"What are we doing today, Flowerpetal?"
"We're helping Fernshade with the elders today."
"Oh."
Honeypool overheard the conversation between mentor and apprentice as she visited the fresh-kill pile that morning.
"You mean you're gonna be stuck in camp like us kits?" Riverkit asked.
"Serves you right for bragging about leaving camp," Meadowkit scoffed.
The two she-kits purred in amusement.
"That's enough!" Wildbloom chided the kits.
They scampered off looking smug.
"Being part of a Clan means taking care of each other. Every cat works together to serve the Clan. Our elders have led long lives of service to GrassClan. So it's our duty now to take care of them," Flowerpetal explained to Weaselpaw.
"In other Clans, the apprentices take sole responsibility for the elders but since you and your sister are the only apprentices in GrassClan at the moment, the warriors will continue to help with those duties," Fernshade explained.
Flowerpetal flicked her apprentice lightly with her tail. "It's a lot of work but many paws make light even the heaviest loads."
"So let's get started."
Just then, the dawn patrol returned with Duskflower in the lead. The rest of her patrol was right behind with Nightpaw trailing. The black apprentice looked worn out, having been taken the full length of the territory for the first time.
"Go and get some rest," Duskflower instructed her apprentice.
Nightpaw nodded wearily before dragging towards the nursery. She seemed to catch herself halfway with a headshake before turning away and slipping into the apprentice den.
It appeared that apprenticeship was not everything Weaselpaw and Nightpaw had hoped it would be. Honeypool remembered well how excited the two kits had been at their apprentice ceremony just a couple days ago. Of course, it was quite an adjustment to go from a kit with no responsibilities to being an apprentice and taking an active part in Clan life. Honeypool knew that it was early days yet. Things would only get better from here.
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Rising from the Ashes
FanfictionThe four Clans-GrassClan, OakClan, PineClan and WillowClan-have lived in relative balance since the Clans began. They kept separate, save for their Gathering every full moon. While they had their disagreements, they kept a relatively harmonious exis...
