This is Rockpaw's POV.
Chapter 1
I blinked groggily as the NewLeaf sun shined in the nursery. I forced my eyes back shut as a heard the familar, very loud and extremely chatty voice. It could only belong to one cat-Honeykit. "Honestly Honeykit! Do you just have to wake up at the crack of dawn everyday and let the whole Forest know your alive?" I groggily complained. I pushed my furry paw over my eyes to block out the light.
"Well excuse me! First of all, it is not the crack of dawn, it is sunhigh, and second you should be thankful that I woke you up! We will be apprenticed in a few minutes and your not even groomed yet!" She rolled her eyes, talking her usual bossy self. " I've already been groomed to perfection and Fernkit is almost done!"
"My eyes shot open at the sound of apprentice. I had completely forgotten! I jumped out of my nest and hurried over to Sandstorm to let her clean me up. "Hurry mom! I'll be late!" I gasped, nervous with butterflies in my stomach.
"You'll be fine, just relax and enjoy this moment. I can't wait to hear about that special prize you talked about." She winked at me and purred. She would know soon enough. I hope she and Dustpelt will be proud of me...
"All right, all done. Now run along with Honeykit and Fernkit. It should be any minute now." She urged and I dashed out after them.
"Dustpelt, what's wrong? It's sunset and the kits aren't yet apprenticed. Do you suppose Bramblestar forgot?" Sandstorm worriedly asked. I peered over the rock to try to catch a better glimpse, but it was too risky. I would just have to listen to them from here.
"I don't know...He didn't forget because I reminded him today after sunhigh past. But...he just stared at me, like I was a loner asking him for food. I've never seem him look so...lost."He finally said. He breathed in deeply before speaking again, "I saw Jayfeather in there with him not long ago. I think I'll go talk to him about it-assuming he's still sane.'' He stood up slowly and began to pad away when Sandstorm spoke again,
"Dustpelt...just..." she trailed off, looking him in the eye. That was all it took to know. He sighed, much longer this time, and replied,
"He's watching, Sandstorm, don't forget and don't loose your fire." And with that he spun around and raced to Bramblestar's den.
"What did they say?" Fernkit asked. "Be quiet! She'll hear you!" I hissed then flicked my tail to signal them to follow me to the nursery. We were the only ones there unless you counted Daisy, who was eating with Leafpool right now. Good, we had the nursery all to ourselves.
"It was really weird. They didn't know why we weren't apprenticed and they spoke sort of in secret. And they acted like something was wrong with Bramblestar." I whispered, my tail swishing back and forth.
"But that's impossible! He's the leader, he's so powerful, and he's not sick!" Honeykit shouted. I instantly slapped her mouth shut with my tail.
"Be quiet! The clan will hear you." I hissed. She rolled her eyes but said nothing. "Come on, let's go out there and see what's going on." I spoke gently this time.
"Mommy, what's wrong? It's dark and we're not in the apprentice's den yet!" Fernkit complained, tears in her eyes as she snuggled up close to her mother. She was always the most sensitive of the litter, and not becoming an apprentice after waiting so long must crush her.
"I'm not sure, sweetie, but its going to be alright. I'm sure Bramblestar just got a little carried away and didn't have time." Sandstorm smiled slightly, but I could trace tears of fear and sadness in her eyes.
Fernkit only pressed in closer to Sandstorm and both Honeykit and I did the same. Just then Dustpelt came out of Bramblestar's den, his head titled slightly towards the ground. "Not today, tomorrow though." He smiled weakly and brushed each of them softly with his tail before padding away.
Sandstorm smiled at each of us then hurried us back into the nursery, saying that it would be all right and not to worry. But yet I couldn't help to think that we were suppose to padding away with Cherrypaw and Molepaw, making our new nests in the Apprentice's Den.