Frostkit tumbled out of the nursery with Graykit on top of her. She squealed, "Graykit get off! You're gonna mess up my fur! Plus, we gotta get to the ceremony!"
Graykit laughed, "Well come on then!" she rolled on the ground and ran toward the starting meeting.
"GRAYKIT!" she squealed and ran after her.
Mistkit scrambled out of the nursery and called to them, "We're supposed to act like warriors during a naming ceremony, not like one moon old kits!"
Mothwing stood atop Highrock going through the normal call, an air of sadness surrounding her. "Sadly, and horribly, our wonderful leader Mistystar perished in the intense storm, along with a few of our wonderful and unforgettable clanmates," Mothwing said solemnly.
Willowshine stepped up beside her, "We shall go to the Moonpool tonight to name Reedwhisker as the new leader of RiverClan."
Frostkit waggled her tail, "Wow, Mothwing and Willowshine are sooooo cool!" she flopped on top of her sister, "Wouldn't it be great to be a medicine cat?"
Graykit pushed away from her and hopped up a small rock, "No way! I want to be the greatest warrior that ever lived, I wanna be a leader one day!" she stood with her chest puffed out, "and when I'm leader you can be my deputy."
Frostkit looked down, feeling crushed. She didn't want to let down her sister, but she had always wanted to be a medicine cat. She knew that the recent storm had killed many a clanmate and she wanted to make sure that wouldn't happen again.
Mistkit bonked her on the head with a paw and whispered into her ear, "Sometimes I think Graykit might explode with all that ego," she raised her voice so Graykit could hear, "Now stop being sad! We're going to be made apprentices!"
She looked up into her sister's warm eyes, "Thank you," she paused debating with herself, on whether to tell her about her dreams when Graykit called backward to them.
"FROSTKIT! MISTKIT! WE'RE GOING TO BE APPRENTICES TODAY!" Graykit screeched across the clearing, causing cats to glare at her in annoyance.
When she looked at Graykit it turned out she had left and gone up to Highrock. Frostkit and Mistkit bounded over to her just in time to hear Mothwing speak.
"Now Graykit, that's not what I said. I told you that you would become an apprentice when you're ready. While you are six moons old you are clearly still acting like a kit, not an apprentice. Clean your act for the rest of the day and you can become an apprentice tomorrow," Mothwing said curling her tail around the three of them.
Graykit nodded solemnly and turned around, "Come on Frostkit, let's practice fighting!" and she dashed away.
Frostkit paused, looking up at the ginger medicine cat, "M-Mothwing?"
"What is it Frostkit?" Mothwing asked kindly.
"C- could I be-"
Graykit cut her off, "COME ON FROSTKIT, WE NEED TO TRAIN!" Graykit yowled across the clearing.
Frostkit sighed and put on a fake smile, "Coming Graykit!" she called, waving her tail as a goodbye to Mothwing. Mistkit padded over to Graykit and it looked as though they were exchanging harsh words.
Frostkit padded unenthusiastically across the clearing, dodging warriors as they passed by on their duties. Should I tell Graykit I don't want to be a warrior? She's so eager for us to be ones… I don't want to disappoint her, or mother who keeps telling us to be the best warriors we can. I'll tell her eventually, I mean, we aren't becoming apprentices today. She thought as she slowly went toward Graykit.
She kept her eyes on the ground when something pinned her down, "Sis! Come on! A warrior is always aware of their surroundings," her sister said, repeating what their mother had told them.
"Sorry Graykit, I was just thinking," she explained.
"You think too much!" Graykit muttered, suddenly seeming grouchy, she averted her eyes, glowering at a rock.
She paused then reached up with a paw, touching her sister's cheek, "Graykit?"
Her sister shook her head, "Nothing… I just, thought of something," she meowed teasingly.
Frostkit jumped up and flipped over, pinning Graykit to the ground. Graykit battered her belly softly. At the very least, if I must be a warrior, I won't be a bad one she mused. She leaped back and went tumbling in the dirt when she collided with someone coming out of the nursery.
She scrambled back, "Sorry mother!"
"It's alright my sweet kit, you're practicing your moves well," she looked over at Graykit, "you too, always remember to be the best warrior you can," she said encouragingly, but her words only made Frostkit feel worse.
She shrieked as something large thumped on top of her. Her eyes flew open as her heart beat wildly. Uncontrollable laughter came from the orange lump of fur on the ground.
She hissed and got up saying sternly, "Graykit, how dare you! I thought the camp was being attacked!"
"I-, hic, it was just too-,hic, funny!" Graykit hiccupped while laughing on the ground.
Curlfeather stepped into the nursery, "Graykit, get up," she hissed, "don't prank your sister like that. Mistkit is already out there acting like a proper apprentice, now both of you smooth your fur and get out there, a new leader is being appointed," she backed out, flicking her tail, annoyed.
Frostkit twisted back to lick her fur flat from the ruffled clumps it was in. Graykit dashed out after some slight grooming and Frostkit started rushing to finish. She didn't want to look bad when her mother had ordered her to groom, but she also didn't want to miss the announcement.
She dashed out into the clearing and sat down next to her sisters just as Mothwing finished calling for a meeting.
"Reedstar has successfully gotten their nine lives and name from StarClan and will now announce the deputy leader of RiverClan!" Mothwing then stepped back, letting Reedstar talk.
"Yes, I have spoken to StarClan, however it was as if they weren't fully there. Willowshine assured me they were just recovering. I could hear only fuzzy details, but my deputy will need all their courage to make it through, but I believe they will have great strength and will lead us to a bright future!" Reedstar took a deep breath and concentrated on the correct ceremony words, "I say these words before StarClan, Duskfur! Do you swear to uphold the warrior code and to protect this clan even at the cost of your life?"
Duskfur grinned but their words were solemn, "I do," they dipped their head, their tail twitching in happiness.
Reedstar nodded and looked up at the disappearing body of Silverpelt. They raised their voice and announced, "Then new deputy of RiverClan will be Duskfur!"
"DUSKFUR!"
"Duskfur!"
"Duskfur!"
"DUSKFUR!"
Many calls around the clearing cheered her name, as the dusty furred warrior strolled up Highrock. Her clanmates seemed happy for Duskfur, especially her being so strong and confident. Frostkit flinched, seeing the satisfied expression on Duskfur's face as though she knew this was coming. Next to her, her mother, Curlfeather seemed a bit overenthusiastic, she was standing and yowling Duskfur's name, flicking her tail around constantly. Why would Curlfeather be so excited about Duskfur being the new clan deputy? Frostkit shook it off, it couldn't mean anything, she must just be excited to have her mother as deputy. She looked back up at Duskfur, who was shoving Willowshine and Mothwing back to speak.
"Now, now, every cat calm down. Of course, as the new deputy I am truly honored," She dipped her head and gave Curlfeather a meaningful glance before stepped down for Reedstar. Frostpaw turned her head to look at Graykit and Mistkit.
"D-do you think that Duskfur will be a good deputy?" Frostkit asked cautiously.
Graykit opened her mouth to answer when Reedstar let out another yowl and pointed his tail at them.
"You three kits! It's about time you became apprentices, don't you say?" he said, grinning brightly, but beside him Duskfur's eyes were glinting at them like an otter's.
Graykit immediately trotted forward, in front of Highrock while Frostkit stammered an excuse and took a small step backward. Mistkit nudged her and stepped up beside Graykit, "You got this Frostkit," she whispered.
"Now, Frostkit," her mother purred from behind, seeming happier than Frostkit had ever seen her, "go forward and take your first step to warriorhood."
"B-but-" Frostkit stuttered.
"No, no, no buts right now," Her mother let out a small hiss and barred her teeth. "Come forward." Frostkit tentatively stepped in front of Highrock, her trembling with fear, Graykit trembling with excitement, and Mistkit standing perfectly still, still with a grin.
Reedstar stood proud upon the rock looking down at the three of them, "Graykit! You have already reached six moons, and unfortunately Mistystar did not have the time to apprentice you. Please step forward," he paused waiting for her to step all the way under Highrock, "From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Graypaw. Your mentor shall be Minnowtail." Minnowtail stood up from the back of the crowd and slowly made her way forward. Frostkit glanced up at Reedstar with confusion, why would he pick such an obviously pregnant cat? She saw other cats in the crowd looking at him with the same puzzlement. Though he must have seen it he swept past, continuing the ceremony, "Minnowtail, you have shown yourself loyal to the clan many times through and willing to do what your think, I expect you to pass down these traits and more to Graypaw."
The clan began to clamor and he swept his tail for silence, "We still have two more kit whom must be made apprentices," He nodded to Graypaw for her to touch noses with her mentor before they backed up for Mistkit and Frostkit. "Mistkit, please step forward."
Mistkit stepped forward slowly, she didn't have as much confidence as Graykit- Graypaw had, but Frostkit was sure it was twice as much as she had.
"Mistkit from this day forward until you are honored with your warrior name, you shall be called Mistpaw. Your mentor shall be Harelight." The white warrior was at the very front of the crowd sitting next to Icewing. They bore a striking resemblance to each other despite not being related. He stood and stepped forward next to Mistpaw and bopped her nose. She silently giggled as Reedstar went on, "Harelight you may have been exiled from the clan; however, I think Mistystar was wrong. You were very brave in the battle against the imposter and I hope you pass Mistpaw the bravery and courage you have shown."
Harelight nodded, looking rather embarrassed, and stepped forward to touch noses with Mistpaw. After a gentle touch Mistpaw bopped his nose in just the way he had. They both smothered giggles and quickly retreated next to Graypaw and Minnowtail. Frostpaw sighed and fluffed up her fur, it suddenly seemed a lot colder without her siblings, oh, I might have to get used too it that way.
"Frostkit! Come on!" Curlfeather suddenly whispered urgently from beside her, "Reedstar has called you at least five times now! Don't worry it'll be over quickly, now- go- UP!"
She was pushing Frostkit with each word, but Frostkit dug her claws into the ground, "M-mother there's something really important I have to tell you, but please don't make me go up there!" she whispered quickly to her mother before Reedstar or Curlfeather had the chance to say anything. "Mother, I-I don-"
"Frostkit shush! Whatever you need to tell me can surely wait just a few moments," with that Curlfeather gave one last shove and sat back down, giving Reedstar and Frostkit expectant looks.
"Frostkit, you are the very last kit of Curlfeather's, and the youngest of her litter. I wish for you to have a very special mentor. Icewing, would you please come forward?" She nodded and gracefully stood and stepped forward. "Frostkit, from this day forward until you receive your warrior name, you shall be known as Frostpaw and your mentor shall be Icewing. Icewing, you are arguably the cat who has broken the code most, you've trained in the Dark Forest and you've disobeyed your leader to the point she thought she had to exile you. However, in each case you've shown astounding resilience and passion and I wish for you to pass on these honorable traits." Reedstar nodded to Icewing and she stepped forward to hesitantly touch noses. Cheers began at once and the other too apprentices Cypresspaw and Wavepaw came up as well.
"Graypaw!"
"Mistpaw!"
"Frostpaw!"
"Graypaw!"
"Frostpaw!"
"Mistpaw!"
"Graypaw!"
"Frostpaw!"
"Mistpaw!"
"Graypaw!"
"Frostpaw!"
As howls came from every part of the clan, Frostpaw looked up at her and her sister's new mentors, Icewing, Minnowtail, and Harelight. She glanced regrettably at her mother before taking a deep breath.
"W-wait!" Frostpaw wailed. Everyone went silent, looking at her, staring at her, she crouched down, trying to make herself smaller.
After a long pause, Duskfur stepped forward and looked down at her, "What is it Frostpaw, don't you like your new name and mentor?"
"I- I don't," she glanced at Icewing who had intense sadness in her eyes, "n- not to say that Icewing is bad, it's just…" she trailed off.
"It's just what?" Reedstar snapped, his fur bristling with impatience.
Graypaw crouched beside her and murmured, "don't worry about being an apprentice sis, we'll become warriors together," she meant encouragingly.
"B- but it's that!" she stood up and yowled her sorrow, "I don't want to be warrior! I want to be a medicine cat!"
Her sister recoiled as if Frostpaw had struck her, but Reedstar purred all annoyance gone, "Well why didn't you just say so in the first place," He turned to face the two medicine cats, "Willowshine, are you ready to take an apprentice?"
Mothwing's face scrunched up when Reedstar talked as if she wasn't there, but Willowshine, oblivious, answered, "Oh! Of course, I'd be willing to take you on as an apprentice Frostpaw!"
Frostpaw looked away from her paws and up at Willowshine, her face brightening, "Thank you!"
"Well, now that that drama is over, clan dismissed!" Duskfur shoved forward again to say. Reedstar gave Duskfur an irritated look before nodding and hopping off Highrock. Her sister hissed beside her and turned away to follow her mentor, Minnowtail.
Frostpaw purred, and rubbed against Willowshine as she came down from Highrock. A thought pricked the back of her mind and she looked back at Graypaw who was lashing her tail with flattened ears and Curlfeather up on Highrock, who was glaring at her disdainfully. She was reminded again of the sadness around camp, and now felt she had lost someone along with them. I might have gotten the perfect role for me, with the best mentor I could have, but it may cost me my best friend, and more important, Graypaw.