Fennelpaw looked up at the high rock, excited.
This is it, she thought.
Then she heard her name and stepped up.
Acornstar smiled at the cream-brown spotted apprentice.
"I, Acornstar, leader of GreenClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn."
"Fennelpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
Fennelpaw nodded. "I do."
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Fennelpaw, from this moment you will be known as Fennel-light. StarClan honors your Energy and Warmth, and we welcome you as a full warrior of GreenClan.
That moonhigh, Fennel-light sat vigil with her brother, Bramblewhisker, who had also become a warrior that Clan Meeting.
She curled her tail around his and waited.
Bramblewhisker suddenly pricked up his ears. He could hear a cold mrrow of laughter.
He signaled to Fennel-light, who followed his gaze.
She froze as she saw the cat. The cat slunk out of the shadows, towards them.
"I am Snarl," the cat meowed silkily. His eyes slide from Bramblewhisker to Fennel-light, and back again until they fixed on Bramblewhisker.
"He is the one."
Fennel-light looked at Bramblewhisker.
Do you know him? She asked with her eyes.
But Bramblewhisker wasn't looking at her. His eyes were fixed on Snarl.
He watched, terrified, as Snarl readied his muscles to jump.
Fennel-light, looking closely at Bramblewhisker, realized what was happening with a jolt.
"No!" She yowled, leaping in front of Bramblewhisker.
But Snarl pushed her away, although she fought bravely, he was too strong for the new warrior.
He clawed at Bramblewhisker's chest, scraping it and making it bleed.
Baring his teeth, he made for Bramblewhisker's throat.
"Wait," Fennel-light pulled herself up. "What has he done to you?"
Snarl looked at her. "I have come for revenge."
"Why? I don't understand."
Bramblewhisker looked at her, sorrow in his eyes. "I . . . I know him," he choked out. "I . . . It was my fault." He looked down at the ground miserably. "I deserve to die."
Fennel-light shook her head. "No. I would die before I let him kill you!"
Snarl looked at her. "If that is the case," he growled. "Then so it shall be."
He struck her down with his paw and placed it on her chest.
"Ready to die, young one?" He unsheathed his claws and pressed down.
Fennel-light scrabbled her paws, but only succeeded in pulling some of his fur out.
Then Snarl scraped his claws down her chest, some blood bubbled up.
She gasped and lay down, barely breathing.
"That is done." Snarl muttered grimly, but Bramblewhisker thought he almost saw something like tears glistening in Snarl's eyes.
Then Snarl turned round and faced Bramblewhisker. He smiled evilly, his teeth glinting in the moonlight. "Now it is your turn to suffer."
He pushed him to the ground and was about to rip his belly, when Bramblewhisker seemed to get an extra bit of energy from StarClan.
Bramblewhisker threw Snarl of, but not before Snarl had managed to make a fatal tear in his belly.
Knowing he was going to die, Bramblewhisker went for Snarl. "If I die, so do you." He hissed.
Snarl's strength was going, but he had some left.
Bramblewhisker rolled around with Snarl and clawed his ear off.
He ripped at Snarl's muzzle and tore his side.
Snarl suddenly froze and then went limp.
Bramblewhisker backed away, hoping he had killed him, before collapsing.
Snarl eyes glittered with stars, he was looking at something Bramblewhisker could not see.
"StarClan," he muttered. "So it is not just tales for kits. And now I may finally rest . . ."
Bramblewhisker pulled him self over to Fennel-light.
She turned and saw him. "Bramblewhisker," she murmured. "Did . . . Did you kill him?"
Bramblewhisker nodded weakly. "I do not yet know if he is fully dead, but he saw StarClan."
Fennel-light's eyes glowed. "Do you think . . . He could come over here?" She asked slowly.
Snarl looked up, it appeared he had heard that. He crawled over to Fennel-light and looked her in the eyes.
"You . . . You're . . ." Fennel-light gasped. Looking up at him, her eyes lit up with recognization.
"He's what?" Bramblewhisker asked, confused. "He just attacked you, that's what!"
"Wait," Fennel-light meowed softly. "He is not, is not truly evil. He saw StarClan."
Bramblewhisker frowned. "Sister, he is the one who killed our mother and father!"
Fennel-light shook her head. "No, you're wrong. You see, he is our father."
Bramblewhisker looked at Snarl. "He's Brokenstep?"
Snarl nodded.
"Father?" These were Bramblewhisker's last words.