#lichentooth

Speckleback glanced up from the medicine cat den.  Currentkit pushed Riverkit towards the center of the camp, and Riverkit whined. A red leaf drifted from a branch above Finchstar, and the leader watched as it twirled around, eventually landing on Lichenpaw's head.

Hollypaw watched from the medicine den, looking a little irritated. Speckleback was keeping him confined to the medicine cat den, despite the fact that he wasn't woozy anymore. At least he was paying attention. 

Daisyshadow poked out a head from the nursery. Whiskershadow glanced up from the fresh-kill pile, which was nearby.

Good.

"I have the honor of stating that today, we have our very first warrior promotion!" Finchstar purred, meeting eyes with Lichenpaw. She hopped down from a tree branch. "It has been my pleasure to have trained Lichenpaw, even before we were a part of a Clan. Her judgment has been vital to her protecting our clan." 

Finchstar hopped down from the tree completely, walking towards Lichenpaw. They were on the same eye level, now. "Lichenpaw, by the powers of me being leader, I name you Lichentooth."

Lichentooth looked almost surprised. 

Finchstar purred, touching noses with Lichentooth before backing away.

Hollypaw was the first to cheer, "LICHENTOOTH!" The other cats followed, even the kits after a few moments. It was small, so Finchstar joined in. Lichentooth stood in the center of it, shrinking a little but still smiling.

Once the cheering had stopped, Finchstar continued, "Now, for the second task of today..." Finchstar met eyes with Riverkit and Currentkit. Currentkit bounced up and down, and Riverkit nudged his shoulder to get him to stop. "Riverkit and Currentkit. You two have reached six moons, and are therefore now apprentices. Until you are trained fully, you will be called Riverpaw and Currentpaw."

Currentpaw grinned. "I'm Riverpaw, right?"

Riverpaw shook her head, still smiling a bit herself. 

Finchstar jumped up onto the roots that made up the entrance to her den. She didn't jump back up to the higher branches again. "No, Currentpaw. Now..." Finchstar met eyes with Whiskershadow, and her deputy straightened up. "Whiskershadow. As my new deputy, you haven't yet explored everything about the territory due to being confined to camp." She grinned. "You might as well explore it with an apprentice." She was not going to bring up how Lightningpaw was once his apprentice, as well. "You will be Riverpaw's mentor."

Riverpaw got up, blue and green eyes sparkling despite the deceptive calmness to her movements, and walked over to Whiskershadow. She reached up to Whiskershadow's nose, and Whiskershadow leaned down to meet her. After that, she moved to sit by him.

"...Lichentooth."

Lichentooth straightened up upon being called again. "...me?"

"Yes. Your judgement is excellent, and your calm nature would help with teaching." Finchstar paused. "I think it does, anyway. You will be mentoring Currentpaw."

Currentpaw gasped, then jumped and dashed over to Lichentooth, stopping just in front of her. "I get to be your first apprentice!"

Lichentooth still looked a little shocked. "Are you... are you sure?"

"Confident." Finchstar nodded. "You'll do great, Lichentooth. I know you can."

Lichentooth didn't seem convinced. But she leaned down to touch noses with Currentpaw, who vibrated in his spot. He then sat down right there, only turning to look at Finchstar again.

Finchstar held her head up. "Clan meeting is over!" She hopped off the root, heading for the fresh-kill pile. "Why don't you go get acquainted with your apprentices?"

As Finchstar reached down to grab a bird from the pile, she heard Riverpaw ask Whiskershadow about gathering fresh bedding for everyone. After a few moments, she heard Currentpaw turn and whine at Lichentooth to NOT do that.

"Finally." Hollyspike meowed, heading for the entrance. His pawsteps slowed at the entrance, and he turned back to face towards Whiskershadow's side of the den. After a few moments, he turned around and left.

Speckleback pretended not to notice. Right when he turned to organize his herbs-

"All cats of Needleclan, gather for a Clan Meeting!"

Ah. Speckleback turned back towards the entrance of the den, padding forward and sitting himself down. He heard Whiskershadow shift in the den behind him.

The gaggle of kits all moved out of the nursery, followed by Daisyshadow pushing them along. Goldkit glanced to Bogkit, and Bogkit giggled, pushing Goldkit forward.

Lichentooth sat beside Currentpaw, and Riverpaw sat by herself. Hollyspike sat close to her.

"Today, we promote one new warrior!" Finchstar cheered. "Currentpaw, you are now named Currentdash! Your judgement is just as sound as Lichentooth's. I know she's trained you well."

Lichentooth blinked, before allowing herself to hold her head up. Currentdash stepped forward, smile on his face. Riverpaw was silent for a few moments, eyes glancing towards the gaggle of kits.

"Just Currentdash?" Speckleback mumbled.

"Riverpaw snuck Bogkit out of camp." Whiskershadow provided. Speckleback's ears turned towards him before Speckleback did, himself.

"What are you doing out of your nest? Do not strain yourself."

"I will be fine." Whiskershadow coughed after his words, earning him a glare from Speckleback. 

They turned their heads back when Finchstar started to speak again.

"Our recent kit arrivals are now the first to become apprentices!" Finchstar stood tall. "Goldkit, Batkit. You're apprentices now, named Goldpaw and Batpaw. Goldpaw, you are apprenticed to Daisyshadow."

Goldpaw stood up, then glanced to Daisyshadow next to him. Daisyshadow bent down and pressed noses with him. Goldpaw pressed noses back.

"Batpaw, you are apprenticed to Lichentooth."

Lichentooth froze up at the new attention, and with Batpaw ramming into her side. The warrior stumbled, but managed to stay upright. She copied Daisyshadow, and Batpaw copied Goldpaw, before settling by Lichentooth's side.

"Again?" Lichentooth mumbled.

Finchstar jumped down from her tree branch, landing on the roots that made up her den. "I did mean it when I said you did excellent with Currentdash." Her eyes glanced over to Riverpaw. "...Riverpaw, I promise you will be next. I just do not want our kits endangered."

Riverpaw rolled her eyes. "...okay. I get it."

"I know you do. Clan dismissed."

Hollyspike butted heads against Currentdash, and Currentdash stumbled before butting heads back. "Finally got out of the den in time, huh? Won't be stuck with your former mentor!"

"Daisyshadow's gonna be in there, you know."

"She's busy with the kits! Come on." Hollyspike padded towards the warriors den. "Gotta get you a good nest!"

Currentdash rolled his eyes, and he looked back to Riverpaw. "See you soon."

Speckleback pushed against Whiskershadow. "Come. Back to bed."

"Alright, alright."

Riverpaw peeked open her blue eye, glancing up at Currentpaw hovering over her nest. With the place empty of Hollyspike now, it was just her and Currentpaw. 

It was nice.

... Not so nice when he woke her up when she wanted to nap.

"What?" Riverpaw asked, trying to keep the irritation out of her voice. She opened her other, green eye to see Currentpaw fully. She wasn't going to get back to sleep, judging by his face.

"Well..." Currentpaw grinned, backing away to let Riverpaw sit up properly. "We have free time..."

Riverpaw did not point out how she was spending her free time napping in the apprentices den. Instead she just stared at him.

"Let's play?" Currentpaw asked, hunching a little bit and blinking his eyes. "Please?"

"Did you see the kits playing and want in?" Riverpaw asked, and Currentpaw glanced away. He did not answer. Riverpaw sighed, getting to her paws. "Fine. I'll do it."

Currentpaw gasped, then he jumped. "Sweet! Come on!" He ran out of the den. Riverpaw yelped, jumping out after him. Most of the warriors were out doing something separately, and Whiskershadow had allowed them some breaktime.

Nearby, the kits were all gathered in a group. Bogkit and Graykit were talking to each other, Larkkit was impatient, Rindlekit fidgeted with a mossball beneath her claws, Tricklekit had her tail tapping against the ground impatiently... Boughkit's eyes traced the mossball, and Buzzardkit was sitting nearby, not involved.

"Come on, stop watching them!" Currentpaw complained, and Riverpaw quirked her ears up and turned to Currentpaw. "Let's do something!"

"Like what?" Riverpaw asked, still standing.

Currentpaw leaped at her, and Riverpaw was bowled over. 

She let out a yelp, but she decided to roll with it. She let the two of them roll for a bit, and then collapse. She laughed, trying to shove him off with her back paws. "Hey, get off!"

Currentpaw lifted his head up, but he didn't move. He smirked. "Mmm... nah. Don't feel like it."

"Get off!" Riverpaw meowed, louder this time, though she was still laughing. She shoved her head into his neck, and Currentpaw let out a gasp that loosened his grip. Riverpaw slid out from under him, and then leaped away.

Currentpaw jumped back. "That's unfair!"

"All's fair in a fight, Currentpaw." Riverpaw meowed, and then turned away. "Try to catch me!"

The kits were watching them. Riverpaw instantly swerved away from the kits and started running. She faintly heard Buzzardkit speak up, but not what he said. 

Currentpaw ran after her. She made sure to slow down ever so slightly to give him a chance, but then sped up right when he wanted to lunge. Currentpaw growled, but he laughed afterwards. 

"Stop doing that!"

"I'm not doing anything!"

"Liar!"

"Excuse me." A voice, quiet, said eventually. Currentpaw jumped in order to go face his mentor. Lichentooth, who had a few rocks at her feet.

With them no longer playing, Riverpaw could hear the kits jumping around and chasing each other too. Buzzardkit was one of the ones being pursued, and he ran straight into Whiskershadow, who just entered camp from that side.

Buzzardkit scrambled away without another word. 

Whiskershadow chuckled, shaking his head. "I see we came back at the same time, Lichentooth."

Lichentooth nodded, now loaded up with her pebbles. Currentpaw moved to the side, and Lichentooth moved towards the kits. Riverpaw closed the gap, watching as Lichentooth approached the kits. 

She came up on Boughkit's right side, and the kit jumped when Lichentooth got close. Lichentooth leaned down and put the rocks down, and Boughkit gasped. The kit batted one rock towards the entrance of the den, and then followed with the other pebbles. The other kits dodged around her.

"I noticed she liked a pretty feather once. So..." Lichentooth nodded towards Boughkit, who was batting the pebbles inside, and Daisyshadow laughed from the inside. "Yeah. So, what were you two doing with your free time...?"

Currentpaw opened his mouth.

"Training!" Riverpaw interrupted, ears up. "It's nice to train with someone else, no mentor."

"Maybe you'll be able to do that soon, then." Whiskershadow purred, walking forward. "But for now... Currentpaw, Riverpaw, we're going hunting."