"Toss it to me, Flamekit! We can beat those furballs!" Shimmerkit cheered as the moss ball went flying through the air. Flamekit caught it in his mouth and flung it into the air. There was a mad dash as Sweetkit came up with it.
"Who's the furball now, huh?" she narrowed her eyes and tossed it to Cloverkit. The brown kit batted it to Featherkit, who pinned it to the ground.
"I win!" she yowled, beaming. "You guys are all losers!" Suddenly Featherkit was shouldered aside by Dustkit. The tabby kit growled at her in a playful way.
"I win!" he said.
"Oh no, you don't!" Featherkit squealed. She jumped on Dustkit and they scuffled. Dustkit pinned Featherkit down.
"Besides, we're better at fighting than you are!" Mintkit added.
"Oakstar's going to make us apprentices today!" Poppykit chimed in. Shimmerkit forgot all about their game.
"Apprentices? Lucky!" she said. They won't have to sleep in the stuffy, crowded nursery, they'll get to hunt and fight…
"Don't worry, your turn will come soon," Poppykit said kindly. "It can't be long now, can it?"
Sweetkit sighed.
"I want it to be now!" Just then Oakstar leaped onto Highrock.
"All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting!" he yowled.
"Look at the state of you!" Mothflight hissed. She quickly groomed Poppykit's fur, while Thrushheart groomed Mintkit and Dustkit.
"Mintkit, come forward." Mintkit trotted to the front. "Bramblenose, you are ready for your first apprentice." Oakstar meowed. "Since you have been a warrior for only two moons, you will still remember what it feels to be an apprentice. Teach Mintpaw how it feels to be a warrior."
Bramblenose dipped his head and touched noses with Mintpaw. Next, Dustkit stepped forward. Oakstar's eyes raked the crowd and rested on Icefall.
"Icefall, you are a great warrior. I trust that you will teach Dustpaw kindness and compassion." Icefall and Dustpaw touched noses.
"Poppykit." Oakstar beckoned her forward. "Your mentor will be Goldenfern. Goldenfern, you have proved yourself worthy of a second apprentice. Teach Poppypaw to be a warrior ThunderClan can be proud of."
"Mintpaw! Poppypaw! Dustpaw!" the Clan cheered. Mothflight and Thrushheart cheered loudest of all, their pelts pressed together and their eyes shining.
Hey guys! Thanks for all the reviews! Thanks to Raven that flies at night for the extra support! There will be apprentices as well as new warriors in the next chapter, so don't forget to read and review!
~Lily