Fawnkit shrieked as Darkkit bit down on her tail. She turned and batted him away. "Darkkit, Sweetrose said to stop that!" She hissed.

"That's not what a real WindClan cat would say," said Darkkit. "They would yell, 'Roar, I'm a silly rabbit chaser!'"

The pair collapsed, giggling. It had been only a few moons since Owlpaw and Lakepaw left the nursery. There wasn't much time until Fawnkit and her brothers would become apprentices themselves.

Fishkit trotted back into the Nursery, filling the whole den with the smell of herbs. Fawnkit wrinkled her nose. "Fishkit, you need to get Sweetrose to bathe you. You smell!"

"Who smells?" A familiar voice asked. A white and brown cat padded into the den.

"Arbor!" The three squeaked in unison. They didn't see the loner very often, but when he did come, he always had a smile on his face.

"Hey! How's it going?" he asked. "I've heard that today's the big day!"

Darkkit nodded. "Yeah! I'm gonna be Icestar's apprentice."

Fawnkit swatted his ear. "You may be," she corrected. "Just because Blackberry asked her doesn't mean you will be."

Arbor laughed. "It would be pretty cool to be the leader's apprentice, but that's not why I'm here." He stepped outside and grabbed an item he left by the entrance. "Here," he said, dropping a giant wad of sheep fur in front of the kits. "Birch used to bring it, but I felt like bringing it today."

The three leapt on top of the sheep's fur, giggling. Fishkit stuck his head up. "Thank you!" He squeaked before burrowing in the thick mass.

Arbor purred and walked out, presumably to go see Sweetrose and Blackberry.

Fawnkit closed her eyes. Maybe she could take a nap. Her eyes began to droop.

"All cats old enough to swim in the rivers gather at the Speaking Stone for a clan meeting!"

Her brothers stood up, Fishkit stepping on her head as he sprinted out of the nursery. Fawnkit groaned and followed them. Icestar was sitting above them, looking down at the three.

She spoke. "I, Icestar, call upon the spirits of StarClan to look down on these three kits. They wish to train under your noble code. Fishkit, Fawnkit, and Darkkit. Do you wish to train under the warrior code and serve your clan as apprentices?"

Fishkit nodded enthusiastically. "I do!" he called.

Fawnkit nodded. "I do." Darkkit did the same.

Icestar smiled. "From this day forward, until they earn their proper warrior names, these apprentices will be known as Fishpaw, Fawnpaw, and Darkpaw. Cocoatail, you will mentor Fawnpaw. You have become a strong and loyal cat, and I hope you will pass this on to Fawnpaw."

Fawnpaw looked over at Cocoatail. Are you kidding me? Why would Icestar choose a kittypet to mentor me? Cocoatail was beaming with pride as he walked over where Fawnpaw stood. He touched her nose and smiled as he sat down behind her.

"Frostshadow, you have expressed an interest in mentoring Fishpaw, so you will teach him in the ways of the medicine cat."

Frostshadow padded over, her expression calm. She pressed noses with Fishpaw, and Icestar continued.

"Darkpaw has shown promise from the start, and Blackberry has asked me to mentor him. I would be honored to do so."

Fawnpaw stared in shock as Icestar leapt down and touched noses with her brother. So he was right. Fawnpaw looked up at Cocoatail, who was still smiling. Frostshadow was smiling as well, but there was something dark hidden in her eyes. Something sad.

Whoo! That chapter took forever! The character list will be published soon!