Into the Wild by Erin Hunter

warrior’s amber eyes as he stared up at the Highrock.
    â€œLionheart,” meowed Bluestar, “will be the new deputy of ThunderClan.”
    Firepaw was curious to see Tigerclaw’s reaction. But the dark warrior’s face revealed nothing as he moved tocongratulate Lionheart with a nudge so hearty that it almost pushed the golden tabby off balance.
    â€œWhy didn’t she make Tigerclaw deputy?” Firepaw whispered to Graypaw.
    â€œProbably because Lionheart has been a warrior longer, so he has a lot more experience,” Graypaw murmured back, still looking up at Bluestar.
    Bluestar spoke again. “Redtail was also mentor to young Dustpaw. Since there must be no delay in the training of our apprentices, I shall appoint Dustpaw’s new mentor immediately. Darkstripe, you are ready for your first apprentice, so you will continue Dustpaw’s training. You had a fine mentor in Tigerclaw, and I expect you to pass on some of the excellent skills you were taught.”
    The tabby warrior swelled with pride as he showed his acceptance with a solemn nod. He strode over to Dustpaw, bent his head, and rather awkwardly touched noses with his new apprentice. Dustpaw flicked his tail respectfully, but his eyes were still dull with grief for his lost mentor.
    Bluestar raised her voice. “I shall keep a vigil with Redtail’s body tonight, before we bury him at sunrise.” She jumped down from the Highrock and walked over to lie beside Redtail’s body once more. Many of the other cats joined her, Dustpaw and Smallear among them.
    â€œShould we sit with them too?” Firepaw suggested. He had to admit the idea didn’t appeal to him much. It had been a busy day and he was beginning to feel tired. All he wanted to do was find somewhere warm and dry to curl up and sleep.
    Graypaw shook his head. “No, only those who were closest to Redtail will share his final night. I’ll show you where we sleep. The apprentices’ den is over here.”
    Firepaw followed Graypaw to a thick bush of ferns that lay behind a mossy tree stump.
    â€œAll the apprentices share their fresh-kill by this stump,” Graypaw told him.
    â€œHow many apprentices are there?” Firepaw asked.
    â€œNot as many as usual—just me, you, Ravenpaw, Dustpaw, and Sandpaw.”
    As Graypaw and Firepaw settled themselves beside the tree stump, a young she-cat crawled out from beneath the ferns. Her coat was ginger, like Firepaw’s, but much paler, with barely visible stripes of darker fur.
    â€œSo here comes the new apprentice!” she meowed, narrowing her eyes.
    â€œHello,” Firepaw mewed.
    The young cat sniffed rudely. “He smells like a kittypet! Don’t tell me I’m going to have to share my nest with that revolting stench!”
    Firepaw felt rather taken aback. Since his fight with Longtail, all the cats had been quite friendly. Maybe they had just been distracted by Ravenpaw’s news, he thought.
    â€œYou’ll have to excuse Sandpaw,” apologized Graypaw. “I think she must have a furball stuck somewhere. She’s not usually this bad-tempered.”
    â€œPsst!” spat Sandpaw crossly.
    â€œHold on, youngsters.” The deep voice of Whitestormsounded behind the apprentices. “Sandpaw! As my apprentice, I expected you to be a little more welcoming to this newcomer.”
    Sandpaw held up her head and looked defiant. “I’m sorry, Whitestorm,” she purred, not sounding sorry at all. “I just didn’t expect to be training with a kittypet , that’s all!”
    â€œI’m sure you’ll get used to it, Sandpaw,” meowed White-storm calmly. “Now, it’s getting late, and training starts early tomorrow. You three should get some sleep.” He gave Sandpaw a stern look, and she nodded obediently. As he walked off, she spun around and vanished into the clump of ferns, sniffing once more as she brushed past