Dawn: Okay, here's chapter 8! I decided to NOT delete this, since threatening to delete it got people reading it.
Dusk: So, happy fans, you'll get to see the end unless you stop reviewing!
Dawn: I'm going for 10 reviews before tomorrow. If I don't get ten reviews by tomorrow, I'll not post tomorrow or Sunday. OR all next week.
Hollyleaf: Unless all the reviews are nice.
Dawn: I won't be able to post next week anyway. I'm going to Pismo! Whoo!
Hollyleaf: So read and REVIEW!!
"Okay, first we'll show you a defensive move," Brightheart told the apprentices. "Sorreltail, attack me." Sorreltail rushed at Brightheart, and Brightheart easily sidestepped, causing Sorreltail to skid on the sandy floor.
"Wow," Ivypaw said, impressed. "That was fast!"
"Would you like to go first, Bumblepaw?" Sorreltail asked him.
"Sure," Bumblepaw replied cheerfully. He walked up to Sorreltail, and hissed for effect,
"Come and get me, ShadowClan foxdung!"
"Puny apprentice," Sorreltail laughed. "I can take you down." She rushed at Bumblepaw, and Bumblepaw sidestepped. Sorreltail tripped.
"That was for effect," Sorreltail told them. "I didn't really trip."
"Suuuure," Brightheart said.
"Ivypaw, would you like to try?" Sorreltail asked.
"Sure," Ivypaw replied. She barely had time to think before Sorreltail leaped at her, but she realized she didn't have time to sidestep, so she pushed herself under Sorreltail before she landed. Sorreltail landed in a mass of fur and claws.
"Wow, how did you know to do that?" Sorreltail asked, spitting out a mouthful of grit.
"I didn't," Ivypaw stammered. "It just came to me."
"Looks like you've got a bit of Hollyleaf in you," Brightheart remarked. "She made a defensive move like that on her first try, too."
"Will you tell me about Hollyleaf?" Ivypaw asked.
"No, not now. We're training," Sorreltail interrupted as soon as Brightheart opened her mouth.
"Come on, show us something harder," Bumblepaw urged. They trained until well past sunhigh, a major feat for such young apprentices.
"Come on, let's go back to camp," Brightheart finally panted. "We've done enough for today."
"I agree," Sorreltail meowed. The four cats then half-limped out of the training hollow. When they reached camp, they were greeted by two enthusiastic apprentices.
"We're going to be made into warriors!" Rosepaw meowed excitedly.
"Let all cats old enought to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!" Firestar's yowl rang out.
"Come on!" Rosepaw said to Toadpaw. "Let's go up to the Highledge!" They bounded over to where Firestar was patiently waiting.
"Now it is time," he meowed when the Clan had gathered, "to welcome two new warriors of ThunderClan. "Rosepaw, Toadpaw, please come up to the Highledge. I, Firestar, leader of ThunderClan, 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. Rosepaw and Toadpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and protect and defend you Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do," replied Rosepaw excitedly, trembling.
"I do," Toadpaw said, slightly calmer.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Rosepaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Rosepetal. StarClan honors you energy and your enthusiasm, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." Firestar rested his muzzle on Rosepetal's head, and she respectfully licked his shoulder.
"Toadpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Toadspots. StarClan honors your courage and thoughtfulness, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." Toadspots did the same as Rosepetal.
"Rosepetal! Toadspots! Rosepetal! Toadspots!" the Clan chanted. Ivypaw noticed that Bumblepaw was only calling out Toadspots's name.
"Cats of ThunderClan," Firestar announced, and the Clan was quiet again. "The recent battle with WindClan may or may not go ignored. They may want revenge on the death of their apprentice, and so we must prepare. I want double patrols on the WindClan border, and every warrior prepared to fight. Carry on." The meeting broke up.
"That was a dramatic ending," the voice of Dovepaw came from behind Ivypaw.
"What, do you want to fight with WindClan?" Ivypaw hissed.
"No, I'm talking about you. You have waves of guilt coming off of you in waves," Dovepaw answered. "Is something wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong," Ivypaw muttered.
"So I heard you and Bumblepaw are together?" Dovepaw remarked casually.
"Not exactly. He just wants to be friends," Ivypaw answered. "He nearly ripped Rosepaw-- I mean, Rosepetal's pelt off when she told him she wanted to be his mate last night."
"So, did you know the Gathering's tonight?" Dovepaw asked, again changing the subject.
"Yeah. It's the full moon, right?" Ivypaw asked. "Firestar should be letting us know who's going any time now."
"Ivypaw! Dovepaw! You're coming to the Gathering tonight, okay?" Brambleclaw called from accross the camp.
"That was odd. You're a psychic!" Dovepaw laughed.
"Nah, coincidence," Ivypaw answered.
"I'm going to go visit Blazekit. See you later!" Dovepaw said. She padded toward the nursery, but a wail of pain interrupted her.
"My kits! They're coming! Someone, fetch Jayfeather!" came Poppyfrost's wail from the nursery. Jayfeather was already headed toward the nursery. Every few minutes, there was a wail of pain, or a 'Hold on, Poppyfrost! It's going to be all right!' from Mousewhisker. Finally, Jayfeather came out.
"She's had three kits!" he announced.
"Can we see?" Dovepaw asked.
"Okay. You and Ivypaw make sure you don't trample the newborns, okay?"
"All right," Dovepaw agreed. The two headed into the nursery.
"What will we name them?" Ivypaw heard Mousewhisker asking.
"I like Birdkit for the tortoiseshell with amber eyes," Poppyfrost murmered.
"She looks just like you," Mousewhisker mewed. "How about Seedkit for the gray tom with some tortoiseshell patches?"
"Great!" Poppyfrost replied. "You pick for the gray and white tom."
"I like Swiftkit," Mousewhisker answered.
"Birdkit, Seedkit, and Swiftkit," Mousewhisker murmured. "Welcome to ThunderClan."
Dawn: I enjoyed writing that chapter.
Dusk: It was very cute. Thanks to icethroat21 for the ideas for Poppyfrost's kits. Don't worry, Brightheart's still having kits!
Dawn: I will still use Maplekit, Falconkit, Hollykit, Snowkit, Cloudkit, and Duskkit, who were also sent in. They will be split between Brightheart and Squirrelflight, if you don't mind.
Hollyleaf: Yay, a kit's named after me!
Dawn: Anyway, please review!