Iconic cats in StrikeClan; Ravenslip's Sorrow ~ Chapter 3

Instructions

Chapter 3: Ravenkit stared at the new leader, her eyes shining in pity. It had been only one moon since the previous leader, Flashstar, passed in her den peacefully of old age. Her deputy, Quailflight, had taken on leadership and appointed his mate, Vixencall, as his deputy. The new leader stared at the countless rows of cats timidly as he called the meeting. "Cats of StrikeClan, we are here to give a new warrior his name. Stonepaw, step forward," he glared at the apprentice as the grey tomcat smirked at the leader. Ravenkit rolled her eyes. It was obvious why he was mad- Stonepaw had given up his medicine cat apprentice training to be able to be mates with Appletooth, the yellow and black she-cat. She didn't blame him for being furious at the grey tom. For his decisions, he had been forced to withstand another 6 moons of warrior training. "Stonepaw, do you promise to uphold and defend this clan, even at the cost of your life?" The twinkle in his eyes was unmistakeable. "I do," he whispered, his claws flexing in anticipation. Before Quailstar could continue, a tiny snarl cut through his call. "Don't give it to him," a hairless and skinny tomcat slunk through the crowd of cats. He made his way to the front, hissing at Stonepaw. "Don't give it to him," he repeated, his gaze narrowed distrustfully at the soon-to-be warrior. Quailstar snarled, leaping off the rock and standing face-to-face with the ugly hairless cat. "Get back in line, Thistlepaw, or your training will be delayed too." The hairless cat flinched, stepping back, but his narrowed gaze held on Stonepaw. "The clan will be drenched in blood before you have a chance to escape. If you don't banish him now, we will all be dead," he hissed, the short spikes of fur on his back raising. Quailstar lashed his tail at his apprentice. "Thats enough. From this moment, you will be known as Stonestride, for your quick thinking and swiftness." He glared at Thistlepaw, but said nothing. He turned his head toward two other apprentices, continuing the ceremony, giving both Ferretpaw and Talonpaw their warrior names- Ferretdash and Taloncreek. The leader then turned to Ravenkit. "Now, the time has come for two kits to become apprentices. Rosekit, from this moment you will be known as Rosepaw, and your mentor will be Vixencall. Ravenkit, from this moment you will be known as Ravenpaw, and your mentor will be Lynxear." Ravenpaw let out a squeal of joy. Lynxear was a nice cat- he was a big, strong warrior who had moons of training. She grinned, gazing at her new mentor from across the clearing. He was sitting a little ways back, smiling. After the ceremony, she was going to go talk to her mentor, but for now she had more important things to do. As the rest of the cats started cheering and chanting the names of all the cats, Ravenpaw slipped over to the hairless tomcat, Thistlepaw. "Is your mentor giving you a hard time?" she asked him quietly. The apprentice frowned, his hairless body shivering. "Why are you talking to me? No cat ever talks to me." Ravenpaw's eyes rested on Thistlepaw's hairless complexion, but ignored what he said. "What did you mean by 'we will all be dead?'" Thistlepaw looked away quickly. "I have no need to tell this to a kit." Ravenpaw hissed back, her fur on end. This tomcat had better hurry up and tell her. "I am not a kit anymore. We are both apprentices." He grumbled, staring her directly in the eye. "Fine. After you finish your ceremony meet me at the Shining Stream." He turned away, slinking into the forest. By now, the chanting had died down and the cats began to break away from the rock. Suddenly, there was a meow from behind her. "Ravenpaw," it purred. "Want me to show you the territory?" The black she-cat turned to her new mentor, grinning in happiness, pushing down the thought of Thistlepaw. "Yes!" Lynxear smiled, padding into the forest. He was about to say something when Ravenpaw interrupted. "Where is the Shining Stream?" she asked. The warrior pointing to a small track in the undergrowth, nodding to it. "Follow that trail and you'll find it," he began. "Thanks," Ravenpaw meowed quickly, before darting off in that direction. Her mentor stood, dumbfounded. "Ravenpaw!" The young apprentice pretended not to hear him as she bolted through the path. She felt bad- Lynxear was a nice cat- but she knew Thistlepaw was more important. ~End