Hi, a quick little author's note here! So I'm sorry that the past chapter was so short, I was still figuring things out, but I promise that as things go, it will get better and longer!

-Goldie

Shadedkit bounced around in the nursery, beaming happily. Today was her apprentice ceremony! Her tiny tail stood straight up as she grinned. Then she spotted Ivykit and Dovekit and smiled even wider. She bounced her way over to them, but screeched to a halt when she heard them talking.

"We'll do everything together!" said Ivykit, smiling happily.

"Yeah," agreed Dovekit enthusiastically.

Shadedkit smiled. "Of course we will!"

The two ignored her. Shadedkit's tail drooped.

"Why do they ignore me?" she thought sadly.

Then Firestar's voice rang out from the highrock, calling all the cats together for the ceremony. Shadedkit's tail went straight back up, and she grinned happily. Racing to the highrock with Ivykit and Dovekit right behind her, she scrambled for a seat. Her smile grew ever wider as Firestar started the ceremony.

"Today we are gathered here to make three kits into apprentices," Firestar's yowl echoed. "Dovekit, Ivykit, and Shadedkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you all to be apprenticed. Dovekit, from this day forward, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Dovepaw. Your mentor will be Lionblaze. I hope he will pass all that he has learned on to you."

Shadedkit watched as the newly named Dovepaw and Lionblaze touched noses, and walked into the crowd. She stared as Ivykit became Ivypaw and was assigned Cinderheart as her mentor.

"Shadedkit, step forward." Came a loud voice from the Highrock. Shadedkit looked up, and walked forward, her legs shaking.

"Shadedkit, from this day forward, until you receive your warriors name, you will be known as Shadedpaw. Your mentor will be Sorreltail. I hope she will pass all that she has learned on to you."

Shadedpaw walked to Sorreltail and touched noses with her new mentor happily. She forced herself to remain calm and walk to the crowd of cats. She was so excited! She heard Firestar dismiss the clan, and immediately turned to Sorreltail and began pestering her with questions.

"When do we hunt? Can I fight? Do I have to clean the elders' bedding? Where will I sleep? When can we explore?"

"Slow down there, all will be answered in due time," Sorreltail answered with an amiable gleam in her eyes. "First we will explore the territory. Tomorrow I will teach you to hunt, and perhaps the day after, I will teach you some basic fighting moves."

"Great! I can't wait!" exclaimed Shadedpaw. Her belly growled loudly, and she grinned sheepishly. "But… um… can we eat first?"

Sorreltail laughed lightly. "Of course we can."

The two walked over to the fresh kill pile, which was very small, due to the excruciatingly hot weather. They picked out a mouse together and shared it, then walked out into the forest. Sorreltail pointed out the lake, which was a shrunken pond.

"I thought it would be bigger," complained Shadedpaw.

"It used to be huge, we would be swimming for our lives right now because of where we are standing if the water was normal sized."

Shadedpaw's eyes grew huge. That was a cavernous description of it!

Sorreltail smiled, "C'mon, let's go see the the WindClan border."

Shadedpaw agreed and followed Sorreltail's lead. Sorreltail led her to a dusty, dry fielded place. They stopped when a strong scent hit them.

"This is the border, Shadedpaw. You must never go over it, even when you are chasing prey."

"Yes, Sorreltail," I yawned out. My legs were aching so much, and I felt like I could drop at any moment.

She smiled again. "Why don't we get back to camp? You've had a long day, and I think we both need some water."

I nodded happily. "Thanks, Sorreltail!" I then followed her again back to camp. When we finally made it, I was panting for lack of water, and my legs were wobbling. Thankfully, there was a water patrol coming back, so I shared a little bit of water moss with Sorreltail.

"Pew! I'm so tired," I exclaimed after I had drunk my fill.

"You can go rest if you would like," replied Sorreltail.

"Thank you!" I trotted off to the apprentice den, where Cinderpaw helped me make a new nest. I expressed my gratitude, then collapsed into the nest, falling into a deep slumber.