"Well, out of no where this cat just jum-" Starpaw started rambling but decided to shut her mouth as the leader glazed into her blue eyes to silence her.
The leader went up to the she-cat and meowed, "I didn't think an apprentice would have the nerve to attack a newcomer, attempting to scare them away even when we are short on warriors."
The tone of the calm leader wasn't rough, but every cat there including Starpaw knew he was oh, so very serious.
The she-cat nervously meowed, "Well this kittypet doesn't have warrior blood within her, she shouldn't be allowed in the clan! Firestar, you can't just let her come in here!"
Just after the she-cat finished her explanation, the leader rebutted, "And you shouldn't raise your voice, but you did."
The now-terrified she-cat apologized and ran back into the crowd, attempting to blend herself with the other cats.
"Well..." the leader eventually meowed, "how long do you all plan on staying here? We are behind in stocking up the food!" The command in his tone was clearly understood as all the cats slowly went back to do their jobs.
Bluepaw went up to Starpaw, using her head to gently help Starpaw on four stable paws.
"Are you okay, Starpaw?!" Bluepaw asked, voice filled with concern.
Starpaw replied, "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for trying to help me when you didn't have to."
A shocked expression suddenly passed through Bluepaw's face, "Nonsense! I'm just helping a friend. Anyways, follow me. I'll bring you to the apprentice den."
~
As the two she-cats went in the den, Starpaw's face lit up as she observed her surroundings - particularly the bed.
"Wow this bed is better than I thought it would be!" Starpaw exclaimed in delight.
Bluepaw giggled in response and then meowed, "Of course! We use cotton and a mixture of different seaweeds from all the oceans - which we got when we traded with River Clan."
Starpaw jumped up and down on the bed, her eyes nearly popping out when she felt them.
This carried on, Starpaw being in her own world. However, she soon came to her senses and realized how silly she must have looked.
When locking gaze with Bluepaw, Starpaw eventually broke into a laughing fit. Bluepaw followed.
~
After Starpaw and Bluepaw finished the tour, the two she-cats walked back to the apprentice den and talked for a while. They just talked about their interests and gossiped about the cats of the clan.
When night approached, Bluepaw stood up and meowed, "Come with me and get some food, you must be hungry."
The two she-cats walked over to the fresh kill pile and each took a mouse.
Right after the two cats finished eating, another meeting was called.
They sighed and walked to the meeting site, tired after a full belly.
The leader meowed loudly, "We will start finishing up the process of the apprentices becoming warriors as now we are a few cats short of having a non-stressful living life style. All cats that are old enough or young enough to hunt will join my deputies on a hunting trip tomorrow morning. The meeting is over now, all cats please rest well!"
The leader graciously jumped off the huge rock and went back to his den.
Starpaw looked over to Bluepaw and saw her face light up.
"I'm so happy we will finally be a part of a huge hunting trip!" Bluepaw happily meowed as her facial and body expressions clearly showed her excitement.
~
Morning popped up sooner than the clap of a cat's paws.
When the two she-cats went to the tree stump - the rendezvous point for the hunting trip - Starpaw saw a brown and black tom-cat.
"Morning, Ravenclaw!" meowed Bluepaw.
The tom-cat meowed back, "Morning, Bluepaw, Starpaw, how was your sleep?"
Bluepaw politely replied, "Just wonderful! What about you, Starpaw?"
Starpaw was a bit drowsy since she just awoken, but she quickly gained her senses and meowed, "Delightful!"
"Perfect, our goal is to get as much food back to the clan. The clan always comes before you. Think about the clan first. That's the code of hunting!" Ravenclaw informed them.
As they all entered the woods, everything was going relatively smoothly. That was until they went to a nearby stream for a water break.
Here, out of nowhere, a random tom-cat who smelled like they were not loners nor a part of Thunder Clan popped out.
The tom-cat hissed, "Now who said you could be here?!"