Owlkit nudged his mother, Robinfeather, away from his head. The red pelted she-cat stopped grooming the large kit's fur for just a moment before continuing her work. "Mother, I'm clean! I don't need to be more properly groomed than this!" He squealed in protest. Alongside him were his siblings, Otterkit and Hailkit, previously cleaned by their mother.

"It's your big day, Owlkit. Your apprentice ceremony. You would not want to look poor for your future mentor," Robinfeather remarked. A rustle of leaves was heard as two large toms made their way into the den.

"Father!" Hailkit squeaked, rushing past her brothers to meet a bluish-gray tabby tom, Jaypelt. Gently, the tom placed his nose on his daughter's forehead. Hailkit accepted the gesture as Otterkit approached beside her. "Is Dawnstar almost ready? I cannot wait any longer!" Hailkit added, bouncing on her paws.

"Not much longer, my eager kit," Jaypelt promised. Foxcry, Robinfeather's littermate, approached his sister. He leaned against her, as if they were still kits, looking at his nephew. Owlkit looked at the tom with large eyes. He had always noticed how Foxcry seemed a little too watchful of him. But it was surely just the tom looking out for his sister's kits? Shaking his head, Owlkit perked his ears as he heard his leader.

"Let all cats old enough to swim gather to hear my words!" Dawnstar yowled. Quickly, all three kits were to their paws. Owlkit, Otterkit, and Hailkit raced to the front of the clearing beneath Wetrock, Robinfeather and Jaypelt close behind them. Owlkit watched as a flurry of cats circled them, a vivid mixture of colors blending together as the cats swarmed them. Within that group, Owlkit attempted to seek out Snowberry, his assumed mentor.

"Delicately, delicately, Owlkit."

The tom relished the memory of his first time helping Snowberry with herbs. Usually, kits were not allowed to help with those particular duties, but it was a simple task with common herbs, so Snowberry took advantage of the opportunity for Owlkit to learn.

Now, finally locating the bluish-gray she-cat, Owlkit noticed that she wasn't looking at him. Instead, her now cold, crystal blue eyes were focused on Dawnstar, who was beginning the ceremony. One by one, his littermates' names were called, each given a mentor. Coldscar was paired with Otterkit, and Willowwatcher with Hailkit. Both fitting. He approved of Dawnstar's choices.

"Owlkit," Dawnstar finally announced. Puffing his chest out with pride, Owlkit made his way towards Wetrock, leaving his littermates behind him with their new mentors. "From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Owlpaw. Your mentor will be Nightbreeze."

Nightbreeze?!

Owlpaw's gaze shifted from Snowberry to Nightbreeze, the rigid deputy who watched over the ceremony like a hawk watching its prey. He was harsh and strict, the Warrior Code flowing through his veins. This was going to be his mentor?

As soon as the initial shock faded, Owlpaw quickly raised his voice in protest. "I don't want Nightbreeze as a mentor! I wanted to be a medicine cat! Snowberry said I could!" He was quick to turn his head to Snowberry, who was already looking away. Owlpaw felt his father's tail on his shoulders.

"Owlpaw, not now. We will discuss this later," Jaypelt replied. Nightbreeze gave the young cat an even harsher gaze, already sizing up his apprentice.

Lost for words, all Owlpaw could do was wait for the ceremony to end. Wait for the nightmare to end. Finally, Dawnstar dismissed the Clan, and allowed the new apprentices' mentors to show them around the territory.

Both Hailpaw and Otterpaw raced alongside their mentors eagerly, longing to leave camp. But Owlpaw was not the least bit interested, and nor was his mentor. Nightbreeze took a few steps towards Owlpaw, leaving his position beside Dawnstar behind. "You acted as foolish as a fish," he said, harshly. That was enough to snap Owlpaw out of his thoughts.

"I had discussed it with Snowberry already. She told me that I was going to be a medicine cat, not a Warrior. I had to correct Dawnstar," Owlpaw replied, not sparing a single glance at his mentor.

"Dawnstar knows what she is saying. I was assigned you as an apprentice, not Snowberry, and that's that. If StarClan willed you to be a medicine cat, Snowberry would've interrupted that ceremony when you did," Nightbreeze pointed out. "Now, because of your little tantrum, I've decided that we will not be touring the territory today, unlike your littermates. Instead, I want you to learn to clean the elder's nests. Acornpaw!"

An older apprentice was quick to scurry over, not questioning any of Nightbreeze's words. All of the older apprentices knew better than that.

"Acornpaw, I want you to show Owlpaw how to tend to the elders. Make sure he gets the hardest work."

With a nod, Acornpaw led Owlpaw to the elder's den, sticking to Nightbreeze's words.