Barkface padded across the rough stone floor of the Windclan camp towards Tallrock and Onestar. He was taking in deep and unnoticeable breaths as he passed the other clan cats many of them hissing and spitting in anger for what he had done. He tried not to notice the hateful stares and keep from turning and hissing at them but, he kept his eyes straight ahead not daring to even flicker his eyes off the leaders icy stare. He pulled his held high and forced his tail up in the air willing it not to move.
Onestar was watching the cats from his vantage point on top of Tallrock, his eyes darted from one cat to another always coming to rest on his medicine cat but, at each movement, each little flick of the tail and dart of the eyes his eyes roamed to the movement. His eyes dared any cat to say anything about what had just happened. Some of the more curious cats got up cautiously from where they were sharing tongues to come and watch what would happen.
Barkface took a deep breath as he walked by the clan cats realizing he had forgotten to breathe for a moment. He was about to speak when the leader's voice rang out, "What is the meaning of this Barkface?" Snarled Onestar savagely he didn't like taking in strays and the spitefulness clear in his deep voice. "Bringing in a loner, it is against Starclan!"
Barkface allowed his head to lower in respect for the leader not wanting to provoke any more anger from his clan or leader. "With respect, Onestar, it is the will of Starclan." He said gently forcing his voice to stay in a respectful note though he longed to shout and hiss at everyone the message.
Onestar eyes flicked towards the medicine cat's den, his eyes seemingly seeing right through the rock and dimness of the cave. Absentmindedly he leaned his head forward, eyes still questioning the medicine cat's reasoning yet they hinted a small interest. Flicking his tail he signaled Barkface to go on with the story but the doubt was clear in his eyes. "Tallstar came to me last night and told me to go and follow the Ivy, and I did, right to Moonpool I didn't understand at first but, the she-cat's name is Ivy and he visited her!" Barkface kept his eyes looking at Onestar but, he longed to whirl around and see if the rest of the clan had understood as he was not only talking to the leader but the whole clan too now.
Barkface didn't like it when leaders or medicine cats hid something from the clan or didn't let them listen in on important news especially involving signs from Starclan and he was glad that Onestar felt the same at the moment.
A murmur of surprise and disbelief arose from the watching cats. Onestar was taken aback for a moment at the mention of a loner being sent a message from Starclan. "Onestar, you must allow her to join us, she even came with a prophecy!" Barkface meowed not pleading but ordering.
The watching cats grew silent at the mention of a prophecy. "Do you know what it is?" Onestar asked intrigued and trying to avoid the fact that he had to do what the medicine cat said.
"She doesn't remember much. All she remembers is; 'the lake will belong to three and changing allies by the sun and moon and only her being able to stop them from pushing out her clan." Answered Barkface simply.
Onestar sighed, he had no choice but, to allow the loner into the clan if it was the will of Starclan the clan would want it that way. "Alright then, Starclan has made it clear what must happen. Ivy will join our ranks as an apprentice. There are two kits being appointed apprentices today and she will be among them."
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath Tallrock!" Yowled Onestar his voice echoing around the cats already there.
The cats looked around for any cats that weren't already there, almost all of the Clan was already gathered around to hear about Barkface but kits that were to be named apprentices hadn't come yet and bounced out of the nursery, their mother following behind them tail held up proudly.
Kestrelpaw pushed Ivy toward the exit of the medicine den. "Come on, Onestar's going to announce it!"
Ivy wasn't sure what she thought about Onestar announcing her fate. She wasn't as sure of her fate as it seemed Kestrelpaw was. She gulped afraid of what might happen. She didn't know where she would go if she wasn't going to be accepted.
On one side of a large boulder sat two cats about her cat-age and on top of the boulder was another cat. She assumed it was Onestar the leader of the Clan, for a terrifying moment she couldn't remember what the clan was call and then settled on Windclan.
Kestrelpaw instructed her to go and sit by the other kits. She tried to smile but she couldn't figure out how and instead thanked him for everything. He waived his tail to her like it was nothing.
She walked over the other kits and sat down next to the orange colored who looked more cheerful than the grim gray one sitting next to her. As she approached the orange kit shot her head up happily at Ivy. "I'm Flashkit!" she announced "Well, soon to be Flashpaw!"
Ivy was confused. "You change your names?"
"Yeah, we are born with our kit name and then change to our apprentice name which is a paw and then to our warrior name which is nothing in particular and if we're lucky to a leader's name which is star." Flashkit said in the same breath of air and so fast Ivy had barely been able to understand all of it.
"Oh," Now Ivy was really nervous how could she remember all this?
She looked down and fidgeted her paws absentmindedly her tail flicking different directions unknowingly, echoing her nervousness to the watching cats. Barkface noticed her twitching but, there was nothing he could do to soothe the she-cat.
Whitetail the kits mother began grooming their fur for the ceremony. The frantic mother just added to Ivy's nervousness. Those kits had a mother to groom them and be proud of them after the meeting but, she was alone and scared out of her wits.
Just as Ivy was about to lose control over herself Onestar spoke out to the gathered cats. "By naming apprentices, we show that Windclan will survive and remain strong." Boomed Onstar flicking his tail toward her and the kits next her making Ivy shake with anticipation.
"Flashkit from now on you will be known as Flashpaw." The powerful voice of the leader broke into her nervousness. "Nightcloud will be your mentor."
Nightcloud walked up to her knew apprentice and the two cats touched noses. Onestar went on, "Duskkit from now on you will be known as Duskpaw. Weaslefur shall be your mentor."
Weaseful walked out of the crowd and bent his chin over Duskpaw's head. Ivy was sure she could see a twinge of happiness come over the grim Duskpaw. She was more trying to get her mind off the gathering and the clan leader talking above everyone. She just wanted to forget everything.
"Ivy." She jumped at her name. "You are not clan-born and it is not the way of our ancestors to allow you in," Her heart sunk, ", however, on this occasion it seems that it is the will of Starclan. So I ask you this, do you promise to learn the way of the warriorcode of our ancestors even though you are not clan-born?"
"I do." She answered without hesitation and then added "It would be a great honor."
"Then I welcome you to the Clan and from now you shall be known as Ivypaw."
Ivypaw's heart burst with joy and she could barely keep herself from jumping to her feet. "Ivypaw your mentor shall be…" He paused as he scanned the audience for the right cat. "Heathertail."
Heathertail cocked her head at the mention of her name. She didn't think would ever be given an apprentice because of the time she'd spent with Lionblaze as an apprentice, a smile crossed her muzzle with happiness that her clan had finally forgiven her for that.
She walked up to where her new apprentice sat, and touched her nose to Ivypaws's. Ivypaw about pulled away from the odd greeting but, managed to stay firm trying to act more like a cat and less like the person that was trying to pull away.
As soon as Onestar was finished speaking a loud chorus filled the air around the three new apprentices "Flashpaw! Duskpaw! Ivypaw," Ivypaw's heart sunk as they called the other two names louder and hers with hesitation, this was going to be harder than she had thought.