Chapter 7

                The ceremony was over. Crazypaw felt a mixture of excitement and disappointment. She could still here the voices of her Clan rising over the walls of the hollow, chanting her name to the sky. But now that the ceremony is over, I can start training!

                Crazypaw felt a wave of tiredness wash over her, but she rapidly pushed it away. She bounced eagerly over to Liontail. “Can we start training?” Crazypaw asked quickly. “Can we do battle training first?”

                Liontail’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “Not yet,” he purred. “You’d be much too tired to concentrate on training. Battle training requires all of your energy and focus. And of course, good instincts, which I’m certain you have.”

                “Well, then, can you show me the territory or teach me to hunt? Please?” Crazypaw begged.

                “It’s harder to hunt at night, and we wouldn’t be able to cover the entire territory before the night was over,” Liontail replied calmly.

                Sensing Crazypaw’s disappointment, the golden warrior added, “Look at the sky, Crazypaw. It’s almost moonhigh. Shouldn’t we train in the morning when it’s bright and we both have more energy? Besides, you don’t want to sleep the day away do you?”

                Crazypaw didn’t speak. “Go to the apprentices den, and we’ll do battle training in the morning,” Liontail ordered.

                Crazypaw sighed. “Yes, Liontail,” she meowed dejectedly.

                She turned instinctively towards the nursery, but quickly spun around, burning with embarrassment. Fortunately, Liontail had already left. Crazypaw saw his long golden tail disappearing into the warriors den.

                Crazypaw stifled a yawn as she walked towards the apprentices den. It was empty, although the scents of Shrewfur and Mousepaw still lingered in the air. Suddenly, she heard pawsteps behind her. Morningpaw was entering the den with Streampaw following close behind. “So I guess we have this whole den to ourselves?” Morningpaw meowed tiredly, settling down into a mossy nest at the back of the den.

                “Yeah,” Crazypaw replied.

                Morningpaw’s response was a yawn. Crazypaw watched as her sister closed her eyes. She was about to settle beside Morningpaw when she suddenly remembered a few harsh words from two moons ago. I’m still going to be a warrior before you, your littermates, or Mudkit are even made apprentices!

                Crazypaw was wide awake again. You were wrong, Mousepaw!

                Crazypaw crept towards the entrance to the den, and Morningpaw lifted her head. “Crazypaw?” her sister called sleepily. “Where are you going?”

                “I just have something to say to a certain cat,” Crazypaw replied vaguely.

                “Can’t it wait until tomorrow?” Morningpaw asked.

                “No,” Crazypaw answered. “It can’t.”

                Crazypaw rushed out of the den before Morningpaw could ask any more questions. I can already picture the look on Mousepaw’s face when I tell her!

                Crazypaw walked across the camp and peeked into the den. Honeywhisker was already asleep, but Crazypaw could tell that Mousepaw hadn’t fallen asleep yet. “Why did Honeywhisker wrap a vine around your leg?” Crazypaw asked.

                “To keep it from moving as much as possible and…” Mousepaw stopped as she opened her eyes and saw Crazypaw.

                “What do you want, Crazykit?” Mousepaw growled.

                “It’s Crazypaw. Surely you heard the naming ceremony, did you not?” Crazypaw asked innocently.

                “You didn’t keep your promise obviously,” Crazypaw added. “I guess you’re not a warrior before I’m an apprentice. And who knows? Maybe I’ll be a warrior before you are!”

                Mousepaw was about to snarl in reply, but Honeywhisker spoke up. “Crazypaw?” the medicine cat asked. “What are you doing here? Are you hurt?”

                “No, Honeywhisker,” Crazypaw meowed. “I’m just telling Mousepaw all about my naming ceremony.”

                “Well, I think it can wait until tomorrow,” Honeywhisker replied. “Every cat, including you needs some sleep.”

                     “Alright,” Crazypaw meowed. “Bye, Honeywhisker.”

                Feeling triumphant, Crazypaw returned to the apprentices den and settled comfortably beside Morningpaw. Tomorrow, I finally start training and today, I’ve become an apprentice and told Mousepaw how wrong she was!