Rushpaw skidded to a halt, "I can explain! So I...may or may not have gone out of camp and a little further than usual to find some new bedding...and I bumped into this kittypet trying to hunt on our territory. She was really interested in clan life and so I gave her a bit of a tour and she wants to join! Her name is Cinnamon," he rambled on a little in his excitement. "Archstar said she could join if she proves herself. He wants to see you about that"
Stormshade raised an eyebrow. "A little further than usual?" She sighed. "Alright, Rushpaw. Just try and stay out of trouble and away from out furthest borders next time." She gave a welcoming nod to Cinnamon, then padded off toward Archstar's den. "Yes, Archstar?" She spoke when she saw the familiar orange tabby-striped coat of her leader. "You wanted to talk to me?"
Archstar greeted her with a nod, "I'm sure you've met Rushpaw's new friend? I'm giving her a trial run, if he didn't already tell you that. She's going to accompany you and Rushpaw on training, hunts, patrol...things of that sort, just to see if she can handle herself. I just wanted to let you know that you'll have a follower for the next few days and to ask if you could help keep an eye on her, see if she can survive out here." He chuckled, "I didn't have the heart to tell her no"
"I can see why," Stormshade agreed. "She's an eager little cat, despite coming from a soft kittypet background. I wonder if Rushpaw's going to get even more distracted now; then again, that might not be possible. Am I supposed to train her as well, or should I leave that to her future mentor?"
Stormshade dipped her head. "Yes, Archstar." She paused, then asked a hesitant question. "Archstar, if I may ask... what will happen at the end of her trial period?"
"well, I'll have one last test for her then. If she is good enough to become a member of the clan, I'll let her join. If she doesn't make it to the end, or it doesn't work out, she leaves and doesn't return to our borders. If she joins, I'll name her an official apprentice and assign a mentor." He explained, "what the last test will be, I haven't determined yet."
Rushpaw excitedly showed Cinnamon around the inside of camp, starting first with the apprentices den. "This is where the apprentices sleep, so we'll get you some bedding all set up. I've got this great spot that has the softest moss you'll ever touch!" He hummed
"You mean where apprentices are trying to sleep?" A voice muttered in the dark of the den. "who is with you? And why are you still awake?" A pair of yellow green eyes opened to stare back at them.
"Oh! Buzzardpaw, this is Cinnamon. She's on trial to join the clan. Cinnamon, this is my brother."
The form sat up, tiredly blinking sleep from his eyes. "A kittypet?"
"Yeah, a kittypet," Cinnamon said, not defensively, but slightly wearily because she knew that everyone would probably ask the same thing. She leaned down to self-consciously give her chest fur a brisk lick.