A light, chill breeze ruffled Heronpaw's fur as he crouched amidst the ferns. He breathed in the scents of anticipation around him. The pungent smell of the streaks of colored battle paint on his cheeks reminded him of blood. He tried to focus on how he knew the scent was supposed to make him feel. Powerful. Alert. Ready.
Distant sounds of battle pierced the night air and drifted through the forest. The screeches and yowls made Heronpaw's heart pump faster. Was CedarClan losing? Would he need to fight? The smell of the paint was making him nauseous.
He chanced a glance at his mentor, Kestrelfeather, who was crouched in the undergrowth a few mouse-lengths away. The auburn warrior's green eyes were wide and his ears were angled forward, ready to catch any sounds of approaching cats. His face was smeared with stripes of violet dye turned black in the darkness. His colored fur had dried into spikes.
Kestrelfeather's ear twitched and he sank lower to the ground.
Heronpaw's heart skipped a beat. Was this it? He heard his clanmates behind him shuffle. He felt their hot breath on his back. They were ready to fight.
A shape burst through a hazel thicket and skidded to a halt in front of the waiting patrol. To Heronpaw's relief, he recognized her.
"Cherrynose." Kestrelfeather greeted his clanmate as he rose to his paws beside Heronpaw. "Are we needed?"
The skinny tortoiseshell she-cat nodded fervently. Her amber eyes were glazed with pain. "Too…many." She gasped.
"These rogues are getting too bold." Kestrelfeather muttered. He turned to his patrol, signaling with his tail. The four warriors and Heronpaw got to their feet and awaited their next instruction. Cherrynose readied herself as well, but Kestrelfeather shook his head at her.
"Go back." He said.
Cherrynose looked like she was going to argue for a moment, but then thought better. She turned and began to limp away towards camp.
Heronpaw didn't have time to watch her go. Kestrelfeather had given the signal to run, and Heronpaw didn't want to get trampled by the rest of the patrol.
He ran alongside his mentor, his heart beating quickly. The sounds of battle grew louder with every paw-step.
This is it. He thought. My first real fight. Anxiety and excitement fought for dominance in his belly, making him feel slightly sick.
Kestrelfeather shot his apprentice an intense look as they ran. Heronpaw returned the look from wide, scared eyes. The warrior twitched his ears and tail and the patrol spread out behind him. Heronpaw let Kestrelfeather's pre-battle words run again in his mind.
Stay close. Stay alert. These rogues do not fight with a warrior's honor.
Heronpaw hardly had time to go over the words twice before the patrol burst out of the undergrowth and out onto a clear stretch of ground filled with fighting cats. Sounds, scents, and colors assaulted his senses. He wanted to stop, to turn, to run away but he fought the urge. Instead, he focused on Kestrelfeather's pelt and followed it.
His mentor had wasted no time leaping directly onto a rogue who had a CedarClan warrior pinned under massive, ragged paws.
Heronpaw watched as the huge rogue reared and swiped at his attacker. Kestrelfeather gripped the tom's broad shoulders with his claws and began scraping his hind claws along the rogue's spine. Heronpaw's eyes widened as blood welled up where Kestrelfeather had struck. The rogue bellowed and bucked, throwing Kestrelfeather off.
Heronpaw cried out as his mentor crashed to the ground. He tried to move but his paws felt like stone. How could he hope to fight such a huge enemy? The rogue loomed over Kestrelfeather its yellow fangs bared. Heronpaw gave himself a mental shake. His mentor needed him!
Before he could leap to Kestrelfeather's side, he was shoved aside by another warrior.
"Move!" the warrior spat. Heronpaw stumbled to the side as the newcomer, Falconstorm, leapt forward. The huge tabby grasped Kestrelfeather's attacker by the shoulders and flung him off. Kestrelfeather leapt to his paws beside Falconstorm and together the two warriors began slashing and swiping at their enemy.
Heronpaw took a step forward, desperate to help, when another huge rogue blocked his path. The rogue leered at Heronpaw with narrowed yellow eyes.
"Canna' fight me alone, Clan-scat?" he rasped. Heronpaw's blood pounded in his ears blocking out the noises of the battle. His training of the last four moons came rushing to him all in a moment. He lowered his body into a crouch. The fear was gone and only adrenaline and determination fueled him now.
The gray rogue cocked his head and lunged. Heronpaw dodged, taking advantage of his lighter frame. The rogue crashed into the rocky soil hissing. Heronpaw readied himself for a counterattack as the rogue regained his balance. The gray tom swung his head around with a hiss, but Heronpaw was ready. He lashed out at the rogue's muzzle with claws extended. The rogue howled as Heronpaw's claws snagged in flesh.
Heronpaw felt a thrill of surprised satisfaction as the sharp scent of blood hit his nose. His moment of triumph was short lived, however, as a pair of flailing cats swept his hind legs from under him. He fell to the side unbalanced.
The gray rogue seized his chance. In an instant the tom was on top of Heronpaw pinning the apprentice's shoulders down under large paws.
Heronpaw wriggled madly trying to free himself, but his attacker's superior weight kept him firmly trapped. Heronpaw gasped for breath as he glared up at the rogue. Shame burned his ears.
"I surrender." Heronpaw hissed. The rogue's eyes widened and he snorted.
"Gutless the lot of ya." he spat, revealing long, cruel fangs. Heronpaw suddenly remembered Kestrelfeather's words. They don't fight with honor…
Panic exploded in Heronpaw's chest. He started struggling again, harder this time. The rogue let out a rusty purr and leaned down ready to bite. Heronpaw stared, unblinking, as his view of the night sky became obscured by grungy stinking fur.
Starclan, help me!
A screech split the air and the weight was lifted from Heronpaw's shoulders. Instantly Heronpaw was back on his feet and looking around wildly for his savior. He spotted the rogue and a smaller pale brown shape tumbling head over tail across the clearing. Heronpaw tried to run forward to help, but his way was blocked by another pair of flailing, screeching cats.
Unable to tell who was friend and who was foe among the writhing mess of limbs, Heronpaw decided against helping. Instead, he bunched his muscles and launched himself into a leap over the commotion. He landed heavily and stumbled. He looked up.
The cat who had come to rescue Heronpaw was Heronpaw's denmate, Dawnpaw. The older apprentice had the rogue pinned down and was raking his back claws over the intruder's belly over and over again. The rogue howled in pain but kept on struggling to fight back. In a flash Dawnpaw jumped away just in time to narrowly avoid a vicious kick from the mangy tom's hind leg.
"Dawnpaw!" Heronpaw called out as he ran to his clanmate's side. "I'm here!"
Dawnpaw waved his tail to show that he had heard. Together they drove the rogue back against a fallen tree with slashes and swipes from their forepaws. Heronpaw aimed his blows at the tom's front legs while Dawnpaw battered their foe's head and face. With a final, guttural screech the rogue tucked his tail under his body and flattened himself against the ground. The apprentices stopped advancing.
"Do you surrender?" Dawnpaw said in a calm voice. The rogue looked up. Hatred burned in his yellow eyes.
"Take your blood, rat-spawn." He spat.
Dawnpaw looked down his muzzle at the rogue. His eyes cracked with blue ice. "I am not like you." He said.
The rogue didn't waste another heartbeat. He scrambled to his paws and shoved his way past the apprentices. Heronpaw watched as the rogue sped away. Dark blood spattered the earth as he went.
Dawnpaw turned to Heronpaw. All of the fierceness and fire was gone from his face, replaced instead by concern.
"Are you hurt?" Dawnpaw asked.
Heronpaw shook his head. "Thanks." He said.
Dawnpaw dipped his head. He glanced around, then back at Heronpaw.
"Anytime."
Dawnpaw turned and darted away. Heronpaw followed.
The apprentices weaved around battling cats and headed towards the opposite side of the clearing. Dawnpaw signaled Heronpaw with his long tail. Heronpaw looked around and caught sight of a clanmate in need.
Two rogues, one black and one tabby, had a ginger warrior, Brushfire, backed up against a boulder. The she-cat was fighting back but with every heartbeat that passed she bore new claw-marks.
Before Heronpaw and Dawnpaw could arrive to help, a dark grey cat shot out of the crowd and hooked its claws into one of the rogues.
"Slatepaw!" Dawnpaw whooped.
Slatepaw dragged the rogue she-cat, spitting and thrashing, off of his clanmate. Dawnpaw lunged forward and did the same to the second rogue.
"I don't need your help, kitty-pet!" spat Brushfire. She shoved Dawnpaw aside and began fighting the black rogue by herself. Heronpaw flinched for his friend, but Dawnpaw didn't pause. Instead, he turned and dove back into the roiling mass of cats that was the main battle.
Heronpaw turned his attention quickly to Slatepaw who was struggling in the tabby rogue's grip. Heronpaw darted forwards and hooked the she-cat's back legs out from under her. His attacker off balance, Slatepaw was able to regain his advantage. He cuffed the she-cat around the ears and sank his teeth into her shoulder. The she-cat screamed in pain and shook Slatepaw off. She backed up, eyeing the two apprentices.
Heronpaw bared his teeth while Slatepaw let out a low hiss. The she-cat shrank back, turned, and fled. Excited that he had now helped chase off two rogues, Heronpaw looked to Slatepaw, eager to share the pride of victory.
Another rogue was leaping at his clanmate. A white she-cat was headed straight for Slatepaw's side.
"Look out!" Heronpaw screeched. He knocked Slatepaw over with a desperate shove. The two apprentices tumbled to the ground in a flurry of limbs. Slatepaw scrabbled to his paws and looked around wildly for the attacker. Heronpaw jumped up beside him ready to fight again.
There was nothing there. Heronpaw swung his head around wildly. The she-cat was gone.
"What was that?" Slatepaw growled. Heronpaw didn't know what to say. He knew he had seen her. Where did she go?
Slatepaw hissed and wasted no time throwing himself back into battle. In a moment he was at his mentor, Whiteshade's, side, matching the senior warrior blow for blow on a dangerous looking ginger rogue.
Heronpaw shook his head, confused.
"Heronpaw!" A familiar voice called out from the edge of the fight. Heronpaw turned to see Kestrelfeather bounding towards him. Heronpaw ran to meet his mentor.
"What happened?" Kestrelfeather said. He was a little out of breath.
"I got cut off." Heronpaw meowed.
"You're unhurt?" Kestrelfeather said. He pushed his nose into Heronpaw's flank. Heronpaw moved away from his mentor's touch.
"I'm fine." Heronpaw churned his paws against the ground. "What now?"
He searched the crowd for a clanmate in need or a rogue on their own, but all he saw were familiar pelts streaked with red blood and violet war paint.
"The battle is winding down." Kestrelfeather said. As he spoke, Whiteshade and Slatepaw spun on their front paws and delivered a synchronized kick to the ginger rogue's chest. The intruder went flying from the force of the blow and landed with an audible thump at the edge of the clearing.
Whiteshade stalked up to his foe. The rogue struggled to his paws and shrank back from Whiteshade's commanding presence.
"Leave." Whiteshade hissed. The simple word caused the rogue to turn tail and run. The last of the intruders broke off from their respective fights and fled after what Heronpaw supposed was their leader. When the last tail disappeared through the brush, the cats of CedarClan began yowling in triumph. Heronpaw added his voice to the clamor. They had won! He had helped!
"Shadowgrove. Elkheart. See them off." Whiteshade called over the noise.
Two senior warriors stepped forward from the crowd. They nodded and took off after the retreating rogues.
"CedarClan, withdraw." Whiteshade added in a tired voice.
The remaining CedarClan cats began to group up. They helped injured clanmates to their paws and licked wounds. Heronpaw and Kestrelfeather joined the group as it began moving back towards camp.
Heronpaw followed as Kestrelfeather led him around their clanmates. He slowed when he reached the side of a large tabby tom. Falconstorm. Heronpaw's heart sank.
"Your son did well." Kestrelfeather related. Falconstorm cast a sideways glance at Heronpaw, who shrank back behind his mentor.
"Hm." Falconstorm snorted.
Kestrelfeather's ears twitched and his back stiffened. Falconstorm just shrugged and lengthened his stride. The dark warrior soon left Kestrelfeather and Heronpaw behind. Heronpaw hung his head, ashamed. Why had Falconstorm been the one to see his moment of weakness?
"Grumpy old badger." Kestrelfeather said with a forced purr.
Heronpaw didn't respond.
Dawnpaw and his mentor Blackmoth bounded up to Kestrelfeather's side.
"Dawnpaw tells me that Heronpaw helped him fight off a rogue twice their size!" Blackmoth gushed. Dawnpaw flattened his brownish gray ears in embarrassment at his mentor's praise.
"He wasn't that big." Dawnpaw mumbled.
"They were all the size of badgers." Kestrelfeather purred. Heronpaw brightened a bit. Kestrelfeather was impressed.
"Blizzardstar has to make Dawnpaw a warrior now!" Blackmoth continued. Her black tail swayed with happiness.
Kestrelfeather nodded. "He certainly fought like one."
Dawnpaw ducked his head, humble. "Thank you."
Kestrelfeather and Blackmoth began to discuss the battle in more detail, wondering aloud what gave the rogues such audacity as to enter CedarClan territory twice in one moon.
While the older cats spoke, Dawnpaw moved like a fish through water to walk beside Heronpaw. The tan tom's eyes were shining.
"You did really well tonight." Dawnpaw said.
Heronpaw's ears warmed. "Thanks, but I'll never be as good as you and Slatepaw."
Dawnpaw rolled his eyes. "Of course you will. You just need training."
Heronpaw nodded but he didn't really believe it. At least he knew that Dawnpaw was genuine. He really did believe that Heronpaw could be great one day.
The group continued on their way through the dark forest with ease. Any other cat who tried to navigate these forests at night would find an obstacle at every paw-step. CedarClan cats, however, avoided these with careful grace. Only a cat who had been born and raised here could tame this forest floor with its creeping ferns, twisted roots, and hidden stones.
As they ran, Heronpaw looked over at his friend. Dawnpaw's usually flawless coat was criss-crossed with claw marks and stained with dirt and blood. Despite his appearance the apprentice's blue eyes were shining with pride and excitement. Heronpaw felt a stab of apprehension. Dawnpaw could become a warrior tonight. Heronpaw was only two moons younger than Dawnpaw. Would he be ready in that short of time?
Eventually the patrol came to the base of a tree covered slope. They began to climb. The chatter that had been prevalent before died down as the exhausted and injured cats heaved themselves up the hill.
The moon was high in the sky by the time the battle patrol approached the fern tunnel that led into the CedarClan camp. One by one they slipped through the low hanging fronds and entered the hollow that acted as CedarClan's camp. The dip in the ground was surrounded by huge red cedar trees that protected the clan from weather as well as intruders.
Heronpaw's clanmates were milling around the clearing. Those who had stayed to protect the camp from a counterattack were pacing back and forth with twitching tails. Plumleaf and her apprentice Petalpaw were flitting around the battle-worn cats checking for serious injuries.
A familiar white and gray she-cat bounded up to Heronpaw, her blue eyes shining with worry.
"Are you hurt? Do you need to see Plumleaf?" she tried to examine Heronpaw but he ducked away from her worrisome muzzle.
"I'm fine, Ferntail." Heronpaw grumbled. He didn't need his mother fretting over him after his first battle.
Ferntail faltered, looking hurt. Heronpaw regretted his tone.
"He did well." Kestrelfeather put in quickly.
Ferntail brightened. "Did you really?"
Heronpaw nodded. He reached forward and brushed his cheek along her jaw. "Thanks for worrying, Ferntail." He said.
Ferntail purred.
"Let all warriors and apprentices gather here for a meeting!" Blizzardstar's deep, booming call rang out over the clearing.
Heronpaw and Kestrelfeather bid Ferntail goodbye as she hurried away to join her mate. Heronpaw followed his mentor to the center of camp where the other warriors were gathering. He sat with his mentor among his Clanmates and waited.
Heronpaw looked up to the Highbranch; a low hanging bough where the clan leader addressed the clan. CedarClan's leader, Blizzardstar, was sitting there. He surveyed his clan with dark blue eyes.
The few warriors who weren't already seated quickly did so. Heronpaw caught sight of his brothers Hawkpaw and Crowpaw sitting with their mentors a few tail-lengths away. Heronpaw tried to get their attention with a wave of his tail, but he was reprimanded by a sharp click of the tongue from Kestrelfeather.
Heronpaw sat back, embarrassed.
"Whiteshade, report." Blizzardstar began. Whiteshade stood up at the head of the crowd. His white and black pelt glowed in the moonlight.
"My patrol initially engaged with a numbers advantage. As we guessed, the enemy had reinforcements. Once our backup arrived, we won the fight easily." He said in a loud, firm voice.
A wave of triumphant yowls met Whiteshade's words. They died away almost instantly as Blizzardstar raised his tail for silence.
"Continue." He said to his deputy.
"I sent Shadowgrove and Elkheart to follow and report." Whiteshade said. Blizzardstar nodded.
"Good." He said. "CedarClan has won the day."
Another swell of yowls filled the air. Heronpaw copied Kestrelfeather's proud stance and call.
"Blizzardstar, Blackmoth and I have a request." Whiteshade called over the noise. The celebratory yowls faded away into excited murmurs.
"Slatepaw and Dawnpaw both fought like warriors today." Whiteshade continued. "We believe it is time."
A few murmurs of protest arose from several of the clan cats. Heronpaw even heard a few growls of disbelief. The noise grew as more cats began voicing their opinions under their breath. An air of tension fell over the clan.
Blizzardstar sat motionless on his perch above the clan. He stared down at the cats. The muttering quickly died away under his gaze.
Heronpaw looked up at his leader. Surely Blizzardstar would do the right thing despite the nay-sayers.
"I agree." Blizzardstar finally said.
Relief spread from Heronpaw's ears to his tail-tip. Blizzardstar had spoken. Any reservations the Clan had about the ceremony must be put away.
"Slatepaw and Dawnpaw shall receive their warrior names." Blizzardstar continued. "The ceremony will be held in the morning." With that the CedarClan leader jumped down from his perch.
Beside Heronpaw, Kestrelfeather stood.
"You should get some sleep." Kestrelfeather said to his apprentice. Heronpaw looked over at his denmates who were gathering together to gossip.
"But- "He began. Kestrelfeather cut him off.
"Duties wait for no cat." He nudged Heronpaw to his feet and nodded at the apprentice's den. "You can chat with your denmates tomorrow."
Heronpaw dragged his paws over to the hollow stump where the apprentices made their nests. Before he could slip inside a familiar voice called out to him. He looked up to see Beepelt, an elder, lying a few tail-lengths away next to the hollowed-out log the elders called their nest.
"Care to share a tale of teeth and claws with an old badger like me?" Beepelt said with a wave of his striped tail.
Heronpaw purred. "Sorry, Beepelt." He gestured to the apprentice's den with his head. "Kestrelfeather's orders."
Beepelt lost none of his enthusiasm. "Tomorrow, then!" he croaked.
Heronpaw signaled affirmation with his tail before bending to squeeze into the den. He picked his way across the moss-strewn floor and over to his nest. With a sigh he flopped down and began to wash. His nose wrinkled at the sharp taste of the purple dye used to make the battle paint.
He was only alone for a little while. Hawkpaw and Crowpaw entered first followed by Specklepaw, the youngest of the apprentices.
"How was it?" Hawkpaw demanded as soon as he entered. His tabby fur, so like their father's, was fluffed up in excitement.
"Confusing and intense." Heronpaw said. "There were just so many cats."
Crowpaw looked at him, tilted his head and opened his mouth to speak.
"I remember my first battle." Hawkpaw said, running over the beginning of Crowpaw's sentence. "I wasn't afraid."
Specklepaw looked at Hawkpaw with wide eyes.
Crowpaw snorted. "Your first battle was chasing a kitty-pet off of clan land, no?" he said. He flopped down in his own nest and began grooming his black fur.
Hawkpaw whirled to confront his brother but was interrupted by the arrival of Slatepaw and Dawnpaw. Specklepaw and Hawkpaw immediately crowded their denmates.
"Did you really fight off a rogue by yourself?" Specklepaw squeaked.
"How many were there?" Hawkpaw pressed.
"It's too late for this." Slatepaw grumbled. He went straight to his nest and curled up without another word.
Dawnpaw twitched his whiskers apologetically at the others. "He's just tired." He said.
Slatepaw snorted from underneath his tail.
Hawkpaw and Specklepaw turned their eyes on Dawnpaw instead.
"So am I. Goodnight." Dawnpaw said quickly. He settled down next to Slatepaw and curled his long cream tail over his nose.
Hawkpaw churned his paws on the ground while Specklepaw muttered something under her breath. Together they made their way to their own nests.
Eventually the last apprentice, Morningpaw, entered the den smelling strongly of herbs. She had a cobweb patch on one ginger shoulder and her white fur was still stained with violet dye. Heronpaw waved his tail at her in greeting. She waved back. Her green eyes were already half-closed.
Heronpaw curled his tail over his nose and sighed deeply. The sounds of his denmates falling asleep around him was soothing. He began to fantasize about the battle. His half-asleep mind remembered it to be much grander and more intense than it had been. He imagined Kestrelfeather telling Blizzardstar that Heronpaw was ready to be a warrior. The whole clan cheered as he stood before them, proud and strong.
He purred softly into his fur. It wasn't too hard to imagine himself as a warrior. Maybe he could get there after all.