Breezepad swept through the forest leaping over rocks and tree trunks. He had to make it to the camp clearing before Lightpad's ceremony began. How had this happened?
Oh yeah, he had promised Lightpad that he would be back to the clearing as soon as he was done hunting. He was supposed it would just take a second.
But doing the freezing of branch-frost, he hadn't even caught a chipmunk, which were usually plentiful in FlamePack's territory. He noticed the same tree trunk he had jumped over before. What the-? Am I going in circles? Everything went black. What was happening?
Breezepad woke up with a start. He shivered. It was just a dream. He suddenly became alert, had the ceremony started yet? He slowly got up to his paws. He imagined how angry Lightpad would be when she saw how he had slept through her ceremony. Suddenly, Amberclaw stuck her head in the den. "Breezepad hurry up!" She growled. "Sootmuzzle has just called a gathering." "
Yes!" Breezepad almost screamed, He hadn't missed the ceremony. He ran out into the clearing; every dog was gathered around Sootmuzzle the alpha-male and Lightpad.
Lightpad looked at Breezepad and wagged her tail, as he went to the front of the crowd. Sootmuzzle glared at Lightpad as she wagged her tail, this was supposed to be very serious.
But his gaze softened as he said, "Lightpad, I say before the power of SkyClan. You have grown over the past seasons and it is time for you to become a Warrior." He turned toward Autumleaf. "Go fetch Lightpad's bone."
Breezepad wondered what Lightpad's bone would look like. Every gathering in which a dog became a Warrior, the dog would be given a bone that has been picked from their first catch.
Breezepad's mind snapped back into attention as Sootmuzzle was passed over the bone. "Lightpad, I give you the ceremonial bone.
Over the time it has been in my den it has had scratches of many different things. From the scratches a future has been drawn. Lightpad from now on, you shall be called Lightfoot. With your gentleness and care of those surrounding you it will build up your strength to protect your Pack."
Then Sootmuzzle stepped back and dipped his head. Lightfoot nodded, raised her head to the sky and howled.
Then gradually every dog joined in. Breezepad wagged his tail as his friend smiled with delight. He didn't care that she became a Warrior before him. All that mattered was that she was happy. And it meant the world to him.
