Cloudkit trotted off to the center of the clearing ,where Highstone was, even though she wasn't old enough to catch her own prey. There Foxstar was standing on Highstone with her deputy, Badgerstripe, seated underneath it.

Cloudkit expected a kittypet who'd been captured stealing prey, but what Foxstar announced first surprised her even more. "I have news from the dawn patrol. But before that, I must conduct an apprentice ceremony. Cloudkit, come forward."

Cloudkit jumped, looking at her mother, who at first, seemed to be as surprised as Cloudkit
was, but recovered enough to give Cloudkit a lick and murmur encouragingly in her ear, "Go on." Out of the corner of her eye, Cloudkit saw her father gazing proudly at her.

Hoping her fur wasn't too dirty, Cloudkit walked until she was standing in front of Highstone and trying to ignore all the pairs of eyes boring into her back. "From this day on, until you earns her warrior name, you shall be known as Cloudpaw. Sagebrook, you will be her mentor."

The young she-cat stepped forward, obviously pleased at being chosen to mentor an apprentice. "I trust that you will pass on all your skills to this apprentice."

"Cloudpaw! Cloudpaw! Cloudpaw! Cloudpaw! "

Sagebrook and Cloudpaw awkwardly touched noses, nearly missing each other completely. I hope no one noticed that!, she thought. Her pelt prickled with embarrassment. Yet she was full of pride that she had gained a new status in Clan. She ran towards the cluster of apprentices, longing to talk with them, but she knew that Foxstar was not finished with the ceremony.

"Now, we will continue with the dawn patrol's finding. There is a loner in our territory. She is injured and I will allow her a place in the Clan until she heals." A beautiful, soft gray, she-cat limped out from the entrance of the camp, with Gingerpelt, Fireclan's medicine cat, anxiously watching her.
"M-my name is Dove," she stuttered. At first her introduction was met by silence. The camp was as quiet as a cat stalking a mouse, until Vineshade spoke.

"Should we really be keeping a loner in Fireclan?" he asked. "She might be trying to find out our secrets to attack us."

"Vineshade, please," Frostnose begged. "Why would she do that?"

"What about Bloodclan?" someone asked. Bloodclan had recently made a comeback in the Twolegplace at the edge of Fireclan's territory, but they had been wiped out
"Bloodclan is gone," Foxstar mewed firmly. "And Dove will be staying here until she's better." Despite her firm words, Cloudpaw saw a shadow of doubt in the leader's eyes. Foxstar jumped down from Highstone to signal the announcements were over, and the Clan scattered. Cloudpaw started to go look for her mentor, who had decided to grab a piece of fresh-kill. She was so anxious could leave the hollow for the first time. However, a flicker of movement near the nursery caught her eye. Turning towards it, she saw Hawkkit and Dove, who had been left alone. Hawkkit was taunting Dove, throwing cruel words at her. Dove kept quiet, ignoring the brown tabby's arrogance.

Probably because she's scared she'll be kicked out if she says something. Cloudpaw guessed. But still, Hawkkit has no right to do that! she fumed. Cloudpaw guessed that, if she told someone, Hawkkit would come up with a twisted version of the truth that favored him. She went up to him, across the soft grass and hissed "Quit it," into his ear. Her tail rigid and her ears flat with anger.

"Why should I listen to you? You're a bee-brain, 'cause sounds don't have colors!"
Trying to keep her annoyance at bay, Cloudpaw growled "Because I'm an apprentice."
"Fine," Hawkkit resigned, his reluctancy clear in his voice. Cloudpaw relaxed slightly, then whipped around, resuming her search of her mentor.


Author's Note-I'm sorry for making it so boring. There's more action in the next chapter, I promise