Chapter Four: New Name, New Friendships, New Fears

"Ow!" exclaimed Eaglepaw. Nightpaw and he were being assessed on their fighting moves and Nightpaw had just raked her claws along his flank.

"I'm sorry! Are you alright?" she said shyly.

Eaglepaw purred and replied, "Yes, fine." She could tell he was holding back his pain. She could hardly suppress a purr of amusement and lightly cuffed him over the ear. Greenfire, Eaglepaw's mentor, flicked his tail signaling them to come over to him and Hollycloud.

"Well done," he meowed once they both were sitting down in the springy meadow grass, "both of you," he added. Once Greenfire and Hollycloud had gotten up and started to leave, Eaglepaw turned his head to Nightpaw and meowed, "Race ya!"

Once they got back to camp, Nightpaw was thinking back to the time she first became apprenticed, about seven moons ago. She had learned so much since then and—

"Nightpaw!" Ripplingpaw broke her thoughts. "It's time for the ceremony." Nightpaw had almost forgotten. Four kits were being apprenticed today. She could hardly believe that her thoughts had drowned out Shadestar's loud caterwaul. Cloverpaw joined the sisters as they padded over to the space under Tallrock. They settled themselves next to Dawnpaw, now Dawnfire, as the ceremony began.

Shadestar recited the traditional words and gave the kits their names: Lavenderpaw, Glacierpaw, Jadepaw, and Ravenpaw. Many of the cats padded up and congratulated them, but after a moment Shadestar yowled again and all of the cats settled back down. Shadestar bounded down from Tallrock and meowed, "Having had a word with their mentors, I believe that ForestClan is ready to accept five new warriors into the Clan." Her look swept across the clearing to Cloverpaw, Ripplingpaw, Nightpaw, Eaglepaw, and Mountainpaw. They all exchanged excited looks and proudly walked up to the base of Tallrock. As Shadestar started to speak, her voice rang out in the clearing and silent woods as if the forest waited for them to take one of the greatest honors of all.

"I, Shadestar, leader of ForestClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these five apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the noble ways of your code, and I commend them to you as warriors in turn." Her gaze flew from the newly appearing stars to the five apprentices waiting anxiously. "Ripplingpaw, Nightpaw, Cloverpaw, Mountainpaw, and Eaglepaw," she began, "do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan at the cost of your lives?"

"I do," they replied simultaneously. "Then by the power of StarClan I give you your warrior names: Cloverpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Clovertail. StarClan honor your bravery and your strength and welcome you as a full warrior of ForestClan." Shadestar rested her muzzle on Clovertail's bent head and she gave her shoulder a respectful lick. She did this three more times in turn and Ripplingpaw, Eaglepaw, and Mountainpaw became Ripplingpool, Eaglewing, and Mountainpelt. Lastly, she came to Nightpaw.

"Nightpaw," she murmured, just loud enough for the clan to hear, "from this moment on you will be known as Nightflower," she paused, a sparkle of knowing in her icy blue eyes, "StarClan honor your bravery and your strength and welcome you as a full warrior of ForestClan." How could she have known? Nightflower thought to herself as the Clan came up and congratulated her. Oh well, I can worry later, she thought again as a wave of pure excitement washed over her.

The next day, Nightflower woke up to a clear sky, save for the birds flitting happily in the crisp new leaf air. As she started to pad towards the fresh kill pile, she stopped, deciding to take in the camp surroundings for the first time as a warrior. She was facing towards the entrance, a gap in the bushes, allowing the cats to easily slip through. The gurgling stream right next to the entrence caught her attention. Unless there was very heavy rainfall, this little brook was puttering slowly enough for the kits to play on its shallow, smooth-rocked bottom. There were also a few wild flowers popping up around it, besides the fresh kill pile that was right near it.

On her left was the sheltered elder's den and next to that the apprentices den. Straight behind her she knew there was Tallrock and Shadestar's den. To the right of that was the nursery and next that was the pathway to the medicine cat's clearing and den. Then Nightflower's gaze rested on the cozy warrior's den where she just slept. She looked at it for a moment more before she heard a cat mewoing her name.

"Nightflower," It was Eaglewing, "would you like to come hunting with me?" She purred and flicked her ears in reply. They were off at once. Knowing that the best place to hunt in new leaf was near Willow Grove, that's where they headed. As the scent of vole caught her nose, Nightflower flicked her tail to Eaglewing in signal to slow down. She instictivley went into a hunter's crouch but was cut off when she heard a loud squall from behind her.

"What was that?" muttered Eaglewing. "Well, we're gonna find out," she replied. They retraced their steps and went back the way they came. As they entered the training meadow, she saw a flash of white fur and a mangled body lying in the middle of the clearing. "Follow that scent," she mewed urgently to him. He nodded in reply and darted back into the forest. Nightflower cautiously walked up to the body, fear burning in her belly. Suddenly, she let out a grief-sick yowl as she saw who was lying on the blood-stained ground in front of her: Clovertail.

Well I hope you all like this chapter! Next one coming soon, please R&R and no flames! Thanks so much for reading!