Quailkit peered over the top of the hill, pressing his body against the soft grass beneath. He could just make out the rabbit's brown fur and skinny frame as it lazily chewed on its meal at the base of the slope, unknown of its one onlooker. He stilled himself, then, with a great push of his hind legs, he leaped over the hilltop and charged forward. The rabbit instantly took action, springing to its paws in an attempt to get away, but Quailkit was too quick for it. He launched himself at the terrified creature and landed squarely on its back. Pinning it to the ground, his jaws watered as he bent his head to deal the killing blow-
Wham.
A great force slammed into his back, and just like that, his dream melted away, and he shot open his eyes to find himself in the nursery. Two of Breezetail's kits, Badgerkit and Emeraldkit, were wrestling together on the earthy floor of the den while their sister Sunnykit curled up with their mother and the youngest of the four, Dewkit. The two tiny toms rolled around until they were nearly on top of Quailkit.
Quailkit crinkled his nose in annoyance and gave the nearest kit a hard shove. "Get off!"
That rabbit was nearly mine!
The two kits went unbothered by the shove, instead rolling over all the way into the nest. At this, Quailkit had to suppress a growl.
Get out, you stupid furballs, or else you'll-
"Mmm-what? W-What's goin' on?"
Wake Cedarkit up... Quailkit sighed as his brother blinked open his tired eyes from his place snuggled beside him. And he looked so peaceful too...
An annoyed huff sounded from Stormflower as she nudged the younger kits away with a hind paw, sending them tumbling back towards their mother's nest. Quailkit lifted his head to look around the rest of the den. Morningcloud and her kits were nowhere to be seen.
Must've gotten up early.
Nearly three moons had gone by since Quailkit and his denmates' little adventure, and since they had been grounded to the nursery. After a moon and a half, Troutstar had decided that they'd been punished enough, and let them leave the nursery. They were allowed to go around camp again, so long as their mothers knew where they were and who they were with at all times. Looking back, their time stuck in the nursery wasn't all that bad, given that Breezetail had plenty of stories to tell, but that stopped once she got a pawful of kits to take care of.
Quailkit rose to his paws, opening his jaws in a great yawn as he stretched his forepaws. He then hauled himself out of the nest and padded over to the den entrance. Peering out, he could make out Kinkpaw's orange coat as she and Ravenpaw circled each other in the clearing, most likely practicing battle moves. Their mentors, Starlingflight and Clearwater, were sharing a meal not too far away, occasionally looking up to make sure their apprentices didn't get too carried away. Outside the elders' den, Windsong seemed to be going into a long-winded speech about how things were 'back in her day'. Graywolf was lying not too far away, eyes closed and giving a nod every once in a while to reassure the old she-cat he was listening, while Poolswirl groomed his nicked ears affectionately.
Quailkit's heart swelled with love for his grandparents at the sight. StarClan bless 'em, they're just about the only cats in StormClan that can endure that old bag's rants.
"That was a dirty trick!" Kinkpaw's yowl caught his attention. He snapped his gaze back to her just in time to see Ravenpaw roll away from her and spring to his paws.
Ravenpaw gave his chest fur a few quick licks. "It wasn't a trick, just pure skill!" he said, grinning triumphantly at his denmate.
"Where's Doekit and Tadpolekit?" Cedarkit sounded from Quailkit's side, having fully woken up.
"I'm not sure," Quailkit meowed, scanning the camp. "There!"
Morningcloud and her kits were sitting beside the fresh-kill pile. Morningcloud was giving Tadpolekit a wash while the little tom squirmed uncomfortably under her tongue. Doekit's spotted pelt was smooth and glossy from a fresh grooming, and the she-kit sat up straight with her tail curled neatly over her paws.
Wonder what they're getting all gussied up for... Quailkit couldn't help but snicker at the annoyed look on Tadpolekit's face. He did not envy the older kit at the moment.
"What are they doing over there?" Cedarkit asked.
"I don't know. Maybe they're-" Quailkit broke off as he spotted the ferns outside the clan leader's den tremble. The fronds swished and Troutstar slid out, his frame trembling slightly as he stretched, half in and half out of the den.
The StormClan leader then bounded up onto the Thunderrock. "Let all those old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Thunderrock for a clan meeting!" he yowled.
Quailkit looked over his shoulder at his mother, who was also awake now. "What's going on?"
"Just keep quiet and watch," Stormflower replied. "Come, we'll sit with your father."
Squeezing out of the nursery, Stormflower led her kits across the clearing over to where Creekfeather sat chatting with the senior warrior, Loudstorm. Meanwhile, the rest of the clan started to gather. Finchspeck emerged from his den, specks of leaves clinging to his pelt as he padded over to sit in the shadow of Thunderrock. Berryfrost and his sister, Hawkfoot, pushed their way out of the warriors' den with Willowfur and Hazelnose not too far behind. The three elders had stopped their conversation to listen.
"I wanna see what's going on!" Quailkit heard Badgerkit's whine as his mother tugged him by the tail back into the nursery.
"You're not old enough to catch prey," Breezetail told him, also scooping up Sunnykit who tried to sneak past her. Once the kits were all settled she turned to watch her mate and leader.
At Troutstar's call, Morningcloud stopped washing Tadpolekit, both of her kits now sitting straight up with gleaming pelts and puffed out chests. Their eyes shone with pride.
Quailkit realized with a jolt what was going on. "It's their apprentice ceremony!"
"Hush!" Stormflower hissed. "Cedarkit, stop squirming!"
"S-Sorry," Cedarkit mumbled. He scooted closer to his brother. "I wish it was our turn."
"Don't worry," Quailkit whispered to him. "We're not that much younger than them. Another moon or two and we'll be apprentices, too."
Troutstar cleared his throat. "Cats of StormClan," he began. "today we are gathered for one of the most important ceremonies any young clan cat will experience: being made an apprentice. Doekit and Tadpolekit have been with us for six moons, and have learned what it means to be a StormClan cat. It is now time they learn what it means to be a StormClan warrior."
Murmurs of approval rippled through the crowd of cats, though Quailkit caught a quiet remark from Stormflower. "I can't believe we're training half-breeds now," she was whispering to Creekfeather. "Next we'll be taking on rabbits as apprentices."
Quailkit bristled at his mother's comment. It was well-known that no-one seemed to know the identity of the father of Morningcloud's kits. The rumor going around was that he was a loner or a kittypet or, StarClan forbid, a warrior from another clan. Quailkit honestly didn't know what to make of it, but he couldn't believe Stormflower would say such things.
Morningcloud's her friend for StarClan's sake!
Quailkit wanted to call his mother out on her unkind words, but he didn't want to spoil his friends' special day. The two older kits held their heads high, looking as if they were going to burst with pride.
"Doekit!"
When Troutstar called her name, Doekit stepped forward, swallowing nervously as she met her leader's steely gaze. She seemed to let out a relieved sigh when she saw his yellow eyes soften.
"Hazelnose," Troutstar went on. "You were an excellent mentor to Quickbreeze. You taught him to have courage and honor as a warrior of StormClan. I trust you'll do the same with Doepaw."
The gray and white warrior dipped his head respectfully. "I will make her a warrior StormClan can be proud of. I give you my word, Troutstar," he meowed. He trotted over to touch noses with his new apprentice.
"Tadpolekit, step forward." Troutstar beckoned the tom with his tail. Tadpolekit complied, and the clan leader continued on. "Hawkfoot, this will be your first apprentice. Graywolf was your mentor, and I know you will pass on all the fine skills he taught you to Tadpolepaw."
Head held high, the red-brown warrior padded forward to stand beneath Thunderrock. "I will, Troutstar," she responded coolly. The stoic expression on her face gave away no emotion, but her eyes were gleaming with pride.
Tadpolepaw practically skipped over to her, and the two cats touched noses.
As Quailkit watched all this unfold, he couldn't stop the uneasy feeling gnawing at his belly. Tonight, the nursery residents would be down by three. The friends he had shared most of the first part of his life with were leaving him behind, moving away to other dens and moving on with their lives.
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Badgerkit - black tom, yellow eyes
Emeraldkit - dark gray tabby tom, big green eyes
Sunnykit - creamy tabby she-cat, lavender eyes
Dewkit - gray and white tom, yellow eyes
