ThornClan Territory

Turtletail bounded into the clearing of the ThornClan camp, leading the hunting patrol. Her shoulders were tense, as she carried a large gray squirrel, but proud as she placed it onto the fresh-kill pile.

Dappledpelt padded in behind Turtletail, carrying a thrush, and placed it on top of the squirrel. She spied the kits nearby, watching with interest, and pulled out a few feathers from the thrush to give to the kits.

"Would you like these for your nest?" she mewed.

Shimmerkit stretched up to Dappledpelt and took the feathers in her mouth. They tickled her nose and she shut her eyes in an effort not to sneeze.

Cloudspots pulled a vole from the fresh-kill pile and carried it over to Turtletail to share.

Turtletail purred and gave Cloudspots a quick lick of appreciation, still feeling tired from her hunt. As she sat down, she felt the kits inside of her shuffle, causing her to move her own paws around for a moment.

"These kits of yours are making it harder and harder to go on hunting patrols." she mewed quietly to Cloudspots.

"Speaking of." meowed Thornstar as she padded near the couple of cats. "I've asked Gorsefur to step in as deputy so you can focus on your family, Turtletail. Not that you haven't been an excellent deputy, but I need someone who can take my place as needed."

"I understand, Thornstar." meowed Turtletail, with a quick dip of her head. She licked her chest fur self-conciously, then turned towards Gorsefur.

"Congratulations, Gorsefur." she said to the younger tom. "I'm sure you'll do a fine job." Turtletail didn't like being replaced, especially with a tom younger than her, especially since it had been Cloudspots idea for them to have kits, but she understood why Thornstar had asked her to step down.

"Thank you, Turtletail." meowed Gorsefur politely. His chest puffed out with importance, knowing he could become leader at anytime of the clan he loved.

"Kits, be careful how you're playing." meowed Mlkweed as she pressed some leaves into the side of the nursery wall, watching her own kits thunder past while they were playing in the camp.

Cloudpsots padded into the ThornClan camp, carrying a wood pigeon in his jaws. He made his way into the nursery, dropping it at the queen's paws with a dip of his head.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather for a clan meeting!" yowled Thornstar.

Gorsefur padded over and took his place at the front of the gathering crowd.

"We gather today to welcome a kit into their life as an apprentice." continued Thornstar. "Shimmerkit, you will be known as Shimmerpaw. Dappledpelt, you will be mentor to Shimmerpaw."

"My pleasure, Thornstar." meowed Dappledpelt as she got to her paws and padded over to touch noses with Shimmerpaw.

Shimmerpaw sat up proudly and returned her mentor's nose touch.

"Shimmerpaw, Shimmerpaw, Shimmerpaw!" cheered Thunderpaw for his new denmate.

Shimmerpaw pulled a wren from the fresh-kill pile and took it back into the apprentice's den to eat.

Graywing padded into the ThornClan camp, carrying a mouse in his jaws. He dipped his head in greeting to his clanmates, then headed directly into the den he shared with Jaggedpeak.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather for a clan meeting!" yowled Thornstar.

Gorsefur padded over and took his place at the front of the crowd.

"Thunderpaw, you have fought bravely in battle. You have made sure every cat here has been fed, no cat doubts your loyalty or your skill. Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and continue to defend your clan?" meowed Thornstar.

"I do." meowed Thunderpaw.

"Then by StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Thunderpaw, from this day on, you will be known as Thundermouse. StarClan honors your loyalty and your devotion, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThornClan." Padding forward, Thornstar rested her muzzle on top of Thundermouse's head.

Thundermouse licked Thornstar's shoulder, then sat back and listened to the clan call out his new name.

"Thundermouse, Thundermouse, Thundermouse!" cheered Gorsefur for the clan's newest warrior.