Dawnbeam sat in the nursery as her 3 kits played right outside the nursery. “Be gentle now, you don’t want to hurt your denmate.” She said calmly to the 3 kits as they stepped away from the tiny runt of a kit, it was Honeycombs kit. “Let’s take a nap now shall we?” She said waving her paw as an indication to come back in. The kits looked hesitant for a second before one of the kits said “Fine.” It was Dustkit. The kits walked back into the nursery by their mothers' side. They all layed down, slowly they fell asleep, but once they were all sleeping, Dawnbeam left the nursery to chat with her mate. “It has to be done by the time I can get rid of that mouse brain!” Clawfur screeched at Stripepelt. “Ok! Ok! Chill down you crazy cat!” Stripepelt said, stepping back. “Hi dear, what are you talking about?” Dawnbeam said calmly to Clawfur. “Oh! Uh, nothing.. it’s nothing..” Clawfur said, glancing at Stripepelt in anger. “How about you calm down dear, I have to talk with you about something.” Dawnbeam said, staring at Clawfur, obviously suspicious on why he was so mad at Stripepelt. “Come on now.” Dawnbeam said. They walked through the forest to a spot where no cat can hear them. “I heard what you said.. What cat is the mouse brain your referring too..?” Dawnbeam said, staring deeply at Clawfur. “I'm referring too.. a dog.. one of those feral beasts.. yeah!..” Clawfur said, clearly nervous his plan may be revealed. “Ok..! Let’s go back now..” Dawnbeam said, pretending not to be suspicious of Clawfur. They walked back into the camp, the moon was rising. “Let’s go to sleep darling..” She said, they both walked into their dens. Dawnbeam carefully laid down next to her kits trying not to wake them up. “Goodnight children..” Dawnbeam closed her eyes trying to fall asleep, but she heard paw steps. She slowly opened her eyes and saw a cat shaped like Clawfur leaving camp. She thought “What is he doing…?” She went to go get up but accidentally woke up Blackkit “Mama.. what are you doing..?” Blackkit said tiredly “Oh nothing child.. Go back to sleep..” Dawnbeam said feeling guilty waking up her child. “I’ll ask tomorrow night.” Dawnbeam thought. The sun rose as Dawnbeam awoke, she yawned. “Wakey, wakey! It’s time for food.” Dawnbeam said as she woke up her kits for food. “Morning already..?” Copperkit said tired. “Yes please wake your siblings up as I go grab you guys a mouse for you to eat.” Dawnbeam said quietly. “Ok..” Copperkit said a bit more awake. Dawnbeam walked out of the nursery to the fresh kill pile and looked for a fresh juicy mouse for her kits. “Got it.” Dawnbeam said when finding the perfect one. She walked back to the nursery and dropped it in front of her kits. “Todays the day you become apprentices! Aren’t you excited!? That’s why I grabbed the freshest mouse I could find.” Dustkits eyes widened with excitement. “Really!?” Copperkit said with excitement in his voice. His excitement wakended the other kits. “We’re becoming apprentices today!?” Dustkit said with the same amount of excitement as Copperkit. “I can’t wait!” Blackkit said. “Well you have too, I have to tell the leader first. Once you hear her call a meeting you know what’s happening.” Dawnbeam said calmly as she left the nursery to go to the leaders den. “Icestar?” Dawnbeam asked as she entered the den. “Yes Dawnbeam?” Icestar asked politely. “I would like to say all 3 of my kits have reached 6 moons!” Dawnbeam said proudly. “Congrats! I’ll go do the meeting, get your kits.” Dawnbeam nodded and left the den, she approached the nursery and yelled to her kits “Cmon Copperkit, Blackkit, and Dustkit it’s time for the ceremony!” The kits rushed out of the nursery and followed Dawnbeam to the highrock where Icestar was standing about to yell “All cats old enough to catch their own prey come to the highrock as we have 3 new apprentices.” Cats started appearing from the dens and to the highrock. “Today, these three kits will become apprentices.” Icestar said before jumping down in front of the kits. “Copperkit, Blackkit, and Dustkit. Your new apprentice names are Copperpaw, Blackpaw, and Dustkit. Congrats on becoming apprentices” Icestar said touching her nose on each of the apprentices noses. “I will assign your mentors later.” Icestar said calmly. The rest of the clan started chanting their names “Copperpaw! Blackpaw! Dustpaw! Copperpaw! Blackpaw! Dustpaw! Copperpaw! Blackpaw! Dustpaw!” “I’m so happy! Aren’t you guys happy too!?” Dustpaw said to his siblings. (CONTINUED IN NOTES AND CREDITS)
“Yeah this is so exciting!” Copperpaw said agreeing with Dustpaw. “I agree!!” Blackpaw said. The clan quieted down as Icestar got up onto the highrock and said. “Meeting over, continue your duty’s.” She jumped down and went to her deputy to talk about patrols. “You guys should go help the elders change their bedding and get fleas off, and make sure to hand them a mouse.” Dawnbeam said. “It’s part of your new apprentice duty’s!” “I’m so proud of you three.” Dawnbeam added. “I’m going to eat something, enjoy being an apprentice!” Dawnbeam said before heading to fresh kill. Hours later.. It was night and Dawnbeam noticed Clawfur heading out of camp again, this time she followed him as her kits were in deep sleep. She watched him as he started talking with another cat, she smelled.. Flameclan..!? She calmed down and continued to listen. “I’m going to get rid of that mouse brain tonight and you better have that dog ready by the time I get those little runts here.” Clawfur exclaimed aggressively “I will have him by the time you say there coming here, just make sure you pay back what you're supposed to.” The strange cat said. “Good I’ll be back tomorrow to tell you, remember meet me here tomorrow at moonrise.” Clawfur said before turning around an heading back to camp. Dawnbeam burst out of the bush she was hiding in to confront him when he was far enough from the Flameclan cat. “What are you doing! Why are you talking to a cat from another clan! What did you mean by little runts? What did you mean by mouse brain it clearly wasn’t what you said before, you liar!” Dawnbeam screeched at Clawfur “What the-! I-I.. I guess I can do this early then..” Clawfur said unsheathing his claws. “What do you mean early..?” Dawnbeam said confused and scared, she took a step back. “This is what I mean!” Clawfur yelled jumping at her and clawing her. “Get off!! You crazy-!” Dawnbeam yelled right before he sliced her throat, killing her. “Now that that steps done, time for those tiny runts this mouse brain can actually love..” Clawfur said with a grin. (end of chapter 1)
