Chapter One
"I, Nettlestar, leader of ShadowClan, hope that StarClan hears and approves of my choice. Birchstorm will be the new deputy of ShadowClan." Nettlekit yowled on top of a small rock above his denmates. Russetkit, Frostkit, and Birchkit all sat below, their eyes widening in false innocence. Frostkit growled. "No fair! I want to be deputy."
"Now, now, Frostpelt, you haven't had an apprentice." Nettlekit countered.
"Oh yeah? Well how about this!" Frostkit yowled as he climbed on the rock to play fight with Nettlekit. The two toms were equal in strength and size as they were related, so were Birchkit and Russetkit.
Brackenheart dodged the fighting kits as they fell of the small rock and were rolling around. "One of you will be deputy someday, but first, I'd like to have a few moons left of being deputy." Brackenheart purred to the four kits.
They were six moons old now, and ready to be apprentices. Shadepool appeared out of the nursery den and narrowed her eyes. "I'm glad they're not playing in there like they had as soon as Olivewhisker moved in. They were disturbing her!" she told Brackenheart. Olivewhisker has been in the nursery for a quarter moon now and she was pregnant with Cloudfrost's kits.
Brackenheart purred. "I'm sure Owlstar will make them apprentices today." He replied back to her. All four kits had heard him and Frostkit pushed Nettlekit off of him. "I want Owlstar as my mentor!" he mewed excitedly.
Brackenheart shook his head. "I'm sorry, Frostkit, but Owlstar cannot be your mentor because family will treat their own softly." Before Frostkit could open his mouth to complain, Brackenheart also said, "Don't even try to argue. I've seen how he gives you first pick of the fresh-kill sometimes and how he spoils you. It would be wrong for me to mentor Birchkit or Nettlekit, because I would treat them differently against the other apprentices."
Frostkit's eyes glittered and he stomped off into the nursery. "He'll be okay. He's just mad that he won't get to be the leader's apprentice." Russetkit shrugged. She was smaller than the other three kits. However, all three kits made sure their play fights were less rough with her, but in reality, she was as tough as they are.
Birchkit yawned. "I'm ready to see if we will be apprentices today!" he told them, his eyes shining. "I can't wait to be an apprentice!"
"Don't us all." Nettlekit said as he stood beside his brother. "After we're warriors, I will become leader someday and you will be my deputy." He murmured in Birchkit's ear.
Birchkit flicked the ear that Nettlekit had spoken in to. "Don't be too sure. Frostkit has his mind set all over it." He whispered back.
Once sunhigh has approached, Shadepool and Mapleheart were frantically washing their complaining kits. "But mom! I look fine!" Russetkit wailed as Mapleheart licked her head roughly. "No buts. This is a special day for you." Mapleheart told her sternly. "And a future warrior does not act like that."
Russetkit stuck out her tongue at her mother and Mapleheart swat a paw over her ear. "Now go stand by Frostkit and Birchkit as Shadepool finishes with Nettlekit." Mapleheart ordered.
Stomping, Russetkit sat down by Frostkit, who was trying to act like a warrior already and puff out his chest. Birchkit just sat calmly beside him, his blue eyes shining. Earlier, each kit asked each other who they thought would be their mentor; Frostkit swears Owlstar will be his mentor, Nettlekit thinks Talonswipe will be his mentor, Russetkit doesn't care who, and Birchkit wouldn't answer, like he already knew who his mentor will be.
After Nettlekit was washed, Owlstar lifted his head as he stood on one of the branches of the Hollow Tree in camp. He yowled, "Let all cats who can catch their own prey and fight join beneath the Hollow Tree!"
"What's going on? Can't any cat sleep around here?" an elder, Mintpelt, mewed as she came out of the elders' den. Another elder with a dark gray pelt, Stoneshade, ran his tail along her flank. "Four kits are being apprenticed." He explained.
"Well I hope they treat us better than those other three apprentices!" Mintpelt rasped, her voice joking as Appletail, Batwing, and Pinefur looked at her in astonishment, but then calmed down as they realized she was only kidding.
Owlstar looked down at his kits as they approached in order. Frostkit was first, then Russetkit, then Nettlekit, and Birchkit brought up the rear.
"Today, ShadowClan gains four new apprentices! Frostkit, Russetkit, Nettlekit, and Birchkit have reached the age of six moons. Frostkit," Owlstar called to his son, "Step forward."
Frostkit padded forward slowly, trying to hide how excited he was, but his amber eyes betrayed his attempt.
"From this day forward, you will be known as Frostpaw." Owlstar told him. "Talonswipe." A golden brown tom stepped forward. "I have mentored you and you have trained Cloudfrost and Appletail well. I expect you to pass on the same skills to Frostpaw."
Frostpaw padded up to Talonswipe to touch noses with him. Talonswipe was much calmer than Frostpaw, but he let his new apprentice sit beside him. Unfortunately, Frostkit let a sparkle of disappointment show through his eyes as Owlstar didn't choose to be his mentor. Owlstar didn't notice his disappointing look and moved on to Russetkit.
"Russetkit, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Russetpaw." Owlstar told his daughter, who was much calmer than Frostpaw. "Brackenheart." The dark brown tom stepped forward. Many warriors were surprised that Russetpaw would be Brackenheart's apprentice rather than Frostpaw's. "You have mentored Frogtail and Kestrelwing well." He mewed to his deputy. "I know I'm putting Russetpaw in good paws." He said as the two touched noses briefly.
Frostkit's eyes burned with anger and sadness, but he tried hard to control it, even though no cat was paying attention to him.
"Nettlekit." Owlstar moved on as Nettlekit stepped forward. "You will be known as Nettlepaw and Frogtail will be your mentor." Owlstar mewed as Frogtail's eyes sparkled with pleasure as he touched noses with Nettlepaw. "Frogtail, Brackenheart has mentored you well and I know you will pass on your skills to Nettlepaw."
At last, the last kit, Birchkit, Birchkit stepped forward as Owlstar looked down at him. Nettlepaw flicked his ears in excitement as finally his brother will become an apprentice and they will be able to train together. "Birchkit, you will be known as Birchpaw." Owlstar told him and the Clan. "As for your request, Honeyflower will be your mentor."
Well, I finished the book cover for this story (It won't be posted until tomorrow, sadly) and I didn't even expect to have this chapter done by tonight.
Also thank you to Willowsong of ThunderClan for being the first reviewer! You rock! :)
Goodnight, everyone!
