Chapter 1

"Will all cats old enough to catch their own prey…" Jaykit was jolted out of her dream as Firestar's familiar call filled the camp's air. Blinking her dark gray eyes open, Jaykit heard the sharing of tongues conversations start to die down as the ThunderClan cats began to head to Highledge. Jaykit stretched and gave a loud yawn, revealing rows of sharp white teeth. Jaykit looked around the familiar den and saw that her sister- Stripekit- was still asleep, her brown ear twitching as she snored.

Jaykit looked fondly at Stripekit, remembering the day she had almost lost her sister. When Brambleclaw- the Clan deputy- had called for patrol, Stripekit had snuck after them despite Jaykit's protests. When Brambleclaw had caught her, Stripekit raced back to camp, accidently falling over the edge of the stone hallow. What would have resulted in death only bruised and cut Stripekit. Jaykit purred as she realized she had such a strong cat as her sister. Leafpool- the Clan medicine cat- had had Stripekit back up and no time. Now a moon later, Jaykit was watching Stripekit sleep, not realizing how close she could have been staring at nothing.

"What are you staring at her for? Wake her up!" A sharp voice ordered and Jaykit recognized Squirrelflight, one of the many warriors of ThunderClan. Jaykit noticed the gleam in Squirrelflight's pelt and realized with a jolt that it was her apprentice becoming a warrior today. Foxpaw and his sister- Icepaw- had successfully chased off a ShadowClan patrol on their own and Firestar declared that they had shown the bravery of a dozen warriors.

"Yes Squirrelflight," Jaykit mewed respectfully, dipping her head to Squirrelflight and turning her back on the ginger warrior. Jaykit touched Stripekit's ear with her nose and murmured, "Wake up." Stripekit's amber eyes blinked open and Jaykit remembered that it was useless to even use her voice anymore. Towards their first moon- a couple sunrises before Stripekit's fall- the two sisters realized that they could tell what the other was feeling and if Jaykit wanted the brown she-cat to wake up then the brown she-cat would wake up. Jaykit and Stripekit hadn't said anything to anyone because they thought it was a sibling thing. They didn't realize it was something that could make them both great cats…

"I'm up," Stripekit got to her paws and shook her pelt, leftover moss scattering to the nursery flooring. Without another word, Stripekit padded out of the nursery and Jaykit followed her. Outside the image of Clan life couldn't have been more real. Foxpaw was by the entrance, his head ducked, as his father- Dustpelt- chastised him for doing something. Sandstorm and Cloudtail watched their tails flicking with amusement until Dustpelt rounded on them.

Coming through the entrance was Brackenfur- Jaykit and Stripekit's father- Thornclaw, and Brightheart. Brightheart spotted Jaykit and gave her a tiny nod which she returned, trying not to wince. The scars on Brightheart's face- from a dog attack when the Clans still lived in the forest- were hard to look away from. Brightheart had one ear and one eyes, not to mention a dozen scars lathered across her face. Despite these imperfections, Brightheart had found love in Cloudtail, who- as soon as he saw his mate- walked away from Dustpelt and twined tails with the scarred she-cat. Jaykit couldn't help, but wish for that type of love and when Stripekit sighed too, Jaykit knew her sister felt the same way.

Near the warriors' den, Sorreltail- Jaykit and Stripekit's mother- was talking to Spiderleg and Whitewing. Brackenfur- spotting his mate- padded over to Sorreltail and gave her a swift lick on the ear, nodding to the other cats. Near them, Icepaw- Foxpaw's sister who was receiving her warrior name also- was sharing tongues with her older brother, Birchfall. Graystripe walked past them- giving both young cats a polite nod- and picked up a squirrel, heading over to Highledge where many cats were starting to gather.

Berrynose, Hazeltail, Mousewhisker- all three were siblings-, and Lionblaze all pushed their way out of the warriors' den, Hollyleaf, Cinderheart, and Poppyfrost following them from behind. Cinderheart and Poppyfrost's sister- Honeyfern- spotted Jaykit and Stripekit and flicked her tail for her younger sisters to come over to her. Sharing a surprised glance with Stripekit, Jaykit padded over to Honeyfern and sat down next to the golden brown warrior who shared her color pelt.

Ferncloud and Daisy were already near Highledge, sharing tongues. One of Daisy's kits- Rosekit- was sharing a mouse with her brother- Toadkit- and with a jolt; Jaykit remembered that the two kits were becoming apprentices today. Millie- along with her three kits: Briarkit, Bumblekit, and Blossomkit- padded behind Honeyfern, Jaykit, and Stripekit. They all exchanged small dips of the head. The two elders- Mousefur and Longtail- soon joined them as well.

"Cats of ThunderClan," Firestar yowled and Clan life was silenced, every pair of eyes looking up at their leader with anticipation. "Yesterday two apprentices chased off a ShadowClan hunting party and it was time they were made warriors. Foxpaw, Icepaw, please come here." The two apprentices padded forward: Foxpaw accompanied by Squirrelflight and Icepaw followed by Whitewing. Leaping down from Highledge, Firestar continued, "I, Firestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They tried hard to understand your noble code, and I commend you them as warriors in their turn." Firestar fixed his green gaze on Foxpaw and Icepaw, "Foxpaw, Icepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even with the cost of your lives?"

Foxpaw trembled slightly, but his voice was strong as he meowed, "I do." Icepaw echoed him.

"Then by the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Foxpaw, from now on you will be known as Foxfang. StarClan honors your courage and friendship, and we welcome you as a full member of ThunderClan." Firestar rested his muzzle on Foxfang's head and the new warrior licked his shoulder in respect. "Icepaw, from now on you will be known as Icestorm. StarClan honors your love and knowledge, and we welcome you as a full member of ThunderClan." As he did before, Firestar rested his muzzle on the newly named Icestorm's head.

"Foxfang, Icestorm! Foxfang, Icestorm!" Jaykit joined in with her clanmate's loud yowls and watched as the new warriors were congratulated by their friends. Dustpelt touched Foxfang's flank proudly while Lionblaze twined himself with Icestorm, both of them purring loudly. Jaykit bounced up to both of them and mewed, "Congratulations!"

"Now it is time for Rosekit and Toadkit to become apprentices for they have reached their sixth moon," Firestar yowled, once the calls of congratulations died down. "Rosekit, Toadkit, please come here." Rosekit and Toadkit padded forward, their mother- Daisy- giving them last minute licks. "Hazeltail, you had a fine mentor in Dustpelt. I trust you to teach Rosepaw everything you know."

"Gladly," Hazeltail murmured, padding over to Rosepaw- her half sister- and touching noses.

Once they were finished, Firestar continued, "Poppyfrost, you had Thornclaw as a mentor and trained hard underneath him. I want you to do the same with Toadpaw."

Poppyfrost nodded and touched noses with Toadpaw. Jaykit purred loudly for two reasons. One, her sister had become a mentor. Two, soon she would be an apprentice as well.