6 moons later...
I see Bramblestar leap onto highledge. I'm bouncing like a kit. I'm becoming a Warrior! I hear Bramblestar's powerful voice ring around the clearing. "Today is one of the best days of a clan. Making new Warriors! Talonpaw, you have trained hard. Are you ready to be a Warrior?" "I am." "Then I name you as Talonclaw. Thunderclan honors your Courage and Bravery. Squirrelpaw, you have trained hard. Are you ready to be a Warrior?" "Yes." "Then I name you as Squirrrelpelt. Thunderclan honors your trustworthiness and skills. Dawnpaw, you have trained hard. Are you ready to be a Warrior?" I don't take a minute to think. "Yes!" Then I name you as Dawnfur. Thunderclan honors your swiftness and smarts." I hear all of the clan calling my new name. "Shinepaw, you have trained hard. Are you ready to be a Warrior?" "I am." "Then I name you as Shinefur. Thunderclan honors your Courage and great abilities. Reedpaw, you have trained hard. Are you ready to be a Warrior?" "I am. Yes." "Then I name you as Reedfoot. Thunderclan honors your Bravery and smarts. Creekpaw, you have trained hard. Are you ready to be a Warrior?" "Of course." "Then I name you as Creekwhisker. Thunderclan honors your skills and swiftness. Redpaw, you have trained hard. Are you ready to be a Warrior?" "Definitely!" "Then I name you as Redpelt. Thunderclan honors your smarts and bravery. Maplepaw, you have trained hard. Are you ready to be a Warrior?" "I'm ready." "Then I name you as Mapletail. Thunderclan honors your fighting and hunting skills. Coalpaw, you have trained hard. Are you ready to be a Warrior?" "Yup!" "Then I name you as Coalear. Thunderclan honors your persistence and devotion to your clan. Duskpaw, you have trained hard. Are you ready to be a Warrior? "Well, YES!" "Then I name you as Duskwhisker. Thunderclan honors your bravery and skills." I swell with pride as the clan calls our names. I head into the Warriors Den and curl up in my new nest.
I wake up at Dawn and smell Talonclaw's scent. "Hey, Dawnfur." I open my eyes and they blurr for a moment. When I can see clearly I see Talonclaw. But not in the usual way. The Sun shines through the brambles. His brown pelt is shining. I realize I am purring. "Oh! Sorry Talonclaw... uh, I was-I was - Relaxing in the Sunlight. Feels nice on your pelt, you know?" "Yeah, I've felt the sun on my pelt before." I give my chest fur a couple of embarrased licks. "So, anyway Dawnfur, want to- um, ... go get some Fresh-Kill?" "No thanks, I'm full." He pads out of the Den and I can clearly notice his dissapointment. I see Duskwhisker pad over to me. "Hey, Dawnfur." "Hi Duskwhisker." We pad out of the Den togeher. It rained hard a few days ago, so there are big puddles on the ground. "Dawnfur! Um- there's a puddle in front of you. I wouldn't want your beautiful fur all muddy." "Thanks for your care, Duskwhisker." "Yeah, you're Welcome. See you around?" "Yeah, I guess."
It's Night. I head into my Den and lie down in my nest. I see Talonclaw standing in the entrance. I see the Moon shining on his pelt and his blue eyes gleaming. I see his Muscles rippling through his brown pelt. I see him padding to his nest. I am staring at him when I see him look at me. "Oh, I'm sorry for staring Talonclaw. I-I... I was looking... I mean, NOT looking at..." He just nods at me and I turn my head around and bury it in my paws. Mouse Brain! Why were you staring at him? I fall asleep slowly, noting how Mouse Brained I am.
I wake up at Sun-High. I stand up and stretch. I pad over to the Fresh-Kill pile and grab a shrew. I finish it quickly, mostly beacuse I didn't eat any Fresh-Kill last night. I have no patrols today, and I don't know why. I stay in camp all day, doing nothing except removing ticks from the Elders. I stay up until a little after Sunset and go to The Warriors Den. I sit in my nest and wash myself thoroughly. I'm not disturbed until I look up for a moment and see Talonclaw staring at me from the other side of the Den, his eyes full of a look I've never seen before. Is it love that he's feeling? I lie down and fall asleep, not knowing what to do or how to react.
I wake up the next morning with a suspicion that a cat's looking at me. I look up and see Talonclaw in the same position as I fell asleep last night. Was he up all night? I stand up and pad to the entrance. I leave the Den behind me and head towards the Fresh-Kill pile. I eat a thrush and sit near the thorn tunnel, waiting to go on a patrol. I'm just about to pick ticks off the Elders when I hear Sorreltail's voice. "Hey, Dawnfur! Do you want to go on a Hunting patrol?" "Of Course! I've been waiting all morning!" We head to the Mossy Clearing. I catch a Rabbit and a vole, and we head back to Camp. I put my catch on the pile and notice it's almost Dark. I share a Rabbit with Shinefur and Reedfoot and head into th Warrior Den. I curl up in my nest and peek over my shoulder. I see Talonclaw padding into the Den. As he brushes by my nest his fur rubs my back. I pad back out of the Den and into Camp. I scan the Clearing for Shinefur and I spot her by the Medicine Cat Den. "Shinefur! Can you come for a walk with me?" "Sure, Dawnfur." We pad up to Dovewing sitting on guard duty. "We're just taking a Walk." "Okay, Dawnfur." When we reach the edge of the Lake Shinefur sits down. "Dawnfur, what's the problem?" "Do you think Talonclaw likes me?" "No." "What?" "He loves you! Have you seen the way he watches you at night?! The way he looks at you? The way he acts around you?" "Yeah, I have. Thanks. Let's go back to Camp." We pad through the forest and into Camp. I head into the Warrior's Den and I see Talonclaw looking at me. When should I ask him if he loves me? Tommorow, at Dawn. I can't tonight, it's way too late. I curl up in my nest. It takes me a long time to fall asleep, mostly because I'm nervous. Nervous that he'll say no.
I wake up a little before Dawn. I pad up to Talonclaw's nest. He's still awake. "Talonclaw! Come with me!" He stands up and follows me into the Forest. We sit at the edge of the Lake. "Talonclaw, you've been acting weird lately. So have I. Anyway, I was wondering...If-if...y-you...l-" "I do love you, Dawnfur. I love you more than any cat I've ever known. You must've noticed me looking at me every night." He rubs my cheek and our tails entwine. We pad back to camp slowly, just enjoying the moment. I'm purring uncontrolably. When we arrive in camp Shinefur pads up to me and Whispers in my ear. "Told you so." We pad to the Fresh-Kill pile and share a Rabbit. All of our patrols are together, which I'm Joyous for. When our last patrol is done we change our nests and put them next to each other. Then we share a squirrel and head to the Warrior's Den and curl up together, our legs facing each other, our heads touching, our tails entwined with love for each other, forever.
