AN: Finally got this all typed up. Riverspirit's point of view again, and this time she gets to fly some more :D Anyways, thanks everyone for your reviews, they're always appreciated! Enjoy the chapter!


Chapter 10

Pure joy coursed through Riverspirit as she flew circles in the air. Even hawks were wary of her presence. They kept a distance away from her - and rightfully so. Riverspirit eyed them cautiously just the same. Hawks were big enough to take a small kit - that was how Snowstorm had disappeared moons ago.

She landed on a branch and gazed down at the forest below. Her Clanmates were set out on different patrols. Whether it was hunting or border patrolling, they were kept busy. She spotted Leafpaw and Stormstar at the training hollow. Her whiskers twitched with worry as she wondered if Leafpaw would ever forgive her.

I ignored her when she was trying to help me, she thought with a lash of her tail. Leafpaw was only trying to be a friend when I needed one.

She let out a sigh before soaring into the sky once more. One of these days she would make it up to her old friend. Leafpaw had always been good at making friends. She on the other paw had difficulty mingling with other cats. Cedarclaw was about the only exception, and that was because they had been forced to chat.

Riverspirit reached the edge of ThunderClan's territory and looked down to see the Thunderpath. It was a windy, narrow path that seemed to go on forever. It cut through the mountains on one side, and through Twoleg nests on the other. To her left was Carrionplace where ShadowClan often hunted. Behind her was RiverClan's vast territory. And if she turned just right she could see WindClan's open land. She spotted a group of WindClan cats hunting near the Twoleg barn Barely lived in.

He's not going to take that well, she thought as she watched them stalk inside.

Of course WindClan was suffering from lack of prey. Mudstar was too proud to admit that his Clan was starving. She remembered what Cedarclaw had said at the Gathering. They looked like sticks and stones when they stood.

She flew down towards the forest as she realized how late it was getting. She had been practicing her flight for several days now. Her wings were strong and powerful like a hawks, maybe even better. Cedarclaw had told her that practice would mean she could hunt like a hawk.

Riverspirit's ears flattened when she landed on the lowest branch to the forest she could find. She spotted Brambleclaw's patrol returning from a hunt. Prey dangled limply from their jaws when they spotted her. Rainstorm looked up and narrowed his eyes.

"Have you been up there all day?" Brambleclaw demanded after dropping the three mice he'd caught.

"There's nothing in the warrior code that says I can't," she retorted when she climbed down to join them. She folded her wings and glared at Brambleclaw.

He was nothing more than a stuck-up furball. Riverspirit knew that he was all talk and no action. Rainstorm and Brightheart exchanged looks before Brambleclaw grabbed his mice and grunted in annoyance.

"Just make sure you bring back prey next time you're out," he muttered crossly.

Riverspirit's eyes rolled as she followed them back to camp. Brambleclaw wasn't the deputy, and she didn't expect him to become the next deputy when one was needed. He was ambitious and quick to fight.

Dusk had fallen over the forest by the time they returned. Riverspirit blinked in surprise when she saw that Stormstar was out of her den. She was speaking quietly to Brackenfur and Squirreltail. Both cats nodded in agreement when she said something that must have been important.

Riverspirit hung back as Brambleclaw approached his mate. He'd dropped the mice on the fresh-kill pile heartbeats before.

"Then it is settled," Stormstar meowed with a dip of her head. Without warning she climbed to the top of the Highrock. Riverspirit watched when she realized that Leafpaw and her siblings were about to become warriors. "Let all cats old enough gather around the Highrock for a Clan meeting!" Stormstar yowled.

Most of the Clan was already out of their dens. Mousefur, Longtail and Sandstorm peered outside once the call was made.

"It is time three apprentices became warriors," Stormstar began as she gazed down at the gathered Clan. "I believe that Leafpaw is ready, Sandstorm, Sootpelt, do you believe that your apprentices are ready?"

"Shalepaw is more than ready," Sootpelt replied.

"Emberpaw has learned everything she can," Sandstorm added.

"Then I, Stormstar, leader of ThunderClan, all upon my warrior ancestors so that they may look down upon 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. Shalepaw, Emberpaw, Leafpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your lives?" Stormstar looked down at them seriously, and each apprentice's face was filled with excitement and worry.

"I do," Shalepaw replied calmly.

"I do," Emberpaw's reply came out in a squeak.

"I do," Leafpaw's voice was filled with confidence as she gazed up at her mentor.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Shalepaw, from this moment on you will be known as Shalepelt. StarClan honors you for your courage and fighting skills, and we welcome you as a full member of ThunderClan." Stormstar jumped down to touch Shalepelt's forehead with her nose. In respect Shalepelt licked her shoulder.

"Emberpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Emberlight. StarClan honors you for your respect for life and ability to keep calm, even during the darkest times, and we welcome you as a full member of ThunderClan." Emberlight's eyes closed as Stormstar touched her forehead.

"Leafpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Leafheart. StarClan honors you for your speed and stamina, and we welcome you as a full member of ThunderClan." Leafheart's tail flicked from side to side when her former mentor touched her forehead.

Riverspirit swallowed as she watched them. For once she wasn't sure what to say as her old friend became a warrior. She knew that she should have been with them earning her warrior name. But Stormstar had given her a warrior name early.

And she thought that I wasn't going to make it, she thought bitterly.

She shook her head and tried not to think about it. Now was a time to celebrate - ThunderClan had more warriors that would keep the Clan strong. That was what mattered more than anything else.

"Shalepelt! Emberlight! Leafheart!" She joined in as the Clan chanted their names. Leafheart ducked her head in embarrassment, while Emberlight simply flicked a paw over her muzzle. Shalepelt's chest puffed out in pride when his name was called.

Once the ceremony was finished, Riverspirit hung back. The Clan had dispersed into groups. Squirreltail and Brambleclaw congratulated their kits after the meeting was over. Riverspirit purred in amusement when Shalepelt told his mother that he wasn't a kit anymore.

Riverspirit rose to her paws and moved over to the area she slept. She wasn't sure what to say to her old friend, and she doubted Leafheart would want to talk. Instead she eyed her old friend coolly before curling up with her tail wrapped over her nose. The time to talk would come later. For now she needed to sleep.


AN: What did you all think? I thought it was pretty decent, but not my best writing. Hopefully more chapters will come out after this :)