.: B I R C H F A L L :.

Birchkit was born during Greenleaf, next to a large Birch tree, where she got her name. Her sister was named Fernkit for she smelled of the ferns in the forest. The two kits were very close from the moment they were born. They grew older, yet never set foot away from each other's side. Birchkit and Fernkit always played together, seperated from the other kits, for they all teased Birchkit for her small size, which still hasn't changed. Birchkit grew timid and cautious around others as Fernkit began to play with the other kits too, trying to get Birchkit to be more sociable. But it had no effect. She only grew lonelier. When Birchkit and Fernkit were five moons old, their mother fell ill with an unknown illness. The two sisters tried everything to make her better, but it was no use. Ivymist died only days after she had caught the illness. The two she-kits had no mother, and so they were taken in by Amberfrost, a queen who was expecting kits soon. She was a good adoptive mother to them, but she wasn't like Ivymist. When the time came, they were to be apprentices. On the day of the ceremony Birchkit and Fernkit were so excited, they stepped forward on their tiny paws. Birchkit fumbled over hers', but kept her cool. Though in reality her heart was beating so fast it felt like it would explode out of her tiny silver furred chest. on that day they got their apprentice names, Birchpaw and Fernpaw. Now their journey would truly begin.

Apprenticehood

Birchpaw and her mentor, Cricketwhisker, were going out on their first training session. Along with Fernpaw and her mentor, Silvermist. The two kits were so excited, they were even shivering with happiness and also, anxiety. It would be their first time outside of camp, Ivymist had never let them go into the forest with anyone. But it was finally the time to explore the territory and learn about the areas and everything they could possibly imagine. They learned about the border the cats held with each Clan, the hunting areas, the streams and each den in the camp too. It was amazing. They even saw the thunderpath! When they finally returned to camp, they felt their little paw pads which were sore under their paws. They complained to eachother. But inside, they were so happy with their knowledge they had just gained. They ate a good meal and headed to the apprentices den for the first time. It was cozy, but not as cozy as the nursery. Though it was spacier, other than the other cats around them. In the morning, they had another training session. The days and moons flew by like the wind. And soon enough, they were almost fully trained. Fernpaw and Birchpaw were going on their final training session. But when they arrived to the training hollow their mentors weren't waiting for them, alive anyway. They had been brutally murdered by a band of foxes, the most unusual sight imaginable at the time. The she-cats' eyes widened with fear. They ran away as quick as possible. But their minds raced with questions and worries as well. How could the two brave warriors, their mentors, be killed in such a savage and unexpected way. Three foxes, they had been outnumbered obviously. Soon, they reached the camp, but when Birchpaw turned around, Fernpaw was gone. She called out to her. But no answer came. She told the leader and they formed a large patrol to go searching. But what they found was not what they expected. Fernpaw was alive! But she was terribly injured. Her right eye has been cut out by a sharp edge of a rock, and her tail was bitten off. But why didn't the foxes do anything else? It was as if they knew she would die there. Which she did. But before she passed she told Birchpaw to become a warrior, honor her memory by becoming the greatest and most strong-hearted warrior in the forest. So Birchpaw promised her that before she died. And now she would become a strong warrior for her, the clan, and her sister, Fernpaw, or now Fernshade.

Warriorhood