Mentor and Apprentice

Chapter One
Dawnkit wriggled away from her mothers grooming tongue; her pelt was already smooth as silk, and shined in the sunlight. Any more grooming and it would be ruined.

"Dawnkit!" She heard her friend, Sunpaw, calling her. She glanced at her mother, then bounded off. "What took you so long?" Sunpaw muttered from the side of her mouth; Flowerstar was climbing up the Tree Stump.

"My mother claimed I had mud on my fur," Dawnkit muttered back. "But it was just a patch of brown fur." Sunpaw giggled, but was silenced by her mentor Willowfern's glare.

"Cats of ThunderClan!" Flowerstar yowled. "Today we gather to name a new apprentice. Dawnkit, please come forth." Dawnkit felt Sunpaw's tail of her flank before she strutted her her to the tall tree stump. Once she was at the bottom, she prepared to jump to stand beside her leader, but Flowerstar's deputy, Rainleap, grabbed her by the scruff and lifted her up. Dawnkit froze when she realized she was sitting on the Tree Stump with Flowerstar. "Dawnkit, from this moment until you become a warrior, you will be known as Dawnpaw." Dawnpaw could only blink. "Your mentor will be Lionfire." Dawnpaw seemed to find her tongue.

"What?" Dawnpaw wailed. Lionfire had been a rogue that Flowerstar had brought in because he had good skills. She had never trusted him, and never would. "Lionfire?!" Flowerstar met her green gaze with one of firey amber.

"Yes. You will be mentored by Lionfire." Flowerstar blinked slowly, daring Dawnpaw to object. She glowered at the white and ginger tom in the crowd, who's eyes were shining with embarasment as Clan members twisted to look at him. Flowerstar laid her muzzle on Dawnpaw's head, and she reluncantly licked the tortoiseshell's shoulder. Dawnpaw leaped down to meet Lionfire, who seemed uncomfortable. He bent his head to touch his nose to her's, the tradition, but she only glared at him. He pursed his lips and straightened. Dawnpaw's older sister, Dapplepaw, bounded forward, calling her new name. "Hello, Lionfire," Dapplepaw greeted the tom like she would any Clanmate. Dapplepaw had never shared Dawnpaw's dislike of him. Lionfire dipped his head to her, then turned back to Dawnpaw as Dapplepaw went to talk to her friend.

"I understand you distrust me," He mewed, surprisingly calm. "But I only ask you to behave yourself, and let me teach you what I know." Dawnpaw curled her lip.

"I don't want to learn what you have to teach me," She snarled. "But it seems I have no choice." Lionfire rolled his eyes and stalked off to the warriors den, leaving Dawnpaw alone in the middle of her Clanmates, who were laughing at her. She'd never been left alone before.

Chapter Two
Coming soon!