Morning's Light: Accepting Love

by Topaz B. Rainheart

Silverstripe, with a growing family, is facing a dilemma. Is being a great warrior as important as she thought? Littleflower tries to overcome her weaknesses, but an accident makes her wonder if she'll ever belong. Finally, Morningsplash is torn, between the warrior code she's sworn to uphold, and a tom who holds her heart in his paws. Book three of the Morning's Light series.

10. Chapter 8

Morningsplash

Morningsplash wasn't sure who was more excited for the apprentice ceremony, Speckledkit or Leopardspots. The queen loved her son fiercely, but it was clear she couldn't wait to get back into her warrior duties. Morningsplash couldn't ever see herself being a mother. Besides, the only cat she could even entertain the notion of having kits with was Owlclaw, and she didn't want to subject any innocent kits to the distrust they would face, being part loner, part Windclan, and part Shadowclan, without a drop of Riverclan blood in them. She was shaken from her thoughts by the customary clan meeting summons."All cats old enough to swim gather to hear my words!" Morningsplash walked over to the high tree, taking a seat by Littleflower. Speckledkit walked up to the tree, trembling, and glanced at Morningsplash. She gave him a friendly smile. Then Greystar began to speak.

"Speckledit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Speckledpaw. Your mentor will be Rainfall. I hope Rainfall will pass down all he knows on to you." Greystar gestured to Rainfall, and he got up, walking over to Speckledpaw. Morningsplash wondered how he felt, being picked as Speckledpaw's mentor above so many other warriors. "Rainfall, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from Rippleclaw, and you have shown yourself to be wise and loyal. You will be the mentor of Speckledpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to Speckledpaw." Morningsplash smiled. Rainfall had led a hard life, but despite his quiet attitude, was an intelligent and good warrior. He would make a good match for the equally quiet Speckledpaw. Rainfall leaned down to touch noses with the young tom. The clan started chanting.

"Speckledpaw! Speckledpaw!" Speckledpaw looked around wide-eyed, before his parents came over to congratulate him, purring loudly enough so that Morningsplash was sure Thunderclan elders could hear it. She sighed, and sat back. Clan life as usual, new apprentices and mentors. Everything was peaceful. Then she glanced over at Nightfall. He wasn't doing anything right now, and no cat was bothering him. Now was her chance to talk to him.

"Littleflower, I'll see you later." She didn't give her sister a chance to spoke before she went over to the medicine cat den, waiting for Nightfall to return.