A/N: w00t! Two uploads in one day! I'm getting good at this...

Oh, and I'm torn between Sweetflower, Sweetthistle, and Sweetcloud. Tell me what you think! XD

Thanks to Jokegirl, Chene, and Akari Miniwara .Starflight. for review!

CHAPTER 4: Apprentices! Finally…

"Tigerkit, from this moment, you will be known as Tigerpaw," Sunstar yowled. "Bluefur," Sunstar continued, "you are young, but you have known much loss—" he was speaking of Bluefur's mother, who was killed during a raid of WindClan when Bluefur was an apprentice, and Snowfur—"but that has made you a fantastic warrior. I expect you to pass down all the skills Stonepelt and I have taught you to Tigerpaw."

"Of course," Bluefur mewed, and she bent towards Tigerpaw. He stretched up and touched his nose to his mother's friend's nose. She led him over to the other warriors, and he watched his sisters' ceremonies.

"Leopardfoot, you too have known loss, and I can't think of anyone better to mentor Nightpaw." His mother and sister touched noses and joined him and Bluefur.

"Thrushpelt, you have never had an apprentice, and Adderfang taught you well. Mistpaw will be your apprentice." Mistpaw and Thrushpelt touched noses and joined Tigerpaw, Nightpaw, and their new mentors.

"Before you go about your business," Sunstar continued, "there is another ceremony to perform. Poppydawn wishes to retire and go to the elders' den." He turned to the elderly warrior. "You have been a good warrior, Poppydawn, and I'm sure Stonepelt, Larkwing, Weedwhisker, and Mumblefoot will welcome you into their den." He touched his tail to her shoulder. "I hope you have a wonderful rest of your life." Poppydawn's daughters, Rosetail and Sweetcloud, cheered the loudest.

"Why're they happy their mom's going to the elders' den?" Tigerpaw asked Bluefur.

His mentor looked at him, purring, "She's been lagging behind on the patrols for a while now. She deserves a break."

"Oh…well, I'll take care of her better than any apprentice!" Tigerpaw vowed.

Fuzzypelt overheard him and chuckled, "You're one of three apprentices, both of whom are your littermates; no duh you'll be better than them!"

Robinwing nudged him, meowing, "You're being genderist…"

"No, I'm not!" Fuzzypelt protested as he and his mate padded out of the camp to hunt.

Frostkit and Brindlekit scampered over to the three new apprentices, Redkit, Spottedkit, and Willowkit tottering after them. "Will you show us some battle moves?" Frostkit asked.

Tigerpaw purred, and answered, "As soon as we learn some!" He licked the top of her head.

"Will you patrol with Lionheart and Goldenflower?" Brindlekit asked, naming the young warriors.

"I hope so!" Nightpaw meowed, blue eyes bright.

Whitekit clambered up onto Tigerpaw. "I can't wait to join you!" he purred, yellow eyes excited.

"Neither can I!" Tigerpaw agreed. "I wonder who your mentor will be?"

"I want Lionheart to be mine!" Frostkit piped up. Mistpaw purred and licked her forehead.

"I'd love to have Sweetcloud as my mentor," Brindlekit mewed. Nightpaw chuckled and flicked Brindlekit's shoulder with her tail.

"I think Patchpelt would be a good mentor," Whitekit meowed, "but I wish Bluefur could be mine. You're so lucky, Tigerpaw!"

Tigerpaw grinned and cuffed him playfully over the ear. "I know," he gloated, teasing.

"Tigerpaw! Mistpaw! Nightpaw!" The three littermates turned at the sound of their names. Thrushpelt had called them, from where he was standing with Bluefur and Leopardfoot at the gorse tunnel. "Let's go!"

"Coming!" they called together. They turned back to their former denmates and said good-bye to all six of them, and then they trotted over to their mentors.

"What're we going to do?" Tigerpaw asked, curious.

"We're going to show you the borders," his mentor replied.

"AWESOME!" Tigerpaw, Nightpaw, and Mistpaw crowed, leaping into the air. Tigerpaw raced out of camp, with Bluefur at his side, and his sisters and their mentors following.