"Get up, get up!"

Bubble moaned and snuggled deeper into her reed and grass nest. "Go away," she mumbled to the voice. She bolted upright when a heavy body jumped on her back, letting out a yelp.

"Rose says you need to get up! Don't you remember what today is?" River nearly squealed in her ear, making her wince. He batted her playfully before slithering off her dark back and bouncing around the she-otter.

"Oh!" she exclaimed before shaking out her short, matted down fur. Bubble started washing her paws before running one over her face, then down her sides and tail. She smiled wide as her friend began helping her groom.

"Let all otters strong enough to swim with the rapids join together beneath Hollowed Stone for a Holt meeting!"
Rowan's deep, baritone voice boomed throughout the Holt as he stood tall and proud upon the ledge. His second-in-command, Piketooth, sat below just out of the shadows cast by the protruding rock.

Otters leaked out of all the dens, one sprinting within the reed walls as she was just outside the entrance. Beyla nudged a complaining Dew back into the nursery before sitting where she could still hear him. Willow, still regaining her breath, trotted up to her place by her eldest son under the ledge.

Two very excited pups shot out of the nursery, neatly groomed and sparks of happiness evident in their eyes. They joined Honey and Marigold in front of their leader's den.

Happy murmurs from her Holtmates in the clearing made Bubble squirm with delight. She was finally becoming an apprentice!

The smack of Rowan's tail echoed around the reed-encased Holt and the murmuring ceased. "Today we will be welcoming new warriors-in-training: River, Honeysuckle, Marigold, and Bubble."

Whistles and chirps rumbled through the older otters as their younger brother and sisters were named.

Holt Rowan's leader waited a few heartbeats to let the noise die down before continuing. "River, please step forward."

The sable boar trembled with anticipation, holding his head high.

Rowan jumped down with a thump in front of the waiting pup, eyes warm and full of pride. With a claw, he gestured to a dark pelted boar.

"From this day forward, until you are deemed ready to become a Holt warrior, you will be mentored by Bloodthroat. This will be his chance to show how much he has learned from me, and hopefully pass it on to you."

Eyes wide in shock, Bloodthroat padded up to River and carefully touched noses with him. The apprentice did likewise before both trotted over to their Holtmates.

"Marigold, please step forward."

The young otter bounced over to her leader.

"From this day forward, until you are deemed ready to become a Holt warrior, you will be mentored by Primrose. She gave excellent training to Piketooth and I know she will succeed with you."

With a chirp, Marigold touched noses with her mother and they joined River and Bloodthroat.

"Bubble, please come forward."

Every otter chuckled as the eager pup stumbled twice in her hurried scamper. She gave them a sheepish smile.

"From this day forward, until you are deemed ready to become a Holt warrior, you will be mentored by me."

A shocked gasp parted Bubble's jaws as she stared at him in disbelief. I'm going to be trained by my father!

He chuckled at his adopted daughter and gently touched her nose with his. Rowan motioned her to stand by her friends as he turned to the last pup.
"Honeysuckle, please come forward."

She walked up with a calm about her, yet her eyes betrayed how excited the young she-pup was.

Willow, the Holt healer, loped up to Rowan and sat next to him. He gave her a toothy grin before facing the young otter once more.

"Some of us go on to be warriors, and others a more private path. Honeysuckle, is it your wish to become the next healer of the Holt, knowing the circumstances it brings?"

Dark brown eyes gazed into black without blinking. "I do."

"Then at the half moon, you must travel to the Sparkling Glade with Willow to be accepted before the other Holt healers."

Just like Rowan and Bubble touched noses, so did Willow and Honeysuckle. They went to stand by the infirmary.

"River! Marigold! Bubble! Honeysuckle! River! Marigold! Bubble! Honeysuckle!" the Holt chanted as the new apprentices drank in the attention.

Dew bolted out of the nursery as every otter called out his friend's names. "Bubble!" He collided with the older she-otter and ran up her back. "You're an apprentice now, that's so awesome!"

She could tell there was a bit of sadness in his berry blue eyes, for it left him the only pup in the nursery. "I'll still play with you whenever I get the chance," Bubble promised. She licked his ear fondly.