Author's note:

Hello readers. I noticed all of your reviews and I decided on something rather interesting. Instead of me picking who will fall in love with whom, I will let ya'll decide. If there's a sort of rivalry between two, I might make that a love triangle of something. I will keep an eye out for those when they begin to pile in. Anyways, back to the story.

Ouka-noir

After what I began to believe was the worst day of my life, I found that while things like what happened to Morningdawn do happen, things always have a way of getting back on track. One way or another, that is. As leaf bare turned to new leaf, just as Frailwhisker told us during a rather nasty blizzard, my nursery mates began to explore the world their brothers and sisters could only see from the stars. Their names were Fallowkit and Stonekit; in honor of the great badger spirit from that once rescued a leader from our clan's past and in honor of Morningdawn's sister, who had died as a young kit.

For some odd reason, Fallowkit seems to have taken an odd liking to me. I asked Mama about it and if I should be worried for him. She just nudged me and said that I should only worry for myself. I don't know what she meant by that, but, then again, I feel as though only Papa ever seems to understand her.

I watched them as they shared tongues under a large weeping willows leaves. Frailwhisker explained to me once that that was where my mother had been found once, when she was young. I tried to ask why, but she refused to say anymore on the subject. As I continue to grow, as do my brothers, both of whom find fun in trying to sneak up on me while I sun bathe. I wish they would learn to be gentlemen already.

Blossomkit and Shadekit have become apprentices; Blossompaw and Shadepaw under the tutelage of Lilyfur and Spottedwing. Wolfkit would have been an apprentice, had he not snuck out of camp and wound up crossing the ThunderClan border. Papa and Wolfstar were very unhappy about that matter, that scruffy ThunderClan cat accused our clan of sending a kit to spy on them. As far as excuses go, that has to be one of the better ones. Wolfkit's punishment was his apprenticeship; it had been pushed back by two moons, the time when my littermates and I would become apprentices. He seemed rather ecstatic about, if I do say so myself.

"I mean, it is pretty cool," Wolfkit insisted, his mouth full of squirrel guts. I was thoroughly disgusted but pushed my nausea aside in order to respond. "It shouldn't be 'cool', Wolfkit, you're being punished. A punishment shouldn't be 'cool'. It's supposed to teach one something important," I insisted, picking a slim thrush from the pile of fresh-kill. I ate as he tried to come up with a comeback.

"Go easy on him. He's just excited is all," Thrushwing pointed out from her place, picking up a shrew from the pile. "You should be, too, Mistkit. Today, you both become apprentices after all."

I watched her as she found a place beside Blossompaw and Ravenfeather. She always seemed rather lonely; maybe she was hoping to have an apprentice by now. Whatever the case was, she had a point. Compared to my brothers, whom I assumed were making mischief again, I wasn't nearly as excited as one my age should be.

In fact, I felt only dread settling in the pit of my stomach. My pelt bristled at the thought of being an apprentice and I had no idea why. Wolfkit seemed to notice this and prodded me playfully on the shoulder. "Don't worry," he mewed, trying to sound reassuring.

For a brief moment, I assumed he knew what I was going through.

He didn't.

"I bet you'll get a great mentor! Maybe I could get Cloudsplotch; I heard from Oakpelt that he was actually a really great teacher. He apparently substituted for Dustypelt when he came down with greencough and taught Oakpelt some awesome fighting tricks and-"

I released an annoyed sigh and stood without taking a bite from my thrush. I doubt he even noticed. Mintleaf met me at the entrance to the nursery, ushering me in happily. "Featherstar will be announcing the ceremony soon." Her voice was soft but filled with happiness. I allowed her to run her tongue between my ears as I began to think about everything that would happen soon. I would leave my mother, Morningdawn, Stonekit and Fallowkit and join the apprentices in a new den; all except for Oakpaw and Lionpaw.

Both had become warriors a little less than two moons ago: Oakpelt and Lionstripe. Since they had become warriors, things had gotten a little less hectic around camp; Oakpelt was vying to get an apprentice in order to be eligible for the deputy position. Lionstripe seemed to care less about having an apprentice, as Blossompaw informed me.

Oakpelt may very well get his wish.

"There," Mintleaf took a step back to admire her handy work. She had done a rather good job at smoothing out my long pale fur. I gave her a pleased grin and a purr of amusement as I noted my brothers. They both scowled at me. "How can you stand that? Mintleaf still treats us like kits!" Graykit yowled, trying to launch himself at me.

As luck would have it, I side-stepped him and watched as he landed on the pine needle layered floor. "Graykit" -Snowkit muttered- "we are kits, remember?"

"Not for much longer! We'll be apprentices and then nobody can do that to us!" Graykit puffed out his chest with pride at the thought.

Warmth spread through me when I thought about being a warrior, it excited me. And now, I was going to be one step closer to being one.

"All cats old enough to catch their own prey join below High Oak for a Clan meeting!"

My littermates perked and glanced to Mintleaf who gave a small nod. "It's time." I straightened, letting out a relieved sigh before Mintleaf lead us out of the nursery to join Wolfkit below High Oak. As we moved to the elder kit's side, the clan began to swarm the space before the large elder oak tree. Nightfeather led Frailwhisker and Sandpelt to a shaded area close to the medicine cat's den, helping Frailwhisker along so not to let her fall. Blossompaw and Shadepaw sat alongside their mentors as they waited for their brother to receive his name. Lionstripe accompanied Oakpelt and Ivyheart near the front. Oakpelt stretched his claws into the dirt, waiting for the announcements.

I watched him and prayed to StarClan that I didn't get apprenticed to him. "The clan has had a harsh winter with the terrible loss of kits and elders alike, but still ShadowClan continues to grow and flourish." Featherstar directed parts of the statement towards Morningdawn and Thrushwing, who bowed their heads in thanks to his words. "Now, we have four new apprentices who deserve their names. Wolfkit, step forward."

Wolfkit did so, looking up at the large tom with gleaming eyes. "Until he earns his warrior name, Wolfkit shall be known as Wolfpaw. Dustypelt, will you teach this apprentice in the ways of our warrior code and grow to be a warrior of our clan?"

Dustypelt took a step forward. "I will do my best, Featherstar." Wolfpaw turned and ran to his mentor.

This cycle of naming and choosing who would get which apprentice. Graypaw was assigned to Thrushwing while Snowpaw was assigned to Cloudsplotch. All of them sat alongside Mintleaf, whose chest swelled with pride. My pelt had been buzzing with excitement since we had entered the clearing and grew even more as the time for my naming approached.

"Mistkit, step forward, please." Featherstar watched me with kind green eyes. When I stepped forward, he began to speak to the rest of the clan. "From this day forward, until she receives her warrior name, Mistkit shall be known as Mistpaw. Ravenfeather, you know our ways and have served our clan well, I believe it is time for you to take another apprentice."

Ravenfeather seemed surprised and took a few steps forward. "It would be an honor." I bowed my head to Featherstar before turning to touch noses with Ravenfeather. We sat side by side as Featherstar concluded the meeting. "May StarClan watch over these new apprentices and ShadowClan thrive for seasons to come," he announced before leaping off of High Oak.

"Wolfpaw! Graypaw! Snowpaw! Mistpaw!"

The clan began to chant our names happily until Rockflower leapt onto the roots of High Oak to announce the dusk patrol. "It's too bad."

I blinked and looked to Ravenfeather curiously. "If it wasn't so late, I could have shown you the territory. However, we will have much more time tomorrow. Maybe teach you a few hunting skills," he looked to me with one ear cocked. "That alright?"

I perked and nodded happily. Shadepaw and Blossompaw hollered at me to join them and I bounded over to them, alongside my brothers and Wolfpaw. I was glad to have Ravenfeather as a mentor, he was well known to all of us in the clan. Everyone suspected that he would be the next deputy. I had to agree.

"This is the apprentice's den! It's pretty large, but it gets really warm when everyone's curled up in here. Here, I'll tell ya where to build your nests," Shadepaw explained, showing Graypaw, Wolfpaw and Snowpaw a space devoid of any moss-and-pine needle nests. When I tried to follow, Blossompaw halted me. "Where are you going?" she asked.

"To make a nest-"

"That's the toms' side of the den," she meowed. I looked at her confusedly. "We she-cats stay on the side of the den where you can see the medicine cat's den from the entrance. The toms stay on the opposite side." I still looked at her confusedly.

With a roll of her eyes, she touched her tail to my shoulder and led me to an open space closer to the wall. "Splotchpaw will explain it. Until she becomes a warrior, it's gonna stay like this."

I opened my mouth to ask why, but shut it again. There was no point in asking any further.

From then until the moon began to rise, Blossompaw tutored me in how to make a soft, yet warm nest out of moss and pine needles. She seemed really well experienced so I paid a lot of attention to her instructions and tips. By the time Splotchpaw and Berrypaw joined us, I had all but forgotten about asking her about the odd sleeping arrangement.

Sleep settled over the den and soft snores filled the air as we all began to drift into a deep slumber. When I finally let sleep weigh my eyes down, I felt the warmth of my clan mates around me with only the sounds of the forest far outside accompanying the chorus of soft snores drifting around the camp.

It was so nice, so peaceful. I couldn't believe this was what it was like being an apprentice. It felt amaz-

"Welcome, Mistpaw."

I blinked my eyes open in surprise. The den I had come to know only a few hours ago was now a field of chest-high grass under a starlit sky. Wherever I was, it wasn't the camp.

"I have been waiting to speak with you for many moons now."

My pelt pricked and I glanced over my shoulder. Standing behind me was a beautiful pale gray she-cat with wisps of mist drifting off of her fur. She watched me with beautiful deep green eyes surrounded by orange flecks. Her fur glowed like the stars.

My eyes widened as I came to a realization. Before me stood a warrior of StarClan.