Chapter 6
Bramblestar poked his head into the nursery. He wanted to have a look at the new kits. But they weren't there. Bramblestar wondered where they could be. Cinderheart was sitting in her nest looking extremely anxious.
"Where are Ashkit, Icekit and Sunkit?" asked Bramblestar.
"I don't know, I sent them outside to play while I kept watch. Then I needed to go and make dirt. So I told them to stay there. When I got back no one was there!" wailed Cinderheart.
"Don't worry I'm sure they'll be around here somewhere" answered Bramblestar. He padded out of the nursery. Outside Molepaw nearly crashed into Bramblestar. His amber eyes were gleaming brightly with excitement and his pelt was ruffled.
" Guess what me and Cherrypaw had our last assessment today and both of our mentors think we're ready to become warriors!" said Molepaw.
"Congratulations, I will hold the ceremony at sundown" mewed Bramblestar. "Sorreltails kits are also ready to become apprentices."
Squirrelflight was busy organizing patrols. "Dustpelt, Ivypool and Brightheart, you guys can do border patrol. Dovewing, Blossomfall and me will do a hunting patrol." The patrols raced through the thorn tunnel as it swallowed them up. Bramblestar yawned tiredly he didn't get a good sleep because of the dreams that constantly kept haunting him. He padded toward the leader den but stopped when he heard some excited squealing coming from the den. The ferns swished at the entrance as Bramblestar padded in. Inside the den Ashkit, Icekit and Sunkit were playing.
"I am the leader of Thunderclan and you can be attacking Shadowclan warriors" mewed Sunkit.
"But I want to be leader!" Whined Icekit.
"Yeah, you always get to choose what we are!" Mewed Ashkit angrily.
" That's because I'm the strongest and I will be leader someday" boasted Sunkit and he puffed out his chest proudly.
"That's it, lets show him who's boss!" Growled Ashkit.
"Yeah" answered Icekit. With a yowl the kits flung themselves on top of Sunkit. They pummeled his belly with sheathed paws.
"No fair, two against one!" Protested Sunkit his golden pelt was bristling as he tried to stop his littermates. Without noticing the kits had messed up Bramblestars bed. Bramblestar padded towards the kits; who were still fighting.
"What are you guys doing in here?" asked Bramblestar.
Icekit yelped and nudged her littermates. She flicked her tail towards Bramblestar. They looked at each other guiltily. We're really sorry, we just wanted to explore" mewed Ashkit forlornly.
"Your mother's being looking for you, she is very worried" mewed Bramblestar sternly. The kits looked at the ground. Suddenly Bramblestar started to look amused. " You know, when your father was a kit he was always getting into trouble!"
"Really? What did he do?" squealed Icekit.
"Well, when Lionblaze and his siblings were kits there was a fox on the territory. They thought it would be a good idea to go and find the fox themselves. So they snuck into the forest, Jayfeather found the milk scent of the fox and led them to the fox's den! But when they got there the fox and her cubs chased them. Jayfeather fell down a hole and twisted his paw. Squirrelflight and I were very angry!"
" Wow! We want to go fox hunting!" mewed Sunkit.
"No, I don't think Cinderheart will like that!" replied Bramblestar. " Let's get back to the nursery now, your mother will be happy to find you." He guided Icekit, Ashkit and Sunkit back to the nursery. When they arrived Cinderheart yowled with happiness.
"Thank you so much, Bramblestar! Where were they" asked Cinderheart.
" No problem, they were playing in my den!" chuckled Bramblestar. Cinderheart nuzzled her kits and licked them frantically.
"Never scare me like that again kits!" mewed Cinderheart anxiously.
"We won't mum! We're really sorry." The kits mewed in unsion.
"I'll see you later then!" mewed Bramblestar with a flick of his tail. He padded out and saw that it about time for Cherrypaw and Molepaw's warrior ceremony, he bounded up onto the Highledge. Then Bramblestar called out the special summons. " All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather under the Highledge for a clan meeting.!" Cats streamed under the Highledge, Berrynose was looking as proud as if he was getting his warrior name. Poppyfrost was licking Cherrypaw and Molepaw's fur until it gleamed with perfection.
" Cherrypaw and Molepaw please step forwards." meowed Bramblestar. They stepped forwards proudly, quivering in anticipation."I Bramblestar leader of ThunderClan call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to learn the ways of your noble code and I commend them to you as a warrior in their turn. Cherrypaw do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan even at the cost of your life?"
"I do!" meowed Cherrypaw solemnly.
"Molepaw do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan even at the cost of your life?"
"I do!" meowed Molepaw determinedly.
"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior names. Cherrypaw, from this moment you will be known as Cherryflower. Starclan honors your courage, enthusiasm and speed and we welcome you as a full member of ThunderClan. Molepaw from this moment you will be known as Molepatch. Starclan honors your determination, spirit and bravery we welcome you as a full member of ThunderClan." Bramblestar rested his muzzle on the new warriors heads. In return they licked his shoulder.
"Cherryflower! Molepatch! Cherryflower! Molepatch!" cheered ThunderClan in greeting to them. Cherryflower and Molepatch's eyes shone with excitement as they were surrounded by supportive clanmates.
"Remember you have to sit a silent vigil tonight." reminded Bramblestar. " Also I have an apprentice ceremony to perform, Seedkit and Lilykit step forwards…"
"Wait they're not even groomed!" mewed Sorreltail. She quickly smoothed down their fur until it gleamed. "Sorry, continue!"
Bramblestar purred. " Seedkit you have reached the age of six moons and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name you will be known as Seedpaw. Your mentor will be Bumblestripe. I hope Bumblestripe will pass down all he knows to you." Bumblestripe looked surprised as he stepped forwards. "Bumblestripe, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had recieved excellent training from Mousewhisker and you have shown yourself to be loyal and strong in battle. You will be the mentor of Seedpaw and I expect you to pass on all you know to Seedpaw." Seedpaw touched noses with her mentor.
"Lilykit, you have reached the age of six moons and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Lilypaw. Your mentor will be Icecloud. I hope Icecloud will pass down all she knows to you." Icecloud stepped forwards, happy to be receiving her first apprentice. "Icecloud you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from Whitewing and Brackenfur (when Whitewing was kitting) and you have shown yourself to be kind and determined. You will be the mentor of Lilypaw and I expect you to pass on all you know to Lilypaw." Lilypaw excitedly touched noses with her new mentor.
"Seedpaw! Lilypaw!" cheered the clan.
"Dismissed" yowled Bramblestar. The clan started to slowly disperse, though many were congratulating the new warriors and apprentices. Seedpaw was bouncing around excitedly.
"What are we going to do now?" she asked eagerly.
"I though we could join up with Icecloud and your sister. We'll show you around the territory." answered Bumblestripe.
"Great! Lets go!" Seedpaw was still bouncing around with excitement. Then she remembered that she wasn't a kit anymore and became a little more subdued. Soon the new apprentices and their mentors disappeared through the thorn tunnel.
Faraway in a huge Twolegplace a black cat crept through the alleyways until he arrived outside an abandoned warehouse. There was a huge tom standing guard outside.
"Show yourself!" he growled. The black cat stepped into the light.
"Don't you remember you new leader?" asked the mysterious cat with an air of menace.
"Of course!" mewed the tom anxiously as he stepped aside.
"I thought so." the cat padded through the doorway. His amber eyes narrowed as he thought of his father and those cursed siblings. He would get revenge, soon the rogue army would be ready and he could get rid of his family once and for all. Breathing in deeply he pounced onto a crate in front of his rogue army.
"Welcome back to BloodClan leader!" chorused the assembled cats.