Hollykit opened her leaf green eyes.

She was in a clearing filled with rotting logs and squelchy moss underpaw. Shadows loomed in the thick fog, accompanied by pained screeches.

Hollykit lifted her head and turned around as a skinny black tom slid from the shade of a never-ending tree.

"I see you're not an apprentice, Hollykit." His voice was harsh, his eyes gleaming in the faint light.

Hollykit glared at the tom. "It wasn't my fault! Bramblestar refused to let me become an apprentice." She sniffed, "And Bloodpaw provoked me."

The tom raised a paw and, claws unsheathed, batted Hollykit away. "Never make excuses, Hollykit. Are you too weak to stand up for the right thing?"

The black she-cat dropped her gaze. "No, Darkstripe; of course not."

Darkstripe padded past her, flicking his tail to show his order for her to follow. "This place is for cats who've never made an excuse as pathetic as the one you just gave me!" He paused, ears pricked, "This is for honourable cats who would break the warrior code to serve cats with actual brains"

Hollykit darted forwards, "I can do that, I can do it all!"

Darkstripe twitched his whiskers. "Of course you can. Now we must train." He lunged towards Hollykit, yellow teeth bared.

Hollykit reacted instantly, raking his nose with her thorn-sharp claws. She spun around, green eyes narrowed in concentration.

The tom reached out a paw, swiping viciously at her. Blood sprayed the clearing until the two became like the rest of the cats: dark shadows training viciously in the eerie forest of rotting branches and glowing moss.

XxX

Hollykit woke as Seedpaw and Amberpaw padded into the nursery, carrying fresh moss. Amberpaw flicked her tail, "Make your self scarce, Hollykit. We're cleaning out your mess."

With a start, Hollykit stared around at the pieces of moss and bracken strewn around the den. She flattened her ears and padded out into the sunshine.

"Hey, Hollykit," Bloodpaw loomed over Hollykit as though all the training she had had in the half a moon since she'd been an apprentice had made her grow more. "How's the prey running?"

Hollykit glared at her littermate, pelt bristling. She felt soft earth meet her claws.

"Oh, wait." Bloodpaw snorted. "You wouldn't know because you're not even allowed out of camp." Turning away, she hissed to herself, "Pitiful."

The black she-cat stared hatred after the russet apprentice. She stalked after Bloodpaw, her eyes narrowed.

"Like you would know that, mouse-brain! You can't even defend yourself against me." Hollykit tensed, ready for yet another fight.

Bloodpaw turned around, her amber eyes widening slightly. "Oh, Hollykit, I didn't know you were so proud of fighting a small defenceless kit." She spat on the ground. "But that's just you, isn't it? A nasty little kit with no friends."

Hollykit lunged, claws outstretched. Bloodpaw batted her away. "Don't waste your energy, kit." She padded away.

The black she-cat picked herself up from the dirt, shaking out her pelt. "I wouldn't show me your moves, Bloodpaw," her mew was a mere whisper, heard only by herself.

XxX

As sunhigh approached, Hollykit was pacing by the fresh-kill pile. Her food, a large vole, lay nearby. Its fur was dusty, having been rolled in the dirt. Hollykit glanced at it.

Its eyes were open, they were small and bloodshot. Hollykit smiled at the terror that showed there.

Snowpaw padded up to Hollykit, a playful grin on her face. "You'd better eat that, Hollykit," her blue eyes flashed warmth. "Before Jayfeather moans at you for trying to kill him with fresh-kill."

The black cat smiled at her clanmate's jab towards her mentor. She purred. "Jayfeather would probably bore you to death if he heard you say that."

The medicine cat apprentice flicked an ear and collapsed in a heap. "Oh no… Anything but that! I'm already suffering just thinking about it."

Hollykit sat down. "Isn't Bramblestar giving Molepaw and Cherrypaw their warrior names today?"

Snowpaw sat up, twisting her head to lick at her messy fur. "Yes. I heard him telling Jayfeather it was due when all the patrols get back." She sighed, glancing at the vole, "Eat it, Hollykit. Bramblestar might make you an apprentice today."

As Hollykit crouched down to eat it, she snorted. "It's not like I'm his favourite cat in the world."

Snowpaw began grooming her fur, "He might, and after all, it's not like you know what he's thinking." She sighed. "It's horrid when Jayfeather looks into my thoughts, it's like I can feel him in there."

Hollykit swallowed her vole and softly whacked Snowpaw's head with her paw. She cocked her head, pretending to listen. "I don't think there's anything in there, Snowpaw."

Snowpaw hissed in mock anger, "Is that a threat, little warrior?"

She began to reply when Bramblestar's yowl cut her off. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the highledge for a clan meeting!"

Snowpaw and Hollykit raced to the front of the crowd already gathered, choosing to sit together. The two she-cats spotted Molepaw and Cherrypaw in the shade of the highledge.

Bramblestar leapt of the highledge, landing in front of the two oldest apprentices. "We are gathered here to celebrate one of the most important ceremonies that clan cats have: the making of new warriors!"

Load yowls broke out from the crowd. Bramblestar waited for them to die down before he continued, "I, Bramblestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these two apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn."

The leader of ThunderClan turned to Molepaw and Cherrypaw. "Do you, Molepaw and Cherrypaw, promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend this clan, even at the cost of your lives?"

Molepaw shivered and replied, "I do."

Cherrypaw gulped, though her voice rang out clearly in the hollow, "I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Molepaw, from this moment on you shall be known as Molefang. StarClan honours your courage and your fighting skills, and we welcome you as a full member of ThunderClan."

Bramblestar rested his muzzle on top of Molefang's head, and the new warrior licked his shoulder.

"Cherrypaw," Bramblestar went on, "From this moment you will be known as Cherrynose. StarClan honours your enthusiasm and your courage, and we welcome you as a full member of Thunder."

He rested his scar streaked muzzle on Cherrynose's head, and the new warrior licked his shoulder.

"Molefang! Cherrynose! Molefang! Cherrynose!" The clan raised their voices to cheer for the new warriors and Hollykit joined in reluctantly.

Bramblestar signalled for silence, his gaze warm. He turned to Hollykit. "Hollykit, please come forwards."

Hollykit swallowed nervously, and with a nudge from Snowpaw, padded up to stand in front of her leader.

"Hollykit, you have waited longer than most before you become an apprentice due to bad behaviour." Hollykit tensed, looking up at Bramblestar. "But, I've decided that now is the time for you to start working for your clan."

The she-cat couldn't stop a gasp of surprise from escaping her as she glanced at Snowpaw.

"Hollykit, by the powers of StarClan, I give you the name Hollypaw. I will mentor you."

This time, silence surrounded the clan as they took in the news. Finally, Snowpaw started the chant once more, "Hollypaw! Hollypaw!"

Gradually more of the clan joined in, but Hollypaw spotted Bloodpaw's furious face next to the rest of the apprentices. Dewpaw and Seedpaw began to join the chant but were silenced by their fellow apprentices.

Another chapter so soon? O.o How queer of me.

ChiisaiNeko2012 – I ditched the line dude and went for your option. It's much neater. Thank you.

Icecloud447 – You're welcome and I thought you might say that. ;)

Cinderheart1022 – Thank you very much. And I'm not gonna tell you whether she is gonna be a murderer… But it certainly looks like it! :3 Tell me what you think after this chapter of Hollypaw's P.O.V.

See you guys! :3