CHAPTER 4

Dawnpaw had trained for about 5 moons. On a cool leaf-fall day, Cinderpaw dashed to her sister, a look of surprise and happiness in her eyes. "Guess what? We are having our assessment! Right now!" "That's great! Come on, let's go!" Dawnpaw ran with her sister to their mentors. Moonpaw, now Moonheart, had been a warrior for a moon now. Their relationship had grown closer and closer and more cats are starting to notice. Bluepaw spent some of the time mooning over Shadowpaw, now Shadowstorm and Cinderpaw couldn't keep Blackpelt out of her mind Hailpaw, now Hailsun, is now closer to Sootpelt (formerly known as Sootpaw) and Skypaw, now Skycloud is keeping her eyes on Burningfur (formerly known as Burningpaw).

Summerleaf, Shademoon and Darkshadow waited at the training hollow with Bluepaw. "You will all go separate ways. Bluepaw will go in the direction of TreeClan, Cinderpaw will go in the direction of StreamClan and Dawnpaw will go in the direction of RavenClan. We will keep a careful watch on you all. Bring back as much prey as you can. We will all be waiting for you back at camp." Darkshadow mewed at all of them. Bluepaw dashed off towards TreeClan. Cinderpaw padded towards StreamClan and Dawnpaw started heading for RavenClan.

Dawnpaw crouched as she saw a squirrel munching on a nut on a tree. She crept forward and sprang. The squirrel had no time to move. Dawnpaw killed it quickly and cleanly with a quick nip on the neck. Burying her first prey, Dawnpaw glanced around, spying a mouse hiding behind ferns. She jumped but the mouse raced away. "Mouse dung!" She cursed under her breath as she looked around for her next prey.

By sunset, she had brought back two squirrels, three mice and a rabbit. "There you are!" Summerleaf padded to her apprentice. "Good job. We will have your ceremonies right after we all eat." With a happy heart, Dawnpaw padded over to Moonheart who sat by a tasty rabbit, waiting for her. Cinderpaw and Blackpelt were sharing tongues and Bluepaw and Shadowstorm were sharing a vole.

"Mmm...This rabbit looks delicious." Dawnpaw commented, her mouth watering. "You can have the first bite, Dawnpaw." Moonheart offered. "Thanks, Moonheart." Dawnpaw took a bite, savoring it. Moonheart took a bite and Dawnpaw took another. When they finished sharing the rabbit, they shared tongues.

"I heard that you will be made a warrior today." Moonheart commented. "Yup. I wonder what my name will be." A flash went through Dawnpaw as she remembered the prophecy. 'The burning fire will destroy the Clan but only the rose rising from the dawn can stop it'. Will my warrior name be Dawnrose? Dawnpaw wondered. The burning fire was easily Burningfur, the most arrogant warrior in the history of the Clans. Dawnpaw remembered that Burningfur had always wanted to be deputy and then leader, ever since he was a kit.

When they play-fought, he always called himself 'Burningstar' and showed off to the other kits. Dawnpaw pushed the image out of her mind and concentrated on grooming Moonheart.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their prey gather beneath the High Rock for a Clan meeting!" Emberstar's yowl filled the clearing. Dawnpaw sat with Bluepaw and Cinderpaw, their eyes shining. Stormclaw and Fallenpetal sat together, Dawnpaw knew they will be the first ones to call them all by their new names.

"Summerleaf, is Dawnpaw ready to become a warrior?" Emberstar asked. "Yes she is." "Shademoon, is Bluepaw ready to become a warrior?" "Yes she is." "And Darkshadow, is Cinderpaw ready to become a warrior?" "Never surer."

"Bluepaw, step forward." Emberstar mewed. The blue-silver-gray apprentice stepped forward. "Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" "I do." "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Bluepaw, from this moment and onwards, you will be called Bluesnow. StarClan honors your bravery and determination and we welcome you as a full warrior to MistClan." Bluesnow licked her leader's shoulder and went to stand with Shadowstorm, their tails twined. Bluesnow had been once injured by a monster, wrenching her shoulder, but determination kept her going. She hunted even when she was very weak. She was a warrior that will never give up.

"Cinderpaw, step forward." Emberstar turned to the next apprentice. Cinderpaw stepped forward. "Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" "I do." "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Cinderpaw, from this moment and onwards you will be called Cindershade. StarClan honors your loyalty and helpfulness and we welcome you as a full warrior to MistClan." Cindershade licked Emberstar's shoulder and went to stand with Blackpelt.

"Dawnpaw, step forward." Emberstar turned to the last apprentice. Dawnpaw stepped forward. "Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" "I do." "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Dawnpaw, from this moment and onwards, you will be known as Dawnrose. StarClan honors your wisdom and your patience and we welcome you as a full warrior to MistClan." After Dawnrose licked Emberstar's shoulder, cheers erupted through the Clan.

"Bluesnow! Cindershade! Dawnrose! Bluesnow! Cindershade! Dawnrose!" The Clan cheered, especially Moonheart, Shadowstorm, Blackpelt, Stormclaw and Fallenpetal. I'm a warrior! Dawnrose thought to herself. She won't ever forget this moment in her life.

END OF CHAPTER 4! Please rate and review it if you like/love it! There will possibly be a sequel to this story, just so you all know and maybe even a third book. Thanks for reading! New chapters will be posted daily! ~Bluefeather