Chapter 8
"Let all those cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the highrock for a clan meeting!" Dawnstar echoed, "We are gathered to welcome three apprentices as warriors" Dawnstar flicked her tail over to Goldenpaw, Eaglepaw and Dewpaw. Splashpelt was so proud, her belly was swollen with kits and two moons ago she had moved to the nursery. "I, Dawnstar, leader of ThistleClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as Warriors in their turn. Goldenpaw, Eaglepaw, Dewpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your lives?" Dawnstar asked, the three sibling glanced at eachother in excitement...
"We do" they replied together
"Then by the powers of SilverClan I give you your warrior names... Goldenpaw from this moment on you shall be known as Goldenwillow, ThistleClan and SilverClan alike honor you enthusiasm and kindness" Dawnstar named Goldenwillow, "Eaglepaw and Dewpaw, from this moment on you shall be known as Eaglewhisker and Dewstep, Eaglewhisker SilverClan honors you for your courage and spirit, Dewstep SilverClan honors you bravery and honesty" Dawnstar said.
"We now welcome Goldenwillow, Eaglewhisker and Dewstep as warriors of ThistleClan!" Dawnstar announced, "Goldenwillow! Eaglewhisker! Dewstep!" the Clan cheered. After the cheering stopped it took a few heartbeats before Splashpelt fell down, Swiftfoot ran over to his mate, she gazed at him with painful eyes "The kits are coming!" she gasped "Brightmist!" Swiftfoot called, "Imma comin'" she said running over, she had a stick and all different sorts of leaves in her jaws. Goldenwillow came over and helped Swiftfoot take Splashpelt into the nursery. It took her along time the clan gazed around the nursery waiting, for a sound, for a sign. Then Brightmist came out of the nursery "Swiftfoot you can go in, three healthy kits" Brightmist winked.
At the sound of this he zoomed in as fast as a rabbit could run, (this hences his name 'Swift'foot). "Swiftfoot" Splashpelt eyes full of happiness, "We've had three daughters". "They're beautiful" Swiftfoot replied gazing down at the three kits, two she-kits had his brown fur but one had white patches and the other had ginger fur like Splashpelt with a white underbelly, muzzle and front paws. "The first one, I would name Honeykit" Swiftfoot told her nuzzling one of the brown she-kits, "The other brown she-kit Fallowkit and the ginger one Gorsekit" Splashpelt finished off. "Honeykit, Fallowkit and Gorsekit... our little warriors". Honeykit stopped suckling for a moment and wandered blindly towards her father falling on his paw, (of course Swiftfoot was close). He giggled, then picks Honeykit up and lays her next to Splashpelt's belly.
Five sunrises past and Honeykit, Fallowkit and Gorsekit had opened their eyes. "Gorsekit! Catch!" Fallowkit called as she tossed a mouse towards the ginger she-kit, smacking her head "OWW!" she shouted then wailed in pain. "Fallowkit! You shouldn't play with your food!" Splashpelt scolded. Fallowkit looked down at her paws in shame, "Oh, I can't stay mad at you!" Splashpelt replied and then tickled Fallowkit's belly. "You're a natural mother" Heathereyes said as she opened one of her eyes to glance at the younger queen "Nettlekit, Rosekit why don't you play with them" Heathereyes suggested to the two kits who were playing leader "Sure" Rosekit replied and gently tackled Honeykit and Nettlekit joined in along with his sister, "Well they surely have my brothers spirit, I can't believe he got a soft spot for you" Splashpelt teased. "Well you'd better believe it" Heathereyes replied. "Momma! Momma! When can we be apprentices? You know like Bramblepaw, Lillypaw and Mothpaw?" Gorsekit asked still rubbing her head from the mouse attack "Well being honest another five or six moons" Splashpelt replied nuzzling Gorsekit affectionately.
"Alright who's hungry?" Swiftfoot asked padding towards the nursery with three mice and a vole in his jaws "Me! Me! Me!"