Shimmerpaw crouched in the training clearing facing off against Bronzepaw. Her mentor, Oakclaw, sat watching them along with Rippleheart, Silverclaw and her apprentice, Brightpaw. Bronzepaw and Brightpaw were taking their warrior assessments, so they were demonstrating their fighting skills while sparring with Shimmerpaw. Brightpaw had already passed her assessment. Now it was Bronzepaw's turn.
Shimmerpaw watched Bronzepaw, wondering what she was going to do. She wanted her to pass her assessment, but she also knew that she couldn't make it easy for her.
Bronzepaw leaped forward. Shimmerpaw quickly darted to the right, turning to keep Bronzepaw in her sights. She leaped as Bronzepaw was landing, knocking her over. The two rolled together for a moment. Shimmerpaw held on, wanting to see what Bronzepaw would do. Bronzepaw surprised her by using her weight to roll them over once more until she was on top of Shimmerpaw, one paw one Shimmerpaw's stomach while the other was on her throat.
"Well done, Bronzepaw," Oakclaw praised, smiling with pride.
Bronzepaw got off Shimmerpaw, staring at her mentor hopefully. "Does that mean...?"
"You passed," Oakclaw confirmed.
"Yes!" Bronzepaw exclaimed.
"That means we're going to be warriors!" Brightpaw piped up, running over to her sister's side.
"Congratulations," Shimmerpaw meowed, smiling at them.
"You've both done really well," Rippleheart added. "We'd better head back and inform Shinestar." He took the lead, Oakclaw and Silverclaw right behind him while the apprentices brought up the rear of the group.
"Do you think Bramblepaw passed too?" Bronzepaw asked.
"Of course he did! He's always been dedicated, and Eagleclaw is a great mentor," Brightpaw answered.
Bronzepaw smirked, playfully. "How do you know that? Eagleclaw is Bramblepaw's mentor, not yours."
Brightpaw looked away. "We've trained together a few times. I've seen him with Bramblepaw, and he seems to be doing well."
"It seems to me that somebody likes Eagleclaw," Bronzepaw meowed teasingly.
"N-No I don't!" Brightpaw stammered.
"Yes you do! I've seen you watching him," Bronzepaw countered.
Shimmerpaw shook her head in amusement. "She has a point. I've seen it too."
Brightpaw ducked her head, clearly embarrassed. "So what? It doesn't matter."
"Of course it matters! So does he like you too?" Bronzepaw questioned.
"I don't know," Brightpaw replied. "Besides, he probably isn't looking for anything to happen right now."
"We'll see," Bronzepaw smirked, a mischievous look in her eyes.
"You'd better not say anything to him!" Brightpaw growled, giving her sister a glare.
"Why not? It might help you out," Bronzepaw argued.
"If you say anything, I'll tell Dragonfang how you feel," Brightpaw threatened.
Bronzepaw's eyes went wide. "You wouldn't."
Now Brightpaw was smirking. "Try me."
Shimmerpaw sighed and rolled her eyes at the two. "How about you both drop the subject and let whatever happens happen?" she suggested. "You're both becoming warriors. Just try to focus on that for now."
Bronzepaw and Brightpaw seemed to find sense in her words and nodded.
They reached camp, going over to sit outside the apprentices' den. It wasn't long before Eagleclaw, Bluestripe, Bramblepaw, and Fernpaw came into camp. The two warriors went over to where Shinestar, Rippleheart, Oakclaw and Silverclaw sat while Bramblepaw and Fernpaw joined the group of apprentices.
"Well?" Brightpaw prompted once they had settled beside them.
"I passed," Bramblepaw meowed with a proud smile.
"He was great. I didn't stand a chance," Fernpaw added. "You'd better watch out though. When we're both warriors, you and I are having a sparring match and I'm going to win."
"You're on, Fernpaw," Bramblepaw agreed.
"Congratulations, Bramblepaw," Shimmerpaw meowed with a kind smile.
"Thanks, Shimmerpaw. You did help quite a bit though," Bramblepaw reminded her.
"How?" Fernpaw questioned.
"When I heard I was having my assessment today, I asked Shimmerpaw if she would go train with me last night and help me prepare," Bramblepaw admitted, giving his chest fur a few embarrassed licks. "It gave me a chance to practice everything one last time."
"She did that for you, did she?" Bronzepaw smirked as she glanced at Shimmerpaw.
Shimmerpaw forced herself to hold Bronzepaw's gaze as she dipped her head, knowing exactly what was going through her head. "Of course. He really wanted to make sure he passed his assessment, so I was happy to help. I would've helped any of you if you had asked."
"Right..." Bronzepaw didn't look convinced but she dropped the subject when she saw Shinestar leap up into the Talltree.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Talltree for a Clan meeting!"
"This is it!" Brightpaw shuffled her paws, a mixture of excitement and nervousness in her eyes. She, Bronzepaw, and Bramblepaw went to the front of the crowd while everyone else gathered behind them. Shimmerpaw found a spot next to Graystep and Fernpaw. Ravenstripe ran over to join them.
"Cats of LightClan, today is a glorious day. Three apprentices have passed their warrior assessments and are ready to join the ranks of our warriors," Shinestar began, leaping down to stand in front of the three apprentices. "I Shinestar, leader of LightClan, 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." She glanced at Brightpaw first. "Brightpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do," Brightpaw answered.
"Then by the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Brightpaw, from this moment, until you have earned your warrior name, you shall be known as Brighteyes. StarClan honors you courage and intelligence, and we welcome you as a full warrior of LightClan," Shinestar rested her muzzled on Brighteyes head, and the new warrior licked her leader's shoulder before stepped back to join the crowd. Shinestar then turned to Bronzepaw. "Bronzepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do," Bronzepaw meowed excitedly.
Shinestar smiled with amusement as she continued, "Then by the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Bronzepaw, from this moment, you shall be known as Bronzefrost. StarClan honors your strength and compassion, and we welcome you as a full warrior of LightClan," She rested her muzzled on Bronzefrost's head and Bronzefrost licked her shoulder just as her sister did before her. She then stepped back to join her sibling. Finally, Shinestar turned to Bramblepaw. "Bramblepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do," Bramblepaw's voice was clear as he spoke, determination shining in his eyes. Shimmerpaw wasn't sure, but she thought she could see the slightest hint of pride in Shinestar's eyes.
"Then by the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Bramblepaw, from this moment, you shall be known as Brambleheart. StarClan honors your courage and determination, and we welcome you as a full warrior of LightClan," She rested her muzzled on his head, and Brambleheart licked her shoulder quickly before stepping back beside Bronzefrost and Brighteyes.
"Brighteyes! Bronzefrost! Brambleheart!" the Clan cheered.
The cats began to disperse, some going over to congratulate the new warriors. Shimmerpaw hung back, waiting for the crowd to shrink before she went over. Once it had, she went to Brighteyes and Bronzefrost first, congratulating them before turning towards Brambleheart. She noticed him shuffling his paws as Shinestar and Tigerfur padded away. He looked like he felt a little nervous and awkward.
Shimmerpaw padded over, dipping her head to him. "Congratulations, Brambleheart. You really deserve this."
"Thanks Shimmerpaw," Brambleheart meowed, smiling at her. "I couldn't have done it without you. You've been a big help."
"That's not true. You would've done fine even without my help," Shimmerpaw argued.
"I'm not talking about last night. When I found out I couldn't be a Jedi I felt like my training had been for nothing. I felt like a waste because of that. But you made me realize that wasn't the only thing about me that mattered. It's because of you that I'm the warrior I am today. So thank you," Brambleheart explained, smiling at her with a spark of affection in his eyes.
Shimmerpaw ducked her head, feeling her own admiration for Brambleheart sparking in her heart, but she forced herself to ignore the feeling. I can't. I'm training to be a Jedi. I'm not supposed to feel like this. "It was nothing," she replied at last. She then dipped her head in farewell and trotted over to the apprentices' den, quickly settling into her nest.
Hope you enjoyed! Please R&R :)