Hello! Have I kept you waiting? That's the point! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Hee-hee. Okay, since you have all been waiting so patiently, let's say… August 23rd? You like? Good! Okay, and now, the chapter you've all been waiting for!

Chapter 10

Skypaw stood petrified at the Highrock. Most cats went home silently, bewildered that they had been in the presence of Starclan itself, in the form of Bluestar and Spottedleaf, two of the most legendary Thunderclan cats since the time of the great clans, who had defended Skypaw. Some nodded in acknowledgement of her as she left. Skypaw just stood there, unable to believe what had happened. But, just when she was about to head back to camp, Mistpaw stepped up to the Highrock. "Hi, Skypaw," he said.

Skypaw turned away from him. "Don't," she choked on her words. "Don't act like this changes anything! Now that you know I'm really a Twoleg, we can never be… well… you know…"

"Why?" said Mistpaw in a sudden warrior-like voice. "I still care about you like I did when we stared from across the river. Don't think for one minute that this can't be possible just because of who you truly are. You're a cat now. What does it matter anymore? I… I really care for you, Skypaw. Nothing can change that. Nothing at all."

Skypaw looked up at Mistpaw with big blue eyes filled with thanks. He glanced around the clearing, making sure no one else had heard him. Then Mistpaw heard his mentor calling, and with one last look, he disappeared into the bracken.

Skypaw stood alone on the Highrock. Then, Whitepaw and Spiderpaw appeared. "Skypaw?" Said Whitepaw. The two stepped onto the Highrock, gathered on either side of her, and helped her off it. "It's okay now, Skypaw. It's over. You did it." Said Whitepaw.

"That was truly amazing," said Spiderpaw. "By the way, who's the Riverclan apprentice?" The latter part of his sentence had a touch of hostility in it.

"No one," said Skypaw. "And it wasn't me that proved myself. It was Starclan!" She was overwhelmed, and looking forward to a nice long sleep. So much had happened! 1 week ago, if you had told her as Miranda, still a Twoleg, that she was going to find her lost cat, join a wild cat clan, and start to believe in something she didn't know existed, all in three days, she would have thought of you to be crazy. But now, her whole life had changed. In just three days, she already had friends, a very close tom-friend, respect, and a good teacher, which was hardly what could be said about her Twoleg life.

As the three apprentices approached the Thunderclan camp, Skypaw realized that the whole of Thunderclan was waiting for her. Firestar stood at the Highrock. He turned his head to make sure she was there, and then, with a smile, he turned his head towards his clan and flicked his tail.

Everyone began chanting, "Skypaw! Skypaw! Skypaw! Skypaw! Skypaw!" Graystripe, Longtail, Firestar, even Whitepaw and Spiderpaw. Skypaw was moved. They were congratulating her! As the chants continued, Skypaw got her strength back and started walking through the crowd. Firestar flicked his tail again and the chants stopped, and the clan moved back. Skypaw turned to face Firestar. "Skypaw," he said. "By proving yourself worthy to live among us, you have shown incredible courage. After consulting with Graystripe, we agree that you are ready to receive your warrior name. Now, I call-"

"Stop," said Skypaw.

The clan gasped, Whitepaw and Spiderpaw in particular. "Surely Skypaw would jump at the chance to become a warrior!" Spiderpaw muttered to Whitepaw.

"Thank you, Firestar and Graystripe," Skypaw said. "I am flattered that you think I am ready to receive my warrior name. But I have yet to learn the Warrior Code. I barely know how to hunt and battle. I think it is best if I continue my apprentice training."

The clan began to murmur. Firestar flicked his tail again for silence. "You are a wise cat, Skypaw. You may keep your apprentice name for now. We honor your courage at the gathering." He said.

"Oh, please. I didn't do anything. Starclan defended me," Said Skypaw.

The cats who attended the gathering nodded in agreement. "That is true. You still were very brave by stepping on the Highrock. But if you say so." Firestar said to Skypaw. "This meeting is over." He said to his clan. The cats of Thunderclan began to walk to their separate dens. Graystripe came over to Skypaw. "You've been through enough in the past few days," he said. "I'm going to let you rest tomorrow."

"Thank you, Graystripe," Skypaw said. And without another word, she padded to the apprentice den. Whitepaw helped her curl up once inside, for last night she had sat vigil, an unusual thing for an apprentice, and had yet to learn to curl up like a cat. She felt a bit weird about the way she was curled up at first, but before she knew it, she was asleep.

Late into the night, Whitepaw lay awake, tossing and turning. She looked over at her friend, sound asleep. Poor thing, she thought. Skypaw doesn't know having a relationship with one from another clan is against the warrior code. Whitepaw looked away again. Tomorrow, I have to warn her. But it won't be easy. They're practically in love. She sighed. I have to. Who knows what will become of her otherwise? Whitepaw felt sleep coming, and began to drift away from consciousness. Tomorrow, she thought. And Whitepaw fell asleep.

Soooo? Whaddya think? Review! No suspense-building questions today, but look for chapter 11 coming August 23rd!