Echo: The Kits Take A Stand

Chapter 11

After Sunpaw explained, Hazelstar stared at the kits for a long time, then looked back at Sunpaw.

"Kits! Kits, being trained by a couple of apprentices and then fighting off a fox by themselves." he muttered. "It's never happened."

"It just did," Echokit told him.

"You did a very, brave thing. But brave means doing something without caring about the consequences. And brave can sometimes be stupid." Hazelstar went on. "But you were brave for something, and that's certainly not stupid. You were brave for the Clan, and while the rest of the camp was defenseless, you fought off the fox. The fox may have done much more harm if you had not gotten to it before we returned. And for that, I thank you."

A wave of relief surged through Echokit. Is he going to change the rules back? She wondered. Is he going to make us apprentices now? Hazelstar was gazing towards the medicine den. "You must heal your scratches," he ordered. The kits made their way into the medicine den where Swanfeather was waiting. Emberclaw, Bluepelt, and Thornpaw slipped in, having returned from the Gathering.

"Thornpaw, treat the kits while we check on the sick cats. Sunkit, come back in and lay down," Emberclaw commanded. Echokit had almost forgotten that Sunpaw's real name was Sunkit until she became an apprentice again. Sunpaw drowsily went back into the medicine den and sat down beside her brother.

"Leafpaw?" She whispered. "Did you hear? The kits continued secretly training after we got sick and they fought off a fox!" Leafpaw lifted his head up and turned to the kits. "I'm proud," he murmured. "Very proud of you." Then he lay back down. Joy tingled at Echokit's battered paws. He's strong enough to speak!

The kits scratches were treated, but they were forced to spend the night in the medicine den. As dawn light began to rise up, Hazelstar called a Clan meeting.

"You should go," Thornpaw told them. "You're almost better, and I think this meeting is about you." They agreed and bounded outside.

"As you should all know, the kits of the Clan fought off a fox today. However, to get the skill they needed to fight off that fox, they had secret nighttime training sessions. These training sessions were at first led by Sunpaw and Leafpaw and took place out of camp, where kits should not be going. After Sunpaw and Leafpaw got sick, they took place in the camp, led by Echokit. This is against the warrior code, and my deputy and I have been thinking about punishment." Echokit's heart sank. She exchanged worried glances with the other kits. Were they going to be punished instead of rewarded? But her worries melted away when she heard what Hazelstar said next.

"We have decided that there will be no punishment, for these kits saved the Clan. Sunkit has told us that these training sessions began as an attempt to prove to me that I should change the rules back about kits becoming apprentices. And they have indeed proved that. So, from this day forward, PondClan will have it's own rule about apprenticeship. Every future PondClan kit will become a pre-apprentice at four moons. Pre-apprentices will not have mentors and will not have apprentice names. Instead they will do apprentice duties inside the camp and their mothers and fathers will teach them basic battle moves. However, when they reach the age of six moons, they will be full apprentices, with mentors and names and will be allowed to leave camp when accompanied by a warrior. From there they will have normal apprenticeships. Our heroes, however," Hazelstar gestured towards the kits, "Will become full apprentices now. But before that, let's not forget that this would not have happened if it had not been for Sunkit and Leafpaw. When they recover, they will continue to train as they have not completed a full apprenticeship, but they will earn their warrior names now. Sunkit and Leafpaw, come here."

The golden and brown tabbies emerged from the medicine den, smiling at Hazelstar's words. Without a pause, the leader began their warrior ceremony.

"I call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these two apprentices. They have worked hard to learn the ways of your noble code, and I commend them as warriors in their turn. Sunkit and Leafpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do," Sunpaw and Leafpaw voices were clear, not showing a hint of sickness.

"Then I give you your warrior names. Sunkit, from this day forward you shall be known as Sunbright. Leafpaw, you shall be known as Leafheart. StarClan honors your cleverness and your determination. We welcome you as full warriors of PondClan."

"Sunbright! Leafheart! Sunbright! Leafheart!" Out of all of the cats chanting their names, Echokit chanted the loudest.

Now Hazelstar turned to them. "It's your turn. Are you ready?"

Yes, Echokit thought. Yes I am.