Chapter 2

A moon had passed since the warrior ceremony. In that moon WindClan cats had been seen at the edge of the border, and the Clan was getting antsy. Stormkit knew that if it came to a battle she was willing to defend the nursery. She wanted to protect Whitekit, who had reached her third moon in life already.

Stormkit's ears flattened against the back of her skull when Rainstorm and Sootpelt returned from a hunting patrol. A squirrel was dangling from Sootpelt's jaws, while Rainstorm had caught a sparrow and mouse. Her mouth suddenly began to water when she realized that she had not yet eaten. Stormkit scampered forward and picked up a mouse from the fresh-kill pile, one that was left over from last night.

"Hey Stormkit, can you give this to Frostfur?" Sootpelt suddenly gave Stormkit the squirrel he had caught. "She and the other elders haven't eaten yet, and I'm sure the apprentices haven't fed her."

Stormkit gave him a nod and quickly garbled up the mouse. When she was finished she picked up the squirrel, which was almost as big as she was, and dragged it across the clearing. She was surprised to see Frostfur sitting outside the elders' den, quietly grooming her unkempt fur. Dappletail and Speckletail were busy chatting about what had happened at the Gathering the previous day.

When Stormkit gave Frostfur the squirrel, she took it gratefully. "Thank you Stormkit," she purred. "It's not everyday that a kit brings me fresh-kill."

"What was it like at the Gathering?" she asked after shrugging off Frostfur's compliment.

"Well, Blackstar was as aggressive as ever," Dappletail meowed. "Tallstar was acting very strange…I think he's been having trouble with some of his warriors. And Leopardstar was just flat-out impatient with everyone."

"Leopardstar was just trying to figure out which sides she should take," Goldenflower pointed out. "She has always taken advantage of the situation…just like Crookedstar."

Growing tired of their conversation, Stormkit scampered away and bounded over to the nursery. Squirrelkit and Leafkit were arguing as usual. Stormkit could tell that Squirrelkit was trying to convince Leafkit to change her mind. Leafkit was firm in becoming Cinderpelt's apprentice.

"Becoming a medicine cat is just so boring," Squirrelkit moaned. "All you do is gather herbs, look for signs from StarClan and listen to warriors complain."

"And you get to save lives," Leafkit pointed out. "The role of a medicine cat is important, and I can't think of anything better."

"What about leading the Clan?" Stormkit asked.

Both kits looked at her in surprise, but it was Brambleclaw who answered for them. The dark brown tabby had been watching them and approached warily.

"Leading the Clan is a high position," he meowed. "But you'd have to make many sacrifices to get there."

"We're going to be apprentices today," Stormkit pointed out. "Do you think Firestar knows who our mentors are?"

Brambleclaw's expression was filled with amusement as he swatted her ears playfully.

"I'm sure he already knows," he replied.

"Let all cats old enough gather around the Highrock for a Clan meeting!" Stormkit's heart nearly skipped a beat when Firestar's greeting call sounded.

Brambleclaw mewed his goodbye and left them to join Ashfur and Sootpelt near the gorse tunnel. Stormkit was stopped from bounding forward when Sandstorm grabbed her by the scruff. She struggled for a bit until she felt her mother's tongue rasp over her fur.

Stormkit squealed in annoyance until Sandstorm was finished with her. Once she felt her pelt was cleaned she waited for Squirrelkit and Leafkit to join her.

"By naming apprentices we show that our Clan will remain strong," Firestar began. "Come forward you three." He waved his tail at the three of them, and at once they bounded forward. "Squirrelkit, until you have received your warrior name you will be known as Squirrelpaw. Dustpelt, you are ready for an apprentice. You have trained Ashfur into a fine warrior, and I expect you to continue this training with Squirrelpaw."

Dustpelt looked pleased with Firestar's choice. The dark brown tabby stepped forward and touched noses with her. Squirrelpaw ducked her head in embarrassment as she joined the crowd of warriors. Spiderpaw and Shrewpaw looked at her skeptically.

"Leafkit, you have chosen a special path that not many dare to tread. Cinderpelt, are you ready for an apprentice?" When Firestar looked at the dark gray she-cat, Cinderpelt nodded in agreement. "Then I expect you to pass on what you have learned from Yellowfang to Leafpaw."

The two touched noses, and Stormkit felt happy for her sister. Leafpaw had wanted to become Cinderpelt's apprentice, and now she had the chance.

"Stormkit, until you have received your warrior name you will be known as Stormpaw. Brackenfur, you are ready for your first apprentice. You have already shown great promise, and I expect you to pass on what you have learned to Stormpaw."

Pride surged through Stormpaw as she touched noses with Brackenfur. The golden brown tabby looked pleased with Firestar's decision as well. She felt a rush of happiness rush through her when the ceremony came to an end.

"Why don't you find a nest in the apprentices den," Brackenfur suggested when she was alone with her new mentor. "After that we can explore the territory."

Stormpaw gave a nod of approval before dashing off to the apprentice's den. Spiderpaw and Shrewpaw were already their, chattering about what had happened. She spotted Squirrelpaw getting ready to leave with Dustpelt close behind at the gorse tunnel's entrance.

"Hey Stormpaw," Spiderpaw mewed when she poked her nose through the den's entrance. There were plenty of empty spaces, and she found one that was further away from Spiderpaw and Shrewpaw.

"Do you like her or something?" Shrewpaw asked with a blink of his eyes. Spiderpaw's eyes widened at his sudden question and he shook his head.

Stormpaw's ears flattened as she picked a nest in the corner of the den, away from an openings where rain would seep through. Once she was finished building the nest she left the den. She was an apprentice now. The first step in her life had been taken, and she was about to take a bigger one.