Rise

Chapter 5

Novakit looked up at the towering figure above her. Silverstar. One of the most despised cats in the Clan. "S-Sil-Silver-." Novakit tried to muffle out a few words, but was too nervous to speak. She had never actually met Silverstar before.
"Silence. I wasn't asking you." The large cat bellowed.
Novakit gulped. Why was Silverstar so mean?
"Duskkit was bitten by a snake, but he will be okay. Do not fret, Silverstar." Crowfur meowed calmly and crossed his paws.
"Tomorrow is his apprentice ceremony. Will he be fit by then?" She narrowed her cold eyes.
Crowfur sighed, "he will be fit by then. Go back to sleep, Silverstar. You know you should be resting more."
"Don't speak of that in front of my tribe!" She hissed quietly to Crowfur, and he nodded apologetically.
"My apologies, Silverstar." He dipped his head.
Novakit watched her ignorant leader leave the den, and snarled after she left.
Flamekit yawned. "Did you hear that Thunderkit? I'm going to be an apprentice tomorrow." He bragged.
The small strongarm scoffed, "I am too you furball." And swiped at his ear.
Novakit was about to interfere to prevent a fight, until she realized something. They were playing! Maybe the two of them could become friends one day.
Duskkit watched with envy from his tiny nest. Poor Duskkit, he never wanted to sneak out anyways.
The she-cat yawned herself and realized how tired she was. She padded into the nursery and curled up in a tight ball against Bluemist. She couldn't ignore the fact that she was over the moon excited about her ceremony tomorrow. 'Everything will be perfect...'  And she drifted off to sleep.
*****
"Flamekit and Duskkit, from this day forward until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Flamepaw and Duskpaw."
The two brothers beamed with pride and puffed out their chests. Duskpaw's wound was already almost healed, but it seemed to still bother him a little bit.
"You both will be mentored by Fireclaw." Silverstar meowed from her rock.
They both touched noses with their father, and now mentor.
Silverstar's gaze turned on Novakit. The kit looked at her mother, Bluemist, who was smiling wide. Stormstripe was across the hollow, talking to Ryestrike. Novakit brushed it off, he was probably just being polite.
"Novakit and Thunderkit, from this day forward until you receive your warrior name you will be known as Novapaw and Thunderpaw." Silverstar meowed to the apprentices, Novapaw could hear the age in her voice, and she was shocked that the leader looked so healthy. She shook it off and realized what actually happened. She was an apprentice now! She looked at Thunderpaw and saw him lick his chest fur in an attempt to hide his large smile.
"Novapaw your mentor will be Bluemist and Thunderpaw your mentor will be Stormstripe." Bluemist walked forward and touched noses with her daughter, and Stormstripe watched from a ways away. Thunderpaw didn't seem to mind, he was just happy to be out of the nursery and into a new den.
Frost came up Novapaw to congratulate her on her new name. "You're an apprentice now!" He nuzzled her cheek. "Yeah I am you furball!" She playfully swiped at his cheek. Frost didn't get to take on an apprentice name, nor receive a ceremony all because he was a red.
"I suppose we both should find a place to make a nest in the apprentices' den. Poor Maple is all alone in the nursery now! Our den will be packed!" Frost laughed. Maple was a red who's belly was almost the size of a badger! Her kits should be coming in any day now.
As Novapaw was still basking in the glory of being an apprentice, she smelt an unfamiliar scent. Others seemed to notice it too, for cats started murmuring about what it was. Suddenly she pricked her ears as the caterwauling sound of multiple foxes rang in her ears.