"Emberkit! Emberkit!" Smokekit jumped on her and rolled her over.

"We're becoming 'paws! I would have left you behind," he prattled on, "but Leafstar said we can't perform the ceremony without you. Get up, get up, get up!"

Emberkit finally threw him off. "But we're not six moons old yet!" she gasped.

Smokekit chuckled. "Yes we are, mouse-brain! So come on!"

Emberkit finally slid out of her nest and raced outside. Suddenly, she skidded to a stop as she saw all the eyes staring at her.

"Told you!" Smokekit crowed, and started herding her towards the Rockpile.

"Hurry up," called Ferretkit. Emberkit stood in front of Leafstar, shaking.

She wasn't sure if it was from excitement or fear. Leafstar began speaking.

"This moonhigh, we gather here together to name two new apprentices."

Emberkit and her brothers stood forward as Leafstar recited the words of ancient cats, handed down from leader to leader, for moons and moons and moons.

"From this day forward, until they earn their warrior names, Smokekit will be called Smokepaw. Sharpclaw, you have many skills,

including resourcefulness and ferocity. You will mentor Smokepaw."

Eyes shining, Smokepaw stepped forward to touch noses with the SkyClan deputy."

"Smokepaw! Smokepaw!" chorused the other cats. "Ferretkit will be called Ferretpaw. Blossomheart, you are a new warrior, but you are graceful and talented. Pass on your skills to Ferretpaw." "Ferretpaw! Ferretpaw!"

"Heronkit will be called Heronpaw. Cloudmist, I expect you to pass your faithfulness and intelligence to Heronpaw."

"Heronpaw! Heronpaw!"

"And Emberkit will be called Emberpaw. Hawkwing, you have continually shown your loyalty and courage to your clan. Mentor Emberpaw well."

"I will." Heronwing promised, and bent to touch noses with Emberpaw.

She looked into his eyes and saw a glint of kindliness there, as well as determination.

"Emberpaw! Emberpaw!" "Too bad we can't explore the territory." said Ferretpaw, striding up to them.

"But at least we get to sleep in the apprentices' den with Pebblepaw and Frostpaw."

Emberpaw perked up. She hadn't remembered that.

"C'mon!" cried Ferretpaw. "We need to get lots of sleep so that we can wake up early tomorrow."

"Okay." said Emberpaw warmly, and headed to the apprentice's den.

When she entered, Heronpaw, Pebblepaw, and Frostpaw were alread there.

"Oh no," moaned Frostpaw, a silver-black tabby. "Not another one. What's your name?" she asked, addressing Emberpaw.

"Don't worry about her," mewed Pebblepaw kindly. "She's always crabby."

"I think you mean frosty." Emberkit muttered.

"So you can speak!" Frostpaw cried. "I was beginning to think you were mute."

"There's a spot over here." Pebblepaw called her over to a corner of the cave and scraped some moss together.

Embepaw thanked her, and almost immediately fell asleep.