Chapter Ten

Hellooooooo everyone! Another chapter is up and ready to read! I really want to thank Eliana(Guest) for submitting that OC, it really helped me. I hope you like Leafdrop! So anyway ppl, RR, I don't own warriors, yadayadayada.

"Lilykit! Lilykit!"

Rainkit raced toward her sister, who was entering through the opening followed by Mudstripe, Amberleaf, Bluefire, as well as Badgerheart, Thornfang, Leafdrop, and Owlpaw. Lilykit scowled.

"Rainkit! Can you please tell everyone that I am fine. Everyone's making such a big deal about me going on a walk. Our ceremony is today! I'm almost an apprentice, so why can't I leave?"

Rainkit snorted, all her worry turning to anger now that her sister was safe.

"You left the camp just so you wouldn't have to get your pelt cleaned!" Rainkit hissed in exasperation. "That seems like a pretty kit-like thing to do, if you ask me."

Lilykit spat at Rainkit, only to have Mudstripe come between them, looking down at Lilykit sternly.

"Stormstar wants to talk to you, Lilykit." He meowed. Lilykit raised her head proudly.

"Fine. He'll understand me, I know it." Lilykit marched over to where Stormstar was sitting with his grey and white tail wrapped neatly around his paws. Rainkit watched her go amusedly.

Good luck with that, Lilykit.

"She actually got pretty far."

Rainkit turned to see Owlpaw beside her.

"Our border patrol caught her up around the ThunderClan border, and we met the search party on the way back to camp." He continued. Rainkit gave a sigh.

"I was just so worried that fox could have attacked her."

Owlpaw's eyes widened in alarm. "Fox? What happened?"

Rainkit's heart lurched.

Oh no. Sandpaw!

She stared at the ground, desperately wishing it would open up and swallow her rather than her having to break the news to Owlpaw about his littermate. She looked around desperately for Duskpaw, hoping she could tell her brother instead.

"Rainkit." Owlpaw's tone was sharp. "Tell me. What about a fox?"

Rainkit exhaled slowly, and forced herself to look the brown tom right in the eye while speaking.

"A fox attacked your siblings and their mentors while they were training. Sandpaw was hurt. Bad."

Owlpaw sprung to his feet with a choked cry.

"Sandpaw? Is he in the medicine den?" he asked hoarsely.

Rainkit nodded, and Owlpaw spun around, taking off toward the den and kicking dust up behind him. Rainkit sat by herself, turning at the sound of pawsteps coming up behind her. She smelled Lilykit. The white she-cat sat down next to Rainkit.

"Well, are you ready?"

Rainkit cocked her head. "Huh?"

Lilykit snorted. "Rainkit, get your head out of the clouds. Our apprentice ceremony!"

Rainkit brightened. "Oh, yes! Is it time?"

"Stormstar said any minute now. Mudstripe cleaned my fur." Lilykit added, wrinkling her nose. Suddenly, a sly look came over her face. "I wonder how long you'll last, you know, with that omen of death hanging over you."

Rainkit shuddered, suddenly plunged back into the dream of blood and the mouse's corpse. She opened her mouth to send back a sharp retort, but no sound came out. Lilykit smirked.

"Can't deny the truth any longer? Poor thing, I wish I could help you, but…" Lilykit ended by jerking her head up at the darkening sky as if to say

The stars decide, not me!

Rainkit growled under her breath, only to stop upon hearing Stormstar's voice calling the cats to gather. All her anger at Lilykit was swept away by a wave of nerves and excitement.

It's time!

Rainkit moved forward to the front of the crowd, Lilykit on her heels. She forced herself to walk slowly and composedly until she was right in front of Stormstar. She felt the eyes of the clan all pointed at her.

"Attention!" Stormstar boomed. "It is time for a very special moment in the lives of two kits in our clan. Lilykit and Rainkit are ready to become apprentices!"

The clan cheered as Stormstar stepped up to Lilykit. The white she-cat was quivering, and Rainkit saw her golden eyes sparkle with anticipation.

"Lilykit," Stormstar began, touching his tail to Lilykit's shoulder. "Until the day you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Lilypaw." Lilypaw shot a quick, almost unnoticeable smirk at Rainkit, obviously gloating that she got her name first. Rainkit was too excited to let it ruffle her fur, and focused on Stormstar.

"Pinetail" he gestured to a mottled silver tom, who stepped forward proudly.

"Lilypaw will be your first apprentice, but you are young and skilled, and will have much to share with her." As mentor and apprentice moved to touch noses, Rainkit thought she saw Lilypaw's gaze darken. Did Lilypaw not like her mentor.

"Rainkit." Hearing her name, Rainkit snapped back to attention. Stormstar loomed over her, resting his tail lightly on her shoulder. "Until you become a warrior, you will called Rainpaw. Leafdrop will be your mentor."

Rainpaw gulped. Leafdrop was one of the senior warriors; what if Rainpaw wasn't good enough for her? But as Rainpaw's new mentor padded up to her, the fiery orange she-cat's pale yellow eyes blinked warmly at her as the two touched noses.

Rainpaw and Leafdrop went to stand beside Lilypaw and Pinetail as the clan called their new names.

"Rainpaw! Lilypaw! Rainpaw! Lilypaw!" Rainkit closed her eyes, letting the voices wash over her, feeling more a member of the clan then ever. She opened her eyes and saw Owlpaw near the front, calling their names happily. His whiskers twitched as he caught Rainpaw's eye, and she felt ready to burst with happiness.

The loudest yowl, however, came from Mudstripe. His head was tipped to the sky as he chanted his daughters' new names.

He's calling to Dawnheart! Rainpaw realized, and she hoped with all her heart that her mother was proud of her. She sat down contentedly, feeling as if all was right in the world.

Finally.

YEEESSSSHHHH! Rainpaw's finally an apprentice! It took me forever, but there was so many things I had to do! So, how was it? I hope everyone liked it! Btw, always accepting OC's. Anova (guest), thank you very much for the OC. She might not show up for a couple of chapters, but I know exactly where I want her. Do you mind if I make her a bit younger? So, Idk when the next chapter will be up, but as a hint, I can say that it involves Rainpaw! Haha, bad hint. See y'all later! :D