Chapter 3

  Bluepaw opened her eyes in the apprentice den, expecting a warm light to warm her pelt, but all she received was a cool chill. She shivered and pushed herself through the bracken curtain. The camp wasn't very busy, and as Bluepaw looked up at the cloud-covered sun, she realized with a jolt it was already sun-high. Lionblaze will have already sent out many patrols, and Bluepaw wondered why she wasn't on one of them.
 She padded up to Seedwhisker, who was talking to her kit-heavy sister, Lilyblossom. Bluepaw waited patiently for them to finish, then stepped forward.
 "Greetings Bluepaw. What keeps you in the camp on this... fine day?" Seedwhisker purred sarcastically, glancing at the overcast sky.
 "I wanted to know the same thing. I was supposed to go hunting with Dovewing today, but she hasn't woke me and she doesn't seem to be anywhere here." Bluepaw gestured around the camp with her tail.
 Lilyblossom looked around and shrugged.
 "I haven't seen her either. But then again, I haven't really seen anything outside the nursery lately." She glanced wistfully at her belly, but Bluepaw saw a warm glimmer in her eyes. Seedwhisker nodded.
 "I'll take you out later today," She meowed in reply to her sister. Then she turned to Bluepaw, "And as for Dovewing, I saw her go into Jayfeather's den, but that was this morning. She might still be in there." She nodded unconvincingly toward the medicine den. Bluepaw mewed her thanks, and padded over to the den. She pushed through the ferns and into a cool, shady, den. After realized no cat was there, she pushed through a thin crevice in the rock. Dewpaw was sorting through herbs, murmuring to himself.
 "...that's coltsfoot, and we're out of burdock root, I'll have to get some later." He pushed his pale paw farther into the rock and pulled out a lumpy, wrinkled object. Shriveling his nose in disgust he pushed it to the far side of the den.
 "Correction, we'll have to get some fresh burdock later." Bluepaw mewed quietly to show her presence, and Dewpaw jumped.
 "Great StarClan, Bluepaw! You almost made my heart stop." He sighed and collapsed dramatically. Bluepaw purred with laughter and cuffed him over the ear.
 "Oh, please. Nothing makes your heart stop except for missing burdock."
Dewpaw's ears flicked in embarrassment.
 "Well, I have work to do, what do you want?" He sounded annoyed, but Bluepaw saw his whiskers twitch in amusement.
 Bluepaw sniffed the air. Dovewing had definitely been in here. She turned to Dewpaw.
 "Is Dovewing still in here? She hasn't taken me out today." Bluepaw's ears twitched with worry. Was Dovewing sick? Is that why she had come to the medicine den? Dewpaw's eyes flickered with surprise.
 "Y-you didn't know? I thought she would tell you, of all cats." He trailed off when he saw Bluepaw's questioning glare.
 "Sorry. Well, She didn't tell you so I must," His eyes glowed excitedly. "Dovewing is expecting kits! Jayfeather said she has been for a while, and that she should cease training. She is probably in her den now. I am surprised she didn't tell you, or at least have another cat tell you." He shrugged and turned back to his work. Bluepaw padded quickly out of the den, forgetting to say goodbye. She would apologize later. Right now she needed to speak with Dovewing.

 Bluepaw pushed through the brambles covering the warriors den. She immediately saw Dovewing surled in a ball. No other cat was there except Bumblestripe, who was pulling a wet paw over his face. His eyes opened as Bluepaw came in. He looked at her quizzically, and then Dovewing, and seemed to understand. Wordlessly, he stood up and pushed past Bluepaw. Bluepaw cleared her throat loudly, but Dovewing didn't move. She prodded her gently with one paw, and the gray she-cat stirred. She lifted her head drowsily and blinked. When she recognized Bluepaw she gasped and stood up.
 "Bluepaw! Oh Bluepaw, I am so sorry, I completely forgot to tell you..." Bluepaw's face softened, and she licked on of her mentor's ears.
 "That's okay Dovewing, I am really happy for you. Bumblestripe is the father, right?" Bluepaw thought she saw Dovewing hesitate before nodding quickly. "And you've told him, I'm assuming." Dovewing glanced at her paws, and Bluepaw felt guilty for being so interrogative. She pushed her nose into Dovewing's fur.
 "That's alright. Although, shouldn't you be in the nursery?" Dovewing nodded and the two she-cats pushed out into the camp clearing. Side by side, they walked silently until Dovewing gasped.
 "Wait! There are two cats I need to talk to." First, she bounded lightly over to Bumblestripe, who was gnawing on a vole near the fresh-kill pile, and she crouched next to him. They murmured quietly for a moment, and Bluepaw saw Bumblestripe's eyes light up. He leapt to his paws and licked his mates' head gently then guided her back to Bluepaw. Dovewing rolled her eyes, but as she leaned against Bumblestripe, her eyes will brimming with affection.
 "Alright Bumblestripe, it's not like I'm the first cat to have kits ever." She nodded pointedly to Squirrelflight, who was resting outside her den. Her new kits, Finchkit, Sunkit and Firekit were a less than a quarter moon old, and they played in the struggling sunlight with Bramblestar's tail, attempting to pounce on it as their father flicked it back and forth.
 Bumblestripe nodded, but then his eyes lit up again.
 "But you are the first cat to ever give birth to my kits!" He purred, and Dovewing flicked his ear.
 "Wow, Bumblestripe, way to make it all about you!" They purred and touched noses, and Bumblestripe bounded off when he hear Lionblaze called. Dovewing padded back to Bluepaw, and Bluepaw blinked her eyes warmly. Dovewing beckoned with her tail, and they padded over to Rosepetal, who was sharing tongues with her father, Spiderleg. the two cats looked up as Dovewing and Bluepaw sat next to them, though Bluepaw wasn't sure why. Perhaps Dovewing just wanted to sit with them?
 "Rosepetal, Spiderleg." Dovewing dipped her head to each cat in turn, and they nodded back. Dovewing crouched next to Rosepetal, and the she-cat looked at her questioningly, as it looked like there was something on her mind. Dovewing hesitated, apparently choosing her words carefully.
 "Rosepetal, it seems I am expecting kits." She paused as the the cream she-cat licked her ear happily, and Spiderleg meowed his congratulations. Dovewing continued, "And as I will have to move into the nursery, I would like you to continue Bluepaw's training." Rosepetal's eyes shone with surprise and delight.
 "Me? Well, of course! I would be honored." She dipped her dark cream-colored head to Bluepaw, and Bluepaw dipped hers in turn, pleased with Dovewing's choice. Rosepetal hadn't had an apprentice since Molewhisker had been an apprentice, ad she had been waiting, probably hoping for one of Squirrelflight's kits. Bluepaw touched noses with her new mentor, and Bramblestar's meow suddenly rang out across the clearing.
 "Let all those cat's old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!"
Brackenfur and Sorreltail were already sitting beneath the Highledge, and Sandstorm was padding next to Dustpelt. They settled themselves down not far from their den, and other cats joined them. Bluepaw sat next to Rosepetal and curled her tail over her paws. Soon, all cats were gathered. Bramblestar spoke again.
 "Clan members, we are gathered here today for a ceremony that is well deserved by those receiving it." Bluepaw glanced around in confusion. None of the kits were old enough to be apprentices. Maybe
Smokepaw and Flamepaw were becoming warriors? Bramblestar beckoned forward Brackenfur and Sorreltail.
"Brackenfur and Sorreltail, is it your wish to give up the name of a warrior and go to join the elders?" Bluepaw nodded in understanding. The two cats were well old enough to join the elders moons ago, but Bluepaw admired their determination. The two replied in unison.
 "It is." Bramblestar continued.
 "Your Clan honors you and all the service you have given to us. I call upon StarClan to give you many moons of rest to come." He nodded to the cats as the rest of the Clan called their names.
"Brackenfur, Sorreltail!" Bluepaw joined in, watching as Cinderheart, Poppyfrost, and Seedwhisker wove around their parents. Lilyblossom called loudly from the nursery. Bluepaw glanced around the crowd, her heart filling with warmth. This was her Clan, so supportive and close to one another. Something at the edge of her eye flickered, and she turned around to find Sweetpaw glaring at her. The brown and white cat quickly looked away and bounded into the apprentice den. Bluepaw was shocked at the hatred that had filled her sisters eyes. Is it me? Bluepaw thought nervously. Is it me she hates? And if so... why?

Chapter 2

  Bluekit stumbled out of the nursery, her fur clean and shining blue in the sunlight. She could already see cats gathering around the Highledge, and many were gazing excitedly at the four kits.
  Bramblestar had leapt on top of Highledge, and was looking over his Clan with a light in his eyes. He jumped onto the sandy floor beneath.
  The cats in the clearing moved to let the kits walk by, and took a seat near Bramblestar. and Bluekit could see the anticipation in her littermates' eyes, and glanced over at Cherryfeather and their father, Foxleap. Both cats' eyes shone with pride, and Foxleap was murmuring something to his sister, Icecloud. Bluekit could just hear some of his words.
 "...eyes were practically open before they were even born, and they were already walking a day later!"
 Bluekit could see Icecloud roll her eyes, amused, but let her brother talk.
 Bramblestar called the kits forward, and turned to them. The whole clearing was silent.
 "Stormkit, Bluekit, Dapplekit, and Sweetkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed." He turned to Stormpaw. "From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Stormpaw." He beckoned a gray tabby with his tail. "Bumblestripe, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from Mousewhisker, and you have shown yourself to be brave and thoughtful. You will be the mentor of Stormpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to him." Bumblestripe touched noses with Stormpaw, and they padded back to the crowd and sat down. Bluekit's heart was pounding. She was next!
 Bramblestar turned to her.
 "From this day until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Bluepaw." A gray she-cat stepped forward, and Bramblestar nodded.
 "Dovewing, Lionblaze taught you much, and you have taught the Clan much as well. Bluepaw will be your apprentice." Bluepaw bounded forward and touched noses with Dovewing, then sat down next to her.
 Bramblestar looked at the remaining two she-kits, and Bluepaw thought she saw amusement flicker in his eyes. She blinked and it was gone.
 "Dapplekit, you will be known as Dapplepaw, and your mentor will be Leafpool." The brown tabby's eyes flicked with surprised, and as she stepped forward to touch her apprentices nose, Bluepaw recalled a story she had heard from the elder, Dustpelt.
 Leafpool had once been the ThunderClan medicine cat, but she had run away with a WindClan tom, Crowfeather, breaking two parts of the medicine cat and warrior code. Medicine cats could not have mates, and warriors could not have mates from other Clans. Leafpool had been expecting Crowfeather's kits, but managed to hide it from the Clan. After she had birthed three kits, she gave them to her sister, Squirrelflight, in order to continue being a medicine cat. But Squirrelflight had told the three kits before they had become warriors about their true past, and it was revealed by Hollyleaf at a Gathering. Leafpool was forced to step down as medicine cat, and had been ignored by most of the Clan for many moons. Even though Hollyleaf had died in the Great Battle, her brothers, Lionblaze and Jayfeather, still lived on. Bluepaw guessed Leafpool had never expected to not be fully welcome in the Clan, let alone have her own apprentice. Bluepaw saw Squirrelflight gazing at her sister fondly, and assumed that Squirrelflight had convinced her mate, Bramblestar, to give her another chance.
 "And finally, Sweetkit. You will be known as Sweetpaw, your mentor will be Toadstep." As Toadstep stepped forward, Bluepaw was surprised to see her sister rolls her eyes. Luckily, Toadstep didn't seem to notice, and he touched noses with Sweetpaw, his eyes brimming with excitement.
 "Stormpaw, Bluepaw, Dapplepaw, Sweetpaw!" The Clan called their new names, and Bluepaw felt her chest swell with pride. Her parents were calling their names proudly, their heads held high.
 The Clan dispersed, and Bluepaw turned to Dovewing excitedly.
 "What are we gonna do first?" She meowed. Dovewing looked thoughtful for a moment, then replied.
 "I thought we could go with Bumblestripe and Stormpaw to show you around the territory, and then maybe do some battle training?" She meowed as if asking a question, but Bluepaw knew that her mentor already knew firsthand that that was exactly what any new apprentice wanted. Bluepaw nodded excitedly, and Dovewing continued.
 "I just need to have a quick word with Bumblestripe, why don't you go meet your new denmates?" She nodded toward a small group of apprentices. Bluepaw nodded and padded towards them. A handsome orange tom and a dark gray tom turned to her and nodded in greeting.
 "Hello. You must be Bluepaw." The dark tom observed, glancing at her shimmering coat. He turned to the other tom.
 "I am Smokepaw, and this is Flamepaw." He nodded toward the handsome tom, who nodded to her warmly. Bluepaw meowed a hello.
 "Why don't we help her set up a nest? Amberpelt and Snowleaf have been warriors a while now, and Dewpaw doesn't take up much room." Smokepaw nodded and pushed his way into the den, and Bluepaw followed.

Chapter 1

Sunlight streamed through the brambles as Bluekit blinked open her eyes. Lifting her head drowsily, she turned to look at her mother. Cherryfeather was asleep, her flank rising and falling rhythmically. Dapplekit and Stormkit were pressed against her warm stomach, their eyes closed tightly as the sounds of their sleep melted into the background. Sweetkit was sitting at the entrance of the nursery, pulling one paw over her dark ear. Bluekit stood and padded slowly over to Sweetkit. Bluekit's eyes were still heavy with sleep, and she winced against the bright sunlight.
  Sweetkit looked up at Bluekit, the tip of her tail twitching mischievously.
 "Good morning, Bluekit. How are you?"
Bluekit glanced suspiciously at her sister, and noticed that Sweetkit's shoulders were tensed. She leapt out of the way a second to late, and Sweetkit collided into her. Bluekit shook off Sweetkit easily, and pounced back onto her sister. The two kits rolled in the warm dust of the nursery, carelessly batting each other around. Suddenly, Bluekit remembered a battle move Bramblestar had showed her the night before. She crouched in a corner, looking defeated, and Sweetkit triumphantly leapt int o the air. The moment her back was turned, Bluekit pounced.
 A muffled mew of surrender came from beneath her. Bluekit sat up and purred.
 "Ha!" She mewed "That'll teach you to mess with Bluestar, the fierce leader of ThunderClan!" Sweetkit batted her over the head.
 "You aren't Bluestar! Bluestar was way cooler than you. You can't even catch a mouse, let alone lead a Clan!"
 Bluekit growled playfully.
 "Fine, we'll see who will be the better warrior. And... whoever loses has to... has to..." Bluekit struggled to think of something.
"Has to hunt for the other for a quarter moon?" The warm purr came from the back of the nursery. With much effort due to her kit-heavy stomach, Squirrelflight pulled herself up and started to groom an ear.
 "Leafpool and I did something like that when we were kits. It never worked out, because she decided to become medicine cat." Something flickered in Squirrelflight's green eyes for a second, then disappeared as quickly as it had come.
 "And you were off on too many adventures to stay in ThunderClan for a full quarter moon! Firestar and I were beginning to think you would leave so often you'd become a rogue." The amused mew came from the nursery entrance. Sandstorm, an elderly she-cat, padded into the nursery. She touched noses with Squirrelflight and sat down. "While you and Brambleclaw were out climbing mountains, the rest of us were stick here in the boring old camp!" Sandstorm scolded her, but her voice was filled with more amusement than anything else.
 "Who's Brambleclaw?" A skeptical mew came from next to Cherryfeather. Dapplekit's eyes were filled with superiority, as if the pale ginger queen didn't know what she was talking about.
 "That was Bramblestar's warrior name, right Sandstorm?" Bluekit turned to the old she-cat, determined to impress.
 Sandstorm purred.
 "Quite right, young one. Squirrelflight, Brambleclaw, and three other cats from different Clans led us from our old home to our new one. But, of course, you've all heard the story of the Great Journey?" All three kits nodded. They had begged Birchfall more than once to tell them the story of the journey that changed the Clans forever. "Well, then. You know what happened after. And now, here you are. You are lucky to be born at this time, close enough to the Great Battle to be safe from the threats of other Clans." A wave of fear passed through the two ginger warriors.
  Cherryfeather, who had been sound asleep till now, lifted her head and blinked.
 "Have they decided to hold Clan meetings in the nursery now? Well, tell Bramblestar that he should bring it back outside." The orange queen sounded exhausted, but her purr was filled with laughter. She laid her head back onto the mossy floor of the den.
 Sandstorm mewed apologetically and pulled herself outside, the three she-kits trailing after her. Bluekit looked back at the dark entrance of the nursery.
 "What's taking Stormkit so long to wake up?" She inquired. It wasn't like her brother to sleep the day away.
 "He is probably still resting from the greencough. Even though it's not leaf-bare, the sickness can be just as bad." A gentle mew came from a gray tabby. His blind blue eyes rested warmly on the three kits.
 "Jayfeather!" Bluekit leapt up and trotted over to him. She touched her nose to his and glanced at the herbs he has set at his paws.
 "What are those?" She bent down and sniffed them. "Mmmm... they  smell better than mouse!" Although the scent was tempting, Bluekit had learned when she was a very small kit not to eat plants she didn't know were safe or not.
 About a half-moon after she was born, Bluekit and Dapplekit had eaten berries that made them very sick. Dapplekit had almost died, but thanks to Jayfeather, she got better, and the two learned not to eat plants unless Jayfeather told them to.
 "Catmint. It helps cats with greencough." Bluekit understood. Stormkit had gotten a very rare case of greencough in the middle of greenleaf, and if it weren't for Jayfeather, he would have died in two nights.
She looked back at the nursery and was relieved to see Stormkit and Cherryfeather padding side by side out of the nursery. Even though he stumbled from leftover drowsiness, his dark blue eyes shone bright with energy.
 He bounded towards his littermates, and Cherryfeather sat down, gazing fondly at her kits. Bramblestar called to her, and she turned and walked towards him. Bluekit turned back to Jayfeather. She had just opened her mouth to speak when Cherryfeather bounded over to them. Her eyes were glowing excitedly, and she spoke in hushed words.
 "Hurry, my sweets! You must get ready. Bramblestar told me he wishes to have your naming ceremony today at sunhigh!" Bluekit and Dapplekit squealed excitedly, and Stormkit's eyes shone. Sweetkit started grooming her pelt with slow, certain licks, and Cherryfeather drew her tongue over Bluekit's ear.
 Bluekit was twitching in anticipation. Who would be her mentor? Bluekit shook her head to herself. She was going to be an apprentice, what did it matter?

Allegiances

ThunderClan

LEADER
            Bramblestar - Dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes

DEPUTY
            Lionblaze - golden tabby tom with amber eyes, temporary deputy

MEDICINE CAT
              Jayfeather - gray tabby tom with blind blue eyes
                                 Apprentice: Dewpaw

WARRIORS (Toms, and she-cats without kits)
            Brackenfur - golden brown tabby tom

            Cloudtail - long haired white tom with blue eyes

            Brightheart - white she-cat with ginger patches

            Millie - striped gray tabby she-cat with blue eyes

            Thornclaw - golden brown tabby tom

            Sorreltail - tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat with amber eyes

            Leafpool - light brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes
                              Apprentice: Dapplepaw

            Spiderleg - long-limbed clack tom with brown underbelly

            Birchfall - light brown tabby tom

            Whitewing - white she-cat with green eyes
                             Apprentice: Flamepaw

            Berrynose - cream-colored tom

            Mousewhisker - gray-and-white tom

            Cinderheart - gray tabby she-cat

            Poppyfrost  - tortoiseshell she-cat

            Foxleap - reddish tabby tom

            Icecloud - white she-cat

            Toadstep - black-and-white tom
                              Apprentice: Sweetpaw

            Rosepetal - dark cream she-cat

            Briarlight - dark brown she-cat

            Blossomfall - tortoiseshell and white she-cat

            Bumblestripe - very pale gray tom with black stripes
                              Apprentice: Stormpaw

            Dovewing - pale gray she-cat with blue eyes
                              Apprentice: Bluepaw

            Ivypool - silver-and-white tabby she-cat with dark blue eyes

            Molewhisker - brown-and-cream tom

            Cherryfeather - ginger she-cat with green eyes

            Seedflower - very pale ginger she-cat
                              Apprentice: Smokepaw

            Amberpelt - gray she-cat with white paws, a white ear, and amber eyes

            Snowleaf - white tom with amber eyes
            
APPRENTICES
            Dewpaw - pale gray tom with light blue eyes

            Flamepaw - handsome ginger tom with a fiery coat and hazel eyes 

            Smokepaw - dark gray, almost black tom with green eyes

            Bluepaw - pretty blue-gray she-cat with dark blue eyes

            Stormpaw - gray tom with black spots

            Dapplepaw - pale ginger she-cat with darker flecks

            Sweetpaw - very small brown and white she-cat

QUEENS
            Lilyblossom - dark tabby she-cat with white patches, expecting Molewhisker's kits

            Hazeltail - Small gray-and-white she-cat, expecting Thornclaw's kits

            Squirrelflight - dark ginger she-cat with green eyes, formerly the deputy.

            Daisy - long-furred cream colored she-cat

ELDERS

           Graystripe - long-haired gray tom

           Dustpelt - dark brown tabby tom

           Sandstorm - pale ginger she-cat with green eyes