Chapter 11!
I woke up by the stick, Jayfeather was looking at my worriedly. "Are you ok?" He meowed nervously. I got up and brushed my tail along his flank. "I'm fine." I murmered quietly. I was feeling kind of awkward. He had said he loved me! I never knew he liked me that way. When I thought back though, we did seem like a couple.
As we walked into the dark camp, the moon was starting to fade over the horizon line. Making the camp a little lighter. I padded into the apprentices den and curled up, feeling the light chilly breeze ruffle my fur. I knew that I wouldn't actually have time to sleep but I decided to make myself look asleep. It wasn't long before they started waking up. I slowly got up, stretching even though I didn't need to.
Brambleclaw sent Lionblaze, Sorreltail, Ambereyes, and I to patrol around Windclan. They've been thinking were stealing their prey for about a moon and they might be planning to attack anytime now. We padded steadily to the Shadowclan border. The ground ahead was wet and marshy, that's Shadowclan's territory. I couldn't imagine living in a place so disgusting.
As I padded up with the patrol the scent became even stronger than usual! Sorreltail had too, she signaled for us to hide in the undergrowth. We padded more into our territory and eventually saw what looked like all their warriors heading for the camp! The patrol fled to the camp. Brambleclaw raced up, apparently seeing how nervous we were. "Shadowclan's attacking!" Sorreltail screeched loudly. The queens eyes turned scarred and they raced to the nursery with their kits. "Ok, were going to separate into two patrols. I'll lead the first patrol; I'm bringing, Lionblaze, Sorreltail, Cinderheart, Ambereyes, Tallpaw, Firepaw, and Waterpaw. Graystripe will lead the second patrol."
All the cats Brambleclaw had listed hurried to the forest right behind him. I saw some dark pelts in the undergrowth. I signaled to the patrol with my tail. Brambleclaw padded over and took the lead going that way. Brambleclaw crouched right where they were padding by swiftly. Then he signaled for us to wait for a signal before attacking. A couple moments later he waved his tail and leaped onto a Shadowclan she-cats back and started fighting.
We all jumped out and started fighting. I went to a apprentice named Underpaw that I had seen at gatherings before. We swayed around each other, waiting to jump. I leaped and landed on his back. He clawed at my ear but I was too quick. I bit his paw and he ran away yelping. I saw a big white tom heading for Brambleclaw, who was too worked up in a battle with the same she-cat as before to notice the tom. He was very big, I can't fight him, but I have to prevent him from getting Brambleclaw into a fight against two full grown warriors. Starclan, please help me fight him!
I went over and leaped fiercely at the big tom. Surprised he reared around and starred at me amusingly. Rage burned through my eyes. I clawed at his head. A trickle of blood oozed from his head. He was getting serious now. He jumped at me but I ducked and bit his foreleg. I ran back and forth by him, He may be stronger, but I'm faster and cleverer!
He clawed at my back and even though I darted quickly, he managed to get a little bit of my fur off. I jumped onto his back and tried to pull him over but he was too big! Then I saw Bluestar appear next to me but she didn't pull him the rest of the way for me. Instead she encouraged me and whispered tips to me. I closed my eyes and felt like I was in a totally different body, because my strength was incredible!
I easily knocked him over to the ground and bit one of his legs. I released him and he fled off. When I looked around, I noticed that the second patrol had arrived and was scarring away the Shadowclan cats. My hard pounding, I padded up to Sorreltail, who was starring at me shockingly. "You do know that you just won a battle against Blackstar?" Sorreltail meowed in an amazed away. I hadn't paid much attention to what he looked like, except the size. We padded into camp proudly; the clan rushed out and showered us with questions. Firestar had ended up leading the second patrol, and he headed up to the rock to address a clan meeting. "I'd like to pronounce four new warriors to the clan." Firestar called over the cats. I wonder which cats? Tallpaw, Firepaw, Tigerpaw, and Waterpaw please come up. Shocked and dazzled, I padded up stand by my brothers in front of Firestar.
"I, Firestar, leader of Thunderclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these four apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn." He paused and looked at us respectfully. "Tallpaw, Firepaw, Tigerpaw, and Waterpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this clan, even at the cost of your lives?" Firestar repeated the words I had always dreamed of being said to me one day. 'I do." We all said at the same time in mature voices. "Then by the power of Starclan I give you your warrior names." Firestars fur brushed Tallpaws. "Tallpaw, from this moment you shall be known as Tallwhisker. Starclan honors your determination and skills." Firestar turned his gaze to Firepaw.
"Firepaw, from this moment you shall be known as Firepelt. Starclan honors your bravery and fairness." Firestar turned his gaze yet again, this time to Tigerpaw. "Tigerpaw, from this moment you shall be known as Tigereyes. Starclan honors your strength and fierceness in battle." My heart clenched as Firestar looked at me steadily.
"Waterpaw, from this moment you shall be known as Watershine. Starclan honors your kindness and thoughtfulness." Firestar finished the ceremony with a proud look at the four of us. "All four of you will keep watch of the camp tonight." Firestar's gaze while he meowed that looked sympathetic. But I didn't mind, I wouldn't of been able to fall asleep anyway, because she was so excited.
I looked over to the medicine cat den, and Jayfeather was sitting in front of it, looking at me with a gaze of love in his blind eyes. He must know I'm over here because of my scent. I would of returned the gaze but I didn't want the clan to know that we were in love. I never thought we were and I was trying not to, but I can't hold my heart in anymore. I love him…More then you could every imagine…………………..
