[Emeraldscreech]

Branchkit woke early that morning, bouncing up and down excitedly in his nest. Fawnspot, his mother, wasn’t awake yet, so he tried not to disturb her. His mind was racing with thoughts about his apprentice ceremon. How will he sit? Will he get a good mentor? Then one thought poked in his head that spooked him more than the rest: Will I become an apprentice at all? He stopped bouncing, sitting down, frozen with fear. He kept pondering until his mother, Dawnkit, and Leapkit all got up. Fawnspot was using her tail to fidget with as she groomed Dawnkit’s fur, but then again, Branchkit couldn’t remember a day where she hadn’t fidgeted. As she moved onto Leapkit, Beestar’s voice rang out clearly from outside the nursery: “Cats of ThunderClan, gather here beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting.” He noticed as Waddlequiver sat down beside his brother, Gladeslip. Fawnspot’s eyes widened. “So soon?” She murmured, quickly ushering the kits out of the den and into the middle f the semicircle the warriors had made. Beestar leaped down to stand in front of Leapkit, who was quivering with excitement. “Leapkit, you are a brave young cat. I think we should get someone to match your bravery. Hollowleaf, you are dedicated to your Clan and you were brave in all the battles I’ve seen you participate in. You will be mentor to Leapkit. Leapkit, you shall now be known as Leap-paw. Congratulations.” Leap-paw joyfully touched noses to Hollowleaf and stepped off to the side with his mentor as Beestar approached Dawnkit. “We have a special request from this little one,” Beestar mewed as Dawnkit fidgeted with her tail. “She would like to train as a medicine cat. She turned to Boragedapple. “Would you be willing to take on an apprentice?” Beestar asked, her eyes serious. “I think I could use one,” Boragedapple mewed, “because I am getting older.”