Sootkit and Thornkit's Apprentice Ceremony

As soon as Littlebrook's small paws hit Jaggedrock, her voice rang out around the clearing. "Let all cats old enough to capture their own prey gather beneath Jaggedrock for a clan meeting!"

Thornkit and Sootkit scrambled out from the hollow under the thorn bush that covered the nursery. Sootkit got to the Jaggedrock first, given his larger size, only to be bowled over by his sister running face-first into him. They both sat up straight, their pelts a mess of roughed up fur and scars from a recent "play" fight.

Sootkit grinned up at Littlebrook, oozing confidence and excitement. He had a feeling he knew what today would be, just as his sister did. Thornkit however, glared up at the deputy with clear impatience, very obviously wanting her to hurry up based on the way her fluffy little tail was twitching.

Fracturedkit poked her head from the nursery. She knew very well the meeting wasn't her ceremony. Quietly she sat close to the nursery entrance and watched quietly.

Littlebrook purred in quiet amusement as the young kits tumbled out of the nursery, messing up their once groomed pelts. With a slight smile, she began the ceremony. "Sootkit, Thornkit please step forward." She meowed loudly and clearly, her gaze trained on the two fuzzy forms below her. As soon as they did, she continued. "You have reached the age of six moons and are ready to begin training. From this moment on until you receive your warrior names, you shall be called Sootpaw and Thornpaw. Your mentors will be Magpiestar and Olivelily, respectively." She finished before letting her gentle voice ring out with the two new apprentice's names on her lips.

Sootpaw? Sootpaw! He couldn't believe it. He was finally an apprentice! He wouldn't have to sneak out anymore, he could just walk out and no one would yell at him. This was the best day ever! He turned his fern green gaze to his sister, who seemed to be frantically searching around for her new mentor. Thornpaw tried to hide her excitement, but she couldn't mask the gleam in her mossy eyes and the smile that was peeking at the edge of her mouth.

It finally clicked in Sootpaw's head then. His mentor was Magpiestar? The leader of Shadowclan? He gaped up at Littlebrook. "I'm apprenticed to him? No way!" he cried, pure amazement in his voice.

Thornpaw stared at her brother, a pang of jealousy washing over her. 'No fair! Why does he get to be mentored to Magpiestar, why not me?!' She thought bitterly, eyes narrowing at him. 'I'm going to become leader someday, I swear it! I should be taught by him instead! I'd be a better apprentice!'