Despite the rising sun, Moonclan's camp remained basked by dull shadows. Only little splotches of light filtered in through the thick canopy above, keeping the air cool despite the rising temperatures that lurked just outside the camp's tight ring of oaks. During this late newleaf, the hard working warriors praised the permanent shadows as the finest blessing their territory had to offer. Better yet, the stream hidden in the depths of the medicine cat's den remained icey to the tongue. With the abundance of prey scurrying about, there wasn't much more the clan could ask for.

That is... aside from a new generation of warriors. The first new generation since the clan had settled here. Every cat anticipated the start of their lineage with perked ears and watchful eyes. Right now just two kits had a whole array of expectations to live up to; A pair of young toms that were a mere clan meeting away from becoming the first Moonclan apprentices. It was no wonder one in particular stayed crouched on hesitant paws.

A pair of pale orange eyes peered over the rise of the nursery. The blades of grass tickled Gothkit's nose as his quickened breaths made them dance. He looked one way, then the other. He was counting the number of cats in the clearing. Oh, okay. That's the entire clan. He began to slowly and silently lower his head back into the shadows of the den. He didn't feel like drawing the attention of so many-

"Apprenticeship, here I come!"

Ravenkit's loud exclamation made Gothkit jump with a small squeal. He crouched close to the earth, watching his brother spray dirt all over the sandy pit as he scrambled his way up over the ledge. "Come on, Gothkit! I want to see the entire forest by sunset!" Ravenkit called. Gothkit let out a little sigh, and more carefully hopped up into view. Already Moonclan looked on, expressions calm and calculated. Ravenkit jumped before him. "We'll be small enough to sneak through the thicket for mice, but big enough to hunt squirrels near the pine beds! Or-"

"Or old enough to learn some patience," The voice of Aftertail chimed in as he too left the nursery. He had been asleep when Gothkit stepped out to look over the camp, but clearly Ravenkit's excitement had been loud enough to wake him. "Nightmare hasn't even left his den yet," Their mother pointed out. He then grabbed Ravenkit by the scruff a second before he could bounce away. "Which gives me time to groom the both of you," He said, muffled by fur. When he dropped Ravenkit, he placed a paw to his feathered tail so he couldn't bolt. Ravenkit spewed more complaints than the river had fish over how Aftertail proceeded to smother him with laps of his tongue.

Gothkit took a moment to groom himself before he ended up in the same position. Not that he minded so much. He paused when another cat approached the three of them. Gothkit looked up mid lick, tongue still stuck out. Immediately his eyes fell on the rusty circular splotches upon the tom's chest. Killerclaw! Seeing the clan deputy, Gothkit hurried to try and take up a more respectful stance. The tom didn't appear to care in the slightest. In fact he paused to sit and itch his neck with a hind leg. Gothkit blinked. Oh. Killerclaw never had been the most serious cat in the clan.

"Okay, Aftertail," Killerclaw began with a lazy grin. "Nightmare's about ready to call a clan meeting. I hope your kits are eager to prove themselves. Since, you know..." The tom trailed off and turned, tail held high. "They're the start of our amazing new legacy," He said over his shoulder. He then paused, head tilting a bit. He looked between the two kits. "But no pressure or anything. I'm sure you'll make fine warriors. I mean... you don't want to prove those guys right-"

Killerclaw nodded towards a sunny patch where Fellfang and Lostecho were sharing a few hushed whispers. The deputy wasn't exactly quiet, so the pair heard this and immediately froze with their jaws still open. Gothkit felt cold. They're talking about us? The two warriors didn't move until Killerclaw looked away and spoke to him and Ravenkit once more.

"To be fair, yeah. You're an outsider's kits and all, but you're also Moonclan kits," Killerclaw said, nodding along to his own words. "I bet that's more prominent in your blood than some feral-"

"Killerclaw," Aftertail interrupted.

"Yeah?" Killerclaw replied.

"Shut up."

"That's fair," The deputy agreed. He began to casually trot off. "I'll tell Nightmare you're all set!" He promised, indeed heading in the direction of the leader's den. He vanished with a small pounce over the log which isolated Nightmare's personal corner of the camp.

Gothpaw stood there, feeling his pelt bristle despite the way he willed his fur to stay flat. His eyes flickered over to Fellfang and Lostecho, but they had gone silent. They didn't even look his way, paws tucked beneath themselves and eyes idly shut. They don't think we'll make good warriors. And... maybe they were right. Gothkit's floppy ears lowered further. I'm not just a clan cat. I'm also part rogue. He glanced at his brother, finding Ravenkit bore a more determined expression. He even puffed out his chest and straightened his ears and tail. Gothkit shuffled his paws in closer. I wish I could be confident like you...

Aftertail stepped in front of them both and crouched down. "You two listen to me. You listen to me good," He demanded, tapping his paw to the grass in emphasis. Gothkit met his mother's stern gaze. "You nevermind what those warriors have to say. They don't know a thing about the tom who sired you," He hissed lowly. "But I do. I know plenty... and I can say with certainty that your father is the greatest cat either territory has to offer. It's not my clan blood that will make you excellent warriors, it's his ," Aftertail insisted.

He sounded so sure of himself; so much so that Gothkit couldn't help but start to believe it. Doubt still festered beneath his coat, but it was accompanied by hope. There was a chance Aftertail was right. They could make for great warriors. Maybe I just have to hold tight to that chance. Gothkit's claws curled into the dirt. Hold tight and refuse to let go. Like Ravenkit. Sure enough one glance towards his brother showed he had his head held high. Though one of his ears gave an irritated twitch. Gothkit wasn't really sure why. He opened his mouth to ask what more was wrong only for a new voice to echo across the camp.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the hollow for a clan meeting!" Nightmare's voice boomed from where he had nestled himself high within an oak's shrouded opening. His cyan eye gleamed clearly, though the shadows appeared to meld with his black fur.

"Alright. It's time. I wish you both luck," Aftertail softly said before he nudged the both of them with his paw. They both made their way over. Ravenkit hurried to stand tall near the front, though Gothkit trailed behind to watch the other cats gather around Nightmare's tree. He'd be beside Ravenkit before long.

Killerclaw leapt up onto a smooth stone tangled within the roots of the hollow's tree. There he settled himself on his belly, still elevated above the other cats. He usually organized patrols from that rock. Gothkit and Ravenkit watched him do so from time to time, guessing who'd be sent to do what. Not far from the deputy a cat loomed out from the medicine den.

Horror was the largest cat Gothkit had ever known. Even now, as he tried to groom the red berry-stains off a giant paw, he could see the medicine cat's muscles bunch beneath his silver fur. Despite this, there wasn't another in the clan more gentle than he was. He stepped carefully over Fellfang and Lostecho's tails; His single ear stood perked and his rusty eye watched his every step. He soon placed himself on his haunches a little ways away from the other cats. Gothkit felt a little better upon seeing both Crossheart and Dustwind tap their heads to his shoulder as they passed. He was an outsider once, but everyone respects him now! No one could ever say he wasn't a Moonclan cat. I just need to earn the same amount of respect.

Crossheart and Dustwind found themselves a little dapple of sun. Crossheart had to lean away from the other warrior as he momentarily shook out his fur. How the grey tom had accumulated so much dust the way he had was a mystery. Surely he hadn't been expanding the dens that much. He then settled, looking as calm as could be.

Lastly Aftertail placed himself on an open patch of grass, gazing expectantly up at Nightmare. The leader gave a curt nod, and began to speak.

"Cats of Moonclan," Nightmare began, his voice effectively silencing any soft whispers being shared. Like the others, Gothkit looked to his leader with sharp focus. "We have come a long way since the fall of Twilightclan. Over four seasons we have worked hard to turn this land into our own. We have learned it's every crevice and have developed tricks and schemes all our own," He went on to praise. The eye that had been scanning the clan came to a stop upon him and Ravenkit.

"Finally it is time for us to pass this knowledge down to the first generation born into Moonclan. With them, we will become greater than Sunclan ever will be." Nightmare's whiskers twitched when he spoke the name of his sister's clan. His voice remained even as he continued. "I may not have accepted the name of Nightstar , but I have received my nine lives and authority all the same. It's about time I use it to grant these two their new names and mentors."

Gothkit noticed Killerclaw rise from his belly. His tail curled in the air behind him, the rest of his body tense with anticipation. Is he going to mentor one of us?

Nightmare's head swiveled in the opposite direction of the deputy. "Crossheart, Dustwind," He called upon the two warriors still sitting in their patch of sun. Crossheart looked surprised, though Dustwind's expression didn't shift in the slightest. "Come forward," Nightmare beckoned. They followed his command.

Meanwhile Killerclaw's smile waned. His expression may not have vanished completely, but his drooping tail revealed his disappointment.

"Dustwind," Nightmare spoke the warrior's name with certainty. "You may not be our most expressive clanmate-" A few of the others let out playful little snickers. Dustwind looked completely unbothered by their tease. "-but you're more thoughtful than you appear to be. That sharp calculation serves you well. I want that wit to be passed down to Ravenkit," Nightmare told him. He gave his skull a small tilt, and narrowed his eye. "And hopefully you can balance out this young cat's energy as well..." He added.

Gothkit looked over. Sure enough, his brother's perfect posture was being rattled by his eagerly thrashing tail.

"It's an honor," Dustwind put simply, turning to Ravenkit. He leaned in, and Ravenkit lifted his jaw so their noses could lightly tap. Dustwind didn't say another word, but there was nothing cold in his gaze. If he's Ravenkit's mentor, then that means-

"Crossheart," Nightmare carried on. Gothkit looked to the tom whose face was set in an ever noble tone. "When it comes to loyalty, there isn't a cat as fixated as you are. You'd find the bravery to take on any predator that this forest has to offer if it meant protecting just one of your clanmates," He claimed, which only made Crossheart beam with further pride. "These are traits that belong in Moonclan for the rest of time. Let them reflect upon your apprentice," Nightmare urged.

With that Crossheart came in closer. Gothkit felt a little intimidated, but stood still as he approached. "I'll try to be like you," He murmured.

Crossheart gave a soft chuckle. "Don't worry about that. I want to see who you are," He replied. Who I am? Gothkit blinked. Isn't the clan more worried about who I should be? Either way he gave a small smile as Crossheart leaned in to touch their noses. When the warrior pulled back a moment later, he looked to Nightmare. "Thank you for this opportunity."

Killerclaw's ear twitched.

Nightmare raised his voice higher. "I hereby decree under the eyes of Starclan, that until these two cats have earned their warrior names, they will be known as Ravenpaw and Gothpaw," He announced.

A little breath escaped Gothpaw as his clanmates began to chant their new names.

"Ravenpaw!" "Gothpaw!"

Every cat joined in, even Fellfang and Lostecho, though they perhaps weren't as enthusiastic as Aftertail or Crossheart. Either way, Gothpaw felt chills rush up his spine, followed by Ravenpaw jabbing his side with a paw as he laughed. He couldn't help but share in some of the excitement, laughing a bit himself.

Still... All this weight on his shoulders...

But this is my chance. My chance to be a great warrior- A great cat- He looked to Aftertail who gazed back with the softest smile. -Just like my father.

...

The young tom inhaled a deep breath through his speckled nose, taking all the scents of Sunclan's camp in for himself. Stone, grass, leafy dens, and clanmates. He released it out through his mouth as he perfected his posture. Palettekit had a role to play in this clan, and by starclan, he would play it well.

With his head and tail both held high, he stepped out from the shadows of the nursery he'd leave behind for good. The rays of warmth fell upon his light coat as he padded calmly across the flattened grass beneath his paws. It was a near invisible trail, beaten in by the many cats who had crossed the clearing. He couldn't see them now. Not yet. They were awaiting him past the tunnel that cut into the earth at the end of his little path. The entire clan. Palettekit didn't slow with that thought, not jarred in the slightest. He was used to the pride and beliefs that every cat had in him. The most he did was give the fur on his chest one last lick before he stepped into the mossy opening.

The light followed him through, marking his path as he went. It was a straight shot into the hollow cavern, and when he reached it, he saw them. The whole of Sunclan, sitting neatly upon their haunches on either side of the line he'd walk to reach their leader, and his mother. Dreamstar watched from where she was perched upon a thick root that cut through the far side of the cavern. Her pride reflected upon every clanmate he passed.

"Look how much he's grown," Blueberry chuckled quietly to Spacepelt who gave a shallow nod of agreement.

"He's going to be one handsome tom," Lustseeker whispered as well, only for Dancestep to throw a paw down on his tail. That had the warrior stifling a dramatic 'mrrw!' of pain.

Palettekit didn't pay them any mind, making his way to the heart of the burrow without hesitation. There he stood not just before Dreamstar, but his father and deputy as well. Inktrail was beside the root, sitting upon the soil while smiling away. He waved a paw at him as if to say hello. Palettekit decided to just dip his head in response. It wasn't a moment later that Dreamstar spoke anyhow.

"Good morning, Sunclan." The shape of the burrow helped to amplify Dreamstar's voice from where she sat. "After nearly four harsh seasons, our clan will finally have its first apprentice," She announced. A couple of the watching cats purred softly in clear anticipation. Palettekit did not purr. He just held his position, like a noble warrior on guard. "Palettekit has turned six moons old, and although only one warrior will be his mentor, his training will be the work of every cat in the clan," Dreamstar continued, her tail swaying in a quicker rhythm.

"In the coming moons Palettekit will learn creativity-" Dream looked to Inktrail who beamed a grin with his teeth. "Optimism." She nodded to Blueberry. "Agility." Dancestep raised his head a little higher. "Wisdom." Her gaze fell on Fresheye who winked his odd eye back. "Loyalty." She motioned to Lustseeker who took the opportunity to pose for attention. Dreamstar just carried on to Spacepelt. "Honor, and lastly-" She pointed her paw to Paperjam. "Compassion."

Paperjam shook their head, as if to say that wasn't correct. Dreamstar's ears drooped a bit. "Patience?' She suggested. The medicine cat shook their head once more. Dreamstar looked nervous. "Erm... Honesty...?"

"I lie to you cats daily," Paperjam objected.

"A-and whatever Paperjam has to offer!" Dreamstar glossed over. Her inner-ears had gone red with mild embarrassment. She cleared her throat a bit. "My point is, every one of us has a lesson to share," She said.

"The correct trait was-"

"Blueberry," Dreamstar called the tom forward before Paperjam got a chance to finish speaking. The blue and white warrior leapt to his paws with clear excitement. He bounded right over, and was unable to hold back his purrs. "I don't know another cat quite like you, Blueberry. You're strong, brave, confident-"

"See! That was my trait. And she just gives it away to Blue," Paperjam grumbled from the back of the crowd.

"-and perfectly fit to be a mentor," Dreamstar told not just Blueberry, but the entire clan.

"Thank you, Dreamstar. I won't let you down!" Blueberry assured her. Palettekit had to crane his neck back a bit so he wouldn't get hurt from the way Blueberry essentially shoved his face into his own thanks to his eagerness. Their noses still touched rather roughly, though the warrior didn't seem to notice.

Dreamstar then looked to her son, gaze soft. "Are you ready?" She asked. Palettekit nodded. What could he be aside from ready? He wasn't a kit anymore. It was time to be more than that. Dreamstar spoke louder. "Then with the blessing of Starclan, I grant this young cat his new name, until he is ready to become a true warrior! Palettepaw, of Sunclan!" She announced with enthusiasm.

The entire clan began to chant his new name, so loud it drowned out the previous background noise of birdsong. Palettepaw looked around. So, here I am. Palettepaw of Sunclan... The single cat who carries an entire clan's legacy.