Chapter 6

                Crazykit trotted out of the nursery at sunset, gray fur neatly groomed and eyes sparkling with excitement. Today, she would become an apprentice!

                Shrewpaw had received the warrior name of Shrewfur only a half-moon ago. Mousepaw had been allowed to leave the medicine cats den for a brief moment to congratulate her sister. The pale brown she-cat had forced herself praise Shrewfur, saying she had earned her warrior name and other compliments, but Crazykit remembered the glint of jealousy in Mousepaw’s eyes.

                Only a few days later, when Honeywhisker had visited the Moonpool with the other medicine cats to share tongues with StarClan, Mousepaw had slipped out of the medicine cats den and then the camp unnoticed. Crazykit assumed that Mousepaw, who had been frustrated with being confined to Honeywhisker’s den to begin with, was even more determined to resume training early now that Shrewfur was a warrior.

                Crazykit had been woken by the curious and angry meows of cats in the clearing. She had stepped out of the nursery to see what was going on, and saw Mousepaw, hopping on three paws, holding the one that had been broken in the air, and leaning on Leafstorm. Honeywhisker had returned only a little while later to find most of the Clan standing in the clearing. “What in StarClan’s name has happened here?” Honeywhisker demanded.

                “A certain apprentice decided to leave camp when the medicine cat ordered her to remain in the medicine cat den,” Leafstorm replied dryly.

                Honeywhisker had examined the she-cat’s injured paw before turning to face the gathering crowd and declaring unhappily, “Mousepaw’s leg is fractured again! She’ll be confined to camp for another two moons.”

                Mousepaw, half-conscious through the pain, had groaned. “I don’t want to stay here!” Mousepaw protested. “I want to start training again, and become a warrior like Shrewfur!”

                “Well, you should have thought about that before you disobeyed Honeywhisker’s orders and got yourself injured again!” Hawkwhisker growled unsympathetically.

                “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!” Cloudstar’s yowl interrupted her thoughts.

                Crazykit dashed forwards excitedly, skidding to a halt only when she was as close to the Highledge as possible. I wonder who my mentor will be!

                “We have good news,” Cloudstar meowed. “Four of our kits have reached the age of six moons and are ready to be apprenticed.”

                Crazykit trembled with anticipation. “Mudkit, Streamkit, Morningkit, and Crazykit, step forward,” Cloudstar ordered.

                “Mudkit,” Cloudstar called Redshine’s kit’s name. “From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Mudpaw.”

                Who will be Mudpaw’s mentor?

                “Applestorm,” Cloudstar continued. “You are ready for your first apprentice. You have proved yourself in battle and your loyalty to the Clan is unwavering. I hope that you will pass on all you know to Mudpaw.”

                Applestorm and Mudpaw touched noses. Mudpaw’s eyes glittered with excitement.

                “Streamkit,” Cloudstar spoke Crazykit’s brother’s name.

                Streamkit stepped forward, shifting nervously on his paws. He’s still worries about everything to this day!

                “From this moment on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Streampaw,” Cloudstar went on. “Cloudheart, you are a skilled warrior of great courage and loyalty. I hope you pass on all of these qualities and more to Streampaw.”

                Crazykit watched as Streampaw lifted his head, eyes still carrying the glint of anxiety, and touched noses with his mentor.

                “Morningkit, from this moment on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Morningpaw,” Cloudstar meowed as Crazykit’s sister stepped forward and lifted her chin. “Splashheart, you are a loyal warrior, dedicated to ThunderClan while also having great fighting and hunting abilities. I hope that you pass on everything you know to Morningpaw.”

                The gray-and-white tom nodded and then briefly touched noses with his new apprentice.

                “Crazykit,” Cloudstar meowed.

                Crazykit waited eagerly. “From this moment on, until you receive your warrior name, you’ll be known as Crazypaw,” Cloudstar gave the young kit her new name. “Liontail, you are a young yet skilled mentor. You did well with Oakstream, and now that he’s a warrior, you are free to take on another apprentice. I hope you teach Crazypaw all that you know and train her well.”

                Liontail! Every cat thinks he’ll be deputy one day! Now that I think about it, though, all of us got great mentors! Well….except for maybe Mudpaw because Applestorm is inexperienced. But Streamkit-no Streampaw got Cloudheart, the wise, young, and skilled white-furred she-cat. Morningpaw got Splashheart, one of the best if not the best fighters in the Clan and I got Liontail! Liontail is young, has lots of experience, is the second best hunter in the Clan behind Pinefoot, and is one of the best fighters!

                Crazypaw lifted her head with pride as the Clan began to chant the four apprentices’ new names. Finally, I’m an apprentice! Thank you, Cloudstar, and thank you StarClan! You have been kind to me!