[header art drawn by me]

Cats were congregated around the Fallen Tree, talking quietly among each other. Today was the day of Mosskit and Sootkit's apprentice ceremony, two kits brought in several moons ago. It had been announced that they were the kits of Ripple, a ferocious rogue. Not only had this she-cat gathered an army to fight against FernClan, she herself had taken Yewstar's last two lives in a single battle, and was Mintstar's littermate. Warriors wondered who would be the mentors of such controversial cats.

"I bet you Hollyflame will get one of them," a burly tom murmured. "He seemed to be certain that FernClan could make them good warriors."

"I'm not sure," a calico she-cat replied. "I must admit, Hollyflame is a bit irresponsible."

In the Clan nursery, Sootkit and Mosskit were bouncing excitedly. Mosskit squirmed as she felt Dawnwish, one of the nursery queens, rasp her tongue over her gray pelt. "Can we just go now?" the white and gray tabby mewed. Sootkit, her dark-furred brother, nodded in agreement.

Dawnwish purred soothingly, whiskers twitching. The tortoiseshell queen's eyes sparkled with warmth as she glanced down at the two. "Alright. I'm sure the Clan's waiting."

Mosskit bundled out of the nursery with a jubilant squeak. Suddenly, she felt all eyes turned to her, their gazes burning into her pelt from all angles. Sootkit shrunk down beside her. "Dawnwish, are you sure we can go now?" the black tom whispered. Mosskit glanced up at Dawnwish, who nodded slowly. "Come on Sootkit, it's okay," Mosskit whispered.

The crowd parted, leaving a thin space for Mosskit and Sootkit to trail through. The entire group was silent with the exception of a few quietly conversing Clanmates. Are they talking about us? Mosskit wondered. Worriedly, she wondered what they were saying. It was possible that they weren't speaking about Sootkit and Mosskit at all, but Mosskit couldn't help wondering what slander they were throwing towards the two small cats within their own private meows. Lost in her thoughts, Mosskit didn't notice as she rammed into a large, ginger tom.

"Hey, watch out! You need to look where your going and be observant!" he snapped, yellow eyes frowning disapprovingly.

"It's important to be aware and observant if you are to be a good warrior," the dilute tortoiseshell beside him mewed haughtily. Mosskit bounded away with a quick apology.

"Silence! Our newest apprentices are here!" Mintstar called. The muscular gray she-cat stood atop the great Fallen Tree, her tail wavering just above the mossy, worn bark. Mosskit stumbled up to the large oak. Standing beside it was a charred, splintered stump, revealing a flicker of the tree's history. Struck down in a thunderstorm, the Fallen Tree had been used as a gathering place for many moons. Mosskit could see small bits of crumbling bark clinging to Mintstar's paws.

"Sootkit," Mintstar called, looking down upon the black-furred tom. "You have reached the age of six moons and it is time for you to join us as an apprentice." Sootkit visibly straightened, eyes alight with excitement.

"Sootkit, for this moment on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Sootpaw. You mentor will be Larkwhisker. I trust that she will pass on all she knows to you."

Mosskit watched as a brown and white she-cat strolled pridefully towards the Fallen Tree. Her eyes gleamed as she dipped her head towards Sootpaw, touching her nose to the young tom's. Gently, Larkwhisker pulled Sootpaw to the side and they both stepped away from Mosskit. Mintstar nodded approvingly and turned towards the gray and white she-cat.

"Mosskit, you have also reached the age of six moons and will be apprenticed today. For this moment on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Mosspaw. Your mentor will be Adderthorn," Mintstar meowed. "I trust he will pass on all he knows to you."

Mosspaw felt a grin curl at her lip. Coming towards her was an enthusiastic-looking cream tom. "Hey Mosspaw!" he said quietly as he approached. Mosspaw replied with a purr and touched her nose to his. When they broke away, Adderthorn nudged her towards Sootpaw and Larkwhisker. The four cats stood by the side of the Fallen Tree.

For a few moments, the crowd was silent. Is this... is this what's supposed to happen? Mosspaw wondered. Why aren't they doing anything? Are they supposed to do anything?

After several more heartbeats of silence, an uncertain meow rose from of her Clanmates. "Mosspaw! Sootpaw!" he called. Do they cheer our names? wondered Mosspaw. She had heard warrior ceremonies from inside the nursery, and usually the Clan chanted the new warrior's name. Maybe cats did it with apprentices too.

Suddenly, several other cats chorused Sootpaw and Mosspaw's new names. A few others joined, and soon a gracious portion of FernClan cats were chanting Mosspaw and Sootpaw's names. Mosspaw puffed up, whiskers twitching as she basked in her Clanmates cheers. They made her feel accepted. Noticeably some cats were glaring, mouths closed determinedly, but Mosspaw made sure not to focus on them. Or at least she tried.

The ginger tom she had run into earlier. A large, scarred warrior. A gray and cream tortoiseshell. A long-haired gray tabby. Their disapproving gazes burned into Mosspaw's fur. They were looking at her and Sootpaw. Their distrust and skepticism was apparent on their faces. The more she looked, the more ambiguous cats her eyes fell upon.

Focus on the cats that like you, she told herself, hardening her gaze and zoning on the the jovial orange tom who started the cheering. Ignore the ones that don't. She paused for a moment. Or at least try.