"Hey Starkit! Wake up!" Willowkit meowed to her sister. Starkit tried to bat her away with her paw, but Willowkit would stop poking at her. Starkit rolled over and saw that she had slept until sunhigh!
Her leg was still sore, although Honeytail said that Starkit was well enough to sleep in the nursery, as long as she rested. She licked her wound andall the scratches as Willowpaw talked to her.
'We are six moons old! That means we are being apprenticed!" Willowkit squealed .
"Willowkit, remember, I am not getting apprenticed," Starkit meowed and stuck her head in her wet, mossy bedding.
"That's completely mouse-brained! I think he was just angry at the time! And even if it was true, he's probably changed his mind."
"I doubt it. It'll be nearly 6 more moons until he even thinks about making me an apprentice."
"Fox-dung!" Willowkit yapped at Starkit, and raced out of the nursery.
Starkit leaned towards the entrance of the nursery, and listened to Willowkit and their mother's conversation.
"Willowkit! I told you to stay in the nursery while I talked to Pebblepool!"
"But I need to talk to you about something!" Willowkit squealed in protest.
Then Willowkit whispered something in her mothers ear that Starkit couldn't hear.
I wonder what she said, but it seems like it was about me!
Willowkit bounced back into the nursery and curled up next to Starkit. As her sister dozed off, Starkit thought about how she wasn't getting apprenticed.
It's so unfair!
Moonstar's voice rang out from the Highstep, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather below the Highstep for a clan meeting!" Cats emerged everywhere from the camp, and they all came together beneath the place where Moonstar waited. She could feel Willowkit bound out from the nursery and leap toward the clan. Starkit padded after her sister sulkily.
At least somebody is getting apprenticed today.
Moonstar motioned for Willowkit to stand beside him, and then he also motioned to Starkit. Her eyes went wide with surprise.
I'm being apprenticed?! I guess Willowkit was right.
"By naming apprentices, we show that RockClan will survive and remain strong. Willowkit, from now on you will be known as Willowpaw. Pebblepool, you are ready for an apprentice. You will be Willowpaw's mentor."
Pebblepool strode up next to Willowpaw. There was pride in both of their eyes as she licked her new apprentice.
Now it's my turn!
Starkit held her head high as Moonstar said, "Starkit, from now on you will be known as Starpaw. Sunsplash, your time has come to finally have an apprentice. You will be mentor to Starpaw."
Oceanpaw started the cheer, until the whole clan started chanting, "Willowpaw, Starpaw!"
After everyone had calmed down, Starpaw leaped over to Sunsplash, greeting him with a swift lick.
"Sunsplash! Can we go explore the territory?" Starpaw asked with a gleam in her eye.
"Calm down little apprentice," she pured with amusement, "Of course we can go explore! You know, I remember when I was made an apprentice. I was as excited as you!"
Starpaw leaped towards the exit, followed by her mentor. Sunsplash showed Starpaw the borders and where to set markers. He even showed her some of the best hunting spots!
By the time they got back, it was almost moonhigh!
"I am going to get a piece of fresh-kill. Would you like me to get you something?" Sunsplash asked Starpaw.
"Anything! I am starving!" Starpaw replied. She padded into the apprenices den and found an empty nest near Willowpaw's.
Sunsplash walked in and dropped a vole next to Starpaw. She nodded a 'thank you' and ate the fresh-kill. After she had finished her meal, she rested her head on the moss and dozed off into a deep sleep.