"Leafpool, Leafpool!"
A muscular black she-kit dashed up to her mother, who had recovered two moons after kitting, her long tail lashing with excitement! Leafpool yawned as her daughter prodded her sleek fur.
"Wake up! It's time for our apprentice ceremonies! Come on!"
Hollowkit made no effort to wait for her mother to wake up as she dashed away to sit by her sisters sheltered by the Highrock. Crowfeather caught Leafpool's eye as he sat proudly beside Onestar, looking strong and healthy compared to the young tom.
"Badgerkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Badgerpaw. Your mentor will be Weaselfur. I hope Weaselfur will pass down all he knows to you. Cinderkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Cinderpaw. Your mentor will be Sunstrike. I hope Sunstrike will pass down all she knows to you. Hollowkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Hollowpaw. Your mentor will be Heathertail. I hope Heathertail will pass down all she knows to you."
As the cheers broke the shaky silence after Onestar performed the brief ceremonies, Leafpool dashed up to her kits, nuzzling Badgerpaw's broad head. She took note of Badgerpaw's long and thorn-sharp claws.
"Leafpool, can you go hunting with Harespring and Leaftail? The clan needs extra prey. I'll meet you here when you return." Crowfeather meowed, his blue eyes glimmering with gentleness. He then strode away to greet his kits.
"I am actually going to assess your battle skills and train you, since I already taught you a few. Your mentors will also be needed, so go retrieve them then meet me at the sandy hollow. It is surrounded by trees and it is a good place to battle train."
Crowfeather bounded into the hollow, followed by his daughters and their apprentices. He nodded for Badgerpaw to step forward. The young she-cat's sleek fur and strong, big figure was already developed; she would be a warrior to fear in battle.
"Badgerpaw, I want you to attack Hollowpaw, without your claws."
Badgerpaw positioned herself, facing her sister. Hollowpaw darkened her gaze and bared her sharp fangs. Judging by her position, Badgerpaw knew that she should head straight for the belly, but use her shoulders to knock Hollowpaw aside. So she wouldn't need to slide under the belly.
Growling, Badgerpaw quickly dove for Hollowpaw's belly, swerving to the right side to knock the young apprentice aside using her broad shoulders. As Hollowpaw fell into the sand, Cinderpaw stifled a purr of amusement. Hollowpaw glared at her with narrowed eyes.
"Well done, Badgerpaw. You used your frame to judge what to do. Smaller apprentices would have slid under the belly, but you used a completely different move. Weaselfur?"
The ginger tom bounded forward, nodding to his apprentice.
"Badgerpaw has quick wits and excellent accuracy. If anything, I would like her to work on her speed. Badgerpaw, try again. However, use a different move that requires more speed."
A quick move? Turning back to Hollowpaw, Badgerpaw studied her sister. Hollowpaw wouldn't be easy to attack diving for her soft underbelly. A quick move was often a killing move, which Badgerpaw wouldn't dare attempt on her sister. When the move was sought in her mind, Badgerpaw leapt toward Hollowpaw, pinning her throat down. As Badgerpaw released her grip, Hollowpaw shook sand off her pelt.
"You never do things half-way, do you, Badgerpaw?"
Weaselfur's purr made Badgerpaw turn around.
"That was a perfect move."
Turning to the other mentors, Badgerpaw shyly mewed her thanks. She wanted to be a great fighter, just like her brother, Lionblaze. His name was always whispered as Gatherings to be feared, and Leafpool said that he could never be defeated in battle. Badgerpaw wondered if she would ever meet his level as she padded away with Weaselfur.