Yaaay! It's Shadow's turn again! This is totally my first official chapter of this fic, and guess what? It's not depressing! It's a new record! Woot!


Moonlight streamed in through the gaps in the walls of the nursery. Stormkit stared idly at the speckles of white light; they glittered on her sister Larkkit's already speckled pelt. Her mother, Otterheart, was sleeping soundly, her breath rising and falling evenly.

Stormkit felt a little lonely; she was the only one that wanted to go out and explore under the light of the almost full moon. Just the thought of exploring on her own made Stormkit tingle with excitement. She could already imagine herself as a full-grown warrior, prowling around the territory whenever she wanted. That is, if Leopardstar agrees, she thought.

Why not go now? The thought made her sit up suddenly. Larkkit at her side let out a sleepy mew of protest, and burrowed deeper into Otterheart's brown fur. Stormkit waited until her sister was still before cautiously looking around. The nursery was empty as usual; Otterheart had told her that Icewing and her kits were the last to use it before she moved in. Otterheart's eyes always clouded with emotion whenever Stormkit asked about that time; it was the same time that Streamclaw had died.

As much as Stormkit wanted to know about her father, she didn't want to upset her mother. Otterheart didn't seem sad all the time, but asking her to tell her daughters about their father made the dark brown queen's eyes cloud with emotion. Otterheart had told them that Streamclaw was a brave warrior and that he had the same color eyes as Larkkit. Stormkit had felt a little jealous until Otterheart had told her that Streamclaw was also a tabby, but not dark silver like herself.

Stormkit stood carefully, stepping over Otterheart's tail. She thought about waking up Larkkit to go too, but she soon disregarded it; Larkkit wouldn't want to go stomping around in the woods, even to explore. She crept stealthily out the nursery entrance, making sure the brambles didn't tug at her pelt.

The camp was deserted; the only motion came from the swaying reeds that surrounded the camp. The moon's light shone down on the open space, clearly outlining Voletooth on watch. Stormkit moved slowly towards the entrance, keeping to the shadows. She stepped on a twig, the sharp snap made Voletooth whip his head around and stare intently in her direction. Stormkit thought for sure that her racing heart would give her away, but held still, hoping that her dark pelt would keep her hidden.

Voletooth finally dropped his fixed stare, and resumed looking towards the camp entrance, his jaws gaped in a yawn. Stormkit felt a little jolt of excitement mixed with fear; she was about to sneak out of camp! She padded quietly through the reeds, shoving them aside with her little shoulders, until she stood near the river.

Stifling a squeal of happiness, she bounced up to the water, gazing at the reflection the moon made on the moving water. She was just about to reach out and paw at the water, when she heard a voice behind her.

"Stormkit! What are you doing?" She nearly leapt out of her fur with shock. Wheeling around, she saw it was Copperpaw.

The light brown tom's amber eyes were sparking with anger. Stormkit tried unsuccessfully to smooth her ruffled fur.

"Hello, Copperpaw," she greeted coolly.

Copperpaw looked more worried than mad as he mewed, "You know kits aren't supposed to leave camp! What's wrong with you?"

"Me? What's wrong with you?" she spat. "Why are you out here?"

He rolled his eyes. "I'm on watch. I saw you sneak out past Voletooth."

Stormkit gasped. She thought that she had been stealthy. She narrowed her eyes at him. "I'm almost an apprentice," she sneered. "I'll be able to leave camp soon."

Copperpaw sighed. "'Soon' isn't 'now', Stormkit." He flicked his tail. "Let's get you back to camp."

Stormkit hesitated, her eyes narrowed mutinously, then relaxed. "Don't tell Otterheart," she begged.

Copperpaw let out a soft laugh. "I might not if you come now."

Stormkit dipped her head wearily and followed the apprentice back through the hole she had made in the side of the camp. He parted the reeds for her with his tail, and she padded through, making sure that Voletooth hadn't heard any of their hushed argument.

Letting the reeds drop behind him, Copperpaw whispered, "Over this way." He flicked his tail, beckoning her. She padded slowly after him through a more tangled part of the camp wall, ending up behind the nursery. "Here." She didn't move.

Copperpaw gave an exasperated sigh. "I won't tell," he hissed.

Stormkit nodded and padded inside. The darkness of the den was a shock to her after the brightness of the moon outside. She turned around, but Copperpaw was already gone.

She padded back to Otterheart's side and sank to her belly. Snuggling into the brown fur of her mother, she was just getting comfortable when she felt Larkkit stir.

"You left," she accused softly.

"Yeah, but not for long. Copperpaw caught me." Stormkit's voice was tight. She resented the light brown apprentice interrupting her exploring.

Larkkit looked sympathetic. "He's just looking out for you. You might have been hurt!"

Stormkit looked away angrily. "Yeah, but I doubt it."

"We're just kits still. When we're apprentices we can go out."

"If Leopardstar lets us."

"Why wouldn't she?" Larkkit asked curiously. "We'd be just like Copperpaw and Nettlepaw. Hunting, and patrolling, and…"

"Hush, kits!" Otterheart cut in with a sleepy mew. "You two need to be asleep."

"Sorry, Otterheart," they whispered together. Larkkit immediately curled up, her white tail curling over her nose, but Stormkit didn't feel like sleeping. She felt like exploring, searching and protecting the territory and the Clan.

Otterheart must have sensed her discomfort, and began to lick Stormkit's ears with long, smooth strokes. Soothed by the constant rhythm, Stormkit sunk into a fitful sleep, her dreams full of shadows and moving water.


"Wake up! Wake up!" A paw jabbed into Stormkit's side. Jerking her head up, she blinked open her eyes.

Larkkit stood in front of her, her brown-speckled pelt gleaming like snow in the sunlight and mischief glittering in her pale blue eyes. "It's about time you got up! It's past sunhigh!"

Still groggy, Stormkit managed a weak mew of agreement, and sunk back down into her nest. "Wake me up if something interesting happens."

The paw poked her again, and she let out an annoyed grumble. "Alright," she snapped. She sat up and glared at her sister. "Are you happy now?"

Larkkit didn't seem bothered by her sister's grumpy attitude. "I just heard from Mistyfoot that we're going to be apprentices today!"

All of Stormkit's previous irritation vanished like dew in the hot sun. "Really?" she asked breathlessly. "Are we really going to be apprentices?"

"Yes!" Larkkit gave a happy spin. "We finally get to go outside the camp!"

"Let's go tell Otterheart!" Stormkit charged across the clearing, nearly knocking Pouncetail off his paws.

"Watch out," the ginger-and-white tom growled.

"We're going to be apprentices today," Larkkit informed him, her voice filled with pride.

Pouncetail's eyes gleamed. "Great! Can't wait to see who your mentor's are!" He continued on his way towards the fresh-kill pile.

"Who do you think our mentors will be," Stormkit asked her sister worriedly.

Larkkit shrugged. "Whoever it is, they'll be great mentors. Every cat in RiverClan could be a good mentor."

Stormkit wished that she could share her sister's confidence. She was secretly worried that she wouldn't become a good warrior. What would happen if she ended up an embarrassment to the Clan? Would Leopardstar kick her out of the Clan?

As she had read Stormkit's mind, Larkkit mewed, "Don't worry. Leopardstar knows what mentors will be best for us."

Her words soothed Stormkit, but only slightly. "Let's go find Otterheart," she suggested, trying to change the subject.

"I've been looking for her, but I don't see her." Larkkit was peering all around the clearing.

"There!" Stormkit bounded across the camp to Otterheart, who had just reappeared through the camp entrance. Her jaws were full of prey, which she promptly dropped in surprise as her daughters ran into her.

"What are you two doing out of the nursery?" she scolded. "Larkkit, I told you to tell your sister."

Larkkit dipped her head, ashamed. "I know," she mewed dejectedly. "But Mistyfoot told me that me and Stormkit are becoming apprentices today!"

Otterheart's green eyes glowed with pride. "Congratulations!"

"Thanks, Otterheart!" Stormkit mewed. "Soon, we'll be the ones bringing the Clan prey."

Otterheart purred. "And I'm sure you two will bring in plenty." She nuzzled both of her kits between the ears, then mewed, "Who wants to bring these mice to the elders? They might tell you a story."

Stormkit puffed out her chest. "We're too old for stories."

Larkkit purred with amusement. "No one's too old for stories!" She nudged Stormkit. "Let's see if they'll tell us about Crookedstar!" She plucked a mouse from the pile at Otterheart's paws. Waving her tail in farewell, she headed to the elders' den leaving Stormkit to mew a rushed good-bye to her mother, then picked up the other mouse and charged after her sister.

Struggling through the long grass that divided the den from the camp, Stormkit saw that Larkkit was already settled in front of Dawnflower.

Larkkit waved her over. "Dawnflower's going to tell us about TigerClan!"

Stormkit looked around the den. Swallowtail was curled up in a ball, her graying flanks rising and falling smoothly. The other elder, Mosspelt, wasn't there. "I suppose I'll leave this for Swallowtail when she wakes up," Stormkit sighed.

She padded back to her sister and Dawnflower. Then, settling down with her silver pelt brushing Larkkit's white and speckled one, she prepared herself for the long tale of Tigerstar's reign over the Clans countless seasons ago.


"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join together for a Clan meeting!" Leopardstar's call rang out over the RiverClan camp. One by one, the Clan assembled in the clearing.

Stormkit could hardly believe it; she was heartbeats away from becoming an apprentice! Her heart raced and her pads tingled at the thought.

Larkkit beside her was quivering. Her sky blue eyes sparkled in the light from the stars. She turned to Stormkit. "This is it!" she squealed happily.

"Yeah, I know!" Stormkit felt just as excited as her sister. She could feel the Clan looking at her, and gave her pelt a few self-conscious licks.

"You're fine. Otterheart smoothed our fur down so much we're as slick as fish!" Larkkit's pelt shone in the moonlight, the dark brown speckles looking like raindrops on her white pelt. Stormkit assumed her pelt was just as sleek; her white chest fur looked like snow.

When all the Clan had settled down, Leopardstar stood up, her spotted pelt looking silver in the pale light. "I, Leopardstar, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon these kits. They would like to become warriors of RiverClan, but must first become apprentices." She turned to Larkkit. "Larkkit, from this day forth, until you have earned your warrior name, you will be known as Larkpaw." She turned to look at her warriors. "Beechfur, you are ready for your first apprentice. You will be mentor to Larkpaw."

Stormkit watched as her sister and her new mentor touched noses. When Leopardstar turned to her, she felt as if her insides had turned to wriggling worms.

"Stormkit, from this day forth, until you have earned your warrior name, you will be known as Stormpaw. Reedwhisker, since Pouncetail became a warrior, you have needed an apprentice. You will be mentor to Stormpaw."

Reedwhisker padded forward and dipped his head to touch noses with his new apprentice. "You're doing fine," he whispered.

Comforted by his words, Stormpaw could only blink in return.

"Larkpaw, Stormpaw! Larkpaw, Stormpaw!" The Clan cheered on their latest apprentices happily, their voices raised as one.

Stormpaw noticed laughingly that Larkpaw was already peppering Beechfur with questions. The light brown tom looked amused as he directed his new apprentice to the apprentices' den.

Reedwhisker nudged her over towards her sister. "Go on," he purred. "Go greet your new denmates."

With a thankful mew in response, Stormpaw charged over to her sister. "Congratulations, Larkpaw!" she mewed happily.

"You too, Stormpaw!" Larkpaw retorted teasingly.

Grasspaw and Petalpaw padded up to them. "It'll be nice to see you two in the den," Grasspaw mewed with a friendly flick of her white tail.

"Now you'll be doing all the hard work instead of us!" Petalpaw purred.

"Not hardly!" Stormpaw protested.

Copperpaw came padding up. "Congratulations, Stormpaw." He narrowed his eyes teasingly. "I suppose I can't stop you from leaving camp anymore, huh?"

"Nope!" Stormpaw mewed triumphantly. "I can leave whenever I want!"

He purred. "It's not that big of a deal, you know." He flicked his tail to Nettlepaw. "Me and Nettlepaw were excited at first, too, but we got over it. Getting moss and hunting will be normal to you soon."

Stormpaw followed his gesture and saw the dark brown apprentice chatting with her sister. Nettlepaw seemed to be showing Larkpaw around the den, getting help from Beetlepaw.

Pricklepaw bounded up. "Stormpaw! Come on, I'll show you where you can sleep." She gave a friendly nod to Copperpaw, then tugged Stormpaw inside.

The den was full of soft moss and feathers, perfect nest materials. Pricklepaw motioned with her pale brown tail. "Let's scrape you a nest. We'll make you one by your sister."

Stormpaw nodded. "Okay!" She turned her head. "Larkkit-- I mean-- Larkpaw, let's put our nests together!"

Larkpaw came dashing over, and in no time they had two soft, fluffy nests. "It's going to be strange not to have Otterheart here," she murmured, settling into her nest.

Stormpaw gave a huge yawn. "Yeah… really strange." She curled up into a tight ball and covered her nose with her dark tabby tail. "Good-night," she mumbled.

"Night!" Larkpaw responded sleepily.

Stormpaw was tired; sleep dragged at her paws, making her normal drive to explore to become subdued. She curled even tighter and drifted off into sleep quicker than she ever had before. I'm an apprentice! was her last thought before she drifted off.


Not too bad, eh? I'm starting to get sleepy, so I'm off to bed. Fwirl's chapter's next! 'Ta!

Shadow