Chapter 2

Sparkkit crouched in amongst the brittle stems of the reed bush bordering the river. Tiny flies and dragonflies waltzed just above the waterline, lazy in the warm sun. The spotted tabby placed a paw onto the ground carefully, stilling her tail. She felt powerful, stronger than before, her legs longer.

Ear twitching, she launched herself forward with powerful haunches, her paws slamming onto a small shape. The water vole didn't stand a chance, as she flicked her head forward-

"Wake up Sparkkit! Our naming ceremony will begin soon!" A gentle nose prodding her side roused Sparkkit from her dream infused slumber. Coalkit gazed at her sister, green eyes glowing with excitement. Her black and ginger fur had already been groomed, still damp from her morning wash.

At first, Sparkkit felt anger that she had been torn from her dream. She had been a warrior, hunting prey beside the river, moons of training behind her. Yet the anger vanished like a puff of smoke as she recalled that today was the day the two would become apprentices. A moon had passed since the news of Whitesurge's proposed mentorship, and Sparkkit had eagerly awaited the day she knew he would be her mentor.

"I wish Palepaw was being named with us," Coalkit mewed sadly, glancing at the empty space beside them. Palepaw's scent was stale; it had been over half moon since she had slept in the nursery. Carpclaw had requested that Brookstar allow her to begin her training immediately, so as to make the next half-moon Gathering at the Moon Pool and meet her fellow medicine cats. She would be going for her second meeting anyday.

Snorting, Sparkkit bent her head to wash her white chest. "If she wants to go eat herbs, let her!" She scoffed, wincing as a sharp impact hit her ear.

Smudgepelt, her mother, was glaring at the smaller cat. "You should be happy for Palepaw, Sparkkit. She's doing an amazing thing and one day she could save your life. Or Coalkit's." She pointed her orange splashed muzzle at the second kit. "Now hurry up. The clan is waiting." Lovingly, she nudged the pair towards the entrance, Foxchest just behind her.

"Stay here little ones. I won't be long." The red queen purred as she spoke the kits remaining in the den. "I'll sit just out here."Briarkit and Oakkit let out faint mews of protest, like tiny owlets in the nest.

Sparkkit's paws began to shake as she padded quietly into the clearing, anxiety welling in her stomach. The whole clan would be there, all staring at her. What if she got it wrong? Would her paws stop working? What if her mentor forgot to touch noses?

"Are you as nervous as I am?" Coalkit whispered. Sparkkit nodded, the roof of her mouth dry.

"Let all cats old enough to swim join for a clan meeting!" The powerful yowl filled the clearing, drawing the rest of the clan from their dens and resting places. Ringtail broke away from his place beside Whitesurge, coming to touch noses with his mate before resting his tail first on Coalkit and then Sparkkit.

Carpclaw trotted out of the medicine cave, her paws smelling strongly of herbs. Palepaw raced out behind her, her nose grazed with crumbs of various leaves. As they approached the kits, she sneezed, sending a cloud of flecks into the air.

"You'll finally get to leave camp!" Palepaw purred, winding around the other two. Sparkkit staggered as her sister brushed past. In the half moon since she began her training, the medicine cat apprentice had become stronger from tours of the territory. Even her scent had been altered. Once warm and familiar, it was now sharp and foreign. "When you've trained for a while, we can all go out together. I can show you where the best places for herbs are and-"

Carpclaw paced forward and pushed her apprentice away. "Yes yes, but they need to be apprenticed first. Let them get their mentors." Meekly, Palepaw followed the older cat to sit beside the clan rock. Twitching his whiskers, Ringtail led his kits to the centre of the gathering.

"You'll be fine," he murmured, a note of pride etching into his voice. He dipped his head and retreated to stand beside his apprentice, Otterpaw. The plain brown tom nodded a quiet greeting, his face calm and content. Beside him, Mistypaw kneaded the ground with excitement, his long grey fur quivering. Across the clearing, his mentor Clearwater fixated her blue gaze on him, and he crouched under her gaze.

The elders, Flattooth and Swiftflight were the last to join the crowd, coming to a halt behind the apprentices. Once the clan were seated, Brookstar padded forward on her ledge.

"Cats of Riverclan. Today, we welcome the clan's oldest kits into the apprentice den so that they may begin their training and walk the path of a warrior."

This is it! Sparkkit swished her tail, stirring willow leaves across the clearing. "Until you receive your warrior names, you will be known as Sparkpaw and Coalpaw." She paused, her gaze sweeping the crowd. "Whitesurge -"

Yes! Sparkpaw cheered inwardly as the muscular tom padded forward.

"- a brave and courageous warrior and deputy. Pass down this trait to your new apprentice. You will mentor Coalpaw."

Gasping, Sparkpaw turned to stare at her sister beside her, but she was already on her paws, touching noses with the deputy. Her thick tail waved with delight, unaware of the mutinous glare Sparkpaw was shooting at her back.

"... a talented hunter and a strong swimmer. You will mentor Sparkpaw." Sparkpaw faltered as her name was called. In her bout of resentment, she hadn't paid attention to who was appointed her mentor.

"Sparkpaw!" Hissed Ringtail, embarrassed. "Go touch noses with Runningwater.

"Runningwater?" She cried. "You made Runningwater my mentor?"

(*)

Scowling, Sparkpaw slammed down yet another bundle of dried moss onto the ground. Beyond she den, she could hear Coalpaw laughing with Heronpaw and Graypaw as her sister shared a carp with the older apprentices. Envy lashed Sparkpaw not for the first time that day as she spread the moss across the elder's den, wincing as she recalled the events of the ceremony.

(*)

"You made Runningwater my mentor?" Sparkpaw stared at the young tom in disbelief and anger. His pelt pricked along the spine at her words, his ears pinned against his head.

A rough nudge in her side sent her nearly sprawling onto the ground. "Sparkpaw! Show some respect." Smudgepelt, her pelt fluffed out in embarrassment, was standing over her, blue eyes wide. "Go and touch noses. Now." Beside his mate, Ringtail was trembling with anger, his jaws parted as if he wanted to speak. Around them, the clan was muttering, while Heronpaw whispered; "I think I'd act like that if I got him for a mentor!"

Digging her claws into the ground, Sparkpaw refused to approach the young warrior. Why him of all cats? He was inexperienced, always thought he knew best, and lazy! Runningwater would try to pawn her off onto the other mentors, or just not bother to show up. She would be left behind in training whilst Coalpaw became a warrior. Oakkit and Briarkit would become warriors before her, and they weren't even three moons old yet! And why hadn't Brookstar given her a senior warrior? If her sister got the deputy, wouldn't an experienced warrior who would take her training seriously be the next best thing? Shallowstream or Acornfall would have suited her. They were great warriors!

Ringtail hissed and pushed his daughter away from her spot, sending her tumbling towards her new mentor. He gazed at her, sneering slightly, the tip of his tail twitching.

"Sparkpaw. Please touch noses with your mentor as a sign of your new bond." Brookstar's voice was flat with disbelief. Never had an apprentice refused to approach their mentor, no matter what they thought of them. Rolling her green eyes, Sparkpaw thrust her muzzle forward, her nose banging against his. He reeled backwards in pain, before spinning around and stalking towards Whitesurge and Coalpaw. "The ceremony is complete. I would like to talk to the new apprentices before they begin their training."

Nodding, she released her clan, and they gathered in small groups, murmuring excitedly to each other.

"I can't believe you did that Sparkpaw! You ruined the ceremony!" A hiss in her ear made Sparkpaw jump. Coalpaw was matching her step, pelt ruffled.

"So what? You only liked it because you got a great mentor." Her tone scathing, she halted. "And I got..."

"A young warrior who wants to prove himself to his clan." Brookstar stepped in front of the pair. "I am very disappointed in you, Sparkpaw. I deliberately chose Runningwater as he is young and needs to learn responsibility. Honestly. I thought you would be more grown up about this. You're not a kit any more. Act your age. You will be cleaning the elders den today. And when you have a change of attitude, you may begin your proper training."

Clean the elders den? Sparkpaw shrunk under her leader's judgemental gaze. It was bad enough she had Runningwater as a mentor. Now she was being unfairly punished!

(*)

"Have you nearly finished?" Ringtail ducked his head into the den. She nodded her mottled head, gesturing sulkily to the fresh moss. "Good. Go and get some food. The other apprentices have already eaten." He paused. "I expected better of you. At least Palepaw and Coalpaw performed well during their ceremonies. I expect you to make it up to Runningwater and Brookstar by training twice as hard."

Ears burning, Sparkpaw slunk from the den and out into the darkness. The air was chilly, the warmth of the day gone. Heronpaw, Graypaw and Coalpaw were lying together, the bones from their meal between their forepaws. Just beyond them, Palepaw was explaining how to make a salve to Otterpaw, while he nodded absently. Mistypaw's scent was stale; already in the den to sleep before the dawn patrol.

Heronpaw glanced up as she approached, and snickered. "Has fun Sparkpaw? It was nice not to have to clean out the den today. Can you be rude more often so you have to do more chores?"

His sister Graypaw shoved him. "Leave off Heronpaw. She didn't choose her mentor. Want some carp?" Graypaw glanced at Coalpaw, who said nothing, gazing at her orange and black paws.

"Not hungry. I'm going to my nest." Sparkpaw padded past the other apprentices, her paws dragging wearily. Within the den, several reed nests were laid out, each lined with moss. Some held stale scents of the apprentices, others were fresh. Letting out a long breath, she curled into one of the nests and closed her eyes.