Here's chapter one, folks. Hope you enjoy.

Stoatkit was extremely nervous. Then again, he was always nervous. Being nervous was his thing. He turned his white head to the side of him, seeing his brother, Tigerkit. His blue eyes sparkled as their leader, Wheatstar, addressed them; Stoatkit couldn't feel the same way as his brother.

He glanced behind him, at the nursery, towards his old home. He looked over at the apprentices, Fuzzypaw and Sagepaw, who became ones not too long after they were born. They'd be warriors any day now. And he saw Sandpaw, his eyes glaring at Tigerkit. Stoatkit watched him as he slunk away.

"... Stoatkit!"

The small white tom stumbled, his heart beating as he padded forward. He'd completely tuned out his leader, how shameful! His brother watched him and shouted eagerly, but Stoatkit couldn't feel their excitement. He said nothing as he tuned out his leader once more. "Stoatkit!" Wheatstar snapped, and the white tom glanced up at her with fearful eyes.

"Y-Yes?"

"Come forward, Stoatkit! It's your apprentice ceremony! Do you agree to all of the oaths I have just pledged to you?"

Oh. Right. The apprentice ceremony. The day Stoatkit dreaded and feared, because he'd have to leave the comfort of Pineholly's side and go out into the world. He really didn't want to do that. That was so Tigerkit's thing, adventure. He'd much rather stay in the cave with the warm pools and the elders.

But, he knew he had no choice. He was training to become a warrior whether he liked it or not.

"... I-I do..." he mewled softly and painstakingly. Wheatstar nodded, closing her green eyes and continuing.

"Stoatkit, from now on, you shall be known as Stoatpaw. Your mentor will be Leafclaw." Stoatkit turned his head as he watched the slim brown warrior approach, flicking his tail and flashing his teeth in a somewhat catty smile. He watched Fuzzypaw and Sagepaw giggle a little bit, whispering together. Stoatkit shuddered. "May he pass on his strength and wisdom onto you."

Stoatpaw padded forward, touching noses with his mentor. The crowd gave a small cheer before quieting down. "Tigerkit!" Wheatstar snapped after the cheers, her eyes twinkling at the both of them. Tigerkit padded forward with a bounce in his step.

Stoatpaw went to sit next to Fuzzypaw and Sagepaw, his mentor sitting by Vixenfur. He watched Tigerkit become Tigerpaw and become apprenticed to Shiningeyes, the pretty she-cat with two faces. Stoatpaw cheered loudly for his brother, his eyes lighting up as he padded over.

"Stoatpaw! Tigerpaw! Stoatpaw! Tigerpaw!" the entire clan roared, and Stoatpaw cracked a crooked smile as his brother shouted in happiness beside him. He watched Shiningeyes light up at the sight of her excited apprentice.

Soon, the crowd dispersed. "See you later, Stoatpaw and Tigerpaw!" Fuzzypaw called, and Stoatpaw flicked one of his white ears before turning to his mentor. He never realized just how big Leafclaw was up close, but the brown tabby warrior wasn't grinning with malice. Instead, his gaze was cheerful as he eyed his apprentice.

"Stoatpaw, my first apprentice!" he crowed, and Stoatpaw glanced away shyly when he noticed Shiningeyes and Tigerpaw already leaving the cave. Lucky! He turned back to Leafclaw, who had been praddling on about him finally getting an apprentice. "... you'll love it!"

"What?" Stoatpaw meowed, but it was too late. The fluffy white apprentice had to scramble on all fours to keep up with his mentor. He watched Leafclaw continue trying to banter as he dug his claws into the rock of the cave and heaved himself up and into the outside world. Stoatpaw had to stifle a giggle when he watched Vixenleg and Oatbelly practically trample him on their way in from a hunting patrol.

"Come on, Stoatpaw! Climb up the cave wall!" Leafclaw called, his eyes twinkling with delight. Stoatpaw's heart quickened when he watched Leafclaw disappear over the ledge with a flick of his tail. He gulped, padding up to the rocky cave wall.

He looked around, surprised to not see Tigerpaw. "Leafclaw? Is Tigerpaw up there?" Stoatpaw called, his voice shaking. To his dismay, Leafclaw didn't reappear. Oh well, he thought, putting a paw in one of the divets in the rocky wall. I-I guess I can climb it...

By the time he heaved his plump white body over the cave wall's top, it was sunhigh and Leafclaw had already caught a squirrel. Stoatpaw's chest was heaving as Leafclaw just stood up like it was nothing and padded into the forest, beckoning his apprentice with his tail.

"Leafclaw!" Stoatpaw wailed, struggling to keep up with the warrior. "Leafclaw, please! Slow down, I can't keep up-"

Stoatpaw stopped dead in his tracks as the trees thinned, revealing Hawk's Talon Peak in all it's glory. His heartbeat quickened once more as a breeze rushed through the forest, and he was sure he was going to have a heart attack. Leafclaw was standing their, licking a paw tenderly before getting up and turning to Stoatpaw.

"Okay, Stoatpaw!" he meowed loudly, turning back around and crossing the clearing. "Come here. I'm going to teach you about Hawk's Talon Peak."

Stoatpaw padded up to his mentor and sat down, gazing at the peak. "Hawk's Talon Peak is the most noticable landmark for miles around. If you ever get lost, just look to the skies and see if you can see the peak." he lifted his brown tabby tail and pointed in the direction of a hill, upon which a huge, flowering pear tree sat, it's branches moving in the wind. "That's Hawk's Talon's tree. Hawk's Talon was the name of a noble tom responsible for moving the clans to the area and organizing our way of life. He was loved so much that the cats named the peak after him."

"Woah, and I thought Falconstar was famous!" Stoatpaw breathed, taking in the view. Leafclaw chuckled, before standing up. "Leafclaw? Are we gonna do anything apprentice worthy?"

"Yep!" Leafclaw meowed, heading off into the forest. "The water spitters and pools are over this way. When we reach them, I want you to stay very close to me. I think Heatherfur and Sagepaw are on duty today, so we'll go and see them."

The two went all the way to the water spitters, and found Shiningeyes and Tigerpaw there. "Tigerpaw!" Stoatpaw called, breaking into a run to meet his brother. All of a sudden, Leafclaw grabbed him by the scruff just as a huge jet of water exploded out of the ground, sending Stoatpaw into shock. Shiningeyes and Tigerpaw raced over immediately.

"Stoatpaw, what did I tell you? Stay close to me!" Leafclaw was angry, and Stoatpaw shrunk down, curling his tail around his feet. "Goodness, Stoatpaw! The water spitters can kill a cat, and I don't want to lose my first apprentice before I meet him!"

"I'm sorry, Leafclaw." Stoatpaw mewed quietly, guilt building up inside of him. "I-I'll stay close to you next time."

"Stoatpaw!" Tigerpaw meowed loudly, startling Stoatpaw. "Are you okay? That water spitter really had it out for you! You don't look hurt, just startled. Has Leafclaw taught you any warrior moves yet?" Stoatpaw was still shaken up and not really to answer his brother's questions.

"Tigerpaw!" Shiningeyes warned, and the patched brown tom shrunk back with a catty smile. Shiningeyes glared at her apprentice playfully before turning back to Stoatpaw. "It's okay, Stoatpaw. Now you know not to mess around with the water spitters. Leafclaw, would you two like to accompany us for a training lesson?"

Leafclaw purred deep in his throat, and Shiningeyes padded up right next to him. The two began off into the forest, a flick of their tails beckoning their apprentice's. Tigerpaw flashed a look at Stoatpaw, before he became a flash of white disappearing into the forest. Stoatpaw blinked, racing after his brother, his paws thudding on the forest floor.

Stoatpaw's entire body ached. All he wanted to do was sit down in his mother's nest with a nice thrush that Leafclaw caught. His mind reeled with questions. Since when did Tigerpaw become so fast, and so strong? Here was Stoatpaw, a fluffy white kit who was pudgier than a pigeon!

He padded into the nursery when a voice called out to him. "Stoatpaw! What're you doing, you're not a kit!" Stoatpaw whipped his head around to see Fuzzypaw's head sticking out of the Apprentice's Den, a smirk on her face as she lifted up a paw to hide her giggles. "C'mon! Tigerpaw's being hilarious!"

Stoatpaw felt something go tick, and he twitched his head to the side, before turning around and padding over to the Apprentice's Den. Climbing inside, there was just enough moss and feathers to form a nice, comfy nest right next to his brother and Sagepaw. Tigerpaw was sitting in his nest, slicing off bits of sparrow with his claws and flicking them into his mouth. The apprentices around him were howling with laughter.

Stoatpaw sat their awkwardly, eating Leafclaw's thrush. Then, Tigerpaw let out a loud belch, and even he began to guffaw uncontrollably. They must've been loud, because all of a sudden, there was a little scream when Leafclaw stuck his head inside the den.

"You apprentice's! The warriors are trying to sleep. I suggest you all should go to bed as well!" he flicked an ear, waiting for a response.

"Yes, Leafclaw," all of the apprentices meowed in unison, finishing their meals before snuggling up for the night. All Stoatpaw could think about was how cluttered the den seemed when he drifted off into sleep.

Stoatpaw's dreams became nightmares. He couldn't remember exactly what was happening, but it was dark, and he was scared. A feeling enveloped him that was so indescribable and burning that it tore him apart.

He never wanted to feel like that again.