Sheriff Dune looked down from atop the stack of crates he was standing on, watching the cats of his clan gather for a clan meeting. CactusKit shuffled in excitement as she waited for him to call her name. She had tuned out everything he was saying until she finally heard him call out “CactusKit! Please approach the Tall Boxes! “
She perks up and eagerly runs up to the crates, the other cats of the clan watching in amusement at the kitten's excitement. The Sheriff smiles down at her, his hat covering his eyes with shadow.
“CactusKit, you've reached six moons, and it's time for you to be apprenticed. From this day forward, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as CactusPaw. Your mentor-”
Dune paused and looked at her in surprise, the cats in the crowd murmuring in shock at the sudden interruption. CactusKit only got more determined as the Sheriff looked at her.
“I want my mentor to be RueHeart!” She mewed up at him. There were even more whispers from the crowd as Dune blinked a couple times.
“Well, I reckon there's nothing wrong with that,” He says slowly, as if still thinking about it. He looks over to RueHeart “Do you agree to this?”
RueHeart looked surprised to be called out, but soon calmed down and smiled as she answered the Sheriff with a firm nod.
“Alrighty then! As I was saying,” He cleared his throat to get back into the proper mood. “Your mentor will be RueHeart! I hope RueHeart will pass down all she knows to you.”
CactusKit beamed in anticipation as the Sheriff continued the ceremony. “RueHeart, please step forward.”
Once the she-cat sat next to CactusKit the speech continued. “RueHeart, you are ready to take an apprentice. You have shown yourself to be responsible and honorable. You will be the mentor of CactusPaw, and I expect you to pass on everything you know to her.”
CactusPaw was bouncing in excitement as she touched noses with her mentor. She was unbelievably happy to have gotten the mentor she wanted. She purred as she heard the clan call her new name. “CactusPaw! CactusPaw! CactusPaw!”
She eagerly turns to RueHeart. “When can we go training? Now? Please?” She only gets a light laugh in response from her new mentor.
Sheriff Dune looked over the camp with pride. He'd been able to help make this. He'd been able to help these cats start to thrive. He was lost in his thoughts when he noticed PrickleKit playing nearby while all the other kittens were eating prey brought to them by RueHeart, ever the responsible cat. He got up and padded over to the noisy she-kit.
“I reckon you should grab something to eat if ya haven't already, don't want to go hungry all day!” He suggested. PrickleKit seemed surprised he approached her, letting the pebble at her paws fall still.
“Oh! You're right! Thanks Sheriff!” The she-kit gasped as she realized what he was telling her, looking over to see the other kits eating already. She scampered off towards the other kits, calling out for them to wait for her. Dune purred lightly as he watched, happy that he'd helped another cat of his clan yet again.
Sheriff Dune, WindDrift, and SandRustle were hunting together across the desert filled territory of the Clan. WindDrift chases after a rabbit, leaving SandRustle and the Sheriff alone together. Dune was about to go after WindDrift when SandRustle spoke up.
“Hey, Sheriff, I've got something I could use your advice about.” The tom spoke up carefully. Dune paused and looked to him in silent curiosity. “I think I got a vision from StarClan last night. It was a weird dream, but a serious weird, not a random dream weird.”
“Oh! Of course I can help ya!” Dune straightens up and comes to sit next to SandRustle, motioning the other cat to sit down as well. He felt determined to help his clanmate figure out what the stars had shown him. “Tell me about it.” He urged.
“Well, in the dream I was walking through the territory when I saw a fox! A big ‘un! I don't know, it just made me worry when I woke up. Thought I oughta tell ya.” The orange tom admitted. Dune thought about it for a few moments after SandRustle finished.
“Sounds like a warnin’, I'll be sure everyone keeps an eye out from now on. Don't you worry, we'll handle this no problem!” He reassured the other cat with a confident smile. SandRustle visibly relaxed at his leader's words.
“Thanks, Sheriff. Knew I could count on you!” He laughs easily. Dune nods as WindDrift comes back with the rabbit caught between his jaws. They all quickly returned to their hunt, every cat at ease.
NightBright padded through the desert looking for lungwort. With newleaf here, it was a perfect time to go looking! It's the only reliable cure for yellowcough, making NightBright determined to find some to keep the stocks of it full. He's still unsure of his own abilities as a medicine cat, but that doesn't mean he's going to let it stop him from helping his clanmates. He searches long through the day until he feels like he'll fall over from soreness, but can't see any of that green and purple herb he's so desperate to find. He returns to camp disheartened. Of course this would happen, why did Dune chose a cat like him to be the medicine cat? He's about to give up when he sees his kits playing across the camp. No, he couldn't give up! He'd have to look more once he's rested. He has to be prepared so he can keep his clan, and his kits, safe and healthy.
As SageSpeckle, RueHeart, and her apprentice CactusPaw work on training the young she-cat, a slight argument breaks out.
“No, CactusPaw. You'll get thorns in your paws and I'm not gonna be the one taking responsibility for it when you go crying off to NightBright.” SageSpeckle huffed, annoyed at the apprentice's suggestion.
“But if I learn how to climb the big cactuses now I'll be able to help better in patrols! I could surprise prey, and- and I could use it to watch over the borders safely!” She complained. She had a brilliant idea that nobody else had, and she's getting shut down immediately! It's not fair! It'd be so helpful for the clan if they could use even the more dangerous part of their territory safely!
“RueHeart, tell her this is a horrible idea! I know you don't want to be scolded for her mistakes either!” SageSpeckle complained to the other adult with them. CactusPaw looked pleadingly to her mentor, surely she'd see how smart this is!
“How about this,” she started, looking at the other two cats calmly. “We'll stick to regular training for now-” CactusPaw looked devastated as SageSpeckle nodded happily. “-But!” She added, surprising them both “Why don't we bring your idea up to Sheriff Dune later, and if he agrees to it, we'll bring NightBright with us and let you try it.”
“YES!” CactusPaw cheered, looking full of energy as she did a little happy dance, tip-tapping on her front paws. SageSpeckle looked skeptical but didn't protest. If NightBright was with them, then there wouldn't be so much to worry about. RueHeart smiled as everyone got back to training, argument quickly smoothed over.
SageSpeckle(Grumpy, Good speaker) chats with NightBright(Insecure, Ghost Speaker) about his day. SageSpeckle and WindDrift(Loyal, Keen eye, Great hunter) realize they have a more in common than previously thought. WindDrift wonders who will give him nine lives.
SageSpeckle was sitting in the shade of one of the old rundown buildings the clan used as dens. NightBright and WindDrift were curled up next to him as they shared tongues. The grumpy warrior spoke about his day with the other cats.
“-and CactusPaw has the crazy idea to climb a cactus to hunt! I don't understand it, but RueHeart calmed her down.” He complained. NightBright sighed, obviously mentally preparing to deal with future cactus-thorn related injuries.
“That could be a good idea if it could be mastered, but I agree, it's far too reckless for a new apprentice to try it.” WindDrift meowed. SageSpeckle nodded respectfully. It seems the deputy shared similar values to SageSpeckle. Keeping younger cats from doing reckless things really can be tiring.
“At least you had a productive day. I couldn't find any herbs.” NightBright sighed, embarrassed by his own failures. SageSpeckle put a paw on the other tom's shoulder to reassure him.
“Don't be so hard on yourself, we live in a desert. Herbs will be tough to find any day. You're doing your best.” he said. NightBright purred quietly at his words, nodding. He appreciates the grey cat's care. Eventually the medicine cat bid the other two goodbye as he went to spend time with his kits.
