Bramblestar stepped closer to Swiftkit, sliding into a hunter's crouch to look straight into the swirling sapphire orbs that were the kit's eyes. Even with a massive tom glaring at her, Swiftkit stood tall, with her tail and head held high. Her eyes narrowed into slits and for a moment, Bramblestar was sure she looked terrifyingly similar to his brother, Hawkfrost, of whom he'd killed in the Great Battle. The leader of ThunderClan rumbled in a deep voice, " And WHY do you say no to the Warrior Code? " Swiftkit, if even possible, sat taller. " I do not wish to follow the laws of the Warrior Code. " She answered determinedly. Brightkit galloped over to her youngest sister with a look of embarrassment and shock clear in her eyes. She stopped in front of Swiftkit, who reached her waist. " Swiftkit- " She started, but the brown-and-white she-kit put a paw to her muzzle to stop her. " I instead want to learn the ways of healing herbs and interpreting signs from StarClan! " The Clan gasped, and Jayfeather sat up and flicked his ears forward. The gray tom had promised Fallen Leaves to teach his kits the way of the Tribe of Endless Hunting, and it seemed Swiftkit would be a incredibly hard apprentice to coach without clawing her ears off. After all, she HAD talked in a know-it-all tone of voice. Bramblestar stood up to his full intimidating height. " That seems like a reasonable request. Squirrelflight! " He called to his deputy. The ginger she-cat with one white paw perked up, forest-green eyes alert. " Yes? " " Do you agree? " She nodded. " Seems fine to me. Even though we already have two Medicine Cats, the Clan could always use more cats able to heal. " Bramblestar's amber gaze swept over the camp. " Then it is decided. Swiftpaw, will join Jayfeather and Leafpool at the Moonpool tomorrow night and become a Medicine Cat apprentice.
Leafpool nodded from the very back, where she was sitting right outside the entrance to her den. Jayfeather flicked his tail and growled a "All right, fine. " beside her. Robinkit looked furious and Brightkit looked sad. Bramblestar turned to the two. " Brightkit, you shall be mentored by me. " Brightkit gasped in excitement. She padded with a spring in her step up to the large tabby tom. She touched noses with him, and stepped back to sit next to Robinkit. Bramblestar turned in her direction. " Robinkit, you will be mentored by Lionblaze. " The tortoiseshell kitten turned with determination and Lionblaze walked slowly towards her. He reached down to touch noses with her. " Congratulations. " He purred quietly into Robinkit's ear. Bramblestar took a step forward on the Highledge, and tossed his head to gesture to Swiftkit, Brightkit, and Robinkit. " Warriors of ThunderClan! Welcome three new apprentices! Swiftpaw! Brightpaw! Robinpaw! " All of ThunderClan started cheering, " Swiftpaw! Brightpaw! Robinpaw! " Swiftpaw looked smugly proud, her fluffy tail flicking back and forth, her eyes slits. Brightpaw looked proud of herself, but also snuck loving glances at her younger sisters. Robinkit looked ready to learn how to fight, her tiny sharp claws flexing into the ground and her ears flattened. Bramblestar saw how eager the new apprentices were, so he called out over the Clan's murmurs," Clan dismissed. " Robinpaw immediately lunged for Swiftpaw, growling and challenging her to a mock-battle. Swiftpaw became a blur and slashed her claws across her older sister's flank. Robinpaw growled with pleasure and grabbed Swiftpaw's scruff, and, much to the tiny brown-and-white she-kit's dismay, flung her through the air.
Leafpool nodded from the very back, where she was sitting right outside the entrance to her den. Jayfeather flicked his tail and growled a "All right, fine. " beside her. Robinkit looked furious and Brightkit looked sad. Bramblestar turned to the two. " Brightkit, you shall be mentored by me. " Brightkit gasped in excitement. She padded with a spring in her step up to the large tabby tom. She touched noses with him, and stepped back to sit next to Robinkit. Bramblestar turned in her direction. " Robinkit, you will be mentored by Lionblaze. " The tortoiseshell kitten turned with determination and Lionblaze walked slowly towards her. He reached down to touch noses with her. " Congratulations. " He purred quietly into Robinkit's ear. Bramblestar took a step forward on the Highledge, and tossed his head to gesture to Swiftkit, Brightkit, and Robinkit. " Warriors of ThunderClan! Welcome three new apprentices! Swiftpaw! Brightpaw! Robinpaw! " All of ThunderClan started cheering, " Swiftpaw! Brightpaw! Robinpaw! " Swiftpaw looked smugly proud, her fluffy tail flicking back and forth, her eyes slits. Brightpaw looked proud of herself, but also snuck loving glances at her younger sisters. Robinkit looked ready to learn how to fight, her tiny sharp claws flexing into the ground and her ears flattened. Bramblestar saw how eager the new apprentices were, so he called out over the Clan's murmurs," Clan dismissed. " Robinpaw immediately lunged for Swiftpaw, growling and challenging her to a mock-battle. Swiftpaw became a blur and slashed her claws across her older sister's flank. Robinpaw growled with pleasure and grabbed Swiftpaw's scruff, and, much to the tiny brown-and-white she-kit's dismay, flung her through the air.
Lionblaze looked over, and, seeing Swiftpaw on the ground, heaving for air, and Robinpaw spitting out fur with blood on her teeth, he raced over and yowled at Robinpaw. " Robinpaw! " He gasped, " Why would you DO this? " The tortoiseshell kitten looked genuinely confused, her head tilted to the side and her neck fur fluffed up, she growled, " WHY would I do this? Because we do it all the time, THAT'S why! Don't YOU ever play-fight? " Lionblaze narrowed his eyes. "Yes, but you used your claws to have a friendly battle! The deadliest cats in Clan history trained like that! " Robinpaw didn't look concerned whatsoever. " So...what are we learning today? How to fight? How to hunt? Learn the territory? " Lionblaze shook his large golden head. He opened his jaws to reply, but Bramblestar slid next to him and replied quicker. " No, but you'll be learning side-by-side with Brightpaw. Today you'll collect moss for the Elders. " Brightpaw padded up to Robinpaw and nuzzled her face in reassurance. Swiftpaw slowly stood up and walked over to Jayfeather and Leafpool. " Jayfeather? Is THAT your name? Aren't you Jay's Wing? " Jayfeather flicked his ears toward Leafpool, reminding the brown-and-white kit to be quiet. Jayfeather sighed and hissed softly into her ear, " Yes. You and your littermates know me as Jay's Wing. But you must NEVER call me by that name in the presence of other cats. There will be a time, were I will take you and your siblings to the Tribe of Rushing Water to learn about the Tribe of Endless Hunting. " Swiftpaw felt confused. " Who's THAT? " Jayfeather was getting annoyed. Had Fallen Leaves taught her anything? "Don't you know? You are half Clan and half Tribe. "
