1

Thrushkit blinked open her eyes. She was lying next to her mother, Sandpit, her tan fur rippling in the morning breeze. Thrushkit's stomach growled. She groaned, still waking up after a restless night, she was nervous, today she would move in to the apprentice den, today she would become an apprentice.

    "Mom, I'm hungry, may I grab something from the freshkill pile?" Thrushkit's mom thought

for a moment, then replied with, "okay, but make sure to bring back some for me!" Sandpit purred playfully and beamed with proudness of her soon to be apprentice kit. Thrushkit smiled then trotted out of the den, into the WindClan clearing. she smelled a deep breath of fresh air. She loved it here. She ran over to the freshkill pile and looked into it, it was scarce. Huh. I guess the dawn patrol  didn't find much prey. 

Thrushkit picked out a plump mouse and a small vole. She walked back into the den, giving her mother the mouse and herself the vole. She devoured it happily, even though it was dry and stringy.

    "All clan members old enough to catch their own prey, gather!" Normally Thrushkit would have to stand by, wondering what the clan was talking about when the clan leader called a meeting.

But today she would join them, Thrushkit walked over to the meeting place. Thrushkit sprinted to the stump where WindClan's leader stood, BrushStar. Thrushkit was bubbling with excitement, she could hardly contain herself. Thrushkit was so excited that she didn't even listen to whatever BrushStar was going on about. She just knew what she absolutely had to say once BrushStar was done speaking. "I do." Thrushkit proclaimed solidly.

"Then, I, BrushStar, leader of this clan, gift to you your new name, Thrushpaw." He turned to the crowd, "Crackfur, you will teach this apprentice the ways of the warrior, I trust that you will teach her your strength and vigilance." Crackfur nodded solemnly.  

    The crowd began cheering her name! "Thrushpaw! Thrushpaw! Thrushpaw!" It was the best thing in the world! Thrushpaw smiled brightly.

She was on the huge stump with BrushStar, who was content with the ceremony. The sunlight dappled across the long vibrant grass. Then a shadow loomed over the group of cats. Thrushpaw looked up and saw a huge storm cloud.

    The others saw it too, then voices rang out from the crowd as tiny droplets fell from the sky. "Rain!" "Finally some rain!" "Maybe the prey will come back!" Then, the voices changed. "It's the new apprentice! It's a sign from StarClan!"

    More voices cried out into the clearing saying more claims like the last one. Thrushpaw stood there, curious, there had never been this much attention on her, she looked into the crowd, and saw her new mentor, Crackfur, and she thought for a moment that he was scowling under his thick white fur, with that menacing night-black crack eerily running down his back.

2

    Thrushpaw opened her eyes. She knew she was in a dream, It was a forest, it was green and thriving. ThunderClan territory. "Thrushpaw, I am Ghostpond. I will be your mentor." Thrushpaw knew who that was, it was a she-cat who murdered four cats in her clan, ThunderClan. Thrushpaw shivered with anticipation. "I already have a mentor. And I could never associate with a murderer like you." Thrushpaw was feeling bold. Ghostpond seemed slightly insulted. "I did not kill those cats, I was framed. And you, Thrushpaw are my apprentice." Her voice was filled unwavering certainty

Thrushpaw was amused. "Why should I become your apprentice?" Ghostpond had a look of empathy for a moment, then said, "You will soon see. I will come back in three nights, you may accept or turn down the offer then and only then."

    "Thrushpaw, wake up, it's time to train!" Thrushpaw looked up to see Crackfur standing above her, a look of annoyance was painted on his snow-white face.

Thrushpaw rubbed her eyes, "Sorry." She muttered as she lumbered out of the apprentices' den. Then they made their way to the training grounds over the hill. Thrushpaw thought that it was a lovely place, the way the wind sang as it hurried across the grass as if it had the need to be somewhere important. 

    Crackfur surprisingly almost looked as wistful as her. Maybe Ghostpond was wrong. Maybe, she had just been a dream.

"May I ask why we are going to the training grounds?" Thrushpaw inquired. "We're training." Crackfur replied curtly. 

"Don't most apprentices start out with hunting?" This time Crackfur only grinned. Oh, Starclan, what am I getting into?

    "Come at me." Crackfur commanded as soon as they arrived at the training grounds. "Can't we start with the basics?" Thrushpaw really didn't want to fight with the big cat.