Slowly he got up and maneuvered stiffly out of his den and lightly trotted over to the Oak Branch, his pace making him seem more like an elder than a fit leader.
"Let all those cats old enough to catch their own prey join under the Oak Branch for a Clan meeting!" He meowed, though his voice faltered at the end. As cats began to appear, rogues and Clan cats mixed together, he began to speak. "I know that these last few days have been hard. Stormfang being killed by a fox, and with the prey returning to it's hollows. But, also in these past days, we have been able to survive with almost a full prey-pile, and I praise Copper and Nettle for chasing off that fox. I'm sure Stormfang is very grateful." He nodded his head towards the two rogues, who nodded, their eyes hard and cold. A dull praise was given out. "And today, I would like to do something that not only lifts our spirits, but shows that OakClan is strong. "Dragonpaw, Birdpaw, Dustpaw, and Snowpaw, please step forward." His eyes glowed with pride as he stepped towards his one apprentice, who had adapted well to the training sessions given by the rogues, and he saw a gleam of approval in one of the well-respected rogues eyes, along with many of his own clanmates. After asking if the apprentices were ready, he carried on.
"I, Icestar, leader of OakClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn." Nodded to him, he continued. "Dragonpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" The apprentice drew in a breath before he answered, but he sounded as sure as ever.
"I do." He meowed.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Dragonpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Dragonblaze. StarClan honors your strength and independence, and we welcome you as a full warrior of OakClan." As Icestar finished saying the sacred words, Dragonblaze licked his old mentor's shoulder as Icestar rested his muzzle on the top of his head. Before another word could be said, a crowd of cats engulfed the newly named warrior with congratulatory yowls. As soon as it began to quiet down, Icestar continued, giving Birdpaw the name Birdwing, Dustpaw the name Duststripe, and Snowpaw being named Snowfoot. Once the Clan quieted down again after cheering, Icestar held up his tail.
"We're not over yet." Beckoning the Clan's kits with a sweep of his tail, he named them Echopaw, Toadpaw, Clawpaw, Badgerpaw, Ravenpaw, Firepaw, and Rainpaw. "Echopaw's mentor will be Snowfoot, Toadpaw's Dragonblaze, Clawpaw will be given to Duststripe, Birdwing will be Badgerpaw's mentor, Ravenpaw will be Scarlet's apprentice," A few gasps were heard at the mention of a rogues name, but Icestar carried on. "Firepaw will be Amber's apprentice and Rainpaw will be given to Goldenbreeze." Icestar watched as each of the apprentices touched noses with their mentors, and how more cheers erupted in the hallow.
~*~
Goldenbreeze, surprised as she was to get an apprentice, was honored. Maybe Icestar still trusts in me, she thought with a smile curving on her lips. Maybe the little argument with Jet never got to Icestar. Goldenbreeze would take this moment to show Icestar how loyal she was and how wrong he was to make Jet his deputy. She felt a little grief stricken by Stormfang's death though. She felt suspicious. Thinking back, she remembered that Stormfang refused to obey and listen to Jet. Maybe that ties in with his death?! No..Icestar wouldn't allow that, right?! She shook her head clear, she could think about it later. For now, she had to greet her new apprentice. She trotted over to Rainpaw and smiled down at her. "Hi Rainkit!" she greeted excitedly.
ReplyDelete--Goldenbreeze
Dragonblaze smiled at Icestar before padding over to his new apprentice, Toadpaw. He already saw strength in the young tom. "Hey Toadpaw!" he rushed over to his apprentice and acted as friendly as ever. He flashed a smile and flicked Toadpaw's shoulder happily.
--Dragonblaze
(Can you change Dragonblaze's picture to this? Thank you :D http://www.freewebs.com/blackfallsun/black-cat.jpg )
(Sorry, I was really tired last night, so I just didn't feel like dealing with all the name changing or the pictures xP But I'll surely do it now ;3)
ReplyDeleteJet didn't look up from grooming his fur. "He refused to follow my orders. You remember our agreement, yes?" The tom said, drawing a paw over his ear. "Can't you see that I'm making this Clan stronger?"
"Yes, I do agree with that. But next time, just tell me when something like that happens. I can't keep on coming up with lies on the spot." The leader lashed his tail, and walked away.
Scarlet blinked in confusion. An apprentice? Was the leader mad or something?! Tentatively, she padded up to Ravenpaw and murmured a welcoming, and then lightly touched noses with him. At least this shows how the Clan is accepting us more...
Clawpaw looked contemptously at Duststripe. The brown tom had been an Apprentice only moments ago, and now he was expected to train an Apprentice of his own? The broad shouldered calico thought it demeaning. He padded over to his new mentor, looking him over carefully. Clawpaw realized his mother was watching him just as carefully.
ReplyDeleteBadgerpaw looked around for Birdwing excitedly. She couldn't wait to begin her training. The sooner I train, the sooner I'll be a Warrior! The lithe calico looked to Shadowsplash who was focused on her brother, Clawpaw. The sooner mom will notice me!
Ravenpaw felt his fur turn hot as the pretty ginger she-cat touched his nose. He noticed a glimmer of confusion in her eyes. He blinked questioningly, one ear flattening as his head tilted. Does she not want to be my mentor? The black tom curled his tail and blinked his amber eyes kindly. "What will we start with first, miss Scarlet?" Ravenpaw tried to keep calm, but he was bursting with excitement.
Shadowsplash watched her son carefully. Clawpaw seemed disappointed with his mentor. Don't mess this up kit. Clawstripe deserves his name to rein as leader! She narrowed her eyes.
Scarlet ruffled her fur, partly because of the cold, partly to get her act back together. Though she was still quite puzzled of why she was made a mentor, she figured she should do her best at it. "Right now, I suppose." She meowed, then looked over at her apprentice's siblings. "Do you want to go with your littermates for a bit? We can tag along with them if you'd like." She meowed, and then wistfully added, "I remember my brothers' and sisters'. We would do everything together."
ReplyDeleteRavenpaw's ears twisted back when his siblings were mentioned. He laughed nervously, his tail curling up. "It really is best you don't get me and my siblings together." The black tom wished not to explain why. "I'd rather tag along with the other Apprentices."
ReplyDeleteScarlet shrugged. "Alright. I suppose they were annoying enough in the nursery." She laughed, then padded over to Amber. "I was going to show Ravenpaw the territory. What about you and Firepaw?" Scarlet wished she had enough confidence to confront another warrior with her apprentice, but she still felt that Amber was the only one who had accepted her yet. I suppose I was lucky, with there being another non-Clan cat in this group.
ReplyDeleteAmber was still shocked about her new apprentice. Icestar must really trust her to give her such a responsibility. The ashy colored she cat looked around foe the gunger tom. She realized with embarrassment she hadnt touched his nose to hers as was tradition. "Ill, er we'll, go with you two." She purred, amber eyes searching for the little fiery tom. "Firepaw! Lets go see the territory."
ReplyDeleteRavenpaw wasnt enthused to be with Firepaw, whom he didnt really like, but he figured he shouldnt protest.
(I don't know if Amber still goes on so I guess we'll just say he comes xD)
ReplyDeleteScarlet nodded to her friend as the young ginger tom came over, grumbling already about something. Not paying attention, though, she lead her way through the thick brambles that encased the entrance. "As you probably already know, our forest is filled with oak trees. Be careful out here; things can get confusing, fast, if you're lost out here. But don't worry. You'll be used to it by then." She then flicked her tail to the left side of the territory. "And if you keep going that way, you'll find the rogue camp."
Amber padded under the canopy of tangled branches. Most of the trees had shed their leaves by now, and she loved the bright oranges and yellows of the leaves sloshing about her paws. "Firepaw, that clearing over there is the training hollow." She pointed with her tail, proud she could recognize something in her new territory.
ReplyDeleteRavenpaw nodded, looking toward the rouge camp curiously. He had first hand experience with rouges and didnt trust then one bit. Though as he padded along beside Scarlet, the black tom found it hard to believe she was a rouge. "How big is the territory? It seems like these trees stretch on forever!"
Rainpaw looked up at Goldenbreeze,happily.She used to be deputy,so i bet she'll have a lot to teach me!She thought excitedly."What are we doing first?"She asked enthsiasticly.
ReplyDeleteToadpaw looked up at Dragonblaze and grinned."Hi,So what are we going to do first?Are you going to show me the teritory,or maybe how to hunt?Oh i know!I bet your going to teach me how to fight,so i can beat all the other apprentices!"He mewed slashing out at the dirt beside him and then looking hopefuly up at his mentor.
Echopaw looked at Snowfoot and smiled."Hello."She mewed politly,sitting down and wrapping her tail around her paws.
Duststripe looked at Clawpaw his guarded expression becoming thoughtful,he could already tell that his apprentice was going to be dificult.With a wiry smiled,he turned tawards the clearing entrence,signaling to apprentice to fallow him.He only looked behind him once to be sure Clawpaw was fallowing.
Mistyfur smiled as she was the newly made apprentice,her eyes glowing with pride of them and of her brother Duststripe."The're growing up so fast."She sighed.
Honeyfrost watched her former apprentice proudly.
Blueflower looked tawards where Icestar and Jet were speaking.Her eyes narrowing slightly as she wondered why Icestar looked upset.She watched them talk,to far away to know what they were saying.Honeyfrost interupted her thoughts by comenting on their brother's new apprentice.She looked over at Duststripe and Clawpaw."He'll definetly have his paws full with that one."She murmured,smiling softly.
Clawpaw followed intently, his tail tip twitching. Duststripe would probably show him the territory. Like I haven't already seen it.
ReplyDeleteScarlet nodded, her breath caught in her throat as she looked up at the peaks of the ancient forest, weak sunlight shining through the brittle leaves. She felt content, almost at home in this new surrounding. She wished it could stay like this forever, with the oak's lush leaves sprouting at the end of each of their spindly tendrils. "Just think, soon all of this will be bare..." She meowed, thoughtfully scraping at a wilted leaf with gentle claws. Once she saw that Amber was already moving on, she flicked her tail at Ravenpaw. "Come on! I want to see if we can squeeze in a training lesson after this, so we have to be quick!"
ReplyDeleteRavenpaw walked ahead of his mentor as she slowed to a stop. He looked back to see what had stopped her. The ginger she cat gasped softly, eyeing the forest with a look the young tom thought was love. She must really like it here. The sunlight parted through the trees, dappling on her ginger pelt. He thought she looked very pretty with sweet eyes and glowing fur. Ravenpaw looked away quickly as Scarlet regained her focus. "Okay, lead on." The black tom let his mentor pass before continuing.
ReplyDeleteAmber realized she was a bit lost. She looked back at Scarlet embarrassed.
"I'll show you around the territory and then we can start with the basics of hunting," Goldenbreeze purred and flashed a soft smile. "Come," she meowed and padded out into the forest.
ReplyDelete--Goldenbreeze
Dragonblaze let out a purr of amusement at Toadpaw. "We should first explore the territory so you know where the battle training place is. Then we can start with the basics of battling," Dragonblaze grinned happily. Besides seeing the strength in Toadpaw, he knew that Toadpaw's eagerness to battle train would serve the young tom well.
--Dragonblaze