Lionkit woke up to a lick on the head. Looking up dreamily, she saw her mom's white face looking down at her affectionately. "Wake up," She whispered. Lionpaw blinked a few times to get used to the light. "Today's the day."

"Really!?!" That woke Lionkit up. She scrambled to her feet. She was bigger than her mother, Moonface. Dryclaw, the medicine cat, said that she had a condition that made her grow faster than most cats. "Oh boy! I'm going to be Lionpaw! This is so exciting!" She sprinted out the door.

Willowfire shook her head. "Kits will be kits."

Lionkit tumbled into a snow drift that was in front of the nursery. It was mid leaf-bare, and snow piled high all over the camp. She looked longingly at the apprentice den. Soon she would sleep there. She looked up at the Highrock. Brightstar had just climbed up there. Then she made the familiar call.

"Will all cats old enough to catch their own pray please report to the Highrock for a clan meeting." Lionkit mouthed the words of the call. She knew these words by heart. Someday she would be clan leader and call the clan to meetings.

"Lionstar." She said to herself, "now that's a name."

A group of warriors and apprentices gathered under the Highrock to see what Brightstar had to say. "Cats of ThunderClan." She began, "We have yet another kit who has reached the age of six moons. Lionkit." Lionkit could hardly believe it. She stood there motionless for a second, and then sprinted up enthusiastically to the Highrock. Jumping up and down with excitement, she looked more like a hyperactive senior warrior about to become leader because of her size.

"By naming apprentices, we show that ThunderClan will survive and remain strong." Brightstar went on. She looked at Lionkit. "Lionkit, from now on you will be known as Lionpaw."

"Lionpaw! Lionpaw!" The crowd chanted her new name. Lionpaw smiled and stood proud.

"Grassear, you are ready for a new apprentice since your old one became a warrior." She looked at the dark brown tabby in the audience. "You will be Lionpaw's mentor." Grassear padded onto the Highrock. Lionpaw looked down at him and they touched noses. It looked more like Grassear was the apprentice.

"Lionpaw! Lionpaw! Lionpaw..."

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"Lionpaw! Lionpaw! Wake up, Lionpaw!" Lionpaw blinked a few times and woke up. She was surrounded by ferns and other sleeping cats. This wasn't the nursery. She was in the apprentice den! So it wasn't a dream, she thought. Over her was a small black apprentice with a white chin and jaw. "I don't think we've met. I'm Berrypaw."

Lionpaw slowly pushed herself up. "Is it time for training already?" She yawned.

"Yep." Berrypaw mewed. "You have to get up early if you want to pack in enough training for you to be a warrior sometime in your life." Berrypaw scampered out of the den, Lionpaw close behind. In the center of the clearing, Grassear and Brackenfoot waited for their apprentices. Berrypaw looked at Lionpaw in awe. "Your mentor is the clan deputy!"

"Yep, isn't it cool?" Lionpaw mewed excitedly.

"Welcome young apprentices." Grassear said coolly. He had grown a lot, and was much more mature now. "It's time for your first training session. Come on, we're going to the sandy hallow."

wwwwww

"Today we will learn the front paw blow." Brackenfoot started. Lionpaw and Berrypaw sat there, listening intently. "Remember to keep your claws sheathed. Watch me." He and Grassear dropped into battle positions. Brackenfoot first made a light blow to Grassear's nose. "Okay, Berrypaw. Try it on me."

Berrypaw slowly dropped down into a battle pose. Very carefully, he batted at Brackenfoot's nose.

"Okay, Lionpaw." Grassear stood up. "Your turn." Lionpaw crouched down and slowly inched forward until she was in range. Instinctively, instead of batting at Grassear's nose, she aimed a blow directly at his legs, making him rear up. Lionpaw then slid between his two back legs and jumped on his back. Claws still sheathed, she pinned him to the ground with only her body weight. Then she jumped off and padded over to Berrypaw.

"What did you do?" Brackenfoot exclaimed. "I've never seen anything like that before! How did you do it?"

"Uh, actually," Lionpaw tried to find the right words. "I don't know how I did it. It just came to me."

"Lionpaw," Grassear walked over. "I think you have some real potential. Now you teach us that technique!"