"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here below the Highrock for a Clan meeting!"

Sunstar's yowl echoed throughout the camp. Willowpaw pricked her ears in interest. Could today be the day she had been dreaming of for so long?

The Clan gathered around the Highrock, gazing expectantly at the bright ginger tom. The ThunderClan leader meowed proudly, "Today, ThunderClan will receive two new warriors."

Could one of those two be me?

"Redpaw, Willowpaw, please step forward."

Willowpaw felt a nudge behind her. "Go on," her mentor and father, Adderfang whispered in her ear. Sparrowpelt, Redpaw's mentor, gave the young tortoiseshell the same order.

As Willowpaw padded alongside her brother, she saw her sister, Spottedpaw, sitting next to her mentor, Featherwhisker. The pretty dark-tortoiseshell's eyes were glowing.

She also saw her older brother and sister, Patchpelt and Leopardfoot, sitting not far from Spottedpaw. Willowpaw gazed thoughtfully at her beautiful sister. The young she-cat was training to be a warrior, her mentor being Thrushpelt, but she lost interest in the mysteries of a medicine cat, eventually leaving her warrior training and becoming Featherwhisker's apprentice.

Willowpaw swallowed once she and Redpaw had arrived in front of the Highrock, staring expectantly at Sunstar. The sun shone off the Clan leader's fur, making him shine with his authority and magnificence. He lifted his head upward and raised his voice. "I, Sunstar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these two apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn."

Returning his gaze to the warriors-to-be, he continued. "Redpaw, Willowpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your lives?"

"I do," Redpaw mewed enthusiastically.

"Of course!" Willowpaw mewed as well, then stiffening after realizing she probably should of said something else, "I-I mean-"

"Then by the powers of StarClan," Sunstar went on, apparently ignoring Willowpaw's word misusage, "I shall give you your warrior names. Redpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Redtail. StarClan honors bravery and enthusiasm, and welcomes you as a full warrior of ThunderClan. And Willowpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Willowpelt. StarClan honors your loyalty and calm determination, and welcomes you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

"Redtail! Willowpelt! Redtail! Willowpelt!"

The Clan chanted the newly-named warriors' titles strongly and proudly. Willowpelt thought she would explode with pride.

Willowpelt...it's perfect. Are you proud of me, Swiftbreeze?

Swiftbreeze was the name of Willowpelt's dearly departed mother, who died two moons ago in a battle with RiverClan over Sunningrocks.

Redtail and Willowpelt soaked up all the praise from their Clanmates.

"Congratulations!"

"More warriors! About time."

"Your mother would be so proud."

Brindleface, a warrior for three moons, padded up to Redtail. "It's great you're a warrior now," she murmured, "But I think you deserve to be deputy, maybe even leader."

Redtail's green eyes widened with surprise, and his pelt started to prickle. Then he relaxed, as if Brindleface's very presence soothed him. "If I were to become leader," he replied, "when I had to pick the deputy, you'd be my first choice."

Brindleface purred and nuzzled Redtail, who returned the affection with a lick on the cheek.

Willowpelt couldn't help but purr. It was obvious there was something going on between her brother and the pretty gray tabby.

It won't be long before we hear the pitter-patter of little paws.

Suddenly, Willowpelt felt a hot breath billowing on the back of her neck. Trembling with unease, she turned around let a tiny squeak of surprise when she was confronted by one of the elders and former deputy, Tawnyspots.

The scrawny, gray tabby tom with a lighter gray muzzle, amber eyes, and his signature tufted ears was a...unique elder. He wasn't too old, though he definitely wasn't the youngest cat in ThunderClan, but the reason he joined Larksong, Stonepelt, Poppydawn, Windflight, and Goosefeather in the elders' den was because of a strange, reoccurring disease that never could truly be cured. Right now, Tawnyspots was what Featherwhisker called "stable", which means moderately healthy, however over time, the nameless sickness seemed to mess with his mind.

Sometimes cats couldn't even understand what he was saying. His words would come out jumbled and distorted, as if he were trying to speak to a dog.

Willowpelt shrunk away a little when the elder's gaze burned into her. "Good you're a warrior now, eh, Willowpelt?" Tawnyspots rambled, "Though...rank doesn't matter, now does it?"

Fear pulsed through Willowpelt as the tabby tom leaned closer to her, their noses nearly touching. She tried to flee, but her paws stayed firmly in place, frozen in fear. "You can come visit me in the elders' den whenever you like," Tawnyspots continued, "Trust me, you'd be warmly welcomed. Hey, I've an idea! I could pick the ticks out of that gorgeous pale-gray pelt of yours, like you did to me. Won't that be fun?"

"Uh..." Willowpelt just stared at Tawnyspots. He was as mad as a badger! His pelt was prickling, and he was trembling with anticipation. That look that glinted in his crazed eyes...was that lust?

But that would mean...EW!

"Ahem," a voice muttered behind her, "Tawnyspots? It's time for your poppy seeds." It was Featherwhisker.

"Aw, really?" Tawnyspots replied, crestfallen, "No fair, Featherwhisker, you're always so mean to me. Haven't you heard of 'respect your elders'? Why can't you be more like Willowpelt? Me and her were about share tongues," he added, nuzzling the very pale-gray she-cat.

"Get away from me!" Willowpelt hissed, mortified.

"Don't try to resist me."

"Tawnyspots, please," Featherwhisker broke in, growing irritated, "You have to take your poppy seeds! Besides, Willowpelt has a vigil to keep. Now are you going to follow your medicine cat's orders, or will I have to shove the seeds down your throat?"

Tawnyspots blinked innocently at the medicine cat. "Meanie. You never let me have any fun, right Willowpelt?"

"Keep away from me, you creep!"

The tabby elder just let out a purr. Willowpelt's pelt was beginning to grow hot with anger. Would Tawnyspots just leave her alone? It's not like it's normal for a sick, elderly tom to act like that towards a young, lively she-cat.

I don't care if he's an elder or the former deputy. He better not try anything funny!

Sighing, Willowpelt joined Redtail and began the silent vigil.