Prologue
"Nooooo, don't leave!" Cloverkit was excited to finally be leaving the RiverClan nursery. She was going to be an apprentice, loyal to her clan. "Don't worry, Willowkit, I'm not leaving forever. Besides, one moon from now, and you'll be an apprentice as well" "But I don't want to be alone" mewled Willowkit. "Don't worry, Willowkit, Sorrelear is going to have her kits soon. And you can play with Pyrokit and Jaykit." "But Pyrokit and Jaykit are weird. Also, Sorrelear's kits be too small to play with!" Complained Willowkit. Mudtail wandered over "Willowkit, leave Cloverkit alone." Cloverkit glanced back at Willowkit and mewed "its ok." Cloverkit touched noses with Willowkit before leaving, leaving the stuffy air of the nursery behind her.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here in the clan clearing" Bellowed Greystar. Cloverkit watched in awe as her clanmates gathered into the clearing. She noticed Willowkit wandered out of the nursery to watch her ceremony. Greystar continued. "This sunset, we shall name a new apprentice, come up here, Cloverkit!" Cloverkit nervously walked up to Greystar and Greystar continued, looking down at the kit "Until she has earned her warrior name, this apprentice will be known as Cloverpaw!" Greystar's deputy Flameblaze glanced at a warrior, who promptly stood up, while Greystar stared at the grey she-cat, and bellowed "Moonfur, are you ready for your first apprentice? The light grey she-cat stepped forward and said "Yes Greystar, I am" "then by the power vested in me by Starclan, you shall begin Cloverpaw's training. Cloverpaw stepped forward to touch noses with Moonfur, while Greystar kept rambling on. "Moonfur, I trust my deputy has trained you well, and you will pass these skills onto Cloverpaw. OK everyone, back to you duties. Cloverpaw was amazed how quickly the clearing emptied, leaving only Willowkit left. "Oh Willowkit, hi!" mewed Cloverpaw "Hi Cloverpaw, you aren't coming back to the Nursery tonight, aren't you?" Cloverpaw chuckled to herself for a second "No Willowkit, I must sleep in the apprentice den. But don't worry, I'll still check in on you sometimes." "Oh, OK" Willowkit stared at the ground before slowly crawling back to the nursery. Cloverpaw pushed down a sad look, and whipped around to see Moonpaw, her sister. "Hey, Cloverpaw, I have been summoned to escort you to your new home!" Cloverpaw loved Moonpaw's sarcastic voice whenever she was making a joke. The two she-cat apprentices burst out laughing, and Cloverpaw looked back and saw Willowkit looking depressed and lonely from the nursery. Ignoring all thoughts of Willowkit, she strolled over to the Apprentice den with Moonpaw. Cloverpaw's first time in the Apprentice den was surreal. The other apprentices were so nice, the put down some moss bedding just for her! As the night ended, the apprentices told each other stories, and eventually, all seven of them drifted off to sleep.
Cloverpaw saw a ghostly figure. "Ah!" she screamed. The figure laughed. "Hello Cloverpaw" Cloverpaw looked up at the figure and asked, "who are you?" The cat introduced themselves as Yellowtail. Yellowtail strolled over to Cloverpaw's flank and continued. "I haven't been able to reach Leaftail for a few moons, and I don't know why." Cloverpaw was confused why Yellowtail was speaking to her. "So why are you talking to me? Should I be a Medicine Cat apprentice? Moonfur would be so hurt" Yellowtail laughed. "No little one. But tell this to Leaftail. When the clans are disputed, two of each must rule alone. Now, meet the others in the gathering place next half-moon." "Meet them with Leaftail?" "No, Cloverpaw, Take the other who receives a dream. Meet them by the outside of the camp." "But Who is the other cat from RiverClan" "Just wait, little one. Patience is key." And then Yellowtail walked off.
