Thanks to all that put this story on Story Alert, and a special thanks to Cinderweasel, who was the only one who actually reviewed. She even reviewed on the Allegiances!
Speaking of which - to respond to the Raggedpelt thing, Cinderweasel, I don't think that it's so... Raggedpelt wasn't deputy of ShadowClan until Bluestar's time, and at this point, not even Moonflower's mother was born! But thank you so much for your input, I really appreciate it :) -gives muffin of gratefulness-
Well, here's chapter one! I hope you like it.
Where was the horizon?
The trees and the undergrowth obscured it from vision.
He twisted and turned, pushing his way through thick brambles which clawed golden tufts of fur from his body. Sunkit's form was abused, scars appearing as the scratches seemed to heal themselves immediately. His eyes were closed when, finally, he broke free, and he was scarred and ugly now but he could feel the light surrounding him, encasing him, and when he opened his eyes...
Light green eyes peered curiously down at him, and blinked.
Sunkit yowled, scrambling backward and nearly tumbling over a dark ginger tom in the process. His emerald eyes were wide with surprise as they flickered to his adoptive sister, then narrowed almost immediately.
"Give me some warning before you do that, Leafkit," He whined, shaking out his fur. Unlike in the dream, his pelt was soft, fluffy, and unscarred.
The dream was something that Sunkit knew he should be used to by now - after all, he'd been having it since as long as he could remember. When he woke up, however, he'd always feel so... disoriented. Almost like he'd lived a thousand moons in the dream, before waking up to reality... and nearly not believing it was all real.
Leafkit bounced up to him and pressed her nose to his. "I just wanted to wake you up," She quipped, light eyes shining with mirth. She was the spitting image of her mother (who was almost as energetic as the kits themselves), with soft brown tabby fur and long legs that kept her up and about almost every minute of the day. "I missed my little brother!"
Sunkit, who was much bigger than all of the other kits, still did not understand why Leafkit pushed the subject of his being her 'little brother'.
Rolling his eyes, the much bigger kit pushed his sister back with a white forepaw. "Yeah, well, I was going to wake up anyway." He let out a yawn, glancing over at the other two kits who were now wide awake and studying them intently. "Oh... sorry. I didn't mean to wake you up." He shot a glare at his sister. "Leafkit probably did, though."
Just as Emberkit was about to toss out a sharp retort, Goldenkit piped, "That's okay, Sunkit. It was about time we got up anyway." That was a complete lie, but Goldenkit didn't really seem to mind the fact that she was woken up. Her honey-amber eyes shone as she wriggled her haunches. "Wanna play?"
Emberkit looked miffed that he was cut off, but the prospect of a game quickly eliminated his indignant feelings.
Leafkit's eyes brightened even more, if possible. "Great idea!" She bounced. Sunkit rolled his eyes.
Emberkit's bright green eyes narrowed. "I'll be the ShadowClan leader," He hissed, making the most intimidating form possible for a fluffy little orange furball. "ShadowClan want to steal ThunderClan territory and take over the forest!"
Leafkit moved to the ginger tom's side. "I'll be one of his evil warriors," She growled intimidatedly, twitching her tail and eying Sunkit like she was about to pounce.
Sunkit raised himself up and tried to look noble. "ThunderClan will not permit this!" He declared boldly. "Come on, Goldenstar! Let's drive these cowards back to the filth where they belong!"
Goldenkit let out a triumphant yowl (which was more like a squeak) and the cats clashed in battle - sufficiently waking their mothers from what had been a relatively good night's rest.
Fireflower yawned, stretching out in her nest before skirting around the fight and peering outside of the nursery. "Great StarClan, it's barely dawn. Didn't you kits get a wink of sleep?"
Sparrowtail stretched in her nest, pale green eyes brightening as she spotted the four reenacting a battle between 'good' and 'evil'. "When did you ever get a wink of sleep when you were young, Fireflower?" With a purr, she added, "Scratch that. When did you ever get a wink of sleep?"
Fireflower's whiskers twitched. "You've got a point there," She sighed, taking one last look at the kits before starting to push her way out of the nursery. "Will you watch the kits for a moment, Sparrowtail? I need some fresh air."
Sparrowtail nodded, curling her tail over her paws. "I'd be happy to."
Sunkit spiraled backward as he was attacked with full force from Leafkit. She was faster than he was, so she was getting more blows in than him, however small they may seem. Growling, he took a swipe at the little brown she-cat, hoping that his size would eventually become his advantage.
Right when he was about to land a blow, however, a ginger head pushed its way into the nursery - though it wasn't the one they were expecting. Large, warm amber eyes studied the kits with a soft light of wisdom, and Sunkit caught a glimpse of massive white paws just outside the entrance to the nursery. "Sparrowtail, may I speak with you?"
The lithe brown she-cat looked slightly surprised, but nodded. She stood and glanced meaningfully at the kits before meowing, "You heard Thunderstar. I'll be back in a minute. Play nice." Her gaze rested on Leafkit for a moment before she turned, form vanishing just outside the bramble of the nursery wall.
Sunkit, curiosity getting the better of him, completely abandoned the game (much as the other kits had when they caught sight of their leader) and moved forward to crouch at the nursery entrance. The others seemed to follow him closely, also quite curious, and pricked their ears to listen as well.
The deep rumble of Thunderstar's quiet meow was slightly muffled from the bramble walls, but his words could be heard nonetheless. "It has come to my attention that your kits are coming of age. I caught Fireflower just as she was leaving camp and spoke to her about it as well, and though she says she believes that Leafkit and Sunkit are ready for apprenticeship, I'd like your own opinion on the matter. You are, after all... their mother."
His tone seemed strange to Sunkit, as if he were hesitant to use those words around Sparrowtail. The brief moment was quickly forgotten when his mother replied immediately.
"Of course they're ready, Thunderstar. They've been ready for moons! Sunkit is growing much too big for the nursery, and Leafkit has so much energy that it rivals my own." Her teasing complaint drew a small purr of amusement out of her leader.
"That's all I need to hear, Sparrowtail. Thank you. We will begin the ceremony at sunhigh."
"Have you already chosen mentors for them?" Her tone sounded surprised.
"There have been... requests." Thunderstar's meow seemed strange at this point, almost stiff. "You have anticipated this, haven't you?"
"...Ahh, yes." Sparrowtail knew something, but Sunkit couldn't pinpoint what. "Graystorm was always one to hold true to his word, wasn't he?"
Small shuffling sounds alerted Sunkit that the two were most likely about to wrap things up, and he flicked his ears in warning so that the other kits scattered and tried to act more natural.
"Indeed." Thunderstar's meow was quieter now, less easy to hear for Sunkit. "He never breaks a promise."
A few more pleasantries were exchanged before Sparrowtail finally pushed her way into the nursery, only to face four wide-eyed, innocent looking kits staring in her direction. Blinking slowly, the brown she cat sighed and twitched her tail. "...If you hadn't heard already, you're becoming apprentices at sunhigh."
The celebration the kits had was one to be remembered, and it involved Sparrowtail collapsing on the floor in a heap of warm-colored fur and Fireflower arriving to a festival of squealing kits.
"Goldenkit, step forward."
The kits were lined in a row in front of the Highrock. All four were wide-eyed, gazing up at their leader with undisguised excitement. Emberkit's fur was fluffed out, Leafkit couldn't keep herself from bouncing, and Sunkit thought he would die his heart was pounding so hard. Goldenkit seemed to be the only calm one there; a quietly determined look in her eyes as she stepped forward and raised a brilliant amber gaze onto her leader.
"From this day, until you recieve your warrior name, you will be known as Goldenpaw. I ask StarClan to guide you and watch over you until you find it in your paws the strength and courage of a warrior."
His amber gaze turned to the crowd. "Hazelfoot, would you please step forward?"
The dusky brown she-cat did so, locking eyes with Goldenpaw in the process. Her eyes softened.
"Hazelfoot, you are ready and willing to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from Whiteclaw, you have shown yourself to be swift, faithful, and true, and I expect you to pass on all you know to Goldenpaw."
The warrior nodded and padded up to the younger she-cat, and they touched noses.
"Goldenpaw! Goldenpaw!"
This process repeated with Emberpaw and Leafpaw. The former was given to Silverstripe for mentoring, and Leafpaw was now the apprentice of Volepelt. Soon only Sunkit sat at the front of the camp, and he felt the burning hot gazes of his Clanmates on his pelt.
"Sunkit, step forward."
He did so.
"From this day, until you recieve your warrior name, you will be known as Sunpaw. I ask StarClan to guide you and watch over you until you find it in your paws the strength and courage of a warrior."
Thunderstar glanced up, eyes falling immediately on a single warrior. "Graystorm, step forward."
The battle-hardened tom did so, sky-blue eyes flickering down to Sunpaw's own. A chill ran down his spine as he stared into those eyes - there was something about the knowing light that sparkled there...
"Graystorm, you have requested to mentor this apprentice. You had recieved excellent training from Lightningtail, you have shown yourself to be strong, intelligent, and passionate, and I expect you to pass on all you know to Sunpaw."
The large gray warrior bowed his head. "I'd be honored, Thunderstar." He padded up without hesitation to touch noses with his new apprentice.
At the back of the crowd, Cloudspot's eyes narrowed.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter! The next one will be coming up soon; only next time, we'll be looking into Moonkit's apprentice ceremony.
Reviews?