6 MOONS LATER
Equinoxkit trembled violently as his mother groomed him.
"Oh, for StarClan's sake, Equinoxkit, can't you sit still for even one minuet?" Echosong sighed.
"I'm sorry mother, I'm just so nervous..."he stuttered.
Winterkit rolled his eyes and glanced at Ashkit.
"There's nothing to be worried about." Winterkit replied.
Equinoxkit blink his thanks to his brother.
"It's not the ceremony, it's Dustkit, I'm worried He's going to keep picking on me." Equinoxkit mewled.
The two litters hadn't really ever gotten along. Skyleaf's kits, Dustkit and Bluekit, weren't always as civil to Equinoxkit, Winterkit and Ashkit as Skyleaf and Echosong would have liked.
"I don't think he'll try. Besides, if he does, Ashkit'll set him straight." Winterkit whispered eagerly.
"Hey!" Ashkit cried. "I don't think Dustkit will cause trouble anyway, not with the older apprentices around."
Echosong finished styling Equinoxkit's fur. The three kits sat in a row in front of their mother.
"Now, there's nothing to be nervous about. Just stay calm, quiet and obedient during the ceremony. Everything will be fine." she meowed.
"Yes, mother." the kits chorused.
Echosong smiled at her children.
Suddenly Yellowstar yowled from the Hightree
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Hightree for an Apprentice naming ceremony!"
Ashkit followed her brothers out of the nursery. Dustkit and Bluekit followed her. Bluekit bounced up to walk beside Ashkit.
"Scared?" she asked.
"Never in a million seasons." Ashkit retorted.
"I am. I wonder who my mentor will be..." Bluekit let out a deep breath. Ashkit felt a rush of compassion for her. Bluekit had always been somewhat nicer to Ashkit than she was to her brothers, but they weren't great friends.
"I'm sure our mentors will be right for us." Ashkit assured her. Bluekit smiled at her.
" I'm glad we're friends, Ashkit." she meowed.
'Friends?' Ashkit thought. 'Since when?'
"Yeah...me too."
By now they were at the base of the Hightree. The five apprentices sat in a row. Ashkit sat tall and proud, she wasn't scared. Equinoxkit sat next to her, he was still trembling and was crouched over somewhat. Winterkit fiddled with his paws, completely casual. Bluekit and Dustkit looked slightly nervous, each trying to hide their fear. Yellowstar stared down at them, her amber eyes boring into each kit.
"We are gathered here today to name five new apprentices," the leader addressed her Clan. Turning to the kits, she began
"Bluekit, Dustkit, Winterkit, Ashkit and Equinoxkit."
Equinoxkit started at his name.
"Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and train hard to become warriors?" she inquired.
"We do!" the kits replied together.
"Then from this day forth, Bluekit, you will be known as Bluepaw. Your mentor will be Leafnose."
Bluepaw stepped forward and the two she-cats touched noses.
"Dustkit, From now on you will be known as Dustpaw. Your mentor will be Darkflower."
Dustpaw touched his muzzle to Darkflower's.
"Winterkit. You will be known as Winterpaw. Your mentor will be Whitespot." The two toms followed Dustpaw and Darkflower's example.
"Ashkit, you will be Ashpaw and your mentor will be Smoketail."
Ashpaw stepped towards Smoketail and touched her nose.
"Lastly, Equinoxkit. You will be Equinoxpaw. Burnpelt will be your mentor."
Equinoxpaw cautiously stepped forth, still trembling. Burnpelt gave him an encouraging smile and also touched his apprentice's nose. Equinoxpaw stepped back, looking relieved.
"I put my trust in you, Leafnose, Darkflower, Whitespot, Smoketail and Burnpelt. I hope I have made the right choices for mentors for these five apprentices." Yellowstar meowed seriously. The new mentors nodded solemnly. Yellowstar hopped down from the Hightree and trotted over to the apprentices.
"Work hard, and you will be rewarded. Best of luck to you all." she meowed as she passed. The apprentices looked at eachother before making their way to the apprentice den to make their nests for the upcoming nights.