CHAPTER TWO:

Midnight Talk

Once the BrambleClan cats were back in camp Emeraldkit was rushed to Mysticleaf's, the medicine cat, den. Airpelt was waiting for Sparrowkit. He guessed she had heard it was his idea to go out there in the first place.

"What did you think you were doing?" she yowled furiously. "And bringing Rainkit and Emerald! You could've gotten hurt or killed!"

"But if I wouldn't have gotten them to come then Tigerpaw, Specklepaw, and Lionmane would be dead." Sparrowkit protested.

"The way I hear it the only cats that were in danger when you showed up were the other cats, AshClan I believe, and your brother." Airpelt meowed, still furious.

"Yes, but-" Sparrowkit was intrerrupted by Tomstar calling from the Highrock.

"All cats old enough to hunt for their own prey gather here beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting!" Tomstar yowled. Most of the Clan were already out of the dens anyway so Tomstar didn't wait long to begin talking. "As you all know, AshClan were just on our territory and threatening to murder Emeraldkit. Sandstar and Leafdapple were not there, suggesting that Shroudclaw did this of his own accord not AshClan. Tigerpaw and Specklepaw were there and kept there cool, using all of their warrior instincts. So today they will become warriors."

Tigerpaw and Specklepaw both looked shocked.

Tomstar smiled. "I, Tomstar, leader of BrambleClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code and I recommend them to you as warriors in their turn. Specklepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do." mewed Specklepaw.

Tomstar turned to Tigerpaw. "Tigerpaw, do you promise to uphold the warriors code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do." mewed Tigerpaw.

"Then by the power of StarClan I give you your warrior names. Tigerpaw: from this day on you will be known as Tigerstripe." Tomstar touched his nose to Tigerstripe's head. Then he moved on to Specklepaw. "Specklepaw: from this day on you will be known as Specklewhisker." Tomstar repeated the process onto Specklewhisker. "Specklewhisker and Tigerstripe will sit vigil tonight and go until morning. But for now they may have their first meal as warriors."

"Tigerstripe! Specklewhisker!" the Clan rejoiced by yelling the new warriors new names.

"Also, I need to name new apprentices." Tomstar mewed. Sparrowkit wondered if he'd finally be an apprentice. But then he realized that after sneaking out of camp today he wouldn't be becoming an apprentice, and Emeraldkit wasn't even at the ceremony.

"Sweetkit, from this day on until you get your warrior name you will be known as Sweetpaw. Stormclaw will be your mentor." Stormclaw walked over to the apprentice and touched his nose to her head.

"Lightkit, from this day on until you get you warrior name you will be known as Lightpaw. Braveheart will be your mentor. Braveheart padded over to his new apprentice and touch his nose to Lightpaw's head.

{LATER THAT NIGHT} Emeraldkit settled into his den and curled into his mother's stomach. He had been allowed to sleep into the nursery that night.

The AshClan warrior that had almost killed him made him stay up. He thought that if he went to sleep he would come in and kill him.

Emeraldkit decided to get something to eat so he stood up and headed toward the fresh-kill pile. He noticed Specklewhisker look back at him for a second. Then she looked away. Emeraldkit sat down next to the fresh-kill pile and took the smallest mouse he could find. It smelled a little odd but he took no notice.

He took the first bite and realized it tasted as good as it smelled. But he still ate the whole thing. But then he felt a stabbing pain in his stomach. "Owww!" he winced, trying his best to be quiet. He crawled to the medicine cat's den and found Mysticleaf awake and sorting herbs.

"What's wrong, Emeraldkit?" Mysticleaf asked him.

"I have a really bad stomach ache." He moaned. Mysticleaf nodded.

"Have you eaten anything recently?" she asked.

"I just ate a mouse." he mewed.

Mysticleaf gave him a few juniper berries and Emeraldkit licked them up. He started to feel a little better. "Thanks, Mysticleaf!" he said.

"Your welcome." Mysticleaf mewed.

Emeraldkit padded out of her den and into the camp. He noticed Specklewhisker watching him again. Probably just wondering if I'd be okay. Maybe she wants me to be her apprentice. Emeraldkit thought. And he wanted to be her apprentice.

He got into the nursery and curled into her mother's belly. He forgot all about the AshClan warrior and fell into deep sleep.

{MORNING} Rainkit woke up and stretched. She walked out of the nursery and noticed that her brothers were still sleeping. The only cats in the clearing were Tigerstripe and Specklewhisker, who were sitting by the fresh-kill pile. Skyheart walked out of the warriors den and walked toward them.

"Were there any signs of AshClan?" asked Skyheart as Rainkit was coming toward them.

"No, but Emeraldkit had a stomch ache in the middle of the night. He went to see Mysticleaf and then went back to the Nursery." Specklewhisker reported.

Emeraldkit was sick? Rainkit thought. She let the thought go through her mind.

She came up behind the new warriors and her the deputy mewed. "I smell trouble."

"Morning, Rainkit." Specklewhisker greeted. "Did you have a nice sleep?"

"Yes," she mewed thinking of a question. "Aren't you two tired? You were up all night."

"She's right." Skyheart mewed. "You two should go get some rest."

"Yes, Skyheart." mewed Tigerstripe. The two warriors headed for the apprentices den. "Wait, Tigerstripe!" Specklewhisker mewed. "I suppose we go to the warrior's den now."

"Oh yeah!" Tigerstripe mewed. "Awesome!" The two changed direction and padded into their new den.

"So, Rainkit, who do you think you want to your mentor to be when you are apprenticed?" asked Skyheart.

"I'm going to be Mysticleaf's apprentice." she replied. She had always had an interest in herbs and healing.

"So, you are going to BrambleClan's future medicine cat?" Skyheart asked.

"I hope so." Rainkit meowed back. She could be really bad at medicine cat stuff and have to become a warrior instead. She hoped that would never happen because she didn't like having to hurt other cats.

"Go to Mysticleaf and tell her that your going to be her new apprentice." Skyheart suggested. "She might even teach you something early."

Rainkit smiled. "Thanks, Skyheart."

She started walking toward the medicine cat den. She walked in and saw Mysticleaf sorting her herbs. "Another kit from Airpelt!" she laughed. "I just had Emeraldkit in here. I wonder when Sparrowkit is going to be in here."

"Knowing Sparrowkit, very soon." Rainkit laughed.

Mystlicleaf smiled. "What are you here for, Rainkit. Not a belly ache, right?"

"No," Rainkit mewed. "I was hoping I could be your apprentice when I become one."

"That would definitely work!" Mysticleaf mewed excitedly. "Did you tell Skyheart or Tomstar yet?"

"I just told Skyheart." Rainkit replied.

"Good that means none of the other kits can take your place. I have a feeling that one of Spottedpelt's kits would want to have the job." Mysticleaf mewed.

"How much longer is it until I am apprentice?" asked Rainkit.

"A little less than a moon." Mysticleaf responded. "You are already five moons old! Can you believe it?"

"It feels like I'm as old as Tomstar." Rainkit mewed.

"I'd hope not!" Mysticleaf joked. "He was leader when I was born!"

Rainkit laughed.

"Now let's see if I can teach you anything while you here." Mysticleaf mewed.