Brairkit's Apprentice Ceremony

Briarkit fidgeted nervously at the base of Tallrock, staring up at Sootstorm with wide eyes. Finally. finally, it was time for her to venture permanently out of the nursery and recieve a mentor. Part of her was beyond excited, her paws itching to get out of camp and see the world, run the moors or burrow through the tunnels, finally feel the freedom she was denied for so long.. but part of her was also dreading the upcoming moons. She knew how hard apprentices were made to work, how tirelessly they trained from sunrise to sunset. It was something every kit was supposed to look forward to, the opportunity to hone their skills so they can be better warriors for their clan... but Briarkit shuddered at the idea of having to wake up early and drain from dawn to dusk. She wouldn't get a break from the neverending work when she became a warrior either, constant backbreaking and self-sacrificing work, throwing yourself into danger, facing death in the face every day... is she really doomed to live this cycle for the rest of her life?

Dandelionkit

Dandelionkit watched the ceremony with thinly veiled disinterest. He had been there when Briarkit was born, her noisy mewling cutting into his sleep. And now it seemed like she was also getting chosen as an apprentice before himself. I bet the apprentice's den is crowded these days, he mused.

"Briarpaw!" he cheered along with the clan, just as mama wants. "Briarpaw!" He had to pretend to be happy and proud of his clanmates. That's what mama always tells me. But Dandelionkit still didn't understand the point of attending these ceremonies. Still, he did as he was told, and cheered on the newly named apprentice.