Roaring Thunder: Rising Flames

Chapter 1

Stormkit stretched as her mother, Redwing, groomed Jaykit's fur.

"Redwing!" Jaykit complained. "I can do it myself!"

"Your fur needs to be clean accurately," Redwing mewed. "And I know you can do it yourself, but it needs to be better."

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey," Vinestar yowled. Stormkit, Robinkit, Sparrowkit, Jaykit and Swallowkit bounded out into the clearing. Redwing and Stoneflight, the kits' mother and father, sat behind them.

"Moonkit, Starkit, Nightkit, Stormkit, Jaykit, Robinkit, Sparrowkit and Swallowkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Stormpaw, Jaypaw, Robinpaw, Sparrowpaw and Swallowpaw. Stormpaw, your mentor will be Stagclaw. I hope Stagclaw will pass down all he knows on to you," Vinestar announced. Stormpaw and Stagclaw padded to each other and touched noses.

"Jaypaw, your mentor will be Mossyleaf," Vinestar continued. "I hope Mossyleaf will pass down all she knows to you." Jaypaw and Mossyleaf touched noses, Mossyleaf's green eyes blazed with joy.

"Robinpaw, your mentor will be Doestrike," Vinestar yowled from Highrock. "I hope Doestrike will pass down all she knows onto you." Robinpaw and Doestrike touched noses. Doestrike smiled at Robinpaw. Swallowpaw and Sparrowpaw sat, shifting their weight often. Starpaw, Whitenose and Sandfeather's daughter, sat anxiously. Her sisters, Nightpaw and Moonpaw, also sat around.

"Sparrowpaw, your mentor will be Shortpelt," Vinestar called. "I hope Shortpelt will pass on all he knows onto you." - Sparrowpaw and Shortpelt touched noses - "Swallowpaw, your mentor will be Sandfeather. I hope Sandfeather passes on all he knows onto you." Starpaw got Hailcloud as her mentor, Moonpaw got Brooktail and Nightpaw got Fawnspots. Stormpaw smiled as she joined her denmates.

"I'm so excited!" Nightpaw exclaimed. "I can't wait to fight!" Starpaw sat and groomed her tail. The white flecks on her were beautiful, and Jaypaw smiled at her. Starpaw smiled back. She padded off to the medicine den. Hailcloud and Amberfleck welcomed her. Jaypaw watched sadly as she disapeared through the ferns.

"I know you love her," Stormpaw hissed. "She's going to be a medicine cat." Jaypaw nodded.

"I know," he replied. "But she's so pretty." Jaypaw sighed. Suddenly, Mossyleaf padded up with Stagclaw.

"Jaypaw, Stormpaw," Stagclaw meowed. "It's time for training." Brooktail and Fawnspots picked up Nightpaw and Moonpaw.

"What's first?" Nightpaw asked, bouncing around. "Battle training? Hunting practice?"

"Learning the territory," Brooktail meowed. Fawnspots nodded and Nightpaw deflated.

"Jaypaw," Mossyleaf meowed. "Come on!" Jaypaw nodded, flashing a glance at the medicine den. Stagclaw flicked Stormpaw's ears playfully with his tail. Stormpaw gasped.

"Stagclaw!" she gasped playfully. "You are the deputy!" Stagclaw laughed. Suddenly, a cat about six moons old pushed through the tunnel. She was gasping. Her fur was torn and ragged, and was a beautiful ginger.

"I'm Red," she panted. "I want to join your Clan." Stormpaw looked at Red.

"Okay then!" Vinestar mewed. "Red, from now on, you will be known as Brindlepaw. Your mentor will be Deerstrike. I hope Deerstrike will pass on all he knows onto you." Deerstrike padded up to Brindlepaw. She looked quizzically at the other apprentices.

"Touch his nose," Stormpaw hissed at Brindlepaw. The apprentice nodded quickly and stretched her legs to touch Deerstrike's nose. Stormpaw sat back, smiled, and followed Stagclaw out of camp to start her training.