Brightkit licked her paw absentmindedly. A moon had passed since Pinetail died and the Clan was still full of confusion and uncertainty. RiverClan, so far, couldn't be blamed, but that didn't stop some cats from whispering about RiverClan plots. Brightkit sighed. She couldn't understand why everyone didn't just listen to Tawnystar. If he said the Clan was safe, why should anyone worry?
"Good morning, Brightkit," Larkwing mewed softly from the shadows of the nursery. She had moved in only a few sunrises ago, though her belly was already swollen with kits.
"Sorrelflower will be glad for the company. Handling you two is quite the task," Smokefoot had meowed.
"Good morning," Brightkit replied. "Would you like me to fetch you something from the fresh-kill pile?"
"No, I can get something myself." Larkwing padded out of the nursery, rather swiftly for a queen close to her kitting, Brightkit thought.
Just then, Sedgekit dashed from the elder's den over to where Sorrelflower was sunning herself. They spoke, too far away for Brightkit to hear, then Sedgekit hopped to Brightkit.
"I just finished my moon taking care of the elders!" he mewed.
Brightkit cuffed him over the ear. "You barely did anything, just sat around and listened to them tell stories."
Sedgekit scoffed, "You're just jealous that I was like an apprentice for a whole moon while you were still only a kit."
"How about you become an apprentice now, and take care of the elders every moon?"
Sedgekit leaped at Brightkit and pinned her to the ground. "Don't speak that way to an apprentice!" he yowled, playfully.
Brightkit batted his face with her paw. "I won't, when you're actually an apprentice."
"Come now, kits." Sorrelflower had gotten up and was walking toward them. "Don't get yourselves dirty."
Sedgekit released Brightkit, who began licking the dirt out of her fur. Sedgekit shook himself, sending bits of dirt everywhere.
"Hey, watch it!" Brightkit squealed.
"Sorry." Sedgekit brushed her again-dirtied fur with his tail.
"Why don't you help Brightkit get clean and then the both of you can be at the ceremony," Sorrelflower meowed.
Sedgekit snapped his head to look at her. "What ceremony?"
"Longpaw is becoming a warrior. Mostly, kits don't attend that sort of ceremony, but perhaps you can come," Sorrelflower leaned closer to Sedgekit. "If you promise to be good."
"I will!" Sedgekit mewed excitedly.
"I'll be good, too," Brightkit added, more calmly than her littermate.
Sorrelflower touched Brightkit's nose with her tail. "I know." She turned and padded to where Smokefoot and Dawnfrost were sharing tongues.
Brightkit finished cleaning herself while Sedgekit bounced around her.
"This is going to be great. A warrior ceremony!"
"Any cat would think it's your ceremony, the way you're acting," Brightkit meowed. "You're more excited than a-"
Her voice was cut off as Tawnystar shouted the call for a Clan meeting from the Highrock.
Sedgekit shot off into the middle of the clearing, with Brightkit hurrying after him. "We should sit near Sorrelflower!" she called after him. Sedgekit stopped and thought for a moment.
"Okay." He raced to the other side of the clearing where Sorrelflower had gone. He skidded to a halt a mouse-tail from the queen. "Let's go sit at the front!" he mewed.
"We should let those involved in the ceremony and the senior warriors sit at the front," Sorrelflower responded. Gently, she added, "We can see fine from a little farther back."
Brightkit, having finally caught up with Sedgekit, followed Sorrelflower to the middle of the rapidly forming circle of cats.
Once all the Clan was gathered, Tawnystar began to speak. "Longpaw, come forth."
Brightkit spotted the ears and tail tip of the cat she saw in the apprentice's den her first day out of the nursery, figuring that was Longpaw.
"I, Tawnsytar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in their turn." Tawnystar leaped down from the Highrock. "Longpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do." Longpaw's meow was calm and confident. I don't think I'll be this calm when I'm made a warrior.
Tawnsystar spoke again, much louder, "The by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Longpaw, from this moment you will be known as Longstripe. StarClan honors your courage and loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."
Tawnsytar rested his muzzle on Longstripe's head and Longstripe licked his shoulder, then every cat began calling, "Longstripe, Longstripe!"
Sedgekit and Sorrelflower joined in. Brightkit jumped at the sudden noise, but began calling with them, raising her head to the sky. "Longstripe, Longstripe!" I can't wait for the whole Clan to greet me like this.