"Swifttalon!", Daisy yowls from the nursery's entrance. "Swifttalon, your kits are escaping again!"

Ugh, I think as I heave myself out of my sleeping place in the warriors' den. Why do my kits have to be the ones to constantly get into trouble? I walk outside into the bright morning sunshine. It's a beautiful day of greenleaf. I immediately see my kits running in and out of all the dens. I run over, grasp them by the scruffs of their necks, and carry them over to the nursery where Daisy, her tail twitching with irritation, is waiting with Foxkit and Icekit.

"I've never known kits to be as wild as yours, Swifttalon! I sure hope that they are soon old enough to move into the apprentices' den! They're much to big and wild for the nursery!" Daisy says, looking angry and tired.

At this, Snowkit, Shadowkit, and Spottedkit all leap with joy at the prospect of becoming apprentices tonight.

"Yes, and I hope that you aren't as crazy apprentices as you are kits! Your mentors will have you punished if you mess around like you just were!" I say triumphantly, looking my kits straight in the eye. They back off and go to the nursery to prepare for the ceremony that night.

"You're working too hard, Swifttalon!" Daisy tells me softly. "Go and rest your head for a while! I'll get 'em something to eat."

I want to, but I have to go on a hunting patrol with Spiderleg, Sandstorm, and Mouspaw. My paws ache, but I know that I have to do my duty.

"Come on, you lazy cat! We've gotta go!" Mousepaw growls, clearly eager to get out of the camp.

"Keep your fur on! I'm comin'!" I hiss, annoyed by his impatience. "Just a bit of kit trouble! But that won't continue for long: They'll be apprentices soon!".

"That's great news!" Sandstorm mews. "Now let's get going before Firestar rips our fur off!"

"Finally!" Mouspaw mutters under his breath.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join her beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!" Firestar yowls proudly.

I lead my kits, who are jumping and mewing uncontrollably, up to stand at the front of the crowd. I've groomed them, and only Spottedkit is doing what I said to do: sit still and be quiet. The other two I have to scold to get them to sit down.

"Tonight I am doing one of my favorite things to do as leader. I am naming three kits as apprentices. Shadowkit, come forward."

Bursting with excitement, Shadowkit steps forward.

"Shadowkit, do you promise to be loyal to and protect your Clan at all costs, even the cost of your LIFE?" Firestar meows.

"I do."

"Then I now announce you as a full member of this Clan. From this moment on you will be known as Shadowpaw. Your mentor will be Icenose."

Shadowpaw turns to see Icenose, his mom's sister, standing proudly before him.

"Icenose, you have worked hard and learned all the ways of the warrior code, and I hope you pass everything you know on to Shadopaw.", Firestar mews.

Shadowpaw stretches up and touches noses with his new mentor. Then he steps back into the crowd and Spottedkit steps forward. A few minutes later Spottedpaw steps back with Swiftnose, her new mentor. Finally Snowkit steps forward, and soon is named Snowpaw and steps back with Fertalon, her new mentor.

"Shadowpaw! Spottedpaw! Snowpaw!" all the Clan cats cheer in unison.

"We're gonna sleep in the apprentices' den tonight!"Snowpaw mews excitedly to her siblings.

"Yup, and you better get going!" I say, proud as can be.

Little did I know what awaited them the next day.