Hi! Yay, it's the third book in my series! You folks know the drill, I do not own anything except for my own characters.
Chapter 1
"Oh, I'm so excited!" Solarpaw squealed to her sisters. Well, her blood-sister Icepaw and her adopted-sister Ivypaw.
Ivypaw smiled at her adopted siblings, her tail curled around her paws. I'm sure you'll make great warriors, both of you."
Icepaw fixed her light blue eyes on the brown she-cat. "Are you sure about not becoming a warrior?"
Ivypaw nodded. "I told Aquastar I wanted to wait, and I stand by my decision."
Ivypaw was once a street-cat from a Twoleg Place. When some Twolegs had taken Icepaw and Solarpaw there, she had helped the Clan cats get home. She had decided to stay with them, becoming the newest member of MysticClan. When Aquastar had told the three apprentices they would receive their warrior names soon, Ivypaw had declined. She told the Clan leader that being from outside the Clan, she wanted to learn more about the Warrior Code before becoming a real warrior.
Before they could say anymore, Aquastar's yowl from the Great Rock's peak called the summoned the Clan together.
"Good luck," Ivypaw mewed, giving each of her friends a quick lick behind the ear. She followed them to the base, making sure she had a front row spot for her adopted family's naming ceremony. From the corner of her eye, she saw Snowdrift, the mother of the to-be warriors. She was sitting at the entrance of the nursery. Ivypaw's observant green eyes saw Snowdrift's gaze flick to Blackstone, marking him clearly as being the father of the kits that still had yet to be born.
Ivypaw's mind drifted to Wolfheart, the brave dark brown she-cat. She was one of the first cats that were ready and willing for her to join the Clan. The wolf-speaking cat had also helped to mentor her, although her real mentor was the black tom Shadowstorm, Wolfheart's mate. Ivypaw wasn't surprised to see him near to the nursery, casting worried glances at it. She remembered now that Wolfheart's kits would soon be born.
Ivypaw's gaze was drawn back toward the naming ceremony as Aquastar began to speak. "One this night, two apprentices will receive their warrior names," the storm-gray leader began. "Icepaw and Solarpaw, step forward." The apprentices did so, with their mentors by their side.
Aquastar first looked at the orange she-cat. "Emberflame, you were the mentor of one of the most rambunctious apprentices MysticClan has ever had. Do you believe that she is ready to live her life following the Warrior Code?"
Emberflame dipped her head. "I do, Aquastar."
Aquastar then addressed the white-striped black apprentice. "Solarpaw, confirm for me the faith your mentor has. Are you ready to become a warrior?"
Solarpaw dipped her head, all of the wildness from her kithood vanishing. "I am."
"Then from now on, you shall be known as Solarflare." Aquastar turned her blue-green eyes to the tabby tom and his apprentice. "Swiftwind, your apprentice is very careful, analyzing every aspect of a situation before acting. Do you believe she is ready to use these skills as a warrior?"
"Yes, I believe she will," Swiftwind meowed, dipping his head.
Aquastar looked at Icepaw. "Are you prepared to become a warrior?"
The white she-cat nodded. "I am, Aquastar."
"Then from now on, you shall be known as Icefeather." Aquastar raised her head and yowled up to the stars. "I ask that StarClan will continue to guide the paw steps of these new warriors!"
As Icefeather and Solarflare turned to face the rest of MysticClan, the cats yowled out their names, with Ivypaw being the loudest of them all. "Solarflare! Icefeather! Solarflare! Icefeather!"
As the cats of MysticClan surged forward to congratulate them, a dark brown head poked out of the nursery. "Frostbite, Solarwind?" Wolfheart mewed. Both of the medicine cats turned to face her, along with Shadowstorm. "It's time."
--
Shadowstorm was pacing back and forth in front of the nursery. Ivypaw sat off to the side watching him. She was amazed that there wasn't a ditch dug into the ground from where he was walking. Every so often, Frostbite would emerge and Shadowstorm would nearly jump on top of her. The blue medicine cat would tell him that she was just getting some more herbs, vanished into the medicine cat den, then return to the nursery carrying something else to help Wolfheart. Even Icefeather and Solarflare, who were on their silent vigil, couldn't help casting glances at the den.
After what seemed like ages, Solarwind came out of the den. "Shadowstorm. Would you like to see you kits?" she mewed, smiling gently. The black tom nodded vigorously, feeling his throat suddenly tighten in anticipation. Ivypaw opened her mouth, but before she could speak Solarwind did. "Wait until he has seen them. Then you may come in." The brown she-cat nodded.
Solarwind stood back and let Shadowstorm enter the den. The den itself was a cave made from a natural rock formation. He would have thought it would be chilly, but it was well lined with soft moss that acted as an insulator, keeping it very warm inside. He could see the white coat of Snowdrift and the blue one of Frostbite. Between them lay Wolfheart. She looked exhausted, but as she looked up at him, her eyes shone with happiness.
"Say hello to your son and two daughters," she mewed quietly. She shifted her tail, which had been covering three tiny scraps of fur. The biggest one was a light gold tom. "Sunkit," Wolfheart whispered, pointed with her tail at her son. Next to him laid a light gray she-cat. "Twilightkit." The smallest kit of them all was no bigger than a mouse. Her pelt was white with silver streaks running over her little form. "And Windkit."
"Wolfheart, they're beautiful," Shadowstorm whispered, nuzzling his mate. Little Windkit raised her head and squeaked plaintively, as if asking why her mother had moved her tail. Wolfheart smiled down at her. "Wait a moment more, my little on," she purred. "Ivypaw still has to see you."
Wolfheart nodded to Frostbite, who left the den. Soon after, Ivypaw's lanky form slipped in. She looked down at the little balls of fluff with joy in her eyes. "They will make good warriors someday. I hope when they are ready to be apprenticed I am a warrior so I can mentor one of them."
Wolfheart placed her tail over them again. She looked up at Ivypaw and mewed, "I promise to give you first pick."
Solarwind came back into the den. "Okay, everyone out. Both mother and kits need their rest," she meowed gently. Ivypaw bid farewell to Wolfheart and exited the den. Shadowstorm gently nuzzled his mate before following out his apprentice.
Ivypaw looked up to where Icefeather and Solarflare were sitting, wondering if she should or even could tell them the good news. Before she could make up her mind, Frostbite came padding over. "Don't worry, I've already told them."
"I'm amazed they didn't squeal in delight," Ivypaw meowed.
"Well, actually, I did have to cover up Solarflare's mouth. You should get some rest, Ivypaw. With you being the only apprentice, you'll have to cover all their duties as well as your own responsibilities and training."
"Don't worry, I'll be able to handle it. Good night, Frostbite," Ivypaw mewed.
She headed off towards the apprentice's den. It would probably be very lonely in there now. She already missed having her sisters to share the den with. She looked up at the sky, gazing at Silver Pelt. Once more, she wondered if she really belonged with the Clan. She sighed lightly, then went inside and curled up in her nest.
In her dreams, she returned to her old life on the streets. She remembered irritating her dear friend Toffee, a guinea pig belonged to a kind Twoleg. Her mind retraced the events that brought her to MysticClan. Just before she awoke, she saw herself mentoring one of Wolfheart's kits.
Bye the way, Happy Mother's Day