"It is a great day to give any apprentices their warrior names. It is an even better day when those apprentices are your own kits," Soloswoop mewed from where he stood upon the large flat rock beneath the Great Ledge.
"I, Soloswoop, as acting-leader of this group of loners, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn." Scruffypaw looked up at her father as he spoke the words he had seemed to speak a thousand times. Today, it was her turn, alongside her littermates.
"Smallpaw, Tulippaw, Scruffypaw, and Fallpaw. Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your family and friends, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do," the four apprentices said solemnly as one. Soloswoop padded forward, standing in front of Smallpaw.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Smallpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Smallfern. StarClan honors your determination and strategy, and we welcome you as a full warrior." Soloswoop touched his nose to the silver and brown tabby's head. Smallfern leaned in to lick her father's shoulder in a sign of respect.
What will my warrior name be? Scruffypaw wondered. Scruffypelt? Scruffyclaw?
"Tulippaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Tulippelt. StarClan honors your energy and honesty, and we welcome you as a full warrior," the orange and white-splotched she-cat licked Soloswoop's shoulder and stepped back.
Oh. He's coming towards me. What will my virtues be?
"Scruffypaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Scruffytail. StarClan honors your loyalty and wisdom, and we welcome you as a full warrior." Scruffytail couldn't help but purr as her father's nose touched her head. She rasped her tongue over his gray shoulder and stepped back.
Scruffytail, a wise and loyal warrior!
"Fallpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Fallheart. StarClan honors your courage and cleverness, and we welcome you as a full warrior," the multi-colored tabby and silver tom exchanged the same moment of respect before the newly named warriors turned towards the gathered cats of the cave. Scruffytail took a deep breath as she took in the gathered cats. Her mother sat in the front, her eyes lit up with joy, and she caught a glimpse of the newest loners to join them. Snaketail was sitting still, looking unimpressed while his friend Lightwing was flicking his cream-colored tail excitedly.
"Smallfern! Tulippelt! Scruffytail! Fallheart!" The gathered cats chanted before the group rushed to greet them by their new names. Willowsong led the group, starting with Smallfern, she licked each of her litter and murmured words of praise. Scruffytail looked up at her mother, purring as the tabby she-cat licked her head.
"I'm so proud of you Scruffytail," the she-cat murmured before padding on to Fallheart. Graywhisker padded up to her, touching his gray nose fondly to hers.
"It was an honor to be your mentor Scruffytail, and I look forward to getting to work beside you as a warrior."
"Thank you, for training me, Graywhisker," the brown tabby purred happily. "You were the best mentor a she-cat could ask for."
The group of young warriors, once their denmates as apprentices hurried to join them, with the group of current apprentices following them. Arrowstrike simply dipped his head to all of them before padding off in silence. Whiteleaf was begging Smallfern to share her den, it was lonely.
Where will I sleep from now on? Scruffytail wondered. She hadn't thought about that before. She would no longer belong in the apprentice's den beside the lake. Smallfern was going to share a den with Whiteleaf, and she was sure Tulippelt would be joining Amberleg, her handsome mate. Scruffytail glanced at Fallheart, who was talking to their older brother Ashnose. Her brother had a crush on Marveleyes, and she wondered if he would be sharing a den with her.
"Congratulations," Lightwing whispered into her ear, ceasing her worries with just his voice. She let out a purr.
"Thank you, Lightwing!" Scruffytail said happily, looking up into his blue eyes.
"I," the tom glanced around them. "I'd like to speak to you in private. Will you meet me by the lake? Under the tall oak tree?" The she-cat nodded, unable to find the words to respond with. The curly-furred warrior dipped his head and padded out of the group, slipping out a tunnel entrance. Scruffytail hurried to finish visiting with her friends and family, touching noses and mewing thanks. She barely listened to Silverwhiskers offering her to sleep in his den for a few nights. She flicked her tail at the smoky gray tom.
"I can't talk right now," she whispered up to him. "Lightwing asked me to meet him in private." Her friend's amber eyes lit up.
"Then don't let me hold you back! Go get him!" He hissed jokingly, his tail flicking her over ears as the brown tabby rushed for the tunnel, shoving her way through the pine bushes. She ran as fast as she could, barely touching the stone ground of the tunnel. She came out into the sunlight, and after fluffing out her pelt against the leaf-fall chill, continued on her run towards the lake.
Lightwing was sitting on the exposed roots of the old tree, his tail wrapped around his paws as he waited. Scruffytail was panting as she ran up to the tree.
"Sorry I'm late," she said softly, going to sit beside him. "Everyone wanted to talk."
"I understand, it's overwhelming how many cats there are in our group, and every single one of them feels the need to congratulate you," the cream tom purred, shifting his body towards her. She looked up, letting out a purr in response to his.
"What did you want to talk about Lightwing?" She asked softly.
"Well, Scruffytail. I know we haven't gotten to spend that much time together, except when hunting with Graywhisker or when we were both learning battle moves, but I want to change that." Scruffytail's heart was pounding in her chest as he spoke.
Does he really think about me the way I've thought about him?
"Snaketail decided to share a den with Mosshead and Longnose near the two-leg tunnels and... My den is awfully large for one cat. Would you share the den with me?"
Oh, StarClan.
"Yes!" Scruffytail said eagerly, quickly giving her white chest-fur a few licks in embarrassment. "I mean, I would love to share a den with you, Lightwing."
"Really? Perfect!" His blue gaze lit up. "You're going to love it. It's near the river, and I know you like fishing," he purred as he pushed onto his paws. "We should find you some moss and get you settled!" He said happily.
Scruffytail purred back as she got onto her paws, falling into step beside Lightwing. The cream tom led her along the lakeshore, avoiding the snowy plains for most of their trek. He cut up, onto the abandoned two-leg path, and brought her to the two-leg crossing. It was a run-down stone structure that went over the river. Scruffytail didn't know what it was for but appreciated a way to cross the river without getting her paws wet when the river was icy. Their journey led them further up into the territory, padding upstream beside the river.
"Your den is a long way out," she teased as they padded closer to the looming mountains and close-growing pine-trees.
"Snaketail and I liked being out here at first, and sometimes it's lonely, but I almost have my own world out here," he said with a small shrug. Lightwing led her into the small pine forest, showing her where to find the best moss. Underneath the trees, it was darker, and little snow got past the close-growing branches. Lightwing's den was against, no, not against but in the mountain. A small cave in the stone, hidden behind the trunk of a pine-tree and a juniper bush.
She sniffed the outside of it, feeling nervous about it for a moment before ducking her head down and padding into the den. Lightwing and she guessed Snaketail, had made a cozy den. She dropped her moss near the entrance to take the den in. A layer of pine needles covered most of the stone ground with sand near the back. She could already imagine raising a litter of kits in here alongside Lightwing. A nest sat in the back corner, moss lining a hollow dug into the sand.
Lightwing flicked his cream tail towards his nest, he had dug a hollow beside his for her nest. She let out a purr, touching her nose to his cheek before retrieving her moss and padding forward to drop it in the sandy hollow.
"What do you think?" The cream tom asked as she began to spread her moss out to make a nest.
"I love it," she responded. "It's cozy and the area seems peaceful."
"I'm glad you like it," he responded happily. "I didn't want to start looking for a new den yet," he said softly. "Do you want me to go find some prey?" Scruffytail finished with her moss.
"I'll go with you," she offered, padding towards the entrance to their cave. "Fishing or actually hunting?"
"As I recall. Last time you tried to hunt, you got your paw caught in a mouse hole," Lightwing teased as he slipped out of the den behind her.
"So fishing?"
"Fishing," the cream tom responded. "Race you to the river!" He called before taking off at a run.
"No fair!" Scruffytail cried after him, her hind paws scrabbling on the ground before she started running. Being a warrior with Lightwing was going to be perfect.
