1 I

<p>I stood there in silence as I waited, waited for it to stop noticing me. It was completely silent all around and there was no one else nearby. I understood that I was just an apprentice but luckily I had two more months to go until my Warrior ceremony. 𝑀𝑎𝑦𝑏𝑒 𝐼'𝑙𝑙 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑏𝑒 𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑎 𝑏𝑜𝑦𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑑.. I thought to myself as I slowly crept forward until I heard something behind me and I decided to turn around, scaring the squirrel I was hunting. Once I turned around I immediately regretted it and it was too late for me to pretend that I didn't see him, my mentor, Ash. 𝑈ℎ 𝑜ℎ. I thought as I braced myself for his scolding. "What do you think you're doing in the forest without a Warrior with you?" He questioned, his arms crossed as he looked at me and I couldn't stop my mouth from speaking what I was thinking.<br/>"I was hunting for a squirrel until you loudly walked behind me and scared it off." I snapped at him and I saw irritation flash in his eyes. "But don't you think you should at least have someone with you if you plan to go hunting?" He spat back, his eyes daring. "I am well off on my own without you breathing down my neck!" I raised my voice. "Do not speak to me that way!" He yelled back at me and I felt something in me. Embarrassment. I felt my face grow hot and I looked down at the grassy floor, feeling the tears begin to form. 𝐻𝑒 𝑛𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑠𝑒𝑠 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑣𝑜𝑖𝑐𝑒. 𝑁𝑜𝑡 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑡𝑜 𝑚𝑒.. I thought to myself and I heard him sigh before seeing him next to me and I looked up. "Look, I'm sorry that I yelled at you Ivy. And I know that I don't yell but the reason was because I was worried and no one knew where you were or where you ran off to, so I hope you can understand my sudden outburst," he apologized and I felt taken back.<br/>"Me and a few others decided to search the area for you and I began to think terrible things.. if you had gotten hurt and stuck somewhere or worse-" He stopped before clearing his throat and trying again. "Look, I just think that it would be best if you had a Warrior with you if you plan on going hunting, alright? Just promise me that you'll do that until you become a Warrior, please?" I heard the desperation and worry in his voice which squeezed at my heart. "I promise.." I responded and he let out a relieved sigh once I said my promise. "Now, let's head back." "Alright," As we walked back to camp, there was a question that poked and prodded at me the entire time. 𝑊ℎ𝑦 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝐴𝑠ℎ 𝑠𝑜 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑚𝑒? 𝑊ℎ𝑦 𝑑𝑜𝑒𝑠 ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑑𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑜 𝑚𝑢𝑐ℎ 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝐼'𝑚 𝑑𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑔? As the thoughts bounced through my mind, I watched Ash the entire time.<br/>𝐺𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝐼'𝑙𝑙 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑎𝑠𝑘 ℎ𝑖𝑚 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟.. Once we came back to camp, I saw a border patrol grab some weapons to go remark our side of the border. As I put my weapons away, I noticed our Leader watching me with steady eyes and the infamous look. 𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑑𝑖𝑑 𝐼 𝑑𝑜 𝑡𝑜 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑘? I thought to myself and noticed our Deputy marching over to us. "Ivy, Felix would like to see you, now." I looked at Ash who just looked away from me as he put his weapons up and I sighed before following Gray. As we walked towards Felix's den, I saw most of the clan staring at me. Once we were inside, I stood in the middle of the room as Gray stood next to Felix who was sitting at his table, staring at me and I suddenly felt self conscious. "Ivy, are you aware of why I called you here?" He began seriously and I shook my head. "N-no I don't.." I said almost inaudible.<br/>"Well, allow me to tell you why; It has been brought to my attention that you were in the forest without a Warrior present. Is that true?" He questioned and I felt my face heat up in shame. "Y-yes.." I whispered. "Speak up so he can hear you!" Gray shouted which made me flinch. "I think I can handle it from here, Gray." Felix said and I heard Gray walk past, closing the door rather loudly behind him as he left. "So, Ivy, why did you do that? I can understand the excitement when it comes close to becoming a Warrior, but that does not excuse you going alone onto the forest by yourself. Do you have any idea how worried everyone was? How worried Ash was? He thought you might be gotten yourself killed, so I sent him and a few others out to look for you. I'm beginning to think that we should postpone your ceremony for a little while.." He voiced and I looked at him.<br/>"What? But that's like a huge part of the clan! We won't have enough Warriors if we were to go into battle!" I exclaimed. "I know. But by how recklessly you acted today, it might force me to do so." He said as he looked back at me. I could see in his eyes that he was serious about postponing my ceremony and I looked down in shame, sighing. "I'm sorry Felix.." I apologized. "Do not apologize to me, apologize to those you had worried. Beginning with Ash." He said and I internally groaned. 𝐵𝑢𝑡 𝐼 𝑑𝑜𝑛'𝑡 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ ℎ𝑖𝑚! I thought but just faced him. "Okay, I'll go do it right now." I voiced before walking out.</p>