The young black tom, looking stunned at his leader’s praise and the honor of being chosen as a mentor, took a pace forward and dipped his head respectfully. “I won’t let you down, Bramblestar.”

Finpaw skipped across the circle of cats to stand in front of Larksong, and reached up to touch noses with him. “This is going to be great!” he announced.

“Finpaw! Finpaw!” the ThunderClan cats acclaimed him. Twigpaw could see that he was going to be popular, and she couldn’t repress a tiny twinge of jealousy. Are they more excited to have Finpaw join the Clan than they are to have me back?

Her heart lurched as Bramblestar turned to her. “Do I need a ceremony?” she asked him. “I mean, what’s the point. I’ve already had one. Twice,” she added, the last word under her breath.

“You should do as you’re told,” Sparkpelt snapped at her from where she stood a couple of tail-lengths away.

Uh-oh, Twigpaw thought. She’s not going to be pleased when she finds out what Bramblestar has in mind.

“Yes, you had a ceremony with Ivypool,” Bramblestar meowed, his voice even. “And now you need one with your new mentor.”

“It’s so exciting!” Finpaw piped up. “We’ll be apprentices together.”

“Sure we will,” Twigpaw responded, wishing she could share her friend’s enthusiasm. She turned and nodded to Bramblestar, wishing too that she hadn’t protested in the first place. I don’t want to start out by being difficult.

“Then from this time forward,” Bramblestar began, “Twigpaw will be a ThunderClan apprentice. Sparkpelt,” Bramblestar continued, “you are a brave and loyal ThunderClan cat, and I know that you will pass on all you have learned to Twigpaw.”

“What?” Sparkpelt’s eyes widened and her neck fur began to fluff up as she gazed at Twigpaw. But she had enough sense not to protest her Clan leader’s decision, even though he was her father. “I’ll do my best, Bramblestar,” she added with a sigh.

Twigpaw padded over to Sparkpelt and made herself touch noses with her as she met her new mentor’s irritated gaze. I’ll show you! she resolved. I’ll be the best apprentice any cat ever had.

Once the ceremony was over, Bramblestar returned to his den, and the rest of the Clan began to disperse. Most of them headed for the warriors’ den to settle into their nests for the night.

Twigpaw found herself alone in the middle of the camp, suddenly feeling a little lost, as if she didn’t belong there after all.

I’m sure I made the right decision to come back, she insisted to herself. But I never thought it would be like this. I thought it would be better. . . .