Chapter one

"Honestly, Grasskit, You're twitchier than a half-dead fly!" The little tabby, Grasskit, Looked up into his mother's eyes. "Well I'm Aloud to be a-sided aren't I?" He asked. The queen nodded. "Well, that's no excuse to speak wrong. Now, sit up straight. Reedstar will be calling for us soon."

Tail-tip twitching, Grasskit looked around. His wasn't the only exited face in the den. There was Ashenkit, His brother, And Yarrowkit and Graykit. Those two were only five moons old, but Reedstar, WeedClans leader, said that they were ready.

"I don't get it mother, why is our ceremony so special? Taverntail and Sunfoot only became warriors two dawns ago." That was Ashenkit; He was called this because of the Light gray flecks on his Smokey gray body. "Well Ashenkit, There has never been a time in WeedClan history that a clan has had so little apprentices. Imagine how Alone Yellowpaw Must has felt!" Said Rusttail, His mother. "Yes, That and the fact that I Were /I so smart, we diddn't Have to wait another moon."

Grasskit turned to the golden brown shape of Yarrowkit. "Oh come off it. You know your no better then me or the others!"

"Oh really? Wanna prove it?" And with that, Grasskit and Yarrowkit were locked in a kit-combat. Until Gingertail, Yarrowkits mother, pulled them apart. "Really!" She exclaimed" I should have expected better manners from you Grasskit! And Yarrowkit! You shouldn't be so rude!!"

Grasskit politely bowed his head and murmured "Yes Gingertail" Yarrowkit did the same, only saying, "Yes, Mother."

Suddenly the call rang out

"All cats old enough to climb the clan walls, Join beneath Highledge for a clan meeting!"

"About time." Grumbled Yarrowkit. All the kits and the queens exited the thorn bush that was the nursery. All around them, the warriors were there. Grasskit tried to look confident as he approached Highledge where Reedstar sat. Reedstar was a cherry brown tom with glinting yellow eyes, like jewels of wisdom

."Welcome." he rasped" We are here today to give these kits their apprentice names." He paused for a moment, surveying the kits.

"Yarrowkit, you first, come up." Grasskit watched as Yarrowkit calmly walked to the foot of the rock and stared up at Reedstar. "Yarrowkit, you are strong and clever. These are good attributes for an apprentice into warriorship. And for this I assign you Badgerclaw. He is also strong and shall lead you well." Grasskit watched as the big Black-and-white tom Approached Yarrow i paw /i and touched noses.

"Graykit, You next." Shakily, Graykit got to her paws and slowly walked under the ledge. "Graykit, you are silent and shy. But do not hang your head. These are fine attributes in a strong huntress. So I assign You Redfoot, Our Clans best Hunter."

Anonymous Purrs came within the clan. Reedstar had made a wise choice. "Grasskit. Please come up."

Trying to look confident, Grasskit walked. Once he was facing the stone Reedstars Raspy voice seemed to echo through him. "Grasskit, you are wise. I have watched you and have seen how you never do anything without thinking properly about it. But at the same time, you still have a kittish aura surrounding you. For this, I assign you Pinewhisker. He may be one of our newer Warriors but that is a good thing. For I think He can teach you anything you need to know." Grasspaw nodded slightly and turned to face his new mentor. Pinewhisker was a black tom with a semi-Brown tail and brown underbelly. His eyes were a deep Pine Green, Thus, Earning him his name.

"That leaves you, Ashenkit." From the side of his new mentor, Grasspaw watched his brother slowly approach Highledge. At first, He could no figure out why His whiskers twitched so excitedly. Then he realized...There was only one cat that could mentor him! Reedstar! As his body filled with excitement, He watched the ceremony.

"Ashenkit, you hold the wise quality of your kin, But at the same time are like a bolt of lightning, Striking in many different places doing everything you can to change the situation. And for this I assign you..."Grasspaw thought he heard Reedstars Voice falter slightly as he meowed

"Taverntail."

Anxious murmurs erupted amongst Grasspaw. As The Extremely new warrior, Taverntail Approached Ashenpaw. It was clear to Grasspaw, and the rest of the clan, The Ashenkit was hiding a cry of outrage. As Taverntail awkwardly Bent his face to touch noses, It almost seemed as if Ashenkit was going to refuse. But, Even Ashenkit wouldn't break the law of Star Clan.

Later that night the four new apprentices rested in their den. "I just don't get it. Why would Reedstar assign me such an inexperienced Mentor?" Mewed Ashenpaw.

"Because Reedstar didn't think you were a good enough kit to train." Answered Yarrowpaw wryly."Oh stop it Yarrowpaw! That's cruel!" That was Graypaw, Who had settled in the back of the cave. Grasspaw didn't know how to feel. He knew he should feel happy that he was finally an apprentice, but poor Ashenpaw was drowning in his own pity.

Suddenly the sunset light that filtered into the cave faltered and Taverntail Approached. "Hey... Um, how 'bout you guys go get your first piece of fresh-kill as apprentices?" The apprentice's all jumped to their paws.

"Go on," meowed Taverntail "You earned it."

All the apprentices quickly surrounded the fresh-kill pile in search of their own choices.

The biggest thing in the fresh kill pile was a large rabbit. Ashenpaw leaned down to grab it but before he could, Yarrowpaw snatched it up. Grasspaw Quickly took a Vole and headed toward the den entrance.

"Mouse-dung." Growled Ashenpaw "I really wanted that rabbit. Yellowpaw says their hardest to catch."

"Why don't you just go share with Yarrowpaw?" Grasspaw suggested "There's enough for both of you."

Ashenpaw nodded and approached Yarrowpaw.

Playfully, He nipped at the rabbit, a sign of sharingness. But Yarrowpaw didn't respond with the usual Purr and share routine. Instead, He hissed in Ashenpaws Face and growled "I only share i my /i Fresh kill with i Real /i Warriors."

Ashenpaw wouldn't take this as an answer. Instead he growled fiercely and grabbed hold of the rabbit's leg.

"No!" Hissed Yarrowpaw, And Increased his grab in the rabbit's scruff. For a moment neither made a sound as they struggled to get the rabbit. Then, Out of nowhere, Insults began to fly. "Fox dung!" "Mouse-brain!" "Stupid Lump!" "Unworthy apprentice!"

The last insult seemed to send a hush through the whole clan as they waited for Ashenpaws Reply. Suddenly he dropped the Rabbit and sprang at Yarrowpaw without warning. For a moment the two cats were locked in a screaming rolling war. Finally, Badgerclaw and Taverntail broke up the fight. Both cats fur was standing up and Ashenpaw was now clinging to the Rabbits leg.

"Badgerclaw was the first to speak."How dare you Yarrowpaw! What were you thinking? And your first night as an apprentice as well!"

Even though he was young, Taventail Had no trouble finding words to Discipline for Ashenpaw. "Ashenpaw! I expected better of you! Is this how you act on your first night as a real clan member?"

At first, neither kit made a sound, then, there was a chorus of "But!" and "I-I mean He-!" But neither mentor cared."You can go to bed Hungry, Both of you!" Growled Taverntail.

For a moment Grasspaw thought that Yarrowpaw was going to say something but he left with a hiss towards the den. Ashenpaw Quickly darted towards the other end of camp to toss the rabbit to the elders then head for bed.

"Fools." The voice came from behind Grasspaw. He turned around to see Graypaw sitting behind him with a Starling in her Jaws.

Politely, Grasspaw nodded as Graypaw sat down next to him." I Mean were all apprentices, No matter who our mentor. How Could Yarrowpaw do that?" The question was redundant, but Grasspaw answered anyway.

"Yarrowpaw Just has an opinion that isn't exactly right. He'll See that Ashenpaws as good him soon." Graypaw nodded slowly and finished her prey. "Well, whatever happens, I'm sure everything will be all right."