The soft sound of breathing and the smell of cats. The rustling of leaves in the leafy tree boughs overhead. The scent of dew on the wind as the dawn grew closer.
These were things experienced by a small tortoiseshell kitten, nestled away in the nursery with her brother and mother, as well as another queen tucked away somewhere further in the den. Her mother readjusted herself lightly, noting her kit's awakening, and looked down at the sleepy tortie kitten with her soft hazel eyes.
"The dawn patrols should be going out soon," Bramblingcloud remarked, yawning with an open maw that revealed yellowed fangs. "And your father will be coming back from the midnight patrol." She leaned down to sniff the fur of her other kit, a ginger tom that was still nestled up next to his mother in silence, save for light breathing.
The tortie kitten said nothing to Bramblingcloud in return, and instead looked out of the den with an intrigued look as she scooted closer to the peaceful queen. The night always intrigued Newtkit - as it should, with its mysterious aura and dormant prey-animals. She was growing closer to apprentice age - along with her brother, Maplekit, who had already revealed his interest in herblore. Her mother would often joke about her getting lost in the territory once she'd been apprenticed, to which Newtkit would stick her tongue out and say otherwise. Maplekit, on the other paw, seemed much more inclined to stay in the same place for stretches of time.
Newtkit closed her eyes a moment, but when she opened them once more, she found that she had fallen asleep until the light of dawn had seeped into the sky from its brighter horizons. Stars flickered out in the sky as the sun woke itself from its slumber, and the sounds of leaves rustling on the wind could be heard outside the shaded den.
However, she knew something was going on during the peaceful morning when her mother was called out by another cat; the scent revealed the visitor to be Roachnose, the curious gray-furred they-cat who had popped occasionally to check in on Bramblingcloud. As her mother left the two of her kits in the nest, Maplekit gave a squeak and stretched himself out sleepily, giving a drowsy look to his sister, who looked upon him with interest.
"Good morning, moss-for-brains," Newtkit mewed, giving her sibling a playful grin. "Momma's out talking to Roachnose, I think."
The red-furred tom rolled around before sitting up next to his sister, his copper eyes reflecting some of the light from the morning sky. "Whadda they want?" he asked, still a bit groggy from his deep sleep. "Is somethin' wrong with Foxwhisker? Did the patrol go bad?"
She shook her head before looking back towards the entrance. "I don't think so. Foxwhisker should be back soon, though..."
And just as Newtkit finished saying so, Bramblingcloud had finally returned to the nursery, a pleasant smile on her muzzle as she brushed past the bracken-laden entrance and nuzzled the newly-awakened Maplekit. "I've got good news for you, kits," she meowed, beaming with a quiet pride at her children. "Your apprentice ceremonies are going to be held this morning!"
Newtkit could barely hold her emotional reaction back; she jumped up a little, purring at the news. "We get to be real warriors!" she meowed, kneading her paws on the mossy bed. "I bet it's going to be really fun. Though you'll be a medicine cat, right, Maplekit?"
He shuffled his paws a little. "Only if Robincloud lets me. I hope she does, though." As the resident medicine cat, Robincloud would have to approve him before he'd be able to think about it. He couldn't help but smile, however, when his sister stood up and gave his shoulder a supportive headbutt.
"Ah - am I hearing that right?" A sleepy voice, belonging to the young warrior Minnow-whisker, could be heard as the other queen stood and stretched her limber frame. She padded over softly and sat next to the other queen, looking at her with an overjoyed expression. "I'm sure they'll make fine Clanmates. You must be very proud of them, Bramblingcloud."
This comment made Bramblingcloud's grin widen, but as she opened her mouth to speak, Roachnose poked their head back into the nursery. "The meeting's starting," they said, with just a touch of excitement in their tone. "I'll see you out there - good luck, kittens!" With that, they withdrew from the den and started on their way to the Highstone.
Newtkit felt a touch of embarrassment at that remark - they were turning into apprentices, after all! They weren't little kits anymore, and they'd be learning things soon enough. It didn't seem to phase Maplekit, though, who trotted out after their mother with a casual look about him; Newtkit got up and followed shortly after them, not wishing to be left behind.
The Clan had already started gathering around the Highstone, which was wedged neatly into the ridge that protected the Clan from intruders from the north. Newtkit stumbled after her family and seated herself next to the nervous Maplekit, who had placed himself himself (along with Bramblingcloud) near the very front of the crowd.
Looking about, Newtkit could recognize most of the faces of the cats around her. She spotted young Ivytail, who had proven herself to be quite opposed to a game of catchtail, and Briarfang, who quietly kept himself on the edge of the group. She could even spot Starlingpaw and Batpaw, who were nearing warriorship; the siblings were only a moon away from being considered, and Newtkit found herself a little envious of them. Looking over at Maplekit, she wondered whether the two of them would have the same close friendship after he became the medicine cat's apprentice.
Her thoughts were cut short, however, when Asphodelstar stood up on the Highstone, his long, ginger fur colored a cooler shade thanks to the shadows from the trees around the camp. He motioned for silence, bowing his head respectfully before starting his speech.
"As you know, the past moon has been especially kind to BirchClan. Greenleaf could scarcely be better for us. Prey has been plentiful and our own Minnow-whisker has given birth to two beautiful kits." Scattered remarks of congratulations could be heard in the crowd before Asphodelstar continued. "And our own Bramblingcloud has given us two fine kits, ready to become apprentices and learn the ways of our Clan. Maplekit, Newtkit, step forward."
Newtkit held her breath in anticipation as the two kits stepped up to the rock, looking up at the leader in awe as his eyes searched her for something she couldn't quite place.
"Newtkit, do you swear your life by our Code, protecting our Clan by learning our secrets and techniques for the seasons to come?"
Her hesitation was natural, but she only did so for a moment before replying with confidence. "I do."
"Then, with the powers of our StarClan ancestors, I name you Newtpaw. You will be mentored by Roachnose, in hopes that their skill in tracking and observant behavior will pass unto you. Touch noses with them."
She hadn't noticed that Roachnose had been sitting near the front as well, but kept herself still until Roachnose themself had approached and touched noses; Newtpaw met the they-cat halfway, and the Clan could be heard cheering. She felt incredibly exhilarated by the experience as she stepped back next to her brother, who, she supposed, would be named next.
"Maplekit, step forward." Asphodelstar didn't miss a beat as he called for Newtkit's brother, who looked rather anxious.
The ginger tom stepped forward, looking fearful, but expectant of what was to come. He eyed Robincloud with worry, who had moved herself closer to the leader's pedestal for this ceremony. This time, it was she who spoke, her brown-and-ginger tortie pelt blending with the paw-worn earth below.
"Do you swear by our Code, and our lives given to us by the Clan, to serve for your Clanmates for the seasons to come?" Her voice, though quiet, was notably rough, in contrast to her casual, smoother way of speaking.
He paused a moment longer than his sister, but was able to spit out his response hastily. "I... I do."
"Then tonight we will go to the Mooncave and share tongues with our ancestors." The medicine cat's facial features seemed weary, from Newtpaw's perspective, as the molly stepped back; this was peculiar, as Robincloud was still fairly young, but she dismissed the feeling as the Clan erupted in more cheering for the new apprentices.
"Meeting dismissed." And, aside to his deputy, Asphodelstar meowed, "Don't forget to set up the dawn patrol. I was out for the midnight patrol and I'd appreciate the rest."
Newtpaw couldn't catch what Russet-tail's response was, but a glance to the side revealed her brother padding over to greet his mentor; it really hit her, now, that he would be going into something that she would have no connection with. He would be taking part in the most important and sacred Clan activities, keeping up with injured cats and receiving signs from StarClan in the forms of dreams - or at least, that's what's been said for more seasons than one could count on all four paws.
Shaking off this feeling of being lost, she sought out Roachnose once more to ask about training.