AN: he he, long time no see... here's a chapter, albeit a short one. I am going to re-write a couple of the previous chapters to better fit my arctic theme, so chapters will come even less often than before! Please mention any ways I'll be able to improve my writing, since that is my main reason to write here.
And sorry about any errors, I didn't proof read.
Stormpaw glanced at Willowpaw, whose pretty silver fur was perfect, not a hair out of place, smooth, but not slick, groomed, but still soft. Perfect was the only word to describe it. Sometimes Stormpaw wondered, why was Willowpaw so good-looking, when she was so, extremely, not. Yes, Stormpaw was strong and smart, and she preferred that to her sister's gentle nature and lithe form, but she wishes she could at least be elegant, not disproportionately long-legged and awkward. You'll grow into them, though you'll still be much bigger than Willowpaw and Silvermist, she thought, then realized what she had been moaning about. No! I can't be one of those cats that is always worrying about their appearance! Stormpaw was shocked at what she had been thinking and decided to push it out of her mind, at least until the ceremony was over.
She laughed. Falconpaw and Sparrowpaw were fighting over something that sounded like fur while Foxpaw was bouncing in excitement, oblivious to her siblings quarrel. A thought struck her, so she leaned over to Willowpaw to say, "What about Fireclan? Who's leader now?"
Willowpaw tilted her head, "Let's go ask them, though I don't think we'll get anything out of Foxpaw, she looks like she's about to burst with excitement."
"We can try," Stormpaw purred.
When the sisters mentioned Fireclan to Foxpaw, the ginger she-cat exclaimed, "Right! I nearly forgot, come on, meeting!" Foxpaw stopped her excited prancing to tell her littermates while Stormpaw and Willowpaw gathered the others in the apprentice den.
Foxpaw seated herself on the edge of her nest and attempted to look more leader-like but stopped after falling off. "As you know, we've been getting old. Falconflight, Sparrowfur and I are ready to join Dawnclan's ranks. I appoint Stormcloud as my successor and hope she will lead this clan for a long time to come. Stormcloud! Stormcloud!" Foxpaw started chanting.
"Foxstar, I am honored. But I have a question on Fireclan's history. Who taught you about Fireclan? You and your older siblings weren't in the apprentice den at the same time so how..."
Foxpaw bowed her head, lightheartedness gone. "His name was Volepaw. He died as an apprentice and left me leader, the only time when the deputy became leader without the previous leader graduating," she meowed sadly. Stormpaw reeled in shocked. An apprentice died? How? she wanted to know, but Stormpaw guessed right now wouldn't be the best time to ask. Foxpaw didn't seem to be in the mood.
Rainsong's head appeared in the den entrance. "Hurry up! You're ceremony is about to start" she hissed. As if on cue, Pinestar yowled the summonings.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the High Stump!"
The three littermates, soon to be warriors, scrambled to get outside. Mousepaw, Stormpaw, and Willowpaw waited somewhat patiently but Leafpaw was almost as excited as Foxpaw for the ceremony.
"Can you believe it? Our first warrior ceremony! Foxpaw, Falconpaw and Old Grumps are graduating, the den is going to be so empty without them, but I guess that means more space for us," Leafpaw gave an excited little bounce.
Willowpaw purred, looking fondly at the golden and yellow striped she-cat, but Stormpaw just sighed. It's going to be a long three moons without "Old Grumps" to shut her up. Surprisingly and unsurprisingly, respectively, Foxpaw nor Sparrowpaw didn't like Leafpaw, both saying that she talked too much. Both Stormpaw and Sparrowpaw cracked up when Foxpaw announced that.
"Hey, wake up, Falconpaw is getting his warrior name," Willowpaw whispered. Pinestar stood on the tallest part of the High Stump, a little platform that wrapped around a nest sized alcove of wood. Falconpaw crouched there while Pinestar spoke.
"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Falconpaw, from this moment you will be known as Falconheart. Starclan honors your bravery and humor and we welcome you as a full warrior of Dawnclan.
"Foxpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do."
"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Foxpaw, from this moment you will be known as Foxwind. Starclan honors your enthusiasm and ability to do what's right and we welcome you as a full warrior of Dawnclan.
"Sparrowpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do."
"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Sparrowpaw, from this moment you will be known as Sparrowfrost. Starclan honors your cleverness and loyalty and we welcome you as a full warrior of Dawnclan."
"Falconheart! Foxwind! Sparrowfrost! Falconheart! Foxwind! Sparrowfrost!" the clan yowled into the darkening sky.
o-o-o
"Doesn't Falconheart have a wonderful name? I wish they were still here, Leafpaw was right, it's so empty without them," Willowpaw meowed something else, but Stormpaw stopped listening after "Falconheart". She was concentrating on burrowing deep into her moss to escape the cold that was snaking its way into the apprentice den.
"It's much colder too," Stormpaw muttered, finally deep enough in her nest to be warm.
Willowpaw laughed, "You look like a rabbit with those two pieces of moss sticking out of your head." Stormpaw felt her sister's paw smooth down the moss gathered on her tabby head. A comfortable silence followed along with a sense of companionship. It lasted for a wonderful minute (these cats have minutes, deal with it) before a rather loud and obnoxious voice came bardging in.
"Blizzardpelt said I have behaved very well this quarter moon, and if I keep it up, I can go to the Gathering! What about you, Mousepaw? Has Owltalon said anything about you going? What do you think it's going to be like? There'll be lots of cats, we might even make friends in different clans!" Leafpaw chattered.
Mousepaw shrugged and to spare him from answering, Stormpaw whispered, "Sshh, please be quiet, Willowpaw is sleeping." Thankfully, Willowpaw took the hint, and inconspicuously assumed a sleeping posture, not moving enough for Leafpaw to notice but enough to look realistic. Mousepaw ducked his head shyly and mumered a quiet thank you his sister was out of ear-shot.
"Don't mention it. Besides, I'm Fireclan's leader now so I can do whatever I want," Stormpaw fixed her nest, which lay in pieces around the edge of her nest hollow. She shivered slightly, cold after getting out from under the moss and feathers. "Hmm... I'm going to need to insulate my nest better. Do you know any good places to find some reeds? I'm wondering, will I be able to weave the reeds with some grass to make a warmer nest? I would then lay bracken and moss with feathers on that. What do you think?"
"Um...uh...I know where there are reeds," Mousepaw meowed, his words loud and stumbling. He lowered his gaze, embarrassed. Stormpaw waited until he and Leafpaw were asleep to ask Willowpaw about his behavior. She rolled her eyes.
"Typical."
AN: I couldn't resist. Could you review? I'm feeling a little lonely!