A/N: Longtail's parents: Robinwing and Patchpelt - Graystripe's parents: Willowpelt and Patchpelt
"Dustkit! Dustkit! Guess what!" It was Ravenkit. He came bursting into the nursery, his fur fluffed up with excitement and his eyes wide, barreling straight into Sandkit - who had been about to leave ahead of Dustkit. The two cats scrambled around for a moment, then finally were able to break apart and get back on their paws, Sandkit hissing contemptuously at Ravenkit as she tried to groom down her fur. The black tom completely ignored her anger and instead turned his excited eyes to Dustkit.
"What is it, Ravenkit?" Dustkit demanded, impatient.
"We're becoming apprentices today! Robinwing just went to talk to Bluestar and she said we could be apprentices today!" Dustkit's eyes widended as well, excitement washing over him and cleaning his fur of any agitation he felt before. He suddenly jumped and tackled Ravenkit to the ground, and the two kits rolled out of the nursery bushes, and then broke apart with excited leaps.
"Really? Today!" Dustkit meowed, his tail fluffed up. "It's about time! I feel like we've been in there for moons!"
"You have," came an older voice, and both kits turned to see Bluestar approaching them, her eyes glittering with amusement at their excitement. "Almost six,"
"Bluestar!" Ravenkit squeaked, bowing suddenly very low to the ground. Dustkit followed suit, dipping his head so low his nose brushed the ground.
"Are you ready to become apprentices?" she asked them, and the two lifted their heads, eyes still shining.
"Oh yes, Bluestar!" Dustkit promised, giving a small hop of joy. "Do you know who our mentors will be?"
"You'll find that out when you have your ceremony." her eyes swept the small clearing in front of the nursery, and then she looked at the toms again. "Where is Sandkit?"
"Here, Bluestar," the ginger kit meowed, slipping out of the branches of the nursery, her eyes glinting with jealousy. Behind her came Graykit - now three moons old, barely able to take a few steps before stumbling over - and Willowpelt, eyes shining at her young kit. Their blue-grey leader nodded to Willowpelt, glanced briefly at Graykit with affection, then turned to Sandkit.
"You will become an apprentice, as well, Sandkit. I have just spoken with Brindleface, and she agrees you are ready." at once, the ginger's sulkiness vanished and her ears perked up with happiness as she came to join the other two. "The ceremony will be held at Sunhigh." With that, Bluestar turned and headed towards the fresh-kill pile and then settled down under the High rock with Whitestorm to eat.
"Mother, why can't I be an apprentice?" Graykit mewled from where he had settled down at Willowpelt's feet.
"You're too young, Graykit, but soon." Willowpelt promised, flicking her tail over his ear. "Congratulations to you three. I can't say I'm not relieved though," she added, her voice full of warm teasing.
"You'll be sad to see us go, Willowpelt!" Ravenkit purred, padding over to her and batting Graykit playfully with his paws. "Who'll play with Graykit now?"
"I'm not going to miss you three bothering me while I'm trying to sleep!" she promised them, a gleam in her eyes.
"Ravenkit," Graykit mewed, looking up with big, yellow eyes. "Won't you still come play with me?"
"'Course I will," Ravenkit assured the young kit, and then he turned and hurried back over to Dustkit and Sandkit. "Come on! I'll race ya to the fresh-kill pile!"
"Be careful, kits!" Willowpelt called after them. "Stay out of the way!" her words were lost to the three kits who dashed off gleefully.
...
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath the High Rock for a clan meeting!" Bluestar's familiar call filtered through the nursery brambles, and the three kits who had formerly never been allowed to these meetings darted out eagerly. Their mothers followed slowly, walking side-by-side. When they reached the front of the gathered cats, Dustkit sat between Sandkit and Ravenkit, his tail twitching with eagerness that couldn't be contained. He felt his mother sit in the dust behind him, and saw Brindleface on Sandkit's opposite side out of the corner of his eye. Both mothers leaned down to give each kit a swift cleaning before everyone's attention lifted to Bluestar. She was watching the cats below with glittering eyes. Dustkit wasn't sure if he was right, but there seemed to be an envious glint to her gaze, but it faded quickly and she went on with the ceremony.
"Dustkit, Ravenkit, and Sandkit, you have reached the age of six moons at it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Dustpaw, Ravenpaw, and Sandpaw." there she paused and beckoned Dustpaw forward with her tail. He stepped away from the other two, barely able to walk properly from the joy coursing through him. He glanced briefly around the cats, wondering who would be his mentor.
"Redtail, my noble deputy, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have served this clan in more ways than can be counted and have shown yourself to be brave and loyal. I know you will pass those same qualities down to Dustpaw."
The ginger tom trotted out of the clearing, his eyes bright as he approached his new apprentice. Dustpaw hurried to meet him in the middle and touched noses with his new mentor. Then, they went off to sit on the side of the clearing. The rest of the ceremony named Whitestorm as Sandpaw's mentor, and Tigerclaw as Ravenpaw's mentor. Both cats hurried forward to meet their mentor's and touch noses, then joined Dustpaw with Redtail by the edge of the group. After the ceremony ended, Bluestar jumped down from the Rock and disappeared into her den, while the rest of the clan cheered and gathered round to congratulate the new apprentices.
"Finally, I don't have to share the apprentices den alone!" Longpaw purred, coming up beside of Dustpaw. He was the oldest apprentice in the den now, having started his training before Dustpaw had been kitted. It wouldn't be long now until he was made a warrior. The tabby would already be a warrior, except he had suffered an injury from a border dispute and had been taken out of training for two moons because of it. Thankfully, it healed and he was able to continue training as usual. His mentor was Darkstripe, who was at Tigerclaw's side, eyes glinting.
"I bet we'll be warriors way before you, Longpaw!" Sandpaw teased, her claws kneading the ground. "We'll be such great learners that we'll be apprentices in a moon!"
"You are too ambitious, Sandpaw," her mentor said gently, shaking his white head.
"Perhaps we test those skills now," Redtail suggested lightly. "Care to see the territory?" he directed the question to Dustpaw, who's eyes lit up instantly.
"Absolutely!"
"Can we go too, Whitestorm?" Sandpaw asked eagerly, looking at her mentor hopefully. The tom purred at her and nodded slowly, turning to meet Redtail's gaze. The deputy gave a small nod, permitting Whitestorm to join them on their tour.
"Can we go?" Ravenpaw asked Tigerclaw.
"No," Tigerclaw growled, standing and flicking his tail for Ravenpaw to follow. "We're going to the training hollow. We'll tour the territory tomorrow,"
"But, I want to go with Dustpaw!" Ravenpaw argued, his tail drooping slightly.
"You'll have to learn to live without him. We're going to the training hollow, or you're staying in camp. Which is it?" Tigerclaw scolded, looking at his apprentice sharply. Ravenpaw sent one more look to Dustpaw, then followed Tigerclaw out of camp, his paws dragging.
"That's not fair, is it?" Dustpaw asked Redtail, feeling sorry that his brother couldn't come as well. The last few moons in the nursery, he felt that he and Ravenpaw had only just begun to get along. Now, if Tigerclaw planned on separating their training schedules, they might drift apart again. However, Redtail did not seem to understand this issue, and simply shrugged.
"It is not up to us how Tigerclaw trains his apprentice. Come, before we waste all day talking." the tom lifted his bushy tail and led the patrol out of camp. Sandpaw and Dustpaw walked together, looking around at everything in awe. They had never been outside of camp before, not without lack of trying, anyway. The furthest they'd made it was the ravine, and entering the real forest with towering trees was overwhelming. First, Redtail led them down a path until they came upon a cluster of rocks under the trees. There was a sharp, weird scent coming from the rocks, and both warriors stopped their apprentices from getting too close.
"This is Snakerocks," Whitestorm explained. "When the weather is warm, like today, adders like come out of their dens. We won't go too near, it's very dangerous."
"Yes." Redtail agreed, turning a sharp look on the two younger cats. "Do not come near these rocks without at least one warrior with you, understood?"
"Yes, Redtail," Dustpaw and Sandpaw said together, eyes wide. With a nod, Redtail turned and led them away from the rocks and further in the same direction. Eventually, they came to the edge of the forest, and there was a large gap between them and tall, flat fence. From that direction came a smell that made both apprentices wrinkle their noses. As they watched, taking in everything, they saw a flame-colored kit jump up on the fence, then disappear again into another garden.
"What is that?" Sandpaw asked Whitestorm.
"That is the Two-leg Place." The white warrior explained. "That is where two-legs live with their kittypets."
"It stinks!" Dustpaw commented, and Sandpaw nodded her agreement.
"Wait until we get to the Thunderpath," Redtail told them with amusement lacing his tone. The two apprentices looked at him with wide eyes.
"We're really going to see the Thunderpath?" Sandpaw gasped.
"Oh yes," Whitestorm said seriously, though his eyes glinted at their astonishment. "It's one of the most important places to learn about."
"Do you think we'll see a monster?" Dustpaw wondered as the four cats headed that way. Redtail flicked his tail in response, but did not speak. Dustpaw couldn't help but to wonder how much he'd really learn from his mentor if he refused to speak, but figured he couldn't judge on the first day. There were still many moons of training to go, and Dustpaw was sure Redtail would prove a promising mentor.
...
By the time the patrol entered camp again, the rest of the clan had already eaten and were busy sharing tongues outside of dens. Dustpaw saw his mother sitting outside of the warriors den with Fuzzypelt. The two cats were talking to one another, and from his spot by the entrance of camp, it looked like an argument. While he watched, Fuzzypelt suddenly flicked his gaze over and stood, dismissing Robinwing with a simple flick of his tail and padded forward to greet Dustpaw. The young tom couldn't help but see the pain in his mother's eyes as she watched her mate walk away, and he suddenly felt very angry with Fuzzypelt.
"Dustpaw! I'm sorry I couldn't speak with you before you were off!" Fuzzypelt purred, touching his nose to Dustpaw's in greeting. The rest of the patrol nodded to the other tom, then headed for the fresh-kill pile. Redtail paused briefly to look at Dustpaw.
"Make sure you check to see if the Elders are fed before eating anything." Dustpaw nodded in acknowledgement then looked back at his father.
"Why were you and Robinwing fighting?" he asked, unable to hide the question. Fuzzypelt's eyes darkened briefly, then cleared and were bright as usual.
"That's no worry of yours, Dustpaw. Tell me how your first day of training went!"
Dustpaw frowned and glanced at Robinwing again. She had joined Brindleface and Frostfur closer to the High Rock now, but was still staring straight at Fuzzypelt. The brown tabby twitched his ears and looked up at his father, unsure how he could let him know of his frustration. Deciding that it wasn't worth it, he just sighed and shook his head briefly.
"Maybe later, Father. I wanted to go and get a good spot in the apprentices den. Before that furball Ravenpaw does,"
Fuzzypelt's ears drooped slightly, but he perked them up again instantly, not wanting to lose the dignity he had as a senior warrior of the clan. With a nod of understanding, the older tom turned and walked off, leaving Dustpaw feeling guilty and alone. With another sigh, Dustpaw checked with the elders and - seeing they were well-fed - went back to get himself something from the pile. Picking a small thrush, he dragged it over to eat beside of Sandpaw, who was already halfway done with her vole.
"Hey!" she greeted happily. "I thought you'd eat with Fuzzypelt. He seemed pretty excited to talk,"
"No. I wanted to eat with the apprentices today," Dustpaw lied. He didn't feel comfortable telling any cat how his parents seemed at odds right now. While he ate, spitting out feathers now and then, Sandpaw chattered on about what they had seen today, but he ignored her, eyes trailing around the clearing. Fuzzypelt had joined Whitestorm and Redtail, who were talking pleasantly with Bluestar. Robinwing had finally given up hope that her mate would come speak with her again and was sharing tongues with her two friends. Willowpelt was lounging beside the nursery, Patchpelt sitting beside her, while Graykit rolled around in the dust, letting out squeals of joy every few moments. Though the two cats didn't speak, both were watching Graykit with an equal amount of affection.
Movement at the entrance of camp told Dustpaw that his brother had returned from his training session with Tigerclaw. The black apprentice looked dead on his feet, and was barely able to drag a mouse over to eat by the stump. Longpaw - who had joined them not long before after returning with a hunting patrol - snorted at the cat.
"Looks like you had quite a first day,"
"It was hard!" Ravenpaw huffed, collapsing in the dust beside of Dustpaw. The usual cheeriness that greeted him from his brother's eyes was gone, replaced with exhaustion. "Tigerclaw certainly didn't go easy on me!"
"Well, did you learn anything?" Sandpaw demanded, looking at Ravenpaw with undisguised annoyance. Her dislike of the cat had never been well-hidden, not since the three had all been old enough to play. She always thought he was too weak to be a warrior of any clan, and had started up the hobby of teasing him whenever he did almost anything.
"I guess so. I learned all kinds of fighting moves, but I'll never have remembered them all by tomorrow!"
"It takes practice," Longpaw assured the to. "You'll learn."
"Wait," Dustpaw frowned. "Are you not touring the territory tomorrow either?"
"Oh no, I am! We're going out with the dawn patrol to have a look, then Tigerclaw says I can care for the elders and then we'd be back out in the training hollow." Ravenpaw sounded tired just thinking about all he would be doing tomorrow. If one afternoon of training did this to him, how would a whole day do? Even Sandpaw looked sympathetic.
"Whitestorm promised we'd learn hunting crouches tomorrow," Sandpaw said, lifting her head up happily. "I'm gonna be the best hunter in the clan!"
"Oh yeah?" Dustpaw growled playfully, moving into a crouch. "Well, I'm going to be the best fighter in the clan!" and he leaped at her. She caught his belly with her head, knocking him to the side and then pouncing on him. Dustpaw hissed, trying desperately to get the she-cat off of him, but she was holding him down pretty good. Finally, with frustration, Dustpaw admitted his defeat and she jumped gracefully off of him, landing on her feet with a purr of satisfaction.
"Maybe I'll be the best hunter and fighter." she taunted. Longpaw shook his head, but he looked amused, and then disappeared into the apprentices den. Dustpaw looked around. By now, the moon had risen into the sky, and most of the cats were heading to their dens for the night. A patrol consisting of Mousefur, Fuzzypelt, and Patchpelt were heading out of camp for a last patrol before Dawn. Following the others examples, Dustpaw and Sandpaw slipped into the apprentices den. Ravenpaw was already curled up and sleeping, his nose hidden under his tail, looking sound. Dustpaw dragged some moss over beside him and situated it into a nest, then curled up into it, purring briefly. Finally, he was an apprentice. And soon, he'd be the best warrior this clan ever saw!