Watchin'

[gypsyheart]

The young, slender she-cat lay on her side in the bright sunlight, her eyes half-open as she watched the camp. Always one to watch and listen, Silentkit did not join in with the regular sharing tongues and chatter of the other Clan cats. She had never been very comfortable in crowds.

Rolling over onto her other side, she thought excitedly, I'm nearly ready to be an apprentice. Though you would have never known it by her expression or calm position, Silentkit's heart was thundering excitedly in her chest, and her mind was filling with visions of stalking through the forest as a proud warrior, hunting and fighting for her Clan. The young cat released a heavy sigh and sat up, licking her shoulder before looking around for Leopardstar. Oh, how she wanted to be an apprentice!

[leopardthorn]

Leopardstar walked up to Silentkit. Seeing the anticipation in her eyes she asked. "Silentkit do you want to be a apprentice? If so we will have your apprentice ceremony and I will mentor you myself."

[gypsyheart]

Silentkit's eyes lit up with excitement at Leopardstar's words. She made her face expressionless as she replied, "Yes, I'm six moons old now; I'd like to be an apprentice." Only her bright eyes and twitching tail-tip showed that her heart was beating rapidly with excitement.

[leopardthorn]

Leopardstar's whiskers twitched in amusement. "Come on Silentkit, we will have your ceremony now." Leopardstar walked to the center of the clearing, her new apprentice following. "Will all cats old enough to hunt their own prey gather for a clan meeting. This evening we are here to make Silentkit an apprentice. She has reached her sixth moon and is able to become an apprentice. From this moment on, until she earns her her warrior name she will be known as Silentpaw. I will be her mentor." Leopardstar padded up to touch noses with her young apprentice.

[gypsyheart]

Silentkit quickly followed her leader to the center of the clearing. Tail-tip twitching faintly, she waited patiently as the customary words were spoken. The harsh sun beating down on her affected her not; nor did the fact that she hadn't eaten at all that day. All she cared about was that she was finally becoming an apprentice. Standing up, Silentpaw reached up to touch noses with Leopardstar, eyes twinkling excitedly. "Silentpaw," she whispered slowly and quietly, as if to savor the sound of her new name.