Brightwhisker: Finally I got this chapter finished! I apologize for the delay, but I've decided that updates will only happen once or twice a week. This is so that I can focus on adding more detail to my fics, and make them even longer than they already are.

Galacia: Wow, long author's note.

Brightwhisker: Hey, readers have a right to know what's going on.

Galacia: You're gonna put this on your profile, aren't you?

Brightwhisker: Most likely :P

C.H.A.P.T.E.R.T.W.O

Morning rays of sunlight filtered through the nursery. Rockkit blinked when he realized that the sun had risen. Today was the day!

Excitement coursed through him as he rose to his paws. Onestar had come into the nursery the other day. Apparently he had been there to check on Heathertail's kits, who had just reached their sixth moon. Rockkit was one of them.

He gazed at his sibling. Goldenkit was smaller than him, and less muscular. She would make a fine queen when the time came.

"I will be the next leader," Rockkit mumbled.

For the last couple of moons he'd dream of becoming the leader of WindClan. Heathertail had told Rockkit stories of cats who had led WindClan before. There was Tallstar, a leader who'd been alive before Firestar had joined. Heatherstar had been the leader before the famous Bluestar was born. All of these stories had been passed down from cat to cat. Rockkit knew that Heathertail had heard these stories from Whitetail, her mother.

The kit stretched out his back. Soon Onestar would call a Clan meeting, ending his life as a kit. Being stuck in the nursery bored him anyways. It wasn't like Heathertail spent much time with her own kits. In fact, the queen had spent less and less time away from her kits as they grew older.

"Good morning little one." Gorsetail's warm purr made Rockkit turn around to face her. Her belly was plump with kits. Kestrelflight had told her that it would be another moon until her kits finally arrived.

When Gorsetail looked away, Rockkit slipped out of the nursery.

Camp itself was a large clearing. Warriors and apprentices slept outside during the night. Their nests were made of bracken and patches of moss. Rockkit was looking forward to sleeping out in the open, under the gazes of StarClan. He wanted to feel close towards his ancestors.

He spotted a patrol returning from a hunting trip. Harespring, Swallowtail, and Emberfoot all had prey in their jaws. Rockkit was surprised that Swallowtail had managed to catch a small bird. She rarely caught anything during a hunt.

Stonepaw and Yellowpaw were practicing their moves again. Nightcloud watched her apprentice keenly.

Rockkit felt sorry for Yellowpaw, despite how haughty the golden brown tabby could be. Nightcloud was difficult with every cat in the Clan. She'd been this way since Breezepelt, her crazed son, was murdered. Most of the Clan avoided her nowadays. Only Leaftail tolerated her.

"I bet you can't catch me in a race," Stonepaw meowed.

"I'll make you eat those words," Yellowpaw sneered. The two began to wrestle with each other, until a lean looking ginger tom with white paws stepped in between them. Rockkit watched with interest.

Weaselfur was an older warrior. He had experience in fighting, and giving orders. Rockkit almost wished that the ginger warrior was his apprentice. Most young cats looked up to him and respected him.

The two apprentices scoffed at each other before stopping their fight. Weaselfur shook his head. "You two need to learn how to get along," he growled. "One day those fights could get serious." He looked at Nightcloud, who was crouched over a frail looking rabbit. The black she-cat seemed to ignore him and continued taking big chunks out of her meal.

"Let all cats old enough gather around the Smoothrock for a Clan meeting!" Onestar's voice echoed across the clearing.

Rockkit's heart skipped a beat. This was it! Finally he would get to become an apprentice! The thought made his belly turn as Goldenkit emerged from the nursery. Her pelt was well groomed, most likely by Gorsetail. Heathertail ironically was no where to be seen.

As far as Heathertail went, Rockkit could care less. Gorsetail had been more of a mother to them than anyone else. He would have rather her be his mother than Heathertail any day.

Cats had gathered around a smooth boulder, where Onestar stood. Crowfeather, the deputy, sat at the bottom of the boulder. His blue eyes gleamed as the Clan gathered in small groups.

"By naming apprentices, we show that our Clan will remain strong. Come forward you two." Onestar flicked his tail towards Rockkit and Goldenkit. The pair stepped forward until they had reached the Smoothrock. "Rockkit, until you have earned your warrior name, you will be known as Rockpaw. Harespring, you are ready for an apprentice. You had a fine mentor in Weaselfur, and I expect you to pass on what you have learned to Rockpaw."

Rockpaw whirled around as the brown and white tom emerged from the crowd. He never expected Harespring to be his mentor. The young warrior was energetic and strong-willed in battle, but he often got himself in trouble because of it. His reckless attitude was the cause of many troubles. The two touched noses, as all newly named mentors and apprentices did. After their first exchange was finished, they settled down in the crowd.

"Goldenkit, until you have earned your warrior name, you will be known as Goldenpaw. Sunstrike, you are ready for an apprentice. You have shown courage and stamina in battle, and I expect you to pass this on to Goldenpaw."

Goldenpaw's eyes widened in shock as a tortoiseshell she-cat stepped forward. Rockpaw tilted his head to one side, surprised by Onestar's choice.

Sunstrike was a tough opponent in battle, but she was stern. Her raw attitude had made most toms shrink away from her. He would have expected a more gentle warrior to mentor his sister. Like Swallowtail or Sedgewhisker.

After the pair did the same exchange as Rockpaw and Harespring, the meeting drew to an end.

Rockpaw lifted his head as the Clan departed into their daily chores. He was an apprentice now. That meant he was one step closer to becoming the leader of WindClan. It looked as though Crowfeather would have to watch his back. Because there was going to be stiff competition between them as Rockpaw got older.

Brightwhisker: Hope you liked it! Please remember to review, and thanks to those who have :D