---Chapter Six---

Days after the argument with the ShadowClan warriors next to the border, Brambleclaw and Flamepaw returned to camp with their mouths full of prey to find that most of their clanmates were already gathering under the Highledge. It had been a few weeks into Flamepaw's training and it was about time that Moonkit, who was not much younger than himself, was apprenticed. After placing the prey on the fresh-kill pile, Flamepaw raced ahead to take a seat by his sister, Foxpaw, but before he could another cat rammed into his side. He fell sideways and immediately scrambled back up on his feet. Looking around, he saw Yellowkit staring up at him playfully.

"You're looking well." He commented, noticing that the young she-cat seemed to have more energy now than she ever had in her short life.

"Cinderpelt found a remedy for my disease at last!" Yellowkit said, waving her tail excitedly. "I still have to stay in her den for a while longer. But I feel better already!"

Flamepaw purred and rubbed his flank against hers. He was glad to see his best friend out of the medicine-cat's den and looking lively. He realized her pelt was looking a little glossier, and her eyes were bright and happy. However, he couldn't help noticing that she still seemed quite pale.

"Hurry up you two." Brambleclaw advised as he brushed passed them. "You don't want to miss your brother's apprentice ceremony, do you Yellowkit?"

Yellowkit looked up at the tabby warrior with big, amber eyes. "No of course not!" She squeaked.

Brambleclaw cuffed his daughter on the head lightly and together all three of them joined their clanmates under the Highledge where Firestar sat, waiting. Flamepaw settled down next to Foxpaw with the warrior, Birchfoot. He couldn't help but notice the warrior gazing at Moonkit with hunger in his eyes. He guessed that Birchfoot was dying to have his own apprentice soon, but Flamepaw already knew he would not be receiving Moonkit. Birchfoot had just become a warrior just a moon or two ago and it was not likely that Firestar would choose him already to be a mentor.

Once the crowd of cats fell silent, Firestar called Moonkit over. Flamepaw could instantly see the resemblance that the tiny kit had with his father. They both had broad shoulders and muscular bodies, although Moonkit obviously hadn't even started his training yet. Each of the cats' eyes had the same shade of amber in them too. The only real difference was their pelt. Moonkit, like his sister, looked more like Goldenflower with a yellowish pelt that seemed to shine like the sun. Moonkit's fur, however, was just a little bit more faded as if fog was clinging to his pelt so that you couldn't see the full goldeny glow. Altogether, it made him appear more creamish in color, hence why they named him after the pale-colored moon.

There was something strange about Moonkit that Flamepaw didn't quite understand. The shy tom hardly ever played with the other kits and when he did, he barely participated in their games. He hardly talked to, and thinking back, Flamepaw couldn't remember the last time he ever heard the kit speaking. Yellowkit, on the other hand, was quite opposite when she was feeling well, of course.

"When will I become an apprentice?" Flamepaw could hear Yellowkit whining to her father a little ways behind him. The flame-colored apprentice turned his head to see Brambleclaw give her a quick lick over the ear.

"Soon, darling, soon..." The large tabby warrior's eyes were clouded with sorrow. Flamepaw knew that it would be a while before the sickly she-cat was assigned a mentor. Even though Cinderpelt had finally found something to make her feel better, it would still take some time for her to fully recover. Although Moonkit and Yellowkit were the same age, the cream-colored tom would probably be well into his training before his sister ever joined him, Flamepaw thought painfully. He flicked his ears and instead tried focusing on the ceremony. Yellowkit had awoken him just in time to hear Firestar call out, "Until this apprentice has earned his warrior name she shall be known as Moonpaw."

Moonpaw made no sound or movement but merely waited as Firestar finished his speech and his new mentor, Sootfur, came up to touch noses with him. Even though Flamepaw did not particularly like Moonpaw, he still felt a jolt of happiness.

"So many apprentices!" He commented.

"Yes," Foxpaw agreed. "ThunderClan will have more strong warriors in no time!" Flamepaw nodded and began looking around at the cats sitting beneath the Highledge who were now chanting Moonpaw's name over and over again. He thought that this must have been the largest amount of apprentices that ThunderClan has had in the longest time. There was Flamepaw himself, his two siblings Foxpaw and Rollingpaw, the newly named Moonpaw, and Sunpaw and Thistlepaw.

Sunpaw and Thistlepaw were both older apprentices and were the first litter of Sorreltail and Brackenfur. Sunpaw was a pretty pale ginger she-cat with amber eyes and her brother, Thistlepaw, was a mirror image of his father. Both were good hunters and exceptionably strong fighters, but they were also headstrong and a bit snobbish at times which was mainly why Flamepaw tried to avoid them. Right now, the two of them were whispering to each other and laughing as they eyed Moonpaw. Probably making jokes about him as usual, Flamepaw guessed.

The dark ginger apprentice sighed as he watched Yellowkit jumping up and down in front of her brother as more cats gathered around him to congratulate him. Flamepaw had been tired after hunting with Brambleclaw all morning long and wanted nothing more but to take a nice, peaceful nap. He trotted over the apprentice's den but before he reached the entrance, a loud gasp followed by the sounds of murmuring cats caught his attention. As he turned his head he saw a dark gray tom with eyes a blue as the lake burst into the camp and make his way over to the nursery. The only thing that was slowing the tom down from running at full speed was the fact that he was carrying two desperate, mewling kits in his mouth.