Chapter 2
"All cats gather beneath the Clanrock to hear my words! Today, we have some very important announcements." Amberstar mewed from the Clanrock. "Moonkit, Thornkit, and Archkit have reached their sixth moon and Wolfpaw, Buzzpaw and Overpaw finished their final assessment yesterday."
The three apprentices stepped forwards.
"Farcry. Has your apprentice, Overpaw, met the requirements of a warrior?"
Farcry nodded.
"And, Pebbleclaw, has your apprentice Buzzpaw met the requirements of a warrior?" Amberstar continued.
Pebbleclaw nodded and Amberstar asked the same of Peatfur, with the same response.
"Then by the power granted to me by StarClan I give you your warrior names: Overstep, Buzzwhisker, and Wolfheart. Serve your Clan well."
Moonkit yowled the names of the new warriors loud.
"Overstep! Buzzwhisker! Wolfheart!"
Amberstar waited for silence before announcing, "Thornkit, Moonkit, and Archkit step forwards. Thornkit you have reached your sixth moon. From now on you will be known as Thornpaw and your mentor will be Ridgepath. Archkit from now on, you will be known as Archpaw and your mentor will be Fallowgrass."
Moonkit watched as her littermates respectively touched noses with their mentors. Fallowgrass smiled shyly at Archpaw. He would be her first apprentice.
"Moonkit from now on your name will be Moonpaw. Shadeclaw. You will mentor Moonpaw and train her to be a great warrior. You have shown great skill in training Stonecrack already."
As Moonpaw touched noses with her new mentor, she suppressed a shiver of excitement. Aside from Amberstar and Stormcloud, Shadeclaw was ShadowClan's fiercest warrior- the littermate of Stormcloud. His name was known throughout the forest.
"Thornpaw! Overstep! Archpaw! Buzzwhisker! Wolfheart! Moonpaw!"
Moonpaw saw her father and mother sitting close by, pride clear in their faces.
As the Clan broke up into their separate duties, Shadeclaw placed his tail on Moonpaw's shoulder to prevent her from running to her parents.
"Easy now." The large tom said. "Let's go meet the other apprentices."
Beastpaw, Badgerpaw, and Swallowpaw all ran up to the newly made apprentices.
"Hi-hi…" Archpaw stuttered at Swallowpaw.
"You big goose! I'm only two 3 moons older than you I'm not going to bite!" the pretty she-cat said.
Thornpaw was watching as Wolfheart and Beastpaw showed him a battle move.
Moonpaw bounded towards Shadeclaw.
"What's next?!"
Shadeclaw chuckled. "Let's go on a border patrol."
"With Thornpaw and Archpaw, too?" Moonpaw asked hopefully.
Lilyheart and Stonecrack stepped forwards. "A border patrol sounds good," Lilyheart mewed.
"Wait for me!" Wolfheart cried and ran to join them.
Moonpaw's whole body was tingling with excitement. Her first time out of camp!
Stiffly she followed Shadeclaw out of the entrance. Moonpaw looked in awe of the great pine forest with its small marshes and pine needles.
"Keep up!" Shadeclaw snapped and Moonpaw ran to catch up.
Shadeclaw gave her a stare of annoyance before padding over to a boulder and spraying it with scent.
Moonpaw's heart sank.
'My first day as an apprentice, and Shadeclaw is annoyed.'
Resolving to do better, she hurried along and listened to every word her great mentor said.