Chapter 6

It was a breezy day in StarClan, wind whistling through the branches, composing their own song. Leaves rustled overhead as Lightedpath padded down the familiar path, worn smooth by the pawsteps of StarClan cats, to the Seeing Pool. Today was the day Wildkit, Sunkit, and Lilykit, the daughters of Stargaze and Fireblaze, would become apprentices. The golden tabby she-cat wasn't sure why she wanted to see the kits’ apprentice ceremonies. Maybe it was because of the strange voice that told her to watch over Wildkit the day the she-kit was born. Lightedpath emerged from the trees that lined the clearing where the Seeing Pool was. She approached the dark pool, and looked down at it. The pool was glowing faintly around the edges, a soft silver-white light. Lightedpath couldn't see her reflection; only darkness. Deep, swirling darkness.Lightedpath bent down her head and lap up some water from the Seeing Pool, silently wishing to see ThunderClan camp. Ripples fanned out from the middle of the pool, where a bright light, dimmed by the dark waters, suddenly shone. A picture formed right above the bright light, disturbed by the ripples. Then the rippling ceased, and she was looking at ThunderClan camp from above. She spotted the nursery, and saw Stargaze sitting there, washing Wildkit and her littermates clean. Wildkit tried to wriggle out from her mother's tongue; Lightedpath could hear her angered squeaks as easily as if the kit was right next to her.
"Mother," moaned the multi-colored kit, "Please stop. This is enough!"
"I want you to look proper and clean for your apprentice ceremony," meowed the blue-gray queen between licks. Wildkit desperately tried to get away, but her mother hooked a slender paw around her.
"I'm so clean you can see yourself in my fur!" Wildkit squirmed away from under Stargaze's tongue and wriggled from her gentle grasp. “Stargaze! It's starting!" she squealed as Hazelstar leaped onto the Highledge and yowled, "Let all cats who can catch their own prey gather here beneath the Highledge."
As the cats gathered, Hazelstar jumped off the ledge and sat with her tail neatly curled around her white paws."Cats of ThunderClan, I gather you all for one of my favorite duties." Hazelstar's meow filled the hollow, and Lightedpath saw Wildkit giving a little impatient bounce. Lilykit looked excited and determined, while Sunkit looked like ready to hide in the nursery. Lightedpath purred as she watched and suddenly, the little she-kit looked up, bewildered, straight at Lightedpath, as if hearing the golden tabby’s amused purr. Wildkit starred intently up at Lightedpath and fear crept into the she-cat’s pelt. Could the kit see her? No, that was impossible……..wasn‘t it? Right?
"Wildkit and her sisters have reached their sixth moon. Wildkit has had an adventurous kit-hood with Fawnpaw and Creampaw"—there was amusement in her soft mew as she glanced at the two apprentices, pawing the ground in embarrassment—"but I hope she have learned valuable lessons, and I believe she is ready to become an apprentice along with her sisters.” She paused as the Clan cats murmured and nodded approvingly. Then Hazelstar turned to Stargaze and her kits, pride shining in his eyes.
"Wildkit, Sunkit, and Lilykit, step forward." Lightedpath purred again as the tortoiseshell-black-and -white she-kit bounced forward and halted in front of the ThunderClan leader, her eyes wide with happiness just like her littermates’. "Wildkit, Sunkit, and Lilykit, from this day onwards until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Wildpaw, Lilypaw, and Sunpaw."
Cherrypaw, Fawnpaw, and Creampaw and the other apprentices called their names until Hazelstar flicked her tail for silence."I ask StarClan to watch over you and guide you until you find the courage and strength of a warrior inside yourselves," Hazelstar meowed. Wildkit quivered with excitement. Who will be her mentor? Lightedpath wondered. I hope it's a good warrior.
"Wildpaw, your mentor will be Mapleleaf." An awed silence greeted her choice and she was confused. The ginger and tortoiseshell warrior touched noses with the energetic apprentice.Good choice, Hazelstar, you couldn’t of chosen better. Mapleleaf has a good heart and should keep her from straying to evil paws. Lightedpath nodded in approval.
"I trust Mapleleaf to pass on all I have taught her to Wildpaw and help her to become a warrior the Clan can be proud of," Hazelstar went on. She went on to give Silvermoon Sunpaw and Fernfall Lilypaw.The Clan burst into cheers again, yowling out their names. Lightedpath joined in happily. Wildpaw once again glanced up, confusion clouding her green eyes. Lightedpath shivered; could the kit really here her?Remember what I said, Lightedpath. Lightedpath stopped in mid-yowl. That voice again! Watch over her, Lightedpath.Yes, watch over her. Another voice said. A more feminine one. A female. Lightedpath looked around wildly, wondering where the voice—voices came from. And why the voices were telling her to watch over Wildpaw. Exactly what was so special about Wildpaw, until some voices need to tell her to watch over the she-cat? Don't let her walk a dark path. The feminine voice whispered. Lightedpath froze. What did she mean? Was Wildpaw going to be an evil cat?