"Let all cats who are old enough to swim to gather around the Tall Rock for a Clan meeting!" Shellstar announced strongly.

Troutkit wiggled out of Mintbreeze's - her mother - grasp and ran towards Tall Rock. Watershadow, the deputy, looked at her in slight disapproval.

Shellstar let out a purr of amusement. "Troutkit have reached the age of six moons, and is ready to become an apprentice. From this moment on, you will be known as Troutpaw," he announced.

"Minnowshine, you are an experienced and skillful warrior. Pass it onto Troutpaw," Shellstar finished.

"Wait!" Troutpaw called out before the other WaveClan cats started calling out her new name. "What about Hopkit? He is fit to become an apprentice!"

"His injured paw will hinder him greatly from being a warrior," the WaveClan leader began sympathetically. "But he have the spirit of one. Let it be done."

"Hopkit, step forward," he mewed to Troutpaw's littermate. Hopkit flashed her a grateful look as he hopped forward less awkwardly than usual.

"From this moment on, you will be known as Hoppaw. Watershadow, you are a warrior of patience and determination. Teach young Hoppaw well," Shellstar mewed.

"Troutpaw! Hoppaw!" the Clan yowled.

Troutpaw stared at Hoppaw half jealously. He got the Clan deputy!

"Thank you, Troutpaw," Hoppaw mewed happily to her, sounding more like his normal, energetic self before the incident.

"You are my littermate," Troutpaw mewed. "And I believed that you need this chance to prove yourself again. Don't let me down, okay?"

"Troutpaw, come here!" Minnowshine called out to her. "We are beginning the tour."

"Coming!" Troutpaw mewed excitedly, nearly tripping over Blazefire, the elder.

"Watch it, young one," he grunted. "You don't want to break my old bones don't you?"

"Sorry," she apologised.

"My bones don't break so easily," Blazefire mumbled. "I'm strong enough to take on Shellstar single pawed!"

Troutpaw had quickly sprinted away before the elder could rant some more. Minnowshine was waiting for her with a slight look of disapproval.

"One of the lessons on becoming a good warrior is that you must be as punctual as possible," she mewed.

Troutpaw nodded, slightly annoyed that she was already scolded by her mentor.

"We are going to tour the territory with Hoppaw and his mentor," Minnowshine mewed. "They should be here soon."

Watershadow watched Hoppaw carefully as he tried to reach their side faster.

"Patience, Hoppaw," the deputy mewed. Hoppaw sighed but he obeyed his mentor.

"We are going to bring both of you near the RookClan border first," Minnowshine began. "If we meet a border patrol or any RookClan cats, do not antagonise them. Promise?"

"Okay," Troutpaw mewed while Hoppaw nodded.

They walked past places unfamiliar to Troutpaw and Hoppaw, but judging by Watershadow's face, they will get to know more soon.

The powerful scent of RookClan hit her nose as they came closer to their rivals. "There are RookClan cats here," Watershadow hissed. "Remember what Minnowshine told you."

"What are you WaveClan cats doing here?" a warrior growled. A young apprentice was beside him, blinking in surprise rather than hostility.

"We are bringing our apprentices for a tour, Stormjaw. We are not invading," Minnowshine mewed calmly.

"You seem ready to invade to me," Stormjaw hissed.

Troutpaw bristled, getting ready to defend Hoppaw if a fight happened. Although they outnumbered the RookClan cats, the apprentice could call for reinforcements.

"If you want a fight," Watershadow snarled, "now is not the time."

"But I think it is!" Stormjaw growled and he pounced onto the WaveClan deputy. "Jaypaw, find a patrol!"

"But..." Jaypaw's voice was drowned out by the yowls of the fight between Watershadow and Stormjaw.

Without hesitation, Troutpaw pounced at Jaypaw. She wasn't sure if the apprentice had training, but she knew she had to act quickly.

Minnowshine was watching out for trouble and protecting Hoppaw, who looked unhappy.

Troutpaw bit onto Jaypaw's pelt and he yowled in pain. He blindly swiped near her throat and Troutpaw drew back.

"Stop!" Jaypaw yowled. "I don't want to fight you."

Blood was dipping from the wound that Troutpaw inflicted and she narrowed her eyes.

"I only became an apprentice today," he mewed. "We don't have to fight. It is not necessary."

Troutpaw let out a growl. Is it a trick?

Jaypaw crouched down, not to attack but more of a submissive one.

"I don't want to fight you," he repeated.

Troutpaw instinctively relaxed and mewed, "Fine. But get out of our territory now."

Jaypaw gave her a relieved look and ran off. Watershadow flung Stormjaw across the border. "Get out of WaveClan territory," the deputy snarled.

Stormjaw glared at him before limping off.

"Are you injured, Troutpaw?" Minnowshine asked.

Troutpaw shook her head. "The apprentice I fought was a new one."

"Let's get on with the tour," Watershadow mewed. "After that, I am going to report to Shellstar about this."

Minnowshine led the two apprentices in another direction to continue the tour.