Leafpaw bit her lip in concentration, scraping her claws on the ground. Suddenly, she darted from side to side to confuse her mentor, and then she leaped onto his back from behind and gently scratched him with her claws.

Fireheart panted from moving so quickly,"Good job, Leafpaw. Great agility, but you need more technic. Try again."

Leafpaw nodded wearily but the fake battle fire burned in her amber eyes. Her eyes surveyed her mentor and made them land on a false place. She made no contact to his paws as she darted to the right but slid underneath her mentor's belly, kicking up. He was thrown in the air as he hit a tree.

"Fireheart!" She cried,"Did I hurt you?" Her mentor was laughing as he shook the dust off of him,"Leafpaw...You are almost 16 moons, right?"

"Yes, Fireheart."

"I think your warrior ceremony will be tonight." A glimmer of amusement lit in his eyes.

"R-r-really?"

"Yes. You have well earned it. I'll talk to Bluestar." Fireheart purred.

Leafpaw bounded back to camp, picking up her dove and vole she caught earlier on.

She dropped them on the fresh-kill pile and ran to her mother who was sharing tounges with her father,"Mother! I'm going to be made a warrior tonight!"

Her father, Wolfheart, looked at her expectantly,"Well done, Leafpaw," said the smokey gray tom. Nightsky smiled,"You have been working hard." Leafpaw grinned. Nightsky smiled, too,"Would you like to eat with us?" Leafpaw's tail bristled a little with excitement,"Sorry, mom. I said I'd eat with Swiftpaw."

Nightsky nodded understandingly. Leafpaw smiled. It was almost moonhigh. She smiled, taking a thrush off the fresh-kill pile and sat next to Swiftpaw, who was waiting for her underneath an overhanging willow tree.

Swiftpaw licked Leafpaw's ear. Swiftpaw was a white tom with black splotches and yellow eyes. He purred,"I've heard you are going to become a warrior soon." His voice sounded proud and he rested his nose on her ear,"I'm very proud of you." Leafpaw licked his muzzle,"Don't worry. Bluestar will make you a warrior too...You might even become one tonight!"

They sat down and started eating.

The Bluestar called from the High Rock,"Cats of ThunderClan. I bring you here to make an apprentice a warrior." Leafpaw looked sadly at Swiftpaw,"Don't worry, you'll be made one soon."

Swiftpaw smiled, "I'm happy for you."

Then Bluestar called, "Swiftpaw," Swiftpaw looked warningly at Leafpaw, "I'm sorry."

He leaped up beside Bluestar.

"Mousefur, are you sure Swiftpaw is ready to become a warrior?"Mousefur nodded.

"By the power of StarClan, I call upon my warrior ancestors to make this cat a warrior. He will serve his Clan well for moons to come. Swiftpaw, do you agree to honor and uphold your Clan even if it means to cost of your own life?"

Swiftpaw said, "I do."

"The by the power of StarClan, your new name will be Swiftfoot. May you serve your Clan well as a warrior." The crowd chanted, "Swiftfoot! Swiftfoot! Swiftfoot!" He beamed but looked down at Leafpaw,"I'm sorry." His eyes said.

Leafpaw just weakly smiled back.

"You will sit vigil tonight," said Whitestorm, the deputy,"You will become a great warrior." Swiftfoot nodded as he jumped down from the rock, licking Leafpaw comfortingly.

Bluestar looked wearily at Firestar,"I can't let her be a warrior..." She said as she went into her den. Fireheart glanced sadly up at the clouds. They moved in front of Silverpelt. A bad omen, he thought. Should Leafpaw be a warrior? Or not?