When Spiderwing saw him approaching, she let out a yelp of distress.
"Rainkit!" She reached out a paw to draw him over to her. "Why, your fur looks like a bird's been nesting in it!"
While Rainkit didn't protest as Spiderwing's rough tongue made its way through his tangled pelt. He couldn't help but cringe a little at having the she-cat groom him in front of the whole clan. Oh Spiderwing, don't you know that I'm old enough to groom myself? He grumbled to himself.
"So," Rainkit glanced up at the calm, deep voice, meeting Stormtree's calm dark blue eyes. "Today's your apprentice ceremony, how do you feel, little one?"
Like I'm gonna be sick, Rainkit realized. Swallowing the bile that was rising in his throat, as for the first time he noticed all the cats that had made their way out into the clearing. I didn't even know there were this many cats in the clan! Rainkit flexed his claws in and out in apprehensive. What if I mess up in front of all of them?
Stormtree let out soft marrow of laughter, drawing him momentarily from his troubles.
"Nervous, uh?" The gray tom's voice was reassuring. "Don't worry, I don't know of a kit yet who hasn't been an anxious wreck during their apprentice ceremony."
Snakekit stopped chattering with Flickerkit a heartbeat to glance over, his little chest puffed up in indignation.
"I'm not!" He protested loudly, Stormtree glimpsed around his mate at the kit.
"Just wait until Ratstar calls you up little one, you'll see what I mean then" He purred, his tone showing just how sure he was of this. Although, Rainkit couldn't help but disagree, Snakekit isn't afraid of anything! He thought, opening his mouth to defend his littermate. When a loud yowl lit the clearing.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather around the fang rock for a clan meeting!" Rainkit swallowed the lump in his throat as he watched Ratstar sit down calmly at the top of the huge rock. Oh, Starclan! I don't think I can do this! Rainkit quivered, wishing dearly at this moment the ground would open and swallow him up.
he felt something nudge his hindquarters gently and glanced up to see Spiderwing gazing down on him with soft, loving, eyes.
"Go on," she purred gently, giving him another push in the right direction. "I'll be right here if you need me."
That was enough to make Rainkit force his trembling paws to move him toward Fang rock. Flickerkit and Snakekit are already there. He noticed, wondering why he hadn't noticed the two go past him. he walked up to join his littermate and friend. Snakekit gave him affection nudge, and Flickerkit flicked him playfully across an ear with his tail. Rainkit felt a warmth in his stomach, sure is nice to know I'll always have all these cats backing me up. He purred deep in his throat.
"Cats of Forestclan!" Ratstar's barton voice pulled Rainkit from his thinkings, he peered up at the leader to find him glancing down at him. "Today is a very important day in the life of a Clan, the making of new apprentices. Snakekit, Flickerkit, Rainkit, come forward."
Rainkit shuddered with anticipation as he did what he was told. I can't believe this is really it!
"Flickerkit, from this day forward until you receive your warrior name you shall be known as Flickerpaw." The great black cat scanned the clearing, as did Rainkit. Wonder who he'll pick to be Flickerkit-opps- I mean Flickerpaw's mentor? He pondered.
"Your mentor shall be Pouncefur." Rainkit watched as a rather slender calico she-cat leaped up from her place at the back of the crowd. The cats in her way moved to the side a bit, making it possible for her to get through. Pouncefur came to rest at the foot of Fang rock with the three kits.
"Pouncefur, I know you are a newer Warrior," Ratstar meowed. "However, I have no doubt in your abilities, abilities I have no doubt you will pass on to your new apprentice."
"I-I'll d-do my best Ratstar!" Calico mewed timidly, moveing over to rub noses with her new apprentice. Before heading back over to the other cats, Flickerkit at her paws.
"Snakekit," Rainkit heard his brothers breathing go shallow, uh, what do you know? Stormtree was right, he's as nervous as I am! "from his day forward until you receive your warrior name, you shall be known as Snakepaw."
Rainkit couldn't help a slight frown as he noticed something, it's Snakepaw's ceremony and dad still won't look at him...
"Scarletclaw, you are a stunning hunter, a patient teacher, and an admirable fighter." Rainkit glanced over his shoulder as a reddish-brown, she-cat stepped elegantly from the shadows of her clanmates and into the sunlight. Her pelt looks like flames! Rainkit couldn't but feel Intimidated by the sturdy warrior. She looks young too, At least Snakekit got his wish there.
"And I know you will pass these skills into your new apprentice, Snakepaw."
Scarletclaw gave her head a slight incline, before stepping forward and bopping her apprentice on the nose. She whispered something to Snakepaw as well, but it was too quiet for Rainkit to make out the words. Whatever it was the flame colored cat had said, it was enough to make Snakepaw grin.
"Rainkit," Rainkit's heart stopped beating, he forced his head to lift, and his eyes met his fathers. He relaxed slightly when Ratstar gave him a quick smile. It's ok, just breath, in, out, in, out, Rainkit repeated over and over again in his head, his claws digging deep into the dirt.
"From this moment on you shall be known as, Rainpaw." All Rainpaw could do was watch as his father once more peered out over the clan. Please don't give me someone awful! He begged the leader, hoping Ratstar might just be able to read minds. Ratstar's searching eyes stopped moving, resting on something. Rainpaw tried to follow his gaze, however too many cats blocked his vision for him to be able to see what it was his dad was looking at. Ratstar looked briefly troubled, before glancing briefly upwards, than back again.
"Pantherleap-." He began slowly, only to be cut off as a huge brown and black tabby tom, with silver eyes, and rather long claws, about leaped over all the other cats, coming to rest right below Fang rock.
"Ratstar!" The tabby hissed beside Rainpaw, his voice smooth as ice. "You can't seriously be considering-."
"Last time I checked." Rainpaw shuddered at the dark tone his father now spoke in. "It's rather disrespectful to interrupt your leader when he's speaking."
The tabby, Pantherleap, bared his fangs. Rainpaw shivered at the pure hate in the tom's silver eyes. does he really not want to be my mentor that badly? Rainpaw thought, a feeling of deep hurt hitting his stomach. He shoved it away, or maybe he just doesn't like dad?
"Ratstar-." Pantherleap tried again, his sharp voice turning somewhat frantic.
"Pantherleap will be your mentor." Ratstar went on firmly, as though the exchange had never occurred. "Pantherleap you are a... strong, brave, cunning, warrior and I know you will pace on these skills to Rainpaw."
Rainpaw hesitated, this is where we're supposed to rub noses. He realized, glancing sideways at Pantherleap. But I'm worried if I go near him he'll claw my ears off.
However, before Rainpaw knew what was happening, his new mentor walked over to him. Shoved his face down, and pressed his nose hard against Rainpaws. Rainpaw blinked as he noticed the hatred he had thought was directed at his father still in the tom cat's eyes as he gazed down at the 'paw.
"I'll try my best?" Rainpaw whispered into the cat's black ears, gulping as Pantherleap glared at him coldly.
"You better."
YOU ARE READING
Warrior cats: Rainstar's Choice
Fanfiction"blood is thicker than water" was a saying that Rainfur held close to heart. After all, nothing was more important to him than his brother, Snakeheart. But what happens when strange killings start happening among the Clans? and all of them seem to l...
