Wind (book)/Chapter 14

==Chapter description==
:Squirrelstar calls a Clan meeting. Nightheart goes to sit next to Sunbeam, groggy after the Gathering. He notices that Sunbeam had been on tick duty, but is unable to speak with her due to Squirrelstar beginning to address the Clan. The leader states that Waffle has decided to stay in ThunderClan, and is going to be apprenticed alongside Spotfur's kits. Squirrelstar begins with Waffle, naming him Wafflepaw and apprenticing him to Nightheart. Nightheart is shocked at being chosen, but Squirrelstar tells him that although he had a rough start, he shows the qualities of a good mentor. Brambleclaw remarks that Squirrelstar should know about mentoring, considering how difficult of an apprentice she was. Squirrelstar instructs for Nightheart and Wafflepaw to touch noses, and they do so. ThunderClan cheers for Wafflepaw, but Shellfur and Honeyfur challenge Squirrelstar's choice, stating that they are older warriors and had never mentored apprentices. Squirrelstar defends her choice and Nightheart, shutting down the warriors' questions of nepotism. She then lets Nightheart know that he can start training Wafflepaw right away. Squirrelstar then names Bristlepaw, Graypaw, and Stempaw as apprentices; assigning Bayshine, Finchlight, and Molewhisker respectively as their mentors.
:After the meeting, Sunbeam congratulates Nightheart, who thanks her. Nightheart feels sorry that Sunbeam is still punished with apprentice duties, but his mate reassures him, saying that cats were nice about it, and that she has help now with the new apprentices. Sunbeam then leaves to tend to the elders. Nightheart tells Sunbeam how much more worthy he feels of her now that he is a mentor. He explains that he had a bad start in ThunderClan, and how he feels bad for not being there for Sunbeam, but his mate understands, and says that she is proud. Nightheart is still concerned about his mate, but she says that she is just tired.
:Nightheart takes Wafflepaw out along with the other mentors and apprentices. Wafflepaw is excited, but feels sad that Wasp is leaving. Nightheart, Bayshine, Finchlight, and their apprentices leave to tour the territory. He notes how young the apprentices seem, and reflects on how he was that age not that long ago, and although he struggled to learn the skills of a warrior, he had succeeded in the end. Upon reaching the lakeshore, Bristlepaw and Graypaw stare at awe at the size of the lake, and wonder what is on the other side. Finchlight explains that the other Clans are along the lake, too, pointing out the territories of WindClan, RiverClan, and ShadowClan. Bayshine points out SkyClan, and instructs the patrol to go along that border. Bristlepaw is disgusted at the scent of SkyClan scent markers, and Graypaw asks if SkyClan is a stinky Clan. Finchlight scolds them for calling other cats yucky, and the apprentices apologize. The patrol continues, and the apprentices find a new scent, which Wafflepaw identifies as a fox. Graypaw and Bristlepaw want to see the fox, but Bayshine tells them that foxes are dangerous. Nightheart says that the scent is stale, and instructs the apprentices to sniff the scent to learn how to detect that of a fox. 
:The tour ends at the WindClan border. The apprentices are happy about how much they had learned. Bayshine asks the apprentices what they should have done if the fox scent was fresh, and Graypaw suggests fighting the fox. Wafflepaw suggests to report it first, then see what the leader decides. Nightheart is pleased that his apprentice showed the correct judgement. He reminds Graypaw of how important relying on Clanmates is. Finchlight says that it's time to go back to camp, but the apprentices protest. Graypaw wants to catch prey using the hunter's crouch that Sunbeam had taught him, to feed his Clan. Finchlight says that they can still do that another day. The patrol returns home via the old Thunderpath. Graypaw asks why the plants are so short. Nightheart explains that their path used to be a Thunderpath, and that Twolegs made ThunderClan's camp. This surprises the apprentices. They then scamper ahead at the promise of fresh-kill, arguing on who would be the best warrior or leader. 
:Amused, Nightheart decides to sneak up on the chattering cats to startle them. The other mentors do so as well, and the three of them hurl themselves at the apprentices, scaring them. Bristlepaw gets stuck in a bramble, and needs to be rescued. The apprentices learn to be more attentive of their surroundings, and that Clanmates shouldn't boast. Bristlepaw feels embarrassed, but Nightheart comforts her, saying that Squirrelstar was known for getting stuck in all sorts of things as an apprentice. Bristlepaw wants to hear the elders tell stories of those indidents, and feels better. Wafflepaw, who wasn't chattering, says that he learned how powerful the element of surprise can be. Nightheart praises his apprentice, saying that he has the making of a good warrior. Back in camp, Nightheart sees Sunbeam, who looks empty and sad. She asks her mate how the training went, voice hoarse. Nightheart demands to know what is troubling Sunbeam, and she admits that she wishes that she is so worried about her kin, that she almost wishes she hadn't found them. Nightheart vows to help Sunbeam and her kin, working together.
==Characters==
===Major===
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
==Important events==
*Wafflepaw, Bristlepaw, Graypaw, and Stempaw are made apprentices. Respectively, their mentors are Nightheart, Bayshine, Finchlight, and Molewhisker.
==Errors==
*Waffle is referred to with female pronouns.
==Notes and references==
Category:Chapter subpages
Category:Wind (book)
Category:A Starless Clan arc