Well, in this chapter our favorite apprentices get their warrior names! Woo-hoo!
Applekit raced past Crowtalon and up to his mate Silentstream, letting out an excited mew, "We're gonna be apprentices!"
Stormkit and Icekit were play-fighting while Sharpclaw coached them. Northwind was sharing tongues with Lightpaw while Cloverspirit was trying to groom Featherkit and Blazekit at the same time. Snowkit was sitting beside Flarestrike, his chest puffed out as he straightened himself up. Applekit turned her head and trotted towards her father and he looked down at her and smiled. His tongue swept across her head and she looked up at him.
"Has Cinderstar said who my mentor will be?"
Flarestrike leaned towards her and whispered in her ear, "It's a secret."
Cinderstar appeared out of her den looking a little ruffled and stood on top of her den.
"Amberclan gather beneath my den for a clan meeting!"
Her yowl rang across the camp and Cloverspirit nudged Featherkit forwards. Applekit trembled with excitement and tried to look as calm as Blazekit as she walked towards the den. Stormkit's whiskers were shivering and Icekit was hiding behind his sister. Acornkit and Moonkit had their chins held high as they padded towards her. Snowkit shot forwards, his tail sticking up with anxiety. Eaglepaw was sitting by the apprentices' den awaiting his new den mates.
"Never before has Amberclan had so many apprentices. They are living proof that we are growing strong! Stormkit, please step forwards."
The grey she-cat took a couple of steps towards the den and looked eagerly up at Cinderstar.
"From this day forwards until you have earned your warriors name you will be known as Stormpaw. Your mentor will be Redfire; I hope that he will pass on his great strength and strategy to you."
Stormpaw touched her nose delicately to his and purred, going to sit by Eaglepaw.
"Icekit, please step forwards."
Stormpaw's brother slowly moved to look up at Cinderstar, her tail-tip twitching nervously.
"Icekit, from this day forwards until you have earned your warriors name you shall be known as Icepaw. Your mentor will be Jayheart; I hope that he will share his love of life with you."
The two greeted and then sat down together. Cinderstar fixed her blue gaze on Applekit and she wiggled.
"Applekit, please step forwards."
The she-kit took a few proud steps and then glanced up. Something was hiding in Cinderstar's eyes as she murmured the ceremonial words and then announced her mentor.
"Applepaw, your mentor will be Ferndream, I hope that she will pass on her skill and devotion to you."
Applepaw touched noses with her grandmother and then sat back to watch the rest of the ceremonies.
"Snowpaw, your mentor will be Crowtalon."
"Featherpaw, your mentor will be Sharpclaw."
"Acornpaw, your mentor will be Dawnblaze."
"Blazepaw, your mentor will be Sunflower."
"Moonpaw, your mentor will be Northwind."
As all eight apprentices moved to stand in the middle of the camp their new names rang around the camp.
"Stormpaw! Icepaw! Applepaw! Snowpaw! Featherpaw! Acornpaw! Blazepaw! Moonpaw!"
If you ever see me call Stormpaw a he and Icepaw a she, it's because Storm and Ice are usually prefixes for the genders I mistake them for! Sorry! D: R&R!