The moon begun to set over the colorful horizon, sending flurries of silver, pale blue and grey into the air like snowflakes, when really it was a simple phenomenon of illuminated clouds dotting the sky like tabby markings. By then, one side of the sky was a shimmering light blue, the combatant side, where the brilliant white ball of light that signaled nighttime, began trailing down until only a sliver could be seen. This was a common sight for the privileged but often challenged clan who took its pride upon their ancestors for creating such wonder and beauty that, with only a glance, could be viewed. Of course, this wouldn't always, there was an end to all things and everything, no matter how much one wanted to change it.
Not to be discouraged by both the magnificent sight but foreboding thought that it might diminish in the distant future, the sun began to rise, sending beams of warm, satisfying glow towards the canopy and through the thick vine entangled trees of IvyClan. No morsel of leaf was spared the comforting presence of this daytime peculiarity, all alight and golden like leaf-fall's greatest master pieces.
    Surely, the serene songs of crickets hidden underneath ferns and furze bushes dissipated the same way the stars matting overhead did when morning took over; now instead, the chirps, tweets and calls of early waking birds filled the forest and beyond. Such transitions were keen and soft to the senses, while remaining bold and prominent in all ways, even if the world were to end, this would have been a tale worth spreading through dead and living.
     In this perfectly pleasurable environment, a camp stirred, a meadow, a clearing surrounded by gates of thistle and holly, protecting the inhabitants like snug caterpillars in a chrysalis from outside attackers. This was the way of their being, not to be shaken by mere animals, but rather legends that couldn't have possibly existed even once. Beyond this were towering oaks, cedars, birches and spruce trees all interlocking a chaotic haze of species and genus'. Even farther were the vast reaches of rivers, streams and shallow creeks, branching out in random direction. If one were to travel farther, on the east most side was an ocean, the north most was a range of mountains, west most was a moor dotted with fine hills and farms and south most was a cascading waterfall and summit all foreshadowing a Great Lake. Of course, if you were to go to such extents as those, you would be far out of reach of the solitary group of cats and their territory.
     Within the extent of their markings and hunting grounds however, the life-forms were awake and by then, buzzing with newly rested activity. Inside the camp, amid bluejay's flirting through whistles and barks, woke a kit. A stunted in growth kit, but an addition all the same. One day, this asset would be valuable to the clan to an extent beyond belief, like legends, like Stories. This was of course, the expectation of all kittens and younger cats, so they could aspire farther than the boundaries set for an individual warrior.
The kit sprung to his paws, all four of them were snowy white colored, all but his left foot, which had a pale ginger streak across one toe. The rest of his pelt was covered in russet mackerel tabby markings; his eyes were still blue, for he hadn't yet achieved his own eye color. Many suspected they would be hazel, for the rings around his eyes that hinted of any future coloring. His ears twitched excitedly, his droopy white whiskers fluttering with apprehension. Today was the day, the best of all days! The day a kit became a warrior in all aspects. The day a kit trained to meet his destiny and please his kin. This was the day. Today.
     "Careful there, Plumkit." Purred another voice, interrupting his frenzy amid solitude. Her dark ginger paw reached forwards the batted the unsuspecting tom towards her flank, he let out an indignant mew at this and wrinkled his snout.
"Maaaaa! I told you, I can clean myself!" Plumkit protested anxiously in irritation as her tongue rasped across the top of his head, his often ruffled hair flattened.
"You can, very, very messily" his mother responded lightly between licks, tail flicking in pride, "But I want you to look nice for your apprentice ceremony."
     He huffed mutinously, waiting for the grooming to be over, it seemed to last an eternity, but at last, all things come to an end, as did this. Once she had finished and paused long enough for the kit to realize so, he bounded a distance always roughly, under the shade of the nursery still.
     The red tabby she-cats hazel eyes flashed with amusement as she heaved herself to her paws, head high and shoulders set. "Okay, go along, impress your girlfriend before it starts."
"She's NOT my girlfriend" he protested, fur growing warm with embarrassment, "Just a friend!"
"Sure, sure. You're too flirtatious to change my opinion." The queen dismissed, shoving him out the entrance into the open air. "Have fun!" She meowed humorously as her gaze set on Plumkit once more, "Don't die while I'm gone for two seconds." Her voice added, while she stalked away from the exit back into the confines of the bramble screened den.
Plumkit sighed in exasperation, and corrected his sloppy stance. The big fallen branch stuck between to stones that the leader made announcements from was barren and without life, making him wonder if he was up too early. Despite this, the rest of camp still thrummed with movement, the dawn patrol had long departed, the other kits had congregated at the 'Club Den' which was actually a clump of tall ferns and grasses by the entrance that resembled a den. Warriors not hunting or busy milled around the prey pile and exchanged polite words over mice and thrushes. Even the medicine cat was out and about, emerging and returning repeatedly to the elders den in a camp round trip.
Peace, but riddled with impatience. The atmosphere of every sunrise when news had already turned to rumor.
The tom pranced towards the Club Den, exited mewls hung about the tiny makeshift home, excitement fizzing in his heart, for all the kits were being made apprentices that day, and nothing on earth could ever stop it!