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Post by Duskstar on Aug 2, 2008 16:57:19 GMT -5
It was morning in the StoneClan camp. The hole in the top of the cavern was illuminated and the light spread throughout the entire stone clearing. A single hawk's call was heard from somewhere outside, its sorrowful song echoing throughout the cave. Warriors and apprentices were just beginning to stir. Playful kits beginning to emerge from the nursery. Among these young cats was one, whose dark pelt stuck out next to the others.
Shadowkit poked her head out of the nursery entrance. Her light amber eyes shone with an excitement, almost covering up the exhaustion that broke through. After all, the young she-cat could hardly sleep the night before, considering what was going to happen today. Her tail flicked as she walked out into the cavern. The hard stone ground felt cold against her pads, and Shadowkit shivered in spite of herself, though this sensation was soon replaced with excitement. She was going to be made an apprentice today! Happiness spread through her from ears to tail tip as she impatiently waited for Pebblekit to wake up.
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Post by Fadingstar on Aug 2, 2008 19:22:21 GMT -5
Pebblekit calmly followed her sister out of the nursery, her bushy tail swaying around behind her. Her eyes were unemotional like usual, a good way of hiding the pain she felt in her heart. She pictured Shadowkit becoming an apprentice with Iceshadow proudly watching her, a knot developed in the pit of her stomach as she finally went to sit beside her sister. Wrapping her bushy tail around her she gave the ruffled fur on her chest a few quick licks and gazed around. The cavernous clearing was slightly illuminated by the small hole at the top, bringing a single ray down that seemed to give light to the darkness. Pebblekit loved her Clan, she loved the darkness that they had all grown accustomed to, the stone beneath her paws, and her sister. She could only wish that her Mother could witness this wonderful occasion for them all.
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Post by Duskstar on Aug 2, 2008 19:53:06 GMT -5
A tabby tom's head lifted silently, and two amber slits slowly grew larger as they got used to the light. He was the only cat in the den.
Stump of a tail twitched as Duskstar slowly forced himself to his paws and stretched. He was almost as excited as Shadowkit, though he showed it in different ways. The leader rasped his pink tongue over his pelt. Although his mind was still wandering about mentors, he had a pretty good idea he would mentor Pebblekit.
Duskstar's eyes glazed over at the name of his youngest daughter. Even in his mind he would not admit why he looked at her differently than her sister. So, to sort of prove to himself and her that he still loved her, he had decided to mentor her. Shaking his head, the tom emerged from the Leader's Den and started toward Little Mountain.
After a wiggle of his haunches, Duskstar leaped onto the large rock and gazed around the clearing for a moment while thinking still about mentors. Finally a loud yowl echoed through the cavern.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather under Little Mountain for a clan meeting."
He watched in amusement as several kits ran from the nursery before being pulled back and scolded by a queen. Then, the leader's dull yellow eyes glowed with pride as Shadowkit padded swiftly over. Duskstar glanced at her long tail as his stumpy one twitched.
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Post by Fadingstar on Aug 2, 2008 20:16:37 GMT -5
Flicking her bushy tail ever so slightly Pebblekit gazed through her icy blue eyes at Duskstar as he emrged from his den beside the Little Mountain. Her gaze dropped away from her father as he padded over to the Little Mountain and jumped upon it.
As he called the familiar words for a Clan Meeting many cats old and young emerged from hiding and went to sit around the Little Mountain. Even some of the younger kits had attempted to go join in the Meeting.
She felt the brush of her sister's fluffy pelt as Shadowkit padded swiftly over to join her Clan, she followed her movements for a moment until she realized that she also needed to head over. Standing up she walked with a graceful stride to sit the closest to the Little Mountain, she was aware that everyone around her had their eyes glued upon Duskstar, Pebblekit did not however.
Pebblekit did feel slightly excited at finally being able to go out into the world to serve her Clan, but for some reason she knew from the waves of excitement that melted off Shadowkit that she wasn't as excited as she could be. A slight feeling of sadness and guilt made up the rest of her emotions as she waited for her Apprentice Ceremony t begin.
Swiftriver gave his pelt one more swift lick with a pink tongue before his ears flicked up at his leader's call. Getting up he stretched himself out for a moment before prancing out happily to watch the Ceremony of his leader's two daughters. Sitting down in the far back as to not cause any commotion he gazed up at his leader through his blue gaze.
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Post by Duskstar on Aug 2, 2008 20:30:04 GMT -5
Duskstar gazed proudly down at his clan, though mainly his two daughters. It seemed only yesterday he was standing beside his beloved Iceshadow, comforting her through the birthing process. It was such a wonderful moment when he saw the small body of Shadowkit coming out. Her eyes looked the same as his, only a small mark that showed they were kin. Then Iceshadow started to bleed. He remembered her cries of pain that echoed across the cave. Then, just after a small body came into the world, his love left.
Realizing where he was, Duskstar shook his head to clear the thoughts. There was a ceremony to be done.
"Apprentices show that StoneClan remains strong and healthy. It shows that our kits will one day grow up to be strong warriors. Warriors that are fearless enough to fight until the ends of the earth."
He paused to let the thought sink in.
"Pebblekit, will you please step forward."
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Post by Fadingstar on Aug 2, 2008 20:42:05 GMT -5
Pebblekit looked up at her father for a moment, he seemed preoccupied with thoughts, could he possibly be reliving the parts of his life that he had Iceshadow in? She looked to the stony floor of the clearing once more, her thoughts drifting but her ears staying alert awaiting for Duskstar to begin the ceremony.
Suddenly she began to wonder who he would pick as her mentor, it could be any warrior in the Clan. Though she was his daughter, and it was a great honor to any to be chosen to mentor one of the leader's own. Pebblekit didn't feel that way however, she felt that he was certain to give her off to some mentor that didn't know what they were doing. She didn't feel much like his daughter.
As he began the ceremony she listened to his wors closely, searching for something but she didn't know what. Perhaps the pride or love in his voice for her.... As she was called first for becoming an apprentice she was surprised but still she stood up and padded forward. Her icy blue gaze still concentrating on the ground before her, she was avoiding his gaze, afraid of what she would find there. Pebblekit tried to not let her misery shine through while awaiting his next words.
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Post by Duskstar on Aug 2, 2008 21:06:52 GMT -5
Duskstar gazed down at his daughter, who, oddly, was staring at the ground. He attempted to looked proud of the she-cat. He really did love her, but it was just hard to portray his love onto someone that he... Once again the leader snapped out of his thoughts. Now was NOT the time to be thinking hard about anything. He took a breath and felt everything unimportant leave his mind. Then, constintrating hard on the present situation, he spoke.
"Pebblekit, from this point forward until you have earned your warrior name, you will be known as Pebblepaw."
Immeadiatly after finishing addressing his daughter he looked away, this time at the rest of the clan.
"I will mentor my daughter Pebblepaw myself."
After these words spoken, Duskstar couldn't help but wonder if this was a bad idea. What if Pebblepaw felt as though he didn't love her? What if she didn't want him to be her mentor? For a moment he considered changing the mentor, but that would only make him look like a bad leader. He jumped off of Little Mountain and touched noses with Pebblepaw before jumping back up to finish the ceremony.
Surpressing a sigh, the leader spoke once again, though this time to his other daughter.
"Shadowkit, will you please step foward."
This time Duskstar's eyes sparked with pride as the dark pelted cat padded forward.
Shadowkit had watched uncomfortably as Pebblekit was named Pebblepaw. She could tell that her father looked at her differently, and felt a pang of sympathy for her. Then, strangly enough, Duskstar named HIMSELF her mentor. Shadowkit was completly taken off guard. She thought that she would have been chosen as her father's apprentice. The kit held back a glare at her sister, and instead gave her an encouraging gaze. After all, she would probably be named the deputies apprentice instead.
Then, all of a sudden, she heard her father start her ceremony.
"Shadowkit, from this point forward until you have earned your warrior name you shall be known as Shadowpaw. Swiftriver, you are more than ready for your first apprentice, and I ask that you pass on your Speed and Cunning to my daughter. "
Shadowpaw felt her jaw drop. How could he? She quickly snapped her mouth shut, hoping no one saw, and attempted to look calm and happy as she waited for Swiftriver to touch noses with her.
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Post by Fadingstar on Aug 2, 2008 21:39:59 GMT -5
Pebblepaw looked up for the first time at her father, her icy blue gaze emotionless. Her eyes widened slightly as he named HIMSELF as her mentor, could she be hearing this right? She had been expecting some new warrior and she had been almost sure that he would pick Shadowkit as his apprentice, she hadn't been expecting this in the least bit. She looked at Shadowkit through the corner of her eyes as her father's nose touched her own, Shadowkit probably had been expecting the same thing as her.
Pebblepaw stepped back and sat down, her tail wrapped around her front paws again. Gazing again at her father Pebblepaw looked into his eyes for a brief moment as he gazed down at Shadowkit. Her heart felt as if it would explode with pain when she saw his look for her sister. The pride. Oh how it made all her doubts of his love for her rush to the front of her mind. This was not going to end up well, sighing she tried to appear happy for her sister as she gazed over to her.
Again her father surprised her, he hadn't named Shadowpaw as his deputy's apprentice. Swiftriver? Her icy blue eyes shifted to look at the glossy pelted cat in the back of the crowd around the Little Mountain. This was indeed a very odd ceremony for them all. She deeply wished that Swiftriver could've been her mentor instead of Duskstar, it was probably wrong of her to think. He was her father and she was his daughter, but that didn't explain why the pain was so overwhelming now.
Swiftriver looked at Pebblepaw as she stepped forward, why was she looking at the ground and avoiding Duskstar's gaze. He frowned as his leader named her as his apprentice, his gaze was still on Pebblepaw and she didn't really seem so excited about it. Then casting a glance Shadowkit's way he noticed that she seemed surprised by all of this. He couldn't help but thing what an odd family they were, maybe if Iceshaodow, Duskstar's mate, would've still been alive now things between the three would be different.
He watched silently as the ceremony progressed. Shadowpaw seemed certain of something but Swiftriver couldn't be certain as to what. Casting the thought away Swiftriver payed close attention to who would mentor the leadet's eldest daughter. He hadn't been expecting what came next. He slightly twisted his head to the side as Duskstar called out his name, he was her mentor? His eyes widened and he made his way through the crowd. Swiftriver was dumbstruck, how could he have been deserving of this great honor. Touching noses with his first apprentice he lifted his head and tail high as he went back to sit a little ways away.
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Post by Duskstar on Aug 2, 2008 22:06:38 GMT -5
Duskstar looked at Shadowpaw once more, pride filling his gaze to the very brim. Swiftriver was the perfect match for her, and though he was still young, he was confident he would train his daughter well. The leader's whiskers twitched as he leaped down from Little Mountain. Padding over toward Pebblepaw, he tried very hard to keep the pride from flushing from his gaze.
Slightly uncomfortably, Duskstar sat in front of Pebblepaw, wrapping his tail around his paws.
"I am very proud you." He purred, shifting his weight to the other paw. Bending down from his great size he rasped his tongue on her forehead. "I always knew I would be your mentor." Duskstar gave what would have looked like an encouraging look to his daughter. The tom's mind wandered once again into what to do on the first day of training. Should he show her the territory first, or would that make it seem like she was not good enough to start hunting or fighting first? Pebblepaw always seemed as though she didn't like him, and he really wanted to try to make a good impression as to get her to at least be friendly toward him. ----- Shadowpaw wanted to yowl to StarClan as Duskstar went over to Pebblepaw to talk. It was obvious he liked her sister more, but to give her a NORMAL warrior as a mentor? Swiftriver wasn't even a senior warrior yet! If she ever became leader, she would at least give her kin the deputy for a mentor. Things would have worked out perfectly because there were two sisters. One would get the deputy, the other their father. Of course, if things had worked out perfectly, SHADOWPAW would have been Duskstar's apprentice, not Pebblepaw.
Shadowpaw snorted as she gazed at the stony ground, lost in jealous thought.
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Post by Fadingstar on Aug 2, 2008 22:28:22 GMT -5
Pebblepaw scuffed her paw in the dirt, what would she do know? How could she be his apprentice when he seemed to never appreciate her. Her ears pricked though as soon as pawsteps towards her were heard. Gazing up to see who it was she was surprised when the tabby tom in front of her turned out to be her father. His purr seemed forced and he seemed to be shifting, from experience Pebblepaw knew that to be a sign of uncomfort.
Proud of me? What? Pebblepaw had a hard time trying to see her father's words as serious. He was her leader, of course he always knew that! What an odd thing for him to say. The lick on her forehead also surprised her, in all honesty she couldn't really recall a time when he had licked her. Pebblepaw looked up to him with icy blue eyes brimming with happiness. Perhaps he did love her after all, she must have been being silly this whole time.
Swiftriver had been watching the odd exchange of words between Duskstar and Pebblepaw, why wouldn't he be proud of her? Blinking his blue eyes for a moment the slick furred tom padded over in Shadowpaw's direction. She seemed to be focused around on thought or another. When she snorted he spoke, " You ok there?" Then looking up through the hole in the top of the cavern Swiftriver spoke again not looking back down at her, " I think we have enough sunlight left to explore the territory." Without looking back down at her he bolted for the entrance of the caves and slowed his pace to a trot as he manuevered skillfully through the tunnel to the outside.
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Post by Duskstar on Aug 2, 2008 22:45:53 GMT -5
Shadowpaw looked up as she saw black paws next to hers, and smiled feebly at Swiftriver as she saw him. Suddenly, she heard him mumble something as he looked up at the top of the cavern, and the next thing she knew, he was bolting for the exit. Clumsily, the new apprentice pelted after him, panting almost immediately.
Once outside in the crisp air, Shadowpaw took a deep breath in. It felt good against the roof of her mouth as she took in all of the scents of the rocky territory. A sigh of relief came from her as the speed was switched to a trot. This was going to be a hard day, and she could already tell that Swiftriver would not be merciful. ---------- Duskstar was feeling as though things between him and his daughter were turning up. Then she lifted her head.
Once those ice blue eyes met his, the leader had to look away as the memories of Iceshadow flooded over him. Pebblepaw's eyes looked exactly like her's. The tom avoided her gaze for a while longer, his own dull yellow eyes glazed over with sadness and emotion. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, he forced himself to looked at Pebblepaw again.
"So, would you like to do hunting or fighting first?"
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Post by Fadingstar on Aug 3, 2008 9:38:48 GMT -5
Pebblepaw's shinning eyes faded once more into unemotion, he had turned away from her gaze. How were they supposed to train together if they couldn't meet each other's gaze?
At the question she tilted her head, didn't apprentices have to be shown the territory before their actual training? " Duskstar, shouldn't you show me the territory before we start training?" It was probably rude of her to say and she was again talking to her light gray paws. Maybe he could learn to appreciate her for her not hate the way she reminded him of Iceshadow. It was hard enough being the one who killed her, at least she should get a little love.
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Post by Duskstar on Aug 3, 2008 9:57:13 GMT -5
Duskstar forced himself to meet Pebblepaw's gaze once again. He refused to go through training like this. Sighing softly he looked up at the top of the cavern, wondering about everything that was going on in his life. About training. Then, adding to the other question about fighting, he meowed,
"Or I guess we have to see the territory first." "Duskstar, shouldn't you show me the territory before we start actual training?"
Duskstar blinked as the sentences were spoken at the same time. The two were so oblivious as to what the other was feeling, because truly they were so alike. As an apprentice, the leader would never hesitate to question what his mentor was doing, though he may have said it in a more respectful way. Stump of a tail twitching, Duskstar started toward the exit, meowing over his shoulder, "Yes."
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