Willowkit stared through the leaves, sitting on a rock. She craned her neck over the crowd of cats. Standing proudly on the small stump was Gorsestar. 
              "Acornkit, 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 Acornpaw. Your mentor will be Sootwhisker . I hope Sootwhiser will pass down all he knows to you," declared Gorsestar.
               "Sootwhisker, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have received excellent training from (former mentor), and you have shown yourself to be brace and strong. You will be the mentor of Acornpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to Acornpaw," continued Gorsestar. Acornpaw turned to his brother, Snailpaw and they grinned at each other. Acornpaw touched noses with Sootwhisker. Willowkit spotted Wrencry and Pigeonflight leaning against each other. Their tails twirled. They looked at their kits with pure pride and joy. Willowkit's eyes flitted to her own parents. They were part of the mass of cats gathered in front of the small stump. They were sitting together but they just stared at the two kits up on the small stump without any emotion. They had slight smiles plastered on their faces. Willowkit wondered what they were thinking about. She sighed. Acornpaw's eyes swept the clearing and then finally landed on Willowkit. He flashed her a happy smile. Willowkit smiled back. She was happy for him. She really was. In half a moon, it would be her turn. It would be different. In many ways. For one, her parents would never look at her like Wrencry and Pigeonflight looked at their kits. As the Clan erupted into cheers, Willowkit slipped into the nursery. It was empty. Big and empty. She could sleep in there now. Alone. She didn't know if that was good or bad. She felt a small shiver run through her spine. Then through all the loud commotion outside, she heard some shuffling. She turned around and there, at the nursery entrance was Acornpaw. 
             "Hey," he smiled. "I saw you leave once the ceremony was over. You alright?" 
              "Yeah, congratulations," nodded Willowkit, forcing a smile. 
              "You only need to wait half a moon more. You've already waited six moons..., half a moon will be nothing. Plus, I'll still come and visit you," promised Acornpaw. 
               "Thanks," smiled Willowkit. She was touched. "But you'll be busy. Don't bother." 
               "You look sad," sighed Acornpaw. 
               "I think Sootwhisker's calling you," Willowkit said. Indeed Sootwhisker was calling Acornpaw, seeming slightly frustrated. Acornpaw quickly rushed outside, making a sorry face. 
              "I'm so sorry," he said. "I was just talking to Willowkit," explained Acornpaw. 
              "Is she an excuse for not being here?" demanded Sootwhisker. 
              "No, sorry," sighed Acornpaw. 
              "Do you want to see the territory or do you want to chat to the kit?" asked Sootwhisker demandingly. 
              "I want to see the territory," replied Acornpaw. 
               "Good, let's go," said Sootwhisker. Acornpaw's face lit up. Finally, he was going to go out of camp. Willowkit watched then slipped back into the nursery. She curled into a ball and stiffled a small sob. A cat poked her head into the nursery. A small hope flickered in Willowkit's heart. Mintspot? 
               "Willowkit," said a gentle voice. It was Wrencry. Willowkit didn't lift her head. 
               "Hi," she said. 
               "Are you alright?" asked Wrencry. 
              "Why wouldn't I be?" answered Willowkit. "I'm fine." she wasn't being sarcastic. 
               "I'm sorry," sighed Wrencry. "Do you want me to stay in the nursery with you, tonight?" Wrencry padded to Willowkit's side and lay down beside her. Willowkit could feel her warmth. She wanted to cuddle into Wrencry's stomach and bury her head into her soft fur. But she knew that Mintspot would definitely agree. She could already see Mintspot yelling at her. 
               "AM I NOT ENOUGH FOR YOU?! Fine, go on, if you don't like me, you can find another mother," Mintspot would say. 
               "No. I prefer being alone," said Willowkit. She didn't know if she meant it. She wanted to be alone, so nobody would see her suffering. but she also didn't want to be lonely. She just wanted to cuddle with somebody to keep warm, somebody that loved her.