Code Five

Kits must be six moons old in order to be Apprenticed.

When a Kit became an Apprentice, it meant more Warriors for the Clan, but there was a time when Kits were Apprenticed too young. This Code came from SkyClan and LightClan.

Queens and Kits

"Attack! Jump! Swipe! Roll! No roll!" Ryewhisker instructed. Cloudberry winces as Rosepaw scrambles to her paws and shakes her head, panting. She looks dazed and there's a bead of blood welling at the tip of her left ear. Her Mentor, Hawkfur, nudges her towards the second Apprentice in the Training Field, Badgerpaw.

"Try it again," said Hawkfur. Cloudberry can't watch as Rosepaw launches herself at her rival.

It seemed only two moons ago that Rosepaw's dark ginger head had nuzzled into my belly searching for milk… Cloudberry thought. Badgerpaw has been training for several moons longer and looks fully grown next to Rosepaw, whose head barely reaches his shoulder. There is a thud behind Cloudberry and she bites her tongue to stop from crying aloud.

"Did you see that? Did you, mom? Did you? I knocked Badgerpaw right over," Rosepaw said. Cloudberry turns and forces herself to purr approvingly.

"Well done, Rosepaw! You'll be a Warrior before you know it!" Cloudberry said. And before my milk has dried up.

"She's learning fast. This is good, because it looks like we'll be fighting LightClan again soon. They've been stealing prey in broad daylight, and Emberstar won't let them get away with it," Hawkfur said.

SkyClan Camp

My Kit is too small to take part in a real battle. She can't even take on her own Clanmates; who would never try to rip her pelt, tear her eyes, and claw her ears to shreds… Cloudberry thought.

"Cloudberry? Are you okay?" Lilykit asked. A white face is peering out of the entrance of the Nursery. Goldenflower's Kits are half a moon younger than Rosepaw and they run around their nest practicing their battle moves.

"There's going to be another battle with LightClan! I can't let Rosepaw fight! I just can't!" Cloudberry said.

"You don't have a choice. She's an Apprentice now; that's what she's been trained for," Goldenflower said. Cloudberry lifts her head in defiance.

"AND IF YOUR KITS ARE APPRENTICED BY THEN, WILL YOU LET THEM GO? KNOWING THAT THEY'LL FACE POWER-HUNGRY LIGHTCLAN WARRIORS?" yelled Cloudberry. Goldenflower shifts her paws uncomfortably.

"It's our duty to provide the Clan with new Warriors…" Goldenflower said sullenly.

"Is it our duty to these Warriors die before they are full-grown?" Cloudberry asked. Cloudberry stalks away from the Nursery before Goldenflower can answer.

"Where are you going Cloudberry?"

"To put an end to this finally!"

SkyClan Territory

The bright orange sun stretches its rays over the moor, turning the sky above pink and cream-colored. Emberstar is standing on a stump to address his Warriors; they are in a line in front of him facing the LightClan border.

"WARRIORS OF SKYCLAN! IN ADDITION, APPRENTICES! LIGHTCLAN HAS STOLEN OUR PREY TOO MANY TIMES! WE WILL SHOW THEM THAT SKYCLAN BORDERS ARE STRONG; THEY WILL BE DEFENDED WITH CLAWS AND TEETH, AND OUR PREY PROTECTS OUR CLAN ALONE!" Emberstar yelled. Just then, the LightClan Warriors step into the light.

"Are you sure about that, Emberstar? Some of your Warriors look very small," Whitestar said. Whitestar's gaze sweeps over the smallest SkyClan Apprentices.

"I'd say that we're evenly matched, Whitestar," the SkyClan Leader said.

"We'll put that to the test then, shall we? LIGHTCLAN, ATTACK!" Whitestar said with a sneer.

"STOP!" yelled Cloudberry as she jumps onto a low stump followed by Goldenflower. "We can't let you fight!" Whitestar's eyes open wide in astonishment.

"Are your Warriors this afraid of battle?"

"It's not fair!" Featherwhisker said.

"Featherwhisker? What in the name of HeavenClan are you doing?" Whitestar asked. Cloudberry and Goldenflower jump down from the stump and walk in between the two patrols and Featherwhisker joins them.

"We are stopping this fight! Some these Apprentices are barely weaned off from their mother's milk. They are too young to die, too young to fight, too young to be treated like full-grown Warriors," Cloudberry said.

"Cloudberry came to me with her Clanmate, Goldenflower two days ago. She told me that she didn't want to let her Kit go into battle when she is too small to fight her own Clanmates. She asked me if I would let my Kits die like this too. I had met Cloudberry once at a Gathering, when we had both just learned we were expecting Kits. She remembered and knew that I would not want my Kits to fight any more than she did," Featherwhisker explained. Emberstar turns to face Cloudberry.

"What are you saying? That we should never fight again? Do you really think that is how the Clans would live?" the SkyClan Leader asked. Cloudberry shakes her head slowly as she answers.

"No, I know battle is part of our life. It's what Warriors train for. But they should only be asked to fight when they are old enough to stand a chance of winning. What is the point of training Kits so young that they'll be lost in their first conflict?" Cloudberry notices that Rosepaw ducks behind Badgerpaw. One day, she'd understand – she'd still be alive to know why her mother did this.

"We are united, Whitestar," said Featherwhisker.

"Our Queens have spoken. Emberstar? Should we just ignore them and fight?" Whitestar asked. Emberstar looks around, his gaze falling on the group of she-cats and then he glances at his tiny Warriors and then he looks at Whitestar again.

"What sense is there in losing the future of our Clans when if we let them grow stronger battles will be more easily won?" Emberstar asked.

"If you're going to remove your youngest cats, then so must I. LightClan cannot be accused of being unfair in battle," Whitestar said.

"I would never suggest such a thing. Cloudberry, how do you propose we keep Kits from the battle lines?" asked Emberstar.

"I think there should be an addition to the Messenger Code: that Kits must be –" Cloudberry looks up and down the lines to see which cats look strong enough to take on a fully trained Warrior. "– At least six moons old before they are allowed to train as Apprentices…" Featherwhisker brushes the tip of her tail against Cloudberry's left shoulder.

"Until then, they must live within the camp where the Queens can be responsible for their safety," Featherwhisker finished.

"That makes perfect sense to me, thank you, Cloudberry," said Emberstar as he dips his head to the group of she-cats. "Thank you, Goldenflower. And you too, Featherwhisker! Whitestar, are we agreed?" Whitestar bows his head.

"We are. We will take this to the next Gathering during the Full Moon," Whitestar agreed. Cloudberry looks at Rosepaw, who looks ready to burst with frustration and embarrassment.

There will be other battles, my little Warrior, but not yet. Not until you're ready. Cloudberry thought.

This is the beginning of Code Five