Riverfang waited attentively, watching as Creekkit, Hopkit, and Snakekit were groomed by their mother, and Riverfang's daughter, Titaniumwind, knowing that their ceremony was about to start. Earlier, Ripplestar had told Riverfang that one of them would be her fifth apprentice, and she kneaded her paws on the ground restlessly. Ripplestar always had been a secretive but funny littermate. He jumped up onto the Clan Log, and yowled.

"All cats who are old enough to swim gather beneath the Clan Log for a Clan meeting!" Riverfang's heart quickened. Snakekit was looking proud, Creekkit was gazing excitedly around at all the cats gathered, and Hopkit couldn't stop himself from bouncing up and down in excitement. Jadebelly wove around his kits, giving them a lick before settling down next to Titaniumwind, his mate.

"It is time we started training new warriors. Creekkit, Hopkit, and Snakekit have reached six moons, so it is time they became apprentices. Creekkit, Your new name will be Creekpaw, and your mentor will be Riverfang." Ripplestar meowed. Riverfang wove through the crowd towards Creekpaw. He looked up at her with admiration in his eyes as they touched noses.

"Snakekit, from now on your name will be Snakepaw, and your mentor will be Dogwhisker." Dogwhisker padded proudly up to his first apprentice and they touched noses.

"And Hopkit, your name will be Hoppaw, and your mentor will be Fluffyfeet." Surprised gasps rose from the clearing.

Fluffyfeet's mother and father had died in the same badger fight that had injured Scarleg and Fluffyfeet couldn't think of anything else, besides the fact that her parents were gone. She soon recovered from the grief, and when her littermate Clawpaw got caught in a plant underwater and drowned, she recovered from that too. When her mate, Blizzardberry died from the greencough disaster that had struck the Clan, all she had was a swollen belly full of kits. When she gave birth, the greencough was still going around. Three of her kits caught it and died. Her last kit, Brackenkit, died later, because a hawk picked him up, and flew away. Since then, she had been extremely depressed and timid.

Riverfang glanced around at her clanmates expressions, as Fluffyfeet padded up to Hoppaw and touched his nose. Fluffyfeet was looking determined but sadness edged her gaze.

"Creekpaw! Snakepaw! Hoppaw!" The clan chanted. Riverfang began to call for patrols.

"I have one more announcement." Riverfang pricked her ears.

"Freezepaw and Blazingpaw are ready to become warriors." Riverfang gasped. Her kits were becoming warriors! Riverfang wove around them.

"I knew you would make it!" She meowed. Her mate, Finchfrost, congratulated them. She licked Freezepaw's ears, and Finchfrost straightened Blazingpaw's fur.

"I, Ripplestar, leader of LakeClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down at these two apprentices. they have trained hard to learn the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn. Blazingpaw and Freezepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend this clan, even at the cost of your life?" Blazingpaw's eyes shone as he replied,

"I do."

"I do." Freezepaw meowed strongly.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Freezepaw, from this moment on you will be known as Freezeflame. StarClan honors your courage and bravery, and we welcome you as a full warrior of LakeClan." Ripplestar placed his head on hers, and she licked his shoulder.

"Blazingpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Blazingsnow. StarClan honors your strength and diligence, and we welcome you as a full warrior of LakeClan." Ripplestar placed his head on his, and Blazingsnow licked his shoulder.

"Freezeflame! Blazingsnow!" The clan chanted. As the clan broke apart, Riverfang rushed over to her kits. Pride glowed in her heart as she licked their ears.

"Freezeflame!" Thistlecloud raced over to the silver she-cat and pressed his muzzle to hers.

"A warrior! Finally!" He exclaimed. Freezeflame twined her tail with his. Already has a mate. Riverfang thought. There will be new kits in the Clan soon.

Golden fur flashed at the edge of her gaze. Lionflight and Dogwhisker were leading Volepaw and Snakepaw out of camp. They splashed into the lake and swam toward the gathering island. Riverfang shrugged. Dogwhisker and Snakepaw were probably going with Lionflight and Volepaw to see the territory. She turned back to grab a carp from the fresh-kill pile.