"Stormkit!"

Larkkit raised her head in surprise when she was abruptly roused from her sleep. Who's meowing like this in the early morning? "Hey, can't you be more careful?" she hissed, unable to stop herself from yawning and putting her head back on her paws. "There are cats here who want to sleep!"

Beside her, Dashkit, who had apparently also woken up from the noise, twitched her whiskers. "Stormkit and Firkit will be made apprentices."

"Really? I totally forgot that." Larkkit straightened up and shook herself. She certainly couldn't manage to fall asleep again now. A feeling of anticipation crept up inside her, and not just because Stormkit and Firkit were finally going to move out of the nursery. This would be the first ceremony of her life.

"Stormkit!" Junipertail shouted again. "Will you come here! You can't go in front of the Clan with that messy fur!"

The grey tom hid behind the rock, peering out tentatively every now and then before quickly retracting his head like a snake. "I can clean myself. I'm not a kit anymore," he complained.

"Obviously not." Junipertail took a leap and held him with her forepaws as she licked him jerkily. "Just look at your fur! Leaves everywhere!"

"He looks very green." Larkkit couldn't resist the temptation to whisper this teasing comment to Dashkit and her other two siblings, who were now awake as well. "I'm sure Hailstar will call him Greenpaw."

Dashkit purred in amusement. "That would be funny!" Then she paused and tilted her head. Larkkit almost thought she could see her thoughts floating around in her head, so concentrated did the silver-grey tabby she-cat seem. "I just remembered that probably no cat has ever been called Greenkit. Have you ever seen a cat with green fur? I certainly haven't. And what other reason would it have to be called that?"

"I've never noticed that before," Larkkit muttered. It's not a really nice name either, though.

"There is such a thing."

Full of surprise, Larkkit turned to Amberkit, who was nervously messing up the moss. When she noticed her littermate looking at her, she squeaked in fright and curled up shivering.

Larkkit exhaled resignedly. By StarClan, are we RoseClan? Or your family? What reason is there to be so jumpy just because you're being looked at, anyway? "What do you mean, green cats?" She purred snidely.

Amberkit, however, shook her head vigorously. "I-I've heard that in SnowClan they don't name their kits until they are f-four moons old," she finally said with great effort. "A kit with green eyes could definitely be called Greenkit... couldn't it?"

"You must have made that up," Larkkit murmured, amazed at how much Amberkit had said at once.

"No, it's actually true." Sandblossom trotted towards them. "If you ask me, SnowClan has some extremely strange customs."

Now Larkkit even felt a little bad that she hadn't believed Amberkit. "And how do you know which kit is meant beforehand?"

"They name it by its appearance," Sandblossom explained.

I guess I would be called Tortico Kit. Amberkit would be Golden Kit, Dashkit Silver Kit and Leafkit Ginger Kit.

Finally, Junipertail released Stormkit from his forced washing, whereupon he followed Firkit outside.

Larkkit looked up at Swallowfern. "Are we allowed to watch too?" she pleaded. She needed to be prepared for her own apprentice ceremony.

Gently, Swallowfern pressed her nose to her muzzle. "If you insist," the black and white queen purred, blinking. "But keep a little out of the way and don't disturb the others."

Larkkit did a leap in joy. Yes! She climbed out of the nursery and headed for the Sunhigh Stones. These were normally only for the older cats, but they were directly opposite the Moonmound. There was no better place in the camp to watch the ceremony.

Slowly but steadily, more and more cats gathered in front of the Moonmound. They sat down so that there was a passage in the middle towards the mound. Sturmkit and Firkit, who were already standing there with their heads up, would walk through it to the front.

Larkkit's littermates scrambled up the stone. Dashkit moved forward and let her front paws hang over the edge. "Hey! Look over here!"

Firkit put his head back. "Why are you upside down?" He twitched his whiskers, his yellow eyes shining in amusement.

Stormkit poked him in the side. "Just look normally!" he hissed. "And stop acting like a kit. It's embarrassing."

Offended, Firkit turned away. "It's all right, you don't always have to take everything so seriously," he growled dismissively.

"I'm just saying." Stormkit looked at him from the side.

It's not good to argue just before the apprentice ceremony, Larkkit thought. I hope everything will go well at ours.

Hailstar stepped out of his den, followed by Nightblossom. Apparently they had been talking about the mentor election, although that should have been done long ago. But maybe that's especially hard in this case.

All mewing stopped and the MoonClan cats looked ahead expectantly. Hailstar climbed the Moonmound. "Cats of MoonClan!" the grey spotted tom meowed. "This morning shall be spent releasing two kits from the nursery and sending them on the next path of their journey."

Finstrike, who had hitherto been crouching beside Motleycloud, stood up and trotted to the foot of the Moonmound. It was the duty of every full medicine cat of a Clan to say a few words at the ceremonies. "I hereby pronounce my blessing on the future warriors of MoonClan. They are still at the beginning of their path, but it is certain that they will be a great asset to us all." Then he stepped aside again and settled down next to Motleycloud with his paws tucked under.

Hailstar continued, "Firkit, Stormkkt, come forward."

The two toms strutted through the crowd with their tails raised steeply in the air, their argument of a moment ago probably forgotten again. At the front sat Junipertail and Gorseheart, who were at least as excited as their kits.

"Firkit, Stormkit, you have reached your sixth moon and are now ready to begin your training," Hailstar meowed. "Firkit. From this day forward, until you have proven yourself worthy, you will be known as Firpaw. Streamwater will take over your training."

Streamwater picked her way to the front. The grey and white she-cat touched Firpaw's forehead with her nose and meowed, addressing Hailstar, "I hereby swear to you and to MoonClan that I will teach Firpaw all that makes a true Clan cat." Her clear, pale blue eyes reflected her pride over her first apprentice. She hadn't been a warrior long, but Larkkit had often heard Nightblossom speak positively of her. And for that to happen, miracles had to be performed, after all, Nightblossom rarely had a good word to spare.

From the looks of it, Firpaw seemed pleased with his mentor, for he bowed his head to her without hesitation. Streamwater had been part of the Hunters' Circle since she was made a warrior and she was known for her keen observation skills and her sharp hearing sense.

"Do you promise, Firpaw, to master the path ahead, no matter what obstacles you encounter?" asked Hailstar.

Firpaw flinched in shock and snapped his eyes open, but quickly regained his composure. "Yes, I promise," he whispered, making Larkkit wonder if everyone had heard it.

Hailstar finished Firpaw's ceremony. "Then I hope MoonClan can soon count on your loyalty and skills as a warrior. Now for you, Stormkit. From this day on, until you have successfully completed your training, you will be called Stormpaw. Your mentor will be Stripeface."

It was obvious to Stormpaw that he would have preferred a different mentor. Nevertheless, like Firpaw, he obediently lowered his head after Stripeface touched him with his nose. Maybe he's disappointed because Stripeface is only a Simple Warrior.

No sooner had Stormpaw made his promise than the cats crowded around them and congratulated them.

"Firpaw! Stormpaw!" As their ancestral tradition dictated, the cats called out their names a few times.

Out of reflex, Larkkit wanted to join in, but a nasty look from Dashkit silenced her. "They don't deserve that," the grey she-cat declared haughtily and looked with narrow eyes at Firpaw and Stormpaw, who were being surrounded by the older apprentices. Larkkit could imagine only too well how Willowpaw would try to persuade them to take over the camp chores every time.

It's my turn at the elders' den today, Larkkit remembered.

"You know, every cat becomes an apprentice when it is six moons old," Leafkit said. "So you don't have to be so unkind."

Amberkit nodded in agreement. As Larkkit looked at her, she noticed that her eye colour was already beginning to change. By all appearances, they would later turn dark amber, like Swallowfern's.

After a quick check, Larkkit noticed that Dashkit and Leafkit still had blue eyes, but in the next few days it would surely change too.

I wonder what eye colour I will get later. Larkkit tried to imagine herself with various eye colours, though the fact that she had never seen her face before made it harder. Blue would be nice. Or green.

The gathering began to disperse and Stormpaw and Firpaw left the camp with their mentors for the territory walk. Larkkit stretched extensively and carefully made her way down. "You need to go to Finstrike and Motleycloud now," she meowed to Leafkit. "Good luck."

Leafkit looked confused. "With what?"

Larkkit looked him firmly in the eye. "Surviving." She dashed across the meadow, slithering between the wildly growing bushes until she reached the elders' den.

At the edge of the hollow stood Mottleheart, already waiting for her. "Hello, you little codebreaker," the grey she-cat purred amusedly. "I guess you'll have to do some camp work. I'm sure Willowpaw will be pleased."

Larkkit was relieved to see that Mottleheart was nothing like her former apprentice. Her behaviour was a welcome change. "What can I do?" she asked immediately.

In wonder, Mottleheart tilted her head. "What's the matter with you? You were so reluctant the other day, weren't you?" She lowered her head and looked at Larkkit. There was something about the way she stared that made Larkkit uncomfortable.

"Is something wrong?" Larkkit asked.

Mottleheart broke out of her stupor. "No, no, everything is fine," the elder assured her. "I just thought there was a bit dirt on you. But my eyes aren't the best any more."

Without answering her, Larkkit slipped into the den. A rustle told her that Mottleheart had followed her. "You can start by clearing away the fallen foliage."

"All right," Larkkit meowed. "Do you have ticks too?" She widened her eyes in embarrassment and added hurriedly, "I meant if something in your fur bothers you, I can take care of it." My tongue was faster than my brain! I'm such a rabbit-brain.

Fearfully, the tortico she-cat awaited Mottleheart's reaction, but to her relief and also amazement, she only snorted in amusement. "I haven't met a cat yet who wanted to do that willingly."

I wouldn't do it willingly either. Larkkit ignored her and began to gather the dead leaves into a pile. "What was going on yesterday?"

"You mean the thing with RoseClan? I think you're still a little too young for that."

Indignantly, Larkkit interrupted her work. "No, I'm not!" she protested in a high-pitched voice. She might still be a kit, but she was also part of the Clan and was allowed - no, even required - to know what was going on.

At this, Mottleheart sighed in resignation. "A little over a moon ago, around the time you and your siblings were born, RoseClan was attacked by rogues. No one knew where they came from or why they attacked. A lot of cats ascended to StarClan."

Larkkit suddenly felt an uncomfortable chill spread through hers. "Could it happen to us?" she asked, shivering.

Mottleheart licked her head reassuringly. "You don't have to worry," the elder assured her. "You are safe here. And if something does happen, the warriors will do everything they can to protect you kits."

Larkkit wanted to believe her, but she didn't feel the least bit relieved. After all, RoseClan had the best fighters. How could they not defend themselves against the rogues? And MoonClan was used to staying out of conflicts. Would we be prepared for an attack?

Larkkit continued to move the leaves away, but it did not give her peace. "Why did Eveningstar come to talk to Hailstar about this?"

"Good question," Mottleheart admitted, sighing. "After all, LaurelClan and RoseClan don't share a border, and so far Eveningstar and her cats didn't care what happened in RoseClan. But she sounded so upset..."

So distressed, Larkkit added quietly. "Done," she squeaked after she had brought every single leaf out of the den. Being an apprentice must be exhausting!

***

I won't be afraid. I won't hide in the nursery again. It's just another cat, nothing to be afraid of.
Trembling, Larkkit opened her eyes. It's a medicine cat, I have nothing to fear from her. But does that also apply to RoseClan medicine cats?

Larkkit hissed. Those days were long gone. Probably the stories weren't real at all, just a means to intimidate the kits.

The sun was already lower in the sky. Soon the medicine cat of RoseClan, Fruittail, would come to spend the night in the MoonClan camp and travel to StarClan's Peninsula with the other medicine cats the next day. Apparently the way was too long otherwise. The same thing happened with the other two Clans.

New smells announced the arrival of cats, but Larkkit was disappointed to find that it was only Stormpaw and Firpaw with their mentors. They exchanged a few words with their mentors before each of them selected a rabbit from the fresh-kill hole and took off with it to the back of the camp.

Stormpaw brought his to Larkkit, Dashkit, Leafkit and Amberkit. "Hello, kits," he meowed, but less haughtily than usual. "The territory is great. Wait until you see it for the first time." He paused and twitched his ears. "When you two-" he nodded at Amberkit and Dashkit, "see it for the first time."

With ruffled fur, Dashkit jumped to her paws and opened her mouth to say something back, but Stormpaw had already dashed away. Growling, Dashkit sat down again. "I've never looked forward to going to sleep so much before," she grumbled to herself. "It will be so nice without them."

"That's right, they'll be sleeping in the apprentices' den from now on," Leafkit agreed.

"Until we are made apprentices too," Dashkit reminded him.

Oh, a twig! Larkkit stalked upon a twig she discovered lying around, imagining she would be hunting prey. "We have to get used to the fact that we all belong to the same Clan. We can never escape them." She jumped and landed on the stick. Howling, she rolled around in the grass. You didn't have a chance, twig! I'm going to be such a good hunter! Fear me, prey!

"Unless someone would decide to change the Clan," Leafkit muttered.

"What did you say?" Larkkit turned her head to look at him. "Do you want to leave MoonClan?"

Fiercely, Leafkit shook his small head. "Never," he assured. "It was just a thought I had."

What cat would ever think of changing Clans? "Well, I'll stay here forever too," Larkkit declared emphatically. After all, I was born here. I am a MoonClan cat.

Suddenly Amberkit jumped up and sniffed. "Here comes Fruittail."

Larkkit whirled around to the Hilltunnel. This time she wouldn't run mewing into the nursery and hide behind her mother.

A she-cat stepped through the Hilltunnel, followed by Violetwing and Spotpelt. She was tall, taller even than Pebbletail, the tallest cat in MoonClan, with unusually long, thick, dark, tortoiseshell and white fur. Her long, bushy, black tail was almost as wide as her face, the left half of which was coloured black and the right half ginger, and she had large, round, sky-blue eyes.

So that's Fruittail. That was the first time Larkkit had seen her properly.

"Now that's a gigantic cat," Dashkit murmured, who couldn't take her eyes off Fruittail in awe. "And look at that tail! I bet it's great to play with."

"I've heard there are bigger cats in SnowClan," Leafkit said, hardly impressed.

Dashkit's eyes snapped open. "Even bigger?" she squeaked.

I wonder if all RoseClan cats are as big. Fruittail is only a medicine cat, so how scary must the warriors be?

From the medicine cat's camp came Finstrike and Motleycloud, and the she-cats greeted each other with shining eyes. Next to Fruittail, the MoonClan medicine cats looked almost like young apprentices.

Hailstar and Nightblossom trotted over too and bowed their heads respectfully. "How was your journey here?" Hailstar asked.

"Easy," Fruittail replied simply.

Larkkit turned her ears forward. Would Hailstar question her about the rogues?

But the grey tom remained silent. Nightblossom made no move either. Instead, Fruittail spotted the kits. "Oh! Those are Swallowfern's kits, aren't they?"

Motleycloud nodded. "They've grown quite a bit since you were here last," she meowed, sounding as proud as if she were their mother.

"May I look at them?" Fruittail asked. Motleycloud gave her consent.

Fruittail trotted towards Larkkit and her siblings. Up close, she looked even bigger.

With fluffed fur, the kits waited to see what Fruittail would do next. The RoseClan medicine cat sniffed each of them thoroughly. Larkkit held her breath. What if she bit us? At Amberkit, Fruittail lifted her head and looked around at Motleycloud. "She looks smaller than the other three somehow," she murmured, genuine, medicine-cat-like concern in her voice. "Is she getting enough to eat?"

Flustered, Larkkit flattened her ears. How dare she say such a thing? She looked more closely at Amberkit. It was true, she was a little smaller, but she looked healthy to Larkkit.

"I think so." This time it was Finstrike who came over and sniffed Amberkit as well. "Probably it will subside over time."

"Swallowfern definitely has a lot to do with them," Motleycloud agreed. "Four kits is a big litter. That doesn't happen often. And honestly, I didn't expect them all to survive," she added.

Larkkit's chest tightened at the thought. There was no way she wanted to imagine what it would be like to lose her littermates to StarClan.

Fruittail turned to Larkkit. "This one doesn't look like the others at all," she purred.

Slightly ashamed, Larkkit lowered her head. "But I'm a bit tabby too," she squeaked, lifting her right orange foreleg. "Look, here for example!" She turned in a circle, presenting the few orange tabby spots on her fur to the adult cats.

By now, more cats had noticed Fruittail's arrival and were staring at her with a mixture of curiosity and disgust.

The tortoiseshell and white