They crept across the cave to the entrance tunnel that led to the training cave. Pantherkit paused to see if any cat had spotted them and saw Sunkit padding towards them from the drinking pool. "Where are you going?" He called from across the cave.

"Hush!" Pantherkit hissed. "Do you want to get us caught?"

He ducked his head and hurried over to them. "But where are you going?"

Starkit's eyes gleamed as she announced that they were visiting the training cave.

All Sunkit said was "Why?"

"We're bored!"

"But what if we get caught?"

"Look!" Pantherkit broke in, "I don't know about you, but I'm going." And with that she turned and started walking again.

"But it's against the warrior code." Sunkit complained, catching up.

"We're not warriors yet." Pantherkit stated simply as she entered the tunnel, but once the darkness closed around her, she began to have second thoughts there was no light here, and there never had been. Only the sound of her denmates kept her going. She couldn't let them think she was scared. Just as she thought they were going to be stuck in the tunnel forever, the darkness began to thin. Eager to be out of that tunnel, she charged ahead, her denmates struggling to keep up. She threw herself out of the tunnel with a yowl of joy, which turned to shock as her paws hit water. She scrabbled backwards to the wall and took a look at the cave. There was water everywhere! The whole floor was covered with it! But as Pantherkit looked around, she noticed the ledges. They were all over the cave, and they were big enough to stand on. She walked over to one, and heard Moonkit call out to her. "Look!" She replied, "We can climb onto these." From her higher viewpoint, she could see that the ledges weren't that far apart, and she could jump from one to another without her paws ever touching the floor. She turned towards the others, and with a twinkle in her eye, touched Sunkit on the shoulder. "TAG!" She cried as she leapt onto the next ledge. Before long, all four kits were running up and down the ledges, squealing at the top of their lungs.

"So this is where you are!" All four kits froze at the sound of the voice coming from the tunnel entrance. The deep voice was masculine and very familiar, and Pantherkit knew they were in trouble.

"Bramblestar!" Starkit squeaked. He twitched his ear at the sound, but didn't reply. He just turned back into the tunnel, signaling with his tail that they should follow.

As Pantherkit followed in the back, she felt embarrassment sweep through her from ears to tail tip. Of all cats to catch her, it had to be the clan leader. Just then, she began to notice that it was getting lighter. Bramblestar stopped just short of the entrance. "Go ahead." He murmured to the littermates, "I need to speak to Pantherkit alone." They turned and left while Bramblestar sat and motioned for Pantherkit to join him. "Do you know how much grief you've caused your mother today?" He scolded as she hung her head. "The whole camp has been looking for you. You do realize that if you hadn't run off, you would be out exploring the territory with Lionpaw and Tigerpaw right now?" He asked slyly.

"Paw?" She squeaked.

"Yes, paw. While you were running around like a kit, you missed your apprentice ceremony."

"Are you going to keep me from being an apprentice?"

"No, but you will not leave the cave for an entire moon. You will stay inside and tend to the elders. Whatever they tell you to do, you do it, and you will miss your first two gatherings." She dipped her head to Bramblestar. She knew she had earned her punishment. Bramblestar rose and she followed him out into the main cave. He stopped next to the fresh kill pile. "Thistlefang!" Pantherkit flicked her ear in embarrassment as she spotted her father next to the waterfall. When he saw Pantherkit next to Bramblestar, he turned and headed in their direction.

"I see one of our runaways has been found." Pantherkit cringed at the anger in his voice. Bramblestar had obviously heard it too, because he flicked his tail between the two of them. He only left it there for a second, but the meaning was clear 'I'll deal with her punishment.' Pantherkit was grateful in that moment that it was Bramblestar who had found her and not Thistlefang. She knew her father would not have hesitated to rake his claws over her ear for her little stunt. She could see it in his eyes. She also knew from experience that he was quick to anger and not one to curb his blows.

"The other three have already joined their mother in the nursery." Bramblestar told him, and turning to Pantherkit, he said "You are to sit here and guard the fresh-kill pile until I call you for the meeting. You are not to move from this spot, and you are not allowed to talk or take any prey." Pantherkit dipped her head and sat down. Bramblestar nodded to her and turned to Thistlefang. "Go out and find the two patrols that have been sent out to find her. Tell them that the kits have been found and let them know that Pantherkit is not to be spoken to." With that he turned and went to his den.

With Bramblestar gone, Thistlefang turned on her with rage blazing in his eyes. "Do you know how worried your mother was?" he spat "When everyone realized you were gone, she flew out of the cave at top speed, calling your name. Bramblestar had to send out a patrol to catch up to her!" Pantherkit flattened her ears and bowed her head to her father. She saw his paws as he stepped up next to her and leaned down to whisper in her ear, "I will tell you this. If you ever make Moonflower that upset again, I will claw you." And with that, he turned and stalked to the waterfall, where the patrol was waiting for him. He spoke to them briefly and disappeared. Pantherkit watched him go and wondered how he could be so different from his brother. Bramblestar was always so calm and understanding, but Thistlefang, he was not afraid to claw a clanmate if he got mad enough. She had even heard stories of him fighting with his denmates as an apprentice. She shook her head. She would not let herself think about that! She would just think about the ceremony at sundown. She gazed at the waterfall and tried to guess who her mentor would be.