A sleepy black Tom-kit woke to gentle sun ripples filtered through the packed bracken and leaves of the Thunderclan nursery.
Yawning, the little kit struggled out from under his brother, Sparrowkit, who has clambered onto him the night before.
He glanced back at his sleeping mother, Reedtail, before poking his head out of the fern entrance to see cats eating fresh-kill, going to the dirtplace, clearing leavev and preparing for the morning patrol. Nightstar, a white she-cat with a black face and pale green eyes, leader of Thunderclan, sat on Highrock, watching the proceedings.
The little kit peeking his tiny head out of the nursery was called Thunderkit, who was now 6 moons old, and Thunderkit had just noticed his father Nightpelt joining the patrol.
Scampering across the soft, grassy floor of the camp, Thunderkit dodged and squeezed past cats going about their day, sometimes recieving "Hey!"s and "Watch out!"s from the warriors and apprentices.
Reaching his dad, he bounced in excitement. "Dad, Dad, will you be back in time for my -and Sparrowkit's I guess- apprentice ceremony?"
For a second, Nightpelt was shocked by the sudden appearance of his excitable kit, the chuckled and purred: "Of course I will Thunderkit, I wouldn't miss it for the world!"
The little tom-kit purred happily.
Looking up, his father told him, "I have to go on patrol now, but I'll be back soon." They touched noses, and then Nightpelt lunged after the other cats on the morning border patrol, slowing to a walk as they slipped through the bramble tunnel that led outside the camp.
Thunderkit watched with a sinking feeling in his stomach that he couldn't explain.
LINE BREAK
It was his apprentice ceremony. His father hadn't returned from patrol, and neither had the others. Nightstar seemed to be concerned about their absence, but she could delay no longer.
"All cats old enouh to hunt gather beneath Highrock for a clan meeting." She called to the camp.
Cats that had been lazing around in the sun wih full bellies, or apprentices that had been tending to the elders, Rubyfur and Smalltail. They gathered around Highrock and Nightstar called for Thunderkit and Sparrowkit.
After their mother gave their coats a final wash, they ran out, skifding to a halt infront of Nightstar, who stood with Highrock hehind her.
"Sparrowkit," The light brown tabby next to him quivered with excitement. "You have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you recieve your warrior name, you will be known as Sparrowpaw. Your mentor will be Brambleleaf. I hope Brambleleaf will pass down all she knows on to you."
Then to Brambleleaf: " Brambleleaf, you are ready to take on another apprentice. You have recieved excellent training from Reedtail, and did well training Silverleaf. You have shown yourself to be empathic and loyal. You will be the mentor of Sparrowpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to him."
Sparrowpaw trotted over to the dark brown tabby she-cat, and they touched noses. They then sat down next to each other and it was Thunderkit's turn.
Turning to hin, Nightstar began, "Thunderkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you recieve your warrior name, you will be known as Thunderpaw."
At this Thunderpaw let out a tiny squeek of excitement, and shuffled his front paws. Nightstar smiled, then continued, " Your mentor will be Flamerunner. I hope he will pass down all he knows to you."
To Flamerunner: "Flamerunner, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have recieved superb training from Smalltail and have shown yourself to be courageous and skillful. You will be the mentor of Thunderpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to him."
Flamerunner purred as his new (and first) apprentice ran over to him and eagerly sat down next to him after they touched noses, even though Thunderpaw had a sick feeling in his stomach. Something was very wrong and it was related to the border patrol.
Just then, Nightpelt and the rest if the border patrol that had been late stumbled into camp, chests heaving ad they breathed heavily, blood running from deep scratches on their bodies.