I don't own Warriors.
Rainpaw sat down and licked a paw. "I keep my promises."
"Me too." Drew came closer. Rainpaw noticed that despite the fact he was a kittypet, his muscles were hard under her pelt. "So, what do you want to do?"
"I don't know. I only came because you asked."
Drew's eyes gleamed. "Want to see the other lake?"
Rainpaw stopped midlick. "There's another lake?" She had only gone out of the territory once when she went to the Star Pond.
"Yeah. It's on the other side of the Twolegplace."
Rainpaw put her paw down. "Hold it, I have to be back before dawn."
Drew whisked his tail tip over her nose. "It's Leaf-bare. The nights are long, and I'm sure you'll get back to your Clan in time. I guarantee it. The Twolegplace isn't that big anyway."
"Okay." Rainpaw reluctantly agreed. Drew led the way along the outskirts of the Twolegplace, only going in it when there was no other choice. Rainpaw pressed herself against the rocky hillside so she would stay as far away from the large nest fox-lengths away.
Drew was right about the small Twolegplace, though. They went past a stone hole in the ground with a small waterfall in it,, skirted around a huge nest, and over to a small forest. Drew climbed up a tree and beckoned for Rainpaw to follow. She climbed up onto the branch by him. He walked along the branch and onto a stone ledge from a nearby cliff, her on his heels. He stopped under a shadowy spot. "Look."
She sat down and looked out over the landscape. The moon, even though it was only a small sliver, shone on the glittering water of a small lake, a different lake. The way the light glowed on the ice was beautiful. The view was overall stunning. She shivered as a freezing wind got through her fur. Drew pressed against her, his pelt touching hers. She flinched in surprise, but went back to his side. She rested her had on his shoulder and watched the water, their breath mingling in a cloud.
The two could've been sitting there for moments, or moons, but they started drifting off around Moonhigh. Rainpaw jerked out of a doze to see the moon starting to set. "Drew, I have to go."
Drew opened his eyes. "Okay. Follow me again."
The two ran as fast as they could through the Twolegplace, avoiding monsters and dogs; Rainpaw didn't have much experience with monsters so she went extra quick. The paused by the Big Bramble to catch their breath. Drew panted, "Would you like to come back tomorrow?"
"I can't. Two nights in a row might look suspicious. Besides, I'm not feeling well. Maybe we should wait a half-moon."
Drew nodded reluctantly. Rainpaw licked his shoulder and hared down the shoreline. She felt very cold now, but she didn't stop. She crept into camp the same way she came and ducked into the apprentices' den. Luckily the others were still fast asleep. She curled up in the nest, shuddering, and closed her eyes.
"Wake up!"
Rainpaw opened her sleep-heavy eyes. Moonpaw was glaring at her from the entrance of the den. "It's almost Sunhigh. What are you, a dormouse?"
Rainpaw forced herself to her paws. Her throat felt weird and she coughed. "I didn't get much sleep last night, bad dreams and all." She lied.
"No excuse." Moonpaw growled and stalked out of the den. Rainpaw washed her fur to help wake herself up and trotted into the main camp.
Froststar was waiting under the Tree. He watched his apprentice as she came over. "About time you got up. Today's your final assessment."
Suddenly Rainpaw's belly felt cold and heavy like she swallowed the Badger Rock. I completely forgot! "Bad dreams. Didn't get much sleep."
"Hmm. Go eat something. Then the assessment will begin."
Rainpaw nodded and walked to the fresh-kill pile. She chose a young thrush and settled down to eat. Dustclaw came over. "Good to see you're still alive."
"Ha ha." Rainpaw muttered. "I had nightmares so I didn't get much sleep. I'm still tired. Besides, I don't feel great."
Dustclaw plucked a feather. "Maybe you should see Silverfeather."
"No!" Rainpaw snapped. "I'm fine. I'm sure it's just a cold. I'll get over it." She swallowed the last of the thrush, noticing that Moonpaw was staring at her with hatred in her blue eyes. She turned and whispered something to her brother, who growled. Rainpaw rolled her eyes, said goodbye to Dustclaw, and padded back to Froststar. "I'm ready." It came out more like a croak.
Froststar narrowed his eyes as if he could tell something was off, but he didn't say anything. "You can hunt anywhere, but I'll be watching you." Rainpaw bounded toward the Badger Rock, the huge stone that resembled a badger; there was almost always a mouse or two there, though it was used for training.
When Rainpaw reached it, she immediately saw a shrew basking on the rock. She hid under a clump of ferns, the slowly crept downwind to where the rock had crumbled, making a sort of tail there. She stopped so that the tiny pebbles would adjust to her presence before jumping, claws unsheathed. The squeak of the startled animal was cut off when she slit its neck. Rainpaw buried it under the "head" of the rock and continued over to the Meadow. She spotted a huge rabbit nibbling on some grass not too far away. She started creeping toward it, tail down. Then she sneezed.
The rabbit looked up, alarmed. Rainpaw sniffed, pawing at her nose. Then she remembered she was hunting and focused her attention on the Meadow, but the rabbit was gone. "Fox-dung!"
Rainpaw pawed her nose, coughing. Maybe I should've seen at least Seedfoot. Too late now. Rainpaw started going back along the shore to see if she could find something at the Rock-Hill when she heard something. It sounded like a kit all the way on the other side of the lake. She ran as fast as she could, going over the ice when she had to. Soon Flamekit came into view. He was pacing by the ice, fur bushed out and yowling. "Flamekit, what are you doing out here?!"
"Petalkit thought it would be a good idea to sneak out of camp and see the lake. When we got here, she stepped out onto the ice. When she got further out, it broke! She's still under there!"
Rainpaw didn't hesitate any longer. She raced onto the ice, spotting the dark black hole where Petalkit disappeared into. She dove into it, gasping at the freezing water. She forced her eyes open, at first only seeing ice shards and bubbles, but she saw Petalkit a few tail-lengths away, flailing weakly. Rainpaw swam over to the tortoiseshell, grabbed her scruff, and paddled back up. She broke the surface of the ice and scrambled up, the dark gray parts of her pelt almost black. She stumbled back to the shore, shuddering violently. By now Froststar, Weaselfang, and Seedfoot had gathered by the spot. Seedfoot grabbed Petalkit from Rainpaw and started licking her. Rainpaw washed herself, shaking. Froststar pressed his pelt against her. "You did well. Today you become a warrior."
News of the incident spread through camp. Some cats would look for Rainpaw to tell her she was brave, only to discover she was fast asleep in the medicine den with a mild case of Whitecough. Silverfeather said that she had caught it at least the night before, and the cold water didn't help, but she should be well enough to return to duties in a few days. The ceremony was still set for sunset, however.
Seedfoot prodded Rainpaw gently. "Rainpaw, time for your ceremony."
"Okay." Rainpaw's green eyes were tired, but bright with excitement. She gave her fur a few licks and trotted to the main camp.
Froststar yowled, "Cats who can hunt and fight, gather beneath the Tree." Rainpaw sat in the front, ears pricked as she tried to absorb every word. "Today we honor the courage of one of our apprentices. Rainpaw, step forward."
Suddenly self-conscious under the gaze of the entire Clan, Rainpaw shuffled closer. "Rainpaw, you saved Petalkit's life. You are ready to become a warrior. You will be known as Rainbreeze for your swiftness to help Petalkit."
Rainbreeze lifted her chin as most of the Clan cheered her name. Even Cloudpaw meowed it, though Moonpaw was dead silent. I wonder what that's about?
The cat stalked over to the den, tail flicking. It curled up in its nest, a low growl in its throat. I know the truth about the kit of a medicine cat, and I know the perfect way to hurt her. Just wait a while. . . .
Question: Any thoughts?
FrostClan:
Leader: Froststar - very pale gray tom with green eyes
Deputy: Applefern - dark gray and white tom with yellow eyes
Apprentice, Moonpaw - silver she-cat with black stripes and blue eyes
Medicine cat: Silverfeather - pale silver she-cat with blue eyes
Apprentice, Seedfoot - tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes
Warriors:
Amberfrost - ginger and white she-cat with green eyes
Crowwing - black she-cat with yellow eyes
Apprentice, Cloudpaw - white tom with green eyes
Stripepelt - light brown she-cat with darker stripes and amber eyes
Grassclaw - brown and ginger tabby tom with dark blue eyes
Whitefur - white tom with amber eyes
Goldengaze - white tom with gold eyes
Wildflower - silver tabby she-cat she-cat with blue eyes
Clawscar - brown tabby tom with a scarred pelt and a single yellow eye
Breezestorm - ginger and white tom with amber eyes
Bluefire - blue-gray she-cat with amber eyes
Riverstone - black and white she-cat with blue eyes
Ravenfur - black tom with amber eyes
Dustclaw - brown tom with yellow eyes
Rainbreeze - dark gray she-cat with white patches and green eyes
Queens:
Weaselfang - bright ginger she-cat with a white paw and green eyes (Ravenfur, Riverstone, Petalkit, and Flamekit's mother, Whitefur's mate)
Greengaze - brown and white she-cat with green eyes (Goldengaze's mate, expecting kits)
Kits:
Petalkit - tortoiseshell she-cat with yellow eyes
Flamekit - ginger tom with white specks
Elders:
Singingbreeze - old tortoiseshell she-cat with gold eyes
Mossyfur - brown tom with yellow eyes
Thundergrowl - ginger tom with amber eyes and white flecks
