Chapter 1 A small green cricket hopped through the long swaying grass, its wings fluttered, softly stirring the air around it. It hopped a few more steps, then a sudden sound made it freeze, a small bush nearby shivered. Then, “CRASH!” The bush exploded as a cat leaped claws outstretched to grab the insect, but it had fled into the bushes on the far side of a large pile of blackened boulders. “EmberKit! Where did you go?” Called a stern voice from over by a crack in one of the boulders. “I’m here!” Called EmberKit, furiously shaking the dust off her fur. “What in the name of StarClan are you doing?” Said a dusky grey she-cat as she rushed over and began cleaning EmberKits fur. “AshFeather! StoOoop!” Said EmberKit indignantly. Shoving her mom away and beginning to clean herself. “You do know that your apprentice ceremony in at moonhigh, right?” Said AshFeather sternly. “I know, I know.” Said EmberKit, rolling her eyes. “Well why don’t you go play with your littermate for now? StarKits feeling a bit lonely.” AshFeather said as she stood up, “I’m going to get some prey, ok? Now go play.” She said as she began to head towards a small pile of dead mice, squirrels, and rabbits that lay at the edge of the Pile of rocks. EmberKit stood up and walked over to where a small white she-kit sat alone staring at a small puddle. “Hi StarKit!” She said as she plopped herself down next to the white kit. StarKit gave a start of surprise and then shook her fur and replied, “Hello” Then looked back at the puddle. “WeeEEeeeell?” Prompted EmberKit, “What did FireFlower and FlickerStar say?” Excitement flared in StarKits eyes as if she had just remembered something, “Oh Yeah!! They said Yes!!!!!!!” StarKit exclaimed. “Congratulations!” Said EmberKit. “Now, do you want to play moss ball?” ☆*: .｡. .｡. :*☆ The Moon had almost reached its highest point in the sky when a loud yowl sounded from the largest of the boulders, “Let all cats old to create a spark gather here beneath the High Stone for a Clan meeting!” Cats slipped out from between the boulders and out of dens as they gathered for the meeting. EmberKit was sitting beside StarKit, behind them was the entrance of the Nursery and their parents, RobinCall and AshFeather were sitting, gazing proudly upon their two daughters. Then a call came from the High Stone, “StarKit, come forward.” StarKit stood up and walked forwards on shaking legs, EmberKit thought she might burst with pride for her sister. It will be my turn soon she thought as the ceremony continued. “StarKit, from this day until you receive your medicine cat name, you will be known as StarPaw. Your mentor will be FireFlower.” Said FlickerStar. “I will teach her everything I know.” Said FireFlower with a respectful dip of her head. StarPaw walked over to sit beside FireFlower. “EmberKit, come forward.” EmberKit walked forward trying to act as confident as she could, straightening her legs and pricking her ears. When she reached the center of the clearing FlickerStar jumped down from the High Stone, stood in front of her, and began speaking. “EmberKit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as EmberPaw. I will be your mentor.”
