Chapter 8
Tigerclaw pressed his muzzle into Firestar's fur. "Come on, Firestar, stay with us," he pleaded.
"I-I'm not going anywhere," Firestar rasped, his eyes narrowed in pain.
"Oh, thank Starclan," Squirrelpaw cried, pressing her muzzle into Firestar's fur.
Firestar purred and tried to stand up, but stumbled. Mistystar pressed her pelt against his. "Just lay down, Firestar, Cinderpelt, Leafpaw and Mudfur are on their way," she meowed.
Firestar nodded and sank down onto the ground, wincing at the pain in his side and shoulder.
A moment later, some nearby bushes rustled and Leafpaw bursted into the open, her jaws were full of herbs. She instantly went to Firestar's side and set down the herbs.
Cinderpelt and Mudfur also padded into the open. Leafpaw sniffed Firestar's wounds before moving aside to let the Thunderclan medicine cat get a look at the wounds.
"They are really deep," Cinderpelt commented, "but you should survive." She handed Leafpaw some leaves that Tigerclaw recognized as marigold. Leafpaw started chewing them up.
She handed the marigold Cinderpelt who started putting it on Firestar's wounds.
Firestar winced but didn't complain as Cinderpelt worked.
Mudfur was helping to take care of the Riverclan cats as well as some Thunderclan cats.
"I'm fine," Tigerclaw meowed as Mudfur padded toward him.
"Let me just check," Mudfur meowed, through a mouthful of herbs.
Tigerclaw sighed but didn't argue as Mudfur checked his pelt. "You'll live," he commented as he put some marigold on Tigerclaw's scratches.
When Cinderpelt finished, Mistystar and Tigerclaw helped to support Firestar as he struggled to his paws.
"Come on, let's get back to camp," Firestar rasped.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
By the time they got back to camp, traveling slowly for Firestar's benefit, it was almost sunset. Cinderpelt and Leafpaw padded close beside Firestar. Mistystar, Stormfur and the five apprentices padded behind them.
Squirrelpaw padded beside her sister at the head of the group, occasionally questioning whether Firestar will be alright or not.
"Hi Tigerclaw," Tigerclaw glanced up to find Feathertail at his side.
"Oh, hi Feathertail," Tigerclaw purred, his amber eyes locking with Feathertail's own blue ones.
Feathertail glance at Firestar, concern in her blue eyes. "I hope Firestar will be alright," she meowed.
"Me too," Tigerclaw meowed.
Are you there? You said you would come, where are you? A familiar voice whispered into Tigerclaw's mind.
Tigerclaw froze, I've been busy, he thought back.
Well, please hurry, we are lost and we can't find our way through the forest we are lost in, please help us, the strange cat meowed into his ear.
I'll leave after the next full moon, Tigerclaw thought back.
When's that? The strange cat thought back.
The day after tomorrow, Tigerclaw replied, because he knew tomorrow was the gathering.
Okay, please be true to your word, the strange cat whispered into his mind before it was gone.
Tigerclaw sighed and padded onward until he was standing in front of the medicine cat's den.
"Are you okay, Tigerclaw?" Feathertail asked, catching up with Tigerclaw as he slipped into the medicine den.
"I'm fine," Tigerclaw meowed, "just something on my mind."
"You know you can talk to me," Feathertail meowed, her blue eyes were wide.
"I know, but I can't," Tigerclaw meowed because he hardly understand. He didn't even know who was talking to him in his mind.
"Okay," Feathertail meowed, her blue eyes glowed for a split second before she padded off.
Cinderpelt padded toward Tigerclaw and began to check his wounds. "Mudfur was right, you weren't hurt that much in the battle" she commented, "they weren't serious when Mudfur checked them and they aren't now."
Tigerclaw nodded and looked toward Firestar, who was laying next to Mistystar outside the medicine cats den.
"Firestar will be alright," Cinderpelt meowed, following his gaze.
Tigerclaw sighed, "let's hope so," he meowed.
A moment later, Firestar scrambled to his paws and, with Mistystar supporting him, he slowly made his way over to the high rock.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath the highrock for a clan meeting," Firestar yowled, making no effort to climb the high rock. Mistystar sat down beside him as the Thunderclan and Riverclan warriors padded into the clearing.
"Cats of Thunderclan and Riverclan," Firestar began, "today we meet some rogues on our territory, next to the Shadowclan border, keep an eyes out for them and report whatever you find to me or Graystripe."
Mistystar nodded, "the same goes for Riverclan," she meowed.
"And thats not all, Shrewpaw, Whitepaw and Spiderpaw please step forward," Firestar meowed.
Shrewpaw, Whitepaw and Spiderpaw looked up startled but did as they were told.
"These three apprentices did well in the battle and Mousefur, Thornclaw and Brackenfur have agreed, it is time these three apprentices gained their warrior names," Firestar meowed.
Shrewpaw, Whitepaw and Spiderpaw glanced at each other in surprise.
Firestar lifted his head to stare at the darkening sky. "I, Firestar, leader of Thunderclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon these apprentices, they have trained hard to understand your warrior code and I command them to you as warriors in their turn," he meowed.
He locked gazes with the three apprentices before going on, "Shrewpaw, Whitepaw, Spiderpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, to protect and defend this clan even at the cost of your life?" he meowed.
"I do," Shrewpaw meowed.
"I do," Whitepaw meowed.
"I do," Spiderpaw meowed.
"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you you're warrior names, Spiderpaw, from this moment on, you'll be known as Spiderleg, Starclan honors you're courage and you're patience and we welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan," Firestar meowed, and stepping forward, he rested his muzzle on Spiderleg's bowed head. He licked his shoulder in return before going to stand beside the other warriors.
"Whitepaw, from this moment on, you'll be known as Whitewing," Firestar meowed, "Starclan honors your determination and you're bravery and we welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan." He stepped forward and rested his muzzle on Whitewing's bowed head. She licked his shoulder in return before going to sit beside her mother, Brightheart.
"Shrewpaw, from this moment on, you'll be known as Shrewfur, Starclan honors your courage and you strength and we welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan," Firestar meowed and rested his muzzle on Shrewfur's bowed head. He licked his shoulder in return before going to stand beside his mother, Ferncloud.
"Shrewfur, Whitewing, Spiderleg," the clan chanted.
"As is tradition, Shrewfur, Whitewing and Spiderleg, you must sit in silent vigil while the rest of us sleep," Firestar meowed.
The three new warriors nodded and the clan parted to let them take up their positions.
"Come on, Tigerclaw, lets get some sleep," Feathertail's voice sounded in Tigerclaw's ear.
Tigerclaw nodded and followed Feathertail as she lead the way toward the warriors den.
A/n what do you think?
Stardream: please review, I won't post the next chapter until I get three more reviews
Tigerstar: yeah, considering the jour...
Stardream: shut up, Tigerstar (kicks Tigerstar off cliff)
Tigerstar: I'm sorry!! (lands in lake)
Stardream: ha, ha, ha, ha, thats funny, please review, next chapter soon