AN: *sigh* Still no reviews for the last TWO chapters. Anyways, thanks Niah as always for betaing. Actually, she's found an issue of not being able to review. If that's an issue for any of you other readers, please message me and tell me.
Disclaimer: I do not own warriors, no matter how much I want to. I do however, own my characters.
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Fawnpaw flicked her ears and opened her mouth, trying to catch the scent or sound of any prey through the underbrush. A scuttling of tiny paws burrowing through the leaf-litter by the roots of a near-by tree caught her attention, and by scent, she knew it was a vole.
Stealthily, she crept up, being careful not to let it feel her paw steps. Heartbeats later, she pounced, killing the creature with a swift bite to the back of the neck.
With the satisfaction of her kill, Fawnpaw buried the vole for later retrieval when she had completed her assessment. She once again padded deeper into her territory, towards Snakerocks. The light ginger apprentice had only gone a few fox-lengths when she stopped and turned slightly, slipping into a hunting crouch. She had noticed a plump, juicy rabbit just a few tail-lengths up wind. Fawnpaw stalked forward, making sure to stay where the slight breeze wouldn't alert the rabbit that could feed two of the elders, to her presence.
Suddenly, she heard an angry screech and jerked her head up, startled. The rabbit raced away, but Fawnpaw took no notice as she tasted the air and her eyes widened. ShadowClan! She wasn't anywhere near the border yet, and she knew Foxheart would be following her...
She crouched down and stalked towards where the sound had come from, keeping her paws silent and her belly fur touching the ground. She pushed her head noiselessly through some bunched ferns and stifled a furious hiss.
A huge light tabby ShadowClan warrior was pinning a thrashing Foxheart to the forest floor, while another who Fawnpaw recognized as Darkheart from the gathering, stood over the two, his smug attitude radiating from his tabby pelt.
"You have no idea what ShadowClan's getting themselves into, Darkheart." Foxheart spat "Attacking ThunderClan will not make Ashstar give Russetstar a paw step of territory."
"Not even if we killed his warriors?" Darkheart asked, tipping his head slightly to one side and Foxheart said nothing, just continued to thrash against the warrior holding him. "Starting with you."
Darkheart raised onto his hind legs, preparing to land both of his fore paws into the red warrior's neck.
None of the three cats noticed Fawnpaw until she barreled into Darkheart's shoulder with a furious yowl, off-balancing the ShadowClan deputy like she had Ashstar.
While she and the black and gray tabby wrestled, the light tabby's grip loosened and Foxheart spun around, his claws scoring against the tom's muzzle. Fawnpaw had managed to roll Darkheart onto his back and was holding onto him with her fangs buried in his belly and clawing his sides while he tried to claw her off.
Before he could, Foxheart pinned the deputy, his own opponent having run off.
"ShadowClan's own deputy can't beat an apprentice and you think the warriors will be able to drive us out?" Foxheart spat before letting Darkheart up and chasing him towards the border.
"You should've went back to camp, Fawnpaw." Foxheart meowed, turning to his apprentice. "He could've seriously hurt you."
"Didn't seem like it." Fawnpaw snorted as they pelted towards the camp when they were just beginning to her the yowls and screeches of battle "Besides, I wasn't going to leave you there."
Foxheart said nothing and soon the two were leaping down the ravine, Fawnpaw's sides and belly stinging from where Darkheart had clawed them. They pushed through the gorse tunnel and split up, Fawnpaw heading towards were Burntpaw and Stormpaw were fighting out side the nursery.
Burntpaw was fighting an apprentice, while Stormpaw was being practically ripped apart by a long-limbed tom. She lept to help the younger apprentice, landing on the tabby's back and holding on with her claws. Momentarily distracted from the gray apprentice, the tabby warrior turned to try to snap at her. Fawnpaw noticed Stormpaw limping out from underneath the warrior and the ShadowClan tom tried now to go after him again.
Fawnpaw hissed in rage before slashing her claws across his ears and biting down on his shoulder. The warrior yowled in pain before rolling and squishing the apprentice underneath him.
Fawnpaw scrambled to her paws, out of breath now as the warrior turned to come back for her. She quickly launched herself towards him, slipping under his belly and pushing his hind legs out from underneath him. Fawnpaw sank her claws and teeth into his exposed belly. The warrior tossed her away and was about to pounce on her when Burntpaw flew onto his back, apparently having dealt with the apprentice. Fawnpaw lept up to help her and together, the two apprentices sent the warrior racing back to his own territory, yowling curses.
Fawnpaw and Burntpaw hurried over to where Stormpaw was leaning against the brambles of the nursery entrance.
"Are you alright?" Fawnpaw asked worriedly, nosing his bleeding shoulders and neck.
"I'll be fine." the gray apprentice assured them before his eyes widened in fear.
"Ashstar," he murmured and Fawnpaw and Burntpaw quickly turned to see what he was looking at.
Ashstar and Russetstar were battling each other, wrestling around in a screeching whirlwind. Then the two pulled apart, and lept up on their hind legs, crashing into one another.
Just as Ashstar managed to flip the other leader underneath him, Russetstar sank his fangs into the ThunderClan leader's throat.
Within a few heartbeats, Ashstar fell limp and Russetstar yowled victory, pushing the still limp leader off of him.
Stormpaw howled in rage and lept at him despite his own wounds, Nightflame and Cinderclaw only mouse-lengths behind him. Russetstar easily sidestepped their attacks but Nightflame let out a vicious caterwaul and lept at him again.
This time the deputy's claws met her mark. As soon as he pulled away from the she-cat the ShadowClan leader took a quick look behind him. They were losing, and he could tell.
"ShadowClan, retreat!" he yowled reluctantly.
The remaining enemy warriors left in the camp bolted for the protective walls and exits of the camp.
Cinderclaw was pulling Stormpaw into Ambertail's den, assuring him that Ashstar would be fine.
Sure enough, Ashstar stirred heartbeats later, pulling himself onto his paws as Nightflame bounded over and helped him into Ambertail's den.
"Thanks for helping me out with that warrior." Fawnpaw said to Burntpaw as they too made their way into the medicine cat's den.
"It was no problem." Burntpaw waved it off. "Thank YOU for helping Stormpaw. I don't think we could've handled it without you. Thank StarClan you got back right then."
"Well, Darkheart and another warrior attacked Foxheart while I was on my assessment." Fawnpaw explained "They didn't know I was there, at least not until I shredded Darkheart's pelt for trying to kill Foxheart."
"You attacked the ShadowClan deputy?!" Burntpaw hissed in surprise, emphasizing both Clan and rank as Snowpaw padded over to them, cobwebs swathed on on paw.
"What else would you have done?" Fawnpaw asked quietly, surveying Ashstar across the den.
The gray leader was already looking stronger, declining any herbs until his warriors were taken care of.
"Attacked the warrior, mouse brain!" Burntpaw said, narrowing her eyes when Snowpaw purred in amusement. "What?"
"You two arguing." the white medicine cat apprentice purred. "Fawnpaw must have had her reasons for attacking who she did, Burntpaw."
The dark brown apprentice snorted as her litter mate put a smelly poultice on her wounds "Fawnpaw, having a reason? I'll never live to see the day."
Fawnpaw snarled playfully, pushing Burntpaw gently on the shoulder.
"Stop it, Fawnpaw." Snowpaw scolded just as Foxheart and Duststripe padded into the den and over to Ashstar. "You'll just end up hurting the both of you with your antics."
Fawnpaw and Burntpaw shared an amused glance which Snowpaw caught. She boxed them both upside the ears and said they were fine to leave as long as they didn't break into another fight for a few days.
Just as the two apprentices stood to leave, Ashstar called them over to where he was sitting, Foxheart and Duststripe beside him.
"Yes, Ashstar?" Fawnpaw asked while Burntpaw stood silently beside her "Are you alright?"
"I am fine, Fawnpaw." Ashstar purred "Your mentors have been telling me of your achievements. Burntpaw, you did well against Rockpaw and Spiderleg. Fawnpaw you did well against Spiderleg, and from what I hear, Darkheart."
Fawnpaw ducked her head in embarrassment as her leader continued.
"This is why you will both be made warriors at sunset."
Fawnpaw's head shot up and Burntpaw was perfectly still, both staring at the gray leader in shock.
"Go get something to eat and be ready for you ceremony and vigil." Ashstar purred and the two hurriedly dipped their heads and scurried out of the den.
"Did he just say what I think he said?" Burntpaw asked brightly, still shocked as they each pulled up a piece of fresh kill that hadn't been crushed in the tussle.
"If you think he just said we would be warriors by sunset, then yes." Fawnpaw murmured, laying down by the stump outside their den. Sunpaw came over to join them.
"Hey, guys. Have you seen Stormpaw?" the golden she-cat asked.
"He's still in Ambertail's den." Fawnpaw informed her sadly while Burntpaw blinked and said,
"I can't believe it."
"What, Stormpaw?" Sunpaw asked in confusion.
Burntpaw lost her astonished expression and her eyes glinted jokingly.
"No, Ashstar said we're being demoted back to kits because we fight like one-legged badgers."
Sunpaw rolled her eyes and padded away muttering something too low for either soon-to-be warrior to hear.
Fawnpaw glanced up at the slowly darkening sky and purred. Sunset wasn't long off now. She and Burntpaw finished their meal slowly before sitting up to groom themselves, careful not to lick all the herbs off their new wounds.
The sun was just beginning to sink below the trees when Ashstar and Nightflame emerged from the leader's den. The gray leader lept easily up on the highrock and curled his tail around his paws.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join under the highrock for a Clan meeting." he yowled and cats padded from wherever they had been resting and sat underneath the high rock, looking up at their leader.
Fawnpaw noticed with relief that Stormpaw had made it out of the medicine cat's den, though he still limped slightly. She blinked happily in his direction, hoping he'd catch the greeting. Once everyone was assembled, Ashstar spoke.
"You have all done well in the battle today." the leader meowed proudly "ThunderClan has shown we do not back down, or give away territory."
There were yowled agreements from the warriors until Ashstar quieted them with a flick of his tail.
"I have also decided that it is high time that two of our apprentices were made warriors. Duststripe is Burntpaw ready?"
"She has trained well and hard." the brown tabby meowed with a curt nod.
"And Fawnpaw, Foxheart?"
"She has exceeded my expectations." Foxheart nodded and Fawnpaw could see a proud gleam in his eyes.
Ashstar beckoned the two with a wave of his tail and Fawnpaw and Burntpaw padded over to the base of the high rock where Ashstar had leaped down to wait for them. They sat before him, excitement making Burntpaw's tail twitch.
"I, Ashstar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these two apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn." the leader's eyes had been turned to the quickly appearing Silverpelt but he now looked at them as he continued and Fawnpaw's fur bristled excitedly.
"Fawnpaw, Burntpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of you lives?"
"I do." both she-cats mewed solemnly, knowing that this was the point to their moons of training.
"Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior names." Ashstar paused to look at Burntpaw. "Burntpaw, from this moment you will be known as Burntleaf. StarClan honors your sensibility and your determination and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." Ashstar stepped forward and rested his muzzle on Burntleaf's bowed head and she respectfully licked his shoulder before padding over to sit next to her former mentor, Duststripe.
"Fawnpaw, from this moment you will known as," for the merest heartbeat Ashstar paused to survey her before continuing "Fawnfire. StarClan honors your bravery and your ferocity in battle and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." Ashstar rested his nose between her ears and Fawnfire licked his shoulder respectfully before stepping back to sit beside Foxheart, her deep amber eyes gleaming in triumph.
"Burntleaf! Fawnfire! Burntleaf! Fawnfire!" the cats crowded in the clearing chanted in congratulations, Stormpaw and Sunpaw the loudest.
"Well done Fawnfire."Foxheart purred, emphasizing 'fire' as the whole Clan pressed around the new warriors, her former mentor licked her ear and Fawnfire felt a purr rising in her own throat.
Leafcloud, Birchfur, Wolfsong, Silentstep and Mistpelt came up to congratulate her personally and once the commotion had died down, Fawnfire turned to see Spottedwing padding forward.
"Well done, Fawnfire." the spotted she-cat mewed pressing her muzzle into the new warrior's flank "I know your mother would be proud."
Fawnfire dipped her head in thanks to the cat that had raised her, unable to speak through her constant purring.
Foxheart and Duststripe escorted their former apprentices to the camp entrance where they would be sitting their vigil. Once they had been left alone, Fawnfire and Burntleaf shared a proud, excited glance. They knew that once they had been released from their silent vigil they would congratulate one another properly, before turning to their new nests in the warrior's den.
Fawnfire found it harder than she thought to stay awake all night. She was weary from the battle she had fought earlier in the day, but she knew she couldn't sleep. Not yet. She tried to keep her mind active by thinking about the new responsibilities of being a warrior. She wouldn't have to take care of the elders, or train anymore, or be considered 'only an apprentice'. She had hated the way enemy cats had sneered at her in a fight expecting her to flail around uselessly, not actually fight like a warrior. She snorted to herself. No she wouldn't miss that at all.
After a few quiet heartbeats, she turned her eyes to Silverpelt before flicking her gaze back to the dark forest, thinking now of that ShadowClan cat, Oakfur. She wanted, no, she needed to find out who he was. What was his deal with her? With a sigh, she tucked her paws underneath her and curled her tail. Burntleaf looked at her questioningly but the light ginger warrior just shook her head before returning her gaze to the gorse tunnel. Dawn slowly creeped up and by the time the sun was just coloring the tops of the trees Nightflame, Tawnyfeather, Duststripe, Mistpelt and Stormpaw emerged from their dens.
Duststripe, Mistpelt and a slightly-healed Stormpaw immediately left on the dawn patrol while the deputy and Tawnyfeather padded over to the new warriors.
"Burntleaf, Fawnfire your vigil is over. Tawnyfeather will show you some nests in the warrior's den." Nightflame meowed and Fawnfire dipped her head while yawning.
"Thank you Nightflame." Burntleaf murmured as she and Fawnfire followed their dark tabby Clanmate.
"Here you go." Tawnyfeather whispered indicating two empty nests near the entrance to the den. Fawnfire marveled at actually sleeping in the warrior's den as she layed down in the nest shown to her, Burntleaf at her side. If she looked farther into the den she could make out the sleeping forms of the other warriors.
Tawnyfeather had padded over to Silentstep's nest a tail-length away and was prodding him with a paw.
"Get up you great lump!" she hissed "Nightflame wants us for a hunting patrol."
"Get Thornpaw to do it." Silentstep muttered, not opening his eyes and Tawnyfeather growled.
"Who is Thornpaw?" Burntleaf asked, apparently watching just as Fawnfire was.
"Thornpaw was my brother that was killed by an adder at Snakerocks." Tawnyfeather answered shortly.
"Oh, I'm sorry..." Fawnfire mewed but the she-cat only shrugged before sighing and muttering "This will probably wake up the whole Clan."
She then clamped her teeth in Silentstep's scruff and dragged him from the den. Halfway out, Silentstep woke and let out a surprised yowl.
Burntleaf and Fawnfire let out quiet purrs as some of the warriors woke up, claws unsheathed. Once they realized that it was only Silentstep they layed back down grumbling.
Fawnfire layed her head down, exhaustion finally catching up to her, and she was asleep only heartbeats later in her new nest... as a new warrior.
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AN: Well there you have it. Sort of short, but if I had added the next part, it would have been way too long, like thirteen typed pages so I decided to wait for the next chapter. I'll be in Georgia for a week, so I'll update again if I get time.