Tigerheart and Ravenfire

Bluefur stared in amazement at the body before her. The mottled grey fur was stained in blood, Amber eyes staring, still glowing in fury.

What will I tell Snowfur and Whitekit! No, no… It was not supposed to happen like this… Goosefeather… What do I do now? No… It was just another patrol too snakerocks…

Bluefur could hardly remember what had happened. It was all a flash. The adder… and then she remembered fleeing… Ohhhhhh! She should have warned him! This was her fault! Her mind raced. She had to accept the truth.

Thistleclaw was dead.

Tigerstar was always regarded as a great warrior, strong and loyal. The question remains- what would have happened if he wasn't so viciously ambitious? His blood thirst can be traced back to being trained by Thistleclaw. Eliminate him, and a true warrior shines through in Tigerheart.

Ravenkit, unlike most kits, was not excited about his apprentice ceremony coming up. It meant leaving the nursery, and the comfort of his mother and the warm, milky smell. But, he had gotten news that his mentor would be the model warrior, Tigerheart. Everyone looked up to the lean cat, Ravenkit included. Even Bluefur respected the dark tabby.

Robinwing smiled at him."I'll miss you once you become an apprentice."

"You'll still see me! I'm not leaving forever, you know."

"Yes, but it won't be the same."

Their conversation was cut short by Bluestar calling to the clan. "May all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the highrock for a clan meeting!" Cats began scampering out from their burrows. There was no surprise; everyone knew that Ravenkit was long overdue for apprenticeship. "As we all know, a certain kit is ready to become an apprentice. Ravenkit, please step forward." Ravenkit slinked up to the gap in the crown of cats in front of the highrock, acutely aware of the eyes staring at him.

"Ravenkit, you have reached beyond the age of six moons and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Ravenpaw. Your mentor will be Tigerheart. I hope Tigerheart will pass on all he knows to you."

"Tigerheart, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from Sunstar, and you have shown yourself to be loyal and merciful. You will be the mentor of Ravenpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to Ravenpaw." As the two touched noses, Ravenpaw couldn't help feel a hint of excitement. He walked over to his mother. Robinwing was purring happily. Before he could say anything, Ravenpaw heard a cry from across the clearing.

"Hey, Ravenpaw! Come sit with us!" It was Graypaw. Ravenpaw turned his head questionally towards Robinwing, who simply gave an approving look.

"Okay." Ravenpaw cried back. He walked over, feeling shy even though he spent most of his kithood with these cats. His brother Dustpaw, never too fond of Ravenpaw except as a potential prankee, stared defiantly at his brother, Sandpaw at his side mirroring the dark brown tom. Ravenpaw slunk toward Graypaw.

"You excited?" The thick furred apprentice asked.

"Not really…" was Ravenpaw's halfhearted reply.

"Nervous?"

"Mmmhm." Ravenpaw mumbled, embarrassed. He walked over to the fresh-kill pile, and brought back a tiny vole. Graypaw was already greedily lapping up a rather large rabbit. The two apprentices ate in silence for a while, none daring to speak. When the time came to go to their nests, Ravenpaw instinctively started towards the nursery.

"You're an apprentice now, mouse-brain" Sandpaw's reprimanded.

"Oh, right…" Ravenpaw crawled back over, feeling quite self-concious. Once in the den, Ravenpaw slipped into a deep, dreamless sleep.