Warriors: The Golden Age

Chapter Six

"Falconkit, Owlkit, Talonkit, and Antkit, you have all reached the age of six moons, so it is time for you to be apprenticed."

Antkit felt no joyful anticipation in the beginning ceremony. Last night, Kestrelkit had been found, dead, just over the ShadowClan border. Now his apprentice ceremony will never come. The little tom thought with a straight face. And worse, he's even missing out on his warrior name! What have we done? Why did we have to ridicule him until he ran away? Perhaps if we were nicer, he would still be alive at this moment...

"Falconkit, from now on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Falconki- er, I mean Falconpaw. Your mentor will be Berryfoot."

The white tom walked up, as a wide grin spread across his face. Antkit noticed Falconkit didn't smile, however, as the two touched noses.

"Berryfoot, you are ready to take on this apprentice. You've received great training from Piketail, and you've shown yourself to be upbeat and fun. Pass on all that you know to Falconpaw."

Acornstar turned further to Owlkit. "Owlkit, from now to the day you receive your warrior name, you will be called Owlpaw. I think... yeah, Darkstorm should mentor you."

The large queen made her way up to the Highledge where the soon-to-be apprentices were sitting. Her milk had dried a couple of moons ago, and now that she had no kits to take care of, she was free to mentor somebody. Antkit watched with no emotion as his mother touched Owlpaw's nose with hers.

"Darkstorm, I deem you also ready to take on an apprentice! You've got some amazing training off Nettlefur, and you have shown yourself to be fair and kind. Give all you know to Owlpaw!"

Acornstar swiveled around, facing Talonkit. "Talonkit, from now until you're a warrior, you are Talonpaw. Wingfall's your mentor."

Antkit's father padded up the path to the Highledge, then touched noses with his new apprentice.

"Wingfall, you are ready to take on an apprentice. Cliffheart trained you well, and you have shown yourself to be patient and gentle. You've better pass on all you know to Talonpaw, no offence, but she really needs it!"

This joke spurred no laughter. Acornstar continued, focusing on Antkit, who felt a sudden rush of self-consciousness that he was the smallest kit by far.

"Antkit, from here on until the day you receive your warrior name, your name will be Antpaw. I appoint Pigeonheart as your mentor."

The grey tom smashed into Beetleshade, who still hadn't shown any sign of caring about his son's death. Pigeonheart then proceeded to stumble headfirst into Robinpaw, sending the terrified little apprentice shooting up into the air. Then, he managed to find a clear path up the ledge, and smashed his nose into Antpaw's.

"Pigeonheart, you are probably ready to take on an apprentice. I hope I trained you decently; you have shown yourself to be friendly and funny. Pass on all you know to Antkit, um, Antpaw, I mean, I hope you know more than you seem to."

The joke fell flat again. Antpaw felt offended. Wingfall was one of the most mature cats in the Clan, and Darkstorm was a formidable fighter who had a great attitude as well. Even Berryfoot was almost decent. But Pigeonheart was a clumsy tom, almost just out of apprenticehood. The new apprentice remembered that he was still Pigeonpaw when Antpaw was almost three moons. Of course, I get the most inexperienced cat in the Clan! Now I know how Copperpaw felt.

"Falconpaw! Owlpaw! Talonpaw! Antpaw!" The cacophonous voices of the Clan rose in a great crescendo, overwhelming all background noise present.

Antpaw sought out Pinepaw in the crowd and attempted to make eye contact with his friend, but she was focused on something far away as she pitched her half-hearted cheer in. Her expression was dark with guilt. Antpaw frowned and tried to direct his attention to somebody else. His other friends over where the apprentices were sitting were, likewise, also serious. No one seemed to have any enthusiasm today, and Antpaw knew the cause of the solemn atmosphere.