Well, here we get to meet our characters! Three young kits…

Chapter 1:Kits to Apprentices

Lynxkit was incredibly excited; excited, that is, because today she turned six moons old. This meant that any day now, she could expect to be made an apprentice and begin to learn the ways of the warrior that had been passed down from the ancestors of the clans for many generations. " I can't wait…", she thought to herself and she sat in front of the nursery of the MapleClan camp for a few moments daydreaming about the adventures she would someday have as a warrior.

The furry tabby she-kit was so engrossed in her daydreams that she did not hear the sound of paw steps behind her or detect the scent of other kits. Suddenly a tug at her fluffy tail snapped her out of her musings.

"What are you doing sitting there like a lazy badger, Lynxkit?" meowed a voice with just a hint of laughter to it. That was her best friend, Frostkit.

"Yeah," smirked a second voice which also had a hint of mischief in it. This was Lynxkit's other best friend, Nightkit.

"We will see who is the lazy badger around here", meowed Lynxkit laughing, she then whirled and launched herself at her two friends. The three of them chased and tumbled all around the camp until they bumped unto Tornear, one of the clan elders. The old tom, startled from his nap, turned on the three who seated themselves in a neat row, ready for the scolding they were sure they would receive.

"Kits", said Tornear with a glitter in his eyes, "should respect their elders. What were you three doing?"

"We were just wrestling, Tornear," apologized Lynxkit, rather ashamed of herself.

"Well, see that it doesn't happen again", laughed Tornear, "You wouldn't want to wake Patchtail from her nap." The three kits grinned, they knew that the old tortie she-cat could be quite cranky when she was disturbed from her nap. "Now get along with you and behave yourselves", he chuckled. The elderly tom lay back down clearly amused by the kit's antics. "Oh, I almost forgot, Leafstar was looking for you three earlier, she said that you lot are to report at the greatrock at moonhigh", he called after them.

"The greatrock at moonhigh… "said Lynxkit. The other two looked at her; there was only one reason the three kits could think of for their leader to summon them to the greatrock and that was… "We're going to be apprentices!" They all cried at once. With that the three raced back to the nursery to tell their mothers and all the other kits.

… … …

Finally, moonhigh had arrived. It had seemed to Lynxfkit that the day had simply dragged on and on; that the time would never come. Her mother, Featherpelt, had insisted upon her coat being spotlessly clean for the apprenticing ceremony. "Well", she thought as she sat near the nursery, "It will be soon, now…".

At that moment, Leafstar scrambled to the ledge of the greatrock and called out, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather below the greatrock for a clan meeting".

Now the greatrock, as all clan cats knew, sat in the very center of the MapleClan camp, and it was from its ledge the clan leader made all of the important announcements and conducted all important ceremonies, such as apprenticing kits and naming warriors. Lynxpaw scanned the camp. The camp, which was in the middle of a little clearing around the rock was kept neat and tidy. the leader's den was in a crevice in the base of the greatrock; the warrior's den was off to the right, dug into a sandy ridge that ran through the camp. The apprentice's quarters were located in a clump of brambles that grew out of that same sandy ridge; this was located a little way from the warriors den. The elder's den and nursery were on the other side of the greatrock. To the back of the greatrock and in front of the apprentices den was the training area, a little hollow where warriors and apprentices could practice their fighting techniques.

Lynxkit padded over towards the rock and watched as all the clan cats gathered and after a moment or two, her two friends joined her.

"Are you ready, Lynxkit?" asked Nightkit who had arrived first and now stood on her right.

"Of course", she said, trying to sound brave; if the truth were told, though, they were all at least a little nervous. Frostkit joined them just a moment later.

"Who do you want as your mentor?" Frostkit asked her friends.

"Not sure yet…," mumbled Lynxkit as she watched the clan cats gather from all corners of the camp. There were the apprentices Dartpaw, Robinpaw and Streampaw, and there was Tornear sitting among the other elders. She saw her mother sitting proudly among the warriors once more, for now that her kit was grown, she could return to hunting and fighting for her clan. Lynxkit knew she must not disappoint her mother.

"I want Silverfang", she heard Nigthkit say, "She is very brave! I hear she once took on a fox by herself."

Lynxkit shook herself back to the conversation her friends were having, "I've heard she is very wise, too", she added thoughtfully.

"I hope I get Dappelstripe, "meowed Frostkit excitedly.

"Why Dappelstripe?" Asked Nightkit "I hear she is pretty strict and probably will make you check the elders for ticks and clean out the nursery every day!" The other two laughed at this assertion.

"She would not", meowed Frostkit, "She may be proper, but she isn't like that at all."

"What about you Lynxkit?" Asked Nightkit.

"Oh…, I don't know…," she purred, intending to tease her friends with the suspense.

"C'mon, tell", grumbled Nightkit, "We told you who we wanted."

"Well, I would like either Shadefur or Silverfang", she admitted, "Both are great warriors. It would be an honor to learn under Silverfang, she is wise and a crafty warrior. On the other hand Shadefur is loyal, strong and patient. I would be happy with either."

"No fair", grumbled Nightkit," we can't both have Silverfang. I wonder who will get who."

"We will see", said Frostkit, "After all, it is up to Leafstar to decide, not us".

At last, Leafstar spoke again" It is the great honor of MapleClan to admit to its rank three new apprentices." The elegant tortie she-cat looked at the three young kits.

"Lynxkit, would you step forward?" Lynxkit hesitated for a moment but nervously did as she was told; it felt as if the eyes of the entire clan were on her, an exhilarating but terrifying feeling.

"Lynxkit", the leader declared "You are now six moons old, the time has come for you to receive your apprentice's name."

"Are your ready and willing to take on all the responsibility that this will entail?" her leader inquired.

"Yes, Leafstar," the kit was so excited she could barely get the words out.

"Very well, Lynxkit, do you swear to honor and obey your mentor and to strive to learn the ways of the warrior and all they have to teach you?" she inquired.

"I do," the young she cat replied her striped face beaming. Lynxkit could see her mother watching approvingly from among the cats of the clan.

The proud leader said, "Then, by the powers of StarClan, you will from hence forth be known as Lynxpaw; it is my duty and privilege to admit you as an apprentice warrior of Maple Clan. Train hard and well as you strive to understand the warrior's code and the ways of your ancestors."

She now turned to a slim black pelted she-cat warrior," Silverfang, would you step forward?" The warrior came forward and touched noses with Lynxpaw. "You have proven yourself to be a faithful warrior and true in combat, do you accept Lynxpaw as your apprentice?"

"Yes, Leafstar, I am honored," replied the black warrior softly.

"Very well," the leader purred, "guide young Lynxpaw as she strives to understand our noble ways. You are known among all the clans for your speed and wisdom, may you pass these on to her as you teach her discipline and honor." Lynxpaw's head was all in a whirl; she could hardly believe it. Silverfang the wise, the cunning, was to be her mentor! She could scarcely sit still as Leafstar performed the same ceremony for her two friends, naming Shadefur and Dapplestripe as their mentors. She fluffed up the furry ruff of thick fur about her neck with pride as she thought of how her entire clan had come out to see her and her two friends. One flicker of sadness had marred Lynxpaw's enjoyment of this otherwise very special occasion. Her father, who had been the clan deputy at the time, had died in a battle before she was born. Lynxpaw fervently wished that her father had been able to be here and see her become an apprentice. Still, she felt sure that her father would be proud of her, and that he surely would not wish such a special event to be ruined on this account. "Besides," she thought with a smile," He hunts with StarClan, now. Perhaps they permitted him to watch." So telling herself, the young apprentice pushed such unhappy thoughts from her mind.

"Lynxpaw, Frostpaw, Nightpaw! Lynxpaw, Frostpaw, Nightpaw", the clan cats yowled the names of the new apprentices to the moon in the sky and the warriors of StarClan in Silverpelt above. She hoped that someday they would do the same when she became a true warrior.

Once all was done, the cats of MapleClan returned to their usual business and Leafstar decsended from the greatrock; Lynxpaw sat for a moment. Finally, Silverfang spoke, "Well, young one, how would you like to see the clan boundaries?"

"Would I ever!" cried Lynxpaw, for this would be the first time ever that she had been allowed to go that far from camp.

"Can we go, too, Dapplestripe", begged Frostpaw eagerly, "PLEeee-eease!"

"Oh, all right," she said after a moment.

"It wouldn't do any harm for you to become aquainted with the clan territory's boundaries, either, Nightpaw", added Shadefur with a purr of amusement. With this the six cats padded out of camp, three warriors and three apprentices.

"Let's see the AshClan boundary first", said Silverfang," they are the ones most likely to be crossing it". The apprentices grinned for they knew of their clan's age old rivalry with AshClan. Little did any of them suspect that they would not be the only ones at the boundary between the two clans.

Uh-oh, just made apprentices and already it seems that our three new friends are on their way for an adventure! Keep on reading to find out what happens.