Half of this chapter goes to EchoMoonFrost! She is an amazing friend and writer and everyone should go check her out!

Chapter 16: Warrior Ceremony

I woke to a golden paw nudging me. I cracked open my green eye to see Breezefern standing over me. "Firepaw, I was told to come get you. We are doing your Warrior Assessment today." I jumped up to my paws as she backed out of the den.

My Warrior Assessment. That means that I'll soon be a warrior! I shook the moss out of my fur and gave my chest a few quick swipes of my tongue. I picked my way past Cliffpaw, Shadepaw, Shadowpaw, Splashpaw, Icepaw, and Fallpaw. I hated waking them up. It was as if they were a nest of starlings! Breezefern was waiting for me by the camp entrance with Thrushcloud.

"Where's Brightheart?" I mewed glancing around to find my elderly white and ginger splashed mentor. Was she sick? I thought worriedly. I probably need to postpone my warrior assessment to take care of her.

Thrushcloud answered me, interrupting my train of thought. "Brightheart is fine. She is keeping an eye on the kits so the queens can get out to stretch their legs and hunt or take a walk." I nodded.

That must be it. No wonder she isn't here. She wants to give the queens their well-deserved break. I thought relieved.

The two littermates flicked their tails for me to follow and exited the tunnel. I hastily followed them. "So what are we going to do first?" I asked.

Breezefern spoke. "We are going to assess your hunting skills." I dipped my head in acceptance as we trotted further along into the territory. Once we reached the training hollow, Breezefern and Thrushcloud lined up in front of me. Their eyes gleamed with excitement. I looked from one to the other waiting for them to speak.

"Firepaw, you will be hunting along the Shadowclan border, the Great Sycamore, and the Windclan border. Catch as much prey as you can by Sunhigh and meet us back here. You won't see us watching you and if you do see us, you are not allowed to talk to us." Breezefern said.

I nodded along with everything she said, tracing a route in my head to make the hunting easier. I've noticed that they've been keeping me from the Lake unless I have another cat with me after the incident. Thrushcloud flicked her tail for me to go on ahead and I turned and bounded through the undergrowth until I reached the Shadowclan border. Pausing, I scented the air and waited. A flash of brown fur caught my eye and I dropped into the hunting crouch. A squirrel was nibbling at a nut along a root near the boundary. I slowly pulled myself downwind from it and darted out to catch it. It never suspected a thing until it was too late. I delivered the death blow and buried it under a root so I could collect it when I was finished. I walked further along the border and sat on top of a root and waited. I smelled mice and knew that there were several around. Two small brown noses poked out among the leaves and I pounced down. Their squeals of terror were cut off quickly and I straightened up with two baby mice in my mouth. I carried them off to where I buried the squirrel and buried them with it. As I was walking through the trees toward the Great Sycamore, I thought I saw Breezefern walking toward where I buried my catch, but I shrugged it off. It could have been someone else.

As I neared the large tree, I slowed down and crouched into the hunting crouch. A thrush was pecking at a worm in the dirt, tugging at it so intent on its prey. I remembered the techniques that Brightheart taught me. Once I caught the thrush I carried its body toward the Windclan border and buried it. Then I settled down and tasted the air to see if there was any prey. A Windclan patrol has gone by recently. A warm breeze ruffled my fur reminding me of new leaf and a hint of a rabbit. I cautiously followed the rabbit trail and it steadily grew stronger until I found the cottontail nibbling at some grasses. I crouched down and stalked it when my paw accidentally stepped on a twig. The rabbit's ears twitched up. "Foxdung!" I cursed and tore after it as it raced away. I took a flying leap after it just as it ran across the Windclan border. Turning away, I glanced up at the sky and saw that it was nearly sun high. It's time to head back to the training hollow. I took the same path to see if there was any more prey to be caught. A black bird's call rang above my head and I paused. It was in a tree chirping away unaware that a predator was under it. I took myself up the tree and onto the branch to get the bird. Just as I was about to catch it, it flew off to the ground and hopped a few tail-lengths away. I jumped down from my branch and stalked my prey until I was a few mouse lengths from it. It looked up at me and started an alarm call as it began to take off. I jumped up and batted it out of the sky before delivering a killing blow. Thrushcloud walked out of the undergrowth behind me and mewed. "Well, caught Firepaw. Let's take that back to camp." I turned and saw her and Breezefern with the rest of my catch. I nodded and we all headed back to camp.

At camp, Brightheart and Bramblestar were waiting for us. "She excelled at the hunting assessment, Brightheart." Thrushcloud mewed.

Brightheart nodded and looked at me with pride. "Well, I think it is time she got her warrior name, Bramblestar. She has earned it." The dark tabby tom nodded and ran up to Highledge.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the high rock for a Clan Meeting!" He yowled

Everyone in camp gathered under the stone and Brightheart stood beside me. I hastily licked my fur down and hoped I was presentable. My two best friends rushed over to ask what was going on as they came in from the forest. I looked at them with bright eyes. "I passed my warrior assessment!"

They both congratulated me and went to sit with the warriors. I looked towards them and smiled when I saw Honeysky twining tails with my brother, Dawnheart. Once everyone settled down Bramblestar spoke. "It is time to perform one of my favorite duties as a leader. Firepaw, step forward."

I walked over to meet him in the middle of the circle as he jumped down. "I, Bramblestar, leader of Thunderclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn." He looked down at me.

He looked at me with unmeasurable pride. "Firepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

I swallowed and spoke hoping I sounded mature. "I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Firepaw, from this moment you will be known as Firespirit. StarClan honors your Bravery and Thoughtfulness, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan." Bramblestar laid his muzzle on my head and I respectfully licked his shoulder. He stepped back as the rest of the clan called out my new name.

Firespirit! Firespirit! Firespirit! Firesprirt!

After a few moments, he waved his tail for silence and announced that I would sit vigil tonight. Once he jumped down, the rest of the clan walked around me and gave their congratulations. Honeysky and Oakfang were among the first with Dawnheart, and Lightwhsiker.

"Now we are together again!" Honeysky purred. I purred and nuzzled her head affectionately.

Oakfang looked at me shyly and touched my nose. "I hope you will sleep in a nest next to me," I told him that I would.

After the festivities of the ceremony ended, I sat in center of the clearing to take my vigil. I pricked my ears at every slight sound, determined to keep my clan safe. As the night wore on, I felt a glimmer of pride at my accomplishment grow and I looked up at the stars to find the one that resembled Dovewing. "Mama, I hope I've made you proud." I whispered barely audible. Not long before dawn, a scent wafted into the clearing with the breeze from the lake. My neck fur stood on end as I recognized it.

You again? Can it be?