Gingerstar's Rising

Chapter Two

It has just reached sun-high. All of the ForestClan cats were up now— most sharing tongues in the clearing or out on a patrol. Gingerkit and Blazekit waited patiently inside of the nursery by themselves.
"I'm glad we're gonna get to train together! The other apprentices seem kind of mean." Blazekit mewed.
"Don't be silly. I'm sure they're... nice." Gingerkit laughed nervously, hoping her words were true, but he was only voicing her own thoughts. They both perked up as Goldenriver entered the den.
"Well?" Her brother asked impatiently.
Their mother frowned. "Greenstar said that he will be delaying your ceremony until later tonight."
Seriously? The two kits groaned in despair. "Aww, why?" Blazekit complained.
Goldenriver sighed quietly. "He... didn't say. I'm sure he has his reasons."
Gingerkit nodded, upset but trying to act mature. "So like, when it gets dark?"
"Yes, I think so," the queen purred happily, "I still cannot believe you guys are going to be training so soon! It feels like a moon ago you two were born." She nuzzled her two kits and then proceeded to lay down. "I'm tired, but why don't you go play outside? Maybe you can get to know the other apprentices?" Goldenriver suggested with a yawn.
The other apprentices do seem mean, Gingerkit thought hastily, I don't want to meet them. But Blazepaw had already responded.
"Okay! Come on, let's go." He raced out of the den happily.
Where did he get such a sudden burst of energy? She asked herself but decided it was irrelevant and padded after him.
He was waiting outside for her.
"You really want to get to know them? You didn't a few moments ago." Gingerkit growled, irritated.
Blazekit shook his head vigorously. "No, of course not. But we can't just ignore them, can we?"
He had a point. After tonight they would be sleeping in the same den as the others, and even training with them. Three of the apprentices were in the nursery with them at one point, but they left before Gingerkit and Blazekit were even a moon old. They couldn't just pretend they didn't exist.
"Okay, then. Let's go talk to them. But if they're rude to me I'm leaving!" She agreed and looked around.
Two apprentices she did not know the names of sat outside the apprentice den. They were siblings and she knew they had a third littermate as well, but that cat's whereabouts didn't concern her. She flicked her tail and pranced over to them, her brother trailing behind her.
"Hello there!" Gingerkit greeted with a patient smile, and Blazekit dipped his head. "This is Blazekit, and I'm Gingerkit."
One of the two cats, a dark brown she-cat with dark blue eyes, snorted. "We know your names, mousebrain." Her sister, a mostly white calico with the same blue eyes, frowned. "Don't be mean, Oakpaw," She warned, and looked back at the two kits with warm eyes. "Excuse her. I'm Brightpaw and you probably know now that she's Oakpaw."
Gingerkit nodded, grateful for Brightpaw's kindness. Oakpaw rolled her eyes. "Whatever. We won't be spending much time with them anyways."
Brightpaw growled. "Yeah? Well we're going to be warriors with them for a very long time. We will always be clanmates."
Oakpaw hissed and flicked her tail angrily, but didn't reply and sulked into the apprentice den behind her.
"I'm very sorry, Oakpaw's a handful."
Blazekit, eyes wide, nodded. "You could say that again.
"No need to be sorry," Gingerkit mewed, "She isn't your responsibility."
Brightpaw nodded slowly. "You're right. She isn't." With a small smile she followed after her sister into the den.
He gave out a sigh of relief now that the older cats were gone. "Let's stay away from Oakpaw."
Gingerkit's ears were pressed to the back of her head. "Yeah, good idea."