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Excitement

I felt the gentle nudge of a paw, this time careful and to my cheek, where it wouldn't hurt. I blinked open my eyes and saw the concerned amber eyes of the medicine cat, Leafpool. She leaned forward and gently licked my ear, and meowed, "Foxkit and Icekit are about to have their apprentice ceremonies. I wanted to know if you're going to attend."

Scrambling to my paws a bit faster than I should have, I nodded. "Of course I'll attend." I hid my disappointment that I obviously had not been chosen for a mentor, or Firestar would have told me at least by this morning. I followed the light tabby she-cat from her den and sat at the periphery of the gathering of cats.

I cast a glance about the crowd and almost immediately my eyes came in contact with Ashfur's. His were deep and sparkling with concern as they searched mine. I smiled apologetically at him, but he only shook his head. I wondered if he was hurt that I had lied to him, or if he was just worried.

"Cats of ThunderClan!" I looked up at the Highledge and saw Firestar standing there. Age had not taken away from his glory. He still gleamed like fire in the setting sunlight. (I had slept all day!) "I gather you here for one of my favorite duties, and one of the days that I'm sure Foxkit and Icekit will be telling their own grandkits about for seasons." He smiled affectionately down at the two kits. The one auburn and the other snow-white both had shining clean pelts, courtesy of their mother, most likely. "And as for their mentors, this is a day to remember as well."

I started. I had no idea who their mentors were.

Firestar continued, "Icekit, from this moment on, you will be known as Icepaw." His eyes scanned the crowd as Icepaw straightened, her blue eyes sparkling. "Sorreltail. I think you are ready for your first apprentice. Sandstorm passed on all her vigor and bravery to you, and I hope you do the same for Icepaw."

Sorreltail bounded forward. I noticed that her tortoiseshell-and-white pelt was as sleek as the kits'; she'd known she was going to be a mentor long enough to clean herself up. She touched Icepaw's nose with her own and then drew the apprentice to the edge of camp, where they began conversing excitedly.

"Foxkit," called Firestar, "from this moment on you will be Foxpaw." A slow smile spread across his face and he meowed one word: "Millie."

A none-too-quiet ripple of astonishment spread through the Clan, but I couldn't help but smiling along with Firestar, Millie, and Graystripe. Finally Millie was going to prove herself, and an apprentice might just be the best way to do it.

"You were once a kittypet," Firestar went on, "but then again, so was I. And I mentored Brambleclaw and Cloudtail, and I helped with Brackenfur's training, and no cat would dare say they are anything less than extraordinary. I know that you will do your best with Foxpaw's training."

Millie strode, dignified, toward her apprentice and she and the russet tomcat touched noses. I saw Foxpaw's eyes shining, and I guessed he was overjoyed that he had a special mentor.

And then I saw past them, where Birchfall gazed at me with intense amber eyes when by all rights he should be watching his youngest siblings' apprentice ceremony. Quickly I looked away, staring back up at Firestar, unnerved to the bone.

"I would also like to announce some very good news," he yowled. "And that is that Daisy is now with kit."

Daisy ducked her head into her long creamy chest fur, a smile splitting her face. Beside her, Spiderleg leaned into her side and licked her ear.

"Leafpool tells me they are due in about two and a quarter moons," Firestar announced. "The Clan is overjoyed to hear your news, Daisy. And now, I'll go ahead and assign patrols while I'm up here." He looked around. "Birchfall, Ashfur, Whitewing, Sorreltail, and Icepaw, if you would do border patrol, please. For a hunting patrol, Millie, Foxpaw, Brightheart, Ferncloud, and Mouseclaw." Then he paused while the cats dispersed and meowed, "Whitewing?" questioningly.

I knew what he meant - Leafpool had informed him of my condition. I wasn't about to miss a chance to do border patrol, my favorite duty next to night guarding - especially if Ashfur was there - so I just nodded at him and he blinked placidly in acceptance. I padded quickly to Ashfur and we joined Birchfall, Sorreltail, and Icepaw at the slope up out of camp.

Ashfur walked closely by my side as our patrol padded in the forest, but he remained coldly silent. Not to mention I could feel Birchfall's hot gaze on my back.

"So, which border are we going to?" Icepaw chirped excitedly, and Sorreltail let out a low purr. She was probably remembering how closely she resembled Icepaw when she was but an apprentice.

"ShadowClan, first," Ashfur, the oldest member of the patrol and therefore the leader, meowed over his shoulder to them.

"Ooh!" Icepaw shivered visibly, but a huge grin cracked her face. She was obviously looking forward to some action at the ShadowClan boundary.

We would find, just a little while later, that she was going to get her wish.