Fandom An Apprentice’s Teachings

[Chill Alley Cat]

The horizon lit ablaze in the magnificent colors of sunrise, the clouds painting red and orange wounds across the sky like claw marks. The red colors of the late summer dawn paint the rocky cliffs for the coming fall, the gorge painted in a blood red glow that warmed the stones.

The Skyclan camp was secluded despite its massive size, stretching across the ragged mountain's face. Hidden away by the thick dense canopy that buzzed with cicadas, it silenced the outside world to a dim murmur.

The silver and gold colored canyon collected with fallen leaves, the shedding bristles of the surrounding sequoia clumping together in the little stream. The green leaves had trickled down the jagged gorge’s flanks, littering the sporadic and zigzag trail upwards.

The medicine den was snug between patches of tall thistles and sharp flowers, and just above that the nursery. The den softened with moss and cliff side foliage that grew from its side, where a white and orange kit excitedly stirred and paced about.



A residing queen, MoorWeave, woke with a start as a sharp sneeze shook her gray pelt from her nose to her tail tip. Her blue eyes blink groggily, sleep still in the corner of her vision, rubbing the back of her black paw across her nose as she sniffled.

She squinted at the entrance where a figure stood, focusing in on the lanky kit in the sunrise’s warm red light.


“ScorpionKit?” The colorpoint sighed, taking note of how the young cat’s pacing and dragging tail kicked and flicked up dust and sand. Likely the cause of her own early awakening, she thought with mild annoyance.

ScorpionKit was lean, her pale body and muzzle oddly long, awkwardly spindly in a way only a kit in a growth spurt could be. Her lengthy whip-like orange tail swayed behind in a pendulum motion that dragged across the rocky floor, kicking up a cloud of dust as she looked out upon camp.


“Why are you up this early? ScorpionKit?” Questioned the sleepy she-cat with a yawn, settling her chin on her soft darken paw.

Her ears turned backward towards MoorWeave’s voice, startled at first by the break in silence, before whipping around to face MoorWeave’s direction.


“Don’t you know?” ScorpionKit barked, her tail swaying back and forth behind her as she padded up to the soft pelted she-cat. When MoorWeave only offered the kit a raised brow, the bi-coloredcat was quick to clarify.

“The apprentice ceremony is today! Being held this sun high-” She informed, her deeper voice a mix between her serious determination and suppressed giddy.

“-And it won’t be ScopionKit anymore. By the end of the day you’ll refer to me as Scorpionpaw.” She corrected proudly, jabbing a paw in the Queen’s soft belly for emphasis.
“Practically a warrior already.” She added out loud to herself with a smug grin, MoorWeave giving her an amused smile in return.


“Well, congratulations. I’m sure you’ll make the call proud, but I don't see why you have to wake up so-” MoorWeave was silenced by ScorpionKit’s striped tail, the soon-to-be apprentice taking the chance to speak.

“Why thank you, MoorWeave. I’ll have to get going now straight away, to prepare and such.” The kit waved goodbye hastily, interpreting the queen’s confusion to instead quickly set off and into camp. Leaving MoorWeave still registering their conversation as other kits began to stir.

—

The orange and white cat left the nursery swiftly, her steps purposely quiet as she bonded off downward. Her long tail wrapped around stones in security before adjusting mid-air to retain her balance, bouncing from angle to angle with her long claws outstretched in every leap.

Her talons dragged against the surface of the cliff before she could safely stand on the sandy bottom of the gorge, trouting easily across the shallow creek and between clippings of leaves.
Careful to not disturb SmokeBranch, the tom sleeping in his medicine den.


ScorpionKit has made a habit of playing alone, much too competitive to make for a good playmate, and born to a one-kit litter. Because of this, ScorpionKit had created a routine of climbing the cliff’s ragged face and running along the tree’s high canopy to keep herself occupied.

SmokeBranch never seemed to approve of the “falling hazard”, or whatever the worrywart called it.


The last couple of days however were not just an attempt to entertain herself, but in preparation for her apprenticeship. Racing with herself as she sprang up the surface of bark or stone in hopes of bettering her time from the day before, always returning back to the nursery for the night out of breath.

She’d hoped it’d pay off, her pupils narrowing in focus as she crouched into position, the image of out-competing her fellow apprentices fueling her as she leapedto the first ledge.

 

[dance of the corvids]

The rise of the golden sun filtered the world in a glorious golden haze, and beam of light shining into the nursery. the glow of light from outside only slightly stirred the queens and kits, except for one— the kit deemed more nocturnal than the rest— crowkit. The lean figure only curled up more into the warmth of his mothers belly, earning a gentle & asleep mew from his litter mate, springkit. a long night had passed prior to sun-up, consisting of quietly sneaking past litters of kits and the queens to explore territory and to mentally map the place he would be seeing tomorrow, prying yellow eyes searching for something of interest.

Although the soft lull of sleep had called to him many times on his expedition, he only returned to camp when he felt his body become as heavy as a boulder and his pads were as cold as ice. He was lucky he hadn’t been caught by his mother those times, for he did this around three times every moon since he was four moons old. Ah, the simpler times from when he would wake up at a decent hour, when he was younger. The thoughts frequently ate at him, causing a dull sensation in his mind, a blank feeling, of becoming a warrior. Sure, it was exciting to him, but, something about it, growing older and serving his clan untill he could no longer walk, felt.. off, cold. Despite how dismaring the thoughts were, he continued to feel joy at the temporary feeling of earning his warrior name, maybe something cool like his mom, HawkEyes, gifted for her intelligence and sharp eye.

The feeling of being a warrior nagged at him, his fur standing on end, before it eventually woke him up, his heart pounding, paws clenching as his head shot up, a sudden happiness spiking his adrenaline. Despite this, he stayed in his original position—dormant, if you will— due to his sister sprawling her body across his curled form. His bristled fur slowly laid flat as his pupils flitted around the dark, ears swiveling to listen to the crickets chirp, a distorted symphony the ricocheted off the walls of the den, a tiny smile graving his face as he eyed the entrance of the den, lichen drifting in the biting air, causing a shiver to drive down his spine. Only then did he move, softy lowering his sister off of him, slowly moving away from his mother. He shivered a bit, the thought warmth suddenly becoming more appealing. He shook his head before dipping it to groom down the fur that stood on end, raking his tongue across his chest for a few seconds.

Wiry and cold, he stepped around the sleeping kits and queens to find his way towards the entrance, sitting to the side of it. crowkit let himself sit there for a while, drifting in and out of sleep despite the winds that blew at him like a rush of water. Crowkit sat there for a while longer, taking in the sights and sounds of the world waking up around him. He watched as the sun continued to rise, casting a warm glow over the camp and the surrounding territory. As he sat there, he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation for what the day would bring, both in terms of exploring and learning, and in terms of taking steps towards becoming a warrior.

 

[Chill Alley Cat]

Scorpionkit huffed as she propelled herself forward, talons outreach to grapple at the jagged cliff face, in the last stretch of her sprint of stamina. The winds whipping at her pelt with every push onward, her tail flowing behind her. Her throat began to burn with every breath, her mouth slightly agape to take in the crisp morning air.

White dust and rock disburse with every pounce under the weight of her front paws before being swiftly carried away by the kick and push of her hind legs. Leaving a faint trail white earth in the winds behind the speeding kit as she scales up the gorge.

With a flick of her wrist again, she finally launched onto the forest floor. Harshly and ungracefully landing on her chest before splaying on to the grass for a moment. Appreciating its lush softened, before quickly lifting herself and shaking out her short thin fur.


She turns back to the camp, looking down and into the depths of the canyon with a brief exhale. Making a mental note on how she was just a few seconds faster yesterday, likely due to the sleepiness of morning still hanging onto her coat.

She flops down near the edge of the cliff, waiting for her heartbeat to slow, placing her chin just over the rim to continue to peer downwards. Drawing patterns in the air with her orange paw, her long nails swooping and swirling around the curves of Skyclan. Comfortable.



The forest, however, whispered. The winds crawled along her spine suddenly as a gush of unease settled over her.

She turned backward, the faint unfamiliar scent startling her for a moment. Staring into the towering density of the woods, the smell fading as fast as it appeared.

ScorpionKit’s gaze hung there for a moment, but only the sound of cicadas responded. She forced herself to shrug off the unsettledness, too prideful in her lack of fear to properly give it any thought. Turning her green eyes upward to the skyline, where the birds called her to the canopy.



She got up to her feet and bounded off to the foot of a recognizable young sequoia, her own scratch marks decorating its bark from her previous climbs. ScorpionKit’s eyes lit at the sight of its height, her paws tingling to claw up its red wooden surface.

Determination lit a fire under her feet, and quickly leaping at its woody exterior and sinking her claws into the impressionable bark. And while much less maneuverable on the smaller less defined surface, ScorpionKit climbed it as you would a familiar path. Slow but at ease with every placement of her paws.


It took a while to reach its first branch, unable to properly race up the circular trunk as she would a flat rocky cliff. She took the opportunity to sit, if only for a second to look out over the canopy.

While trees still blocked her view, this one a touch smaller than the rest, the colors of the sunrise still shined brightly. Better than they ever would from the ground, where only wisps of orange clouds and red sky were visible.
Up here the rich scarlet of the sun beamed fully without obstruction, its colors staining the sky in fields of fire.

Safely held by the tree’s branch, her hind sat on the nock between it and the truck, she could outreach her paw. Free to grasp at the sun, imagining it squishing in her paw like a soft yolk-



-“ScorpionKit!!” yowled SmokeBranch angrily from the forest floor, nearly scarring the she-cat out of her skin. The herb patrol out early in the morning, much to her annoyance.


ScorpionKit glared down at the tom with a sneer, peering downwards at the gray and ginger-spotted tom with a vengeance.

“What have I told you about climbing that high MouseBrain!” SmokeBranch shouted, his tone giving a clear image of his displease frown without having to see it. The patrolling warrior around him shifted uncomfortably, their stiff stance noticeable even from up here.

ScorpionKit groaned.


As tempted as she was to snap back at the medicine cat -something along the lines of “Make me, old man!”- she gave in to his demands. It too early in the morning to argue with the stubborn healer, and not wanting to tempt him in fetching OspreyStar.

She began to climb down with a sigh, but enjoyed taking her time on the way down.

 

[dance of the corvids]

the sun rose higher in the sky, and it seemed more cats seemed to awaken. As Crowkit sat at the entrance of the nursery, his dark fur shimmering in the soft morning light, he eagerly awaited the company of his sister Springkit. Crowkit's yellow eyes sparkled with excitement as he noticed Springkit beginning to stir from her slumber.

"Morning, Crowkit," Springkit yawned, her dark blonde fur slightly bristled as she stretched her tiny legs. She pushed herself to her paws, tail flicking as she sauntered to sit beside her brother at the mouth of the nursery.

"Good morning, Springkit!" Crowkit replied cheerfully. "Did you sleep well?" He wondered out loud, looking at her with a youthful gaze, golden eyes examining her expression thoughtfully.

Springkit nodded, blinking her own eyes. "Yep! I had the best dream! I was running through the forest as fast as the wind, I felt like starclan was giving me the power of it!"

Crowkit's ears perked up with interest. "Wow, that sounds amazing! I wish I could dreams, considering I haven’t had many," he told her, eyes drifting to look at her own.

"You will, Crowkit," Springkit assured him. "Maybe tonight, you'll have a fantastic dream too." She grinned, opting him to cheer up. "I hope so," Crowkit murmured, a hint of hesitation in his voice.

Springkit nudged her brother playfully. "Don't worry, Crowkit. You're going to be the best in Skyclan, and I'll be right there cheering for you! If anyone tries to stop you, we’ll knock ‘em out together!” She cried out, earning a giggling hush from crowkit, trying not to wake the other queens.

A warm smile spread across Crowkit's face, appreciating his sister's encouragement. "Thanks, Springkit. And you'll be the fastest runner, I bet, “ he replied, tilting his head away to watch the sunrise

Springkit giggled, her eyes shining with determination & excitement. "Together, we'll make Skyclan proud!" She sat, looking ahead to watch with him. It wasn’t often that they got to watch it together. Springkit, being more of a morning cat than her darker counterpart.

Crowkit nodded, feeling grateful for having such a supportive sister. And as his thoughts wandered, excitement for his upcoming apprentice ceremony was intermingled with a subtle undercurrent of hesitation, like a delicate melody threaded through the symphony of emotions within him. As much as he longed for the day he could proudly bear the title of "apprentice," there was a twinge of uncertainty gnawing at the edges of his joy.

His dark fur, which had once seemed like a badge of honor, now felt like a cloak of vulnerability. A small voice whispered in his ear, questioning whether he truly possessed the courage and strength needed to become a warrior. Doubts and worries, like shadowy specters, danced in the periphery of his mind, casting fleeting shadows on the landscape of his dreams.

As the sun's warm rays kissed his fur, Crowkit felt a mixture of warmth and trepidation. The vibrant colors of dawn, which once ignited his spirit, now seemed to shimmer with an enigmatic ambivalence, as if the very world held secrets he was yet to uncover. The gathering place, where his clan would soon celebrate his apprentice ceremony, suddenly felt like a vast and intimidating stage.

He found solace in his parents' encouraging words, in the way their gentle purrs wrapped around him like a comforting melody. Yet, the weight of their expectations tugged at his heartstrings, leaving him grappling with a sense of responsibility that felt almost burdensome. Would he be able to live up to their hopes and dreams for him? For his sister?

He looked to the she-kits tawny pelt, before looking back, brows furrowed with a chilled feeling burrowing itself in his mind, a seed of doubt planted, yearning to tear him apart untill he couldn’t bare it anymore.

Crowkit shook his head before smiling again, trying to wipe all of it away at once. It’s better to enjoy these simple moments before he had to face the cacophony of a truth he didn’t want to face. As the sun rose and the air became warmer, he stood again, letting his lanky limbs carry him deeper into the nursery to settle for a bit, to put his mind at ease better than sitting there did.

after a bit, his sibling joined him, curling softly against his side. Embracing it, he leaned into her soft fur, letting out a few purrs. At the moment, he couldn’t really care for the apprentice ceremony that approached as quickly as a hawk towards a thrush. He just wanted to enjoy the last fleeting moments of stability he had.

 

[Chill Alley Cat]

“Congratulations.” A calm voice sounded behind the two siblings, the queen’s voice cracking in her tiredness.

The she-cat looked at the two kits with a sleepy smile through one eye. MoorWeave curled up in her nest of sand and twigs, her head resting on her two black paws.


“I heard the apprentice ceremony was today for a lot of you.-“ She continued, lifting her head up to speak. Shifting her weight on her hind legs and settling into a crouch, beginning to get up for the day.

“Can’t believe I nearly forgot.” MoorWeave chuckled lightly, looking at her own daughter in the nest over. RosemaryKit still sound asleep.

RosemaryKit’s long curly fur covering her features as she slept face down in her nest. Her gray tabby fur splayed out across the bundle of soft gravel and twine.


“You all must be very excited.” MoorWeave stated, tilting her head to the two siblings in cue of their response.

—

The sound of ScorpionKit’s claws against the bark dragged a long and obnoxious splintering sound from the tree. Purposely so, as SmokeBranch stared a hole into her back.


The late-night herb patrol consisted of the gray and brown tabby medicine cat, SmokeBranch, and of two warriors.
SpringSnow, the young lean Siamese tom, awkwardly stood stiffly with a mouth full of broad green leaves that partially obscured his face.
The older warrior, BoarFlower, seemed less bothered. The brown tabby simply waited for the interaction to be over so she could lead the group back to camp.


“One of these days ScorpionKit, you’ll fall and break your neck.” SmokeBranch berated as soon as the bicolored kit touched the ground, his voice authortrain and stern. ScorpionKit walked to the patrol, her tail dragging on the ground.

“-and for what? In search of some excitement? Cheap thrills.” SmokeBranch continued angrily, his eyes closing in consideration and frustration. He opened them again to look at the kit, only to scoff to find she’d walked past him. Only mildly annoyed if anything.

“ScorpionKit don’t you dare-“ He warned, offended by her blatant disrespect of walking off in the middle of a conversation. But his foreboding was ignored, interrupted by the she-cat leaping off the edge to begin her climb back down.


SmokeBranch ears folded back, stewing in his own frustration. He was only concerned about the cat’s health, but the kit’s attitude couldn’t help but make the young tom boil.

SpringStep shuffled awkwardly, the younger tom unsettled by the fellow clan mate’s anger. BoarFlower, however, only sighed as she placed a paw on his shoulder. Snapping him out of his own thoughts.

“Come on, SmokeBranch. You’ll have some time to discipline her later.-“ Her amber eyes firm and sharp but held understanding.

“We still haven’t circled around the other side of camp.” She concluded, getting the patrol back on task as she began walking forward. SmokeBranch, with huff, following behind her.