A New Apprentice

Darkflame was padding through the stone yard, leaping from stone to stone. Suddenly, he sat up, ears pricked. He could hear a faint meowing in the distance. He quickly dashed towards the source of the sound, the rough rocks scraping his pads, but he didn't care. He came up to a stone and saw a snow-white cat huddled up against it. He looked at her. "What is your name?" he asked, quietly but firmly. "H-Holly," the she-cat stuttered. Darkflame sighed. "Want to come to the HawkClan camp?"


~

"All cats old enough to gather their own prey, please gather at the Great Boulder. Today we welcome a new apprentice into our clan - Hollypaw!! And-" Moonstar paused for a moment. "I will mentor her myself."

"Hollypaw, do you pledge your soul, spirit and loyalty to your clan, and promise to defend it with your life?" Moonstar's gaze was as clear as the afternoon sky.

"Yes," replied the young cat, eyes sparkling like stars.

"StarClan, I call on you to welcome this into our clan, watch over her, and protect her." Moonstar looked down at the young cat. "StarClan speaks of your approval. From now on, you are a proud member of HawkClan. May StarClan light your path." The black and white leader leaped down from the Great Boulder to touch noses with the new apprentice. Then she sat up and gazed over the clan. "Hollypaw! Hollypaw! Hollypaw!" they cheered.