Featherkit woke with a slight start, and for a wild moment wondered where on earth she was. Then she remembered that she was in the RockClan nursery, along with Ravenkit and Poppykit, her new denmates, and her adopted mother Spottedfur. She had lived with them for almost a moon now, and there still hadn't been a rescue party to come and pick her up. If they loved you, they would have looked for you. The forbidden thought echoed in her mind. The cats here had told her time and time again that she was safe, that they were better for her than wherever she had been before. When she woke from nightmares, or when she struggled with simple things like a game of moss-ball. Maybe they didn't love me...
"Try to aim where you think the moss-ball will be, not where it is." Poppykit told her. "Try again." She flicked the moss-ball at Featherkit, who crouched low, and leaped. She missed it by a whisker.
"So close! Next time." A passing apprentice encouraged. So different from the snickering she would have been met with back home.
Ravenkit flung the ball at Featherkit again. Featherkit leaped, concentration filling her. Her hind legs pushed strongly out from under her, propelling her much higher that she used to be able to jump. Her claws stretched out, and hooked on to the ball. Flushed with happiness, Featherkit sat back down, as Ravenkit gave her several licks filled with praise. "Now we can have a proper game!" Poppykit exclaimed happily. Before there game could start however, Spottedfur called them in for food. They shared a thin squirrel, which was stringy and tough, but filling all the same. As they left the den again Brackenpaw passed by, just back from a hunting patrol. "Brackenpaw! Can you teach us to fight? Please?" Begged Poppykit.
Brackenpaw looked amused. "Ok then. Ravenkit, you be the OakClan warrior."
Ravenkit obliged, crouching low and spitting as Poppykit. As he leaped, "Left." Brackenpaw ordered. Poppykit leaped left, and Ravenkit blundered past her. He spun round and charged again. "Get under him and knock his paws out from under him."
Poppykit did as she was told, but wasn't fast enough to get out from under him, and Ravenkit promptly squashed her. Yelping and squeaking, she struggled to get free. "What are you standing there looking at? Your friend is down!" Brackenpaw snapped at Featherkit. Featherkit leaped at Ravenkit, pumling his soft black fur with her paws. He tumbled off, and they leaped at each other with squeaks of happiness. Brackenpaw watched, before heading to the fresh-kill pile for a bite to eat.
Late that night Featherkit lay awake, watching the stars through a gap in the brambles above. A strange thought crossed her mind. She had spent nearly all her time here, wishing she was home but not daring to say it. But now she wasn't so sure she wanted to go home. It was so nice here, with new friends and helpful apprentices. She relized, that she probably preferred it here. Thought swirling around her, Featherkit lay back down and closed her eyes. Sleep came like a black wave.

"May all the cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the High Branch for a clan meeting!" Yowled Duskstar from atop the thick, low hanging branch of one of the pines. Featherkit followed Ravenkit and Poppykit out from the nursery. Her fur was neatly groomed, and shone in the early winter sun. "Can Poppykit, Ravenkit and Featherkit please come forward?" The three kits bounded forward eagerly.
"Poppykit from now on until you receive your warrior name you shall be known as Poppypaw. Cinderpatch shall be your mentor." He turned to Cinderpatch. "You are an enthusiastic young warrior and I hope you pass on all your enthusiasm and skill to this apprentice." The pair touched noses, and Featherkit spotted that Poppypaw was trembling with excitement.
"Ravenkit from now on until you receive your warrior name you shall be known as Ravenpaw. Applefall shall be your mentor." Duskstar turned to the orange warrior. "You are an experienced warrior, I hope you pass on your wisdom to this young apprentice." Featherkit shivered with excitement. It was her turn next.
"Featherkit from now on until you receive your warrior name you shall be known as Featherpaw. Dewdrop shall be your mentor." A ripple of surprise went through the clan. "You have been through alot, and your loyalty has been tested. I hope you pass on your experience and loyalty to this young apprentice." Featherkit met the gray warriors kind eyes, and they touched noses. "Poppypaw, Ravenpaw, Featherpaw!" Featherpaw felt she might burst with pride. Dewdrop lead her to the apprentice den. "Find a nest and have a good rest, tomorrow is a busy day." Featherpaw slipped in, looking around. It was like a slightly larger nursery, without the milky smells. It was set in a dense clump of bushes that had been woven together to form strong walls. Brackenpaw helped the new apprentices make nests, putting them all next to each other. Featherpaw curled next to Ravenpaw and drifted into a soft, sweet sleep.