Chapter 9~ Peace in the Clans
I returned to camp with fresh-kill in my jaws and padded over to the fresh-kill pile. Nightpaw bounded over to me, excitement shining in his golden eyes. "Crystalfrost, guess what!" I looked at him curiously, "What?" He lashed his tail and stood up straighter, "I'm going to be a warrior!" I purred with joy, Nightpaw was finally going to get his warrior name. He defiantly deserved it. "Great! When will the ceremony be?" From behind me, I heard Snowstar call out, "All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highrock of a clan meeting!" Nightpaw swished his tail, "Right now!" He ran over to sit under the Highrock, his tail twitching happily. Snowstar smiled down at Nightpaw and called out in a strong voice, "I, Snowstar, leader of Lightningclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. NIghtpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this clan, even at the cost of your life?" Nightpaw's eyes shined as he looked up at Snowstar, "I do!" Snowstar nodded, "Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. NIghtpaw, from this moment you will be know as Nightheart, Starclan honors you bravery and courage, and we welcome you as a full member of Lightningclan." Nightheart stepped forward and calmly touched noses with Snowstar. I started the cheer, "Nightheart! Nightheart!" I ran over to him to touch noses. He turned to face me, his eyes glowing with pride. I looked at the sky, clouds were rolling over the mountains and the air was growing colder, "It will be a cold and rainy vigil tonight." I told him. NIghtheart nodded in sad agreement, "But it won't be you who is sitting it." He reminded me. I laughed and flicked his ear with my tail, "Oh come on. You have a while before sundown, we can go hunting until then!" NIghtheart's eyes brightened at the prostect of hunting, "OK!" We padded into the forest side by side, his pelt brushing mine. By the time we returned, the sun had started to sink below the horrison and colors spread out across the sky. Snowstar walked up to us, "Well, I see you two have been busy," he purred, "but now it's time to put that fresh-kill on the pile and Nightheart to take his spot for his vigil." Nightheart nodded respectfully and took his place in the middle of the camp to sit out the cold night. I touched noses with my father before heading to my nest and settling down in my soft bed of moss. As soon as I closed my eyes, a dream that had haunted me night after night came again. The screeched and yowls of cats filled the air. Blood ran free on the forest floor and splattered the rocks and trees. "The crystal will reflect the light of the stars into the night and save us all!" The wind seemed to whisper. What did it mean? Were these just nightmares? Or were they something more? I woke gasping for air. I looked around at the warriors sleeping nearby. Icewing was curled next to me, her slow, calm breathing comforted me. I layed my head on my paws again, but I couldn't get back to sleep. I was still laying there when the first rays of the morning sun shone though the entrance to the den. Did my dreams mean something? I hoped that they were just nightmares, for I was worried about what would happen if they come true.
One moon later, Snowstar called another meeting. "We have a kit that is ready to be and apprentice." He yowled. Snowstar motioned for Sagekit to come forward, "From this moment, until she had earned her warrior name, this apprentice will be known as Sagepaw. Crystalfrost, you are a brave and loyal warrior, you will be a mentor to Sagepaw. I hope you will pass on all you know to her." I stood up proudly and walked to touch noses with Sagepaw. She looked up at me with gleaming, excited eyes. I stepped away and started to call Sagepaw's name, "Sagepaw! Sagepaw!" The rest of the clan joined in. Icewing ran over to me, "You're a mentor! Why didn't you tell me Snowstar had chosen you?" She asked. "I didn't know." I replied truthfully. I felt my heart bursting with pride, I was a mentor!