Chapter 19

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The clan gathered around her as Nightclaw told them about her dream and what it meant. She also explained how she had come from a clan to the members who had yet to find out. Goldfur was the first to speak after the astonishing news.

"You can't go back there! Remember how they treated you?" Nightclaw flinched and snapped back,

"This isn't your choice or mine, DreamClan wants me to go back and that's it!" Goldfur's back bristled. She had only wanted the best for her friend! Silverpaw stepped in between them.

"Goldfur, Nightclaw had a hard time back there and she doesn't need you to point it out. Nightclaw don't be so hostile. We only want what's best for you.' She meowed. Goldfur nodded uncertainty and Nightclaw let her fur lay flat again. Suddenly Wishpaw stepped forward her eyes sad but firm.

"I can't do this anymore." She mewed.

"What do you mean?" Goldfur asked, her eyes wide in shock.

"I'm leaving." The black and white cat relied. "If Nightclaw goes what are we left with?"

"But we are all leaving together!" Goldfur told her puzzled. A confused look crossed Nightclaw's face.

"I can't leave my twolegs, I just can't." Wishpaw meowed sadly. Nightclaw padded forward.

"Hang on a minute, you can't leave with me, it's too dangerous! I might not even make it there." She told them determinedly.

"All the more reason for us to go. Don't try to stop us Nightclaw, we're coming with you and that's it." Goldfur meowed. Silverpaw nodded her head in agreement. It was clear that they weren't going to relent their decision so Nightclaw sighed and nodded. Then she turned to Wishpaw.

"So you aren't going to come?" She asked. Wishpaw shook her head.

"I don't think so, when are you leaving?" Nightclaw hesitated slightly, remembering the words DreamClan had spoken; 'you will know when the time comes.' Then she answered, though the words she spoke did not seem to be her own.

"Tomorrow." Wishpaw's face filled with sorrow.

"I guess I'd better leave then." She meowed. Nightclaw shook her head swiftly.

"Not yet, come forward Silverpaw." Silverpaw looked ecstatic as Nightclaw spoke the ritual words for the ceremony feeling proud of her apprentice. Her second apprentice was becoming a warrior! She had picked out Silverpaw's name to be very special due to the trouble she'd had with her other name.

"Do you promise to protect and defend this clan even at the cost of your own life?"

"I do." She replied, quivering in anticipation.

"Then by the powers of DreamClan I give you your warrior name. Silverpaw, from this day forward you shall be known as Silvermoon. DreamClan honours your insight and gentleness and I welcome you as a full warrior of ForestClan." Nightclaw finished letting the clan chant Silvermoon's name.

"If you are going to leave with me tomorrow night, you should probably sit a vigil." Silvermoon nodded silently.

"I should sit my vigil too then." Goldfur meowed, padding forward to sit down beside Silvermoon.

"So will I." Nightclaw added. Both her friends looked confused.

"Why do you need to? You're already a warrior." Silvermoon meowed.

"I never had a chance to sit a vigil before, so now it's time I became a true warrior." Nightclaw answered. Her former apprentice nodded, understanding in her eyes.

"Is that all? Should I leave now?" Wishpaw asked hesitantly. Nightclaw shook her head.

"One last thing." She meowed and bounded in front of the clan again. "Wishpaw come here." Wishpaw was uncertain as she moved forward. What going to happen? She wasn't ready to be a warrior and Nightclaw knew that too.

Nightclaw gazed thoughtfully at the apprentice. Would DreamClan approve? Then she took a deep breath, recalling the words she had heard long, long ago and began.

"I ask my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. She has learned the warrior code but has chosen another path. Let the forest know her as a warrior. Wishpaw, from now on you shall be known as Wishtail."

"Go safely and may DreamClan light your path." She meowed and bent down to place her muzzle on Wishtail's shoulder. Wishtail dipped her head in thanks and raced through the forest with the speed of DreamClan.

Nightclaw watched her leave with a heavy heart. She gazed up at the early stars as she sat down beside her friends for her vigil and hoped fervently that DreamClan approved.

The black cat got up and stretched as sunlight flooded the forest. Two cats on either side of her did the same. Silvermoon yawned widely and meowed,

"It was a long night." Goldfur nodded, her eyes laden with sleep.

"I didn't know that nights were as long as moons!" She joked tiredly.

"What do you want to do today?" Nightclaw meowed.

"We haven't face the gang yet." Goldfur growled. Silvermoon took a breath sharply. Nightclaw noticed it.

"If you don't want to we don't have to do this." She told the white cat gently. Silvermoon shook her head slowly.

"No, I gave my word." Nightclaw's gaze seemed to asked her, 'are you sure?' She nodded determinedly. She was going to do it.

Nightclaw's dark outline seemed to disappear in the shadows as she followed Goldfur through the twoleg place. Silvermoon was in front of her shivering but Nightclaw couldn't tell what from.

At last Goldfur stopped and scented the air.

"We're here." She meowed quietly.

A bit of a cliffhanger! For once. Do you like Silvermoon's new name? I love it but that's just me. Are you sorry Wishtail left? She wasn't quite suited to clan life. Next up ForestClan faces the gang! Will they suceed? Or will the gang chase them away?... Review or Silvermoon might just have an 'accident...'