A few sunrises had passed since the announcement of Fireheart's death. Forcing herself to move, Bluestar exited her den and sat in the shade of the Highrock. She scanned the Clan, feeling the solemnness of energy. She had grown used to this feeling, this air, that followed the death of a Clanmate. Her heart ached upon knowing her former apprentice is dead, but even more so when seeing Sandstorm go about her duties.
The sandy she-cat's head was lowered and her tail drooped, but never dragged on the ground. Her voice was quiet and gruff, thick with grief. She wasn't her spunky, feisty self. Bluestar had noticed a slight swelling to Sandstorm's belly, recognizing the look of a pregnant queen. Though, her and Fireheart had spent more time together before they left for this "mission".
In the sunrises that went by, Bluestar had named Cinderpaw and Brackenpaw warriors - Cinderfire and Brackenfur. Cinderfire after Fireheart, and Brackenfur after Frostfur. Brackenfur had been noticeably trying to cheer his sister up. She had been seemingly down and less energetic than usual, which Bluestar had deemed understandable.
However, she felt like she was forgetting something. Resting her gaze on Tigerclaw and Goldenflower, a warm feeling crept into her chest. Tigerclaw gave the golden queen a swift lick to her ear before turning and grooming Tawnykit. Goldenflower did the same to Bramblekit. That's it, Bluestar thought.
She bunched her muscles in her hind legs before springing onto the Highrock. Most of the Clan was already gathering, but she called for the rest of the warriors. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here, beneath the Highrock, for a Clan meeting!"
Once the Clan was gathered, she began the ceremony by gazing at the kits. Tigerclaw sat next to her on the Highrock, amber eyes shining pridefully. Tawnykit's dappled tawny fur shined in the sunlight, and Bramblekit's eyes, identical to his fathers, glistened excitedly. "Tawnykit and Bramblekit," Bluestar projected, "you have both reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed."
She looked at Tawnyit. "Tawnykit, from this day on, until you received your warrior name, you will be known as Tawnypaw. Your mentor will be Brackenfur. I hope he will pass down all he knows onto you."
Turning her head to face the brown-golden tabby, she meowed, "Brackenfur, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have received excellent training from Graystripe, and you have shown yourself to be patient and loyal. You will be Tawnypaw's mentor, and I expect you to pass on all you know to her."
Brackenfur dipped his head to the ThunderClan leader. "Thank you, Bluestar," he mewed. Touching his nose to Tawnypaw's, he told her, "I'll do as best as I can to teach you everything you need to know."
"Tawnypaw! Tawnypaw!" the Clan chanted.
The new mentor led his apprentice over to sit down. Tawnypaw watched enthusiastically while her brother received his name and mentor.
"And Bramblekit," she announced, "from this day on until you received your warrior name, you will be known as Bramblepaw. Your mentor will be Sandstorm." An apprentice might help distract her.
"Sandstorm," she meowed, the she-cat staring up at her. "I believed you are also ready for an apprentice. you received outstanding training from Whitestorm, and you have proven yourself to be observant and level-minded. You will be Bramblepaw's mentor, and I expect you to pass on all you know to him."
Sandstorm nodded her head, then pressed her nose to the small tabby's. "I'll do my very best," she mewed.
"Bramblepaw! Tawnypaw!" the Clan cheered, individual voices becoming one.
Bluestar let them celebrate for a little while longer before silencing them with a swish of her tail. Her sapphire-blue gaze swept across the Clan to lay on Cloudpaw. Cloudpaw sat hunched over and eyes glazed, grief clearly striking the apprentice harshly.
"There is one last order of business," Bluestar meowed. "Cloudpaw still needs a new mentor to finish his training. I've thought about it, and I have decided I will finish Cloudpaw's training."
Small gasps and murmuring rippled throughout the gathered warriors. It wasn't ever day an apprentice was mentored by the Clan leader. To Bluestar, it felt right to finish Cloudpaw's training in Fireheart's place. Breaking the surprise, her and Tigerclaw jumped down from the Highrock to signal the end of the meeting.
Tigerclaw trotted over to Tawnypaw and Bramblepaw, touching his nose to each of theirs. His eyes sparkled with the pride Bluestar wished Pinestar had shown him. She overheard Goldenflower exclaimed, "Now just because neither of you are in the nursery doesn't mean you can disobey your mentors. If I hear you disobey or disrespect them, I swear to StarClan you'll be in trouble with me too. Understand?"
"Yes, ma'am," Bramblepaw chirped, his sister echoing him.
Bluestar padded to the freshkill pile. She grabbed herself a sparrow and started back towards her den. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Graystripe slipping out of camp. He's been acting weird ever since Fireheart was pronounced dead. Whether it was out of grief or something else, Bluestar didn't know. All she knew is something was off and she needed to get to the bottom of it.
I've got my eye on you, Graystripe.