one
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Early green-leaf morning sunlight reached into the nursery, hugging the camp with its bright rays. The smell of flowers brushed her nose as she swatted at a daisy as it sprouted through the healthy nursery grass.
"Can you believe it, it's our apprentice ceremony today!" a voice squeaked from behind.
Honeykit twisted her body to see Goldenkit jumping with delight as she crashed into Lightkit's mother, Sedgepelt, who let out an annoyed moan.
"Goldenkit!" Brightshine, their mother, fretted. "Get away from Sedgepelt, I don't think she appreciates you jumping all over her."
Goldenkit looked down to her paws, embarrassment flooding her gaze as she glanced over to Honeykit who let out a small mrrow of laughter.
Goldenkit stormed over to Honeykit who sat in the sunlight as it warmed her long-haired ginger fur. "Yes, Goldenkit?" she smirked, her tail twitching.
Goldenkit sighed and sat down beside Honeykit. "Are you excited to become an apprentice today?" she asked, changing the subject.
"Of course!" Honeykit purred. "Aren't you?"
Goldenkit shrugged. "I'm not sure, I'm going to miss Lightkit," she admitted.
Honeykit nudged her sister as she glanced at Lightkit who was silently sleeping with his mother, curled up within her tail. "It's not going to be long before he becomes an apprentice, don't worry," she looked back over to Goldenkit who nodded slowly. "Why, do you have a crush on him?" she joked.
Goldenkit snorted. "As if."
Honeykit sat up and stretched, thinking of all the things she could do when she became an apprentice. She could finally get out of the nursery and go hunting or she could go on a border patrol with the other apprentices. She didn't have to be locked up with her sister and mother anymore, she could be free.
"Brightshine, is it time for the ceremony?" Honeykit asked, galloping over to her mother who was cleaning her paws.
Brightshine shook her head. "Not yet darling, once Stripestar announces the meeting."
Honeykit looked out of the nursery between the ivy tendrils as cats gathered beneath Moss Rock. "Look Goldenkit, cats are gathering!" she mewled to her sister.
Goldenkit ran over to her, her golden-yellow fur glowing in the sunlight and her blue eyes shining with excitement. "Wow, I'm so excited!" she twisted her head toward Brightshine. "Can we go now?"
Brightshine let out a deep purr. "Alright, alright," she padded over to her two kits, gently licking Honeykit between the ears. "You must look presentable!"
Honeykit nudged her mother's tongue away. "I can clean myself," she said, raising her head.
"I can't believe you two are becoming apprentices," their mother meowed happily. "I won't have to stay in this small nursery anymore."
Honeykit grinned as she watched Goldenkit walk over to Lightkit who was slowly getting to his paws. "Are you both coming?" Honeykit overheard Goldenkit ask.
Sedgepelt blinked open one of her yellow eyes as it adjusted to the sunlight. "Is it time already?"
"Yes!" Goldenkit responded.
Lightkit walked over to Goldenkit's side, nudging her head. "I can't wait until I become an apprentice!" he said. "I'm going to be the best one any cat has ever seen!"
Goldenkit nodded with acknowledgement. "I'm sure you will, come on, everyone is gathering!"
Honeykit realized that Stripestar was on top of Moss Rock now, his dark blue eyes glowing with pride as he stood staring down at his warriors and apprentices, everyone's face filled with excitement.
"All cats old enough to catch their own prey, please join me beneath the Moss Rock for an important Clan meeting," his voice rang throughout the camp.
Brightshine flicked her tail. "Come, now it is time," she told her kits as they ran to her side followed by Sedgepelt and Lightkit.
This is my time to shine, she thought.
She'd never been out of the nursery before, everything was new. She could hear the soft songs of birds singing and the trees whistling as the air blew by. The camp was huge, everywhere you looked there was a den poking out or a warrior greeting you with a flick of a tail. Her paws squelched through the muddy grass, apparently, MossClan was known for their muddy marshes and ponds.
MossClan cats usually had big paws and long fur for swimming, lucky for her, she had long fur like Sedgepelt and
"I never thought the camp would be this large!" Goldenkit whispered as she padded beside her sister.
Honeykit nodded with agreement as they made it to the center of the camp, cats eyes gleaming at them as she registered every new face.
Brightshine nudged Honeykit forward as Stripestar dipped his head in greeting. "Welcome everyone and I'm glad that it's a perfect day to celebrate two new apprentices," he begun, cats meowing with delight at his mention to the warm season. "Today, two kits are the age of six moons, both of you, step forward."
At his command Honeykit stepped forward, as a bird squawked above as she exchanged an excited glance from Goldenkit.
"Goldenkit, 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 Goldenpaw. I have chosen Puddlespring as your mentor. I hope she will pass down her talent of fishing with you."
Puddlespring gently made her way down to Goldenpaw, nuzzling her apprentice with great gratitude.
I'm next, she thought, raising her shoulders and her head for the whole Clan to see her so she could receive most of the attention.
"Honeykit, you have also 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 Honeypaw. I had to think hard about this, but I've chosen your mentor as Leopardfur. I hope he will pass down his talent of battle with you," he finished.
Honeypaw watched as Leopardfur walked down the lane, his fur neatly slick to his body. She had heard wonderful things about Leopardfur, apparently he was one of the Clans most skilled fighters. As he neared he dipped his head.
"Goldenpaw, Honeypaw!" the Clan cheered their new names as they all began to meet the new apprentices.
Eyes looked at her and Goldenpaw here and there as meows of approval spread around the crowd. A pair of eyes sparked her interest, but before she could say anything Goldenpaw leaped at her with happiness.
"Can't you believe we're apprentices!" her sister piped up.
Honeypaw nodded as the scanned the crowd for her father, Pounceclaw, until she saw his blue eyes. He made his way toward her and Goldenpaw with Dawnshine.
"You're both so big," he commented. "I can't wait until your warrior ceremony, you'll both be so smart."
Brightshine purred. "You'll probably be an elder before then," she added jokingly.
Pounceclaw smirked and licked both Honeypaw and Goldenpaw between the ears. "I don't want to keep you four any longer, me and your mother were put on a hunting patrol," he dipped his head to the younger warriors. "Tell me if they get you into any trouble and I'll make sure to speak with them."
"I'm sure they'll do great," Leopardfur exclaimed, glancing down to Honeypaw and back up to her parents who sighed with relief.
"One more thing," Puddlespring interrupted. "I'll make sure these apprentices do your bedding."
Brightshine let out a mrrow of amusement as she and Pounceclaw slowly left the camp leaving the four cats standing beneath the Moss Rock.
"Well, whats first?" Honeypaw asked her mentor. "Are we going hunting, fishing or even battle training?!"
Leopardfur shook his head. "Not today," he said. "But today we're, like Puddlespring said, collecting moss for Brightshine's bedding."
Honeypaw huffed. "Fine," she groaned.
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