Warriors Forbidden Kits

Chapter 3

Snowkit sat anxiously beneath the leader rock. Jaggedstar was ready up there. Shadowkit and Cloudkit sat next to her, and Sunglow was off in the crowd with Thornfur. Snowkit had been right. She had forgotten.

"Today is a very special day." Jaggedstar began. Snowkit's tail twitched. It was finally happening!

"Three of our kits have reached the age of six moons. They are now ready to be apprentices. Bramblespike, step forward." Jaggedstar commanded. A brown and white tom stepped forward.

"You have served your clan well over the years. Are you ready for an apprentice?" Jaggedstar asked. Bramblespike nodded.

"Shadowkit, step forward." Jaggedstar said. Shadow stepped forward boldly.

"Bramblespike, you will be Shadowkit's mentor. May you pass your strength and power to him, and may he obey you in turn. Shadowkit, from now on you will be known as Shadowpaw." Jaggedstar announced.

"Shadowpaw! Shadowpaw!" The clan cheered. Shadowpaw and Bramblespike nodded to each other, then sat together.

"Thundertail, step forward." Jaggedstar commanded. A young orange tom stepped forward. Snowkit was surprised. He was only a few moons older than her, having had become a real warrior two days ago.

"You have served your clan well. Are you ready for an apprentice?" Jaggedstar asked. Thundertail nodded.

"Snowkit, step forward." Jaggedstar continued. Snowkit blinked. He was going to be her mentor? Thundertail? Was this some sort of dream come true? Thundertail was way too cute to be a mentor! She finally took a step forward.

"Thundertail, you will be Snowkit's mentor. May you pass your speed and skills to her, and may she obey you in turn. Snowkit, from now on you will be known as Snowpaw." Jaggedstar announced.

"Snowpaw! Snowpaw!" The clan cheered. Snowpaw and Thundertail nodded to each other, then the two cats went and sat together. Jaggedstar glanced at Cloudkit.

"Cloudkit, step forward." Jaggedstar commanded. Cloudkit blinked in confusion, then stepped forward.

"You are a special kit Cloudkit. I will personally be your mentor." Jaggedstar announced. Cloudkit blinked again, staring at Jaggedstar in surprise. The clan was silent. Was the leader allowed to give himself an apprentice?

"Cloudkit, from now on you will be known as Cloudpaw." Jaggedstar announced. The clan finally ended its silent thinking.

"Cloudpaw! Cloudpaw!" The clan cheered. Cloudpaw nodded stiffly to Jaggedstar, who nodded back, then he sat alone by his siblings.

"Waterclan now has three new apprentices! May they learn the ways of the water." Jaggedstar yowled. He jumped down and congratulated the apprentices, then sat beside Cloudpaw. The clan congratulated the trio, but Snowkit noticed with a sigh that Sunglow and Thornfur weren't among them.

"I'll show you around the territory, and then we can work on some battle moves Cloudpaw." Jaggedstar told him. Cloudpaw's ears flicked.

"But it's my first day!" He said.

"Exactly. We need all the time we can get to shape you into the fine warrior you're going to be." Jaggedstar said, standing up and walking towards the camp entrance.

"Ok..." Cloudpaw said, hurrying after him.

"What about us?" Shadowpaw asked Bramblespike.

"We can go for a tour, but then you need to rest. Tomorrow is going to be a big day." Bramblespike told Shadowpaw. Shadowpaw jumped up excitedly and followed Bramblespike out of the camp. Snowpaw glanced at Thundertail.

"So..." She started. Thundertail glanced at her, and she froze, staring at his eyes. Those bright green eyes...

"Thank you for being my apprentice Snowpaw." Thundertail said. Snowkit felt her fur burn.

"It didn't really have anything to do with me. Thanks for being my mentor." Snowpaw said. Thundertail smiled.

"I was happy to. I've always noticed you. You're a very special cat." He said. Snowpaw looked away.

"Let's go see the territory." Thundertail finally said, brushing Snowpaw with his tail as he stood. Snowpaw jumped up and followed him happily. Maybe she wouldn't need to leave the clan when she became a warrior. Or maybe she wouldn't have to leave the clan alone. If things worked out of course.