheered: "Mistpaw!" "Mistpaw!" "Mistpaw!" She could see Cloudpool in the swimming blur of faces, now accompanied by Beetleshell. Cloudpool's unusual amber eyes were brimming with joy, and Beetleshell had the widest grin she'd ever seen on his face. Her eyes scanned the crowd and saw Sandkit, Mudkit and, to her surprise, the quiet Speckledkit, were all cheering enthusiastically, drowning out the reluctant groans of Whitekit, Willowkit, Snowkit and Mossykit.

But as she, following her new mentor, padded through the dispersing crowd,  she heard a snippet of conversation.  The elders, Goldenfur, Stoneleap and Larkbird, were huddled at the back, muttering. Pricking her ears as she rushed forwards to catch up with Perchscale's long-legged strides, she heard the pessimistic Stoneleap murmur: "I still don't think it's a good idea to make her an apprentice. Have you seen her eyes? There's something messed up with that kit. I think we'd all be better off without her."