"Mom! You already groomed me twice!" Softkit wailed.
"Well, you keep rolling in dust, so it's not my fault!"
Today was our apprentice ceremony. I had already gotten my fur groomed, and so had Goldenkit. She was really excited to become a medicine cat. I didn't want to be a medicine cat, I found it too boring. But I did keep the things I had learned there in mind in case I was ever needed to help.
So little had happened in the past three moons. Grassgaze had moved to the nursery, expecting Foxrunner's kits, and Birchpaw was be mentored by Sandstream.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join below the Wishing Ledge for a Clan meeting."
That was our cue. We walked out and sat in a space cleared out among our Clanmates.
"Today we welcome three new apprentices into the Clan. Softkit, Goldenkit, and Rainkit have lived with us for six moons, and they are now ready to become apprentices. Softkit, come forward."
Softkit stepped up with a smug look on her face.
"Softkit, from this moment on you shall be known as Softpaw. Jaywillow, you shall mentor Softpaw. Listen carefully to Jaywillow Softpaw, as she provides careful training."
"Goldenkit, step forward."
Goldenkit stepped forward.
"Goldenkit, you shall be known as Goldenpaw. You have asked for the role of medicine cat apprentice, and Wishberry accepts your request. Wishberry, train her to be as good of a medicine cat as you are."
"Rainkit, come forward."
I stepped forward, nervous as a squirrel being hunted.
"I have thought long and hard on who shall mentor you. From this moment on, I name you Rainpaw. Volewhisker, Rainpaw will be your first apprentice. Train her like Fishshine did to you."
Volewhisker was a great cat! I liked him, and I knew we would be a great team.
I walked over to him and touched my nose to his. He whispered "Don't worry, we will be great together."
I purred.
Flightstar wasn't finished. She said "The gathering is tonight. I will be taking Wishberry, Fishshine, Ravenfeather, Silentshadow, Thistlestrike, Sandstream, Birchpaw, Icepaw, Redpaw, and Thornwhisper."
I didn't feel sad. I didn't expect to go to a Gathering on my first day as an apprentice.
Birchpaw came up to me "I'll tell you all about it tomorrow. I made your nest already, it's right by mine, against the warmest wall."
I started to thank him when Volewhisker came up to me. "Sorry to interrupt, but it's time I took Rainpaw out to see the territory."
Birchpaw nodded "Of course. Sorry Volewhisker. I'd better go find Sandstream before I get in trouble." And with that he walked off.
We met with Gingerpaw and her mentor, Ravenfeather. They would be remarking the borders while I would be getting a tour. We headed to the first border.
Volewhisker said "This is our border with SunClan. They smell like moor because that's where they live."
Ravenfeather pricked his ears "SunClan patrol! It doesn't smell like a normal patrol!"
At that moment, a large group of cats came out on the other side of the border.
The head of the patrol growled "So! Featherstar was right! You are trying to trespass!"
Ravenfeather hissed "We are on our own side Flamesky!"
Volewhisker whispered to me "Go back to camp fast and tell Flightstar to get here now!"
I nodded and I raced off towards camp. I heard yowls saying "Stop her!" But I kept on running. I heard them catching up as I burst into camp. I yowled "SunClan is attacking by the border!"
Flightstar looked at me alarmed. She called "Hailstorm, Sandstream! Birchpaw! Silentshadow, Sorrelcloud! Thornwhisper! Jaywillow! Willowsky! Dappledcloud! Cinderflight! Icepaw! Redpaw! Follow Rainpaw to the border. Rainpaw, do not fight unless someone attacks first!"
I nodded and tried to remember the route to the border. I raced the path with the patrol behind me. I went back based on the yowling of my patrol as they were brutally out numbered. I crouched in the bushes as the now outnumbered SunClan patrol was driven off. I heard them calling "Rainpaw, your safe. But there's something you need to see."
I slipped out and Volewhisker waved me over with his tail. A dark shape lay on the ground motionless.
It was my father Hailstorm.