As soon as her mother had resumed chatting with the other queens, Novakit padded over to Sleetkit. Passing her, the older kitten sneered at the former.
Sleetkit smiled sweetly. Maybe my goodness will reform her.
The aforementioned kit gingerly sat down beside her, wincing as her fur brushed Sleetkit's. Sleetkit's smile widened. It's not her fault she's not as amazing and perfect as me.
Novakit seemed to sense this thought and ground a pawful of gritty slush into her nemesis' face. There was a pattering of paws and a tomkit with creamy fur skidded to a halt beside them.
"...Novakit..." He panted, sides heaving. "Jinglestar is gonna perform our 'paws ceremony!"
Novakit grinned, this time apparently genuine. "Awesome! C'mon, let's go inform Yarrowkit!"
Sleetkit watched the siblings run off to tell their brother. I knew it would work. She's already more positive.
"Let all cats gather beneath the Ivystones for an important Clan meeting!"
The silver protagonist shifted so that she could hear the MoonClan leader speak. Technically kits weren't allowed to attend Clan meetings, but she was an exception because of her awesomeness.
"Novakit, Minkkit, and Yarrowkit have all reached their sixth moon and are ready to become apprentices."
Minkkit gazed up at Jinglestar with undisguised awe and Sleetkit felt envy warm her blood. Oh no! Novakit tainted me!
"Novakit, from this day forth until you have received your warrior name, you shall be known as Novapaw. Zebrastripe, you have courage and determination and I expect you to pass these qualities onto your new apprentice."
Sleetkit felt a bristly pelt brush her's. Black fur flashed in the corner of her eye.
"I don't know why Jinglestar isn't giving you your ceremony right now." A silky voice meowed. Sleetkit spun to face the speaker.
Poisonpaw gazed down at the kit through dark green eyes. "Since you're so amazing, you deserve it."
The silver kit purred with delight. She loved to have cats recognize how awesome she was.
"...Yarrowpaw. Angelheart, as my loyal deputy, you will mentor Yarrowpaw..."
Yarrowpaw lapped roughly at his dark ginger fur before awkwardly touching noses with Angelheart. The already named apprentices sat off to the side with their mentors and cheered. Sleetkit cheered too because she was so nice and not in the least jealous of them becoming 'paws earlier.
"Yarrowpaw! Novapaw! Minkpaw! Yarrowpaw! Novapaw! Minkpaw!"
When the Clan finished calling out their names, Sleetkit padded back to the nursery and ducked inside. She could feel Floodkit's angry gaze burning into her pelt but she paid it no heed. He's just a big meanie anyway.
With those reassuring thoughts swirling around in her mind, the kit curled up to nap.
