Apprentice
Whitestorm podded his friend awake. The black warrior yawned.
"You are in the border patrol at sun high today, Nightfrost."
Nightfrost nodded to his friend and looked around the den to see Fireheart and Graystripe sleeping. He padded out to see Longtail, Runningwind, and Willowpelt waiting for him.
"About time, how much longer were you going to sleep?" asked the silver tabby.
"Longtail, he's awake now. It's not like he's a doormouse," mewed Willowpelt.
The patrol padded out of camp and started checking the borders.
"Shadowclan's scent is still strong in Windclan's border. And did I just scent Riverclan, or am I smelling things?" questioned Runningwind.
The other cats tasted the air.
"No, you're not. Riverclan is in the moors," meowed the she-cat.
Longtail blinked. "But aren't Riverclan cats swimmers? Why would they be up here when they have plenty of fish? A few measly rabbits?"
The patrol shook their head and continued.
They headed to Sunningrocks to see nothing new on the flood then headed back to camp. Longtail then started talking.
"It should be about time for Swiftkit to become an apprentice."
"I wonder who would mentor him."
"Me, it should be me."
"It could be anyone of us, Longtail."
The cats soon reached camp. Nightfrost padded to his brother eating a mouse. The two shared tongues when Bluestar yowled out a meeting. A black and white kit licked clean by Goldenflower, padded up shaking.
"I will be doing one of my things as leader. Swiftkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is now time for you to be apprenticed. From this day forward, until he has earned his warrior name, this apprentice will be called Swiftpaw."
There was no flash of determination in the eyes of the black-and-white kit as he looked up at his leader. Instead his amber eyes were wide with anxiety and fear. No surprise there. It was just the other day that he was kidnapped by another clan.
Your mentor will be Nightfrost. I hope Nightfrost will pass down all he knows to you."
The clan blinked in shock, mostly Longtail, as they had expected him to mentor the kit. Bluestar turned to the small warrior.
"Nightfrost, you are ready to take an apprentice. You had received excellent training from Runningwind, and you have shown yourself to be skilled and loyal. You will be the mentor of Swiftpaw, and I expect you to pass all you know to Swiftpaw."
Nightfrost padded to his apprentice and lowered his head a bit.
"Don't worry, you'll be fine"
Swiftpaw moved to touch noses with him.
"Swiftpaw! Swiftpaw! Swiftpaw! Swiftpaw!"
Swiftpaw padded to his mother, then to the apprentice den. Whitestorm padded to him.
"Looks like your paws are full now. Guess I won't be asking you to help me as much."
Nightfrost agreed with him.
"It looks like I'll be asking for your help more often."
The two friends smiled and padded to the warriors den to sleep.