Chapter 4:

Half a moon passed since the incident where Ivykit snuck out of camp. Ivykit stood next to Snowkit proudly. She couldn't help but feel sadness; Streamflower and Swanstar hadn't returned.

Strongriver rasped words. "Let all cats old enough to gather their own prey join beneath the HighLog (A/N: Someone please tell me what the leader stands on in RiverClan!)."

Ivykit padded closer to the HighLog than any other cat. Strongriver meowed, "We have two apprentices to make. Snowkit, until you are made a warrior, you will be known as Snowpaw. Frostmist, you trained Lilystem well. I expect you to give all the knowledge you have her to Snowpaw."

Ivykit watched her sister in pride as she touched noses with Frostmist. Her sister was so lucky to get a senior warrior as a mentor!

"Ivykit, until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Ivypaw. Reedheart, you've trained Otterfur well. Train Ivypaw with all the intelligence you've given Otterfur."

Ivypaw's eyes gleamed as she touched noses with Reedheart. Her mentor was Reedheart! She whisked her tail gracefully.

"Ivypaw! Snowpaw! Ivypaw! Snowpaw!" The cats cheered. Ivypaw heard Mintsplash's voice, along with Troutpaw's, Sweetriver's, and Lakeheart's. A pang of sadness reached her heart again as she thought of how loud her mother's voice would've been.

Ivypaw glanced at Reedheart. "Can I meet the other apprentices?" She asked.

Reedheart purred. "Of course. May as well get to know everyone."

Ivypaw ran to the apprentices den, Snowpaw behind her. She looked at the two apprentices. Waterpaw came to greet her first.

"Hi! I'm Waterpaw! I guess you already know me. This," She mewed, flicking her tail to a gray and white tom, "Is Icepaw. He's a nice furball. And the oldest."

Ivypaw turned to see the tom, but he was already looking at her. She had to admit, he almost looked cute. The tom finally broke out of his trance, his ears flattening with embarrassment.

"Hi." He meowed curtly before turning his back from her. Ivypaw recoiled slightly. Icepaw didn't seem like a nice furball.

"Well, he's usually a nice furball. I don't really know what's gotten into him." Waterpaw meowed, reading Ivypaw's thoughts. Ivypaw nodded, then looked outside. A short furred, brown tom was sitting down, grooming himself. Ivypaw knew he was Otterfur. She had been good friends with him she was three moons old. At the time, he was an apprentice.

"Hi, Otterfur!" Ivypaw greeted the tom eagerly. Otterfur turned from his grooming, his eyes lighting as he saw her.

"Ivypaw! Congratulations! It's been forever!" He exclaimed, purring. Ivypaw purred back, licking his cheek happily.

"I'm finally an apprentice!" She purred. Otterfur smiled, his eyes showing happiness and... affection?

No, Ivypaw thought, Otterfur is just my friend. He probably doesn't like me. I only like him as a friend. Oh, please don't like me! I'm barely an apprentice!

"Well, uh, I have to go and rest bye!" She stammered without pausing or thinking, running to the apprentice's den. She tried to fall asleep, not understanding why being an apprentice was so complicated. It was only her first day!

Relief stormed through her as she felt Snowpaw snuggle up next to her. With her, she fell asleep, comfort preaching through her bones.

Well, that's Chappie four! I'm really sorry if you think they're short. Promise the next one will be longer. And also, please review! I don't care how short it is, but I love seeing all the views and reviews on this story! Thanks! ❤️