Hi! I'm finally releasing chapter one! Shout out to MiaAngulo for being my first follower and reviewer! I can't tell you how excited I was when I got that notification lol.

I'm not entirely sure how often I'm going to post. This book is actually already on chapter 16. It will hopefully reach a pattern, but until then, stay tuned!

Chapter 1

Starrykit sat up straight and tall, watching Leafkit and Squirrelkit tussle and play curiously. Her tail twitched, and her mind wandered from her siblings.

She began to think hard about the things she always thought of: the Clans and the excitement of becoming an apprentice. I can't wait until Firestar makes us Warriors!

As she thought of their future Warrior names, Starrykit focused on her and her littermates' coat colors. Squirrelkit had their father Firestar's flame colored coat as well as their mother's sandy coat mixed, giving her a dark ginger coat. She also had green eyes. I bet she'll be named Squirrelflame! she thought enthusiastically.

Leafkit on the other hand, looked nothing like either of her parents. She had a light brown color and white paws, along with amber eyes. Maybe Firestar will call her Leaftail!

Starrykit shared Leafkit's coat unlikeness to their parents. Her coat was black, but it wasn't just plain. Scattered across her pelt were white spots, hence the name Starrykit. Her eyes were a deep blue. I hope my warrior name is Starrypelt.

Starrykit trotted over to her mother, Sandstorm, who was watching them play, and rubbed her head affectionately against her side. Sandstorm purred, gave her a swipe with her tongue, and then settled onto the ground.

Starrykit glanced up at the afternoon, overcast sky. Newleaf was approaching, and she couldn't wait to see all the things Sandstorm had told them about the much warmer air.

Suddenly, Firestar came trotting over, carrying fresh kill. Starrykit swiped her tongue over her mouth. It was a delicous scent.

"Well, a welcome sight." Sandstorm rose and padded to Firestar, rubbing her head again his. "Regardless of the food," she added in a mumble that Starrykit could just make out.

They settled down together. After eating, everyone shared tongues, and Starrykit sought out Shrewpaw. She was much smaller than Shrewpaw. In fact, Shrewpaw and his brother Spiderpaw were both already young apprentices. She found she enjoyed his company even more than her own sisters', but it was only due to Squirrelkit. Starrykit knew that Squirrelkit's behavior had always been defiant, but the things she said to her had always been unfair.

After a while, Firestar rose and gave the command for the evening patrol before heading for his den. Everyone begin to head to their dens for rest. Starrykit stayed with her mother and curled up beside her while her other two sisters curled up together with Whitekit, who was also their kin. The soft breathing of the queens and kits combined lulled her to sleep.

Starrykit heard mews of sorrow from somewhere nearby. She opened her eyes and stood, amazed to see she was no longer curled up in the nursery but was in the middle of the forest. She instantly realized she was dreaming.

The moon was high, and it was much colder than it had been before. A faint scent of a cat drifted to Starrykit on the breeze. The scent was so familiar, yet she could not place it anywhere. This was no ThunderClan scent. Perhaps one from another Clan.

Regardless, the cries of sorrow continued all around Starrykit. On top of the painfully familiar scent, she felt overwhelmed. Starrykit whirled all around, struggling to pinpoint the griefstricken cat.

"Starrykit!"

She felt a gentle nudge in her side and leapt up. The forest was gone, and she was back in nursery. The cries of anguish had vanished and were replaced by the frustrated groans of Squirrelkit.

Sandstorm looked down with worry at Starrykit as she breathed heavy. Eventually, she felt calmer. She turned and nuzzled Sandstorm's chest with her head.

"Are you alright? You made so much noise."

Starrykit nodded and curled up beside Sandstorm as they all drifted back to sleep.

Starrykit stretched out as long as she could and yawned. The sun was surprisingly warm on her back this morning, and she shook with anticipation at the new upcoming temperatures.

"I slept sooo well last night thanks to you," Squirrelkit announced sarcastically to Starrykit as she padded out of the nursery. "Your yowling in the middle of the night is great."

Starrykit opened her mouth to protest but Leafkit spoke up first.

"Stop, Squirrelkit, she didn't do anything."

Squirrelkit rolled her eyes and trotted off to find Firestar Starrykit guessed. She asked almost everyday how close their apprenticeship was, and it had gotten to the point that Firestar was getting frustrated. Starrykit couldn't count how many times she'd heard, "just a few moons left," or, "you have to be patient," in reply. The three kits were two moons now.

Shrewpaw came trotting over to greet the emerging kits.

"Goodmorning kits," he greeted with a purr.

They greeted him in return, and he tussled a bit with them. Starrykit enjoyed practicing her hunting and fighting skills without Squirrelkit around to judge her.

Shrewpaw couldn't stick around for long, and he was called out to join a hunting patrol for the morning meals. As Starrykit watched him go, a gleam of determination shone in her eyes. She couldn't wait until the days she would go out and hunt, and fight cats from other Clans.

The thought brought her back to her dream from the night before. Why had there been a cat in distress, and even though its scent had not been ThunderClan's, why was it was extremely familiar?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a movement out of the corner of her eye. Starrykit saw Squirrelkit headed suspiciously towards the gorse tunnel. She sighed and scampered up to her.

"Squirrelkit, what are you doing?"

Squirrelkit jumped and turned around quickly. When she saw who it was, she seemed to relax, but then an angry look overtook her.

"It isn't your job to find out what I do." She flicked her little tail in frustration.

"Well, we still aren't allowed to sneak out," Starrykit replied.

"I'm not sneaking out," she spat, "I'm looking out."

Starrykit shook her head in frustration. "Fine then, do what you want. You know that Sandstorm and especially Firestar will be very angry though."

"I told you I'm just looking!"

Starrykit gave up reasoning with her and trotted off back towards the nursery. If Squirrelkit snuck out, at least she'd know and could tell someone.

Sure enough, as soon as Starrykit turned back around, Squirrelkit was nowhere in sight. With another frustrated sigh, she headed to where she could see Sandstorm chatting with Brightheart and Goldenflower.

"What's going on, Starrykit?" Sandstorm asked.

Starrykit felt irresponsible for not taking more action, but she lifted her head regardless of her fears of punishment.

"Squirrelkit snuck out. I...uh...told her she'd get in trouble, but I didn't do much. Sorry."

Sandstorm simply rose to her paws and stretched calmly. "I don't blame you for her actions, Starrykit. I'll go tell Firestar, and then I'll go find her." She trotted off toward the leader's den while shaking her head.

"That kit is a bit of trouble isn't she?" Brightheart said.

Starrykit nodded, but she didn't reply. It was too much of a risk to say anything against her spirited sister.

Starrykit shook off the rising feeling of guilt as she watched Firestar gather a small patrol and leap out of the gorse tunnel, cantering off in search of Squirrelkit. To keep her mind off of it she turned to Whitekit and Leafkit.

"Wanna play?" she asked, remembering the pros of Squirrelkit being gone.

They both agreed, and the three kits all play fought and practiced hunting. Sandstorm returned, obviously having wished she would've gone out to find Squirrelkit instead of dragging Firestar away from more important things, and together she and Brightheart threw out a few hunting tips while they watched.

Finally, Firestar returned with Squirrelkit sulking at his side with her head low. He led her over to the nursery.

"Sandstorm, Squirrelkit's punishment will be helping care for the elders," he said glancing at Squirrelkit as she thrashed her tail in anger.

"Do you think she could manage that? I wouldn't want something to be done wrong."

Starrykit listened curiously. It was rare that Squirrelkit was punished, and even though it seemed rude, Starrykit slightly enjoyed seeing her get what she deserved.

"Well, I suppose she's a bit young to do it on her own. I'll see if I can't get a Warrior to help her." He padded towards the Warrior's den.

"I don't know what you're thinking, Squirrelkit. You always misbehave in the worse ways," Sandstorm told her.

Squirrelkit kept her head low and trotted over to the rest of the kits. She stopped in front of Starrykit and met her gaze angrily.

"So you told on me then? My own sister?"

"I had to, you could've gotten hurt or even killed," Starrykit said. She desperately wished Squirrelkit would be more considerate about the things she did. "Don't you think as your sister I'd care about you?"

Squirrelkit narrowed her eyes and glared at her for a while. Starrykit didn't look away. She noticed that Squirrelkit had unsheathed her claws and expected to get a non-playful bat across the face. Instead, Squirrelkit turned away and headed for the nursery den.

"You're no sister of mine," Starrykit heard her mutter before she slipped into the den opening.

"Wow! I've never felt it so warm out here!" Leafkit exclaimed as they exited the nursery.

A whole moon had passed since Squirrelkit had tried to sneak out and been punished to care for the elders. Brackenfur had agreed to help her, but that was just how the kind and respectful warrior was. Once the punishment had been over, everything seemed to turn back to normal.

Today, however, the kits noticed the change in the air. Now that it was the beginning of Newleaf, the temperature had been climbing steadily. Suddenly, Firestar leapt onto the highrock.

"Let all cats who are old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the highrock."

Starrykit sat respectively, prepared to listen from afar as well as Leafkit. Squirrelkit, however, dashed forward with the rest of the crowd.

"Where is Whitekit?" Starrykit asked. Finally, she spotted her by the highrock.

"What is she doing over there?" Squirrelkit asked.

Starrykit gasped with realization. "She's getting apprenticed!"

Firestar lifted his head to silence the excited chatters. "ThunderClan, this kit has an important time ahead of her. Whitekit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day, until you receive your warrior name, you will be called Whitepaw. Your mentor will be Brackenfur. I trust he will pass down all he knows to you."

Starrykit stretched up to see over the heads of the Clan. Whitepaw was holding a serious expression, but her whiskers quivered with excitement. Brackenfur stepped forwards with his head held high. She was his second apprentice.

"Brackenfur," Firestar continued, "you have proven to be brave and wise through the tough times. Whitepaw will be your apprentice, and I expect you to pass all you know to her."

Whitepaw jumped up and trotted to Brackenfur. They touched noses before walking calmly to the crowd.

"Whitepaw!" Everyone called out.

When the ceremony was over, Starrykit stayed put a long time, staring ahead while thinking of when she'd be in that place.