"Welcome to the clan Firepaw." Bluestar purred. She dipped her head and padded away. Firepaw was left to fend for himself in the crowd of hostile forest cats. Graypaw appeared beside him and nudged him to his paws. Together they walked to the apprentices den and sat down near the entrance.
"Don't worry, it won't be long before they warm up to you Firepaw! Lionheart and Whitestorm already think you have potential to be a great warrior." Graypaw meowed. He cuffed Firepaw's ear before getting up and walking to the fresh kill pile. The grey tabby brought back two mice, which he shared with Firepaw. Sandpaw and Dustpaw stalked over and stood over the two friends, eyes matching daggers. Dustpaw opened his mouth to comment, but Sandpaw was already squeezing into the den. He growled at Firepaw before following her.
That night, Firepaw lay awake listening to the sound of his new clan sleeping. The excitement of his first day in the forest still clung to him like a bur in a cats pelt. He dozed off after awhile, dreaming of mice and freedom. The dim light of Dawn shone on his face only a little while later, waking Firepaw from his dreams. He pushed his head through the narrow entrance to the den, looking around. A group of cats was just leaving; Whitestorm at the head. The tip of a she cats tail was the last he saw of the patrol. Firepaw shook his head to clear away the sleep. Turning back towards his sleeping den mates, Firepaw wondered whether he should wake Graypaw. Deciding against it, Firepaw stepped outside and sat down. The camp was beginning to rise from the grips of night. A pale gray she cat appeared in front of a bush, shaking scraps of moss from her pelt. Firepaw guessed she was a warrior. The she cat nodded to him before trotting over to a pile of prey and picking up a thrush. She took it over to a nettle patch and began to eat. Another cat pushed his way out of the den and cast his gaze around the clearing before joining her with a mouse. Before they could finish, Firepaw saw their heads snap up. The thorn tunnel was shaking fiercely. Out stumbled a dark gray tabby tom with a long gash across his shoulder and a torn ear. He carried a bloody ginger body in his teeth. Sandpaw. Following him was Whitestorm supporting a limping dusky brown she cat. A wail broke out from the gray she cat at the nettle patch, bringing the rest of the clan from their dens. Longtail slipped into the nursery when he saw Sandpaw's body, following a grief stricken tabby queen out. She ran to the apprentice and buried her nose in her fur.
"Sandpaw…my little Sandpaw….." The queen whispered. The gray she cat knelt beside the tabby, murmuring in her ear.
"Sandpaw died bravely Brindleface. They were attacked by a Riverclan patrol on our side of the border. Whitestorm says that if she hadn't been there, the patrol would have been devastated. Starclan will welcome her with honor."
"They will indeed, Willowpelt. Whitestorm, tell us what happened." Bluestar meowed, coming up behind the group. Firepaw thought his leader looked older and frailer than she had last night. He dismissed the thought and watched as cats started to gather around the white warrior, waiting for his story.
"The dawn patrol was attacked on Sunningrocks by Riverclan. They had been hunting before we arrived. I tried to keep it peaceful, but a Riverclan apprentice pounced on Sandpaw. The battle was over as quick as it started, leaving only Sandpaw dead…" Whitestorm's voice trailed off as his gaze fell on his young apprentice. Firepaw noticed a black tom emerge from another tunnel with a bundle of leaves in his jaws. He trotted over to the wounded warriors and examined them. The brown she cat was taken to the black toms den just as Graypaw popped his head out of the apprentices den.
"What's going on?" Firepaw's friend hissed. The apprentices' eyes were as round as the full moon.
"I don't know….apparently the dawn patrol was attack by a River clan? Sandpaw's dead." The flame colored cat answered. Graypaw gasped and leapt out of the den.
"What? How?"
"Whitestorm said she was tackled by another apprentice. Why would one of her friends attack her?" Firepaw wondered.
"Huh? Oh! No, Firepaw, There are other clans like this one in the forest. Windclan on the moor, Riverclan on the other side of the river, and Shadowclan on the other side of the thunderpath. We have a Gathering every full moon, so you'll get to meet those other cats soon. Anyway, I'm going to go say goodbye to Sandpaw. See ya Firepaw!"
Graypaw padded over to where Brindleface and a tortoiseshell she cat were rubbing flowers on Sandpaw's fur. The gray tom crouched down and buried his nose in her fur.
"Firepaw, Dustpaw!" A small tortoiseshell with a ginger tail called while Firepaw and Graypaw were talking. Dustpaw walked out of the apprentice den and stood beside Firepaw, squinting in the morning light. "You two are coming with me and Runningwind to inspect the Riverclan border." The tom meowed. The apprentices nodded and followed him to the thorn tunnel. Runningwind was already waiting, swiping a paw over his ears.
"Ready?" The young tom asked.
"Yes. We will start at the Twolegplace border then work our way up from there." Dustpaws mentor replied. He set a brisk pace through the trees, unwavering even when they reached the border. He renewed the scent markers and they continued on. As they got close to the river, Runningwind slowed.
"Hey Redtail, you have to come see this!" Runningwind hissed. The patrol turned and backtracked to where the tabby was standing. Beside him was a trampled bush; a pile of fish bones neatly stacked under it. Redtail bent down and picked up a dirty bone.
"Dustpaw, take this back to Bluestar and explain to her. We'll finish the patrol then meet you back at camp." Redtail gave him the bone and the apprentice raced off into the trees. The ginger tail warrior padded forward. Runningwind quickened his pace to catch up with him.
"Do you suspect Riverclan?" He asked.
"Riverclan are the only clan that can fish, and they attacked our patrol this morning. It makes sense, but I don't know why a cat would catch a fish and take it over here to eat. This is an odd situation…" Redtails voice trailed off as he went deeper and deeper into thought. Firepaw struggled to keep up with the strong warriors as they trooped up the river. When the trio finally reached the camp, Bluestar was already speaking with a couple of warriors. Redtail and Runningwind left Firepaw alone so he went and picked up a vole from the fresh kill pile. Graypaw wasn't there; he must have gone to the training hollow with Lionheart. Firepaw ate alone….feeling like this was going to become a trend. The pretty tortoiseshell he had seen earlier was padding over to him with two mice in her jaws.
"Hello Firepaw! Bluestar told me I could take over your training while she is needed. I thought we could eat then go do some battle practice in case there will be another fight with Riverclan." She meowed, settling down beside him. Firepaw nodded and watched her eat, declining the mouse she offered him. When she was finished the apprenticed was led out of the camp for the second time. "I'm Spottedleaf by the way." She added as they walked through the forest.
"It's nice to meet you Spottedleaf. How long have you been a warrior?" He asked. The she cat gave an amused purr.
"A couple of moons! Sorry, I'm not the great, wise warrior you might have thought." Spottedleaf replied. By that time they had reached the Sandy hollow, which seemed to already be packed. Graypaw was training with Lionheart, and Sandpaw with Whitestorm. Spottedleaf led Firepaw through the fighting cats to the other side of the hollow. "Ok, let's see what we need to work on first. Attack me." She began. Firepaw stepped back, alarmed.
"Just like that? What if I hurt you?" He gasped. Spottedleaf purred again.
"You won't! Just keep your claws sheathed like I will." Firepaw sighed and looked her over, thinking about where to attack. He finally decided he would go for her paws then try his trick. Firepaw pushed off from the ground, making sure to land right in front of the she cat. He knocked her paws out from under her and was about to pounce when Spottedleaf shot up and slashed her sheathed paws across his face. Firepaw stumbled back in shock, shaking his head to clear his mind. Spottedleaf took this chance and leapt on the apprentice, gently biting down on his neck. "Nice try Firepaw, but you need to be quicker and you have to learn to hide your motives better." She whispered. Firepaw squirmed out from under her and gave a hefty sigh.
"Ok, let's begin with the twist and knock." Spottedleaf meowed. She backed up and sat back on her haunches. Then she sprang forward and twisted so that she was standing with her back to Firepaw. As she twisted, her hind legs knocked his front paws out from under him, forcing him to the ground. While he was down, Spottedleaf turned and swiped her paw up his back as many times as she could before he rose again. "Now you try." She purred. Firepaw leapt into the air like she had and twisted, trying to trip her. Instead, he fell flat on his belly. Spottedleaf came up beside him and picked him up by his scruff. "Try it again, this time you must be faster."
By the time the two got back to camp, it was already sundown. Spottedleaf let him take a sparrow from the pile while she went to report to Bluestar on his progress. Firepaw's should was aching as he lay down beside Graypaw. He ate his sparrow quickly, and then followed Graypaw into the den. They lay down, but since they were too excited to sleep, the two friends told each other about their days as apprentices. Finally, Firepaw fell asleep.
The next morning, Spottedleaf took him out of camp for hunting practice. She taught him how to hunt mice first, straining that stealth and quietness was the key.
"Keep low and very carefully stalk forward; like this." She instructed. Spottedleaf crouched and expertly stalked forward in the grass. She rose again and then motioned for Firepaw to try it. He crouched as low as possible and concentrated on placing his paws on soft spots in the grass. When he reached Spottedleaf, he stood to find her purring with delight. She purred too much. The pretty tortoiseshell pounced on his tail and dragged him to the ground.
"I thought I told you to keep low! Now wag your tail in the air! Even the plumpest, oldest, sickest mouse would be able to get away from you!" She teased. Firepaw pawed at her cheek with sheathed claws, pulling his tail out of her reach.
"Mouse dung! I can't do anything right!" He growled. The determined apprentice dropped to the ground and prowled through the grass. When he got close to Spottedleaf, Firepaw straightened and looked up at her with pleading eyes.
"That was wonderful! Now let's try stalking a rabbit. When you do this, you must be quick and silent as possible. A mouse can feel you but a rabbit can hear you." Spottedleaf dropped down again, this time going slower. She began to speed up after a few seconds, ending by pouncing on a leaf. She got up, her eyes twinkling. "Ok, now it's your turn!" She called. Firepaw crouched and started forward, careful to keep his haunches and tail low. He picked up speed as the stalking got easier, leaping onto a patch of grass near Spottedleaf. When he got back to where she was sitting with her tail wrapped around her paws, she shook her head. "All the animals from here to Snakerocks could hear you! Honestly Firepaw, you know better than to step on a dead leaf." She scolded. Spottedleaf made him do it again. This time she rewarded him with another lesson; hunting birds.
"When you hunt birds, it's like you're hunting a mouse and a rabbit combined. The only difference is that birds are louder and they can fly!" She joked. Instead of having him try it on a plant, Spottedleaf took him on a hunting mission. They found a blackbird by a tree, just begging to die. Spottedleaf stopped him with her tail then motioned for him to watch. She slipped through the grass, barely able to be seen even by Firepaw. When the pretty she cat was close enough, she sprang into the air, coming down on the Blackbird with unsheathed claws. The bird had no chance! She brought her catch back to Firepaw then scrapped some dirt over it. "Let's keep looking so you can try out your new skills." She took him to Sunningrocks to look for mice.
Firepaw soon heard scrabbling along the rocks. He dropped into a crouch and stalked forward, his ears pricked. He spotted the mouse, at the far edge of Sunningrocks, nibbling on a seed. The apprentice pounced on the unsuspecting animal, dispatching it quickly. He carried it back to Spottedleaf, who was hunting on her own.
"Very good!" She purred. "Do you mind getting that blackbird while I catch some more prey?" So Firepaw trekked into the forest, sniffing out the blackbird they had left behind. On the way, he heard rustling in the bushes. Pausing to scent the air, he realized it was a vole. The young apprentice stalked forward and stopped. Out scrabbled the vole, intent on its collection of seeds. Firepaw rose on his hind paws and brought his front paws down hard on the animals' neck, crushing it. He picked the warm body up and continued on to find Spottedleafs blackbird.
When Firepaw returned to Sunning rocks, he found that Spottedleaf wasn't there. It wasn't like her to just leave….maybe she went after him for taking too long. He decided to wait for her to get back, so he began practicing the moves she had taught him in the last few days. He dropped into a crouch, imagining that a Shadowclan warrior was swiping at his paws. Firepaw jumped back a few fox tails then swiped at the ground in front of him. He leaped into the air and slashed out with his hind paws, landing where the enemy should have been. The young cat pretended he was wrestling back and forth with the Shadowclan warrior, scratching its belly many times over. It wasn't until he had "chased" off the warrior that he noticed a very amused Spottedleaf watching him.
"Good job Firepaw! Those moves are coming along well." The she cat meowed, jumping from rock to rock.
"Where were you? I came back and you weren't here Spottedleaf…"
"I decided to hide and see what you would do. Apparently I made a good decision!" She cuffed his ear and walked away to go retrieve the three mice she had caught in his absence. Firepaw picked up the vole and the blackbird he had set down earlier and the two headed back to camp.
Firepaw pushed out of the Apprentices den and shook the moss out of his fur, letting out a content sigh. It had been three moons since the night Firepaw had come into the clan. He was welcomed now by everyone except for Tigerclaw, the big brown tabby tom, and his three followers; Dustpaw, Darkstripe, the dark gray tabby tom, and Longtail, the pale tabby tom. Firepaw had also excelled in his training. Bluestar had named Spottedleaf his permanent mentor sense she was doing such a good job with him. He gazed around the clearing, pausing to watch as Spottedleaf picked up a thrush from the pile. Seeing her now, he couldn't help but feel awed by how beautiful she was. Her dappled coat shone in the sunlight, her sparkling amber eyes flickering towards him. A strange feeling welled up from the pit of his stomach and seemed to flow through his paws. Firepaw wanted to run to her and show her everything she had ever taught him, just to see her smile. He heaved a sigh and shook his head. A she cat like her would never feel the same way for a puny apprentice like him.
"Good morning Firepaw!" Greeted a voice behind him. Firepaw whipped around to find Graypaw standing behind him with a started look on his face.
"Err…sorry. I was just thinking." He muttered, giving his shoulder a couple of licks to hide his embarrassment.
"Thinking about what?" Graypaw asked.
"Nothing."
"Ok then. Hey, do you wanna ask Lionheart and Spottedleaf if we can train together today? I'm itching to try out my moves on someone!" Graypaw suggested excitedly. He started forward but turned around because Firepaw wasn't following. "Firepaw?" The apprenticed leaped on Firepaw, nipping his ear. "Now will you come? I have moon high patrol and I want a chance to practice in case we find some Riverclan warriors to fight!" He let the flame colored cat up and the two raced off to find their mentors. Firepaw sat down in front of Spottedleaf to wait until she was finished and then he asked her.
"Sure! It will be interesting to put the skills I've taught you to the test. Going against Lionhearts protégé will show us what we need to work on." Spottedleaf murmured. She swiped her tongue over her muzzle and rose. "Is Graypaw asking Lionheart?"
"Yes, I think he went into the Warriors den."
"What a brave tom! I wouldn't try to wake Lionheart if all of Thunderclan depended on it." She purred. It didn't take long for Lionheart to appear out of the den, Graypaw following. They both were in good spirits, which was a relief to Firepaw. The group walked out of the thorn tunnel and bounded up the ravine. Lionheart took the lead, Spottedleaf right behind him. Graypaw followed with Firepaw bringing up the rear. When they reached the Sandy Hollow, Lionheart started demonstrating how the apprentices would start their fight.
"Keep your claws sheathed! Ravenwing has enough to worry about without you two stumbling in with wrenched shoulders and bleeding sides." The golden warrior ordered. He backed away to stand beside Spottedleaf and nodded for the fight to begin. Firepaw sprang at Graypaw, reaching his forepaws out as far as they could go. His friend dodged to the left, making an easy target for a side blow. Firepaw struck the gray apprentice on his side, flipping him over. Scrambling onto Graypaws stomach, he did a quick belly rake. Graypaw retaliated by sending him flying with his hind legs. Firepaw landed across the clearing with an "oaf". He's stronger than I thought…..it will be hard to win. Just one chance! Firepaw thought. He struggled to his paws and raced towards the three cats. Graypaw knocked him over easily. When Firepaw was sure that Graypaw thought he'd won, he surged upward, throwing the gray apprentice into the air. Graypaw didn't fly across the clearing like Firepaw had, but it was enough to end the battle. Lionheart stepped between the fighting cats and smiled.
"Very good. Your skills are improving. Firepaw, you seem to favor playing dead. You might try working on your striking and raking. Graypaw, I noticed that you have the power when it comes to attacking, but Firepaw was able to throw you off as easily as you could him. We'll work on your defensive moves for the next round. Now, I want to show you a new move that would serve for fighting." Lionheart dropped into a crouch and stalked towards Spottedleaf. Although he tried, Firepaw could only think about how beautiful the she cat was sitting there. Dragging his eyes back to Lionheart, he realized he had missed half the move. Lionheart was standing behind Spottedleaf, waiting. When finally she moved, he reached his front paws out and grabbed her stomach. When she leapt forward, his claws swept through her fur. Firepaw guessed that that move would end a battle for all. "Now, I want you two to try it." Lionheart finished.
"You first." Graypaw suggested. Firepaw nodded and crouched down like Lionheart had. Prowling around behind his friend, Firepaw wondered how this move could be even possible when battling a cat from a rival clan. Wouldn't they see him walking around like a crazed fox? He shook his head and stuck his paws out to catch Graypaws fur. The gray apprentice struggled to free himself, but Firepaw had a good hold, even with his claws sheathed. Using the technique they had learned a few days ago, Graypaw pushed his hind legs out and bashed them into Firepaw's head. He lost his grip and fell backwards. Graypaw used this chance to take the upper hand. He pinned Firepaw to the ground and slapped him.
"Had enough yet?" Firepaw's den mate growled playfully.
"Only after I've beaten you!" The fiery apprentice exclaimed, leaping out of Graypaws hold. He was about to attack again when Spottedleaf pounced on him.
"Did you not hear Lionheart? Time to stop!" She hissed. Firepaw was shocked by her sudden anger. What had he done wrong? None the less, Graypaw and Firepaw sat down and waited for more instructions. Lionheart did not speak though; he just turned and walked out of the clearing. Spottedleaf bounded after him without even a glance in the apprentices direction. Firepaw and Graypaw exchanged a worried look and followed their mentors back to camp. When they reached the clearing, Spottedleaf and Lionheart were nowhere to be found. Graypaw led Firepaw to the apprentices den and they sat down.
"So….why do you think they're acting like that?" Graypaw asked quietly. He continued to watch the warriors around the clearing, maybe he was hoping Lionheart would pop into the clearing with a handsome smile on his face and a couple of mice for him. Firepaw thought through his training session, looking for slip ups. Nothing. He was still searching for an answer when Graypaw nudged him and jerked his head towards Bluestars den. The leader was walking out from under High rock with Spottedleaf and Lionheart trailing behind. Their faces were like stones covered in fur. Bluestar hopped up onto High rock and called for the clan to gather, waiting quietly as they did. Firepaw and Graypaw found places near the edge of the circle.
"I have been told-" Bluestar turned her scorching blue eyes on the two friends. "That there are two apprentices that need recognition. Firepaw, your training has come along very well in the past moons. Graypaw, you have shown courage in the Shadowclan battle before our newest apprentice came, and even after that, you have trained hard alongside him. Your mentors wish that you are made warriors, so I will oblige. Graypaw, please come forward." A trembling Graypaw rose and walked up to Bluestar. She jumped down from her place and stood before the clan.
"I, Bluestar, leader of Thunderclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code and I commend them to you as a warrior in their turn. Graypaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan even at the cost of your life?"
Graypaw dipped his head solemnly and replied, "I do."
"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Graypaw, from this moment on you will be known as Graystripe. Starclan honors your bravery and determination, and we welcome you as a full member of Thunderclan." Bluestar rested her head on Graystripes head and he licked her shoulder. Firepaw was ridged with excitement as his leader beckoned for him to come to her.
"Firepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan even at the cost of your life?" Bluestar asked.
"I do."
"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Firepaw, from this moment on you will be known as Fireheart. Starclan honors your enthusiasm and your compassion and we welcome you as a full member of Thunderclan." Firehearts tail twitched with happiness as Bluestar laid her head on his. The newly named warrior hastily licked her shoulder before he stood back. His clan mates began to call the two friends names.
"Graystripe! Fireheart! Graystripe! Fireheart!" Their old mentors purred. Spottedleaf padded up to Fireheart and brushed her fur against his.
"I'm so proud of you Fireheart! You've worked so hard." She whispered. Bluestar cleared her throat to silence the happy murmuring.
"As is tradition, our new warriors will sit vigil tonight in silence. While you are here, think about what the warrior code means to you." Bluestar nodded and the clan dispersed, leaving Graystripe and Fireheart to stare at the fresh kill pile longingly. Fireheart suddenly wished that he had taken that plump mouse on the top without permission. A rustle in the tunnel alerted him to the arrival of a hunting patrol. Dustpelt, made a warrior a moon before him, was at front with Darkstripe, Tigerclaw, and Runningwind following close behind. They dropped their prey and stared at the new warriors, yet only Runningwind came close.
"Made a warrior?" The tabby tom asked. Since Fireheart couldn't talk, he simply nodded. Runningwind congratulated them both before following Tigerclaw to the fresh kill pile. The four cats put their prey on the pile and trooped into the warriors den.
Dawn came slowly. Fireheart watched as the first rays tried to stretch across the sky and claim it for the light soon to follow. He listened to the animals awakening to a cloudy morning that he knew would bring rain for sure. It wasn't long until Whitestorm pushed his way through the warriors den. The white warrior trotted over to where Fireheart and Graystripe were sitting and nodded.
"Good job, go and get something to eat then find yourself spots in the den. You're dismissed." The great warrior meowed. Graystripe and Fireheart bounded off towards the Warriors den.
"Where do you think we should sleep?" Graystripe whispered. The two stared at the sleeping warriors, finding barely enough room for even one of them to fit. Fireheart picked his way around Dustpelt and leapt over Mousefur. Graystripe, who had been following Fireheart, grabbed his scruff to keep him from falling on Tigerclaw. Finally, they reached the back of the den. Graystripe curled up beside the thick wall of leaves, leaving Fireheart a small space on the moss to stretch out on. He lay down and tried to get as comfortable as possible.
"Goodnight Graystripe." Fireheart muttered, already half asleep.
"Mhm…" His friend replied sleepily.