Life Goes On

Leafstar padded out of her den. It had been a moon since Viperpaw had been banished. And now everyone thing seemed so happy. The kits played, the apprentices trained, and the mates all sat purring at each other. And yet again, there was time for news, there was an apprentice ceremony that was due. She looked at her mate and then leaped up to high branch.

"All cats old enough to catch their own prey join for a clan meeting beneath high branch!" She called loudly and the clan assembled as they were called. Their eyes glittering up at their leader, soundlessly they sat. Leafstar looked at the apprentices. "First! It has come to my attention that the apprentices need mentors! Acornpaw your mentor will be Jaychaser." Jaychaser stepped forward and touched noses with his new apprentice and they both smiled. "Peakpaw, your mentor will be Wolfstorm." She spoke a bit hesitantly. She knew that Wolfstorm may not want to teach the tom, but she wanted someone she trusted to keep an eye on him. The two toms stepped forward and awkwardly touched noses. "Blossompaw your mentor will be Applesplash." Much unlike Wolfstorm and his new apprentice, the two she-cats touched noses happily and Applesplash purred. "Fierypaw your mentor will be Blizzardsight." She smiled down at the white tom, he was blind but capable. The two touched noses and smiled. "Larkpaw your mentor will be Snowcrumble." Then the two touched noses, like all before them. "Willowpaw your mentor will be Flashfire. Burstpaw your mentor will be Trembleglade." Trembleglade stepped forward and smiled happily. "Mudpaw your mentor will be Shadowflame." The newest addition to ForestClan stepped forward a bit surprised but still touched noses will his new apprentice. "And finally Petalpaw your mentor will be Foxclaw." She nodded to the brown tabby tom and they touched noses. The clan cheered happily.

"Next, it is time for Cricketkit to become an apprentice!" She called. "By naming apprentices we show that ForestClan is growing and will remain strong!" She smiled at her large clan. They were one of the biggest in the forest.

"Cricketkit please step forward." The small creamy ginger tabby she-cat did as she was asked and stood before Leafstar, she purred out her chest as well to try and look bigger, but it didn't work. "Do you promise to train as an apprentice of ForestClan and follow the warrior code?" She asked the tiny she-cat.

"I do." She nodded, her voice coming out a bit soft but the clan still hear her.

"Then from this moment on, until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Cricketpaw!" She purred and blinked at the little she-cat. There was no way that a kitten like this could be Nightstar's daughter...But then again they all knew that she was. "I will be your mentor." She touched noses with Cricketkit and smiled.

"Next-" Leafstar was cut off by Dizzysong who burst into camp. "Leafstar, there is a new scent on the border! It's nothing I have ever scented before! But it smells like a marked border." The she-cat shook her head, her sleek tabby fur was clean against her lean frame. Dizzysong wasn't muscualr but had wiry muscles that gave her agility and stability.

"Then we will send a patrol." She smiled. "If it is a new clan, they will be no threat to us, will they?" She spoke calmly and her clan seemed soothed. "I will send Applesplash, Trembleglade, Foxclaw, and Swiftrain." She smiled happily. Applesplash's beauty would certainly sooth tensions. "You may bring your apprentices if you like, as long as they don't cause any trouble." She purred.

"That is all! Clan dismissed!" The clan disassembled and Leafstar padded down to the clearing, as she purred happily. They may just get a new ally out of this.

----------------------Mean While-------------------------------

Viperpaw sat in the forest her ears pricked for the slightest sound. She decided that she would change her name, she is Viper now. She is no clan cat, so she will not have a clan name. She stood now. she should get off their territory. She didn't belong here. She padded off, her pelt waving softly with the New-Leaf breeze that had just barley rolled in. Her light golden eyes flickered as she looked around. She had been out here a moon and she still hadn't found a place to live, figures. But now she would leave the territory, and maybe there would be something for her a long way away.

Viper looked around, her eyes stopped on a fallen log. It had a large opening and looked like it was big enough for a den. She ran over happily before a scent hit her and she stopped. It was a hard scent to describe. It was like the scent that you got when it was Leaf-Bare, the dry and frozen scent that you couldn't describe. But here it was, emanating from this log! She dropped her head and sniffed again hesitantly. She started padding forward. She was right next to the log when a snarl ripped the otherwise silent air. A fierce looking tom burst from the den, his odd purple eyes were glowing with intensity. He looked furious.

"Get away from my den! Stupid clan cat!" He howled at her and jumped on her. He pinned her easily, he was big! His sharp teeth were glowing clearly.

"I'm not a clan cat!" She chocked out. Her eyes wide. She had to lie, otherwise he would kill her. "M-m-my name is Viper, they took me from my mom and made me live with them. But I escaped!" She chocked on his paw, which was on her throat, cutting of her air.

The tom relaxed and let her up. "I'm sorry. Are you okay?" He asked, the anger had left his eyes. Viper could only nodded breathing heavily. "My name is Freeze, nice to meet you." The tom smiled. His purple eyes flashed.

"Yes. I must get going I need to find a home." She admitted and stood, shaking snow and derby from her pelt.

"You can stay with me!" Freeze smiled again. "I am really lonely." He flicked his ears. He looked just a bit older then Viper, he would have been a warrior back in the clan. And no doubt he would have a mate, he was very charming when he wasn't trying to kill you.

"S-sure." She smiled. "But you sleep on one side and I sleep on the other." She stated. She didn't want him thinking that she wanted to mate with him. And he just nodded.

"Then you can get yourself settled, I am going to hunt." He smiled and padded off. Leaving Viper sitting there wondering what had just happened.