Chapter 25: Six Moons.

Today was the day that Heartburn's kits would become apprentices. Thankfully, Bootkit had lived through his fever and was happily playing with his siblings and Toaststar's kits. The leader smiled as he walked up to the highrock, looking down at his clan in pride. He waited for everyone to be in camp before he called a meeting. All of the cats gathered around, and Ricetooth took his place by Toaststar. Heartburn and Salmoncreek tried their best to keep the kits still and clean them, but it was no use as they broke away from their parents and stared up at their leader with bright eyes.
Toaststar smiled, and cleared his throat. "Cats of Thunderclan! Today we are gathered here for one of the most important ceremonies, the naming of apprentices! Dancingkit, Bootkit, Tanglekit! You are all six moons of age, and you shall be named!" The kits jumped around in excitement. "Dancingkit, from this day til you become a warrior, you shall be known as Dancingpaw! Ricetooth, you are ready for an apprentice, you shall train Dancingpaw.
"Bootkit, from this day til you become a warrior, you shall be known as Bootpaw! Hardwhisker, I trust that you will pass down your knowledge onto this apprentice, you shall be Bootpaw's mentor."
And finally. His eyes lied on Tanglekit, he glanced at Normaltail, and they both nodded in unison. "Tanglekit, you asked Normaltail to become her apprentice, and she has accepted. Tanglekit, from this day til you get your medicine cat name, you shall be known as Tanglepaw. Normaltail, you will be trusted to pass down your knowledge and wisdom onto this apprentice."
Everybody cheered for the new apprentices of the clan as they met with their new mentors. Toaststar smiled as he stepped down and made his way towards his kits. Pantherkit looked up at her father with wide yellow eyes. "Um... Dad? When will we be apprentices..?" Whitekit looked at his sister as if she knocked her head, and he answered before his father could. "We still have two moons to go, Pantherkit! You should know that!"
"You don't have to be a jerk about it!"
"I'm not trying to be! I'm just informing you!"
Pantherkit hissed and tackled her brother. The two aggressively wrestled in the dirt, but thankfully they didn't use their claws. Toaststar watched in shock as his children fought over one little thing. Was that how he and Breadclaw were? Suddenly, a voice shouted behind him, and the leader found himself watching Timberwolf and Axtail forcing the kits to stop fighting. Toaststar lowered his head and walked back to his den.

Hours passed, and Toaststar still hadn't retreated from his den. He had decided to take a nap, and was too deep in his thoughts to go outside. A paw then nudged him, and the brown tabby turned his head to see Normaltail. "Toaster, what's this all about?" She sighed, narrowing her eyes. "Why are you moping around? Did something happen?" The leader looked at his mate, and sighed. "Pantherkit and Whitekit fought... I feel like it's my fault." Normaltail paused, and nodded. "Toaster, it's not your fault. Kits are kits, and it was just a small fight. They'll learn. I'm going to make them help the elders with ticks though, I found a few scratches on them. Nothing too serious, though." She reassured, lying down next to her mate. "You should calm down. Everything is okay..." Normaltail licked Toaststar's head and lied her head on her paws.

If only Toaststar could say that.


Sorry about the length of this chapter! I really just want to get started on the next few chapters, and plus, nothing too much happened. I'm sure that the next chapter will be the longest chapter in the story! Have a nice day!