Chapter 2
" Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather around for a Clan meeting!" a voice sounded from the High Hill. A mew of excitement came from the nursery's entrance, and through the brambles, Whirlkit was madly chasing her own tail while her mother tried to tidy her up.
"It's your big day today!" Snowrose meowed from her nest, where her belly was bulging with the kits she was going to bear.
"I know it's her big day but can't she stop moving?" Tawnypelt mewed in distress, as once again, she did not catch her kit. Suddenly, Rownclaw swooped in and snatched the kit up by the scruff of her neck.
"Listen to your mother, Whirlkit, or I'll postpone your apprentice ceremony!" he mewed sternly. Gasping with outrage, Whirlkit stood still enough for her mother to lick her clean.
"Okay, I think you're ready," her mother mewed through a mouthful of kit fur. Giving her one last lick on her head, Whirlkit followed her father out into the dazzling sunlight. Blackstar stood high on the hill, while the Clan assembled underneath him. Seeing Emberpaw sitting beside his mentor, Toadfoot, she waved her tail in greeting but was too excited to speak.
"Go on, up to that hill," her father encouraged, a proud glint in his eye. Whirlkit stalked off, her tail held high, but when everyone turned to look at her, she felt a bit embarrassed. Finally, she reached the foot of the hill, and Blackstar started his speech.
"This kit has lived with us for six moons, and now it is time for her to become an apprentice. Whirlkit, until you earned your warrior name, you will be known as Whirlpaw. Your mentor will be Flamepelt."
" Whirlpaw! Whirlpaw!" the Clan cheered delightfully. The newly named Whirlpaw looked around with a glimmer of happiness. She was going to be a medicine cat apprentice! The crowd parted and Flamepelt stepped out.
" Flamepelt, you have been a great medicine cat since Littlecloud died, and I hope that you will l pass all you know to your apprentice." Blackstar yowled down the hill.
"Of course, I'll be delighted to," she replied.
Flamepelt looked almost as happy as her apprentice, and bent down to touch noses with her.
"I'll work hard!' Whirlpaw promised.
"I'm sure you will," Flamepelt mewed back to her feisty apprentice.
"Whirlpaw! Flamepelt! Whirlpaw! Flamepelt!" the Clan cheered ecstatically.
I'm an apprentice now! Whirlpaw thought. Blackstar jumped down from the hill, indicating that the meeting was over. Almost at once, the Clan began to crowd between the two cats, cheering and congratulating them. Emberpaw strolled over with a disappointed look on his face.
"Too bad we can't be in the same den."
"yeah, but I bet I can beat you in hunting!" Whirlpaw countered.
"Hmmph!" Emberpaw sniffed, but gave her a lick just the same.
Dashing over, Tawnypelt smothered her kit with proud licks and purred so hard she sounded like a rusty old engine. Whirlpaw ducked away with a mew of protest and her father glanced at her with shining eyes.
"Good luck, Whirlpaw," he mewed.