Emberpaw opened her eyes. It was in the middle of the night.
All was still, but it didn't feel right. (Unintended) What was it that woke me? she wondered.
And then she realized. It was the heavy footfalls of dozens of cats. "Attack!" she yowled, jumping out of her bed.
Cats streamed out of their dens in droves, to find twenty-odd cats standing in a line before them.
And behind them? Was Darktail. "Traitor!" cried Wolfcloud.
"Now,'' said Darktail calmly. "You have a choice- you can pledge allegiance to me, or leave."
"My allegiance is to Leafstar!" snarled Sharpclaw, and jumped on top of the nearest warrior. And with that, the gorge flew into chaos.
All Emberpaw could hear was the sound of claw against claw, while the metallic smell of blood surrounded her.
Remember your training. She scanned the gorge for an opponent, but she didn't have to. A lithe cat with a foul stench grappled her.
"Ah, a puny apprentice. Easy prey for Raven." she hissed in Emberpaw's ear. Emberpaw didn't speak, just rolled over on top of Raven.
She slashed at her belly, then ears. Finally, she released her. Emberpaw focused on the next warrior, a burly tom grappling Hawkwing.
She jumped on top of him and swiped his ears. Together, she and Hawkwing drove him back, but it was no use.
The battle had ended as quickly as it began. Clan cats all around were retreating to the cliff base, futilely trying to run away with gaping injuries.
"Stop!" cried Darktail. The rogues went to his side. Darktail surveyed the camp, taking note of every Clan cat, battered and bruised.
"I will make the offer once more. Pledge, or leave."
"I will pledge!" cried a cat. Shocked, SkyClan looked towards the offender. Airheart.
"No," sighed Wolfcloud, by Emberpaw's side, then stood up. "I will pledge." Murmurs ran through the crowd, but no one was surprised.
Ever since their mother and father had died in an avalanche, Wolfcloud viewed himself as head of the family, responsible for all his siblings.
Eaglefeather stood up. "And me as well."
Emberpaw felt a stab of anger at Airheart for forcing his family to join Darktail, but to her surprise, Airheart turned on his brother and sister.
"Why do you have to upstage me in everything?" he hissed. "Just stay in stupid SkyClan where you belong!" Wolfcloud remained impassive.
"I wish to pledge," he repeated.
"Well," smiled Darktail. "That can be arranged." Airheart bristled.
"Now repeat after me." he instructed. "I, whatever your name is, promise to follow Darktail till he dies, and then to his successor." They repeated it.
"I pledge allegiance to him and his Kin, to the rest of my life-" "And in acceptance of my new life, I will receive a new name."
Wolfcloud recoiled, and Emberpaw understood. To a Clan cat, a name represents years of training and hard work, fellowship and family.
And for Wolfcloud it must be even more potent, she realized. Wolfkit is the name given to him by his now dead parents.
But Wolfcloud said the words. "Now, I name you Rain." said Darktail, staring at Eaglefeather. His gaze switched to Wolfcloud. "Roach." He turned to Airheart.
"And Nettle."
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