Chapter 16:
Tigercloud padded into the medicine den. It had been a moon since Snowbush had rejected her. Tigercloud had been feeling really grumpy and sad lately. She wondered what was wrong with her so she had decided to go see Autumnleaf and Dovestream. Palepaw was helping them sort herbs when Tigercloud walked in.
"What can I do for you Tigercloud?" Autumnleaf asked.
"I've been feeling really grumpy and sad lately." Tigercloud meowed. "Could you find out what's wrong with me?"
"I'll check you over." Autumnleaf meowed.
Autumnleaf looked at Tigercloud and sniffed her.
"Congratulations." Autumnleaf meowed. "You're going to be a mother." Tigercloud stared at her.
"But I don't have a mate!" Tigercloud meowed.
"Have you mates before?" Autumnleaf asked. Tigercloud shifted her paws.
"Yes."
"Well, only you know what lucky cat that was." Autumnleaf meowed. Tigercloud nodded and trudged out of the medicine den. Kits was just the thing she needed. Tigercloud went over to a small hill of dirt and dug her claws into it. She was furious at Snowbush. He had mates with her, and then he rejected her. Tigercloud decided she should tell him.
Tigercloud looked around the clearing for Snowbush. She spotted him by the fresh-kill pile, but he was surrounded by other cats. Tigercloud sighed. Then she remembered that she was supposed to be at the entrance of the camp for Emberpaw's assessment. Tigercloud bolted over to the tunnel where Emberpaw was waiting for her.
"Finally." Emberpaw meowed.
"Let's go." Tigercloud meowed and led her apprentice outside.
Tigercloud told Emberpaw where to hunt, and they went to the training clearing.
"Remember, try to catch as much prey as possible. I will be watching you, but you won't see me." Tigercloud meowed. Emberpaw nodded and bolted away. Tigercloud ducked into the bushes and followed Emberpaw.
Emberpaw caught three mice and a sparrow. Tigercloud stepped out of the bushes.
"Good job." Tigercloud meowed. "You passed."
Emberpaw started jumping up and down excitedly.
"Calm down." Tigercloud meowed. "You don't want to hurt yourself." Emberpaw stopped jumping and picked up her catch. Tigercloud led her back to camp.
While Emberpaw dropped her catch on the pile, Tigercloud padded over to Foxstar's den.
"Foxstar?" Tigercloud meowed.
"Come in Tigercloud." Foxstar meowed and Tigercloud stepped into the den. "Did Emberpaw pass her assessment?"
Tigercloud nodded. "She caught three mice and a sparrow."
"Good." Foxstar meowed. "We can have her ceremony now." Tigercloud nodded and padded out of the den.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath the high rock for a clan meeting!" Foxstar meowed and cats streamed into the clearing.
"I hear I have a warrior to make." Foxstar meowed. "I, Foxstar, leader of ThistleClan, 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. Emberpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"
Emberpaw stood up. "I do." She meowed.
Foxstar nodded. "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Emberpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Emberwing. StarClan honors your energy and courage, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThicketClan."
Foxstar padded over to Emberwing and rested his muzzle on her head. Emberwing licked his shoulder.
"Emberwing! Emberwing!" The clan cheered. Tigercloud cheered the loudest for her former apprentice. She was so proud of her.
