( Eli's Pov )
The moment we stepped into camp, several heads turned, curiosity in the eyes of many. Whitewing padded to the warriors den while Dewpaw bounded to a group of younger cats, tone filled with excitement. Berrynose led us to a ledge and clambered up the rock mound that led to a den shrouded in shadows.
" Bramblestar?" He called softly." We have some cats here who wish to speak with you."
A voice answered from within the den." Enter."
Berrynose gestured with his stubby tail for us to walk in to the den. I padded in hesitantly, followed by Scott and Stampy. Connor entered ahead of us, head high and ears perked.
" Connor. Quit being a show-off," Scott hissed under his breath."
Connor rolled his eyes." Just come on."
Upon entering the dark gloom, we spotted a large brown tabby tom with piercing amber eyes sitting in a moss nest, a half eaten sparrow in front of him.
" Greetings, young ones," he meowed." You want to speak with me?"
Stampy nodded." Yes, we would like to."
" You see, we got lost," Connor began.
Scott mumbled," That's what happens when we follow you."
I snorted in amusement as Connor glared at Scott over his shoulder." We got lost and have nowhere to go. We heard the Clans sometimes take in cats and we were hoping we could find one and join."
" We really want to stay here," I added, ears flicking in anticipation.
Bramblestar seemed to hesitate." Thunderclan is in need of warriors... And we could never turn down kits." He gazed at me and Connor pointedly.
" Why did I have to be a kit? How come Scott managed to be apprentice age?" Connor grumbled, earning a snicker from Scott.
" Because I'm obviously more awesome," Scott whispered.
Connor scowled." If I was a bit bigger I would cuff you right now."
Bramblestar got to his paws." May I ask your names?" He meowed questioningly.
" My name is Stampy," she mewed in greeting, dipping her head respectively.
Scott did the same." Scott is my name."
" I'm Connor."
I shuffled my paws shyly." And I'm Eli."
Bramblestar's amber eyes shone with curiosity." You are all rogues?"
Connor replied," Er, last time I checked."
" Nah. Connor here was a kittypet before becoming a loner," Scott protested, a teasing glint in his blue eyes.
" You're really beginning to annoy me, Scott."
" I know. What's new?"
Bramblestar interrupted their bickering, passing them in his way out of the den." Come now, and we will hold your ceremonies." He gazed at Scott and Stampy curiously." You two appear to be apprentice age."
Scott puffed his chest out." That's right!"
" I could become an apprentice," Stampy murmured to herself." I am about six moons."
Connor growled," Lucky," and I glanced at Scott and Stampy enviously.
We followed Bramblestar out of his den, watching as he leaped onto the ledge." All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highledge for a clan meeting!" He yowled, voice echoing against the stone walls of the camp.
Cats eating prey turned their attention to the leader while others came from dens, some sleepy and with their fur ruffled. As soon as most of the Clan had gathered, Bramblestar lifted his head." These four cats were found on our territory and requested to join Thunderclan." He fell silent for a moment, allowing a few quick mutters to ripple through the warriors before he continued." After much thought, I have decided to let them stay."
Some cats called their approval but a few shot to their paws, expressions disbelieving and alight with high disapproval.
" Silence!" Bramblestar yowled." It is now time for their ceremonies. Eli and Connor, is it your wish to join Thunderclan?"
" It is," I replied seriously, tone full of certainty.
Connor echoed my response with a strong determined," Yes, it is, Bramblestar."
" Then by the powers of Starclan, I grant you each your kit names. Connor, until you become an apprentice you will be know as Hawkkit. Eli, until you also become an apprentice, you shall be known as Brindlekit," the leader announced, speaking the words that were moons old.
" Hawkkit! Brindlekit! Hawkkit! Brindlekit!" The Thunderclan warriors cheered our new names, heads tilted to the clouds.
Bramblestar lifted a paw for silence." Stampy and Scott are of apprentice age. Therefore, they shall take on their -paw names and receive a mentor. Stampy, is it your wish to join Thunderclan as an apprentice?"
" Yes."
Bramblestar's eyes scanned the cats below swiftly." Then until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Maplepaw. Your mentor will be Cloudtail. Cloudtail, you had excellent training from Firestar, and I expect you to pass on your skills in fighting and courageous spirit to young Maplepaw."
A fluffy white tom appeared from the cats and dipped his head." Of course, Bramblestar," he meowed, touching noses with Maplepaw and leading her to sit beside him.
" Scott, is it your wish to also join Thunderclan and become an apprentice?"
Scott answered," Yes."
" Until you gain your warrior name, you shall be known as Aspenpaw. Your mentor will be Lilyheart. Lilyheart, though you are a new warrior, you have shown yourself to have a kind and brave nature. You received training from Poppyfrost, and you will be the mentor of Aspenpaw. I expect you to pass on all you know to your apprentice."
The warrior padded forward, touching her nose to Aspenpaw's." You'll be great, I know it," she whispered, smiling in happy surprise.
" I'll do my best," he promised and followed her to sit beside Cloudtail and Maplepaw.
" Maplepaw! Aspenpaw! Maplepaw! Aspenpaw!" The warriors called the newly made apprentices' names. Hawkkit and I raised our voices and yowled their names.
I bounded to them, where they were getting warm welcomes from the Clan." Congratulations, you two!" I purred.
" Yeah. I guess it is pretty cool having apprentices as friends," Connor admitted bluntly." But watch out! I'll be an apprentice before you know it."
" So how's it feel to be apprentices?" I meowed curiously.
Stampy shook her tortoiseshell fur." It's actually great! It feels awesome to be an apprentice."
" It sure does," Scott agreed.
A cream she-cat approached us, smiling kindly." Hawkkit, Brindlekit. I'm sure you two are old enough to eat prey." She angled her ears at a den covered in sleek holly leaves." That's the nursery. There currently aren't any queens but the nests are still warm enough."
I nodded thankfully, a yawn escaping my jaws." Is it just me, or is anyone else tired?"
" No," Connor was cut off by a yawn." No way."
Stampy glanced up at the sky." It is sundown," she pointed out." Sc- I mean, Aspenpaw. We should go get our nests set up and try to sleep. We have training tomorrow."
Scott groaned." That's right. We have to wake up early. Joy."
I turned towards the nursery, padding away." See you in the morning," I called over my shoulder before disappearing into the milky warm ness of the den, Hawkkit following close behind.
Hooray! They have their names now! Well, some of them do. So who is your favorite character so far?