Bluekit tingled with pride. Her father was a true warrior, ready to fight to defend his Clan.
Pinestar shook his head slowly, then turned and bounded up onto Highrock. “There will be no fighting yet,” he ordered.
Stormtail flattened his ears. “You’re going to let them steal from us?” he growled.
“There isn’t enough proof that it was WindClan,” Pinestar answered.
Adderfang let out a low hiss.
“No one saw a WindClan cat, and no scent markers were left behind,” Pinestar pointed out.
“Only because they’re cowards!” Sparrowpelt yowled. Murmurs of agreement rippled around the Clan.
Pinestar turned to Goosefeather. “Has StarClan given any warning?”
Goosefeather shook his head. “Nothing,” he reported.
“Then cowards or not,” Pinestar growled, “I won’t risk a battle on so little evidence. But I’ll warn all the Clans at the Gathering tomorrow that we are being extra vigilant.” He stared down at Sunfall. “Organize extra patrols along the Fourtrees border. If you see a WindClan patrol, warn them off.” He narrowed his eyes. “With words, not claws.”
Sunfall nodded. “We’ll re-scent the markers, too.”
Bluekit saw the fur ripple along her father’s spine as he padded over to sit with Adderfang. The two warriors bent their heads in quiet conversation while Sparrowpelt circled them, his tail bristling.
“Will they go and fight WindClan anyway?” she whispered to Moonflower.
The silver-gray she-cat shook her head. “No.”
Snowkit plucked at the ground beside them. “I would.”
Bluekit wrinkled her nose. “We don’t know if WindClan stole our prey.”
“But they might have!” Snowkit insisted. “It’s better to be safe than sorry! I’d go and rip them to shreds so they’d never dare steal from us again.”
Moonflower looked at her. “Even if your leader told you not to? A Clan leader’s word is law, remember.”
Bluekit put her head on one side, puzzled. “Shouldn’t a warrior put the Clan above everything? What if Pinestar’s wrong?”
Moonflower smoothed Snowkit’s ruffled fur with her tail. “Pinestar will always do whatever is best for ThunderClan. Don’t forget that he is guided by StarClan.”
“I suppose.” Snowkit looked disappointed.
Bluekit stared at the ground, her mind buzzing. How could leaders always be right? Would they still be right if StarClan didn’t guide them?
Patchpaw was padding back to the apprentices’ den. “It would have been our first battle,” he sighed.
Leopardpaw bounded ahead of him, spinning and dropping into an attack crouch. “We would have shredded them.”
The Clan began to wander away, but Pinestar, still sitting on Highrock, let out a soft call. All eyes turned back to the ThunderClan leader. “There is something else,” he began.
Bluekit gazed up at Highrock, curiosity fluttering in her belly.
“I want to appoint two new apprentices.”
Who?
Then she realized.
“It must be us!” she hissed to Snowkit.
But Snowkit’s eyes were already sparkling with anticipation.
“I didn’t think he’d do it today!” Moonflower was hurrying toward them. She sounded flustered. “Look at you!” Bluekit stared in dismay at her pelt, dusty and mud-stained from her climb up and down the ravine.
“Quick! Wash!”
It was too late.
“Bluekit and Snowkit.” Pinestar was beckoning them forward with his tail.
Swiftbreeze stepped aside. Mumblefoot and Sunfall backed away to make space beneath Highrock.
Snowkit was already scampering forward, but Bluekit hesitated, ashamed of her scruffy pelt and uncomfortably conscious of the gaze of her Clanmates.
“Go on,” whispered Moonflower, nudging Bluekit forward. “Your pelt doesn’t really matter.” Pride was lighting her eyes. “It’s your spirit he wants to welcome into ThunderClan.”
Taking a deep breath, Bluekit followed her sister and stood below Highrock, hoping no one could see her legs trembling.
Pinestar gazed down. “You have been with us for six moons. Today you will start your training. Your father has been loyal to ThunderClan and is a brave warrior. May you both tread in his paw steps.”
Bluekit glanced at her father. He’d stopped muttering with Adderfang and was watching intently. Bluekit’s legs trembled harder. Why did she have to look such a mess?
“Snowkit.” Pinestar’s mew rang out in the cold dawn air as the sun began to turn the camp a rosy pink.
Snowkit lifted her muzzle.
“From this day forward you shall be known as Snowpaw.”
As Snowpaw puffed out her chest, Pinestar scanned the warriors watching from beneath Highrock. “Sparrowpelt,” he meowed.
The dark brown tabby looked sharply up at him, as though surprised.
“You will mentor Snowpaw. Train her to be a fine warrior.”
Blinking, Sparrowpelt stepped forward and touched his muzzle to Snowkit’s head.
“Bluekit,” Pinestar went on, “until you earn your warrior name, you will be Bluepaw. Your mentor will be Stonepelt.”
Stonepelt padded to her side. “You’re still not allowed in the warriors’ den,” he teased, nudging her head with his nose.
Bluepaw could hardly believe it. She was going to sleep in the apprentices’ den tonight!
Chapter 4
“Bluepaw! Bluepaw!”
As the Clan began to chant her new name, Bluepaw looked around the clearing, feeling as tall as Highrock. At last she could begin to help her Clanmates.
Stormtail gave her a small nod. She wanted to run and press her muzzle against his. But her paws wouldn’t move and she stared in silence as he turned back to Adderfang.
“Can you believe it?” Snowpaw ran up to her, purring.
Rosekit, Sweetkit, and Thistlekit came dashing across the clearing, mewing excitedly.
“You’re apprentices!” Sweetkit squealed.
Rosekit skipped around them. “We’ll miss you in the nursery.”
Thistlekit’s eyes were dark with annoyance. “If you’re apprentices, I don’t see why I can’t be. I’m almost as big as you.”
Sweetkit rolled her eyes. “No, you’re just always boasting!”
“Don’t worry, Thistlekit!” Snowpaw reassured him. “I’ll teach you every battle move I learn.”
Thistlekit stuck his nose in the air. “I’m already a better fighter than you’ll ever be!” he huffed.
Bluepaw’s claws itched. She wanted to cuff him around the ear. He should show some respect to the apprentices in his Clan!
“Congratulations!” Swiftbreeze trotted toward them with her tail straight up.
Bluepaw purred, looking around for her mother.
Moonflower had stopped to talk with Stormtail but, catching Bluepaw’s eye, she broke away and hurried to join her kits. “I’m so proud of you!” She glanced back at Stormtail. “Your father is, too.”
Almost as though she had beckoned him, Stormtail padded toward them. Adderfang followed, his eyes narrowed as though something were troubling him.
“Well done.” Stormtail’s gaze flicked to Bluepaw’s muddy paws. She sat down with a bump, tucking them as far out of sight as she could.
“We’re going to be the best apprentices!” Snowpaw mewed happily.
Stormtail flicked his tail. “I expect nothing less.”