The silver tom stared up. Stormkit and Dewkit were standing proudly, their eyes gleaming with anticipations.
Two sisters were whispering to each other, their tails curled crossly around their paws.
"We can wait a few days, right?" Mistykit mewed encouragingly.
"No," Rainingkit mewed crossly, her tail flicking. "I wish I could go up there. Can't we beg Silverstar?"
"Snowheart wouldn't allow it," replied Mistykit evenly.
"Lightmist and Goldendusk are happy to leave the nursery," Rainingkit mumbled.
"She's different," Mistykit answered. "And I like it. I like that my mother still wants me."
"I didn't mean it like that," Rainingkit protested mildly.
"Quiet," whispered Acornsquirrel. Her brown eyes were fixed on the leader's den. "I wonder why she's not coming out. It's time soon."
Lightmist and Goldendusk were whispering to each other, both of them eyeing Silverstar's den.
"Why isn't she coming out?" asked Reedpaw curiously.
"Maybe someone requested a private meeting wit him," mewed Whitepetal. "I don't know. This never happened before, I think."
A few minutes later, a golden tomcat exited the den, followed by a pale silver she-cat.
"Sparrowheart," Reedpaw heard Sunpaw growl.
"It's okay," he mewed.
Sunpaw glanced at him. "He's always up to no good," she mumbled, her tail pressed against the ground. "He always wanted to do the right thing. But his right thing isn't the right thing we think of. Do you understand?"
"He's a good warrior," Reedpaw replied evenly. "I haven't seen a side I hate of him yet."
Sunpaw rolled her eyes. "Of course you haven't."
"Sunpaw!" exclaimed Sparrowheart, padding towards her. "Why do you look cross."
Sunpaw looked away.
"We were so close," Sparrowheart sighed, his eyes rounding. "What's the matter? Is it because I got my name first? I could tell Silverstar–"
"What did you tell her just now?" hissed Sunpaw. "I'm sure it wasn't about my ceremony."
"In fact it was!" Sparrowheart replied. When Sunpaw snorted, he meowed, "Okay, it wasn't, but I definitely complimented you." His amber eyes glittered. "I was telling her about ShadowClan's threat." His gaze flitted to Eagleshade, who was sitting with Lynxfoot.
"What about Eagleshade?" Reedpaw asked.
Sparrowheart seemed surprised Reedpaw had noticed it. He eyed Reedpaw more carefully, with more respect than Reedpaw had ever seen in his gaze that was headed to him. "Ah. You've seen?" he murmured softly.
His voice chilled Reedpaw's bones.
"He," Sparrowheart started, his voice slow and almost lazy.
"Stop," hissed a gray mottled she-cat.
Stormsky stared at Stormkit and Dewkit.
"Ah. New apprentices," Sparrowheart mewed with relish.
Sunpaw gave a loud snort, but quieted down when Stormsky frowned at her.
"Stormkit, Dewkit. Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect it with your life?" Silverstar asked. Her gaze seemed distracted and wild, but the excited tomkits didn't realize.
"I do," Stormkit announced, his voice strong and clear.
"I do," whispered Dewkit, his voice quivering with anticipation.
"Then until you receive your warrior name, you will be called Stormpaw, and Dewpaw," Silverstar meowed hurriedly. She blinked. "Cherryfern, step forward. You have been a valuable member to the Clan, and you deserve an apprentice. You will mentor Stormpaw."
The silver tabby gazed at her, looking confused. "Silverstar," she whispered, "you said Sorrelfrost would mentor Stormpaw."
"Oh, yes. I'm sorry. Cherryfern, you will mentor Dewpaw."
Cherryfern nodded, and Dewpaw and she touched noses.
"Sorrelfrost. You have proved yourself a loyal member of the Clan. You will mentor Stormpaw."
The silver and white she-cat nodded and touched noses with her new apprentice.
"Stormpaw! Stormpaw! Dewpaw! Dewpaw!" Cats chanted.
While he was chanting his former denmates' new names, Reedpaw noticed Mistykit and Rainingkit were cheering, too, apparently going over their former displeasure.
"You're okay with them being apprentices, now?" he asked Rainingkit.
Rainingkit shrugged. "It's better to be happy for them," she replied.
Mistykit craned her neck. "Right," she agreed. "Just like I – we –were happy for you when you became an apprentice."
"Yes, thanks."
He gazed up at Stormpaw and Dewpaw. They seemed very eager.
"We can explore the territory, maybe," Cherryfern was saying to Sorrelfrost.
"That's nice," agreed Sorrelfrost. "We'll explore the territory, first," she told Stormpaw.
"Okay! With Dewpaw?"
"Yes," Cherryfern answered.
"Great!" chirped Dewpaw happily. "Let's go!"
"Come, Reedpaw," Whitepetal called. "We'll go to the training land."
"Okay."
He felt Mistykit and Rainingkit staring at him with envy. His pelt pricked, and he quickly padded to the training marshes.
Whitepetal purred. "We'll do some fighting today."
Reedpaw brightened. The only time he had done fighting was two moons ago. He'd messed up so badly Whitepetal decided it would be best if they focused on hunting first.
"Do you think I'm ready?" he asked fearfully.
"Of course you are," answered Whitepetal warmly. "If you do just as well as you are in hunting, you'll be the best warrior yet."
Reedpaw was warmed. "Thanks."
"Come on. Creampaw and Honeypaw will be training with you."
She led Reedpaw to the training marshes, and Reedpaw silently readied himself.
Reedpaw panted, his paws barely not slipping. "What do you think happened to Silverstar?"
"I'd expect the news Sparrowheart told him," Whitepetal replied. "I don't know what."
"Okay."
It was amazing how Whitepetal didn't seem any much disturbed by the fighting. Reedpaw was out of breath and thought he was going to die anytime soon.
"You can do it," hissed Whitepetal, as she crouched.
Breathing heavily, Reedpaw steadied himself and his paws. They were trembling.
Whitepetal flicked her tail, and Reedpaw leapt.
He soared in the air. His eyes were fixed on Whitepetal's pelt. Suddenly, he knew this time he would fail again. The reason he was failing; Whitepetal could predict what he would do.
So, Reedpaw quickly twisted his body so he would land on Whitepetal's left, not right.
Shock passed the white she-cat's eyes, and Reedpaw, regaining his balance quickly, attacked.
It took him only a few swift moves for him to disarm Whitepetal.
"Let me go," Whitepetal purred, shaking her shoulders.
Reedpaw jumped away. "Did I do well?" he asked anxiously.
"More than well!" Whitepetal told him. "You did great, Reedpaw. I'm sure Mistshade and Tawnyclaw will be proud."
Reedpaw blinked at her. "Yeah."
"Slatefoot and Roseleap would be delight," Whitepetal added. "Maybe you could tell Sunpaw, and Creampaw and Honeypaw as well."
"I disarmed you," Reedpaw whispered. "It's amazing."
"You did," agreed Whitepetal. "Good job."
"We must return to camp, now," she added quickly, after scanning the sky. "It's getting dark."
Reedpaw followed his white mentor back to camp, where Creampaw and Oakpaw were sharing a squirrel.
"Hi!" Creampaw greeted him, chewing.
Oakpaw flicked his tail in greeting.
Reedpaw nodded at them friendlily. There was Honeypaw and Ripplepaw a few tail-lengths away.
"D'you know Oakpaw's getting his ceremony soon?" called Creampaw proudly.
"Ripplepaw, too," added Honeypaw, looking up from her prey.
"Me too," added a voice. It was Brindlepaw.
Reedpaw had hardly noticed her before. The brindled brown she-cat was so quiet.
"Oh, yes, Brindlepaw's first," Ripplepaw meowed. "We forgot."
"Obviously," replied Brindlepaw good-humoredly.
"So," Creampaw meowed. "Brindlepaw! What do you want your name to be?"
Brindlepaw cocked her head. "I haven't thought about that," she mewed truthfully. "But I'd like Brindlecloud or Brindlefern, maybe. They sound nice. But I'm fine with even Brindlestink!" She purred.
"Great," Oakpaw mewed. "I'd probably exile myself from the Clan if Silverstar named me Oakscar."
"Don't let Yellowscar hear you," warned Creampaw.
"I'd just like some valiant name," Oakpaw replied.
"Yeah, understood." Creampaw licked a paw. "Reedpaw! What would be your name?"
"I don't know. Reedfur?"
"Hey, that's so plain," Honeypaw interrupted. "How about Reedi'msonice?"
"Great choice," laughed Creampaw.
"Eh… Reedtail?" shrugged Reedpaw. "What about you, Creampaw?"
"I'd like my suffix and Honeypaw's suffix the same," Creampaw replied eagerly.
"Yes!" Honeypaw agreed.
"We're planning on asking Silverstar," added Creampaw.
"Good for you," Reedpaw mewed.
"What did you do today, anyway?" asked Ripplepaw to Reedpaw. "Oakpaw and I went hunting."
"Reedpaw, Creampaw, and I trained fighting!" Honeypaw told him. "Stormsky and Acornsquirrel let us off early, but Whitepetal and Reedpaw stayed to train more." She glanced at him. "Are you good at it, now?"
"Better, for sure," Creampaw snickered. "Sorry, Reedpaw."
Reedpaw shrugged. "It's okay. It was fun. I beat Whitepetal! For the first time."
Oakpaw's eyes widened. "Really?" he asked. "I thought you were terrible at fighting."
"He matured, evidently," spat Sunpaw.
"Oh, thanks…?"
Sunpaw carried on looking away.
"She's creepy," whispered Ripplepaw, his eyes showing disdain. "She's not very skilled at training, anyway."
If Sunpaw heard it – Reedpaw was sure she had, her fur was bristling – she had chosen to ignore it. She had matured, too, if she did.
Brindlepaw hesitated. "I went on a border patrol," she began hesitantly. "We saw ShadowClan cats. I recognized a lot of cats. There was Splashheart and Cinderfern. They were all really… just, they were treating me like an enemy. I know it's natural, but that was really… bad."
"I hope I never have to experience something like that," groaned Oakpaw.
"Yeah. When I tried to talk to them, they ignored me and talked about their sister."
"Sister? I never heard Cinderfern had a sister," Ripplepaw mewed. "Greengrass mentioned her, saying she was a good cat."
Brindlepaw shrugged. "They greeted me when I was at my first Gathering. But I'm sure I cam move on, now."
Reedpaw was amazed at how easily Brindlepaw seemed to be able to move on. He probably would take much more time to move on from old friends.
Creampaw yawned. "Ottersnow and Silverstar were having a conversation today," she mewed. "I think Ottersnow saw something bad while she went to the Moonpool. They're probably discussing it."
"What do you think it is?" asked Oakpaw.
"No idea," replied Creampaw, "but I'm guessing it's really serious."
Brindlepaw's eyes were round. "Do you think it might be about a battle?" she asked.
"I hope not," Ripplepaw meowed grimly.
"If a battle occurs, we're doomed," Honeypaw chimed in, her eyes dark.
But Reedapw didn't realize why. "Why? RiverClan's strong."
"But it would ruin everything," Sunpaw meowed. She was the only one who heard him. She glared at him. "Don't you understand? Everything. We've had good times with the other Clans for countless moons. If a battle occurs, we throw away everything.
"Our alliance with the Clans has helped us in the past. I would trust it would help us again. But if it falls, we fall. And so will they. It is most likely all Clans would dissolve. After all, five Clans belong by the lake, with StarClan overhead us."