~Chapter 2~
"Moonkit, hold still," Squirrelflight growled playfully between licks. " I don't want fur sticking up when you get your apprentice name." Today was her apprentice ceremony! Moonkit squirmed excitedly.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath Highledge," Moonkit heard her father's voice ring through the clearing. This was it! Squirrelflight led the way out of the nursery, Moonkit could barely contain herself and she saw that Hollykit and Flowerkit were the same. "Flowerkit, Hollykit, Moonkit, step forward. Today we are gathered here for the special occasion of naming three new apprentices. Flowerkit, from this day until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Flowerpaw. Ivypool, you are ready for your first apprentice. Teach Flowerpaw your skills so she may be a feared Thunderclan warrior," as Bramblestar finished, Flowerpaw bounded towards Ivypool and touched noses with her mentor. Moonkit looked around the clearing trying to guess who her mentor would be.
"Moonkit, from today until you earn your warrior name, you will be known Moonpaw. Dovewing, you are also ready to train an apprentice. I hope you will pass your knowledge and skill onto Moonpaw," walking forward slowly, Moonpaw tried to maintain her dignity as she touched noses with Dovewing. Moonpaw could see amusement in Dovewing's eyes and immediately relaxed. "Hollykit, Jayfeather, step forward. Hollykit has asked to train as a medicine cat's apprentice under Jayfeather. Until the time that she has her full medicine cat name, she will be called Hollypaw. Jayfeather, train your apprentice well in the ways of a medicine cat. "
As Bramblestar raised his head to signal the end of the ceremony, cheers rang out from among the gathered warriors and apprentices, "Moonpaw! Hollypaw! Flowerpaw!" Moonpaw lifted her head to see her parents standing next to each other with pride lighting their eyes.
"So do you want to explore the territory or stand here for the rest of the day?" Dovewing's voice in her ear made Moonpaw jump. She had been looking at the pale outline of Half Moon standing behind Squirrelflight and Bramblestar and had not realised the cats were breaking up into smaller groups as Squirrelflight organised them into patrols.
Moonpaw dashed towards the entrance, "Let's go!" She called back to Dovewing before plunging into the thorn tunnel.
Moonpaw dragged herself into the apprentices' den, she had never felt so tired. Dovewing had brought her to the training area to learn stalking techniques and on the way back to camp they collected moss for the apprentices' and elders' dens. "My claws ache," Moonpaw stated as she dropped into her newly made nest. Flowerpaw grunted, too tired to reply. The apprentices' den was crowded now that Flowerpaw and Moonpaw had moved in to join the five older apprentices. Moonpaw gave her pelt one last lick before drifting into sleep.
"Half Moon!"Moonpaw exclaimed as she saw the pale white she-cat.
"Moonpaw, I see you are an apprentice now, well done," there was pride glowing in Half Moon's eyes. "Today I have someone for you to meet. Shaking Aspen come out." Half Moon waved her tail to motion a large tabby out from under the underbrush. "Moonpaw, this is Shaking Aspen, the last of Lionclan."
Moonpaw stared up at the she-cat standing before her ," but Lionclan is only a legend."
"No my dear, they moved on before the time of the clans. Now you must take a message back to Jayfeather, tell him, Darkness has again taken root, where hatred spawned hatred. One has come, born of the three to wipe out this seed of darkness for eternity.You are the chosen one and you must find the threat."