( Katara's Pov )

I raised my head as Rowanstar yowled the words and nudged Emily forward as he called her name." Emily, come forward."

She stumbled forward, a nervous light in her eyes.

" Is it your wish to join Shadowclan?" Rowanstar asked.

" I-it is," she stammered, clearing her throat and meowing again," It is!"

Rowanstar's green gaze turned to Dragon." And is it your wish to join Shadowclan also?"

Dragon dipped his head." Yes."

" Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your new Clan names. Emily, until you become an apprentice you will be known as Echokit. Dragon, until reaching apprentice age, you shall be called Blizzardkit," Rowanstar meowed in a loud, strong voice.

I cheered their new names along with the Clan, my voice sounding out above the others." Echokit! Blizzardkit!"

Echokit gave her chest fur an embarrassed lick while Blizzardkit held his head high with pride. As the chants died down, Rowanstar flicked his tail." As this cat is apprentice age, she shall take on her -paw name and be given a mentor. Katara, is it your wish to join Shadowclan and learn our ways?" His eyes glimmered with expectancy.

" Yes, Rowanstar," I called out, my voice not wavering or holding a hint of hesitant uncertainty.

Rowanstar looked up through the pine trees to the first star that had appeared in the sky." From this moment on, until you earn your warrior name, you shall be known as Amberpaw. Your mentor will be Crowfrost."

Gasps arose from the gathered cats. I narrowed my eyes.

What...

My ears perked up as I heard a hushed voice whisper," The deputy."

I widened my eyes in surprise as a black and white tom stepped forward, lightly touching my nose with his own." You're the deputy?"

He blinked warmly." Yes, I am," he answered.

I returned my attention to the High Branch as the meeting continued." Crowfrost, you are ready for another apprentice and have shown great skills in battle and loyalty to your Clan. I hope you will pass on all you know to Amberpaw."

" Amberpaw! Amberpaw!"

I noticed Blizzardkit standing on his paws, yowling my name while Echokit bounced around in barely contained excitement. I jumped as I felt a tail laid across my shoulders.

" Sorry," Crowfrost purred in amusement." If you're hungry, grab something to eat. Then you should set up a nest in the apprentices' den."

I nodded, glancing around the clearing for the fresh-kill pile. When I had found it, I padded to it, shifting through the prey. My nose wrinkled as I found a frog.

I'll try that... Another time.

I instead chose a plump mouse, taking it to the side of the clearing. My eyes looked up from my prey as Blizzardkit and Echokit came to sit by my side, one on either side of me. I smiled and pushed the mouse to them.

" Want to share?" I offered." We can all try mouse together!"

Blizzardkit nodded." Sure." He stared at the piece of prey skeptically." Here goes nothing."

He leaned down and took a small bite, chewing thoughtfully. Blizzardkit swallowed it and meowed," It's delicious!"

Echokit's eyes betrayed how uncertain she was." I want to try." She took a chunk from the mouse, her chewing becoming more vigorous." Wow! He's right!"

I rolled my eyes." You two eat it then. I'll grab myself another one." I heaved myself to my paws and went to the prey pile, choosing another mouse and settling down to eat. Taking a bite, I realized that the mouse actually didn't taste bad. Its flavor sang on my tongue, and it had a taste similar to the sweet scent of pine wood.

I finished the meal in a few famished bites, sighing and getting to my paws." Well, it's late and time for me to sleep." I gave each an affectionate lick on the ears." Good night."

They stumbled to their paws, mumbling something inaudible and going to a den that smelled of milk and warmth. I padded inside the apprentices' den, a ball of moss already in the corner of the den. A light brown head popped up from one of the nests.

" Hi!" She greeted me cheerfully, shaking the moss scraps from her pelt." You're Amberpaw, right?"

I shuffled my paws." Er, yeah."

" Want some help with your nest?"

I blinked in surprise." Sure, if you don't mind." My eyes flicked around the space. "Where should my nest go?"

" Anywhere except near me," a familiar voice grumbled, a dark lump of fur shifting.

The she-cat growled." Don't mind him. Spikepaw's just a grumpy furball. My name is Grasspaw, by the way."

I dipped my head before we set to work on my nest. Moments later, I had a soft moss nest arranged. I flopped down with a relieved sigh." Ah, this is great. Who knew moss was so cushiony?"

Grasspaw laughed, lying down in her own nest with her paws tucked under her chest. " Well, good night, Amberpaw."

I placed my head on my paws, eyes drooping shut." Good night, Grasspaw," I yawned before letting sleep take over my conscious.