Hey guys. My day is going to be crazy later so I figured I'd put this up now. Not sure if you'll get an update or not tomorrow. I just – yeah I got some bad news and a friend's coming over to stay with me so I'll do my best. (The bad news isn't my friend, we planned this then the bad news happened. I just wanted to clarify. Yup.)
Runningspirit26- Any review works for me=) That's pretty much what I say when I review;) Glad you liked it and the fluff!=) Hope you enjoy this!
Jayleaf1- Glad you liked it! And they aren't yet since Moonpaw's still pretty young. They'll probably won't be mates till after the end of the war, but they'll be together you know? I just love the face he makes when he says that;) Sounds interesting I'll look it up. Hope you enjoy this!
Chapter Thirty Six
The day is cloudless, though cold and I feel that leaf bare is coming quickly. The apprentices are gathered in a giant blob in the hollow. They are congratulating the oldest who will be made warriors today.
Echosong's kits stand with them as well, congratulating their friends and laughing with the others. I watch Moonpaw and Hailpaw with a sharp eye. Every once in a while they'll share a glance, a small smile and then look away with huge grins. It hurts my heart to see my little girl growing up. But at least it's Hailpaw, who's one of the nicest cats I've ever met.
On the subject, Lightingpaw is dropping hints to Moon Beam, and is also unable to look away from her. Moon Beam on the other paw is being wonderfully naïve about the whole thing. Lightingpaw's frustration is quite amusing. Also Featherpaw and Bramble are both in denial. Owlpaw and Tinypaw seem perfectly happy together, and Thornpaw of course is still smitten with Fallensnow.
"You think you've tortured them long enough?" Nightwhisper asks casually.
"It's not even sunhigh." I mew rolling my eyes, "I would hardly call that torturing."
"Hmm. That's what you think." He replies, but I notice that he too is staring at Moonpaw.
"You've noticed?" I ask.
"Sadly, yes." Nightwhisper replies, "I know we can't stop them from growing up but…. I wish they were kits again."
"You might!" I mew laughing, "But I understand. I feel the same way."
"Well we can't. And as long as they're happy and he doesn't hurt her –"
"I think she'd be more likely to hurt him." I mew interrupting Nightwhisper.
"Whichever, as long as he doesn't hurt her I'm fine. But if he does I am going after him." I look over and see that his eyes have turned serious.
"Okay down boy." I mew dryly, "No murder in ThunderClan." We start laughing and head down. As I pass the paws fall silent and the older ones start to shiver with anticipation. Hehe I love this.
"Cats of ThunderClan!" I yowl, halting all talk, "I gather you here for one of the best ceremonies in a Clan. Today we honor apprentices' hard work by granting them warriorship!" Celebratory yowls meet my words.
The younger apprentices step back allowing the others to form a line. The line stretches from right to left, starting with Snowflower's kits, Cloudpaw, Owlpaw, and Flamepaw. Then Mosspaw, Spottedpaw, Hailpaw, Thornpaw, Tinypaw, and Cloudypaw.
"Cloudpaw please step forward." The white tom complies, his dark blue eyes glittering with excitement. "Whitewing do you believe that your apprentice has learned to be a warrior and live by the code?"
The beautiful white warrior looks at Cloudpaw and then smiles, "I do. He has learned all I can teach him."
"Cloudpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect our Clan, even at the cost of your life?" I ask and his eyes flash with determination.
"I do." He vows, his fur fluffed out.
"Then by the power of StarClan I give you your warrior name. Cloudpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Cloudcatcher. StarClan honors your scholarship and your skill, ThunderClan welcomes you as a full warrior."
The Clan chants, "Cloudcatcher, Cloudcatcher!" As he walks up to me and licks my shoulder, shaking from disbelief. Cloudcatcher turn and walks back to his mother and mentor.
"Owlpaw." I mew, startling the tabby, "Please step forward." She steps up, her head held with elegant grace.
"Poppyfrost do you believe that your apprentice has learned to be a warrior and live by the code?" I ask.
"I do. Owlpaw will be a brilliant warrior."
"Owlpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect our Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
Her green eyes are hard and ready as she mews, "I do."
"Then by the power of StarClan I give you your warrior name. Owlpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Owlswoop. StarClan honors your intelligence and your grace, ThunderClan welcomes you as a full warrior."
Owlswoop licks my shoulder and her green eyes are filled with joy, then she runs to join her brother as the Clan chants her name.
"Flamepaw please step forward," I mew when I think the Clan has screamed enough, "Squirrelflight do you believe that your apprentice has learned to be a warrior and live by the code?"
I turn to the ginger warrior and see Squirrelflight's eyes shining with pride, "I do, Flamepaw has become a fierce competitor."
"Flamepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect our Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do." Flamepaw no longer looks like the skittish, frightened kit, but instead is a fierce and proud warrior, ready to protect her home.
"Then by the power of StarClan I give you your warrior name. Flamepaw, from this moment on you will be known as Flamewish. StarClan honors your perseverance and your kindness, ThunderClan welcomes you as a full warrior."
They Clan yowls as she licks my shoulder and I mew, "See, you did it."
"Thanks Auntie." Flamewish replies, her sapphire blue eyes filled with excitement. Then she ruins to join her siblings.
I look back to Mosspaw and smile, she's made it, she's been able to live the life that was taken from her. "Mosspaw please step forward."
She walks up and I smile before mewing, "Foxleap do you believe that your apprentice has learned to be a warrior and live by the code?"
Foxleap looks at Mosspaw appraisingly before he grins, "I do, she's been a wonderful apprentice and will make a great warrior."
"Mosspaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect our Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do." She mews seriously and I see the little bubbly kit trapped in StarClan in her eyes. Good luck, I think, live well.
"Then by the power of StarClan I give you your warrior name. Mosspaw, from this moment on you will be known as Mosslight. StarClan honors your ingenuity and your determination, ThunderClan welcomes you as a full warrior."
She steps up to lick my shoulder as the Clan screams, "Mosslight, Mosslight!"
Then Mosslight grins at me and heads back to her mother. My sister smiles at me and then I turn back to Spottedpaw.
"Spottedpaw please step forward." I mew, she obliges and I turn to Toadstep, "Toadstep do you believe that your apprentice has learned to be a warrior and live by the code?"
"I do. She has always worked hard to be the best she can." Toadstep mews firmly.
"Spottedpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect our Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do!" she swears, her muscles rippling under her blue gray-spotted pelt.
"Then by the power of StarClan I give you your warrior name. Spottedpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Spottedsky. StarClan honors your patience and your talent, ThunderClan welcomes you as a full warrior."
Spottedsky ruins up to lick my shoulder as the Clan chants her name. Then beaming, she runs to join Mosslight.
I look back to the last four and mew, "Hailpaw please step forward." The gray flecked tom leaves his place in the line to sit across from me.
"Bumblestripe do you believe that your apprentice has learned to be a warrior and live by the code?"
"I do. Hailpaw will be the best kind of warrior." Bumblestripe mews watching his apprentice.
"Hailpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect our Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do." He promises, and his light green eyes are suddenly dark with sincerity.
"Then by the power of StarClan I give you your warrior name. Hailpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Hailstreak. StarClan honors your defensive nature and your loyalty, ThunderClan welcomes you as a full warrior."
"Hailstreak, Hailstreak!" The Clan yowls as he licks my shoulder. Then he steps back I nod regally and I see understanding pass through his eyes. Hailstreak nods as well and then joins Ferncloud and Dustpelt.
"Thornpaw please step forward," I mew halting the cheers. He walks up and I mew, "Mousewhisker do you believe that your apprentice has learned to be a warrior and live by the code?"
"I do. Thornpaw had learned the code and will be able to defend us." Mousewhisker mews as he nods.
"Thornpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect our Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do." His amber eyes are hard and he looks – for a moment – fearless.
"Then by the power of StarClan I give you your warrior name. Thornpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Thornwhisper. StarClan honors your strength and your wisdom, ThunderClan welcomes you as a full warrior."
The Clan yowls Thornwhisper's name as he licks my shoulder before he turns around. He hesitates and his paws almost carry him to Fallensnow, but she glares at him and he nods before he joins his brother and parents.
"Tinypaw please step forward," I mew looking at the light yellow cat. He walks up and I mew, "Hollyleaf do you believe that your apprentice has learned to be a warrior and live by the code?"
My second mother cocks her head and her glassy green eyes survey Tinypaw before she mews, "Of course I do. Tinypaw has worked hard and will a wonderful addition to ThunderClan."
"Tinypaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect our Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do." His sky blue eyes are sharp and serious as he nods, for added affirmation.
"Then by the power of StarClan I give you your warrior name. Tinypaw, from this moment on you will be known as Tinysun. StarClan honors your caring nature and your fierce fighting, ThunderClan welcomes you as a full warrior."
The Clan chants and he lick my shoulder before joining his brothers. I turn to look at the last cat, the light gray, swirled tom.
"Cloudypaw please step forward." He walks up, every eye on him as his light blue eyes sparkle.
"Brakenfur do you believe that your apprentice has learned to be a warrior and live by the code?"
Brakenfur looks critically at Cloudypaw before he mews, "I do. Cloudypaw is not only a good warrior, but an uncommonly kind cat. He sees what we have forgotten."
"Cloudypaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect our Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do." He mews, the causal smirk that had been on his face gone, replaced a sharp look of importance.
"Then by the power of StarClan I give you your warrior name. Cloudypaw, from this moment on you will be known as Cloudylight. StarClan honors your compassion and your awareness, ThunderClan welcomes you as a full warrior."
"Cloudylight, Cloudylight!" the Clan chants as he licks my shoulder. Cloudylight shivers with shock as he walks back to his brothers.
As he passes Cloudcatcher, Mosslight screams: "THE DUAL CLOUDS REUNITE!"
This starts off a chain reaction of laughter between the newest warriors and the apprentices.
Once the laughter dies the Clan yowls, "Cloudcatcher, Owlswoop, Flamewish, Mosslight, Spottedsky, Hailstreak, Thornwhisper, Tinysun, Cloudylight!"
I look up to the sky and thank StarClan for them and my Clan. Then I look in to the shadows and frown, thinking: Take that Dark forest. We're ready. Bring it.
So what do you think? I liked the humor at the end;) I had to put it in. had to. So there's less apprentices now but even more warriors. Oops;)
What did you think of the names?
Well review please!
Quote- "I need another story, Something to get off my chest, My life gets kinda boring, Need something that I can confess," ~Secrets, by Onerepublic
Love this song!=)
~Midnight