Chapter 1 - Apprenticeship
Marshkit hobbled after his sister Bristlekit as they wrestled on the moss floor of the nursery. Crookedwillow called to Marshkit from across the enclosed bramble walls, “Careful, Marshkit! Watch that leg!” she warned as he stumbled over his fluffy tail.
Antlershell walked over and picked him up, tossing him onto her back to carry him over to Crookedwillow.
“I just told you to be careful, Marshkit.” Crookedwillow scolded, grooming his tangled fur.
“Mom!” he grumbled, batting at her face before hopping out of reach. He sauntered over to his sister, swatting at her flank as they wrestled again.
3 Moons Later
“May all cats old enough to swim gather to hear my words!” Cheetahstar’s booming voice echoed across the camp as the clearing flooded with cats.
Marshkit bounced out of the nursery with excitement, his sister and mothers following behind. “Today we’ll be apprentices!” he mews, cuffing the back of his sister’s ear.
“Enough, you two,” Antlershell warned, separating the two sparring kits. They whine in protest as they settle beneath their leader and deputy, Cheetahstar and Civetbush.
“Now that everyone’s here and settled,” Cheetahstar begins with a chuckle as she glances down at the kits, who are fighting to keep still. “I have gathered you all to witness a very important part in everycat’s journey to becoming a trained warrior, Marshkit and Bristlekit’s apprentice ceremony!” She announces joyfully.
She looked up at the sky; the sun blazed with the fury of a thousand warriors. “Bristlekit, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, even at the cost of your life?” she asks.
“I do, Cheetahstar!” she declared bravely, lifting her head to the golden tabby.
“Very well then. From this moment on, the clan will know you as Bristlepaw until you earn your warrior name. Your mentor will be Cressmask,” she announces, lifting her head from the small cat.
“Bristlepaw! Bristlepaw! Bristlepaw!” the clan’s chants ring throughout the clearing, echoing across the stone walls.
The leader shifted her weight before settling. “Marshkit, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, even at the cost of your life?” she asks.
“I do, Cheetahstar!” he declares, puffing up his chest confidently.
She announces, dipping her head, “From this moment on, the clan will know you as Marshpaw until you receive your warrior name. Your mentor will be Civetbush,” she announces, lifting her head from the apprentice.
“Marshpaw! Marshpaw! Marshpaw!” the clan chants his name, and he can feel a mix of warmth and pride course through him. He was finally an apprentice!
As the clan dispersed, he watched as his mentor, Civetbush, leaped down from where he had sat through the ceremony and pad over to him.
“Hello Marshpaw!” he said as he smiled warmly at the apprentice. “Ready to start your warrior training?” he asks, his tail swishing against the camp floor.
“Yes Civetbush!” he said as he perked up. “Where are we going first?” he asked enthusiastically.
“Well, as every apprentice first learns, the other clan borders. Henclan, Fireclan, and Kettleclan, our neighbors,” Civetbush said as he began towards the camp entrance.
A moon later
Marshpaw limped towards the Medicine Den, pushing past the lichen hanging from the entrance to see Shadowbreeze and Ligerpaw sorting herbs in the center.
“Shadowbreeze?” Marshpaw’s quiet meow seemed to echo across the stone walls, making Shadowbreeze perk up from his work.
“Yes, Marshpaw? Are you here for your treatment?” he asked gently, crouching down to the apprentice’s level.
He nodded as he limped towards the back of the den, laying down on the soft moss nest. He winced as they pressed the cold cobweb against his bleeding hindquarter. “I know, I know,” Shadowbreeze soothed him as he finished, stepping back from the apprentice. “There, that should stop the bleeding and let it heal nicely. You’re lucky to be alive Marshpaw, foxes are very dangerous creatures.” Shadowbreeze warned.
“Yes, Shadowbreeze I’ll try to be more careful when patrolling,” he said, limping away to the Apprentice Den to rest.
At dawn, he awoke to a soft nudge in his side. “Marshpaw, wake up.” A voice said softly. Marshpaw blinked open his eyes. It was Ligerpaw, Shadowbreeze’s apprentice and future medicine cat.
“What’s up, Ligerpaw?” he asked, pushing himself out of his nest to follow the other apprentice.
“Shadowbreeze said you need practice on your back leg and I’m your mentor,” she said excitedly before continuing, “Civetbush already knows. He’s helping with the other rowdy apprentices while we focus on you,” she said.
Marshpaw perked up; she was right. Without his leg dragging around, he could do so much! Climbing, learning to hunt, maybe even swimming? He needed practice.
He padded around, shifting his weight until he found balance. “Try jumping Marshpaw.” Ligerpaw instructed, watching as he took a shaky leap, landing awkwardly on his fluffy tail and tripping.
“Pfft hahaha!” she laughed, helping him balance again. “You got this. Try again.” She said, nodding to the patch in the clearing.
He steadied himself, wiggled his haunches, and sprang. He landed with a soft thud of his paws on the forest floor. “I did it, Ligerpaw!” he said, trying again and setting his sight on a small leaf on the ground. He focused, crouched, and sprang, landing a pawstep away from the leaf, feeling it crunch as he turned to face the medicine apprentice.
“We’ll keep working. You will get stronger.” Ligerpaw assured him. Marshpaw nodded, padding away to go find Civetbush.
