As the sun set, casting shadows over the clearing, the cats of ThunderClan gathered around the Highledge to witness the naming ceremony. A murmur of disagreement washed through the crowd. Near the back, a cat with a dark-colored pelt was muttering to the elders. "StarClan, two more kittypets?! Just what this clan needs…."
He was interrupted by Squirrelflight, Firestar's daughter. She had the same flaming orange pelt and sparkling green eyes as her father. "Dustpelt, you stupid furball!! Have you forgotten that my father was once a kittypet?! And look at what he is now—leader of this clan!" Dustpelt stared at her coldly. Unaware, she continued, "Kittypets are no worse than any clanborn cat, and if you---"
"Quiet, you two!" Leafpool, Squirrelflight's sister, whispered. Her tail flicked towards the Highledge, where Firestar was standing, waiting. Squirrelflight and Duspelt immediately fell silent, still glaring at each other.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here for a clan meeting!" he yowled. Instantly, the whispers died away and all cats raised their heads towards their leader. Even the kits stopped tussling near the nursery entrance. "Cats of ThunderClan, we gather here to hold the naming ceremony for these two cats." Firestar nodded to Kisa and Kyo, standing nervously at the front of the crowd. Cloudtail and Brambleclaw flanked them protectively on each side.
"Let the naming ceremony begin."
Kisa shifted her paws anxiously. She looked up at the Highledge, towering over her, and shut her eyes, trying to red of her pessimistic thoughts. 'Why am I shaking? There's nothing to be afraid of! Kyo's with me…and Cloudtail, too!' She cast an affectionate glance towards the white warrior, who gave her a comforting lick and reassuring gaze. "Don't worry," he whispered. "Firestar'll give you a good name, and I'm sure he's picked out the best mentor for you. Hey, maybe it'll be me!!" he added hopefully.
Kisa was filled with amusement. She wouldn't mind having him as her mentor. She didn't have any experience in training at the dojo or anything. Kyo, on the other hand, probably didn't want ANY cat to train him. Kisa knew he had trained in the mountains, but would that type of training be useful in a forest full of cats?...
Kyo stood ridged and cast a scornful glance up at Firestar. 'Who does he think he is? Making me learn from some stupid cat…I'll show him on my first day of training! That bastard…' He looked sideways at Brambleclaw, who was standing just as stiffly as he was. 'Why isn't he up where Firestar is if he's deputy?' Kyo felt Brambleclaw was thinking the same thing, and thought he saw a flash of resentment in the tabby cat's amber eyes.
'It's just my imagination…'
Firestar took a look at the cats of ThunderClan waiting expectantly. Some were casting wary glances towards Kyo and Kisa. 'Okay, Graystipe, StarClan, Cindterpelt…Here goes nothing…'
"Kisa!" Firestar called. She slowly lifted her head; he nodded for her to come up. Kisa carefully inched her way up the Highledge, worry and nervousness reflected in her eyes. When she reached Firestar, her gaze instantly fell to the stare at the stone surface, too afraid to look at the leader. Firestar gently lifted her head with his tail, giving her a comforting look.
"Kisa, from this day forth, until you receive your warrior name, you shall be known as…Tigerpaw." At that, the Clan cats stifled shocked gasps. Firestar kew what they were thinking. Tigerpaw…it gave them the idea that this new cat was some sort of reincarnation of the feared, former ShadowClan leader and ThunderClan deputy. Firestar had chosen her name carefully. 'It suits her perfectly. She DOES look like him. And that's what worries me…'
Slowly, the cats started chanting "Tigerpaw, Tigerpaw!." But they said it hesitantly, Firestar noticed. He glanced at Tigerpaw to see if she had noticed, but she gave no sign that she did. Instead, she looked dazed, but her gaze followed his every move as he prepared himself to appoint her mentor.
This had been a difficult choice. Brackenfur and Ashfur were his first choices, but they already had apprentices. Squirrelflight seemed too fiery a mentor for Tigerpaw; Cloudtail was too close to her already—they would've spent her training time fooling around. That left one cat, apprentice-less but ready to mentor one. Firestar could feel that this was a bad choice that he was making; that this cat could lead Tigerpaw closer to Tigerstar.
"Brambleclaw! You will be Tigerpaw's mentor." Firestar announced. The tabby warrior's eyes shot open; he stood frozen, stunned for a moment. He then padded slowly towards Tigerpaw, the cat that looked so much like him and his father. They touched noses.
"Brambleclaw, you are a skilled warrior, courageous, and willing to die for your clan. May you pass on all you have learned to Tigerpaw."
Brambleclaw firmly nodded. "I will, Firestar." Together, Brambleclaw and Tigerpaw strode off the Highledge and made their way to the back of the crowd. Some cats, Firestar noticed, congratulated Kisa, calling her by her new name. Others coldly glared at her, mistrust burning in their eyes. Clodtail bounded towards the two cats, eager to talk to them, leaving Kyo standing at the foot of the Highledge. Anticipation now gleamed in his eyes. He was eager to get a new name and mentor and prove himself a good fighter.
"Kyo!" Firestar called. Kyo instantly padded up to the Highledge, his head held high, pride in his eyes. He stopped inches away from the leader, staring at him intensely, almost challengingly.
Firestar stared back, frowning in disapproval at Kyo's prideful manner. "Kyo, from this day forth, until you have received your warrior name, you shall be known as Sunpaw."
Kyo took a moment to register that, while the other cats chanted, "Sunpaw! Sunpaw!" Firestar realized they sounded less hesitant this time, proabbaly because Kyo doesn't resemble an enemy like Tigerstar. 'He looks like me…' Firestar thought. True enough, the setting sun's rays seemed to be absorbed by Kyo's pelt, making him glow like a falem next to Firestar. Hence, his apprentice name Sunpaw.
Sunpaw looked expectantly at Firestar, waiting to see who his mentor would be. 'He's probably thinking he's too good for any of this Clan's warriors…' Firestar thought scornfully. 'Well, is he going to be in for a surprise.'
"Sunpaw," he said, "You will need a mentor who will be able to efficiently teach you the ways of this Clan—a skilled warrior and someone who will be able to put up with your nasty temper," Firestar teasingly remarked. Amused to see a spark of indignation in Sunpaw's eyes, he went on. "Sunpaw, until you are ready to become a warrior of ThunderClan, your mentor will be….me."
A/N: Thanks to anyone who's actually reading my pathetic excuse of a fanfic.
Million thanks to Tayk for the reviews and Sunpaw's name.