Not an update. I'm splitting chapters again ^^

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"Blossomkit - please step forward." Owlstar nodded at the young she-kit, "StarClan has chosen a different destiny for you. Crystalwing wishes to train you as a medicine cat. Crystalwing - you have shown yourself to be a magnificent medicine cat of great skills. Honeystep was one of the best medicine cats I have ever seen, and you have learned well from her. I hope that you will pass on all of the knowledge of StarClan into this new apprentice."

Owlstar's and Crystalwing's gazes met, a new flicker of emotion passed between them. Rock-kit was the nearest to the front of the crowd, and he thought he was the only one who saw this exchange.

"From this day forward, until you receive your full medicine cat name, you will be known as Blossompaw. At the half-moon, Crystalwing will take you to the MoonRock, to introduce you to StarClan and the other medicine cats." Owlstar finished, smiling widely at Blossompaw.

Crystalwing stepped forward to meet Blossompaw. She bent down to touch noses with the newly-made apprentice. "Welcome to the world of a medicine cat. I'm sure you'll be amazing." the blue she-cat whispered, just loud enough for Rock-kit to hear.

"Thank you," Blossompaw murmured politely, her voice edged with happiness.

The two she-cats stepped back to where the medicine cat had been sitting. Blossompaw gazed up at Crystalwing with awe and excitement.

As one, loud, celebrative voice, the Clan cheered, "Blossompaw! Blossompaw! Blossompaw!"

When the noise died down, Owlstar waved her tail at Treekit. "Treekit - step forward. From this day forward, until you earn your warrior name, you shall be known as Treepaw. Your mentor shall be Wolflungs." The white tabby left Snowtail with a gentle flick of his tail and pushed through the crowd to the front. "Wolflungs - you are a cat of incredible speed and endurance. Fireburst was your mentor, and though he is no longer with us, he is still watching you from Silverpelt. I hope you will pass on all that he taught you into this apprentice."

Wolflungs nodded respectfully and dipped his head to meet Treepaw's. They touched noses, before retreating back towards Scarclaw.

Once again, the cave was filled with the applauding voices of many cats, "Treepaw! Treepaw! Treepaw!"

Owlstar waited patiently for the chanting to ebb away, then she continued, glancing at Tall-Leaf before she mewed loudly, "Skunk-kit - from this day forward, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Skunkpaw. Flamepelt you will be his mentor." The bright ginger tom stood up and turned to face Skunkpaw. "You have shown to be powerful and brave, traits that Halfheart passed onto you, and I hope you will teach Skunkpaw equal qualities." Owlstar nodded deeply to the small, white she-cat, who gave a small nod, and turning to Flamepelt, gave an encouraging smile.

Flamepelt touched the tip of his muzzle to Skunkpaw's. "Skunkpaw." The ginger tom congratulated quietly.

"Y-yes. Th-thank you." Skunkpaw whispered, backing away to join his mother.

"Skunkpaw! Skunkpaw! Skunkpaw!" The Clan applauded enthusiastically for a third time.

"Finally, Rock-kit - step forth." Owlstar commanded.

Rock-kit's heart missed a beat. He raised his tail and padded to stand directly under Owlstar.

"From this day forward, until you earn your warrior name, you shall be known as Rockpaw." She resumed.

Rockpaw! Finally!

"Greyshard - you shall be his- Greyshard?" Owlstar repeated, searching the crowd from atop the HighMound. "Has anyone seen Greyshard? Where is she?" The AirClan leader scanned the assembled cats, Rock-kit knew, searching for the distinctive blue pelt of the bristly she-cat.

Mousefoot spoke up from the back, breaking the tense silence, "She was on a patrol with me and Wolflungs on the Eastern border. She said she had to check something."

Owlstar tipped her head questioningly, but Mousefoot shrugged and looked at Wolflungs.

"Hurry up! Some of us have lives to get back to!" Redsplodge cried bad-temperedly from the entrance to the elders' den.

"Instead of listening to your babbling, we elders could be resting!" Night-Eye shouted, lashing his jet-black tail.

"Er..." Rock-kit stared up at Owlstar, suddenly frightened that his ceremony would be delayed. What if they see it as my fault again? What then? Will I have to wait more time? Oh, no...!

"I'm afraid Redsplodge and Nighteye are right." Owlstar smiled gently and closed her eyes, "StarClan can't be kept waiting. Rock-kit - your mentor will be..." she opened her eyes and announced, "Mousefoot."

At once, the silence fell into a burst of muttering. It was well known how mischievous Rockpaw was, and how strict Mousefoot was. Why, most of the Clan would be asking, did Owlstar choose Mousefoot as Rockpaw's mentor?

"What?!" Rockpaw could hardly believe his ears. Mousefoot! Why him? Of all cats, why him? "But- But- But I- What...?" he stared at Owlstar, then at Mousefoot, who had padded through the crowd, until he reached the base of the HighMound.

Mousefoot dipped his head briefly and skimmed noses with Rockpaw. Rockpaw tried to duck away, but Scarclaw pushed him forward gently. The new apprentice could scent the confusion and anxiety swirling through Scarclaw's fur, and see it shining in his orange-copper eyes.

"Rockpaw! Rockpaw. Rock... paw..." the Clan shouted half-heartedly, their cries scattered randomly and losing gusto halfway through his name.

Owlstar looked worried and angry at the same time, as she declared, "Good. Now, if anyone sees Greyshard, please direct her to my den. Thank you. This Clan meeting is finished!" she leaped down from the HighMound, while the Clan broke up around her.

Halfheart led Dapplewind towards Redsplodge and Blackeye. They sat there, yawning, and discussing the disrupted apprentice ceremony.

They'll probably start spreading rumours, that it was cursed by StarClan, or some other stupid nonsense. Rockpaw thought coldly.

All the other cats started to mill around in small groups, talking in hushed voices. As Rockpaw stood under the HighMound, he heard Frosttail mew to his brother and sister, "Hehe... I think that Rockpaw deserves Mousefoot as a mentor. I mean, have you ever seen a more troublemaking mouse-brain in your life?"

"Don't be too harsh on him, Frost, he's barley a kit. Can't you remember what you did as a kit?" Snowtail asked him gently, smiling.

"Yeah, well, Snow, Frost never sneaked out of camp to see a..." Rockpaw never hears the rest of Icefang's mew.

Owlstar had padded up to him and his newly apprentice siblings. She beamed down at them and nodded deeply when Scarclaw meowed, "Well done, my kits!"

"Yes, I'm so proud of you three!" the fawn she-cat licked Rockpaw forcefully on top of his head.

He tried to push her off, but she let go of him after two licks and started on Treepaw, then Blossompaw.

From nearby, Rockpaw heard Tall-Leaf rasping her tongue along Skunkpaw's ears, "Skunkpaw! Oh, Skunkpaw. Congratulations!"

"Thanks, mum," Skunkpaw seemed much happier than Rockpaw had ever heard him. The black-and-white tom wasn't stammering or shivering.

He actually has a mother that cares for him! And he always thinks he's unlucky...

Rockpaw lashed his tail once more, when he heard Tall-Leaf mew, "I can't believe you've grown up so quickly! I-"

She was looking over their shoulders, towards the camp entrance, "Who's that?"

Owlstar turned around, so did everyone else in their party. The fawn-coloured she-cat padded around the HighMound and froze in her tracks, "What?"

Rockpaw rushed to her sided, followed by his sisters. A dark figure of a cat was making their way through the tunnel. Then, they came closer to the mouth of the tunnel, and pale light flooded through their pelt. Blue-grey fur was splashed with pale ginger, while distinctive dark but bright green eyes twinkled in the semi-light. Rockpaw quickly recognised the tortoiseshell fur of...

"Greyshard!" Owlstar exclaimed running a few fox-lengths towards the tunnel.

Before Greyshard could open her mouth to answer with a greeting, Scarclaw bounded past Owlstar and shoved his muzzle close to hers.

"Where were you, Greyshard?!" he demanded, his tabby fur fluffing out around his scars.

Greyshard took a step back and pointedly avoided the question, "Back off, Scarclaw!"

Rockpaw saw his father's pelt bristling with anger, as he snarled angrily, "You missed Rockpaw's apprentice ceremony!"

"Yeah, well, I had more important things to do!" Greyshard rolled her eyes and tried to go around Scarclaw.

He pushed her aside, blocking her way, "'More important things to do'?" he repeated furiously, "What's more important than attending my son's and your apprentice to-be's ceremony?!"

Blue-and-ginger tail lashing, Greyshard growled at Scarclaw, baring her sharp teeth.

Rockpaw's mind grew blank, What did Greyshard mean?

From beside him, Owlstar charged between the two cats, stroking her tail along Scarclaw's stiffening flank, "Calm down. I'm sure Greyshard had a good reason." Owlstar turned to the blue she-cat and mewed calmly, "Come into my den - I need to talk to you." Swiftly, Owlstar turned and trotted up to the hole in the HighMound.

Greyshard cast a last, satisfied look at Scarclaw, and rushed towards Owlstar. As they disappeared inside, Rockpaw considered eavesdropping on them.

"Don't you dare...!" Blossompaw mewed quietly in his ear as soon as the thought formed.

Rockpaw flicked his tail and pretended he didn't care, that Blossompaw could always guess what he was thinking. He did care though. It was so annoying, having her hovering over you like a fly in Green-Leaf. She's learnt that from Owlstar. Annoying furball! Oh mouse dung...! The moment Rockpaw thought this, he regretted it. Blossompaw could be such a tattle-tail, but she was chatting with Treepaw a couple of tail-lengths away. Rockpaw let out a sigh of relief, he probably was over-reacting. He made to head towards the fresh-kill pile, his stomach rumbling loudly.

Mousefoot, who was saying goodbye to Silverwhisker, caught his eye. The tabby shook his head and padded over to him. "Now that you're an apprentice, you'll eat when you've hunted for the elders. Understand?" he asked harshly, his grey fur still bristling slightly at the recent events.

"Fine, fine," Rockpaw sighed, puffing up his fur.

"Yes, Mousefoot. Of course, Mousefoot." His mentor mewed annoyingly.

Rockpaw flexed his claws, and felt them digging into the hard, rocky ground. He imagined them sinking into the tabby's flesh, ripping his fur out and teaching him a lesson. Rockpaw barley stopped himself from leaping at Mousefoot's throat. "Yes, Mousefoot. Of course, Mousefoot." he hissed between gritted teeth.

The tabby tom nodded and padded off to speak with Wolflungs.

"Yes, Mousedung. Of course, Mousebrain..." Rockpaw cursed under his breath.

Out of the corner of his eye, Rockpaw saw his mother's familiar pelt flashing through the ivy tendrils. He heard Owlstar's voice, but he was too far away to understand the words. Then, he saw Greyshard's colourful pelt clearly through the ivy. She threw her last words politely over her shoulder, before padding off towards Foxnose, sitting with Scarclaw and Morningheart.

Word Count: 1849
Again, not an update, I'm splitting chapters :)