Series 1-The New Beginnings, Book: 1-The Uninvited Guests

~ Chapter 2: The Ceremony ~

Graykit gathered around her friends, all of them shaking with excitement. Fawnkit on the other hand, her gaze seemed to dart around the clearing nervously. She kept looking down at her paws. "Fawnkit, Herbalkit, Hawkkit, Minnowkit, Skykit , Paisleykit and Graykit, please come forward." The kits stepped forward trying to contain their excitement. 

"We have gathered here today to give 6 clan members they're apprentice names." Breezestsar chuckled, "That has to be a record!" Flamefeather, Swirlfeather, Pepperfeather and Dawnfeather came up behind them. They proudly looked at their kits. Flamefeather noticed Fawnkit shuffling her paws uncomfortably. She smiled, feeling pity for her shyness. Flamefeather licked Fawnkit's head affectionately and Fawnkit sat up straighter looking braver.    

"Fawnkit," Breezestar's gaze turned to her "You have reached the age of 6 moons and it is time for you to be apprenticed" Fawnkit's eyes widened in awe. "From this day on, until you are given your warrior name, you will be known as Fawnpaw." Graykit looked at her with delight. She could see that Fawnpaw was excited. Breezestar continued, "Stormfeather." The warrior she-cat perked her ears. "You are ready to take on your first apprentice." Stormfeather's eyes gleamed. She was a gentle she-cat who was very kind and really fast, the fastest in the clan. "You received excellent training from Pepperfeather." The queen nodded at her former apprentice, pride shone from her eyes. 

Herbalkit watched from under Pepperfeather, asking who that was. Her mother hushed her and told she would explain after. "And have shown yourself to be Compassionate and brave. You will mentor Fawnpaw and pass down all that you know." Stormfeather nodded then padded up to Fawnpaw touching noses with her. After, Fawnpaw padded to her mother and sister, Flamefeather wrapped her tail around her and groomed her and Paisleykit sat next to her proudly. 

Graykit wondered who her mentor would be. I mean who would be the best choice for her? Graykit watched as Minnowpaw, Skypaw, Hawkpaw and Paisleypaw became apprentices. Hawkpaw got Brakenfeather, his own dad, as his mentor. Skypaw got Crestfeather, one the coolest warriors in Graykit's opinion. Minnowpaw got Ravenfeather and Paisleypaw got Bloomfeather, the deputy. Then it was finally time. 

"Graykit, you have reached the age where it is time for you to be apprenticed, from this day on you will be known as Graypaw until you receive your warrior name. Your mentor will be Fennelfeather, I hope he gives you the wisdom and courage he has." Graypaw's eyes widened in shock. It was an honor to have Fennelfeather as a mentor, he was a brave and noble warrior. Fennelfeather padded over to Graypaw and touched noses with the she-cat. His eyes were warm but strong, he then turned away walking back to his spot. 

"You may now welcome these newly apprenticed cats!" He said looking satisfied with his clan. Yowls of the new apprentices' names rose up in unison. Graypaw noticed that Herbalkit was not assigned a mentor. she looked around for Herbalkit among the group of cats crowding the apprentices with praises. She then spotted her brown pelt, her green eyes anxiously searching the clearing. 

Breezestar yowled, cuing everyone to silence. "Now an announcement from your medicine cat, Myrtlefeather." Breezestar leapt off the rock Myrtlefeather padded slowly up the rock. His pelt was covered in scars but one stuck out the most, was a large, deep scar across his flank. Graypaw started to feel cross, how did a medicine cat have scars? His eyes were a little bit slitted. He then sat down on the rock, his tail wrapping around his feet perfectly like it was meant to go there. 

"Dear clan, I'd like to invite Herbalkit to something special," Herbalkit perked her ears and locked eyes with Somalifeather. Her tail twitched in anticipation. "As you all know I'm getting older and when my time comes I need to be prepared. I mean it's the least I could do in all the chaos without me." He meowed jokingly. Murmurs from below the rock sounded in agreement. Even breezestar had a glint of humor in his eyes. 

"Herbalkit step forward," Herbalkit took two steps forward, her eyes gleaming in excitement. "Herbalkit, is it your wish to enter the mysteries of Starclan as a medicine cat?" Herbalkit straightened up and held her gaze on Myrtlefeather. "Yes, it is," He purred in amusement at the kit's pride. He then looked toward the sky. 

"Warriors of Starclan, I present you with this apprentice. They have chosen the path of a medicine cat. Grant her wisdom and insight so that she can understand your ways and heal her clan to your accordance. We will make her apprenticeship official next halfmoon'' When he finished he looked at his clan again and then padded down the rock to Herbalpaw. Her eyes beamed up at him. "I can tell you will be a good medicine cat one day." He meowed. 

Breezestar hopped up onto the rock again. "Okay now that we've got that aside, tonight we have a gathering so I would like to just remind you all. I will have made up my mind of who's going before sundown." He then added, "Clan dismissed" Breezestar jumped off the rock and stalked back to his den.

 The new apprentices all traveled in silence to the apprentice den, their new home. Inside, sun poured in through the mended branches on the top of the den. "Wooohooo!" Hawkpaw shouted. "This is our new den!" Fawnpaw said, taking a wistful breath. "I call this part of the den!" Minnowpaw meowed leaping over to a small corner of the den. He grabbed a stick and traced a circle creating a border for his corner. Graypaw's eyes lit up with laughter as she saw her friend do this. Minnowpaw looked at her with admiring eyes then looked at his corner. She looked around the den to see that her friends had already picked where they slept. Graypaw took the last corner on the den right beside Hawkpaw's corner. 

Minnowpaw padded over to her corner and asked, "Hey Graypaw, are you up to collecting bedding for the whole group?" Graypaw nodded, "of course-" she then turned to the rest of her clan mates, "I'll see you guys later then." She turned around and padded out of the den followed by Minnowpaw. Graypaw and Minnowpaw came back with feathers, moss, and leaves. Stuffed in their jaws. As Graypaw and her friends divided the bedding evenly among themselves. 

A yowl came from the highrock. The apprentices padded out of the den to see that it was almost moonrise. It was time for the gathering. Skypaw sat down beside Graypaw as they all gazed up at the leader. "I will be taking; Crestfeather, Fennelfeather, Stormfeather, Frostpaw, Hawkpaw, Skypaw, Minnowpaw and Graypaw. The rest of you, guard the camp" Breezestar meowed, hopping off the rock. Graypaw was amazed, she was going to her first ever gathering!