Chapter One
Leafpool yowled in agony, Squirrelflight was on one side stroking the tabby's fur, Jayfeather pushed on her abdomen, "You're doing great Leafpool, I can see the first one now, push," the blind tom instructed Leafpool clenched her teeth as a small bundle slid onto the nursery floor. Squirrelflight broke the clear membrane and began licking it.
"You have one she-kit," she purred her green eyes shinning
"Don't distract her," Jayfeather snapped, "You're almost there Leafpool," he mewed as the second kit slid onto the nursery floor; Leafpool sighed as the pain stopped. The tabby and white queen looked over her flank, her amber eyes bright with happiness.
"What are you going to name them," the mew startled Leafpool, she looked up to see Brambleclaw, the dark tabby wasn't looking at her but one of her kits, she followed his gaze to the small white she-kit with black stripes.
She thought about what she had considered, "The one that you're staring at, I plan on naming Tigerkit," she mewed strongly, wrapping her tail around Tigerkit protectively. Leafpool didn't miss the mistrust that flashed across the deputy's amber gaze, as he stiffened. Squirrelflight gave a small hiss, and Brambleclaw relaxed.
"And this one," he said pointing to the tabby that looked like a mini version of Leafpool.
Leafpool looked at her other she-kit, "Rosekit," she mewed relaxing slightly, she watched as Brambleclaw turned to exit the nursery, "Not all cats with the name Tiger turn out evil, or end up in the Dark Forest," she called the only sign that the dark tabby had heard her was the flick of his ear. Leafpool sighed and let her kits suckle, the tabby and white she-cat rested her head on her paws, Tigerkit will be a loyal warrior, she thought with conviction
Tigerkit pounced on her sister, "Got'cha," she squeaked the black and white kit got off of her sister, the camp was slowly going about their business, the sun high green leaf heat making everyone drowsy. Tigerkit watched the clan's five apprentices; Shadowpaw, Sunpaw, Skypaw, Lightningpaw, and Leopardpaw, practiced their battle moves. "When do you think Bramblestar will make us apprentices," she mewed to her sister, who was grooming the dust out of her fur.
Rosekit stopped and looked at her sister, tipping he head, "Well we turned six moons today, so it should be soon," she answered running a paw over one ear. Both kits watched as Dovewing, the clan deputy, padded over.
"Wondering about when you will become apprentices," she asked her whiskers twitching with amusement, "Don't worry, Bramblestar will be performing the ceremony any day now," the gray she-cat gave the two kits a friendly flick on the ear.
Leafpool stuck her head out of the nursery, "You two aren't badgering people with questions again are you," she mewed in a motherly tone, Tigerkit and Lionkit shook their heads, Leafpool looked at Dovewing, "They're not bothering you are they?" she asked
"No, not at all Leafpool," the deputy replied, finally pleased Leafpool nodded and returned to the nursery, a squeak was heard inside the nursery.
"Leafpool, Bramblekit bit my tail," Firekit squeaked
"Bramblekit, what have we said about biting," Leafpool scolded
Tigerkit noticed Bramblestar emerge from his den, "Dovewing," he called to the deputy, "Can I speak with you a moment," Tigerkit noticed the dark tabby's amber gaze turn suspicious when they met her own, Why doesn't he trust me, she thought as she followed her sister back into the nursery to escape the heat.
Dovewing bounded over to Bramblestar, she had noticed the suspicousion in his gaze when he looked at Tigerkit, and it pained the gray she-cat when she realized that Tigerkit noticed the looks as well, "Yes Bramblestar," she said, the Thunderclan leader motioned for her to follow him to his den, the leader sat down with his tail wrapped around his paws.
"I was wondering who you think should mentor Tigerkit, she's going to need a loyal but stern mentor," Bramblestar finally mewed, Dovewing narrowed her eyes, "I was thinking about you, Lionblaze, or Silentbreeze," he finished
Dovewing shook her head, "Silentbreeze is too young, besides if you doubt Tigerkit's," she emphasized the kit, "loyalty and she isn't even an apprentice yet, then maybe you should be her mentor," she suggested coolly
Brambleclaw nodded, "That is a good idea, thank you," he mewed "What about Rosekit, she is very loyal and caring, I was thinking about having Snowcloud mentor her," he paused waiting for his deputy's input,
"Isn't Snowcloud a little young, why not Millie, she has been with Thunderclan for almost eighteen moons, I think it will also show the other clans that she is a real warrior now," Dovewing suggested, glad when Bramblestar nodded.
The tabby pushed himself to his paws, "Tell Leafpool, that we will hold their ceremony at sunset," he instructed, Dovewing nodded and bounded down the rockfall, she padded to the nursery.
"Leafpool, Bramblestar wants to hold Rosekit and Tigerkit's apprentice ceremony at sunset," she picked up the excited squeal of Tigerkit, "Bramblestar will mentor Tigerkit, and Mille will mentor Lionkit," she whispered, the tabby queen nodded
"Tigerkit and Rosekit will be ready," she mewed in a near whisper
Dovewing let her return to her kits to get them ready, she scanned the camp looking for Millie, she spotted the dark grey she-cat at the half rocks sunning herself, Graystripe was lying next to her grooming her fur, Dovewing padded over to the couple, "Hey, Millie," she called
The she-cat raised her head, "Yes, Dovewing what can I do for you?" she mewed getting her paws beneath her
"Are you ready to become a mentor," she mewed, Graystripe's tail shot straight up, and Mille's eyes began shinning with joy.
The grey she-cat got to her paws, "Really, you mean it, who am I going to mentor," she asked eagerly, Graystripe was rubbing all over her purring so loudly that he couldn't speak.
"You will be mentoring Rosekit," Dovewing answered slightly amused by Graystripe's excitement for his mate, "The ceremony will be at sunset," she informed Millie and padded away to go and organize some hunting patrols.
Tigerkit squirmed, the young she-kit could hardly sit still, unlike Lionkit who was calm and sitting with her paws set neatly in front of her, "Tigerkit, sit still you're getting yourself filthy all over again," Leafpool mewed
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the High Ledge for a clan meeting," Bramblestar yowled, Tigerkit watched with undisguised excitement shinning in her blue eyes, she sat still and ran a paw over her ear and listened to Bramblestar.
"This evening there are two kits who have reached their sixth moon, " Bramblestar's amber gaze fell on Tigerkit, "Tigerkit, Rosekit, please come forward," he mewed Tigerkit had to fight to keep herself from bolting to her leader, once she and her sister were settled in front of Bramblestar the dark tabby continued, "Rosekit," the tabby sat up, "From this moment on until you receive your warrior name you will be known as Rosepaw, may Starclan watch and guide you," the leader turned his gaze to his clan, "Millie, you will be the mentor of Rosepaw, you had a great mentor in Graystripe, pass on all you've learned to Rosepaw," he mewed, Mille stepped forward and touched noses with Rosepaw.
Tigerkit looked up at Bramblestar, I wonder who he chose for my mentor, she thought looking at all of the senior warriors, I hope its Lionblaze, she thought.
"Tigerkit, from this moment on until you receive your warrior name you will be known as Tigerpaw, may Starclan watch and guide you," the Thunderclan leader paused, "I will be the mentor of Tigerpaw, Firestar was my mentor and I will do my best to pass on everything he taught me to you," Bramblestar bounded down from the High Ledge, Tigerpaw was in shock, she felt some one nudge her forward, the black and white she-cat touched noses with her leader, she searched his amber gaze for some kind of anger or suspicion, but only found kindness and love. Why did he take me as his apprentice, she thought bewildered.
The clan greeted Rosepaw and Tigerpaw by their new names, Leafpool padded up and gave each kit a lick on the cheek, "Congratulations, you will make Thunderclan proud," she whispered in Tigerpaw's ear.