"It has come to my attention," Bluestar meowed, "That we have two apprentices how deserve to be warriors."
The apprentices all looked at each other, and Sandpaw and Dustpaw puffed out their chests proudly.
"Firepaw, Graypaw, please step forward." Sandpaw and Dustpaw almost yet out a screech of embarrassment as their enemies stepped forward. Firepaw cast a long look at Ravenpaw, but the black tom understood. He hadn't been in the fight.
"I, Bluestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these two apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn." She looked at the two apprentices, and meowed, "Firepaw, Graypaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this clan even at the cost of your lives?"
Ravenpaw watched his friends become warriors, and he smiled. For the first time in so long, he felt happy.
"I do," Firepaw meowed eagerly.
"I do," Graypaw mimicked, his voice full of excitement.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names: Graypaw, from this moment, you will be known as Graystripe. StarClan honors your bravery and strength, and we welcome you as a full warrior to ThunderClan." She rested her muzzle atop his furry gray head, and he bent to lick her shoulder.
"Firepaw, from this moment, you will be known as Fireheart. StarClan honors your bravery and strength, and we welcome you as a full warrior to ThunderClan." As the new warrior repeated his friend's gesture, Ravenpaw noticed his leader whisper something into Fireheart's ear.
ThunderClan accepted their new warriors. "Fireheart! Graystripe! Fireheart! Graystripe!" They yowled. The loudest of all was Ravenpaw.
"It's almost moonhigh, and in the tradition of our ancestors, Fireheart and Graystripe must sit a silent vigil until dawn, and guard the camp alone as we sleep." Bluestar meowed. The great cat entered her den.
Tigerclaw cast a long expressionless look at the new warriors and muttered words Ravenpaw couldn't hear. Ravenpaw turned for the apprentice den, then froze.
When Tigerclaw had told the clan to kill him, he had brought Dustpaw into the council, and given Sandpaw the power of watching him. They were on his side, more or less. He turned to gaze at his friends, his protectors. Now they were not going to be in the same den. He glanced at the two apprentices. They were more spiteful then ever, and they were also much stronger than he. Ravenpaw gulped, and looked at Fireheart and Graystripe desprately.
But the two toms were smiling at each other happily. They were pleased. They were warriors. They would protect this clan until their death.
But if the time came, would they protect their clan or protect their friend?
