"Crestedkit, from this day forward, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Crestedpaw. Your mentor will be Ravencatch, I hope that she will pass on all she knows to you." Badgerstar finished, her green eyes gleaming with happiness as she looked down on the newly made apprentice. Crestedpaw could barely keep herself from shaking as she turned to find a black-furred she-cat walk her way. Her eyes were dim as they touched noses, but soon flashed as they took a seat into the crowd. The clan finished shouting her name as Badgerstar then went onto her brother. "It'll be over before you know it." Ravencatch muttered, a slight smile on her maw.

Crestedpaw felt her fluffy tail lash back and forth as she nodded eagerly, thinking about all the things she could do now. Her thoughts were interrupted as they called out Grasspaw's name, his mentor Cricketbelly leading him their way. "Congratulations Cricketbelly." Ravencatch meowed to him as they took a seat beside them. The tom dipped his head as a buzzing Grasspaw sat on the ground, his fur bristling. "I can't wait to get out there." Grasspaw whispered, nudging her shoulder with hers. "I know, I can't wait to go hunting and learn battle moves." She whispered back, her eyes flickering toward the clearing.

Two moons flew by so fast Crestedpaw couldn't even believe she was actually an apprentice. Her beating heart was slowly going down as Adderkit was made an apprentice, her maw in a wicked smirk. Her mentor Mapleclaw had pulled away sharply and headed toward the opposite way of the newly made apprentices, taking a seat beside someone else. Crestedpaw cast a narrowed glance their way, catching Adderpaw's gaze. The two glared at each other for a moment before the clan shouted Rootpaw's name, her brother a small bouncing bundle of fur.

Crestedpaw looked around the clearing at her clanmates, her eyes glancing over at the older apprentices. Her green gaze caught the eyes of Flintpaw, his eyes narrowed as they turned her way. His maw pulled back into a sneer as they glared at each other, his claws scoring the ground. A shoulder bumped into her, making her break eye contact. Grasspaw was looked at her with a raised brow, giving her a toothy-smile. The she-cat rolled her eyes and butted his shoulder back, raising her head to look up at high-rock. 

"At dusk we will celebrate these four blessings!" Badgerstar called as the clan started to dispersed, going back to their regular activities. "So what are we going to do? Crestedpaw and Grasspaw asked in usion, turning toward their mentors. Cricketbelly gave a chuckle as he stood up, his gaze turning to Ravencatch. "I'm heading toward the Windclan border. What about you?" He asked with a tilt of his head. Crestedpaw had her gaze on her mentor as she pondered what to do, her paws buzzing. "I'll head toward the ShadowClan border, make sure the scent marks aren't messed up like last time." She told him.

Crestedpaw felt her gaze darken as she turned to look at a downcast Grasspaw, her paws carrying her to his side. "Oh don't worry, you two will patrol with each other soon eno-" Ravencatch meowed but was cut off of as a large frame pushed past her, heading toward the camp entrance. "Watch it." Mapleclaw hissed, her eyes narrowed as she glared at the four. Adderpaw followed her silently with her chin high, casting them all a smudge glance. "You watch it Mapleclaw!" Ravencatch snapped at her, though they already disappeared into the forest.

"Ignore her, she's always like that." Cricketbelly meowed, turning to go out the same way. Crestedpaw padded after him quickly with Grasspaw at her side, her eyes bright as they made it to the entrance. The forest smells were closer now as she got closer to the brambles, her steps quicker than before. Outpacing her brother and mentor she burst into the open, chirps and the breeze swaying the trees could be heard above. The smell of plants and leaves left her breathless as she made her way over to a bush, taking in it's scent. "Come on Crestedpaw! We'll have enough time later to smell everything!" Ravencatch called after her, her tone sarcastic.

The white and orange apprentice lifted her head to see her mentor padding away, her brother and his mentor already gone. Her eyes widened as she caught up with her, her head turning every way possible to look at all the territory. The trees were stunning, their leaves were dark green with branches so long it was like they never ended. "It's so huge!" She exclaimed, her paws planted on a tree root. Ravencatch let out a snort as she stopped walking, her head turning to look back at Crestedpaw. "There are plenty more trees to look around at. If you keep up all that racket the hunting patrols will bring back nothing to celebrate with." She said sharply, her eyes narrowed as Crestedpaw hopped onto the ground.

She gave a shy smile as she made her way over to her, small grass stalks crunching under her paws. Crestedpaw stopped beside her, over looking a small clearing. "This clearing is for practicing hunting moves, there is a larger one for battle moves deeper into the territory." Ravencatch meowed, setting down into the clearing. Sand crunched under her paws as they padded across it.

-

The clearing was larger than the one before, ShadowClan territory looming before them. Crestedpaw felt her nose wrinkle against the strong smell, taking a step back. "Get used to it because you'll be smelling it more often. ShadowClan doesn't know how to stay in their own borders." Ravencatch growled, padding toward the invisible scent line. Crestedpaw followed after her with short steps, her eyes darted between the shadowy pine trees. "Their territory is so different from ours." She breathed out, taking a step closer to the border.

"Back away apprentice, or have your fur shredded!" A voice snarled in front of them, taking her off-guard. Crestedpaw took a step back quickly as a ShadowClan patrol padded out in front of them. "Can't ThunderClan keep control of it's apprentices." A tom hissed, his lips pulled back in a snarl. Crestedpaw felt her tail bristle as Ravencatch padded up to her side, her mentor's own lips pulled back in a sneer. "Yes they can. ShadowClan might have a hard time though." She hissed back at him, her paws planted on the forest floor. The tom's brown eyes flickered over to her, his gaze narrowed.

"Who is this, I haven't seen her before." He asked, his tail flicking out behind him. The other three warriors fanned out to his side, marking the border on their side. "I'm Crestedpaw." She meowed uncertainly, her eyes narrowed as she looked at him. A light of recognition flashed in his eyes as he looked at her. "Jackdawcry's kit, I was wondering if I'd ever see you. Your father and I are friends, I'm Plainscar." He meowed to her, his maw in a small smile as he padded toward them. Ravencatch lashed her tail in warning, making him stop walking.

Crestedpaw looked up toward the cream furred tom, her head tilted to the side. Her eyes scanned the other patrolling party, a white and brown tom closest to her with looking her way. "How's Springcall, is she still as beautiful as ever." The tom asked, a smirk spreading across his face. Crestedpaw felt her claws unsheathed as she hissed at him, her tail lashing. "Don't talk about my mother fox-dung." She hissed at him through clenched teeth, her body tense as she stood there. It took everything she had to not leap at him across the border, but going up against a full grown warrior was not something she had in mind.

"Temper kit, I'm not interested in her. I've got my own family to worry about." He hissed at her, his icy blue eyes narrowed. "Alright Darkshadow, no need to make her fur crawl." Plainscar meowed, his body already turned toward the dark pine trees. The patrol receded back into their territory in a moments time, leaving the two ThunderClan cats standing alone.

-

As the mentor and apprentice padded back toward camp the sun was already starting to go down. The scent on ShadowClan was stale now as they neared camp. "How'd you like your first day?" Ravencatch meowed, breaking the silence. Crestedpaw looked upward toward her mentor, giving her a smile. Her paws were sore from walking as she was sure she had a thorn in her pad. "I thought it was awesome! Even if we ran into that ShadowClan patrol." She meowed, her maw in a smile as well. "I'm glad that you feel that way. Tomorrow we can practice hunting moves." She meowed as the camp wall camp into view. Crestedpaw nodded her head to her words, a bounce in her step.

Crestedpaw picked up the pace on her own as they fell into the familiar trail. The breeze picked up her whiskers and made them flatten against her face. Shaking her head her eyes spotted something grey sitting beside the entrance, her claws hooking into the ground to stop her from moving. "W-who are you?" She asked, her eyes wide as she gazed at the she-cat in front of her. Her body was covered in many scars, her dark grey fur a shadow in the shade. Her eyes were blank as she stared at her. Not to forget Crestedpaw couldn't help but notice she was biggest cat she'd ever seen.

Taller and bigger than even Badgerstar and Jackdawcry themselves. "Her name is Silentstep." Ravencatch meowed once she caught up to her. Her mentor gazed at her fondly, dipping her head in greeting. "And she's mute." She added, padding past her and through the entrance. Crestedpaw felt herself gulp as she walked past her, receiving a nod as well. "She's mute? So she can't talk. How come I've never seen her before? Like, even if I was outside of the nursery. I've never seen her." Crestedpaw meowed as they made their way into camp.

Most of the patrols were back right now and the clan was milling around the clearing grooming each others fur and sharing tongues. Ravencatch shot her a glare as they padded closer to the fresh kill pile. "She isn't exactly a clanmate Crestedpaw, it's kind of complicated to explain right now." She meowed in a hushed tone as they padded up to a group of warriors. "Hey, Ravencatch good day out?" A tom asked as she settled down beside him, his eyes glinting as he looked at her. Crestedpaw stood there silently as they talked, turning her head to look around the clearing.

She spotted the other apprentices in a group, luckily Flintpaw wasn't there. "Ima' go Ravencatch, see you tomorrow." She meowed to her, dipping her head from the group. As she made her way between groups of clanmates she passed her mother and father on the way. "How was your first day?" Springcall asked, purring as Jackdawcry licked her cheek. "It was super fun. Ravencatch and I checked the ShadowClan border and actually met a patrol." She meowed sharply, her maw in a smirk as her parents widened their eyes.

"Did you find out names?" Jackdawcry asked, his head tilting as he looked at her. "I only know Plainscar and a tom named Darkshadow. Darkshadow was super weird though, he asked if you were still beautiful mother. I almost claws his ears off." Crestedpaw meowed, her head lifting as she saw Grasspaw and Cricketbelly pad into camp. Jackdawcry let out a 'humpf' sound as he laid his head across Springcall's shoulder. "Darkshadow has always been that way, since we were apprentices. But he has a mate now, probably just wanted to ruffle your fur." Springcall meowed with a chuckle, shaking her head.

"Crestedpaw!" A voice called out for her, her green eyes searching for it and landing on her brother. He was already started to settle down next to the other apprentices, his maw in a smirk. "I'll talk to you guys later, okay!" She meowed, nuzzling them both as she bounded across the small distance. "Hey guys!" She meowed once she got into earshot, plopping down beside Grasspaw. The three older apprentices turned their gazes on her, a smile on each other them. "Nice to finally meet you Crestedpaw. I'm Honeypaw." A light brown tom meowed, sending her a wink.

"And I'm Starlingpaw and this is Cowpaw." Starlingpaw meowed, catching her attention. Crestedpaw turned her gaze to land on the russet she-cat, her chest starting to beat rapidly. Her brown eyes were gazing at her softly, a small smile on her maw. Shaking her head she looked at the black and white apprentice, dipping her head. "Nice to meet you. Now Grasspaw, what happened during your training?" She turned her gaze on her brother, her chest going down. "These two WindClan cat's tried to start a fight. A tom named Rustfleck and his apprentice Viperpaw. Let me tell you, she was creepy as all get out. I prayed to StarClan that I didn't have to speak with her." Grasspaw exclaimed, earning chuckle's from the others.

Crestedpaw felt her head tilt as she looked at him, her ear flicking. "She was quite, never made a sound while Rustfleck was spitting at us. She barely even looked at me, kept her gaze on Cricketbelly the whole time like I wasn't important." He meowed gruffly, leaning against Crestedpaw's shoulder. "Every cat is different Grasspaw." She meowed while shaking her head, rolling her eyes as she looked toward her brother. "Yeah, but it was just weird. Luckily a border patrol backed us up and sent them running." He grinned hotly, lifting his head proudly.

Crestedpaw felt her gaze drift back over toward the other three, her gaze landing on Starlingpaw. The russet she-cat was muttered with Honeypaw, her shoulders moving in a soft giggle. Crestedpaw couldn't help but feel her claws curl inwards, her eyes narrowed. "So where's Flintpaw?" She asked aloud, causing the two to break conversation. "Spottedgorse probably has him out late again. The tom can never get enough of training." Honeypaw answered her, his eyes rolling. Crestedpaw let out a huff as she set her head on her paws, her tail flicking.

"All cat's old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the high rock!" The meeting call rung out, Badgerstar looking down at them. Crestedpaw lifted herself up, shaking off dust from her pelt. Grasspaw sat beside her and gave his shoulder fur a couple of licks. "As you all know we will celebrate with the apprenticeship of Rootpaw, Adderpaw, Crestedpaw and Grasspaw. Let the feast begin!" She announced, jumping down from the rock. Crestedpaw stood up from her spot, and stretched. The other apprentices stood up as well and they all padded to the fresh-k!ll pile.

Grasspaw was at her side as they walked into the clearing, her eyes catching the bodies of Adderpaw and Rootpaw. The two siblings were padding past warriors and got to the pile first, waiting until Badgerstar made her way in front of them. The leader dipped her head at them and hooked out a mouse for each, watching them grab it. Jackdawcry stood with the crowd with Springcall by his side, gazing at his two kits with bright eyes. Crestedpaw couldn't help but feel embarrassed by all the attention as they got their food. She forced her fur to lay flat as she made it back to her regular spot.

But to her surprise she found the grey body of Flintpaw in her spot, his eyes glaring at her as she padded toward him. "Excuse me, but I was sitting there." She told him sharply, placing the prey down at her paws. The older apprentice scoffed and rolled his eyes, looking past her at the other apprentices. "Just because you're an apprentice doesn't mean you can boss me around. I'm still older than you kit." He hissed at her, his eyes flashing in anger. As he finished speaking he let out another hiss, stepping back from her and lifting up his paw.

Crestedpaw tilted her head as her eyes flickered down to his paw, brows furrowing as she saw tried blood. A claw looked a bit twisted as they hung from its sheath. "You should go get that checked out." She meowed uneasily, looking up at him with narrowed eyes. The tom sneered at her words and stepped back, lifting his paw in the air. "Don't tell me what to do." He growled but turned away and padded toward the medicine cat den. Shaking her head Crestedpaw sat down once more and started to eat, ears twitching as the rest settled down around her.

"I saw Flintpaw walk into the medicine cat den, wonder what that's about." Cowpaw meowed, her tone worried as her eyes flickered back toward the den. "One of his claws were twisted and their was dried blood on his paw." Crestedpaw told her, startled by the sudden look she turned to give her. "I'm guessing he's a bad hunter at night and landed wrong." She meowed, licking her jaws as she went to get another bite. Grasspaw had already finished his mouse and was laying against Crestedpaw, eyes fluttering to stay open.

"Don't say that about him! You barely even know him." Cowpaw growled at her, ears flattened against her head. "I was just making an assumption, don't jump so quick to defend him when you don't know how he treats me." Crestedpaw growled back, the fur around her neck bristling as she glared at the white and black she-cat. Cowpaw lashed her tail and stood up abruptly, grabbing her half-eaten vole and walking toward the medicine den. "She gets defensive about him because they've been through a lot." Starlingpaw meowed sternly, fixing her with a steady gaze.

"He's always been kind to her and helps her with hunting because she doesn't get things as quickly as us." The russet-furred she-cat explained, placing a paw over the other. "I'll apologize to her later." Crestedpaw meowed, flushing with embarrassment at getting scolding from Startlingpaw. Sighing, she finished her meal and stood up. Causing a sleeping Grasspaw to grumble at the movement. "I'm going to bed. I have a long day tomorrow." She told them, turning away without a glance.

She could feel their stares on her back as she walked into the apprentice's den, shadows covering her white pelt. Crestedpaw stepped over nests and found a scent free one in the back, moss woven with feathers. Settling down into the soft nest her head laid against the edge, eyes closing for the nights sleep.