Rowankit sat in amazement as the clan gradually dispersed, all stopping by to congratulate the new warriors. That will be me one day soon, I swear it. He spotted his father's golden pelt weaving through the crowd, and ran up to him.

"Father! Father! Can you make me a warrior? Right now?" He squealed.
"Not just you!", Hazelkit mewed indignantly.
"And me..." Briarkit said quietly.

Rowankit heard a purr rise in his father's throat. "Heh - so you all liked that. You'll have to become apprentices first though."
"Well, then, let's become apprentices!" Rowankit said eagerly.

Rowankit's face fell as Lightningtail shook his head with a mrrow. "Not yet," he said.
Why can't I become an apprentice now? Rowankit pouted. "Though," Lightningtail meowed, leaning over to Dawnblaze, "It won't be long now."

Rowankit felt himself fill with hope. "Lightningtail! Can you teach me battle moves?"
"Sorry, I have to organise dusk patrols," Lightningtail said. "But..."
The golden deputy dropped his head. "Climb on".

Rowankit scrambled up onto Lightningtail's head, alongside Hazelkit and Briarkit. I wonder where we're going? He thought. Lightningtail padded towards a group of cats huddled by the stream. "Wolfear! Could you take Sparrow-wing and Specklefern on a border patrol? And make sure the DuskClan border is clear."

The large tom looked up and nodded. So that's Wolfear, huh. Rowankit planted the image in his mind. He watched as Berrystripe put his head up from a squirrel he had been sharing with his sister. "Can I go?" he meowed.
"Not this time sorry," Lightningtail replied. "You need to rest for your silent vigil tonight, both of you," he said, flicking his tail at the two young cats.

Wolfear flicked his tail towards the gate. "Let's go then."
Rowankit watched a spotted and a brown she-cat stood and made their way to the gate. Sparrow-wing and Specklefern. Gotta remember these names! "That Wolfear doesn't exactly seem like a friendly cat," Rowankit heard Hazelkit whisper in his ear. True... But I'm sure he's a great warrior! Rowankit thought.

Rowankit tightened his grip on his father's neck as Lightningtail turned towards a larger group of warriors clustered near the warriors den. "Okay! Hunting patrols!" Lightningtail meowed. "Who wants to lead one?"
A brown tabby tom stepped forward. "I can Lightningtail."
Wait a second... I know this cat! Rowankit realised. "Hey! You're that cat who comes into the nursery sometimes to check on Snowstep!" He spoke excitedly.

The tabby's icy blue gaze turned to Rowankit. "And you must be Rowankit. And Hazelkit and Briarkit." The tabby pointed his tail at each kit in turn. "I'm Bramblefrost, Snowstep's mate."
Well that makes sense, Rowankit thought.

"Well, it seems like introductions have all ready been made," Lightningtail purred. "Thanks Bramblefrost, you can take Doebreeze and Flamefur."
"Sure, we'll leave now," Bramblefrost meowed.

Rowankit watched two cats rise, again putting an image in his mind. Doebreeze and, well, Flamefur won't be hard to remember, Rowankit thought, looking at the tom's flame-coloured pelt. Lightningtail started again. "Snakestripe, could you -" the deputy was cut off by a scream from the nursery. "My kits! My kits are coming!"