Chapter 5: A Few Moons Later...
A few moons later after the whole incident of Gingerkit, Honeykit was still upset about the fact that one of her best friends were gone. She didn't talk much anymore and tried to refrain from talking to the other kits- even Sunwhisker. Honeykit usually sat alone and spent time by herself outside the nursery and just watching while her Clanmates did their duties.
She was sitting by herself, as usual, right outside the den and looking at the hunting patrol cats who were about to leave, amongst them were: Greenpaw, Ashfall, Briarheart and Sunwhisker. She felt depressed and upset all the time, she just wished she could forget all that has happened and talk with her friends. She suddenly felt a cat's fur brush against her and she turned her head around but instantly looked back at the camp entrance and put her head down on her paws
"What do you want?" she snapped calmly
"I just want to tell you that you can't live like this forever. You need to talk to someone about your problems."
"What do you know, Stormkit? You aren't even an apprentice yet and yet you're still talking like one! Just leave me alone! This is my problem, not yours!" Stormkit flinched and just took a few slow steps backwards away from her then whipped around and ran away. Honeykit's ears flattened, What's wrong with me? I didn't mean to say that! Stormkit must think I'm a monster!, Honeykit winced from remembering the harsh words she had just said to her brother and buried her head in her paws and eventually went to sleep.
She woke up at the sound of a yowl at the top of the high rock and her eyes snapped open. She saw Cloudstar at the high rock and cats began to crowd around at the bottom. She waited until everyone had settled down then she went to join them at the back. She sat a few meters away from the cats and her tail wrapped around neatly around her paws, "Today is the apprentice ceremony," Honeykit's eyes widened, How could I forget!, she thought
"May: Honeykit, Stormkit, Rainkit and Silverkit, come up onto the high rock." She got up to her paws and walked slowly to the high rock. The other kits were already on there except her and she heaved herself up with her strength
"Honeykit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you have received your warrior name, you will be known as Honeypaw."
Cloudstar turned his head and rested his gaze on top of a dark grey she-cat, "Mistyshadow, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You will be the mentor of Honeypaw and I expect you to pass on all you know to her." Mistyshadow came up onto the high rock and both of the cats touched noses. At the end of the ceremony, Stormkit became Stormpaw and his mentor is now Briarheart, Rainkit became Rainpaw and his mentor is now Willowclaw, Silverkit became Silverpaw and his mentor is now Ashfall. The new apprentices were congratulated as they walked to their new den and saw the three oldest apprentices: Birdpaw, Duskpaw and Greenpaw, "Welcome to the apprentices den! And congratulations!" exclaimed Duskpaw. Rainpaw purred
"Thanks!" the three apprentices helped them get some moss and told them everything about what they had to do as an apprentice. Honeypaw made a disgusted look at the sound of searching the elders for ticks in their fur. Suddenly they heard pawsteps at the entrance of the den and they all turned around and saw Sunwhisker. Honeypaw's eyes shone with happiness
"Hello apprentices. And congratulations to you four. I just want to tell you that I've told your mentors that you will begin your training tomorrow. So get a good sleep and we will see you in the morning." she said. The apprentices nodded and she was about to go when she stopped and looked over her shoulder
"And by the way Honeypaw. Can I have a word with you?" she asked. Honeypaw nodded and padded after her. Sunwhisker brought Honeypaw just outside the camp and they stopped there
"What is it Sunwhisker?" Honeypaw asked. Sunwhisker sighed
"I'm worried about you, Honeypaw. I've watched you ever since Gingerkit has died and you've been alone and you haven't been talking to anyone. I know you've been really depressed about her death but you can't always be like this." she said. Honeypaw glared at her with her eyes narrowed
"Don't speak of her name! We all know it was my fault for all of this! She should have been with us on the high rock today! She should have received her new name, and been given a mentor!" she snapped. Sunwhisker flinched and looked deep into Honeypaw's eyes
"Honeypaw...I don't want to make Cloudstar do something about this but sometimes Honeypaw...You've got to let go of the past. My mother died when I was only a week old and one of my sisters died also because a badger had killed her when we were only apprentices. You've got to move on Honeypaw." she said calmly. Honeypaw sighed
"Ok...I will try." she whispered. Sunwhisker licked her head gently then smiled
"That's the spirit. Now I need to go now and organize some patrols. I will talk to you later." Sunwhisker took off and Honeypaw stood on her spot and gazed as her friend ran back into the camp.