Chapter 5

                                    

                                          
《Half a moon later》
                          
It had been half a moon since I came to Lilacpetal's den and ever since I went there Lilacpetal was carefully keeping tabs on me. I was exited to become an apprentice, but I felt like I wasn't going to have enough energy to do the job right. Ripplestar had talked to me about becoming an apprentice and I agreed, but I still felt it was pushing my luck right now. 
                          
"Let all cats old enough to swim gather!" Ripplestar yells as he leaps onto the giant bolder in the middle of camp. Slowly the clan gathers underneath Ripplestar, his eyes were on me, watching my movements. I slowly pad up to Ripplestar and dip my head in respect.
                          
"From this day forward, until she has earned her warrior name, Echokit will be Echopaw. Riversong, you are a strong and gifted warrior. May you pass down all you know to this apprentice." Ripplestar meows as Riversong slowly pads up to us. We touch noses and Ripplestar calls the meeting to an end.
                          
"For today I think a tour of the clan would be the best idea..." Riversong meowed, his voice sounded so kind, I believe he is a very nice and respected warrior. I will do well to learn from him. 
                          
"I'll do whatever you think is best." I meowed in response. He turned to face me and gave a brief nod. He quickly turned and started running, I fallowed quickly behind him, unknowing where we were heading. I quickly found myself at the river shore, a island was placed near the marsh, a log with claw marks along it was placed in between the gap of land. 
                          
"That's the gathering area. You will most likely go the next time we gather." Riversong meowed gazing fondly at the island.
                          
"Isn't that part of out territory? Or is it all of the clan's?" I meowed, wondering about clan life.
                          
"It isn't exactly out territory... we all share it, but when the gathering isn't going on, you could call it ours." Riversong meowed as he turned his back to the island. I quickly copied his movements, now exited to see what the rest of the clan looked like.
                          
~◇~
                          
Once Riversong had shone me around all of camp and our territory, he came to a stop at what Rainflower had called the apprentice den, where I was now going to sleep. Exitement pickled throughout my pelt as I thought about the things I'd do tomorrow.
                          
"Get some rest so that tomorrow you can work hard!" Riversong meowed happily, letting me know he was exited about tomorrow as well. I nodded and skipped into the apprentice's den, where Dustpaw was already sleeping soundly. I tip-toed to an empty nest next to him looking at his peaceful face. He's looked so much nicer when he's not blabbing mousebrained things. I gently placed myself into the nest, but while trying to get comfortable, I seemed to wake him.
                          
"Mmmm, Echopaw?" Dustpaw meowed still half asleep.
                          
"Yeah, sorry to wake you, go ahead and sleep." I meowed gently, but despite me telling him to sleep he quickly got up.
                          
"How was your day?" Dustpaw meowed yawning after his sentence.
                          
"It was amazing!" I meowed happily, though I was exited about becoming an apprentice, I still had a long way to go before I became a warrior, let alone leader. I started to sigh, which seemed to get Dustpaw's attention.
                          
"Are you okay? Are you getting tiered again? Is this apprentice stuff too much? Do you want me to get Lilacpet-"
                          
"Dustpaw!" I quickly cut him off, and he seems to notice how frantic he was. He sounded like a worried mother, goodness!
                          
"S-sorry..." He meows lowering his head, he gets so worried and thin he starts sulking when I tell him that's what he's doing. Man, sometimes I just can't handle him!
                          
"It's okay. I'm fine, really, I'm actually starting to feel better." I meow sighing, giving a little smile in the process. My strength was returning, little by little, but why was it? Why did I become little of energy in the first place..? I wondered these things to myself, but I was quickly snapped out of my thoughts when I noticed Dustpaw staring at me intently. "Are you, okay?..." I ask tilting my head. He quickly shakes his giving a nervous smile.
                          
"Sorry, was I staring to long?" He asked nervously as he looked around, as if avoiding my gaze.
                          
"It's fine...?" 
                          
"Heheh, anyway let's get some rest, hopefully we can train together tomorrow!" Dustpaw meowed lying back into his reed nest. I nod, doing the same, wondering about the activities we would do in the morning.
                          
"Goodnight Dustpaw."
                          
"Goodnight."