Okay guys. Two more chapters left, and then the epilogue. Your votes have been cast, and now Sunpaw's warrior name will be revealed. Thank you for the reviews!

Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Warriors.

Smokestar padded through camp, calling the same six names over and over again. When Sunpaw heard her name, she felt her spine tingle and her fur bristle.

Her final assessment.

She rose to her paws and slowly walked over to her leader, starting to wonder if she had heard him right, and she wasn't just imagining it. But she knew that everything was really happening when Smokestar nodded to her and asked, "Are you ready?"

She swallowed hard and answered with a slight dip of her head.

"Good then."

Smokestar kept calling the others, and when Furledwhisker, Mousepaw, Curvefang, Tigerpaw and Pouncefoot showed up, he led them away.

The forest suddenly seemed much bigger than Sunpaw remembered. The trees were closer together, and the scents and sights that she became so familiar with all seemed the same. Her heart beat so fast she was afraid that the cats around her could hear it. She struggled to keep her breathing even, but she assumed that she wasn't doing a good job because Tigerpaw turned his head and looked at her funny.

Smokestar led them to the regular training area. Once everyone was settled he turned to them. "Your first task is as individuals," he told the apprentices. "Your mentors will give you the instructions they have planned out for all of you to accomplish. Once you have completed them, return back here to me. Be aware that we will be watching you, so do not be alarmed if you hear a twig snap or something. Is that clear?"

"It is," Tigerpaw and Mousepaw said together.

"Yes," Sunpaw replied, quieter than the other two.

"Than go on."

Sunpaw looked at Pouncefoot. Her father was staring off into the distance like he always has been doing lately. She cleared her throat to get his attention. "Oh, yes, of course. Um, Sunpaw, your duty is to hunt two mice. Try to perform the two skills I have taught you in the beginning of your apprenticeship."

"Okay," Sunpaw said to him.

"You may now begin," his voice boomed loudly in Sunpaw's ears and her paws refused to move for a second. But after a moment or two, they started to work and she sped off in the opposite direction of the other two apprentices.

Sunpaw ran for a minute, trying to gain so distance between her denmates. She knew that considering Mousepaw did not like her, that they would try and sabotage her assessment. She slowed her pace when she thought she was far enough from them. As she walked she tried detecting the scent of the prey. It hit her once she neared the ThunderClan border. The smell was strong and mouth-watering, so she knew it was close. She scanned the trees until she saw the small shape of a mouse scuffling among the tangled roots of an enormous pine. It's pelt was shaded by the branches, but its beady little eyes glowed ominously in the dark.

Sunpaw crouched ready for the right moment to lash out her paw. She felt eyes on her, but tried not to let it distract her hunting. She was aware that Pouncefoot was examining her work, but for a reason she did not know, the gaze bored holes with numbing ice. At last, the urge was unbearable and she whipped around, crunching the snow under her paws and startling the mouse away into the holes beneath the tree.

The forest in front of her was empty, but she could tell their was another presence besides her own lingering in the trees before her. She narrowed her eyes in suspicion, almost as if to challenge the cat- or creature- watching her.

Suddenly, a russet shape, flung itself at Sunpaw and she squealed in surprise. The force knocked her off balance and she went stumbling backwards until she fell into the snow. It was cold on her body and she struggled to get up, but the attacker was holding her down with immense strength.

"Furledwhisker!"

The ginger tabby smiled bitterly at her.

"My assessment!"

"This is part of your assessment, frog-brain," hissed the tom, stepping off of her. "Did you really think, Pouncefoot would let you have it so easy?"

"We'll if this was Pouncefoot's idea then why isn't he fighting me?"

"You are most familiar battling him or the other apprentices. You have not yet fought me. Let's see how you do." With that, Furledwhisker launched himself at Sunpaw, claws outstretched. Sunpaw flung herself to the side and her paw twisted underneath her, sending a screeching pain flaring up her foreleg. She winced as she sidestepped again, out of reach of Furledwhisker's next attempt.

After several dodges, she grew tired and sprang at him, yowling. She caught him a little high on his muzzle with her front claws, and on his chest with hind ones. Furledwhisker shouted with awe and shook his head, in attempt to throw her off, but she refused to move. Angrily, she twisted in her spot, straining his fur from his pelt and making digger claw marks. He hissed with agony and managed to grasp her shoulder with his teeth and shove her onto the ground. Sunpaw leaped right up and ducked under his paw just before it hit the ground, spraying snow up in a flurry of white. She then struck him on the flank while battering his ears with her other paw so he would have a hard time counter attacking. When her paws grew tired, she stopped and lunged for his shoulder all together. Sunpaw felt claws sink into her hind leg while she wrestled Furledwhisker to the ground, but ignored it.

"The last time we met, you hurt me," she murmured. "This is now to show you that you have made a mistake. I am a warrior. I deserve my name. Your opinion doesn't matter."

Furledwhisker rolled to the side and she lost her grip. "Foolish kit." He stood, but did not attack again. "Just because you fight well, doesn't make you a warrior. You must have the heart and soul and the belief in beyond what can be seen to be a true part of ShadowClan. I will never see you as one of my Clanmates, not even if you gain nine lives."

With those words, he stalked off, leaving Sunpaw in the cold.


Sunpaw padded along side Tigerpaw. For the second part of the assessment, they were supposed to hunt in pairs. Mousepaw got to work with her mentor. It was better her than Sunpaw though, especially after what happened with Furledwhisker. She found out from Tigerpaw that he too was tested on his battle skills after being told to hunt. His assessor was Pouncefoot, so she presumed Mousepaw's was Curvefang. And now they were assigned to catch a robin. And if with anyone, Sunpaw was happy it was Tigerpaw out of the two siblings. Though arrogent, he respected Sunpaw, as she did him.

"Do you think we should both surround the robin and attack from both sides," asked Sunpaw, "Or should one of us scare it into the other's range?"

Tigerpaw shrugged and didn't reply for a heartbeat. "The first one. There is a chance the bird will fly over both of our heads."

Sunpaw nodded, understanding.

They kept walking until Tigerpaw stopped and took in a large gulp of air. "I think I smell one. It should be around here somewhere. Look around."

Sunpaw swung her head from side to side. Tigerpaw padded off a few tail-lengths and stopped, beckoning her with his tail. Sunpaw smiled, if that were her, she probably would have called his name for the whole forest to hear. She stepped in the ginger tom's paw prints, to prevent making the snow crunch beneath her. She spotted the robin standing on the branch of a bramble bush.

"You go around that tree," Tigerpaw whispered. "When I flick my tail, we'll both go. Okay?"

"Let's do it," Sunpaw whispered back.

She very carefully wound her way around the tree, the entire time, holding her gaze with the robin. When she was in the right position she nodded at Tigerpaw for ready. He saw her and after a few seconds, flicked the tip of his tail. Sunpaw bent her legs and sprang at the bird. Tigerpaw did the same and both of them were on the prey before it would even notice they were there. Sunpaw pierced her claws through the wing and Tigerpaw snapped its neck with his paw.

They both stared down at their catch. Sunpaw locked eyes with him. "We did it," she murmured.

"Yeah," Tigerpaw said. "Should we go back?"

Sunpaw dipped her head. "Let's."

She Tigerpaw scooped up the robin, she felt her paws tingle. I can't believe it! We are going to be warriors!

They headed back together and when they saw Smokestar, Sunpaw's heart lips curled into a smile. Tigerpaw and she padded up to their leader and showed them thier robin. Smokestar grinned warmly, and Curvefang gave a nod of approval. Soon after, Pouncefoot slipped into view and gave Sunpaw a brisk nod. She scowled at his attitude. He doesn't even praise me? What is going on with him?

A few minutes later, Furledwhisker and Mousepaw appeared. Mousepaw was carrying a squirrel in her jaws, her head held high with pride. Furledwhisker's eyes held a self rightious gleam that said that there was no way any apprentice was better than his. Sunpaw glared at him and with it, felt her scratches sting from the fight.

Smokestar glanced from one apprentice to another. "Curvefang," he said, shifting his gaze to look at the broad-shouldered warrior. "What do you think?"

"It appears that Tigerpaw and Sunpaw did very well."

"Tigerpaw was a fierce fighter," Pouncefoot added.

"Furledwhisker, what do you think of Mousepaw?"

"She did more that pass. She excelled. Her hunting was spot on, and I presume that she did well in the fighting portion of the assessment," the ginger tom said, looking questioningly at Curvefang for his agreement.

He nodded.

"And Pouncefoot."

Sunpaw's mentor and father was silent for a moment. "I was watching Tigerpaw and Sunpaw hunting. Tigerpaw had an excellent plan, and Sunpaw was very patient and agreeing with his idea. She also showed that she was skilled at hunting."

"And I suppose that she did well while fighting," Furledwhisker said, rolling his eyes.

"So, yes?"

"Yes."

"Very well then." Smokestar looked at the apprentices. He kept his voice level, but Sunpaw could see the excitement in his eyes. "We shall have their apprentice ceromony at sunhigh tomorrow. Congratulations, Sunpaw, Mousepaw and Tigerpaw."


"Let all cats old enough to hunt in the darkness join here beneath the Speaking Branch for a Clan meeting."

Sunpaw's fur bristled with anticipation. It was time for her to become a warrior at long last! All she had been worried Midnight, Ivystar, everyone vanished from her mind. As she stood at the base of the branch she was not a savior, she didn't have all the pressure atop her shoulders. She could finally be you she was meant to be from the moment she was born, a real warrior of ShadowClan.

"After moons, three cats are becoming warriors. ShadowClan is gaining strength. By those words I say, I Smokestar, leader of ShadowClan call upon each of my warrior ancestors, to look down on these three apprentices. They have trained hard to learn the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn." He turned to Sunpaw, Mousepaw and Tigerpaw, his eyes darting from apprentice to another, eyes flashing with joy and complete happiness. Mousepaw, Tigerpaw and Sunpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code above all things and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do!" exclaimed Tigerpaw, his voice echoing across camp.

"I do," Mousepaw said forcefully, but silently.

Suddenly all eyes were on Sunpaw. This was it. The path she walked on as an apprentice was ending with just two simple words, and yet they held so much. Warrior cats would expect so much from her and more would race through her mind at night as she struggled to fall asleep. But at a time like this, what else could she say? "I do."

"Then," Smokestar continued, "By the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Mousepaw, from this moment on, you shall be known as Mouseflight. StarClan honors you for your enthusiasm and confidence." He rested his head on the gray she-cat's. "And we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan." In return, she licked his shoulder.

"Tigerpaw, from this moment on, you shall be known, as Tigerpelt. StarClan honors you for your ambiscion and bravery and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan."

Tigerpelt licked Smokestar's should when he placed his head on his.

"And lastly," Smokestar said, withdrawing from from the ginger tabby, and looking at Sunpaw with a soft warmth in his gaze. "This cat started out as a kittypet. She was very brave to take this path and endure the hardships we do now, so, I say this with great joy before StarClan: Sunpaw as a warrior, you shall be known as Sunmask. StarClan honors you for your courage and your determination and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan!"

"Mouseflight! Tigerpelt! Sunmask!" The Clan cheered after Sunmask licked Smokestar's shoulder.

Sunmask, she thought, Very interesting.

She leaped down off the oak after the other two warriors. She swung her head from side to side, searching for the familiar pelt of brown and white and those fiery amber eyes.

When she spotted them, they were coming for her. Pouncefoot stopped after their gazes met and for several moments, neither of them said a word.

"Congratulations, Sunmask," someone said but she made no attempt to see who it was.

At last she spoke, voice flat and steady. "Sunmask?"

Pouncefoot's lips turned upward slightly to form a smile but it looked uneasy, and his claws kneaded the ground, shredding the frosted grass beneath the leafbare snow. He nodded, a brief, curt movement that made Sunmask flinch. "Yes," he said. "What else would suggest for your warrior name? You are a piece of me that was lost, take...stolen."

Sunpaw narrowed her eyes at the word.

"I promise, my daughter. I don't love Radiantmask through you. You are not just a reminder of a said old memory to me. Forever, you will be my light in this empty, dark world. And lifetimes after I have gone to StarClan and faded from existence, the young of the afterlife will tell tales of my devotion to me daughter, and my son, who does not know of me."

"Don't speak it in words," Sunpaw said, vision starting to blur from the tears she was holding back. "I would believe it anyway."

Pouncefoot ran up to her and buried his head in her shoulder. "I hurt so badly because she is gone, Sunmask. Is it not sad that she has not come to visit me, when I miss her so dearly?" His body shook with a sob.

Sunpaw opened her mouth to murmur comforting words in his ear, but before she could do so much as breathe, an oh too familair voice rattled the camp. "We may have lost before, but we refuse to hold back now. Let you pay for the moons of pain you have caused us! WindClan, ThunderClan and RiverClan, attack!"

Oh no! Another attack on ShadowClan from Ivystar! How will things turn out! Find out in the next (and last) chapter of Sunny Darkness! This must've been my longest chapter. I hoped you liked it! And yes, Sunmask won the votes. I did not expect it to. I will tell you now that Sunpaw's original name was going to be Sunshade. But I decided to let you guys vote. Please review!

~Destiny