Diamondkit walked out of the den. Her den mates were there too, all sitting in a line.

They're waiting for their apprentice ceremony to start. Diamondkit realized.

She scrambled to her paws and took her place next to Firekit. She tried to sit up tall in pride, like the other kits were doing, but her back never arched properly, so she just sat down. Firekit looked at her.

"Diamondkit! You're here!" he purred. "The apprentice ceremony should be starting soon!"

As if on cue, Clearstar got out from his den and yawned. He briefly clawed at the rock below him, before clearing his throat.

"All cats old enough to catch their own prey, please gather beneath the Highrock for a clan meeting."

The warriors and apprentices walked out of their dens and gathered in formation beneath the rock.

"Diamondkit, Swiftkit, Applekit, Forestkit, and Firekit have reached the age of six moons old. Please come up the rock." Clearstar stated.

The five kits scrambled up the rock.

"From now on, until you become warriors, you will be known as Diamondpaw, Swiftpaw, Applepaw, Forestpaw, and Firepaw. Your mentors will be Lemonclaw, Willowfoot, Smallnose, Redsight, and Foxtoe."

The mentors climbed the rock to touch noses with their new apprentices.

"Diamondpaw! Swiftpaw! Applepaw! Forestpaw! Firepaw!" the clan cheered.

"You may resume your regular activities." Clearstar concluded, going back into his den.

"Do you want to check out the clan territory? Foxtoe and Firepaw will be tagging along too."

"Sure!" Diamondpaw purred.