"Would you two sit still for just two heartbeats?"

Mistykit and Stonekit were tussling on the ground, as usual. Mosskit rolled her eyes.

When will those two just learn to grow up?

The patched she-kit sat calmly, her tail wrapped around her paws. She sighed with pleasure as she soaked up the warm greenleaf sun. For a heartbeat, Mosskit remembered snow under her paws, and a chilly breeze buffeting her fur. She also she remembered the night she had lost her status as a ThunderClan kit.

It doesn't matter anymore. As long as Bluefur's proud of me, I don't care if I'm the rattiest rouge.

"Why can't you two learn to be calm?" Graypool's irritable meow broke into Mosskit's thoughts, "If you don't keep dirt out of your fur, I'll just have to rip it all out! Now, come here and let me clean your fur…again." She put a lot of emphasis on "again".

Mistykit and Stonekit sighed, and sat down in front of Graypool. "Honestly," Mosskit heard Graypool grumble as she rasped her tongue along Mistykit's pelt, "Why can't you two be like your sister. She's so polite and well-behaved, when you two always want to stir up trouble."

Mosskit felt flattered at Graypool's praise. It wasn't hard for her to act the way she does. It just came with her personality.

Besides, I have to be calm and well-behaved if I want to be chosen to be leader.

"We're just excited," Stonekit mewed. His voice had gotten a little lower.

"That's still no excuse," Graypool scolded, "There, you're done," she nudged Mistykit, "Go sit down next to Mosskit."

Her ears flicking, Mistykit sat down beside Mosskit. "She can be such a killjoy sometimes," she whispered in Mosskit's ear, "but that's mothers for you, right?"

Mosskit had to stop herself from cringing. The effects of the dove that Mapleshade had corrupted still hadn't left Mistykit and Stonekit, even after five whole moons. She realized that it must be permanent. She just nodded. "But, think for a second, Mistykit. Our apprentice ceremony is today. Graypool obviously wants us to act like apprentices. We have to make a good first impression on our mentors."

"I guess you have a point," Mistykit mewed hesitantly.

"Hey!" Stonekit mewed, done with his bath, "What do you think our warrior names will be?"

"We're just going to be apprentices, Stonekit," Mosskit mewed, "Can't we leave the warrior names up to Crookedstar?"

"I know," the dark-colored kit replied, "But it won't kill to wonder," he crouched low and unsheathed his claws, "I'm going to be the greatest fighter ever! I'm going to have so many battle scars, that Crookedstar'll have to call me 'Stonescar'!"

"More like 'Stonehead'," Mistykit purred in Mosskit's ear.

"What was that, Mistybrain?" Stonekit sneered, obviously hearing his sister's joke.

"Stonehead," Mistykit growled playfully.

"Oh, you wanna fight?"

"Don't even think about it!" Graypool's hiss made Mistykit and Stonekit freeze.

"Graypool's right, you two," Mosskit mewed, "You should calm down a bit. Save the fighting for later."

"Hey, Mistykit, do you know what Mosskit's warrior name will be?" Stonekit mewed playfully.

"What?" Mistykit's mew was serious, just curious.

"Well, her fur's very soft, so maybe her claws are soft, too. So her name should be 'Mossclaw'! She doesn't really play-fight. Sometimes, but not all the time. She's probably just too scared to fight in real battles!"

"Stonekit, don't you think that was a little harsh?" Mistykit mewed.

Mosskit's claws scraped the ground. "They won't feel so soft after they make nice, deep cuts in your face!"

"You see?" Mistykit muttered, her eyes narrowed.

"Hey, calm down," Stonekit mewed, "It was only a joke."

"Well, we'll see who has the last laugh after battle training," Mosskit challenged.

"Oh, you're on!"

"Hello," Graypool must have left to get Oakheart, because he had padded up to them, his eyes shining with pride, "How are my three favorite warriors today?"

"Great!" Mosskit purred.

"We can't wait to be apprentices!" Mistykit squeaked.

"In case, come with me," Oakheart meowed, "Crookedstar's about to call the meeting."

As if on cue, the RiverClan leader's voice rang out, "Let all cats old enough to swim gather to hear my words!"

Here we go.

Mosskit had to stop herself from jumping with excitement as Graypool and Oakheart led them into the crowd that was beginning to form.

Oakheart bounded over to his spot beside the step, the place the deputy would sit. Crookedstar had appointed his brother as deputy after his first deputy, Timberfur, died of an infected cut.

Mosskit gazed at Crookedstar with excitement as he made his announcement. "Cats of RiverClan, three of our kits have reached their sixth moon, and are ready to begin their training as apprentices." Crookedstar's gaze rested to Mosskit and her littermates. "Stonekit, please come forward."

Chin and tail, Mosskit watched her brother walk to the middle of the clearing.

"Stonekit, from this day, until you have received your warrior name, you will be known as Stonepaw. I ask StarClan to watch over you, and guide you until you find in your paws the strength and courage of a warrior. Your mentor will be me, and I promise to pass on all I had learned from Cedarpelt to you." An excited murmur rippled through the crowd as Stonepaw touched noses with Crookedstar.

What an honor! Stonepaw gets to be trained by the Clan leader!

Mosskit saw Oakheart whisper something to Stonepaw while Crookedstar returned to the stump. With a brisk nod, the new apprentice sat down beside his father.

"Mistykit, please come forward," Crookedstar ordered.

The blue-gray kit looked a little self-conscious, but her eyes shown with excitement as she stopped in the middle of the clearing.

"Mistykit, from this day, until you have received your warrior name, you will be known as Mistypaw." Crookedstar's gaze scanned the crowd, until resting on the warrior with the most distinctive coat. "Leopardfur, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from Whitefang, and I expect you to pass on all you know to Mistypaw."

Mistypaw looked relieved as she and Leopardfur touched noses. Mosskit figured she must've hoped for the golden spotted tabby to be her mentor.

Mosskit tail curled up with excitement as Crookedstar's pale-green eyes rested on her.

This is it.

"Mosskit, please come forward."

Taking a deep breath, Mosskit made her way to the middle of the clearing. She wanted to look mature and calm, ready for her future as a noble warrior of RiverClan, but patient enough to wait her turn and go through training.

She wanted to make her mentor, whoever they may be, instantly proud of her.

"Mosskit, from this day, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Mosspaw." She could easily see the affection in the RiverClan leader's eyes as he pointed out her mentor. "Willowbreeze, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from Owlfur, and I expect you to pass on all you know to Mosspaw."

Mosspaw beamed as the silver-gray tabby stepped out of the crowd and up to her. She had looked up to her ever since she had come to RiverClan.

"Now, just because we're friends doesn't mean I won't go hard on you," Willowbreeze purred softly as she and Mosspaw touched noses.

"Do your worst," Mosspaw purred back, "I'm ready for anything."

"Stonepaw! Mistypaw! Mosspaw!"

Satisfaction filled Mosspaw as she heard the Clan chant her and her littermates' names. She closed her eyes and sent a silent prayer, hoping StarClan would send her words to a particular warrior.

I'm an apprentice now, Bluefur. I promise I'll be the best warrior RiverClan has ever had. I'll make you proud to be my mother.

Note from the author: Hey there, readers! I'm glad you've liked this story enough to read to this far. Since Mosspaw's an apprentice now, I'm going to ask you guys something. What do you think Mosspaw's warrior name will be? You might know if you've seen my YouTube and deviantART. However, if you do know, don't spoil it for the other readers. The next chapter should be up soon, so your eyes peeled. See you!