Chapter Sixteen

Why are Clan kits so easy to beat?" The she-cat growled as she loomed over Echopaw.

She struggled in Talon's grasp.

"Now, now," the dark-hearted she-cat said. "Don't make this turn messy."

Echopaw cringed away from Talon's baleful glare. Out of the corner of her vision, she saw Cloudleap pounding back into battle. Clearly he didn't notice that the apprentice that had just helped him had gotten herself trapped beneath very sharp claws. She knew that she was the only cat that could help herself now.

But maybe she couldn't stop the rogues. Echopaw flinched as the rogue leader raised a bloodstained foreclaw. There was a flash of pain, and then the world faded into oblivion.

"Echopaw, wake up." A gentle mew dragged Echopaw back into reality.

She blinked open an eye and saw Rainypaw gazing intently at her. She tried to speak, but her mouth wouldn't work. She settled for blinking slowly at her sister.

"Oh yay you're awake!" She cried, her calm persona shifting into an excited meow. "Willowleaf, Echopaw's awake!" Rainypaw bounced on her toes.

The gentle medicine cat padded into Echopaw's range of vision. "Oh, Rainypaw, let her be."

Echopaw lurched to her feet, then regretted it as a sharp pain in her belly wrenched her back down.

Worry clouded Willowleaf's expression, but then quickly cleared up. Echopaw watched as the medicine cat walked away, then returned with a pasty mixture on a large oak leaf.

"Here. This will ease the pain."

Echopaw did as she was told, opening her jaws and allowing Willowleaf to trickle the juice into her mouth. She then realized that swallowing was quite challenging. She winced as the pain jolted through her dry throat, but she managed to choke down the medicine.

"Can I go get Ashpaw?" Rainypaw asked. "Can I can I can I?"

"Wait for one moment while the herbs work, then yes, she'll be able to have another visitor." The ginger she-cat sat down beside Echopaw.

Rainypaw scurried away to relay the news to Ashpaw.

Willowleaf's blue eyes averted Echopaw's. "How do you feel? The poultice that I gave you was a mixture of chervil, heather, and honey. The heather and honey will help hydrate you, as well as allow you to speak more easily."

Echopaw's eyes narrowed.

"And the chervil helps with infected wounds." Willowleaf sounded reluctant.

Infected? Echopaw took a sharp intake of breath. To her surprise, no pains followed. The herbs had worked fast. She opened her mouth to speak, voicing her fear. "Infected?" her voice sounded like she hadn't spoken for a moon.

"M-hm." Willowleaf laid her tail gently on her shoulder. "But you'll be alright."

"Willowleaf, I had a strange dream." Echopaw remembered.

"What was it?"

Echopaw settled into her soft nest. "There was a fluffy white she-cat that told me, your place is not with us yet, little one." She squinted at Willowleaf. "What does that mean?"

The ginger medicine cat's eyes looked distant, as if she was recalling a faraway memory. "StarClan." She breathed.

"StarClan what?"

Willowleaf sighed. "Talon nearly killed you in the battle a half-moon ago," she began. "I bet that-"

"Half-moon?" Echopaw cried incredulously. "I was asleep that long?"

The ginger she-cat nodded. "I think that StarClan told you in your dreams that you would live." Her gaze became unfocused again. "Stormtail has joined them."

"Them?" Echopaw gasped. "You mean he's with StarClan?"

The medicine cat nodded solemnly. Grief clouded her gentle blue eyes. "One of the rogues got him." She whispered. Then she seemed to have a thought. "Did the white she-cat in your dream have amber eyes?"

Echopaw squinted, trying to remember. "Yes, I think so."

Willowleaf smiled. "I think that was my former mentor, Huskdawn."

"Echopaw!" A smiling, fluffy grey head poked into the medicine cat den. "Can I come in yet?"

"If you want." Willowleaf called.

"Are you kidding?" Ashpaw pounded in. "Of course I want to!"

Echopaw purred as Ashpaw curled around her. She hadn't realized that she was cold until his fluffy grey pelt warmed her up.

"Don't forget about me!" A black-and-white blur surged over to them, curling her tail around Echopaw.

"Give her some space," Willowleaf ordered. "You don't want to hurt Echopaw, do you?"

Ashpaw and Rainypaw jolted away from Echopaw as if she was on fire.

"Are you alright?" Ashpaw asked anxiously.

Echopaw got into a slight sitting position. "I'm fine."

Rainypaw sighed in relief. "Is she better?" She questioned, wide yellow-green eyes intent on Willowleaf.

The medicine cat hesitated. "She'll need to take a few more days off until she can walk around normally, but yes, the wound is healing nicely."

"But is she ready?" She pressed.

Willowleaf sighed. "Yes, but keep in mind that she cannot do anything except walk up to the Greatstone."

Echopaw was confused. What were Rainypaw and Willowleaf talking about?

Ashpaw seemed to sense Echopaw's uncertainty. "Should we tell her?"

Willowleaf looked to Rainypaw.

Rainypaw shook her head. "No, let it be a surprise!"

Ashpaw smiled. "Okay!"

"Go tell Oakstar!" Rainypaw harped. "Go tell him go tell him!"

Ashpaw dashed away.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Greatstone for a Clan ritual!" Oakstar's familiar yowl rang clearly through the warm air.

I wonder what that's about.

"Echopaw, are you old enough to catch a mouse or not?" Ashpaw peered through the entrance of the den.

I doubt Oakstar needs me. A small voice in Echopaw's head grumbled. But she dismissed the thought and stood up, her weak legs hardly holding her weight. Willowleaf had just given her a medicine for the scratch on her underbelly, so she could stand up without hurting.

Rainypaw and Ashpaw flanked her on each side as they padded slowly over to the Greatstone.

Oakstar nodded briefly as they stepped into the circle of waiting cats.

"Echopaw, Ashpaw, and Rainypaw, come forward."

Echopaw did as she was told, still bewildered as to what was happening. Was she in trouble?

Oakstar dipped his head to the three quivering apprentices. "I, Oakstar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to learn the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn."

Echopaw's heart thundered in her chest. It couldn't be. What about her assessment? All apprentices had to pass an assessment before they could become warriors!

Oakstar continued. "Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Ashpaw's muscles tensed beside Echopaw.

"I do." His mew was steady and strong.

"I do." Rainypaw answered.

"I do!" Echopaw felt her heart riding on her words. She could hear the adrenaline pumping in her ears.

"Then by the power of StarClan, I grant you your warrior names." He turned to Rainypaw. "Rainypaw, from this moment you shall be known as Rainysky. StarClan honors your determination and dignity, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

Oakstar rested his muzzle on Rainysky's head, and the black-and-white apprentice licked his shoulder.

Then Oakstar turned his gaze to Echopaw. "Echopaw, from this moment on you shall be known as Echoshine. StarClan honors your courage and resilience, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." He padded over to the apprentice, and in a haze Echoshine licked his shoulder respectfully. Then he stepped back and stared intently into Ashpaw's eyes.

"Ashpaw, you shall now be known as Ashpool. StarClan honors your energy and agility, and I welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

Ashpool followed through with the rest of the ritual, but Echoshine hardly noticed. If not for her injury, she would be jumping up and down in excitement, but her belly pains were gradually coming back, keeping her grounded.

"Rainysky! Echoshine! Ashpool!" To Echoshine, the whole world seemed to be praising her.

She raised her chin, feeling the power of StarClan pound through her veins. A sharp pain jolted through her wound, but it didn't matter.

She was a warrior.