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"Think I should get her up, Silverkit?"

"No, Dawnkit, she had a hard day yesterday, or did you forget?" Silverkit replied throwing Dawnkit a look.

Dawnkit snorted. "Well it's her fault! I told her she'd get caught!"

"Well, we could have at least helped her take care of the elders," Silverkit mewed, rolling her eyes.

Outside of the den, two cats were whispering quietly to each other. One of them was a large tom with a twisted jaw, who was recognizably RiverClan's leader, Crookedstar. Silverkit's eyes grew big after a moment. "…I can't believe I almost forgot! We have our ceremony today! I'll get her up, then," Silverkit squeaked.

"Nnn..? Wah! Stop poking me!"

"Flamekit, get up unless you want to wait another moon before you become an apprentice!"

Flamekit shot straight up, no sign of fatigue lingering in her eyes. Her ginger fur was matted every which way, and her overall appearance was everything but clean. "Yes! We finally get to be apprentices!" she yowled, chasing her tail around a few times.

"You aren't going to your ceremony looking like that," a familiar voice meowed behind the kits.

Flamekit spun around to face her mother, Leopardfur. She curled her lip a bit. Why do adults always have to spoil the excitement? She growled to herself.

"Flamekit, you look as though the whole of StarClan has sent wind through your fur! You are such a mess!" Leopardfur lectured. Before Flamekit could object further, Leopardfur began grooming her fur to the point it was slick and smooth.

"There, now you are fit to go," She meowed, sounding stern, but obviously beaming with pride. Flamekit rolled her eyes and looked around, trying to find her friends. She finally spotted them as they crept out from the back of the nursery, their fur also slicked back by their mother's tongues.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, join beneath the HighPool for a clan meeting!" the yowl rang out through the camp. All three kits raced out of the nursery while their mothers strolled out behind them at a leisurely pace. Flamekit bounded ahead of her friends, skidding to a stop in front of a small hill that lay in the middle of the camp, which contained a tiny pond that never dried out, most commonly known as the HighPool.

As the clan settled down, Crookedstar padded over to the excited kittens, quietly purring in amusement. The leader swung his head side to side, waiting for another cat to join the meeting. Finally, a muscular bracken-colored tomcat nudged his way through the crowd. "Sorry!" he puffed to Crookedstar.

"Now that we are all gathered, it is time for a ceremony that brings new life and opportunity to RiverClan. Three kits are finally becoming apprentices." Crookedstar meowed, facing his clan. The clearing immediately became silent, every pair of eyes set towards the HighPool. Crookedstar pointed at the HighPool with his tail, leading the kits up onto the small hill.

"Now, until she has earned her warrior name, this cat will be known as Dawnpaw. Leopardfur, you are a very skilled warrior, and a senior warrior at that. Lend your impressive skills to Dawnpaw." Dawnpaw smiled, trying not to jump around with excitement, and instead walking over to sit by her new mentor.

Crookedstar stood up and took a few paws steps forward, stopping in front of Silverkit. "Until she has earned her warrior name, she will be known as Silverpaw. Loudbelly, you have shown you are a powerful hunter and fighter, and it is time you had your first apprentice. Please train Silverpaw as best as you possibly can." Silverpaw looked as though she could faint. Flamekit thought she heard her whisper 'Yes, Dawnpaw's father!'. He was popular among them, since he always visited them in the nursery.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Flamekit's heart pound so loud in her chest, she thought she would explode. It was finally her turn. She gazed around anxiously, trying to guess who her mentor would be, but nothing gave her any hint. She whipped her head around as Crookedstar cleared his throat, obviously waiting for her full attention. "And now, until this young cat has earned her warrior name, she shall be known as Flamepaw. Oakheart, my brave deputy, I trust that you will lend your knowledge to Flamepaw, and guide her wisely."

Flamepaw's jaw dropped. Oakheart? The deputy? Impossible! She though, her mind whirling. Stunned, she followed Crookedstar down off the hill and stood in front of her new mentor, Crookedstar sitting down beside him. She looked from one tom to the other, her eyes wide. They both had such warm expressions on their face. She knew Oakheart would, of course, welcoming her into her new life. But why Crookedstar? What else was in his gaze, could it have been a hint of admiration? No, she shook her head. All of the excitement was probably getting to her. She reached up and touched noses with Oakheart and turned to see Silverpaw and Dawnpaw bounding towards her.

"Wow, clan deputy as your mentor?!" Silverpaw whispered in a hushed voice, her eyes the size of full moons. Dawnpaw closed her eyes and nodded with approval. "What an honor. You are so lucky, Flamepaw." The gray she-cat purred, butting her friend in the shoulder. All around them, their clanmates began cheering and chanting their names. "Dawnpaw! Silverpaw! Flamepaw!" Flamepaw stood proud, her fur shining almost as much as her eyes. She was an apprentice!