Thanks to Guest for reviewing (I can't say anyone's fate without spoiling, but two of the three characters you mentioned will be okay).
Here's just another apprentice ceremony chapter. Enjoy!
Bramblekit dragged a mouse from the fresh-kill pile and turned to Tawnykit. His sister rolled her eyes.
"Why do you always pick mouse when it's your turn to choose?"
"You don't like mouse?" He asked, flattening his ears.
"I do," she conceded. "But there are other choices. I want a robin."
Bramblekit scanned the pile. "But there aren't any."
"I'll just ask Father. He'll get one for us." He watched his sister dash off to their father and he squirmed uncomfortably when he caught Stonefur watching them closely nearby.
He pushed it away and started to eat his mouse, feeling excited. Today they would finally be apprentices! And then they could fight dogs like their older half-brother Swiftclaw!
He hoped Swiftclaw was his mentor. Or Whitestorm! They were two great warriors. And they didn't randomly glare at him and his sister like Stonefur and Mousefur did sometimes.
Even Brackenfur will be a great mentor, he thought, glancing at the young warrior grooming his mother outside the warriors den. He's really nice.
He noticed Graystripe emerging from the warrior's den and approaching the fresh-kill pile. After picking something, he settled next to Darkstripe and Dustpelt.
Outside the nursery, Willowpelt's kits were wrestling playfully. They'll be the only kits in the nursery now, he thought. He'd miss them.
Bramblekit looked back around to see his father walk up to Darkstripe and meow something. The black tabby immediately obeyed and dashed out of the camp. Brambekit noticed Graystripe catch Swiftclaw's gaze and rolled his eyes. Swiftclaw hid his smirk by taking a bite of his own prey.
Tawnykit trotted back over. "We'll be having robin soon. Darkstripe went to hunt one for us." Bramblekit didn't bother to tell her that he'd already eaten as she fretted over having the prey she wanted.
Besides, he had more important things to look forward to. He glanced at his father walking to Thistlestar's den.
Like becoming the best warrior for his Clan that he could be.
Fire Heart sat at the front of the crowd. Snowkit, Morning Whisker, Thistle, Clover, Rowanpaw and Rubblepaw all stood in the middle. Today they would all be apprenticed– or re-apprenticed and receive their new names– barring those who wanted to keep theirs or already had one.
Snowkit shifted nervously and flicked his tail over the scars on his flank as he always did when nervous. He glanced back at Fire Heart with big, blue eyes and the ginger tom signed 'you'll be okay.'
Snowkit smiled and nodded firmly.
Fire Heart glanced at Morning Whisker. She clearly wanted to be a SkyClan warrior. Ever since her parents found out they had visited everyday, talking to her and actually making sure she wanted to be here.
As if she's not old enough to make her own decisions. She was already old enough to understand her choice.
But he supposed Wind Runner had just been a bit upset of losing one of her kits, even if said kit was safe in SkyClan. He wouldn't understand what it was like to be a parent.
Unless he counted his help in raising Cloud Tail and looking after Lightning Tail and Acorn Fur back when they were still young apprentices, after their parents had passed.
He felt a nose press into his shoulder and glanced at Raven Hope, who smiled at him. He smiled back, feeling warm inside. At least he had him by his side.
Milkweed sat next to Leaf, smiling proudly at her kits while also looking slightly worried. Cloud Tail was outside the medicine den, not wanting to stray too far from Bright Heart. Fire Heart was glad to hear she was on the mend.
"Thistle," Skystar began and the ginger tom straightened up. "I know you want to keep your name since it stands for who you are. Until you receive your full warrior status you will be mentored by Leaf."
Leaf stepped into the middle as Thistle scrambled over to him, excitedly.
"Leaf, you did a great job mentoring Thunder," Skystar meowed warmly. "And I trust you to make Thistle into a great warrior as well."
"Of course." Leaf and Thistle touched noses before they stepped out of the way.
"Clover, your mentor will be Cinder Flower," Skystar began, turning to the ginger and white she-cat. Fire Heart smiled at Cinder Flower's excited expression. He was surprised when she calmly walked towards Clover, who looked equally happy. "This will be your first apprentice, but you've worked harder than most to become a warrior and I'm sure you'll do the same for Clover."
"Yes Skystar!" Cinder Flower touched noses with Clover, both of them nearly bumping heads before they moved back into the crowd. Fire Heart purred.
"Ash Blaze, you will mentor Morning Whisker," Skystar meowed next. The pale gray she-cat came forward as composed as Leaf had been. Morning Whisker's eyes blazed with excitement. "This will also be your first apprentice, but I know you'll do just fine."
Ash Blaze smiled one of her rare smiles at her father's praise before allowing her new apprentice to touch noses with her.
"Rowanpaw, from this moment you will be Rowan Flower," Skystar addressed the dark ginger she-cat. "Raven Hope, you will mentor her." The black tom stepped forward calmly. "This is also your first apprentice, but you've come a long way to prove yourself and I know you'll do a great job teaching her."
"Yes, I will," Raven Hope purred and dipped his head to touch noses with the happy Rowan Flower.
"Rubblepaw, from now on you are Rubble Fang. Your mentor will be Air Leap."
"I'm starting to see a pattern," Nettle meowed nearby and some cats chuckled.
"...to make him into a warrior."
Air Leap touched noses with the light gray tabby tom and the two of them stepped back.
"And finally," Skystar turned to the nervous yet excited Snowkit. "Snowkit from now on you will be known as Snow Hawk."
Of all names...
He shook his head with a smile and signed the new name to Snow Hawk who nodded proudly. It could be a good name.
Although yes, it was kind of too early.
"Fire Heart, you will mentor him. You already have an easier way to communicate with him and you'll be the best teacher for him."
Fire Heart grinned and padded forward to touch noses with his new apprentice.
The Clan chanted all the apprentices' names.
"Whoo! That's even more than when we were all apprentices!" Lightning Tail called. "I think?"
Fire Heart looked down at Snow Hawk and signed 'we'll start tomorrow. Go meet your denmates.'
Snow Hawk dashed off to the young cats and barrelled into Morning Whisker, who let out an 'oof' and caused the other apprentices to laugh.
Fire Heart smiled as he spotted a faded orange pelt out of the corner of his eye, watching them with a fond smile.
"Let's gather beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting!" At Thistlestar's call, Bramblekit hopped out of the nursery.
"Bye Sorrelkit!" He waved his tail at his best friend.
"Will you still play with us sometime?" The little tortoiseshell kit asked.
"Sure, whenever I have time." He smiled.
"An apprentice who can play kit games hasn't worked hard enough yet," a growl sounded and Bramblekit turned to see Tigerclaw padding up to him.
He smiled. "Hi, dad."
Tigerclaw gazed at him with proud amber eyes so much like Bramblekit's own eyes. He licked his head and did the same to Tawnykit, who dashed out of the nursery behind him.
"Come along," Goldenflower purred as she appeared as well and the family all headed to the Highrock.
Tigerclaw went to sit underneath Highrock and Goldenflower paused beside Bluefur. Bramblekit settled next to her with Tawnykit beside him.
"Brackenfur," the ThunderClan leader began. "You are ready for your first apprentice. You will mentor Tawnypaw."
Looking just as excited as his apprentice, Brackenfur stepped forward. Tawnypaw raced up to meet him.
"Brackenfur, you have shown yourself to be loyal and intelligent," Thistlestar continued in a stiff mew. "Do your best to pass on these qualities to Tawnypaw."
Brackenfur and Tawnypaw touched noses before withdrawing to the side of the clearing.
Thistlestar glanced into the crowd and Bramblekit followed his gaze, anxious to find out his mentor. "Whitestorm, you did well with Sandstorm and Brightpelt. You are ready for another apprentice. You will mentor Bramblepaw."
Bramblepaw eagerly approached. His father's best friend would be a great mentor for him!
Bramblepaw joined Whitestorm in the center of the clearing. Whitestorm glanced down at him with a warm gaze.
"Whitestorm, you have shown yourself to be courageous and strong," Thistlestar meowed. "I'm sure you will pass this on to your apprentice."
Bramblepaw eagerly touched noses with his mentor before he followed him to the side. "What will we do today?" he asked. "I want to learn everything! I can't wait to meet the other Clans, too."
"I'll teach you everything I can," Whitestorm promised. "Tomorrow, I'll take you on a tour of ThunderClan's land. You'll learn where the borders are."
"Sounds great!" Bramblepaw squeaked.
"For now, go meet the other apprentices," Whitestorm went on. He nodded in dismissal and Bramblepaw dashed off to join his sister. Cats congratulated him on the way.
Ashpaw and Fernpaw sat outside their den. Ashpaw gave a warm meow of greeting and Bramblepaw gave a purr of greeting back.
He paused however when he noticed Fernpaw giving him nervous looks. Did I… do something? He glanced around, fur prickling as if someone was watching him.
Frostfur was watching him and Tawnypaw closely, blue eyes narrowed. He blinked and glanced at his sister but she was too busy talking with Ashpaw and Fernpaw.
He had never noticed he was getting stared at when in the nursery, too busy playing and all, but now that he thought of it…
Something is wrong… and I'm gonna find out.
I'm sorry, I love Bramble and Tawny but there will still be the hate surrounding them because of their father. Just in a different way.
And Snow is finally an apprentice and on his way to becoming a warrior!