Chapter One: Moonkit “It’s on! Whoever can catch the most prey wins!” cried Moonkit. “No leaving the nursery until you’re two moons old, and definitely no leaving the camp until you’re an apprentice!” scolded their mother, Icetail. “Aww,” complained Streamkit and Moonkit. When they were 6 moons old, Moonkit said, “Haha! That was fun waiting. I to-otally wasn’t bored.” They giggled. Then Moonkit said, “We can leave the camp now! Let’s go, Streamkit!” “May all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Highrock for a meeting of IceClan!” shouted Froststar, the leader. Moonkit and Streamkit ran to the clearing. “Two kits are ready to be apprentices,” Froststar said. “Moonkit, step forward. From this moment on you will be known as Moonpaw. Your mentor will be Wavecrash. Streamkit, from this moment on you will be known as Streampaw. Your mentor will be Leafstrike. Moonpaw and Streampaw touched noses with their mentors. Hawkpaw, one of the older apprentices, grumbled, “Ugh, great, more unexperienced boring kits in the apprentice den.” “Don’t be rude, Hawkpaw!” scolded his brother, Nightpaw. Hawkpaw grunted and left. “Thanks…” Moonpaw said. Leafstrike complained, “Come on, Moonpaw. We need to train. Let’s go to the hunting grounds.” In the hunting grounds, Streampaw said, “But don’t we usually explore the territory on our first day?” “I don’t care. Who needs to know the territory?” asked Leafstrike. Moonpaw’s fur prickled with unease. What if she got lost? And why was Leafstrike being so crisp? “Moonpaw? Come here! Remember, look for prey and jump on them when you find one!” Leafstrike said. “Okay…” Moonpaw said. But then she saw the apprentice who helped them. “Uh, aren’t there different techniques for each prey?” asked Streampaw. “Yeah, but I don’t care,” Leafstrike said. “Come on, Leafstrike. How will they catch anything if they don’t know how?” Wavecrash snorted. “You need different techniques.” So after a long training session, they went to the apprentices’ den with some prey. Hawkpaw sneered, “Bet you didn’t catch anything.” “Actually, we did,” said Streampaw. “I caught a mouse and Moonpaw caught a vole.” Hawkpaw scowled. “But you don’t know the territory?” “No.” “Wow, Leafstrike is a bad mentor. Wavecrash is dumb,” he snickered. “They are not!” argued Streampaw. “Oh, yeah? Well, your sister’s mute!” he said. “I am not mute!” shouted Moonpaw. “Why aren’t you talking then?” growled Hawkpaw. “There’s not much to say,” Moonpaw shrugged. “You’re defenseless now that weak old Nightpaw’s gone,” Hawkpaw remarked. “Oh? Well as it so happens, our mentors are going to teach us how to fight tomorrow, so I’ll be able to beat you!” snapped Moonpaw. “Now your sister’s mute!” sneered Hawkpaw. “Shut up!” yowled Nightpaw, appearing from behind him. “Were you bullying these two again? They’re nice, innocent apprentices and you’re being mean!” Hawkpaw snarled, “You’re my brother, for StarClan’s sake! You’re supposed to support me!” “I support who I want,” retorted Nightpaw. “You can’t make me support you if I don’t want to.” Hawkpaw muttered under his breath and ran away. Suddenly Streampaw hissed, “I hear something coming from behind the nursery.” They peeked around the corner and heard Wavecrash talking to Leafstrike. “You idiot! You’re supposed to be a good mentor!” Wavecrash snapped. “I’m trying!” snarled Leafstrike. “Would you shut up and mine your own business?” She unsheathed her claws and swiped them down Wavecrash’s face. Moonpaw and Streampaw flinched and they ran back to the apprentices’ den, where they collided with Nightpaw. “Um, hi! I’m Moonpaw? What’s your name?” Moonpaw asked, smiling. “I’m Nightpaw… Why ask?” Nightpaw said. “Well, you helped us this morning! Remember?” Moonpaw grinned. Nightpaw seemed as if Moonpaw was crazy and walked away. “H-hey! Where are you going?” “Hunting.” “Wanna hunt together?” “No.” “Why not?” Moonpaw cried, but Nightpaw was out of sight. Leafstrike frowned. “Moonpaw, you’re just an apprentice. No mating!” “I’m not trying to mate him, Leafstrike! I’m trying to make friends with him!” Moonpaw wailed. “No, Moonpaw.” Leafstrike stepped forward. “He’s dangerous, you don’t want to be friends with him.” “But maybe I—” “Moonpaw, you’re not getting the point. If you stay with him, you’ll get killed.” “Why?” Leafstrike didn’t say anything. “LEAFSTRIKE! He helped me! Why is he dan—” Moonpaw yelled. “Let’s go to the training grounds. You don’t want to be behind Nightpaw, don’t you?” Leafstrike said. Moonpaw sighed and followed Leafstrike to train. “Moonpaw! Go left! Nice, you can attack now, you know? Great! Now that’s enough, Moonpaw. Come back.” Leafstrike said. Moonpaw moped to Leafstrike. “When will I be a warrior?” “In a long time.” Leafstrike sighed. “A long, long, time.” Ch 2:
