First, I want to apologize for updating so late. We just finished up with the trimester finals in school, so I was too busy trying to do last-minute studying. And thanks for the reviews; I was feeling a bit down, and was thinking of deleting this story. Hopefully it doestn't turn out that way.

Chapter Six

"Moonkit, Moonkit, get up now or you'll miss your own apprentice ceremony," Snowkit was kneading her paws excitedly. "Today is the day that you'll be named apprentice."

She jumped to her paws and was full of energy now. Moonkit hadn't slept at all the night, so before the big day and she had decided to take a short nap. She would be an apprentice this very day. She quickly looked at the sky and knew that it would be soon now that the sun was starting to sink.

Moonkit quickly followed Snowkit and padded beside her, keeping up her pace. In a jolt, she realized that the next gathering would be in two more nights, right after both of them become apprentices. She squeaked at the thought of being chosen to go to her first gathering with Snowkit.

Snowkit, who was still right beside her, looked at her with amused eyes. "Silverstar wanted me to tell you that. Greenpool said that we would be going to Moonstone tomorrow once we restock a few herbs." Then she added with a playful flick of her tail on Moonkit's ear, "I wouldn't miss your ceremony for all the plump mice in the whole forest."

They padded towards an open spot to lay down. Everything was quiet and the fresh-kill pile was fairly high. Moonkit stopped when she noticed both of their stomachs grumbling with hunger. She quickly told Snowkit that she would be back to pick a big mouse for the both of them to share and with that, she padded towards the pile. She decided that she would do start her punishment until later to care for the elders; right after she and Snowkit gets a bite to eat first.

She was half-way toward the pile but then she froze wide-eyed as a horrific yowl split the air. The queens and elders ran out of their dens, their eyes soon filled with fear and panic. Silverstar ran out into the clearing just as others had.

At the instant the yowl died down, Sootpaw sprang out from the gorse tunnel, his eyes terrified and his fur tattered and clawed. His scent was covered in an overwhelming stench. Blood!


Sorry to leave it at a cliffy part there, but I needed to set the atmosphere in a suspence kind of way. Don't worry, I made the next chapter in advance, and I'll put it up now. Review please!