Warriors: The Golden Age

Chapter Three

Antkit and his buddies crowded around Pinekit below the Highledge. Her 'end-of-grounding' day was great, since it was also the day of her apprentice ceremony; being the oldest kit in the nursery, it was her time to advance. The other two she-kits and Antkit were jostling her around, while Falconkit watched them with calm eyes. Kestrelkit was off over by the queens, whining and grovelling, complaining about how he should be the one being made into an apprentice.

It ticked Antkit off, how Kestrelkit was talking about how mature he was, and how 'lowly' the other kits were. That imbecile was growing more and more rude and annoying. No wonder none of the other kits liked him much.

"What are we waiting for?" Copperpaw roared from over where the six apprentices were sitting. "Hurry up and start the fox dung-eating ceremony already, or some pelts are going to be flayed! So slowly, it'll take days for you to die, and I'll be laughing my head off when you beg to me for m-"

"Please, Copperfang, stop putting these images into my head." Robinpaw begged. Antkit couldn't stifle a laugh when he bounded off to hide behind his larger brother, Hailpaw.

"I'll show to you why that name actually does suit me." Copperpaw stepped forward, baring crooked teeth. "Fang, as in my fangs here, and copper, as in the colour copper, as in blood."

"She's going to kill me." Robinpaw squeaked. "I think I'm going to be sick."

Antkit breathed a sigh of relief as Cloudpaw finished grooming himself and turned to his raging friend. "Calm down a little, okay? Take a few deep breaths. Beat me up if you have to." He braced himself.

Antkit cringed, since Copperpaw looked like she was fighting the urge to unsheathe her claws. But she didn't, just lunged at her friend and bowled him over with a high-pitched awkward giggle.

Robinpaw dipped his head to Cloudpaw. "Taking one for the team, brother."

"I thought I was your brother." Hailpaw gasped, pretending to have hurt feelings.

He began faking a sob-fit at Robinpaw's paws. Copperpaw stopped beating up her denmate and all the apprentices began laughing their heads off. The kits joined in, and taking the hint, Hailpaw continued to writhe.

"Stop freaking out, you little dunces!" Acornstar leaped onto the Highledge at last.

"Will the ceremony finally start?" Silverpaw demanded.

Antkit felt Owlkit poke him, and she began whispering, too, right in his left ear. "Hey, what do you think it's gonna be about? Are we turning into apprentices?"

"I heard that!" Kestrelkit wailed. "You said something bad about me."

"Shut up, Kestrelkit!" Came a roar from almost the entirety of ThunderClan.

"Pinekit, get up here, now." Acornstar tapped her paw.

"Yeah, gonna kick some tail today!" Pinekit whooped as she made her way up.

The other kits, with the sole exception of Kestrelkit, cheered her on, and Antkit added his voice to the chorus of enthusiastic shouts. Then Acornstar shushed them and the ceremony began.

"Pinekit," Acornstar began, "you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Pinepaw. Your mentor will be... um... Sandheart!"

Antkit wasn't surprised. Sandheart was calm on a regular basis, but very dangerous when provoked. She was just like Pinekit, in ways. Nobody else seemed to be shocked at this choice, either. Acornstar had chosen well. Perhaps she did have a good deal of intelligence, despite her abrasive, immature personality...