“Oh, my little acorn is becoming an apprentice!” Dovecry gushed as he lapped all over her son’s body. Acornkit just winced as his mother’s saliva seeped into his eye.
Blinking quickly to push the sickening liquid away, Acornkit glanced up at Dovecry and sighed heavily. “I think you washed me thoroughly enough,” he said, trying to push her away with a moist paw. About ten times over, Acornkit added to himself.
Dovecry stepped back and her eyes widened. “No, no, that’s not right. Now you’re too wet!” Scrunching up her face disgustedly, the gray she-cat started to rub herself all over Acornkit.
“And now I am brown, gray, and white,” he growled.
His mother opened her mouth to say something, but Acornkit didn’t want to hear any more. He shook out his pelt and padded into the clearing.
The Clan was already gathered underneath the Tallrock. They stared at him as he walked past. It kind of bothered Acornkit, though he tried his best to ignore it.
Acornkit gazed up and watched as the leader Hazelstar bounded up onto the enormous, towering boulder. It was the first time Acornkit had noticed the ginger tom’s ribs poking from under his white belly fur. Dark rings peeked out around Hazelstar’s eyes. No, Acornkit thought. He can’t be on his last life already!
The brown tom-kit felt the presence of Dovecry behind him. Quickly Acornkit sped up. She’s always around me!
“By naming apprentices, we show that WindClan will survive and remain strong,” Hazelstar began. Acornkit puffed out his chest proudly and sat under the Tallrock.
“Acornkit, from now on you shall be known as Acornpaw...” The leader paused as he pondered for a mentor. Acornpaw took this time to marvel over his new name. Acornpaw! Not kit, paw!
“Pebblefur, you are ready for an apprentice. You have been trained by my loyal deputy, Feathertickle, and I believe you have the strong qualities a cat needs to train an apprentice. You will be Acornpaw's mentor.”
As WindClan called Acornpaw’s new name, Acornpaw himself walked up and touched noses with Pebblefur. The gray tabby was smiling widely and flashing teasing looks to his sister, Cherryfeather.
Suddenly Acornpaw’s stomach dropped to his paws. He had been hoping to have Thornpad as a mentor. In fact, had the older warrior even mentored an apprentice yet? How come Pebblefur, who was named a warrior about a moon ago, had recieved an apprentice before Thornpad?
But Acornpaw had no time to think about it, because just then Pebblefur muttered in his ear, “First assessment tomorrow.” Then he trotted away to shove his face into Cherryfeather’s some more.
Acornpaw turned and scanned the area for his mother. Dovecry was sitting beside Hazelstar’s den, foot tapping impatiently. He wondered what she was doing there when Hazelstar came up to her and licked her cheek. Dovecry smiled in return and the two entered the den together, tails entwined.
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