Because Mr. Webb had never been a warrior, they had a warrior and elder ceremony combined. It had taken Leafpaw and Silverpelt a long time to think of the ceremony's words, and a suitable name for him.
"I Silverpelt of Noclan, call upon our warrior ancestors to look down upon this man. He, even when in doubt, was strong and faithful, coming back to your noble ways, and I commend him to you as a warrior and an elder in turn." Mr. Webb. Do you swear to uphold the warrior code even at the cost of your life? Will you do this, even in the Elder's den?"
"I do," he swore.
"Then, by the powers of Starclan, I give you your new name. Mr. Webb, from this moment on, you shall be known as Trueheart. We honor you, and call upon Starclan give you many seasons of rest."
"Trueheart! Trueheart! Trueheart!" chanted the assembled children. Trueheart blushed, and waited for silence.
"I would like to say something," he started, "I am the oldest here, but in many ways, also the youngest. I hope that I will be able to understand the noble ways that you bind yourselves with, and I hope that you will help me on this journey. Thank you."
The kids cheered again.
"Okay!" shouted Silverpelt over the din, "Everyone, asleep. We've had a big day, and we need rest. There's going to be a patrol at six o'clock tomorrow morning. I'm going, Whiteclaw, and...Ravenpelt. Okay?"
They nodded, for they were all exhausted. The antics of the day, patrols, and finally awkward battle training had made them all very tired. They trooped into the caves, settled down and went to sleep. Trueheart bedded down with his son.
Leafpaw, and Grasspaw, however tired they were, did not sleep. They were awaiting a lesson.
"Leafpaw?" Grasspaw asked. "Why aren't we sleeping? Won't we learn in dreams?"
"I...don't know. But I feel that we're supposed to be awake."
"Oh."
A few minutes later, they were both asleep.
"Finally!"
"They're here!"
Leafpaw looked around groggily. Then she leaped up. Looking around, she realized that she was in Leafpool's den. And, she realized, I'm a cat!
"Wow!" she exclaimed, "I'm here! I mean, I'm sorta here. I mean...Wow.."
Someone chuckled.
"So these are the new medicine cats? They don't smell like cats."
"Who are you?" asked Leafpaw, confused.
Then she realized. A slightly stocky build, whitish eyes, gray fur...Jaypaw!
"Jaypaw," was the sarcastic reply.
"Are you helping with my training too?" she asked incredulously. Leafpool grimaced.
"He wasn't invited."
Leafpaw understood. He had used his...talents to enter their dreams.
"Oh..." she paused. "Hey, where's Grasspaw?"
Jaypaw snorted. "What a stupid name!"
Leafpool and Leafpaw hissed simultaneously, "You weren't invited to pass a comment."
Then they looked at each other, and laughed. Jaypaw scowled.
"Fine, if you don't want my help, I'll leave!"
But, of course, he didn't leave. He loved being in mysterious, unwelcoming dreams too much.
Leafpaw turned around and looked beside her. A small, light bracken colored cat lay curled on her side next to her. She had creamy tabby-stripes, and a white front paw.
"Oy, Grasspaw, wake up!" she said, prodding her apprentice with one forepaw.
Her apprentice raised a head, looked around, stared at her paws for a moment, and fainted dead away.
Jaypaw snickered. Leafpool smacked him over the head with her paw, then went to the back of her cave for some herbs. She beckoned Leafpaw to follow her.
"So," she asked, pushing a pile of herbs toward Leafpaw, "Do you know these herbs?"
Leafpaw gave them a cautious sniff and was extremely gratified when she recognized the scent.
"Chamomile"
"Very good."
Jaypaw snorted again. "Come on! I knew that when I was in the nursery!"
Leafpaw gave him her delux, super special 'be quiet if you know what's good for you' stare, but it was wasted on him; he was blind.
Leafpool pushed another pile at her. "I expect you won't know this."
Leafpaw sniffed deeply. Ugh, smells like soap... "I don't know. But because they're berries, I'm guessing juniper."
"Correct," the other cat mewed.
She gestured to a very small pile of spearmint-shaped leaves with her tail.
"What about those?" asked Leafpool.
Leafpaw sniffed it. It smelled sharp and acrid. And she recognized the shape of the leaves...No, it couldn't be-
"Poison Ivy?" Leafpaw exclaimed. Leafpool nodded again.
"Excellent, Leafpaw. You have a natural gift for herbs."
Leafpaw glowed. "Thanks. But do you have any herbs to wake someone up from sleep?"
"Yes. Now watch closely."
She pulled out small rock with a natural hollow in it. It was filled with a strong smelling, viscous liquid which she dabbed a bit onto a thick piece of moss, and placed it over Grasspaw's nose. Grasspaw immediately woke.
"Ackh grumph!" she mumbled around the wad of moss covering her mouth and nose. She batted away Leafpool's paw and drew a relieved breath.
"What was that?!" she asked. "It was gross."
Leafpool let out an amused purr.
"Peppermint paste." she said, happily licking her paw, "If you mix it with honey, it tastes great! It also smells really strong and wakes up unconscious cats immediately!"
"Well, I'm never going to have it!" Grasspaw meowed.
Leafpaw purred, enjoying the feel of the vibration down to her tail. Wait! She had a tail! Wow! She swished it back and forth, then made it dance across Grasspaw's ears.
"What in the name of Starclan are you doing?!" asked Jaypaw.
"What? Oh, sorry," she felt her face under her fur grow hot. "I'm just not used to having a tail."
Leafpool chuckled. (And yes, cats can chuckle)
Grasspaw did too. And then she discovered her whiskers.
"Oh, wow, this is cool!" she said, happily twitching her whiskers. Jaypaw rolled his sightless eyes.
"Wow, whiskers! What next? Moveable ears?" He commented.
"Oh, I've always wanted to move my ears!" exclaimed the human-cats in unison. Their ears started to move frantically.
Leafpool stopped laughing.
"Ok, let's get to our lesson," she commanded. "Spottedleaf will be here shortly."
Well, thanks to all who reviewed the last chapter!
Anonymous: Don't you have another name? just curious! anyway, I'm glad you like the chapter! (sniff, sniff!)
Melody: Thanks for tidbit of info! Saki: I'm glad it's your favorite! : :)
Anonymous: I think there are two of you. I think...Well, if there are, thanks for reviewing! I don't know...:)
Owly!!
