Chapter 1.
"Thornkit! Thornkit!" She felt a jab in her side, painfully lifting her head, her eyes met those of Rabbitkit's. An excited vibe bounced off the walls and smacked Thornkit right in the face… it was coming off Rabbitkit.
"Why are you so excited?" She asked confused, heaving herself to her paws, and shaking scraps of moss from her silky brown pelt. "… I was sleeping, you know?" Thornkit rolled her eyes, then she looked up to see Rabbitkit's hanging jaw, snapping it close.
"How can you not remember?" She said, disbelief choking her every word.
"Remember what?" Thornkit replied puzzled, squinting from the large beams of sunlight seeping through the hollow.
"Uhh… that we become apprentices today?"
Thornkit stopped short, staring at the wall infront of her, she felt her heart start beating at a fox's running pace, her paws tingled with so much excitement she felt like she could clear a mountain top, run too the sun-drown-place and back all in a day. "Oh yeah…" She squealed, trying to hide her anticipation, she wanted to sound mature, like a warrior. Like a ThunderClan warrior.
"How did you not remember? I didn't sleep a wink last night, I gave up trying to sleep before dawn, and… I woke Flamepool, she wasn't too happy…" Rabbitkit trailed off, sounding a bit embarrassed.
"Speaking of Flamepool, where is she?" Thornkit asked, looking around the nursery for the familiar shape of the pretty she-cat.
"She's talking with Dawnstar, and Cinderblaze, and my future mentor, if Dawnstar has decided yet, she'll have to tell them before the meeting!" Rabbitkit bounced around the den, her tail flip flopping around like a fish out of water.
Thornkit felt as though she could do the same, but she knew, being an apprentice meant you don't act like a kit anymore, you take on responsibilities, it's not all fun and games, it's loyalty, courage, wisdom, and most of all, the warrior code. She had already been informed about it by her mother, she knew every single rule off by heart now, she repeated it too herself every night before falling asleep.
Snakepelt had been awake the whole time, a proud and amused look on her face. Her gaze followed Thornkit around the nursery, a look of anticipation in her eyes. 'Was she waiting for me to jump for joy?'
"Snakepelt?" Thornkit stepped closer to her mother, welcoming the familiar aroma of her scent. "Is it really the day?"
Snakepelt gave a mrrrow of laughter, scooping Thornkit closer and raking her tongue down her head lovingly. "Mhmm, aren't you excited? Well I shouldn't need to ask, I can feel your heart humping up and down, this way and that!"
Thornkit felt blood rush to her cheeks. 'Now everyone knows I'm not as serious as I look, that I'm really jumping up and down inside.'
"Shhh! I need to be serious about this, like a warrior!"
"Oh, oops." Snakepelt purred with amusement. "I won't say a word."
"Thank-you." She gave a sigh of relief, nuzzling her head in her mothers flank like she did when she was a young kit. "Will you miss sleeping next to me?"
"More than anything, although, it will be nice not to be kicked in the middle of the night, and woken out of a dead sleep!"
"Oops, do I do that?" Thornkit ducked her head, looking up at her mother.
"Rabbitkit? Thornkit?" Both kits looked up at the same time. Dawnstar stood infront of them, with Flamepool just behind, and Cinderblaze beside his mate. Thornkit spotted Blackclaw gleaming with pride behind Dawnstar, he pushed his way forward, now standing beside his leader. "It's time."
"Yes!" Rabbitkit squealed, racing to stand beside Cinderblaze, she bumped her head into his flank, purring loudly. "I hope you're my mentor."
He kneeled down and licked her ear. "I do too."
"C'mon Snakepelt, I don't want to be late for my own ceremony!" Thornkit grasped her mothers tail between her teeth.
"Okay, okay. But first… let me give you a quick grooming."
"Awe… Snakepelt, not now. It's time for my ceremony." She pleaded, stumbling toward her mother impatiently. "Hurry, okay?"
Snakepelt was already rapidly grooming her pelt with rhythmic strokes, Thornkit could have fallen asleep if not for the excitement that overwhelmed her. "Best day of my life, best day of my life!" She whispered quietly to herself, she was shaking with anticipation. "Done yet?"
"Almost…"
"Done now?"
"Nearly."
"Now?"
"Not yet."
"… What about now?"
"Shhh!" Snakepelt hissed.
Thornkit sighed loudly.
"Now I'm finished." Her mother rasped. Thornpaw was into the clearing within heartbeats.
"Would all cats old enough to catch their own prey, join here beneath the Highledge for clan meeting." Dawnstar called out, not meeting Thornkit's gaze, the leader took in all of the hollow.
Grassclaw and Littleleap were first to emerge, tails entwined, both looking frail, but that didn't stop the gleam in their eyes filling Thornkit with hope, hope that she was going to be a great apprentice, because Littleleap and Grassclaw believed she would be, and… elders knew everything, right?
Next Nightcloud made her way to the entrance of the nursery, Tanglekit and Beetlekit tumbled out batting their paws together, trying to grasp something… a leaf? At first, Thornkit didn't notice Birdkit on top of Nightcloud's head, both she-cats look identical. Mistykit bounced out by herself, watching Dawnstar with awe.
The dawn patrol was arriving, Berryfrost, following by Brackenpaw put their catches on top of the fresh-kill pile, Brackenpaw looked proud, but Berryfrost looked prouder. Dovewing and Shimmerpelt appeared behind them, setting their prey aside with the others. Berryfrost went over to join the other senior warriors, Lionfur, and Redpelt were sitting beside each other in the front row gazing at Dawnstar. While Brackenpaw bounded off to the apprentices den, appearing moments later with Tigerpaw and Stormpaw flanking his sides. Dovewing and Shimmerpelt joined Fawnspots, Bristelfur, and Whitewhisker at the back.
Thornkit could feel Blackclaw's approving gaze on her back, but she could see Snakepelt's approving gaze, her mother stood off to the side, with Flamepool and Cinderblaze, the three chattered amongst themselves.
The other cats joined around in a clump, Dawnstar waited until all went silent before she begun. "Now, we have had two kits in the nursery for six moons today," Dawnstar looked up at the pale half moon, being devoured by sunlight. "it's time we welcome them as apprentices of ThunderClan." Dawnstar turned and faced Rabbitkit first.
"Rabbitkit, from now on, you shall be known as Rabbitpaw. Dovewing, you are more than ready for your first apprentice. You will be Rabbitpaw's mentor." Dawnstar meowed, glancing at the pure white she-cat, whose face was full of surprise, honour , and surprise! All at the same time. "Dovewing, you have shown wisdom beyond your years to ThunderClan, and strength beyond your size, you have many qualities that are worth passing down. I expect you too pass them on to Rabbitpaw, so that she may be an honourable warrior of ThunderClan."
Rabbitpaw wriggled in her spot as Dovewing padded up to her, the two touched noses for a long heartbeat. Then Dovewing receded, and sat beside her new apprentice, a layer of pride surrounding them.
Then Dawnstar turned to Thornkit, something flashed in her eyes, but it was gone before Thornkit could decided whether it was fear, or impatience. Whatever it was, she wasn't going to let it ruin her ceremony. "Thornkit, from now on, you shall be known as Thornpaw. Lionfur, you are ready for another apprentice. You will be Thornpaw's mentor." Dawnstar meowed. Thornkit peered out of the corner of her eye at Lionfur, he wasn't looking at her, but she could see a flicker of excitement in his eyes. "Lionfur, you are the best fighter in ThunderClan, but the knowledge you have being a senior warrior, is what I expect you to pass down to this apprentice, for she someday, hopefully will be as great as you!"
Lionfur padded toward her, lowering his head until their noses touched, she felt a shiver run down her spine from his cold nose, she wanted to pull away, but that would be disrespectful. She looked up at him, the sun outlined his already golden pelt, he looked like a StarClan warrior.
"Rabbitpaw! Thornpaw!" She jumped at the sudden voices singing at the same time.