Edited! 👌

Chapter 14: The Apprentices

Redblaze followed the patrol as night fell and cool air ruffled the pelts of the warriors. They followed Featherstone's instructions, and padded to the Twolegplace. The sun was cresting the horizon when they arrived.

"Aaron!" Berrygaze yowled, hoping for an answer. And an answer they did get. A light brown cat appeared in front of them after jumping off a sleeping monster.

"You looking for me?" He asked, knowing full well the Clan cats were. Unfamiliar scents slammed into Redblaze's tongue, and she didn't like any of them. Aaron didn't let the cats answer. "Hey guys! Come out! Clan cats!" He called. He had a shiny blue thing around his neck. Then four cats padded forward, the fact evident that they were kittypets.

"Who are they?" Swiftwind asked.

"Well, 'they' are Barry, Ausia, Kraken, and Daryl." Aaron mewed matter-of-factly.

"Why did Featherstone want kittypets?" Berrygaze hissed. Redblaze and Swiftwind shrugged.

"Featherstone wanted you to come and join the Clan." Swiftwind mewed with gritted teeth.

"Really?" A silver she-cat widened her eyes.

"Ausia, we will finally meet a Clan!" Whispered a tortoiseshell tom. Never see toms like that... Redblaze thought, ears flicking. The five cats padded forward excitedly.

"Well, what're we waiting for? Let's go!" A blue-gray cat whispered happily. They made the journey again, but the Clan cats were just glad to no longer be in Twolegplace. It was sunhigh when they returned.

"You're back!" Featherstone greeted. One body lay in the clearing. There was a large hole outside the camp. The five kittypets didn't look uneasy, though. They were more excited then a fox in a nursery. Redblaze stepped forward.

"I think I would like Ausia to be my apprentice." Redblaze whispered. She could see the potential in the young cat.

"Very well. By the way, Redblaze, you will have to call me Featherstar." Featherstar then promptly leaped onto the rock in between the two large spires.

"Come on. When she says that, we all gather here." Swiftwind whispered to the five new cats.

"We have some new cats joining us today. I met them, and they have great potential. First, take off your collars." Featherstar began. The five cats eagerly scratched at their necks, and tugged the things off. They quickly scuffled them in the dirt. Featherstar smiled. "I believe they are ready." Featherstar mewed.

"Go on up." Redblaze mewed to the five cats. She tried as hard as she could to be nice. This is your path to leadership. Redblaze reassured herself.

"Aaron, you first. I, Featherstar, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this cat, for he is strong and determined enough and will quickly learn the warrior code as well as any warrior. Aaron, do you promise to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?" Featherstar mewed, changing the words slightly to apply to Aaron's kittypet origins.

"I do." Aaron puffed out his chest, a hopeful look in his eyes.

"Aaron, from this point forward your name shall be Bramblefur. StarClan will honor your eagerness and determination, and we will welcome you as a full warrior of SunClan." Featherstar rested her muzzle of Bramblefur's head, and whispered something to him. He then promptly licked Featherstar's shoulder.

"B- Bramblefur! Bramblefur!" The Clan started out shaky, unsure of the new cat. But they cheered, and that was all that mattered to Baramblefur. Featherstar turned to Barry, Ausia, Kraken, and Daryl.

"You four cats are around six moons old, and able to become apprentices. From this point forward, until you relieve your warrior names, you will be known as Mottledpaw, Shiningpaw, Rushpaw, and Groundpaw." Featherstar began. "Meltedfur, you will mentor Mottledpaw. I hope you show him all of your vast knowledge. Redblaze, you will mentor Shiningpaw. I know this is your first apprentice, but I have great faith in you. Snowwish, you will mentor Rushpaw. I know this is also your first apprentice, but you will do well. Robincall, you will mentor Groundpaw. This may be your first apprentice, but you will train him well." The apprentices all touched noses with their new mentors after being told to do so, and the Clan cheered.

"Mottledpaw! Shiningpaw! Rushpaw! Groundpaw!" The Clan chanted, happy for new life. Redblaze gave her new apprentice a warm look. When I am leader of a new, strong Clan, you will be a valuable asset. Redblaze was determined to make sure Shiningpaw was the perfect warrior. Just not as perfect as her. She will learn to follow my every command.