"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Clanrock!" Brightkit felt a bolt of excitement sear through her as she heard Icestar's call. Dashing out of the elder's den with Sunshade and Owlberry, Brightkit bolted to the edge of the clearing where the Clanrock lay. She sat down next to Moontail and Brownkit, and in front of her she could see Houndfang giving her an encouraging smile. She smiled back, inwardly thanking him for all the times he had supported her, and trained her as a kit. It had all led up to this one big moment: her apprentice ceremony.

Brownkit giggled as Moontail gave her one last lick on her pelt.

"That tickles!" she protested, watching as the last of the stragglers approached the Clanrock. Brightkit, however, tried to look dignified and mature as Moontail gave her a few licks, but to Brownkit she just looked silly. As the last cat standing, Firepelt, sat down next to her brother, Whitepatch, Icestar began to speak.

"Cats of ShadowClan, today we are blessed with three new apprentices. Brownkit, come forward…" Icestar trailed off as she realized no one was listening to her. They were all looking at Houndfang, Sunshade, Firepelt, and countless others who had stood up, bristling.

"You can't possibly be making that-that thing an apprentice!" Sunshade snarled, looking at Darkkit like he was a pile of fox-dung that had rolled into camp.

"Oh, so now you're afraid that Darkkit's going to scratch your sorry face for what you did to him as a kit?" Dawnpaw hissed. Several cats nodded approval, but most of the Clan seemed to side with Sunshade.

"Enough!" Icestar yowled. "Sunshade, this is my Clan, and if you don't like how it is run you can leave!" For a moment, it looked like Sunshade would leave, but he sat down slowly, bristling, as the rest of his followers followed suit.

"Brownkit, step forward." Icestar repeated. For a split second she looked into Brownkit's eyes, flinching as a sudden flash of pain burned through Brownkit's face. "From this day forward you shall be known as Brownpaw. Cinderclaw will be your mentor."

Brightkit gazed at Icestar as she spoke. What kind of mentor would she give her? Icestar would be a fool not to give her Houndfang. But, after all, she was going to make Darkkit an apprentice, so maybe she would mentor Brightkit herself.

"Brightkit, come forward." Icestar meowed, as Brightkit approached the Clanrock. "From this day on you shall be known as Brightpaw. Your mentor will be Adderstrike." Brightpaw looked at Adderstrike, stunned that she was only the deputy's apprentice. She had been so sure that she would be apprenticed to Houndfang, the cat who had always been there for her, or at least the leader of ShadowClan. Icestar was a fool, and one day the whole Clan would know it.

"Darkkit, come forward." Icestar mewed, as whispers erupted throughout the clearing. As he stepped towards the Clanrock, he was surprised to see a look of sadness on Creamwhisker's face.

"Darkkit, from this day on you shall be known as Darkpaw. Your mentor will be Houndfang." Darkpaw stepped back, horrified. He realized that Creamwhisker had known who his mentor would be. Anger coursed through his veins. Deaf to the cheers of his Clanmates, he bolted towards the forest, unable to stay in that Clan of traitors any longer.