CHAPTER NINE

"Mothflower, come here."

It had been two moons since Robinheart had given birth, and she had been eating a vole when Lionstar had called to her. Surprised, she followed him into his den. Floodfang, Willowstripe, Dawnpetal, Mouseclaw, and Russetfang were also there. Willowstripe moved over to make room in the crowded den for her.

"It is time for Nightpaw, Scorchpaw, Brackenpaw, Splashpaw, Sunpaw, and Flowerpaw to have their final assessments. Since so many of them will be assessed at the same time we will have six different cats watch them. You will have Flowerpaw."

"Okay," meowed Mothflower. "When will they be assessed?"

"Very soon," replied Lionstar. "Be ready. Russetfang, you will assess Splashpaw, Willowstripe, watch Sunpaw. Nightpaw will be watched by Floodfang, Dawnpetal will see to Brakenpaw, and Mouseclaw will have Scorchpaw." He waved his tail, dismissing them.

"Dawnpetal, will you go wake the apprentices, please?" asked Floodfang. Dawnpetal hurried to the apprentice's den and came out with them.

"Today are your final assessments!" Floodfang meowed to them. "You are to hunt as much as you can until sunhigh. A cat will be watching you. Now, if you're hungry, get some fresh-kill." All six apprentices headed for the fresh-kill pile. After they ate they headed into the forest and split up. Mothflower shadowed Flowerpaw. Flowerpaw halted almost immediately and started stalking a thrush. It was struggling to pull a worm out of the ground and did not notice the hunter. Flowerpaw lunged when she was close enough and killed it with a swift blow. She buried it to collect it later. Careful to stay in the bushes, she followed Flowerpaw's movements as she pounced on a squirrel. After scraping earth over that, she opened her jaws and scented rabbit. There it was, by a large oak tree. As the apprentice stalked it she accidentally stepped on a twig. It snapped loudly, and the rabbit started to run. Flowerpaw chased it, and Mothflower had to run to follow her. She suddenly stumbled, and waves of pain ran up her leg. She had fallen into a rabbit hole! She sent silent thanks to StarClan that Flowerpaw had killed the rabbit and not kept chasing it. She set her paw carefully on the ground, thankful that it had recovered.

Flowerpaw continued her good progress, catching another squirrel and two mice. By that time the sun was overhead, so Flowerpaw dug up her prey and headed back to camp.

Mothflower reported back to Lionstar on Flowerpaw's excellent hunting skills. After the other apprentices returned Lionstar called a Clan meeting. The six apprentices were behaving like kits out of ecstasy.

"We have six apprentices that are ready to become warriors! I, Lionstar, leader of LightningClan, 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. Sunpaw, Nightpaw, Splashpaw, Flowerpaw, Brackenpaw, Scorchpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your lives?"

"I do," Sunpaw meowed.

"I do," Nightpaw mewed. The other apprentices echoed their mews.

"Then, by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Sunpaw, you shall be known as Sunfur. Nightpaw, you shall be known as Nightshade. Flowerpaw, you shall be known as Flowertail. Brackenpaw, you shall be known as Brackenflower. Scorchpaw, you shall be known as Scorchpelt. Splashpaw, you shall be known as Splashheart. StarClan honors all of your abilities, and we welcome you as full members of LightningClan."

"Splashheart! Sunfur! Nightshade! Flowertail! Brackenflower! Scorchpelt!"

"You will sit vigil tonight," Lionstar commanded the new warriors. "Also, I have one more announcement. Stonewhisker, is it your wish to move to the elder's den?"

"It is," Stonewhisker replied.

"Very well. May StarClan grant you many seasons of rest." Stonewhisker padded to the elders, who were sitting outside their den to see the ceremony. Willowtail rasped her tongue over his ear in welcome.

"Now, Floodfang, please organize some patrols." Floodfang nodded and started gathering cats. Mothflower snatched a squirrel from the fresh-kill pile. "Splashheart, are you on a patrol?" she called.

"No, I was just going to get some fresh-kill," he answered.

"You can share with me," she invited. Splashheart accepted her invitation and settled down beside her. Mothflower noticed Waterclaw watching through narrowed eyes. Lowering her head to take another bite, she deliberately avoided Waterclaw's gaze. Splashheart saw Waterclaw watching, too, and he narrowed his eyes right back until Waterclaw looked away.

"Splashheart!" It was Floodfang. "You're on patrol!"

"What about me?" Mothflower asked.

"I need help collecting herbs!" Mossleaf emerged from the medicine den. "I want to collect catmint before the frosts come."

"I'll come!" Mothflower mewed. "I don't have anything to do."

She followed her sister out of camp. "Where are we going?"

"There's a shady spot by a brook. None has been picked all greenleaf, so there's bound to be a lot of catmint. There it is!"

There was a lot of tree cover. A small brook ran downhill and formed a small pool. Catmint was growing abundantly around the small pool. Mossleaf ran over and grabbed a large mouthful. Mothflower did the same, resisting the urge to swallow one of the mouthwatering leaves. They brought the catmint back to camp, then returned to the pool and catmint. They made several trips until sunset. They shared fresh-kill, then Mothflower went to her nest in the warrior's den and fell asleep.

"Want to go hunting with me?" asked Splashheart. It had been two moons since his warrior ceremony, and leaf-fall was fully upon them. It would soon be leaf-bare.

"Sure," mewed Mothflower, pleased that she would be hunting with the brown-and-white warrior. They headed out of camp. Not long after they left Mothflower saw a squirrel, fat from feasting on nuts all leaf-fall. She stalked it, placing her paws down slowly to keep the leaves from crunching beneath her. She pounced and killed it quickly.

"That was a great catch!" Splashheart exclaimed. "You know, you're a really good hunter." He leaned in closer.

Mothflower found herself leaning toward him. "You're not a bad hunter yourself," she mewed.

"It's not only your hunting I admire," Splashheart went on. "I like every part of you." He came closer, pressing his body against her. Usually Mothflower would have shied away, but for some reason she didn't want to. "I…Mothflower, I love you."

Mothflower was startled. She hadn't known about Splashheart's feelings for her. She thought for a bit. "I love you too, Splashheart." She twined his tail with his, and felt a purr rising in her throat. Just then she noticed Waterclaw in the bushes, watching with a look of ultimate fury. Splashheart must have seen him, too, for he disentangled himself from Mothflower and mewed, "Let's keep hunting."

Later they returned to camp laden with fresh-kill. Splashheart shared prey with Mothflower, and they shared tongues before heading to the warrior's den to sleep.