Author's Note:
It may start boring, but that is usual. I'll give you a hint right now:
The main part of the plot will not be with Amberpaw.
Oh and Jaypaw, do you remember what you said you'd do in one of your Author's Notes?
Chapter Two:
"What are you talking about? You can't do that!" She yelled at Hazeltail, the birds near us fluttering away.
Hazeltail glared back, "I'm your mentor, and I can train you however I want!" We were facing each other just outside of the Sandy Hollow.
It'd been two moons since that first failed catch, and Amberpaw had been missing many more since. She knew hunting was important, but fighting was so much better! She could even take down Lilypaw, or since a while ago, Lilypool, who'd become a best friend to her. However, when it came to hunting, she just couldn't fix the little mistakes. Sometimes she brushed up against bushes, sometimes she snapped sticks, and sometimes she missed the pounce, but she could never fix it, even with Hazeltail yelling at her.
Now, Hazeltail was threatening to delay her warrior ceremony for a moon if she didn't get it together.
"If I'm so good at fighting, why do I need to hunt? Why not have designated fighters?" Amberpaw mewed.
"You need to be able to hunt because we don't need fighting to survive! If you can't get food, then you shouldn't steal prey from others who've worked hard. You told me that you'd try, but you've done nothing but complain since you missed your first catch," Hazeltail replied.
Amberpaw sighed, "But I can't try! No matter what I do, Snowpaw and Dewpaw double it!" It was true to her, because she always found herself embarrassed that her brothers had done so much better.
"Well then triple it! Don't ever give up!" Hazeltail yelled back. I growled and turned away. She wouldn't understand. Without looking back, I went off to practice on my own. Maybe I just needed alone time.
Around four moons later...
The first thing she noticed as she got up was that her entire body felt sore. Though of course, Amberpaw had expected it. The day before they'd had an intense final assessment, where she'd managed to fend off Dewpaw in a fight. She'd even caught two mice and a blackbird. Turns out all she needed was focus, and the threat of having to wait to become a warrior was certainly a great focusing tool. It'd taken another moon or so, but soon she was around average at hunting.
Owlpaw and Stormpaw had been great friends with her ever since they'd become apprentices, and she hoped that she was a good role model to them, because she knew they looked up to her. She'd miss them, but they'd have Patchkit, Finchkit, and Darkkit, Cinderheart and Lionblaze's kits. Patchkit was a tom, while Finchkit and Darkkit were she-cats.
Looking around, she could only see her siblings. Owlpaw and Stormpaw must've gone out with Squirrelflight and Ivypool, their mentors. Hazeltail had told her that they were allowing all of us to sleep in, and when the patrols got back, the ceremony would start.
From what Amberpaw could tell, it was Sunhigh, and the Sunrise patrols would be back soon. Sighing, she padded over to Snowpaw and nudged his shoulder. As he groaned himself awake, she nudged Dewpaw awake as well.
"Is it time for the ceremony?" Snowpaw mewed, his voice eager. Meanwhile, Dewpaw was struggling to get up, his eyes dull. He must've been too excited to sleep.
Amberpaw shook her head, "No, but it should be happening soon. It's Sunhigh." Turning to Dewpaw, she smirked, "Having trouble? What'd you do overnight, spy on an enemy Clan?"
"Funny, funny," Dewpaw grumbled, finally getting up to his paws, "Are we going to go or not?" He pushed past us and slipped into the hollow. Exchanging an amused look with Snowpaw, we quickly followed him out.
The clearing had plenty of cats in it, as if they were waiting for the ceremony. Some were eating, while others were just talking. Smiling, Amberpaw followed Snowpaw to the fresh-kill pile, where Dewpaw had already picked up a mouse. Dropping it, he mewed, "Let's share this." He picked it back up and carried it to our corner of the camp.
Setting it down, Dewpaw sat down, and we followed suit. He took a bite and passed it to her, so she took a bite. "So," Snowpaw mewed, "what's been your favorite part of being an apprentice?"
"Well, my favorite part has to be from yesterday, where I destroyed Dewpaw in fighting," Amberpaw mewed, her eyes bright. She was certainly less nervous than she'd been for her apprentice ceremony.
"Hey! It's not my fault that you're the strongest she-cat in the Clan!" Dewpaw exclaimed, defending himself. She simply smiled. She knew he was slightly exaggerating, but it felt good to be given a compliment like that.
"Snowpaw! Dewpaw! Amberpaw!" Two voices mewed from across the clearing. A moment later, Owlpaw and Stormpaw were in front of them.
"Our mentors said that since everyone was here, they'd ask Bramblestar to start the ceremony!" Owlpaw mewed. Stormpaw merely stood next to him, panting.
As if on cue, Bramblestar emerged, crouching on the end of the Highledge. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!" He yelled, gathering the gazes of everyone, who began to gather in.
"I, Bramblestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice," he began, looking at Amberpaw, "She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn."
Bramblestar continued, "Amberpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
Amberpaw took a deep breath, "I do."
Bramblestar nodded, "Then by the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Amberpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Amberheart. StarClan honors your courage and fighting skill, and we welcome you as a full member of ThunderClan."
Amberheart smiled. He'd mentioned her fighting skill. She approached Bramblestar and went through the standard traditions, with Bramblestar resting his muzzle on her head while she licked his shoulder.
"Amberheart! Amberheart! Amberheart!" The Clan cheered as she padded back to her spot.
Amberheart could only stare as the entire Clan cheered for the newly-named Snowstorm and Dewfall, barely listening. She was just as good as her brothers, no matter what anyone said. She'd tried for Hazeltail, and she'd continue trying for the rest of her life.
The rest of the day went by quickly, a flurry of congratulations, including a loving talk with Cloudtail and Brightheart. Eventually, she found herself walking to her former den, but Snowstorm pushed her away, mewing, "Sorry Amberheart, but I don't believe we're sleeping tonight."
Grinning sheepishly, Amberheart followed him back out as cats began to file into their dens. As the sun set, the new warriors began their vigil...
A/N:
Hmmmm...still fairly uneventful. What am I slowly building up to? Why isn't Amberpaw the main protagonist for most of this fic?
