"I spy something... brown!" Mistykit purred.

She and Coldkit sat side by side in the clearing, not far from the nursery. The sun was setting over the pine trees, casting long shadows across the camp. Mistykit watched as her brother studied their surroundings. "Is it a tree?"

"Nope."

"Is it that branch? The ground?" When Mistykit shook her head, Coldkit narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. "Hmm... Oh!" He lifted a paw and pointed it across the clearing where Hawkfeather was sitting outside his den, sorting herbs. "Hawkfeather!"

"Right," Mistykit purred. It was quiet for a moment. "Do you want to play again?" She inquired.

Her brother shook his head. "We've been playing all day." He let out a sigh. "I'm bored."

Mistykit couldn't deny that she was falling under the heavy spell of boredom too. She and Coldkit were getting tired of playing the same old nursery games. There were no other kits in the nursery, and Bloodpaw never visited them. It's still a quarter moon until we become apprentices! How are we ever going to make it?

"I taught that cat a lesson!"

Mistykit flicked an ear at the loud purr and turned her head, looking across the clearing. It had been two days since the battle, and Revengepaw was still boasting about how well he'd fought. 

"And then I knocked a tabby warrior right off his paws!" Revengepaw was boasting to his brother, his tail swishing back and forth. "That was right before I slashed open that gray cat's muzzle. You should have seen the blood!"

Swiftpaw's attention was fixed on his paws, which he shuffled uncomfortably. "Err yeah." He hesitated. "Timberstorm wanted me for a training session." He awkwardly slunk away, his tail low. 

"Hey!" Revengepaw glared after him, giving a frustrated snort. "I wasn't finished." He stared after his brother for a moment, then looked around boredly. He spotted Mistykit and Coldkit and rose to his paws, strutting over confidently. "How'd you two like to hear about how great I was in the battle?"

"Okay." Coldkit's eyes flashed with interest. 

Mistykit looked past Revengepaw to where Swiftpaw was sitting at the side of the clearing, his head low. "Is Swiftpaw okay?" She asked.

"Swiftpaw?" Revengepaw scoffed. "Oh, he's just traumatized by his experience in the battle." He puffed out his white chest. "Not every cat has nerves of stone like me."

Coldkit frowned. "What was it like fighting in a real battle?"

"I thought you'd never ask!" Revengepaw's amber eyes gleamed. "It's greater than you could ever imagine. Surrounded by the yowls and shrieks of your enemies, tufts of fur and blood whirling around you."

While Coldkit's eyes widened, Mistykit spoke up. "Didn't you get hurt?" She asked worriedly.

"Oh, yeah!" The black-legged apprentice's eyes lit up. He twisted his body to show off a long scar across his right shoulder. "I got this! Poisonedsap says I'll have it forever!"

"That's... good?" Coldkit sounded uneasy.

"Yeah! Scars show how tough you are." Revengepaw boasted. "And I'll be the toughest cat in the forest one day."

He's hardly even phased by being in danger and getting a scar! Mistykit thought in amazement. "You weren't afraid? Not even a little?"

Revengepaw's amber eyes flashed to her. "Of course not! There's no time to be scared in battle. Your instinct takes over." He raised an unsheathed paw to study his claws. "It makes you stronger than anything."

Mistykit stared at the white and black tom, impressed by his words. She couldn't help but admire his confidence and bravery in battle. No other cat seemed quite as triumphant about the victory. 

But she remembered that Revengepaw had been fighting for more than most cats. He wanted to avenge Maplefur, his father who had been killed by ThunderClan warriors. "You're so brave! You're going to be a great warrior," She purred.

"You bet I will." Revengepaw lifted his chin proudly.

"Revengepaw!" Cougarfoot crossed the clearing to his apprentice. "Are you up for a quick training session?"

The tom's eyes lit up. "Battle training?"

Cougarfoot narrowed his eyes. "No, I thought we could work on your hunting skills."

"Ugh!" His shoulders drooped. "Fine," He muttered and followed his mentor across the clearing.

Mistykit and Coldkit stared after them for a moment. "Won't it be great when we're apprentices with Revengepaw, Swiftpaw, and Bloodpaw?" She meowed, her boredom replaced with excitement as she imagined training with her clanmates. 

"Yeah," Coldkit agreed. "We-"

"Mistykit! Coldkit!" Diamondrain's voice rose from the nursery behind them. "It's getting late. Come inside before it gets cold."

Already? She exchanged a disappointed look with Coldkit before rising to her paws. "Coming, Diamondrain!" She and Coldkit turned and padded into the nursery. 

Rosebreeze was already asleep in her nest, her fluffy cream striped tail wrapped around her. Diamondrain lay with one paw rested over the other, her blue eyes warm as she watched her kits. "Did you have fun?" She prompted.

"Yeah, I guess," Coldkit sighed. "But do we have to sleep already?"

Mistykit sat down in front of her mother. "We're nearly six moons. We don't get tired as easily anymore."

"Once we're apprentices, we can stay up as late as we want." Coldkit pointed out.

Diamondrain let out a purr. "We'll see how late you stay up when you start training at dawn every day. You'll be wishing I were pestering you to go to sleep early!"

While Mistykit realized she was probably right, Coldkit stretched his jaws open in a yawn. Maybe we are a little tired. She thought, mildly amused.

"Alright, it's time to sleep." Diamondrain swept her tail around Coldkit, gently pulling him toward her. He reluctantly climbed into their nest and curled up into a ball against her belly. 

Mistykit settled beside him, resting her chin on her paws. After a moment, she opened her eyes and stared up at her mother. "Diamondrain?"

"Yes, Mistykit?" She prompted.

"Will you miss us when we're apprentices?" She asked. She was so excited to leave the nursery and begin her training, but never thought about how it would effect her mother.

Diamondrain's clear eyes softened with love and sadness. "Of course I will." She leaned down and licked her on the head. "But just because we won't share a nest or a den doesn't mean we won't be together. I'll always be here for you and Coldkit, and I can't wait to watch you grow into brave young warriors."

As Mistykit closed her eyes, she heard her mother murmur. 

"I'll be with you every pawstep of the way."

***

"Mistypaw! Wake up!"

Just like when she was a kit, she opened her eyes and found herself looking into the bright yellow gaze of Bloodpaw. 

"It's time for training!" Her denmate purred. "Our mentors want all the apprentices to train together today. It's going to be great!"

Yes! I'm an apprentice now! She let out a purr and rose to her paws. Her surroundings vanished, and she found herself in the pine forest. The trees were bright and lush, the grass soft and full under her paws. A warm sun blazed down through the branches, dappling the earth in light.

Mistypaw looked up as a yellow butterfly fluttered over her head, purring happily. The forest is just as beautiful as I imagined! 

"Mistypaw, come on!" Bloodpaw called out happily. She looked up to see him standing further away, his fur bright red under the sunlight. Beyond him, Revengepaw and Swiftpaw were wrestling, laughing and growling playfully.

Coldpaw whisked past her, his blue eyes bright with excitement. "We're going to practice a hunting crouch! Bloodpaw's going to show us everything he knows!"

I have so much to learn! And what better way than to learn from my friends? She let out a joyful laugh and began bounding after her brother toward Bloodpaw, her eyes fixed on his blazing yellow gaze.

***

"Mistykit! Mistykit!"

She awoke, startled to find Coldkit shaking her shoulder with his paws. "Mistykit, wake up!" He urged eagerly.

"Coldkit, I told you to let her sleep!" Diamondrain scolded gently as Mistykit rose to her paws, letting out a yawn and blinking drowsily. What's going on? She felt disappointed to be torn from her pleasant dream. I thought I was really an apprentice!

Days and days had passed since that evening Revengepaw had boasted about the battle. Nearly every night Mistykit found herself in a dream world where she and Coldkit were apprentices, joyfully training with Bloodpaw, Revengepaw, and Swiftpaw. Every dream felt more real than the last, and it made awakening from them all the more frustrating.

"I know, but she has to see!" He stared at Mistykit excitedly. "Look at the clearing, you won't believe it!"

Mistykit blinked in confusion. "What are you talking about?" And why is it so cold? She stepped away from Diamondrain's warm fur, shivering. Coldkit spun and bounded to the mouth of the den, looking over his shoulder eagerly.

As she joined him, she was unprepared for the brightness of the clearing and shut her eyes for a heartbeat before opening them again, blinking slowly. What in the name of StarClan...?

The clearing had been cloaked in a glittering white blanket. Strange flurries drifted down from the sky, adding to the layer of white. "It's snow!" Coldkit purred. "Isn't it amazing?"

"This is snow?" Mistykit breathed, staring into the clearing. It's beautiful! Many cats were already outside, clearing snow into piles and gathering reinforcements for the dens. 

Her attention snapped away from the clearing as Coldkit took a step forward, his paw sinking into the thick snow. "What are you doing?" She gasped.

"It's cold, but fun!" Her brother let out a purr and bounded forward, and she watched in amazement as he trampled through the snow. "Come on!"

I guess it's safe. Mistykit hesitated before stepping forward into the snow. She gasped and drew her paw back sharply. It's so cold! I didn't know anything could be so cold! She looked up and saw Coldkit crouch, staring back at her teasingly. "You're not scared, are you?"

"Of course not!" Mistykit let out a purr. I'm not scared of anything! Like Revengepaw! She surged forward into the snow, ignoring the cold frost seeping into her fur. As she trotted through the snow, feeling the satisfying crunch under her paws, she discovered that Coldkit was right. It is fun!

She scooped up a pawful of snow and flung it at her brother. It crumbled against his shoulder, and he froze, spinning to her. "Hey!" He purred and pounced on her, pinning her in the snow.

"Hey, that's cold!" She squeaked and kicked him off, scrambling to her paws and shaking snow from her back. She ran to him and rolled him over in the snow, laughing and purring playfully. 

Coldkit batted her lightly, and she backed off of him. "Try this!" He turned and pounced into the snow, letting out a yowl of delight. "It's fun, you sink right into the snow!"

As Mistykit purred and joined her brother pouncing about, she heard Diamondrain call out behind them. "Be careful, kits! Don't stay out for too long, or you'll catch a cold."

She and Coldkit hardly cared as they pounced in the snow, kicking up thick clumps behind them. "It's amazing!" He purred. "It's like the clouds fell from the sky!"

Mistykit couldn't agree more. I didn't think snow was so amazing! She pawed at the snow, fascinated as she studied the pawprint she'd left behind. 

Suddenly she saw a familiar dark red pelt from the corner of her eye. She looked up to see Bloodpaw standing outside the apprentices den watching them. She perked up excitedly. Has he seen snow before? "Bloodpaw!" She called cheerfully. "Come play with us!"

His yellow eyes warmed and he started toward them. He's coming to play with us! Mistykit thought excitedly. It's been so long since we've done anything together.

"Bloodpaw!" 

He paused, and Mistykit watched as his mentor, Brownstripe, padded through the snow to him, saying something she couldn't hear from this distance. 

"What's going on?" Coldkit spoke behind her. 

Mistykit turned to him, her tail high in the air. "Bloodpaw's coming to play with us!" She purred. "Let's surprise him and tackle him when he gets here."

Her brother's eyes gleamed with anticipation. "Yeah!" He crouched, and Mistykit turned her attention to Bloodpaw. Once he's done speaking to Brownstripe, he'll come over. She thought. 

To her surprise, when Brownstripe turned away in the opposite direction of them, Bloodpaw followed. What? Where's he going? "Hey!" She called out and took a step toward him, one paw raised. "Play with us!" She wailed, unable to hide the hurt in her voice.

"Yeah, where are you going?" Coldkit straightened, blinking his puzzled gaze.

If Bloodpaw heard them, he took no notice. He didn't even look at them as he followed Brownstripe out of the camp. For a long moment, Mistykit just stared after him, her chest heavy with hurt. She let her tail droop into the snow and lowered her gaze. 

"I... I guess Brownstripe wanted him for training." Coldkit tried to sound positive, but the hurt in his voice was clear as day. "We'll see him later."

Coldkit's right... Mistykit gave herself a shake, trying to ignore the hurt gnawing at her heart. "Yeah..." Bloodpaw's our friend. He's just busy. Any day now we'll be apprentices too, and it won't be this way anymore. The thought comforted her. Everything will be different soon enough.

***

The rest of the day had been busy and eventful. That afternoon, Rosebreeze had given birth to three she-kits: Creamkit, Honeykit, and Tinykit. During this time, Mistykit and Coldkit had left the nursery with Diamondrain while Hawkfeather made sure Rosebreeze's kitting went smoothly.

Now, Mistykit and Coldkit sat near Diamondrain in the nursery, staring at Rosebreeze's litter. A purr rumbled in the rosy cream she-cat's throat as she gazed down at the three kits nestled close to her belly. Two were creamy colored like their mother, while the third bore a brown tabby pelt like Brownstripe.

The father of the kits was there now, crouched beside Rosebreeze and resting his head against hers as he gazed at his newborn daughters. "They're beautiful, just like you," He purred.

Mistykit took a cautious step forward to get a better look at the kits. "They're so tiny," She breathed.

"Were we that tiny too?" Coldkit asked, looking back at Diamondrain. 

Their mother purred. "Of course, all kits are born very small." She paused and studied her kits. "Which reminds me... You two have grown so much. You're certainly six moons."

Mistykit spun to her, gasping. "We are?"

When Diamondrain nodded, Coldkit's eyes widened. "Does that mean- When are we being apprenticed?" 

"Well, I spoke to Depthstar about it this morning." Diamondrain frowned thoughtfully. "So... I'm going to guess any time now."

"Yes!" Mistykit let out a yowl of delight, bouncing on her paws. 

She froze when she heard the kits squeaking behind her, startled at her yowl. She looked over her shoulder guiltily as Rosebreeze swept her tail around the kits to calm them, and Brownstripe narrowed his eyes at Mistykit.

"Sorry!" She mumbled, then turned to her mother, lowering her voice. "We're being apprenticed today yet?"

"I'm sure of it." Diamondrain's eyes shone. "I know you-"

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather for a clan meeting!"

Depthstar's yowl made Mistykit's heart explode with excitement. That's for us! She exchanged a delighted look with Coldkit before they shot out of the nursery.

Out in the clearing, the rest of the clan was gathering, settling on the now flattened layer of snow. The sun was setting over the camp, turning the snow creamy and causing the frosted surface to glitter.

This is it! Our apprentice ceremony! She started forward only to have Diamondrain pull her back with one paw. "You must wait for Depthstar to call for you," She told them gently. "Sit still and be patient."

Mistykit nodded and sat down with Coldkit, her paws tingling with excitement as she looked at the meeting rock where Depthstar stood, clearing his throat.

"ShadowClan is so fortunate to have so many kits," The clan leader began. "They are the future of the clan, and more important to have than anything. However, leaf-bare will be hard, and more warriors and apprentices will be needed for hunting. And so it is time for two of our kits to become apprentices." 

Depthstar raised his head, and Mistykit froze as his blue gaze rested on she and Coldkit. "Mistykit, Coldkit," He called, his voice ringing across the clearing. "Come forward."

It's time! It's really time! Mistykit swallowed, her heart pounding in her chest. She and Coldkit hurried forward, weaving their way through the crowd of cats. When they reached the base of the rock, Mistykit raised her head to meet her leader's gaze, feeling her paws tremble under her.

"Mistykit, Coldkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed." Depthstar meowed. 

She could hardly breathe as she awaited his next words. Our apprentice names!

"Mistykit, Coldkit, from this day on, until you receive your warrior names, you will be known as Mistypaw and Coldpaw." 

Mistypaw! I'm Mistypaw now! She held up her head proudly, her tail waving excitedly. She turned to Coldpaw and saw the same pride blazing in his eyes. This was the moment they'd been waiting for so long. And this time, it wasn't a dream.

Depthstar studied the warriors below before he continued speaking. "Stripednose, Song, you are ready to take on apprentices. You are young, but wise and responsible. Stripednose, you will be mentor to Mistypaw. Song, you will mentor Coldpaw."

Mistypaw turned to see a tortoiseshell tom step forward from the crowd, flanked by a white she-cat. That must be Stripednose. He let out a friendly purr, and Mistypaw excitedly padded forward to touch noses with her mentor. She assumed that Coldpaw was exchanging the same greeting with Song.

As Mistypaw stepped back from him, Depthstar spoke teasingly from above. "Now, I trust that your relationship won't get in the way of training your apprentices."

Both Stripednose and Song looked embarrassed. They're mates! Mistypaw understood. I bet me and Coldpaw will be training together a lot then. She felt a pang of worry. What if I never get to train with Bloodpaw and the other apprentices? 

"Of course not, Depthstar," Song purred in response, exchanging a warm look with Stripednose.

"Mistypaw! Coldpaw!" 

The cats around them began cheering their new names, and Mistypaw felt overwhelmed by joy. She exchanged an excited look with Coldpaw. "We're really apprentices!" She exclaimed. 

"Yeah!" Coldpaw's eyes glowed. "We're going to be the best!"

"Mistypaw! Coldpaw!" Diamondrain was weaving through the crowd as the cats dispersed, her blue eyes shining with pride. When she reached them, she rubbed her head against Mistypaw's, then did the same to Coldpaw. "I'm so proud of you both!" She purred. "I can't wait to hear all about your training."

As Mistypaw purred in response, she noticed a familiar black tom watching them from a distance. Crowmask. He stared through amber eyes that gave away no emotion. She hesitantly met her father's gaze, wondering if he would come to congratulate them. But the moment their eyes met, Crowmask turned away sharply and padded over to the fresh kill pile.

I don't know why he chooses to stay out of our lives. She thought. But it's alright. He's just another warrior to me, and I'm just another apprentice to him. Her spirits lifted when she saw Bloodpaw standing near the side of the clearing, watching as Swiftpaw disappeared into the apprentices den.

"Come on!" She gave Coldpaw a nudge and hurried toward her clanmate. We can spend the rest of the evening making our new nests! And stay up late to talk and play games! She was excited to hear Bloodpaw's ideas. Surely he'd been looking forward to this day too? "Bloodpaw! Bloodpaw!"

When she and Coldpaw reached Bloodpaw, he was still staring after Swiftpaw, as though unaware of their approach. 

"Isn't this great?" Coldpaw prompted. "We're apprentices like you!"

Mistypaw nodded happily, staring at Bloodpaw. "We can train together!" 

For a moment, Bloodpaw didn't respond. She waited for him to turn and congratulate them, to offer to help them move into the apprentices den and share all the fun ideas he had planned for them. They'd spend all day training and playing together, practicing battle moves and sharing hunting techniques. Every day would be a new adventure that they'd go through together.

Bloodpaw spun sharply to face them, his fur bristling with anger. "You're not kits anymore!" He snapped, and they jerked back a little in shock, but before Mistypaw could even think, he went on yelling. "You need to stay with your mentors, and focus on training! I don't have time for you!"

She stared back at him wide eyed, her mind spinning and overwhelmed with shock and confusion. His harsh words burned into her mind, and her heart skipped a beat before she felt it break and crumble in her chest, carrying with it all her dreams and expectations. 

He can't mean it... He can't! He's our friend! She stared into Bloodpaw's furious yellow eyes, the same ones that had once greeted her with warmth and kindness. "But..." She felt a lump growing in her throat and swallowed, unable to speak.

"Come on, Mistypaw," Her brother growled and lashed his tail, turning away. "We don't need him."

But... We did need him. I did, at least. Mistypaw's heart sunk like a rock straight to the bottom of the river. And I thought he needed us too... "Yeah..." She rasped and lowered her head. She stared at Bloodpaw sadly for a long moment, wishing the warmth would return to his yellow gaze. Like the sun...

Mistypaw shut her eyes as she turned away and slowly padded after Coldpaw, her tail drooping behind her. Her heavy heart throbbed in her chest as her mind spun with a million questions. Why doesn't he want anything to do with us? Does he see us as dumb kits? Has being an apprentice changed him? Why can't we stay friends?  Why does he hate us? The pain rose in her chest until she wanted to wail to the sky like a lost kit. What did I do wrong?