Chapter 1

Flarekit woke to the sound of snow dripping from an overhead branch. She twitched her ears and tried to ignore the sound, leaning back against her mother's flank.

New-leaf had just begun to dawn on the forest, but already the snow had started to melt rapidly, leaving everything wet- and leaving all the prey in their dens, making ThunderClan hungry.

Outside the nursery walls, Flarekit could still hear the dripping snow slapping the ground loudly. She tossed restlessly, knowing she wouldn't be able to fall asleep again. Carefully standing she crept out of the mossy nest shared by Dawnsky- Flarekit's mother- and her littermates. Padding quietly to the nursery entrance she peered out. In the camp clearing it was still dark as the sun slowly mounted the sky, poking above the treetops. The thorn tunnel rustled at the camp entrance and Flarekit guessed the dawn patrol had just left. Other than that the clearing was empty- except for Firestar, the Clan leader, sitting under the Highrock speaking to his deputy- and Flarekit's father- Stonepelt. The kit wondered if they were talking about her and her littermate's upcoming apprentice ceremony. Flarekit's stomach turned in excitement at the thought. Dawnsky had promised it would be any day now.

"Flarekit!"

Spinning around Flarekit saw her sister, Rainkit, bound out of the nursery followed by her other siblings Smokekit and Fernkit.

"There you are!" Fernkit mewed "Why were you up so early? Mom was wondering where-"

Rainkit cut her off "We have great news!" She chirped excitedly

Flarekit pricked her ears. "Really? What is it?"

"Tomorrow night is our apprentice ceremony!" Smokekit announced.

"Hey, I was gonna tell her!" Rainkit protested, bowling Smokekit over.

Flarekit watched in amusement as they rolled through the dust, batting and nipping each other. As they tumbled closer to her, she leaped forward. She cuffed Fernkit's ear, pushing her off Rainkit.

"I join Rainkit in FlareClan!" Flarekit declared

Rainkit paused in driving Fernkit back towards the elders' den with a flurry of paws. "Why not RainClan?"

In the moment she paused Fernkit seized her chance and knocked the silver she-cat over, then clambered on her and pinned her down. Rainkit huffed in frustration.

"I'll help you Rainkit!" Flarekit yowled, running at Fernkit. She was suddenly knocked over as Smokekit intercepted her with a playful hiss.

"Well I join Fernkit in... ForestClan!"

Flarekit bared her teeth at him and kicked her brother off. Darting back over to Rainkit she pulled Fernkit off her by the scruff, and with Rainkit by her side began to push Smokekit and Fernkit back towards the elders' den again. When they had trapped them against the den wall they leaped as one and sent them rolling into the fallen tree den. Growls of annoyance sounded from inside.

"Don't be so reckless!" Flarekit heard Patchpelt snap at her littermates grouchily.

Flattening her ears to her head she slunk in respectfully. "Sorry," she meowed, casting her eyes down shamefully. "We should have been more careful."

Halftail gave a flick of his stumpy tail that could have meant anything, but Speckletail purred softly, giving her chest a lick to smooth the sleep-rumpled fur. "I suppose that's fine young ones, but just watch were your playing. Those two are just annoyed they didn't get to sleep in." The old queen rolled her eyes jokingly.

Flarekit sighed in relief inwardly, happy Speckletail was so fond of kits. Well, I won't be a kit for long anymore, our apprentice ceremony is tomorrow! She thought.

"We're sorry everyone." Smokekit apologized again, dipping his head "We'll get out of your fur now."

The elders murmured their goodbyes and Flarekit and her littermates backed out, relaxing again.

"That was some battle."

A deep meow from behind the kits made them all jump. Flarekit whipped around, embarrassed, only squeak happily to see who it was. "Stonepelt!"

The big gray tom purred. "Hello my kits. What trouble have you got into now?"

Fernkit blinked innocently, "None."

"Oh, really? The elders didn't bite your head off when you all made your big entrance?"

Flarekit and her littermates exchanged a mischievous glance. "It wasn't that bad," She mewed to her father.

Stonepelt purred. "Good. And I have to say you all did some excellent fighting, especially your team fighting."

Flarekit raised her head proudly at her father's praise while the other meowed their thanks and agreement. The sound of approaching paw steps made Flarekit turn her head to see Dawnsky padding over to them. "There you kits are!" She greeted the group.

Stonepelt licked her ear and twined his tail with his, "Morning Dawnsky."

Her mother purred, "Good morning. What trouble are our kits in now?"

"None!" Flarekit huffed indignantly.

Dawnysky just gently flicked her with her tail and meowed, "Go eat something and rest. You want to be ready for your apprentice ceremony don't you?"

They nodded solemnly and raced off to the fresh kill pile. By now the camp was bright as the sun rose higher, spilling its light over the forest. Flarekit carefully nosed through the fresh kill pile. There wasn't much; two mice, a vole, a scrawny blackbird, a rabbit, and fairly plump magpie. She considered taking the magpie, then the blackbird, but finally decided on a mouse. Smokekit and Fernkit took the vole to share, while Rainkit reached for the magpie.

"Rainkit don't you think you should leave that for the elders or something?" Flarekit demanded around a mouthful of mouse.

Rainkit paused, gave her sister a little glare, then put it back and took the blackbird. Flarekit purred and the four went back to the nursery and sat outside the den entrance to eat. Flarekit was just swallowing her first bite when Rosekit and Oakkit- who were a moon younger than her and her littermates- trotted out. Rosekit glowered at them "I don't get why you guys already get to be apprentices! Oakkit and I are ready too!"

Fernkit continued to eat while Flarekit and Rainkit exchanged a glance with a snort. Rosekit thought she was in charge of everything and everyone. She was stuck up and bossy, and could drive you insane in minutes. Flarekit was more than happy to not be den mates with her anymore- well, for at least a moon. Though, Oakkit wasn't bad. He was laid back and even apologized for his sister's behavior at times.

Smokekit looked up calmly at her and flicked his tail, "But we are older. Next moon you'll be old enough and you'll have your ceremony."

Rosekit just wrinkled her nose and stomped off with Oakkit trailing behind her.

The sun was setting as Dawnsky herded Flare, Rainkit, Fernkit, and Smokekit out into the clearing. Cats were already beginning to settle down around Highrock, their bellies only half full from the meager prey they had managed to catch in the soaking territory. But their spirits were high as they waited for the soon to be apprentices to officially enter the Clan. Flarekit held her head high, her eyes shining proudly, as they made their way to the crowd to sit near the base of Highrock. Smokekit looked calm and ready for anything, while Fernkit trotted by his side, looking excited and nervous. While Rainkit bounced on Flarekit's other side, ready to burst with barley contained excitement. Firestar had just mounted Highrock as the littermates sat down next to Dawnsky, who gave them all one last tender lick on the head. "I cant believe your already going to be apprentices," She murmured, her voice sad yet proud.

Firestar yowled, silencing the cats. There was no need to call his usual to gather the Clan together; they were already all here. "It is time to make four of our kits into apprentices." Firestar beckoned to the kits with his tail, and they scampered forward. "Fernkit, from this moment on you will be known as Fernpaw. Pebblefoot, you are ready to take on your first apprentice. You will mentor Fernpaw."

Flarekit watched her sister touch noses with Pebblefoot, then took a deep breath as her Clan leader turned to her, his green eyes gazing down at her. "Flarekit, from this moment on until you have received your warrior name you will be known as Flarepaw. Sandstorm, you are ready for another apprentice. You will mentor Flarepaw."

Flarepaw proudly touched noses with the she-cat, pleased at who her mentor as. They sat down side by side, watching as her other two littermates became paws'. Smokepaw was given Cloudtail as his mentor, and Rainpaw Brackenfur. Flarepaw proudly lifted her chin as the Clan chanted their new names. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a gray blur. Turning her head slightly Flarepaw saw Yellowfang, the medicine cat, staring at her, yellow eyes dark. She was the only one not chanting.