Author's Note: Don't worry - Jayfeather has no idea what cat Graykit was (most likely, the clan cats have no stories of Gray Wing, considering their former tale of the formation of the clans is nowhere near what really happened). He only knows Graykit is a reincarnation of an ancient cat.

A few days later than usual, but my work has stolen more hours of my time, and college ate up the rest of it!

Chapter 4: The Gentlest Apprentice

The day had come. The last three moons had been pretty uneventful, which strange dreams only scarcely entering my sleeping form. As the sun streamed into the den that morning, I rose to my paws, yawning and stretching. Silverkit bounded to her paws instantly, her eyes glowing with excitement, and her tabby fur bushed up. Stonekit, a little less enthusiastic but still bristling with excitement rose as well, and we shared a glance, realizing today was the last day we would be in the nursery.

"I am so proud of all three of you," Cinderheart purred, gently smoothing down our pelts. It wasn't long before the clan awoke, and I knew the time was coming where I would at last be able to stray out of the camp and into the territory. Without breaking the Warrior Code to do so.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the high ledge for a clan meeting!" Bramblestar's strong, confident yowl rang around the clearing. I sprang to my paws with a surge of energy, and followed my littermates out into the clearing.

Many cats were already gathered, and a recently returning patrol dropped their prey off in the pile before joining the crowd. I stood just behind Silverkit, eyes wide, staring up at Bramblestar atop the ledge. One day, would any of my littermates be standing on that ledge? Would I be there, the next leader of ThunderClan? I didn't quite hold much interest in being leader myself. Silverkit seemed more suitable for ambition, but Stonekit had the calm, steady personality that would make a great leader. I didn't really feel I was capable of making the decisions necessary.

"Three of our kits have reached their sixth moon, and it is time for them to become apprentices of ThunderClan," Bramblestar spoke, and beckoned us over with his tail. We approached, waiting just beneath the ledge. "Silverkit, come forward." I watched my sister move forward, his silver pelt gleaming under the sky. "Cloudtail, you are free to take on an apprentice. Firestar was your mentor, and you have trained many great warriors before. I expect Silverpaw to follow in your pawsteps."

The fluffy white warrior approached, just a generation younger than Sandstorm and Graystripe. I suspected it wouldn't be long before Cloudtail went to the elder's den. Perhaps my sister would be his last apprentice. I watched them touch noses, Cloudtail's eyes glowing with pride. I didn't hear his words, but I suspected they were a promise.

"Stonepaw, step forward." It was my brother's turn, and he padded solemnly forward, tail raised. He was the largest of us, with tiny kit muscles bunched under his pelt. My whiskers twitched in amusement, as my brother barely seemed to fit inside his own body. "You have reached your sixth moon, and it is time for you to join the apprentice's. Dovewing, you are ready for your first apprentice. Lionblaze was your mentor, and I expect you to instill his teachings in this young tom."

I saw Lionblaze's eyes burn with delight as his former apprentice padded up to Stonepaw, touching nosing with my brother. As they went off to the side to join Silverpaw and Cloudtail, I knew it was my turn.

"Graypaw." I padded forward, a combination of excitement and shyness warring within me. My belt burned under the eyes of my clan mates, but they were watching with respect and interest, not judgment. I was small for a cat my age, and I didn't quite have the broad build of Stonepaw, or even the tall, lengthy build of Silverpaw. I was thin and lanky, shoulders narrow, my body scrawny. I hardly looked ThunderClan at all. "I will be your mentor, and I promise to train you into a powerful warrior in ThunderClan."

As the clan cheered for me and my siblings, I wondered idly why Bramblestar had chosen to mentor me. Did he only trust he would be able to work me into shape? Or was it something else? The same reasons that he and the medicine cats had always kept an eye on me? I had yet to discover. I touched noses with him when he leaped down, hardly noticing Stonepaw's envious glance.

Why was he envious of me? He was the one who had Dovewing as a mentor, and she was one of the Three.

"We are going to try some battle training," Bramblestar said. We were with Stonepaw and Dovewing, heading to the training ground. We had just explored the territory, and although I was a little tired, I wasn't quite ready to go back to camp. I wasn't sure how battle training sounded to me, especially against my brother, but I'm sure as long as claws remained unsheathed, no one would get hurt.

Apprentices had been training for all the moons since anyone had imagined. If it was too dangerous, no one would do it anymore. Stopping in the hollow, I waited for Bramblestar to show us the moves he wanted us to try. It seemed simple enough, and when we were told to practice, I circled with my brother, nervous and uncertain.

Even with claws sheathed, I could accidentally hurt him, and I didn't want to do that!

Stonepaw leaped at me, his eyes on my paws, and I reared back to cuff at his face. He ducked, and I dropped down as he tackled me, his broad paws around my shoulders. I rolled instinctively, wiggling out of his grip like a snake. I swiped meekly at his face, hardly any strength in the blow. My fur was spiked nervously, and I hardly realized my tail was fluffed up and curled awkwardly around my leg, until Stonepaw grabbed at it like a handle and tried to pull me down. I spun around, rolled, and kicked out on instinct. Stonepaw fell away, sprawling to the ground.

I jolted up and ran over, nervous and uncertain. "Are you okay?" I asked, fur still bristling. I didn't notice Bramblestar and Dovewing sharing a look

Stonepaw simply stood up, looking at me in surprise. "Of course! Your claws were sheathed so it didn't even hurt. You fought well. You shouldn't be so nervous or careful, you won't hurt me," he purred, shaking out his ruffled coat.

I looked down, not quite sure I agreed. Cats could get hurt doing anything, intentional or not.

Later that night, I lay dejectedly by the elder's den, pretending to be asleep as others talked. I could hear Bramblestar talking to Leafpool and Jayfeather. "He doesn't have a fighting bone in him. He was terrified he would hurt his brother, just fighting with his claws sheathed. I'm not sure he'll win any battles. He's more gentle than you, Leafpool," Bramblestar sounded amused, not angry. At least I thought so.

I simply hoped I hadn't disappointed him today, even if I had technically protected myself from my brother. It didn't feel natural to fight with my brother as if he was an enemy, whether practicing or not. It wasn't like play-fighting. I never wanted to fight with my littermates again!