Chapter 2

Wow, I actually got 7 reviews for the last chapter alone, which surprises me a lot, considering… well… me. Anyways, school is really starting to get back in gear after the holidays this week, and I have a million projects, so don't count on me updating as soon as you all would have liked.

Tigerstar-Demon - XD, yeah, I'm even mad at myself for doing that, but I really doubt Squirrelflight would take the cat who murdered her father as a mate.

Aximilli2 - Poor, poor Morningflower. I loved her and her ancientness.

missin-yuh-mozart - XD, I would love to see something like that. I like Brambleclaw in the actual books, too, but in this story… well, I can't say anything more. That would give it away.

EyeOfTheTiger - Ahhhhh! I'll update, just don't do something to me!

Cloudfire - Yeah, BrambleClan territory is made up of ThunderClan and WindClans territory, although I suppose your right about the camp. It would be a little small, wouldn't it?

sacredpools - o.O, or else? What exactly does 'or else' mean?

… - I would tell you why Bramblestar is so OOC and evil, but that would give away part of the plot

"Ashfur says our apprentice ceremony is today at sunhigh," Blackkit meowed as he approached Firekit and Nightkit, although there was not even a trace of excitement in his voice, and his siblings merely nodded in acknowledgment. All three of them were thinking about the scene they had witnessed the day before.

Blackkit sighed and sat down in the mossy nest, replaying the way Morningflower had been dragged so roughly out of the elder's den, as frail and vulnerable as she was. The words she had screeched before she had disappeared sent a shiver down his spine, although he didn't quite understand them.

"Who were Daisy and her kits?" he asked suddenly, causing the two other thought-engrossed kits to look up at him. Firekit shrugged, and Nightkit sighed, as if she knew something she wasn't telling them.

"Honeypaw told me once that Daisy was a cat who used to live in the Clan, but she and her kits came from horseplace," she meowed quietly. "She said that because they weren't of pure Clan blood, Bramblestar… killed them. He tried to kill three other cats, too, Stormfur, Millie and Brook, but they all escaped."

Grief enveloped Blackkit like a blanket and made him feel as if he could hardly breath. His legs began to tremble violently, and he noticed Nightkit was looking at him strangely, as if she didn't realize what had just passed through him. Firekit was staring at him with the exact same expression as his own.

"Nightkit," he mewed quietly. "I… I think Bramblestar might have killed Morningflower because she told us the story of the four Clans."

"Then it's all our fault!" Firekit yowled suddenly, his voice filled with anguish. Every cat in the nursery was staring at him oddly, and the ginger tom shrank into the moss, realizing how much attention he had attracted. Blackkit knew he usually only spoke to his two siblings and his parents, but even those incidents were very rare, and he always whispered. To hear him yell something loud enough for every cat around to be able to listen in was taken very seriously.

Squirrelflight padded over to them from where she had been sharing tongues with Ferncloud, her eyes filled with concern.

"What was your fault?" she asked Firekit gently, but after his outburst, he refused to speak, and she had to direct her attention to Blackkit instead. Blackkit felt slightly proud that his mother was relying on him, but there was no time for self-confidence when he remembered what he had to explain.

"Yesterday," he began slowly. "When we asked Morningflower to tell us a new story, she said there was only one left she hadn't told us already, and that was the story of the four Clans. But Bramblestar got mad at her for telling it to us, and he… he killed her, Mom! If we hadn't asked her to tell us a story, then Bramblestar would never have heard her say it!"

Blackkit rushed forward and buried his muzzle in his mother's soft fur, inhaling her comforting scent. Squirrelflight's muscles tensed at the mention of Bramblestar, as if there was something going on between them, but he barely noticed.

"It is not your fault, no more than it is Icekit's or Foxkit's," she meowed gently, but then her voice hardened. "If anything, it is Bramblestar's fault. We should be allowed to tell you the truth about where you really come from. We aren't savages, like he wants us to be."

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Blackkit stared nervously about at the crowd of cats that had gathered below the Highledge to observe the ceremony. He could feel the tension crackling in the air like lightning, and maybe even fear. Every cat in the Clan had been aroused by Morningflower's ruthless murder, but they knew they couldn't even consider revolting, as Bramblestar and his half-brother, Hawkstar, had many aggressive supporters who weren't afraid to kill.

"I have two ceremonies to perform today," Bramblestar announced loudly, silencing the quiet murmurings that had echoed throughout the Clan. "Blackkit, Firekit, Nightkit, step forward."

The three apprentices obediently stepped to the edge of the rock, their legs trembling slightly. Any of these cats could become their mentors, but knowing Bramblestar, they would most likely be his supporters, or as some of the cats called them, his elite warriors.

"From this day forward, until they have earned their warrior names, these apprentices will be called Blackpaw, Firepaw and Nightpaw," he began. "Dustpelt, you trained Squirrelflight well, and you are ready for your next apprentice. You will begin Blackpaw's training. I expect you to pass on all you learned from Redtail and Darkstripe to this young apprentice, and share with him the skills you have learned."

As Blackpaw stepped forward to touch noses with his mentor, he wasn't surprised that the tabby tom had been chosen. Dustpelt, though a noble and honorable cat, supported most of Bramblestar's actions strongly. He wasn't sure how the senior warrior felt about Morningflower's recent death, although he could see uncertainty in his eyes as he nodded to his leader.

"Spiderleg, you are ready for your first apprentice," Bramblestar continued. You will begin Firepaw's training. I expect you to pass on all you learned from Mousefur, and share with him the skills you have learned."

"Weaselfur, you are ready for your first apprentice. You will begin Nightpaw's training. I expect you to pass on all you learned from Webfoot, and share with her the skills you have learned."

The large tom paused as the six cats greeted each other properly and leaped back down into the hollow to rejoing thier Clanmates. Blackpaw, Nightpaw and Firepaw were all greeted warmly by the current apprentices, but Blackpaw could see extra excitement in Honeypaw, Poppypaw and Cinderpaw's eyes, making him wonder if this was their warrior ceremony.

"Cinderpaw, Honeypaw, Poppypaw, step forward," Bramblestar meowed, and Blackpaw's eyes glittered happily as he realized he was right.

"I, Bramblestar, leader of BrambleClan, call upon our warrior ancestors to look down on these three apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn. Cinderpaw, Honeypaw, Poppypaw, do you promise to defend and protect this Clan, even at the cost of your lives?"

All three replied loudly and confidently, their voices ringing around the camp. "I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Cinderpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Cinderheart. StarClan honors your energy and your courage, and we welcome you as a full warrior of BrambleClan."

"Honeypaw, from this moment on you will be known as Honeyfur. StarClan honors your bravery and your strength, and we welcome you as a full warrior of BrambleClan."

"Poppypaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Poppyleaf. StarClan honors your power and determination, and we welcome you as a full warrior of BrambleClan."

Bramblestar rested his muzzle on each she-cat's shoulder, and they all licked his shoulder respectfully in turn. Blackpaw felt a ripple pass through the Clan, the traditional words that had been spoken for so many seasons comforting them in this dark time. A chant began to rise among the ranks of cats, and the three new apprentices quickly added their voices to the throng.

"Cinderheart! Honeyfur! Poppyleaf!"

A/N - I do realize this is a bit of a filler, and it's really short, even though the ceremonies are important, so, I promise you, there will be much more action in the next chapter. Stay tuned!