Author's Note:

One warning before this starts: if you are offended by transsexuality, then please leave now, this story isn't for you. Though you shouldn't be offended, just saying.

Anyways, here we go:

Chapter One:

"Dewpaw! Dewpaw!" The Clan cheered as Dewpaw touched noses with Ivypool. It was her turn now. It was her turn, and she was more nervous than either of her brothers. They had been boasting about how they'd be the best apprentices ever, while she'd awkwardly laughed.

Amberkit sighed. If only she could be more like her brothers. They were always boasting, always confident. They were great leaders, kits that Owlkit and Stormkit, Dovewing's kits, looked up to. She was just the follower, the one who was too shy to speak very much, let alone lead. They were the ones who'd be leading the Clan while she sat around doing nothing. Even now they seemed more triumphant than nervous, while her legs felt like water.

Bramblestar turned his sharp gaze to her, "Amberkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you shall be known as Amberpaw. Your mentor will be Hazeltail. I hope Hazeltail will pass on everything she knows to you."

As Bramblestar turned to Hazeltail and continued the ceremony, Amberpaw looked at her. She didn't seem surprised that she'd been chosen as Amberpaw's mentor. Had she asked for her? Would someone ask for her? She focused back on the ceremony and caught the end of it, "...all you know to Amberpaw," which queued her to approach her new mentor.

She briskly moved over and touched noses with Hazeltail, her tail twitching with nervousness. However, something in the pride that was in Hazeltail's eyes calmed her. The crowd began cheering, "Snowpaw! Dewpaw! Amberpaw! Snowpaw! Dewpaw! Amberpaw!"

Half-smiling, Amberpaw made her way over to Brightheart. Amberpaw brushed against her and purred, "I'm an apprentice, Brightheart!"

Brightheart smiled, "Yes you are!" Licking the top of my head, she nudged me towards the apprentice's den, towards my den, "Go and get your nest ready. I'm sure Lilypaw and Seedpaw want to congratulate you."

I nodded and walked away, leaving the nursery life forever.

Two days later...

"Wake up Amberpaw!" A voice yelled, cutting into her peaceful sleep. Yawning, Amberpaw creaked her eyes open, blinking them against the light. It was sunrise, and Hazeltail was waking her up for their first hunting session. The day before, they had taken a walk around the territory, which had been nice, but she wanted to do something interesting. Hopefully hunting wouldn't be too hard.

"I'm coming Hazeltail!" Amberpaw mewed. She got up, gave herself a quick lick, and went outside. Hazeltail was waiting in front of her, her expression eager yet calm. Amberpaw still felt nervous.

"Are you ready to go, or do you want to get something to eat first?" Hazeltail asked.

Looking over at the nearly empty pile of prey, Amberpaw mewed softly, "No, no, let's go." It was nice and cool that morning, the sky covered in patches of large gray clouds. Hopefully it wouldn't rain.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?" Hazeltail replied, her ear twitching. How did she not hear her? She was right in front of Hazeltail! Was this some sort of test?

Amberpaw lifted her head and looked at Hazeltail. A moment later, she mewed, "I said, that we can go now," her voice louder and clearer.

Hazeltail nodded, "Good." She began walking out into the forest, and Amberpaw followed her loosely, gazing at the now vaguely familiar landmarks. Suddenly, she felt herself bump into Hazeltail, who had stopped. Hazeltail turned to her, "Listen, Amberpaw. Do you want to know the reason why I picked you? Why I had you repeat yourself back at camp?" When I nodded, she continued, "I chose you not because you were like your brothers, but because you weren't. You were the one kit who never spoke up, the one kit who only followed, and I want to change that. Warriors aren't born, they're made, and if you try hard enough, you can be a leader, just like your brothers." She looked me deep in the eyes, "Can I trust you to try? Or should I let you be too shy for your own good?"

Hazeltail's stare was so intense that Amberpaw had to turn away. Was she too shy? She knew she wasn't bold like her brothers but she didn't think that was a problem. Looking down at her paws, Amberpaw mewed, "Of course I'll try."

Hazeltail sighed, "Now that's something we need to change." She bent her head down so she could see Amberpaw's eyes, "Keep your head up and look in the eyes of whoever you're speaking to. You don't want others thinking you're too scared to talk to them. Try."

Amberpaw slowly lifted her head, looking into the intense stare yet again. "I promise that I will try," she mewed.

"Come on!" Hazeltail exclaimed, "Say it louder!" Her eyes were burning with determination, as if she were a battle Hazeltail had to win.

"I will try!" I mewed, as loud as I could without shouting, "I promise I will try!"

Hazeltail narrowed her eyes and nodded, "Better." Amberpaw's eyes stretched in surprise. She'd nearly yelled and it was only 'better?'

Hazeltail looked back towards what Amberpaw had learned was the ShadowClan and looked back, mewing, "Alright, then. Show me your best Hunter's Crouch." Amberpaw quickly complied, getting into a crouch that seemed comfortable.

Hazeltail sighed, "Wrong, wrong, wrong." She padded over to her and began fixing her crouch, "Get down more, but tuck your shoulders in more. Keep your tail off of the ground and for StarClan's sake, stop twitching!"

Holding in a protest, Amberpaw forced her body to stay still in the proper technique. It felt awkward, but she began to get used it. Nodding, Hazeltail mewed, "Good, now remember to stay in that stance when we find some prey. You'll be catching it."

Amberpaw took a deep breath. Hopefully she wouldn't disappoint Hazeltail. As Hazeltail began walking, Amberpaw quickly scrambled to catch up.

Not long later, Hazeltail stopped her with her tail pointing out a mouse nibbling at something inside of a bush. "Wait until it comes out," she whispered.

Once the mouse scrabbled out into the open, Hazeltail nudged her forward, so she got into the best Hunter's Crouch she could do. She crept forward, careful not to step on anything, but the mouse was alerted when her tail brushed up against a bush and rustled it. It took off, so Amberpaw went after it, but she had to stop when it flung itself into a hole in a tree.

"You need to be in control of every part of your body," a voice mewed behind her, startling her. Hazeltail was standing behind her. She seemed disappointed, but at least she wasn't mad.

Amberpaw sighed, "Can we fight now?" She hoped that she'd be much better at fighting.

Hazeltail shook her head, "No, that's it for today. Let's go back to camp before it starts raining." Disappointed, Amberpaw followed her mentor yet again.

Once they reached camp, an eager group of Snowpaw, Dewpaw, Lilypaw, and Seedpaw beckoned her over.

Once she reached them, Snowpaw quickly asked, "Did you catch anything? I caught a squirrel!"

Dewpaw smiled, "We had a battle session with Lilypaw and Seedpaw!"

"Well...umm...I didn't really catch anything," Amberpaw admitted. Of course her brothers would do better than her.

Dewpaw brushed up against her, "Aww, don't worry. You'll catch something soon!"

Amberpaw looked away, "Yeah..." Leaving the group, she went to get herself something from the fresh-kill pile.

A/N:

There you go. Chapter done.