The Warrior's Way

A moon had passed since Nightkit's arrival in ThunderClan. Since becoming part of the Clan, she had befriended many of the cats. Outside of her kin, her best friends were Hollypaw, Fernpaw, and Sorrelpaw, Lionblaze and Cinderheart's kits. Every time she won over another one of the Clan, she felt her heart soar and heard a gentle voice congratulating her, urging her onward to befriend another cat.

As amazing as Clan life was, though, Nightkit was getting bored. She continued to stay in the nursery, even though she was approaching six moons.

Nightkit glanced at the sky, seeing the sun almost at its peak. A small purr escaped her. Her kin would be gathering near one of the stone cliffs, waiting for battle practice.

Never hurts to learn more,Nightkit thought, It'll only help them in the future.

She walked to the cliff, which had two or three large ledges that cats could climb up to.

"We're all here, Nighkit. No need to look for anypo- I mean anyone else,"Daykit said as Nightkit reached the cliff.

It was strange, but all ten of them often fumbled with their words, almost saying things like "anypony".

"What is an anypony, anway?" Nightkit wondered, but pushed that thought to the back of her mind as she remembered why she was here.

"Okay, positions,"she said.

Daykit stood in front of her, with Rainkit behind. Snowkit, Bouncekit, and Blossomkit stood on the ledges. Stripekit and Applekit were to her left, while Floodkit and Blizzardkit were to her right. Everyone was in place. Nightkit waved her tail to signal the beginning of the training session. Daykit leaped at her, claws sheathed. Adrenaline coursed through Nightkit, and she flipped over, right onto Rainkit's back. The fight was only just beginning.

"Bramblestar?"Lionblaze's voice called into the den, "There's something going on in the clearing that you might want to see."

Bramblestar exchanged a startled glance with Squirelflight, with whom he had been discussing Nightkit and Daykit.

"We're coming,"Bramblestar said.

He exited the leader's den, and saw Lionblaze gazing down at the clearing, near one of the cliffs. Bramblestar followed his gaze. What he saw caught him by surprise.

Nightkit was single-pawedly fighting all of the kits. Then, Blizzardkit fell down and went to the side. Then came Blossomkit. After that, Stripekit. Eventually, the only two left were Daykit and Nightkit. The two kits seemed evenly matched until, finally, Daykit pinned Nightkit down for many heartbeats. Then, Nightkit shook of her littermate and stood, purring. All the kits went back in and the fight started again, only Daykit was in the middle this time.

"They're strong kits,"Squirelflight said.

"Yes, yes they are,"Bramblestar answered,"Come on. We have important things to discuss."

When they were inside the den, Bramblestar said,"I want you to mentor Daykit. I will mentor Nightkit."

Squirelflight nodded,"Of course, Bramblestar. When will the ceremony be?"

"Today, at sunset. Now send the hunting patrols out. I want a feast ready before the ceremony."

Squirelflight's eyes widened, but she nodded and went to send out the patrols.

"I certainly hope I'm not making a mistake,"Bramblestar thought.

Daykit stared first at Squirelflight, then at her sister.

"We- We're going to be apprentices?"Night kit squeaked in excitement.

"Yes, you are,"Squirelflight answered,"Now go and get ready, the ceremony begins at sunset."

"Who are our mentors going to be?"Daykit begged.

Squirelflight twitched her whiskers.

"You'll see."

Sunset took forever to come. Daykit and Nightkit had spread the news throughout the nursery and had been met with both jealousy and excitement. All of them, Snowkit and Blizzardkit especially, had helped groom the two apprentices to be and were now waiting for the ceremony to begin.

Then, Rainkit poked her head into the nursery.

"You're up," she said.

Nightkit barely suppressed her excitement as she and her sister made their way to the clearing. When they reached, Bramblestar began the ceremony.

"Nightkit, 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 Nightpaw. I will be your mentor. I hope to pass on all that I know to you."

Nightkit was surprised. She never expected Bramblestar to be her mentor. She touched noses with him, and dazedly stepped back to watch her sister's ceremony.

Bramblestar continued,"Daykit, 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 Daypaw. Your mentor will be Squirelflight. I hope Squirelflight will pass down all she knows on to you."

He turned to Squirelflight. "Squirelflight, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from Dustpelt and you have shown yourself to be strong-willed and brave. You will be the mentor of Daypaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to her."

Mentor and apprentice touched noses, and Daypaw came and sat next to Nightpaw. Daypaw's eyes were shining like Nightpaw's and both were excited by the prospect of sleeping in the apprentice's den.

"This is wonderful! Being an apprentice will be such a great learning experience,"Nightkit thought,"This is going to be so exciting!"