Chapter 2: The Five Kits Of JungleClan
The sun rose slowly over the horizon, endulging the forest with golden light and the promise of a new day. Birds began to sing almost instantly and the forest seemed to come alive with sound and movement. Leaves quivered in the mild Greenleaf breeze that carried the salty tang of the ocean all the way through the forest, right into the JungleClan camp.
Warriors were emerging from their dens ready for the morning patrol. The apprentices followed more drowsily behind them, yawning occasionaly as they got used to the early morning work of a warrior.
The camp was settled neatly in the forest clearing, surrounded by a barrier of leaves and sharp sticks. A hollow log served as the camp enterance, reasting in the sole gap in the barrier. The camp was mostly flat, apart from the small cliff at the north edge of the barrier, which served as the FallRock for Clan meatings and the hollow inside made for the Leader's den. A glittering stream, about a tail length wide flowed from atop the FallRock and over the edge, creating a small waterfall and thus giving the stone it's title as the FallRock. A small pool formed at the bottom and then flowed away to the south, meaning that the cats here never had to go far for water. The dens consisted of tightly woven branches and leaves, sometimes bigger than the cats themselves. The Medicine Cat's den rested confortably beside the FallRock and the barrier, with an outcropping stone serving as a roof. The Fresh-Kill pile, an old tree stump balencing a mound of prey, sat between the Apprentices and the Warriors den.
One cat sat atop the FallRock, watching the cats below as they gathered and began to sort out the dawn patrol. Her short golden fur, broken up only by small black spots, shimmered in the morning sunlight and her leathe figure was evident. She sat with her tail wrapped neatly around her paws and watched as the cats below began to break apart in their seperate duties with equally golden eyes.
"Cheetahstar" Another cat bound his way up the FallRock, keeping careful not to wet his paws in the stream. His jet-black fur was contrasted by the many scars he carried all over his body, tales of countless battles before. Eyes a deep chestnut brown, he gazed at his leader his undying loyalty.
"What is it, Darkheart?" The she-cat mewed, glancing over her shoulder as her deputy sat beside her.
"I've finished organising the patrols" He dipped his head and she nodded for him to continue, "I'm sure you're aware, it's almost time to apprentice the five kits"
"Ah, yes..." Cheetahstar sighed, whiskers twitching as she thought, "We may have to make the apprentice's den bigger. After those five are apprenticed, there will be no room"
"Shall I organise for the den to be enlarged?" He asked.
"Once some more warrior's get back from patrolling, you can start then" She agreed, blinking at him gratefully. He dipped his head and was about to leave when another cat hopped onto the FallRock, his eyes gleaming.
"Ah, Wildstripe" Darkheart nodded to the thin white cat, with silvery grey stripes giving him a unique appearance among the clan cats.
"If you're going to make the den bigger, I'd be glad to help" He beamed, "It's for my own kits after all"
"And mine" Darkheart nodded, "I know how much this means to them"
"I'm sure they're excited already" Cheetahstar purred, and glanced towards the nursery, "I wondering if they're thinking about it now?"
"We're being apprenticed soon? Aw, but I like it here..."
The Nursery was warm and cosy, even in the encasing darkness. The nursery walls were made up of tightly woven sticks and huge leaves, meaning there were little to know gaps and only one sorce of light. Even so, the darkness gave the Nursey that safe feeling.
"No way! Being apprenticed is the best!" A she-kit sqealed with unhidden excitement, boucing around the gathered group in a frenzy.
"You like this place that much, even now?" another kit questioned with a small shake of the head, "I still dont get you, Chaoskit"
"That's because you have a brain smaller than that of a mouse, Stingkit" Chaoskit, the jet black tom - who was almost unseeable in the darkness - sighed, drawing a glare from Stingkit.
The bouncing she-kit stopped and pushed her way inbetween the two toms, pretty much ignoring them both, "It'll be great!" She announced, full of pride, "I can just see it now, when I'm finished training, you'll be calling me Leopardstar before you know it!"
Chaoskit and Stingkit went from glaring at eachother to looking at Leopardkit. The golden she-kit slipped from between them and made her way over to her other to kit friends.
"What about you two?" She asked, poking them with her paws, "Aren't you happy?"
"I suppose" Came a short reply, from the silver tom on the left. His black spots were almost invisible in the dimly lit nursey but his bright blue eyes glowed.
"Suppose? Aw, you're no fun, Razorkit" Leopardkit huffed, and went back to pestering the other two toms.
Razorkit sighed. He didn't know what to think of becoming an apprentice. Most kits were alive with excitement like Leopardkit was. Even his brother Stingkit was unable to keep his usual cool and was letting out burst of happiness. Chaoskit thought becoming an apprentice would be too much hassle, saying that it would be all chores and training. The one kit who hadn't said anything, the she-kit who was alseep next to Razorkit, didn't think much of apprenticeship either. Silentkit hated fighting. And when she became an apprentice herself, the creamy-white she-kit would have to work towards a goal that she didn't even want to acheive.
It was an odd situation, really. Two of them wanted to become apprentices and protect the clan. Two of them didn't. And one hadn't taken a side on the matter.
Of course, it was Razorkit who hadn't chosen.
Before the kits could discuss further, the head of another cat poked through the slim nuresry entrance.
"You're awake already?" The tom purred, pushing himself through the entrance and into the blackness of the nursery. He towered over the kits, his long fur a stone gray shade. It wasn't just the kits he shadowed, but every cat in the forest looked small compared to this cat.
"Wolfstreak!" Stingkit beamed, scampering away to greet the huge warrior.
"Shhh-" Wolfstreak shushed, "Dont wake the queens, alright? They have their paws full with you five"
They all shared the same though; It's only because Leopardkit never shuts up...
"Well, I just came to tell you that it'll be your apprentice ceremonies in a few sunrises" Wolfstreak informed, "The day after the next gathering"
"Yeah!" Leopardkit squealed. Stingkit just flicked his ears dissmissivly, again trying to look composed, but the glitter in his eyes gave his excitement away.
"So dont go doing anything mouse-brained until then, alright?" Wolfstreak advised, casting a glance at the four awake kits, and the one asleep. When nobody spoke, he dipped his head and left.
There was a moments silence. Razorkit glanced to Chaoskit, and they both shared the same look of new found worry.
Stingkit and Leopardkit had a new glint in their eyes. Which only meant one thing.
"I have an idea!" They both exclaimed at the same time, drawing an exasperated sigh from Chaoskit.
Oh StarClan, not again...
Iceclaw 
Silverstream 
Congratulate them 
