Apart

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath Highledge for a Clan meeting," Firestar yowled from Highledge to the clearing below. Rainkit gave a small squeal of excitement as Firestar finished the calling. As the cats gathered around, Rainkit dashed straight to the bottom of Highledge and waited to be called forward. Squirrelflight shared her excitement too. They have waited six long moons for this moment and now Rainkit was being awarded for her patience.

"Rainkit," Firestar called softly. Rainkit looked up at Firestar just as he flicked his tail for her to come up. Rainkit leaped on the side of the hollow and scrambled onto Highledge. Once she was beside Firestar, he begun.

"This Moonhigh, we gather together to name a new apprentice." -Rainkit scuffled impatiently- "From this day forward, until she has earned her warrior name, this apprentice will be called Rainpaw."

Rainpaw gave a yowl as she shouted her new name, "Rainpaw!" The cats gathered purred amusingly to one another. Squirrelflight gave Rainpaw a stern look and she fell silent.

Firestar gave a short mrrow of laughter before continuing, "Sandstorm, you will train Rainpaw?"

Sandstorm looked surprised; her eyes sparkled with delight of training her own granddaughter. Without hesitation, Sandstorm leaped onto Highledge next to Rainpaw. Rainpaw looked at her soon-to-be mentor with awe and respect. "You a skilled warrior and the best hunter in the Clan, I hope that this skill will pass through you to your new apprentice."

Rainpaw lifted her head so fast Sandstorm moved backward in surprise, but lowered her head and touched noses with Rainpaw. An outburst of cats called out Rainpaw's new name, "Rainpaw! Rainpaw! Rainpaw!"

Rainpaw joined their shouts and cried out her own name, "Rainpaw! Rainpaw!"

Squirrelflight dashed up to Highledge to give her congratulations. However, Firestar was already padded toward Rainpaw but stopped halfway. His eyes narrowed in concentration as he muttered something under his breath. Fear gripped Squirrelflight, had he noticed something? Squirrelflight shook that thought away as Firestar batted Rainpaw's ear playfully and murmured congratulations.

Suddenly, Squirrelflight remembered the little kit she gave to Stormfur. Would he be having his apprentice ceremony tonight?

xoxoxo

"Hello," Mosspelt greeted with a flick of her tail as Stormfur walked in. Flamekit, who was playing with a small ball of moss, looked up at Stormfur, eyes bright with excitement.

"Stormfur!" he cried. Flamekit abandoned the ball of moss and leaped at Stormfur. Stormfur moved out of the way as he landed on the ground. "Guess what!"

Stormfur gave an mrrow of laughter as he already knew what, but decided to let Flamekit tell him. "What?"

Flamekit's fur bristled as he yowled, "I'm going to be an apprentice!"

"Really?" Stormfur teased. "You're growing up so fast. Mosspelt, let's keep him in the nursery for another moon."

With a spit, Flamekit denied, "I've waited six moons for this!"

As Flamekit leaped back at his moss ball Stormfur turned to Mosspelt. "Who is his mentor going to be?"

Mosspelt looked up at him with curiosity but answered, "Hawkfrost."

"Hawkfrost?" Stormfur yowled as he remembered how Hawkfrost knew that Squirrelflight has been coming over, how he had questioned him about Flamekit about a moon after he brought him in. "Why him?"

"Why not?" hissed Mosspelt. "I think he would be a perfect mentor for Flamekit."

"Flamepaw," Flamekit corrected her, looking up from a leaf he just caught.

Mosspelt looked at Flamekit and mewed, "Not yet, Flamekit."

Stormfur ignored Flamekit and spat, "I don't trust Hawkfrost. He has been on my tail ever since I brought in Flamekit."

"I'll talk to Leopardstar, but there is no promising."

The rest of the evening went by slowly for Stormfur, the thought of Flamekit being mentored by Hawkfrost made his fur prickle. When Leopardstar called the meeting, Stormfur was the last to arrive.

"This Moonhigh, we gather here to name a new apprentice," Leopardstar started as Flamekit stood in front of her. "From this day forward, until he has earned his warrior name, this new apprentice will be called Flamepaw."

Flamepaw stayed as still as he could, but nothing could stop his paws from moving up and down. "Stormfur," Leopardstar purred. "Will you train Flamepaw?"

Her question caught Stormfur off guard. He was speechless. Only till a warrior nudged him, did he move toward Flamepaw. "You are a great fighter and a wonderful hunter. Please, pass on this skill to Flamepaw." Stormfur touched noses with Flamepaw, still shocked about being his mentor. Stormfur gave a grateful glance at Mosspelt, she nodded back.

"Stormfur," Leopardstar called as the Clan started to chant his new name. "Tell me how his training goes; I'll determine if he can go to his first Gathering."

"T-thank you, Leopardstar!" Stormfur stuttered pitifully but he didn't care. Nothing could go wrong now!

Well? R&R!