Hello! This is my first story on , so Hay! Hehe^_^ usually I don't have one particular thing I write about… usually it's just what I'm in the mood for, so please bear with me as I try and find a story line that keeps you coming back for moar! This particular story is one that I have been mulling over for a while; I'm hoping creating a deadline and having supporters will help me finish it! Enjoy!

Emberkit blinked slowly as she curled and uncurled her claws. Her brother, Stripekit, was nearly on top of her, smothering her with his soft, downy grey fur. "gerroff" I yowled, twisting and trying to get free, waking Gingertail's kits, Nightkit and Redkit. Suddenly, the whole nursery was filled with grunts and yowls, Emberkit groaned. At sun-high she would become an apprentice, and she was acting like a newborn kit!

"Emberkit! What in Starclan is going on?!" Morningbird said, not unkindly but with a hint of irritation.

"Stripekit was on top of me," she grumbled, "and he wouldn't get off." Stripekit shot up, indignant.

"Did not!"

Emberkit had to fight the urge to retort him, and sat with her eyes on her paws as Nightkit came over. He flicked her ear with his tail. "Just don't do it again. I was having a great dream about fighting those mange-fur Shadowclan cats!" in spite of myself, I purred and nudged him.

"Would it help if I pretended to be a Shadowclan warrior and let you attack me?" Nightkit pounced on me suddenly, knocking me to the ground and growling playfully, "Yes, it would."

So then here she was; being attacked by Stripekit, Nightkit, and Redkit. Emberkit caught some of her mother's conversation with Gingertail.

"Emberkit's ability to mend arguments is astounding," Gingertail commented, "it's like she knows exactly what to say to flatten a cat's fur!" Morningbird purred.

"Yes, she will be a great warrior, one day." Gingertail looked startled by this. "Don't you think she would be better as a medicine cat?" Emberkit's mother bristled.

"No! She will be a warrior! The best in Thunderclan! She will."

Gingertail was startled. "keep your fur on, Morningbird! It was just a suggestion! Keep your claws in!"

After this, Emberkit lost track of the argument as Nightkit began to prod her stomach and she went limp.

"Yes! The Shadowclan flea-pelt has lost! Thunderclan is the –"Nightkit was cut off as she shot up and tackled him, cuffing his ears.

"Hey! That's not fair! Mange-fur!" Nightkit easily ducked her feeble swipe and nipped her on the ear. Hard.

Emberpaw felt the smallest amount of blood trickle from the tear.

"Nightkit! Come here, right now!" Gingertail said, anger in her mew. Nightkit slunk over, his black ears flat and his tail drooping.

Morningbird rushed over.

"Are you in any pain? Come on, we need to go to Ivytail!"

she rolled her eyes when she wasn't looking, and huffed out a sigh.

"I'm okay, it just stings a little. Honest!" Emberkit added when she saw her mother's disbelieving look.

They soon made it to the medicine cat's den, and they brushed past the lichen barrier and into the dark cave. A bombardment of smells washed over her, and she had to fight the urge to sneeze. Morningbird ushered her to the pure white medicine cat. Ivytail's surprise was evident in her stunning blue eyes at Morningbird. Emberkit did not fully understand Ivytail's relationship with her mother. They were littermates, she knew, but either than that, all Emberkit knew was that her mother despised her white-furred sister.

"Nightkit tore Emberkit's ear. Please heal it." Her mother mewed stiffly, turned, and shouldered her way out of the lichen.

After what felt like a moon, Ivytail let her go, with a stinky-smelling poultice on her tear. As she padded back to the nursery to get ready for her apprentice ceremony, she saw her father, Heroncall, exchange greetings with Starfall and Voleclaw.

"Father! Look what Nightkit did to my ear!" Emberpaw exclaimed and bounded over to them. Heroncall took one look at me and flicked his tail at her, like she was an annoying fly.

"Can't you see I'm in the middle of a conversation, Emberpaw? If it was up to me, I would make you wait another moon for your apprentice ceremony for you to learn some respect!"

At her father's words, Emberkit's heart tore slightly, not unlike her ear. Her father was like this, when prey was low. At least, that was what she told herself, but a glance at the heaped pile told her that a lack of prey wasn't the reason for her father's annoyance. Thankfully, Morningbird came over and saved Emberkit from replying.

"Emberkit! The ceremony's about to start and you've yet to groom yourself!" With that, Emberkit gratefully plodded away from her spiteful father and gave herself a grooming that impressed even Gingertail, who prided herself on her glossy orange and tan pelt.

"May all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather under skyrock for a clan meeting!" Cloudstar yowled, and almost immediately, the hollow began to fill up with cats. Morningbird pushed Strpiekit and I forward, stifling a purr of amusement at our nervous faces.

"Stripekit and Emberkit." Cloudstar beckoned us forward with his fluffy grey tail.

"You have been waiting with us for six moons. Today, you will begin your Thunderclan training. Your Mother and Father both are wonderful and strong warriors, and I hope you both follow in their pawsteps.

"Stripekit." Cloudstar's voice rang clearly throughout the camp. Stripekit raised his muzzle at his name.

"From this day forward you will be known as Stripepaw." Cloudstar's eyes searched the group of cats.

"Your mentor will be Smallshadow. Smallshadow, please pass down your loyalty and talent in hunting."

Cloudstar then turned his gaze to me.

"Emberkit. Until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Emberpaw. Starfall shall be your mentor."

Cloudstar then began calling out our names, and with the whole clan soon joining in, she was sure this was the best moment in her life.

Stripepaw! Emberpaw!

For a moment, it felt as even Starclan was chanting her name.

Phew! That was longer than I expected! The problem will come up in the next chapter, due around the 9th or 10th. Until then, happy hunting!