"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting."

Runningpaw's ears perked at the sound of the leader's voice. He dropped the mouse at the feet of a ginger tabby and rushed off, heading towards the Highrock. He saw two kits waiting under the Highrock, nervously kneading their paws.

Mudpelt pulled Irispetal out of the warrior's den. Both of them had an excited look on their face- they must have been the ones to mentor the new apprentices.

The rest of the warriors were gathering under the Highrock. The two kits looked proudly at Stripewhisker, who must have been their mother. She too looked proud of her kits.

Ashstar looked down at the kits and made sure that most of the Clan were gathered under the Highrock. She cleared her throat and started, her chest puffed with pride. "Cats of ThunderClan, we gather here to make two kits apprentices." She looked down at a black and white tabby.

"Longkit, you are now Longpaw. Irispetal, you are ready for an apprentice, and you shall be Longpaw's mentor. May you pass on all that you have learned from Phantomheart onto this apprentice."

The beautiful tawny she-cat smiled at her new apprentice and bent her head to touch noses with Longpaw.

The black and white tabby looked embarrassed to have a she-cat mentor, but was proud that he was an apprentice, and gladly touched noses with Irispetal.

Ashstar looked at a beautiful tabby and white she-cat. "Deerkit, you are now Deerpaw. Mudpelt is ready for another apprentice, and shall be mentor to Deerpaw."

Mudpelt strode up to the Highrock with pure pride on his face. But it wasn't for his strong, beautiful apprentice- it was most likely because he was a mentor now and had a better chance of being named deputy.

Runningpaw was disgusted as he saw the hungry expression in his amber eyes as the dark brown warrior touched noses with Deerpaw. "You are doing wonderfully," He mewed. Deerpaw nodded, giving her new mentor a grateful smile.

Runningpaw realized that when these two would join the apprentice's den, that would make seven apprentices in the small den at once. But that was great news- more warriors for the striving Clan.

"Cinderhope will now order the sundown patrol." Ashstar nodded to the light gray tom waiting under the Highrock.

The deputy started. "I would like Newtfrost, Duskstorm, Summerheart, Thornclaw, Flamemoon, Spottedfoot, and Ratfur to go on patrol."

Runningpaw peered at the nursery entrance as he heard a squeal coming from the nursing and expecting kits. A familiar gray she-cat came bounding out, with Mangoheart and Autumnsong leaping after her.

Cinderhope looked curious as he tipped his head to one side. "What seems to be the commotion here?" asked the deputy.

"I- I'm expecting!" The Ratfur happily mewed. The other queens giggled and crowded around the ugly she-cat, asking who the mate was and how many kits she thought she was expecting.

The gray deputy beamed. "Congratulations! I can't wait, Ratfur!" He exclaimed happily. "Then you don't have to go on patrol. Why don't I get Phantomheart to replace you?"

The unattractive she-cat shook her head. "No, you don't need to replace me- I think I'd like to go. Besides, this will be my last patrol for a while anyway!" Ratfur purred with amusement. "Besides, Phantomheart is much too old to replace me- he's sure to become an elder any day now."

Cinderhope agreed and let the young queen go on patrol. Runningpaw wondered who the tom was, but he saw that Duskstorm was looking at Ratfur proudly and the matter was settled.

Cinderhope looked at Runningpaw and Ashstar expectantly, switching his gaze from apprentice to leader. Ashstar nodded, and flicked her tail to Runningpaw.

The light brown tom flicked his tail in reply to the signal and gathered the warriors that would go with Ashstar, Cinderhope and he to the Sandy Hollow.