"KinkClan, attack!" Kinkkit yowled, pinning down Shadowkit. "You are no match for the mighty KinkClan, Shadowstar!"

"Don't worry, FalconClan is here!" Falconkit called. "We will help you defeat the arrogant KinkClan!"

"Attack!" Shadowkit squealed. Both kits leaped and pinned down Kinkkit, who squeaked in protest.

"It's two against one. That's not fair," Kinkkit complained.

"I will ally with your Clan next time," Falconkit offered. "That would make it fair."

"Settle down kits," Honeylight - Kinkkit's and Shadowkit's mother - mewed.

Bristleflower, Falconkit's mother, added, "If you all don't behave, I will tell Pouncestar to delay your apprentice ceremonies."

"We were just playing," Falconkit grumbled.

"Your apprentice ceremonies will be tomorrow, if you don't know," Honeylight meowed.

"And Pouncestar is going to conduct Morningpaw's and Sootpaw's warrior ceremonies today. If you want to watch, please do not play around and distrub it, understood?" Bristleflower mewed.

"Okay!" the three kits agreed, running out of the nursery.

The call to gather had been said a few heartbeats ago - by now most of the cats have gathered.

Pouncestar stood near a high yet flat stone. The two apprentices, Morningpaw and Sootpaw, stood nearby.

"Today, SunClan becomes stronger with two new warriors!" Pouncestar began. "They have proven themselves to overcome all obstacles to earn themselves the title of a full warrior of SunClan."

He then turned to the two apprentices. "I, Pouncestar, leader of SunClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in their turn."

"Morningpaw, Sootpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?" the SunClan leader asked.

"I do," Morningpaw mewed.

"I do!" Sootpaw mewed excitedly.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names: Morningpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Morningdawn. StarClan honours your perseverance and dedication, and we welcome you as a full warrior of SunClan," Pouncestar spoke.

"Sootpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Sootblaze. StarClan honours your loyalty and spirit, and we welcome you as a full warrior of SunClan," he finished.

"Morningdawn! Sootblaze!" yowled the Clan.

"If only it was us," Kinkkit mewed wistfully.

"We will be apprentices tomorrow at least," Falconkit mewed eagerly.

"I wish Whiskershadow would be there to see us," Shadowkit mewed softly.

Whiskershadow was Kinkkit's and Shadowkit's father. One day, he just disappeared. However, there were rumors that he drowned to death - some claimed to see his body being washed away by the river that separated them from WaveClan.

"He will be watching you from StarClan," Echospring meowed, overhearing their conversation.

"Hopefully," Shadowkit mewed, padding back into the nursery as the new warriors began their vigil.

~~~~

"Falconkit, wake up now!" Kinkkit hissed.

"What?" he mumbled sleepily.

"Our apprentice ceremonies, you dormouse!" Shadowkit replied, lashing his tail impatiently.

"Unless you want me to tell Pouncestar to postpone it to tomorrow," Kinkkit teased.

"I'm coming!" Falconkit leaped to his paws.

"But first you have to be groomed," Bristleflower interrupted.

"Two too as well," Honeylight added, grabbing Shadowkit as he let out a muffled yowl of protest.

Falconkit stayed still as his mother began grooming him with quick licks of her tongue.

"Done," she mewed, settling him down.

Just as Honeylight finished grooming Kinkkit and Shadowkit, Falconkit heard Pouncestar's familiar yowl. "Let all cats who are old enough to chase rabbits to gather at the Flat Stone for a Clan meeting!"

"It's time!" Shadowkit squealed, brusting out of the nursery.

Falconkit rushed after him. We are going to be apprentices! At last!

Kinkkit ran even faster and nearly bumped into Shadowkit when he tried to stop.

Pouncestar smiled. "Kinkkit, Shadowkit, Falconkit, step forward."

The three kits stepped forward, their excitement lingering in the air.

"Kinkkit, Shadowkit and Falconkit have reached the age of six moons and are ready to become apprentices. Kinkkit, from this moment on, you will be known as Kinkpaw," the SunClan leader began.

"Swiftshade, you have proven yourself to be an intelligent and thoughtful warrior. Pass these onto your new apprentice," Pouncestar mewed.

Kinkpaw got my father as a mentor! Falconkit thought. Lucky tom!

"Shadowkit, from this moment on, you will be known as Shadowpaw," he continued. "Patchcloud, you are a swift and brave warrior. Pass down your skills to young Shadowpaw."

Finally, it's my turn!

"Falconkit, from this moment on, you will be known as Falconpaw," Pouncestar announced. "Rivernight, you are an experienced and wise warrior. Pass these onto Falconpaw."

I got the Clan deputy! Falconpaw gasped.

"Kinkpaw! Shadowpaw! Falconpaw!" the Clan's yowls distracted him from his thoughts.

I am an apprentice at last! With the Clan deputy as my mentor, I will be the best warrior ever!