The Dark Forest - My Warrior Cat Story :3
12 years, 4 months & 10 days ago
12th Jul 2012 14:03 [center] Chapter 1 [/center]
Dawn light filtered in through the brambles hanging on the entrance to the apprentice den. Shellpaw gently got up and stretched her legs before walking out into the clearing. "Good morning Yarrowtail!" she called across to the nursery. Yarrowtail was her best friend. Shellpaw couldn't wait to see Yarrowtail's kits! She even promised she was allowed to name one.
Hmm. Maybe Redkit? No colors are tacky...I wouldn't want to be GREENkit... Her thoughts were interrupted by the Clan leader calling words off of Slippery-rock. "May all cats old enough to catch prey gather in the clearing." Ripplestar's voice echoed through the hollow cave. RiverClan camp was a cave, lined with stone, but the top was open. They covered part of the opening with ferns and reeds to shelter the camp, but let enough space so light could shine in. Slowly the warriors and apprentices started filing out of their dens. Shellpaw awaited Yarrowtail and Garnetpaw to come sit with her. Garnetpaw was her brother. He could be pretty hot-headed at some points, but he was a bundle full of fun, and not to mention charm. Rosepaw always drooled at him as she walked by; and yet he was too stupid to notice! Shellpaw was dragged away from her thoughts to hear Ripplestar's voice again.
"Today is a very special and unique day. Today we will welcome new apprenitces
and warriors into our Clan." She paused to let the cats cheer and then waved her tail for silence. "Tankit and Mangokit please step forward." Her smooth voice mewed. Shellpaw watched as the not-so-tiny kits approached their leader. She hadn't realized how large Tankit already was! No wonder they had to get him out of the nursery! "Tankit. From this day on until you are pronounced a warrior, you shall go by Tanpaw." The cats started to chant his name, so Ripplestar raised her voice. "Shortclaw! You have proved your strength and skill many times over. Please share these qualities with Tanpaw, for you shall be his mentor." Shortclaw stepped up and bowed his head. "Yes Ripplestar." He touched his muzzle to Tanpaw's head and they stepped to the side. "Mangokit," Ripplestar continued, "It is also time you are made an apprentice. From this day on, until you are pronounced a warrior, you will go by Mangopaw." Her amber eyes gleamed brighter than the sun. "Twitchtail, please come forward." The sleek she-cat came to the front of the crowd, her black fur glistening and revealing her well-toned muscles. "Your swiftness and cleverness are quite the gift. Please do your best to pass those qualities onto Mangopaw as you are her mentor." Again the cat touched muzzles to the apprentices head and the ceremony continued. By sunhigh they had one new nest in the apprentice den and one more in the warrior's den. Grasspaw had been named Grasswind. That was one beautiful cat. Grasswind had white fur with tan spots along it. It was always perfectly groomed and her sea-blue eyes stood out against her pelt. Shellpaw hoped she looked that good when she was older. After returning from her train of thought, Shellpaw realized she was sitting alone in the clearing. Patrols were leaving, apprentices greeting their new roomates, however, Shellpaw wasn't very interested in the newcomers...she kind of just wanted to go fishing! Trotting up to her mentor she was determined to get out of camp, alone. "Splashface? May i go fishing this afternoon?" She spat out as quickly as possible, hoping he woudln't think into it. He turned kind of slowly, his deep blue eyes as gentle as ever. "Why in such a rush? I was hoping to get some battle training in?" Then after seeing how excited he was he sighed and said, "Well don't tire yourself and be back before its time to eat! We train as soon as you return!" He called after her as she jetted out of camp. It was so nice to feel the wind in her fur as she raced right into-"AHHH!!!" Shellpaw stopped abruptly and opened her eyes. She was face to face with an- "Intruder!" She spat with all her fur bristling. Shellpaw was only a moon or two into her training but she wouldn't let her opponent know that. "What are you doing on RiverClan territory?" She hissed. The she-cat was pure brown furred and had a look of sheer terror in her eyes, as if she didn't want to fight. "Answer me before i rip you to shreds!" Shellpaw said a little less harshly. The she-cat hesitated and then turned and ran. Shellpaw hurried in pursuit. The intruder didn't seem too fast, or have any sort of Clan smell on her. Finally Shellpaw got within distance to snag her leg and bring the she-cat crashing down. Shellpaw kept the cat pinned and loomed over her. "I'll ask one more time," Shellpaw unsheathed her claws. "What are you doing on RiverClan territory?" As soon as she went to swipe her claws across the intruder's face she heard a yell from...Yarrowtail? "Shellpaw! Noo!!!"