Chapter Two: Apprentices at Last
Starkit could hardly restrain herself from bouncing up and down like a kit. Well, she still was a kit, but soon wouldn't be anymore. She was finally six moons! Who would her mentor be?
Although Moonkit didn't have trouble restraining himself, Starkit could tell he was just as excited as she was. They would train together and be warriors together. Maybe they would be elders together, too, and complain about "the young kits these days."
Stormwave's eyes were shining. "I only wish your mother was here to see this too," he murmured as he helped the kits prepare for their apprentice ceremony.
"You'll do great, Moonkit," assured Maplefeather as she straightened a particularly difficult tuft of Moonkit's hair down with her tongue. "You'll both do great."
"Will all cats old enough to swim gather here for a Clan meeting!" called Poolstar's assertive mew.
There was an excited murmur as warriors, elders, apprentices, queens, and even a few of the older kits took their places.
"Today we are gathered here to celebrate the apprenticeship of these two young cats. May StarClan light your path and may you train hard to become great warriors and assets to your clan. Moonkit, please step forward."
Moonkit eagerly obliged, his eyes shining like twin suns. Or moons.
"Goldendawn, you will be Moonkit's mentor. Teach him to use action and strategy in equal measure."
Goldendawn, one of the newer warriors, stretched her neck forward to touch Moonkit's nose, and seemed even more nervous than Moonkit.
"Starkit, please step forward."
Starkit ran forward and almost tripped. She bumped into Poolstar, who barely concealed a purr of amusement, and sat back, fur prickling with embarrassment.
"Owlclaw, you will be Starkit's mentor. Train her well and teach her patience and understanding."
Owlclaw, a sturdy brown tom, was a quiet, thoughtful warrior. He padded forward to touch his gray nose to Starkit's pink one, and she could see the excitement in his deep amber eyes at having his first apprentice.
"Your new names are Moonpaw and Starpaw. These are your names until you complete your warrior training."
"Moonpaw! Starpaw! Moonpaw! Starpaw!"
Starpaw was flooded with happiness when her and her brother's new names echoed around camp. Among the loudest chanters were Stormwave, Nightkit, Maplefeather, and oddly enough Stonepaw, who had gotten his apprentice name a few moons before.
Starpaw. She loved the sound of her new name.
"Congratulations!" Stonekit mewed as Starpaw walked into the middle of the camp surrounded by well-wishers. "You did great, except for almost knocking over Poolstar."
"Well, it isn't like you did any better when you got your name, what with tripping over your own tail when Poolstar called you."
"I didn't mean it that way," amended hastily as Starpaw glared at him. "I just, um…" He trailed off as Starpaw glared harder and he started to look uncomfortable.
"Leave him alone Starpaw, he didn't really mean to offend you," mewed his brother Stripepaw.
Ugh, how stupid toms can be! thought Starpaw as she stalked away. I can't believe I have to spend the next few moons with them in the same den. She brightened when she saw Nightkit beckoning her with her tail.
"Hi Starpaw! You did great out there!" exclaimed Nightkit. "I wish that I could be an apprentice too," she added.
"Don't worry, you will be in a moon or two," purred Starpaw.
"So-o, I saw you talking to Stonepaw there. What did he want?"
"Well, you don't have to ask like that. He was just making fun of me for running into Poolstar." Starpaw rolled her eyes.
"You know that toms tease you when they like you, right? Oooooh!" said Nightkit excitedly. "He likes you!"
"Don't be silly, Nightkit. I gotta go."
"Well, okay. But I still think he likes you!"
Whatever. thought Starpaw as she padded over to Owlclaw, who had been watching her for a while. As if Stonepaw would ever like her!
She padded over to Owlclaw, who had been watching her for a while. "Hi, did you need to tell me something?" she asked politely.
"Actually, yes. I would like to start training at about dawn tomorrow," Owlclaw explained.
"Sure, that's great!" Starpaw enthused. "I will be up and ready," she assured Owlclaw.
"Then I will see you tomorrow at dawn," he finished.
"Well, bye then," mewed Starpaw hesitantly, after checking that he had no more to add. He nodded, so she raced over to her brother and father.
"Starpaw!" exclaimed Moonpaw. "How are you?"
"Happy," she mewed simply. "I'm so glad we're finally apprentices!"
"I know!" agreed Moonpaw. "It's amazing."
"I always knew you'd soar to the sky, my little star," meowed Stormwave. "It's getting dark, though. Why don't you have my apprentice Sunpaw show you the apprentices' den?"
The apprentices' den! She had almost forgotten!
"Will you show my sister and me our new den?" asked Moonpaw as Sunpaw padded forward.
"Of course I will," meowed Sunpaw warmly. "Right this way."
"Here is where I, Stonepaw, Stripepaw, Alderpaw, and Swiftpaw sleep," Sunpaw said, pointing to several nests. "You can have any of the others."
Starpaw glanced at Stonepaw, who was already curled up in his nest. He smiled nervously. She glared again and curled up pointedly next to Moonpaw, as far away from Stonepaw as she could.
Stonepaw grimaced, reminded of Starpaw's embarrassment and bitter glare. Why did Starpaw have to hate him so much? He was just trying to joke around a bit, and she had taken it completely the wrong way. He sighed and curled up closer to Stripepaw.