Chapter 9

"How is she doing, Stormcloud?"

Moonpaw crept closer to hear the silvery she-cat and Stormcloud talking.

She had followed him out of camp one day and tracked him to this spot on the ShadowClan-ThunderClan border.

"She's doing fine. She's almost done her training." Stormcloud replied to Rainfur.

The she-cats voice was stretched with worry. "Zipleg was just made a warrior. Why wasn't she?"

"Firestar obviously sped up his training, Rainfur. He's a warrior now you don't have to worry about him anymore."

Rainfur spat out "He's your son, Stormcloud! Yet you ignore him!"

Moonpaw's eyes widened. Stormcloud was Zipleg's father? That meant- Stormcloud was Rainfur's mate! But by the sound of it they had stopped meeting each other for a while now.

"She will receive her name soon," Stormcloud mewed.

"Way to change the subject, dear."

Stormcloud flinched. "You talked to her at the Gathering wasn't that enough?"

"Quiet!" Rainfur hissed. "I have to go."

"You'll see Moonpaw soon," Stormcloud said reassuringly.

Rainfur nodded and left.

What?

Moonpaw was astounded. Why was Rainfur and Stormcloud so interested in her?

Shaking her head, she collected the prey she had caught prior to overhearing the conversation and padded back to camp.

/

"ShadowClan we attack tomorrow!" Amberstar yowled the next sunrise.

Moonpaw wasn't the only one not cheering, Overstep, Buzzwhisker, Badgerfang and some others were shaking their heads.

Stormcloud padded up to Amberstar and whispered something in her ear.

"Shadeclaw, Ridgepath, Thornpaw Moonpaw and Archpaw step forwards."

Eyes wide, Moonpaw and her denmates stepped forwards.

"Ridgepath has your apprentice Thornpaw completed the necessary requirements to become a warrior?"

Ridgepath nodded.

"Then by the power StarClan granted me from now on, Thornpaw you shall be known as Thornblaze. Serve ShadowClan well and defeat its enemies." Amberstar said and Thornblaze respectively licked her shoulder.

"I myself have looked over Archpaw's training and I say he is ready. Archpaw from now on your warrior name shall be Archstorm. ShadowClan will need your energy and compassion."

Archstorm licked Amberstars's shoulder and stepped back.

"Shadeclaw, has Moonpaw finished her training according to the Clan Code?"

Shadeclaw mewed "With flying colors."

"Then Moonpaw your name shall be Moonbeam and I hope your courage and willingness for your Clan will make you a strong warrior."

Moonbeam stepped forwards and noticed Timberstripe looking sadly at her and Stormclouds eyes shining with pride.

I need to question him about his conversation with Rainfur, she thought.

"Thornblaze! Archstorm! Moonbeam! Thornblaze! Archstorm! Moonbeam!" the Clan cried.

Moonbeam walked over to Timberstripe. "We need to talk."

The cat she had once thought was her mother nodded and drew her away.

"Moonbeam," she began, "I love you. I always have. But-"

"I know."

Timberstripe stepped back. "You know?"

Moonbeam nodded. "Tinyfeather told me…"

Timberstripe sighed. "That's not the way I planned to tell you, but just know I love you and never regretted taking you in."

Moonbeam smiled, even though tears were in her eyes. "When were you going to tell Thornp-blaze and Archstorm?"

Timberstrip shrugged. "Does it matter?"

Moonbeam licked her fur. "It doesn't. I will always call you mother."

Tears were evident in the older she-cats eyes as she smiled.