By the time Highkit and her three siblings had become apprentices, they had found out who their parents were. Pondnose and Jaggedstripe. They were not mates, so the four of them became ashamed of their heritage. Mates were choosen by the leader. Cats were not to choose their own mates.
Briefly Highkit had wanted a female mate, as she didn't want kits. However her hope soon died as her elders informed her that the leaders never had choosen same sex mates. Now all she could do was hope that her future mate also didn't want kits.
Tonight was their apprentice ceremony. Highkit, Fawnkit, Jaykit, and Duskkit would become apprentices. Highkit was given her mentor first, as she had been the first born. She was given the mentor Applepelt, a sweet old she-cat who had too many scars. Highpaw not glad, as Applepelt had broken the rules many times. However she couldn't be sad at her own apprentice ceremony! Plus, just because her mentor had broken the rules didn't mean that she would become just like her.
Oh how wrong Highpaw had been,
Now, Highpaw was finally able to socialize with the rest of the clan! As a kit, she could only talk to other kits and elders, however now she was able to speak to apprentices and warriors! Medicine cats, the deputy, and the leader could all talk to everyone, but no one was allowed to talk to them without being talked to first unless it was an emergency.
"Heya!" A pretty sand colored she-cat spoke to her. "I'm Dustpaw, I'll be showing you around the apprentice den!" She purred. Dustpan showed the four of them the nests and a little secret passage that lead to a quicker way to the dirt place. She told them not to speak of it, as it was an apprentice secret. The rest of the clan already knew anyways.
A week into her training, a she-cat gave birth to a single kit. Highpaw wanted to speak to the little kit for some odd reason. The kit was Dustpaw's little sister, according to Dustpaw at least. She was pretty sure that the she-cat was her mother, and she herself had already confirmed it...but what if she wasn't? Everyone was afraid that they were born of two not mate cats.