Windkit stretched, waking from his nap. He spotted Icekit near the apprentices’ den, talking to a new apprentice named Streampaw. Streampaw wasn’t much older than Songcloud’s first litter, about a moon older. Careful not to wake Echokit, Windkit stretched and walked over to his sister talking with Streampaw. “Hello,” Windkit mewed. “Oh, you’re awake,” Streampaw said. “I was just talking with Icekit about how you’re going to be apprentices soon.” “We get to train with Streampaw, Blackpaw, Shadepaw, and Aspenpaw!” Icekit exclaimed happily. Blackpaw was Streampaw’s sister, and Shadepaw was their foster brother since his mother had died giving birth to him. Aspenpaw didn’t have a dad, and many cats thought they were half-clan. “Um, it’s kind of obvious, Icekit,” Windkit remarked. “They are apprentices.” “I was just excited,” Icekit shot back. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a cat who wasn’t excited to stop being a kit and start being an apprentice.” “Maybe that cat is me,” Windkit murmured. “Now, come on,” Streampaw said. “Being an apprentice can be boring, like when you’re cleaning out the elders’ bedding and smashing their ticks, but they have such great stories to tell, which makes it so much better. And hunting and practicing fighting moves is really fun.” “If you don’t want to be an apprentice, then you can stay in the nursery with Echokit and Flamesight’s kits when they’re born,” Icekit said, sticking out her tongue. “Are cats even allowed to do that?” Windkit asked, not noticing Icekit. “No, you can’t stay a kit forever. But, if you don’t want to be a warrior, you could always be a medicine cat,” Streampaw said. “I’m going to be a warrior!” “Keep in mind, though, if you’re not respectful or ‘good’ as a kit, your apprentice ceremony could be delayed. It happened to my older brother, Archclaw.” Windkit gave Streampaw a furious look. The fact that he even suggested that! “Don’t give me that, Windkit, it hardly ever happens.” “Well then, why are you talking about it? It’s not like it will happen to me. And Archclaw is a naughty cat. He puts brambles in the nest of the warriors that annoyed him most. It happened to Songcloud when she said that he was always spending his time goofing around. He was spending his time goofing around though…” “I never said that he wasn’t goofing around. He definitely deserved to have his ceremony delayed. And I'm not saying that it’ll happen to you. I was talking about it because you asked if you could stay a kit. But if you want to become a warrior, you have to be an apprentice first. And if you work really hard, you’ll have a shorter apprenticeship and become a warrior or medicine cat faster.” “Eep!” squealed a tiny voice behind Windkit. It was Echokit, up from some nightmare. Again. “I had the dream again!” she said, trotting over. “The one where a glittery cat came and then said ‘Beware the cat whose wings will shade the forest!’ and then it was all dark for a while, then a different glittery cat popped up and said, ‘Three will stop the shade, three of a storm, and three who blaze.’” “Wow,” said Streampaw. “That’s… intense.” “I keep having it! It has to mean something!” “Cats sometimes have the same dreams,” Windkit told her. “It doesn’t mean anything.” “Well, sometimes it does,” Icekit informed them. “This is more than that,” Echokit insisted. “Kits!” Songcloud called. “Get back inside! It’s getting dark.” “Aww,” all three of them complained. “Oh, Songcloud, Echokit had the dream thingy again,” Windkit informed her, a look of oblivion on his face. “The one that you had a moon ago? The one that Icekit had too?” “Umm… yeah.” “We might have to talk to Crystalstar about this.” “Really? Is it that important?” “Yes, Windkit. I’ll ask to see her tomorrow.” “I don’t know,” Icekit told them. “This seems more like an Irismoon problem.” “Icekit, that’s a good point. We’ll see Irismoon tomorrow instead,” Songcloud decided.
YaY i HaVe It OuT
