Today was Softkit and her siblings' naming ceremonies, and she was terrified. She shuffled her paws nervously and twitched her tail every few seconds, mumbling, "It's gonna be okay. It's gonna be okay. You won't mess up. It's okay. Just a few minutes."

         Her sister brushed up against her and rested her tail on Softkit's shoulder and reassured, "By all the stars, it'll be fine! Come on, don't be such a mumble-mew." The entire clan's gonna be staring at me!! What if I say something wrong? Or I trip? What if my fur looks bad? What if I get bad mentors? Okay, Soft, CALM DOWN. It'll be fine. Everything will be fine.

         The light grey tabby slowly nodded her head and followed her siblings outside the nursery, where Cloudystone had just called for the ceremony to start. The three seated themselves next to their parents near the edge of the crowd.

         "It is the fifth moon of three kittens today, and we are gathered here to celebrate their trainees ceremony!" bellowed the chief.

          Mallowmist bent her head and whispered, "Go up."

          "Make me proud," added Aspengaze, beaming.

         Hollowkit and Mistlekit started head forward, but Softkit hesitated. Her sister nudged her, and she reluctantly followed.

         The chief gazed down at them and started the ceremony, "Mistlekit, your old name shall be no more, and you shall now be known as Mistlepaw. Driftshine and Silversprint will be your mentors. I know Driftshine's empathy and creativity will be a great influence on you while Silversprint will guide you to reaching your goals!" She was apprenticed to a council member!! Mistlepaw must really be special!

         He turned to Softkit, "Your mentors shall be Thistleleap and Poppydust, I believe Thistleleap will teach you great patience while Poppydust will guide you to more logical ways, you will now be known as Softpaw."

         Cloudystone took a moment to pause and continued, "Hollowkit, you shall now be known as Hollowpaw. I know that Quietdusk and Drizzlesight will guide you to a path of success!"

         As the ceremony had ended, the clan cheered for the new trainees. Softkit watched Aspengaze and Mallowmist smile warmly at their kits. After the cheers had died down, Cloudystone reminded, "I expect the other trainees to decorate new nests for Hollowpaw, Softpaw, and Mistlepaw." At those final words, he and the council bounded down from the tree, and the rest of the clan dispersed, many mewing about the new trainees and their selected mentors.

         Softpaw stayed in a huddle with Hollowpaw, while their sister eagerly sprung off to her new den.

          Ferretpaw came up to them along with Needlepaw, exclaiming, "Come on! Let's get you settled."

         The littermates followed the older felines to their new den. Softpaw stared at it in amazement, sure she had been in the trainee's bush before, but now, it was actually hers! A pang of sadness kicked her heart though, she would miss sleeping in the nursery with Mallowmist. Softpaw could tell Hollowpaw felt a little uncomfortable too.

          All the other four trainees led the three littermates through the territory looking for long grasses, flowers, ferns, moss, and feathers to create new beds. Through the entire trip, uneasiness gnawed at Softpaw.

~•~•~•~•~

          "Good night!!" yawned Mistlepaw.

           Beepaw responded, "Night..."

           "Good night," mumbled Softpaw, tossing and turning.

          As she felt herself fall asleep, a sensation of falling overcame her. She felt a loud 'thud' as her body slammed against the rocky ground. Softpaw struggled to rise up, though she felt like she was injured, no wounds marked her body. A menacing, twisted smile emerged from the darkness around her and the molly leaped back, claws unsheathing instinctively. A feline emerged from the grin, a medium-furred grey tabby with a white underbelly and green eyes, she looked just like... Mallowmist. The figure stalked forward, and Softpaw slowly stepped back in fear.

          Suddenly, she heard a slight rustling noise of ferns that jolted her attention and woke her up. She sat up, panting, as she looked around, afraid of the darkness. Her ears perked up again at the sound. Was it that cat again!? She lifted her head, and watched Hollowpaw sit in front of the bush gazing into the night sky. Softpaw padded up to him and plopped down.

         "Can't sleep?" he asked, ashamed.

          "Yea, I had a nightmare. A creepy cat was chasing me. You?"

          Hollowpaw shifted in discomfort before blurting, "I miss Mallowmist!"

          "Me too."

          "It seems like Mistlepaw doesn't care."

          "She's just excited," she reassured. We used to be so close, but now... Mistlepaw's kinda drifting apart.

          "Maybe."

          He slowly got to his paws and headed to the protector's den. Softpaw called out, "Where you going?"

          "To Mallowmist."

          "But she's sleeping..."

           He turned around, and the she-cat could see tears pricking his eyes, "I don't care! I miss her!!"

          The two quietly tiptoed between all the cats in the den, trying to get to their mother. Softpaw slowly nestled beside her, relaxing in Mallowmist's warmth. But suddenly, Mallowmist jerked up, jumping into the air screaming, "Attack!!!" The apprentice leaped back in surprise and landed on Poppydust's tail. The guard yelped and woke up, startling a few other cats.

         "For all the stars, what is happening!!!" growled Poppydust, half awake.

         Seeing it was her kits, Mallowmist sheepishly half snarled half apologized, "Sorry, sorry! I'll talk to these two about sneaking up on others! I'm so sorry about this!!" She marched them out the den and demanded, "What in the wildflower meadows are you doing!"

          Hollowkit pressed his head into her fur and whimpered, "We miss you..."

          "Oh," Mallowmist seemed taken back. She then nosed Hollowpaw and wrapped her tail around Softpaw, "Come one, let's go to the trainee's den. Let's sleep there."

         "Really?" he sniffled.

         As they entered, she lovingly mewed, "Of course. You're my little blooming flowers. Next time, try asking me instead of creeping into the den."

          Softpaw purred next to her mother, and she quickly felt herself drift away into dreamland. No nightmares.

I find this chapter so cute!!! Filler, BUT STILL. CUTE. And I definitely have updated not 6 months agin.