Poisoned Fangs, Scenes 31: A growing clan

## Snakeclan's Pov

#### Summary: our children are growing up

Kinkstar looked around the camp before jumping up on the great rock. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the great rock for a clan meeting" kinkstar called to snakeclan quickly cats began to fill the small clearing.

Sagespark left the warrior den with Mossfoot next to him, Kinkstar had told him that he was getting an apprentice but he was unenthusiastic to say the least. He sat down with the rest of the clan and Mossfoot rested his head into his chest. Tumbleflight emerged from his den looking as if he hadn't sleep in moons. Tumbleflight paused and looked at his brother he usually sat with him but Dustwater was busy babying Thistlepoppy(his mate). Tumbleflight walked and sat down next to Stoneclaw "kinkstar told me maplekit wanted to be a medicine cat it'll be good to have an apprentice"

Frogdust was bathing Hopekit and Maplekit rougly, biting burrs and pulling them out of Hopekit's spikey fur. "You need to look your best, so don't wiggle around so much!" Maplekit swallowed nervously as she spotted the large black and white tom. He's going to be my mentor.

Hopekit struggled to get out of her mothers grasp and wiggled around pathetically, glancing around at the gathered cats eagerly. “Let me go!” She squeaked, twitching her tail with impatience, “I want to be an apprentice already!”

Fogkit groaned, “ughhh why do they get to get apprentices and I don’t?!” Whined fogkit “its not fair” fogkit pouted “I would make a far much better apprentice then them! Hmph.”

Weaselpaw purred, "Come now, Fogkit. You'll be an apprentice soon enough."  "I don't doubt that you'll be a better warrior though." She whispered

“Of course I will!” She chirpedHer chest fluffed up with pride

Kinkstar looked across the clan "today is a very important day for out clan" he said

Pigeonpaw shook out her pelt then looked up to kinkstar for what he had to say

Kinkstar looked down "where to start?" He paused "pigeonpaw, Weaselpaw step forward" kinkstar said  "I call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these young cats who have trained hard to learn the warrior code" kinkstar continued "Pigeonpaw do you swear to honor the warrior code and protect your clan even at the cost of your own life?"

Pigeonpaw let out a long deep sigh. “Yes” she quietly said. Keep her gaze away from kinkstar as unnoticeable as possible

"then by the power of starclan I give you your warrior name you will now be known as Pigeonflight" kinkstar replied "Flight?" Tumbleflight thought "what a great name I feel honored" he almost laughed luckyly no one noticed "Weaselpaw do you swear to honor the warrior code and protect you're caln even at the cost of your own life?”

Weaselpaw stood up straight and puffed up her chest, looking much older than the Weaselpaw that stormed out of camp only a few days prior. "I do." She mewed passionately. Her father leaned on Máni and let out a purr of pride.

"then by the power of starclan I give you your warrior name you will now be known as Weaselscar" kinkstar said

Weaselscar almost shot back in surprise and her pupils shrunk. Weaselscar? She thought her heart raced. Now she was sure she was becoming her mother. Weaselscar nodded briskly to the leader, trying not to show her shock

Hopekit stood up straighter beside her mother and maplekit, her eyes shining with pride as Kinkstar continued

“looks like hopekit and maplekit aren't becoming apprentices after all!" fogkit exclaimed

Kinkstar ignored the troublesome kit "maplekit Hopekit step forward" kinkstar called

Hopekit stepped forward next to her sister and looked up at her leader expectantly

Maplekit stepped hesitantly with her heart beating in her throat, glancing back at Frogdust who gave her a confident and proud glance

Sagespark rolled his eyes at the two kits, “I don’t want an apprentice.” He thought to himself, though staying calm while Mossfoot was next to him

"you both have reached the age to be apprenticed" kinkstar said giving a warm smile to them both before continuing "Hopekit do you swear to work hard to learn the ways of a warrior?" Kinkstar asked

“I do!” Hopekit shrieked a little too loudly, bouncing over to the high rock with her fur standing back up on end

Maplekit tried not to laugh at her sister, who was bouncing like a stray moss ball

Sagespark got to his paws and prepared himself to be Hopekits new mentor, he’d rather have maplekit, she was much calmer after all.

"until you have earned your warrior name you will be known as Hopepaw" kinkstar said "Sagespark you will be hopepaws mentor Raccoonstar was your mentor I hope you pass on all knowledge he gave you" kinkstar smiled at the toms unamused face

Sagespark nodded, letting Hopepaw touch his nose and jump with excitement

Kinkstar continued "starclan has a different path planned out for maplekit" he said smiling "Maplekit step forward" the tom said "You have chosen the life as a medicine cat do you swear to honor the code and work hard to keep your Clanmates safe and healthy?" Kinkstar asked

Maplekit bowed her head. "I do." She knew that she would have to visit the clans sacred place where they visit starclan and she was nervous that the ancestors wouldn't allow her to be a medicine cat because of her heritage. She stepped toward Tumbleflight nervously

"until you earn your full medicine cat name you will be known as maplepaw" Tumbleflight took over the ceremony from there Tumbleflight leaned down and gently touched noses with maplepaw

Maplepaw swallowed and touched noses with him, trying to keep her fur flat

Hopepaw jumped excitedly once the ceremony was complete and went back into the crowd with Sagespark near her. “I’m an apprentice!” She mewed happily, relishing in the cheers that came from the crowd, especially her mother.

Sagespark nodded and held back a scoff, “you’re too excited, Hopepaw.” He muttered quietly but still audible, thinking back to all the deaths and disappearances.

Tumbleflight looked down at maplepaw "you have a lot to learn" he said "do you want to see the territory first or learn the most important herbs?"

Maplepaw thought for a moment. "Perhaps we could do both? We could take a tour of the territory and you could show me where the important herbs are and what they do?"

"good idea" the black tom replied "let's get going before the sun sets" he said

Hopepaw turned to Sagespark and frowned at his unenthusiastic face, “we should go do something like they are!” She mewed, nudging him with her tail high.

Sagespark nodded, “do you want to explore the territory too?”

  “Yes!” Hopepaw called, already dashing to the camp exit, though carefully because she didn’t know her surroundings. Sagespark eyed Mossfoot, “I’ll be back soon.” He promised, flicking his tail and following after Hopepaw, trying to catch up with her

Pigeonflight looked around the camp, making sure no one was looking. She slowly creeped away out the camp entrance, keeping her paws light so that the snow doesn't crunch as much. Then like that, she disappeared without anyone caring.