C H A P T E R T W O
Silverkit woke up.
He was momentarily blinded by the dazzling beam of sunlight filtering through the bramble entrance of the nursery. To keep the foxes out. His mother, Frozenfur, had told him.
“Silverkit! You’re awake!” A pure white she-cat rushed towards him, “I need you to look your best! Your apprentice ceremony will be held soon!” Frozenfur purred and started licking his ears. His sister, Shinykit, watched him with a glint of amusement in her blue eyes.. Grumbling, Silverkit squirmed out of her grip and shook his silver fur.
Suddenly two paws clamped onto his back. Silverkit eyes were wide with shock and flung the attacked off his back with all his might. He spun around and saw his sister, Icekit, tumbled into the corner of the den and crashed into another identical looking white she-cat.
“Icekit! Snowkit! Stop making such a racket!” Frozenfur grabbed Snowkit gently with her teeth away by her scruff.
Just then, there was a yowl from outside,” Let all cats who can endure the cold of leaf-bare gather beneath the Icicle Ledge for a Clan meeting!”
“That is your leader, Winterstar, speaking! Hurry! It’s your apprentice ceremony!” Frozenfur nudged her four kits out into the main clearing. Silverkit widened his eyes in awe as she led them towards the Icicle Ledge, which was flat stone with icicles at the sides in the middle of the camp. This was their first time out of the nursery. It was huge.
“Look, that’s your father!” Frozenfur cried out. Silverkit followed her gaze and saw a dark gray tom padding towards them. His tail brushed her lightly. Silverkit puffed out his fur, hoping to impress his father while Icekit and Snowkit threw themselves onto their father. Shinypaw stood silently, her blue eyes wide. Silverkit noticed his father staring at him for a few heartbeats. Did he do something wrong? he thought. But Stonestep’s dark gaze was unreadable. The gray tom nodded at Frozenfur and padded away towards a white tom and a blue-gray tom.
“Where did our father go?” Icekit piped up. Frozenfur cuffed her lightly and replied,” Your father is a general, one of the senior warriors who are chosen by the leader who take charge of the rest of the Clan. They plan battle parties and often lead patrols.”
She nodded at the two warriors Stonestep was talking to. “Those two are also generals, Sharpclaw and Blizzardfoot.”
Silverkit listened in awe. He vowed to become the best warrior ever so that Winterstar would appoint him to become a general. Frozenfur led them towards the Icicle Ledge where Winterstar stood.
“Today, we have four kits with us.” Winterstar yowled,” They have spent six moons in the nursery and are now becoming apprentices.”
“Icekit,” The white she-cat stepped forward proudly.
“From this day onward, you shall be known as Icepaw”
Winterstar looked around the clearing. “Blizzardfoot, you will be Icepaw’s mentor. May you pass on your skills and train her into a fine warrior.”
The white warrior nodded and gently touched his muzzle on Icepaw’s head.
“Snowkit,” Snowkit lifted her head and winked at Icepaw.
“From this day onward, until you earn your warrior name, you will be Snowpaw. Minnowfur will be your mentor.”
The dappled gray she-cat stepped forward and brushed her muzzle on Snowpaw’s head.
“Shinykit,” Shinykit shifted her paws and gazed at Winterstar,” You shall be called Shinypaw.”
Winterstar closed his eyes for a moment and meowed,” Whiteclaw,” The large warrior glanced up with undisguised surprise as Winterstar continued,” It is time for your first apprentice. You had a fine mentor in Hailstone. You will mentor Shinypaw and pass on the skills you have learnt.”
The gray deputy nodded encouragingly at his once apprentice as Whiteclaw padded up to Shinypaw and touched her head with his muzzle.
“Silverkit,” Silverkit trembled slightly as Winterstar called his name,” You will be known as Silverpaw.”
“Sharpclaw,” The blue-gray general jerk his head in surprise. “You will mentor Silverpaw and train him to become a great warrior like his father.”
Blinking, Sharpclaw stiffly brushed his muzzle on his head. Silverpaw shifted his paws uncomfortably as his mentor stared at him, his eyes hard and cold.
“Icepaw! Snowpaw! Shinypaw! Silverpaw!” The Clan chanted. Silverpaw looked down from the Icicle Ledge and saw his mother gazing at them with pride. Stonestep stood rigid, his green eyes emotionless.
Sharpclaw leaped down from the Icicle Ledge with Silverpaw following him. There was a long silence as mentor and apprentice faced each other. “I suppose I shall show you the camp now,” Sharpclaw finally spoke.
Silverpaw nodded.
“That is the Leader’s den.” Silverpaw followed Sharpclaw’s gaze and saw a den behind the Icicle Ledge, buried under the snow except the entrance.
Sharpclaw tilted his head towards a tall birch tree at the far end of the camp entrance. “The elders sleep near the birch tree. The branches will provide shelter for them.”
“Beside the elders den is the nursery, where queens expecting or nursing kits stay.” There was no usual mewling of kits. Silverpaw peered inside. The other queen, Echoshine was snoozing quietly inside, her belly bulging with unborn kits.
Suddenly, Silverpaw felt a sharp jab in his ribs. Sharpclaw was glaring at him. “Paying attention now?” He glanced down at his paws sheepishly.
Sharpclaw flicked his tail towards the large cave beside the camp entrance. “That is the warriors den. Senior warriors and generals normally sleep in the centre of the den where it is the warmest.” A few cats passing by dipped their heads in greeting. Sharpclaw nodded curtly back.
His mentor tilted his head towards the hollow entrance of a large boulder. “That is the apprentices den where you will be sleeping.”
“It’s already late,” Sharpclaw meowed. “Tomorrow meet me at the camp entrance at sunhigh. I’ll show you the forest.” With that, he padded away.
Silverpaw was exhausted after a long day. He curled in his own nest and went to sleep.
Sorry. But I like the story.
Iceclaw 
Silverstream 
Congratulate them 
