Dawnpaw pushed his way out of the den and out into the cold, pre-dawn clearing. He fluffed out his pelt against the morning mist and shivered. Leaf-fall was advancing and each night grew colder than the last. Soon the fresh-kill pile would grow small as prey hid deep underground and the Clan would have to start trading for fresh pelts for the coldest moons.
He picked his way across the root-strewn ground to where Slatepaw was waiting. The gray apprentice was standing at the fern tunnel. When Dawnpaw arrived at his side, Slatepaw squeezed through the tunnel without a word. Dawnpaw followed.
He nodded to Elkheart who was standing guard outside of camp. The dark brown tom gave the apprentices a small nod. He stretched his jaws wide in a yawn. One amber eye remained open to scan the forest before him.
Slatepaw led Dawnpaw down a small path that ran alongside the walls of the camp. After a few foxlengths they arrived at a small clearing ringed with small white flowers. A break in the canopy allowed a stream of fading starlight to fall to the forest floor. The ground around their paws was strewn with stones of all colors and sizes.
The trees here, though sparse, still covered the sky with their entangled canopies and cast the clearing in a soft greenish gray light. Branches and limbs, long separated from their hosts, lay about the tiny flowers and struggling saplings. Tiny mushrooms bloomed from cracks in the rotting wood.
Slatepaw carefully avoided stepping on any of the blossoms as he made his way to a pair of stones at the edge of the clearing. The smooth river stones sat next to each other, touching. A single yellow flower grew from between them. Slatepaw sat. Dawnpaw settled down beside him.
They sat in silence for a long moment. The sun had peeked over the horizon by now, and the gray dawn was fading.
"Do you think they are proud of us?" Slatepaw said quietly.
Dawnpaw looked at his denmate. The gray and black tom was staring up at the tiny patch of exposed sky above them. A lone pair of stars still hung there, refusing to go out even as the light of dawn chased away their companions.
Dawnpaw knew who Slatepaw meant by 'they'. Lilypool and Sootcloud. They had been Slatepaw's parents, and had taken Dawnpaw in as their own when he was just a kit. They were gone now.
Dawnpaw laid his tail on his friend's striped back. "Of course." He said.
Slatepaw fell silent again. Dawnpaw looked down at the two stones. He remembered Lilypool's rasping tongue and Sootcloud's kind blue eyes. Dawnpaw squeezed his eyes shut, trying to remember more. Lilypool's white fur shining in the light of new-leaf. Sootcloud bringing them mouse tails to play with. Each precious memory was as faint and thin as morning mist in Greenleaf.
At one point in his memories Lilypool was replaced by Spottedfur, an elderly queen who stayed in the nursery to help young mothers and their kits. She had taken Dawnpaw and Slatepaw under her wing when Lilypool and Sootcloud had died. Dawnpaw loved Spottedfur and all that she had done for him, but his heart ached for Lilypool's sweet, clear mew and fierce love.
Dawnpaw purred as he remembered a time when a group of older kits had cornered him and teased him about his strange pelt. Lilypool and Sootcloud had found them behind the nursery. Sootcloud chased the kits away with sharp reprimands while Lilypool stayed with Dawnkit. She gathered him to her flank with her tail and sat with him until he was no longer a sniffling mess.
Don't ever let any cat say you aren't worth the world.
Eyes closed and lost in his memories, Dawnpaw swore he could almost hear her voice.
Dawnpaw sighed and opened his eyes. He leaned down and touched his nose to each stone in turn. His touch lingered on the smaller of the two, a round white river cobble, before he straightened up. Slatepaw leaned into Dawnpaw's side.
"You were always theirs." Slatepaw murmured.
Dawnpaw closed his eyes. He knew.
They sat together for a while quietly sharing memories. The forest around them awoke and splashes of bird song carried through the trees. The light hum of insects along with sounds of CedarClan waking rose up around them. The muffled mews and rumbling purrs of Dawnpaw's Clanmates drifted to his ears from beyond the undergrowth.
"We should go back." Dawnpaw said. Slatepaw nodded and stood. Together they made their way back to camp.
They arrived at a much different camp than they had left. The sun's light was flooding the clearing from behind the trees, burning away the low mist that hung over the ground. The once silent and still camp was bustling now.
Warriors milled around talking and eating. The elders were lounging next to their sunning rock waiting for the sun to peek over the trees and warm their tattered pelts. Among the gnarled roots of a cedar sat the queens. They shared tongues a few tail-lengths away from two fluffy kits who were squeaking in excitement as they played with a feather. Dawnpaw waved his tail at Spottedfur. She waved back excitedly.
"Dawnpaw! Slatepaw! There you are." A voice rang across the clearing. The apprentices turned to see Whiteshade padding towards them. Blackmoth was following. Her black tail was twitching.
"We went to visit Sootcloud and Lilypool." Dawnpaw said as the warriors drew closer. Blackmoth's annoyed expression faded.
"Of course." She meowed. She laid her tail over Dawnpaw's shoulders.
"Blizzardstar will call a Clan meeting soon." Whiteshade said. He flexed his claws in the soil, impatient. "I don't see why we couldn't have done it last moon, but here we are." He added in a low mutter.
"I wanted to wait for Dawnpaw." Slatepaw said, staring into his mentor's amber eyes.
Whiteshade blinked and shrugged. "I know. That doesn't mean I have to like it." He grumbled. "Go get something to eat." The warrior dismissed the apprentices with a flick of his striped tail.
Slatepaw moved away toward last night's leftover fresh-kill. Dawnpaw hurried after him.
"You said Whiteshade agreed!" he said. He hadn't known the Clan deputy was so opposed to Slatepaw's delayed ceremony. Guilt itched beneath Dawnpaw's pelt. Slatepaw could have been a warrior already!
Slatepaw shrugged and chose a thrush from the tiny pile. Dawnpaw grabbed his own prey, a mouse, and followed Slatepaw to their usual eating spot. They settled down among the sprawling roots of an old cedar at the far end of the clearing. Dawnpaw dropped his mouse and stared pointedly at his denmate. Slatepaw began casually shredding feathers off of his thrush. Dawnpaw cleared his throat. Slatepaw looked up and rolled his green eyes.
Dawnpaw opened his mouth to protest but then thought better. Slatepaw was stubborn and what was done was done. Dawnpaw let out a light purr despite his annoyance. Becoming a warrior with Slatepaw sounded much better than doing it alone. There was no sense in being angry that Slatepaw had given him that gift.
They ate in relative silence for a bit. Dawnpaw watched his Clanmates going about their morning. Brushfire had led an early hunting patrol and they had returned back with warm fresh-kill. Morningpaw and Specklepaw were distributing it to the elders, queens, and kits.
A familiar smoky black pelt caught Dawnpaw's eye and he watched as Heronpaw squeezed out of the apprentice's den. The younger cat padded over to his mentor, Kestrelfeather, who sent him with a flick of his tail to the fresh-kill pile. Dawnpaw was pleased to see a glow of pride in Heronpaw's yellow eyes. The black and gray tom wasn't very confident so a reward for his part in yesterday's battle was bound to lift his spirits.
Dawnpaw was about to call out to Heronpaw when a large tabby tom blocked the younger cat's way to the fresh-kill pile. The warrior, Heronpaw's father Falconstorm, leaned down close to Heronpaw's ear. Heronpaw's ears flattened and he gestured weakly in Kestrelfeather's direction. Falconstorm straightened up, lashed his tail, and stalked away. Heronpaw's tail drooped and he quickly grabbed a scrawny shrew from the pile. Dawnpaw's belly clenched for his friend.
"Hey Heronpaw! Come eat with us." Dawnpaw called out, waving his tail. Heronpaw's head and tail lifted a little when he saw Dawnpaw waving to him. He padded over and sat.
"Hi." Heronpaw mumbled around his shrew.
Dawnpaw dipped his head and shuffled to the side to give Heronpaw room.
Heronpaw settled down and was almost looking content when Slatepaw spoke.
"Falconstorm was pretty tough on you just now."
Heronpaw looked up, his eyes widening in horror. Dawnpaw shot Slatepaw a withering look from narrowed eyes.
"I was trying to make him feel better, mousebrain!" Dawnpaw hissed.
"Sorry." Slatepaw said. He shrunk under Dawnpaw's icy glare and began hastily grooming his dark gray tabby fur.
Heronpaw just shook his head. "Slatepaw's right."
Dawnpaw's ears drooped. Surely that wasn't true.
"He wants you to do your best. He is your father after all." He said.
Slatepaw snorted loudly into his mound of feathers. Dawnpaw ignored him.
After a moment, Dawnpaw gave Heronpaw a friendly nudge. "Hey, at least you have Kestrelfeather. You're luckier than most to have a mentor like him."
Slatepaw shook his head and rolled his eyes. "It's hard to believe that he and Falconstorm are littermates." He said.
Heronpaw blinked gratefully at his denmates. Dawnpaw perked up. At least he could help Heronpaw feel a little better. He went back to his mouse.
The three denmates chatted idly about the battle for a while. Dawnpaw tried to keep his mind off of his impending warrior's ceremony, but it wasn't really working. His gaze kept drifting over to the fallen tree where Blizzardstar slept. He should be coming out soon.
"Hey, I'm talking to you." An angry hiss interrupted Dawnpaw's thoughts. He turned to find that Brushfire, a ginger warrior, had joined the group. The she-cat was staring at Dawnpaw with narrowed amber eyes. Behind her stood Cloudpelt, a senior warrior. The gray and white warrior was flicking his tail awkwardly.
Dawnpaw's denmates stiffened. Slatepaw's neck fur began to bristle. Dawnpaw looked up into Brushfire's face.
"Yes?" he mewed politely.
Brushfire narrowed her eyes and glanced at Slatepaw. She curled her lip to reveal her long teeth. "I need a word." She said in a tight voice.
Slatepaw jumped to his feet.
Brushfire shot him a suppressing glare. "No one invited you." she hissed.
Slatepaw didn't sit back down. Dawnpaw lifted a brown forepaw and cleaned it. His belly squirmed with discomfort. What could two senior warriors want with him? Nothing good, by the looks on their faces. He had a sneaking suspicion he knew what their grievance was, however much he didn't want it to be the case.
"Okay." He said with forced cheerfulness.
Slatepaw opened his mouth to argue but Dawnpaw shot him a look.
This was bound to happen eventually. Dawnpaw thought.
"I'll see you later." Dawnpaw waved his tail at Slatepaw and Heronpaw and turned to follow Brushfire and Cloudpelt away. The ginger warrior led Dawnpaw out of camp and away from the entrance. Cloudpelt followed, still looking awkward. After barging her way a few foxlengths into the undergrowth Brushfire stopped and whirled to face Dawnpaw.
"You don't belong here." she said with a growl.
Brushfire's eyes were blazing with anger and her fur was spiked out along her spine. Dawnpaw blinked in surprise and took a step back.
He lifted his chin. "Blizzardstar thinks I do."
Cloudpelt had reached them. He looked at Brushfire reproachfully. "This was not the plan." the older warrior said. Brushfire ignored him.
She shoved her face close to Dawnpaw. "You're a kitty-pet." She spat the word like a curse. "Blizzardstar made a mistake."
Dawnpaw straightened his back and lifted his tail. "You don't trust our leader?" he said.
Brushfire's eyes bulged.
"Of course I do!" Her voice had risen to a half-yowl.
"Then trust his judgement about me." Dawnpaw said. He fixed his Clanmate with an earnest stare. "Let me prove it to you-."
Brushfire didn't let him finish. She made a fast movement towards him, but seemed to realize what she was doing half-way through. She froze, one paw off the ground.
Dawnpaw stared down at the claws that had slipped from her sheaths. Almost immediately, Brushfire stepped back a pace and put away her claws.
Cloudpelt appeared to have had enough. He shouldered his way past Dawnpaw and glared at Brushfire.
"You're going to give our position a bad name." he growled at her. She only sniffed and looked away.
The gray and white warrior turned from her and looked at Dawnpaw. There was no outright hostility in his eyes, but there was no friendliness either.
"Listen. We have nothing against your heritage," he began. "But the warrior code clearly states that we are to reject the life of a kitty-pet. I don't see how giving you a warrior name honors that."
Dawnpaw blinked. He was still shaken from Brushfire's near attack. He was having a hard time processing Cloudpelt's words.
"I never knew my life as a kitty-pet. Haven't I rejected it more than any of you?"
Brushfire's eyes flashed with anger, and Cloudpelt shook his head. "You were just a kit. You didn't have a choice in the matter." he said.
Dawnpaw had to push down a surge of anger. "I do now. And I choose the life of a warrior and the Clan every day."
Cloudpelt didn't look convinced.
"This isn't your life to choose," Brushfire snapped. "It's ours."
Cloudpelt held up his tail for Brushfire to back off. She shot him a glare but fell silent.
"We aren't the only cats in the Clan that feel this way." Cloudpelt said in a brisk tone. "If you accept your warrior name today, we cannot guarantee that nothing will come of it."
He flicked his gray tail and padded past Dawnpaw, his message sent. Brushfire followed, but paused at Dawnpaw's shoulder. She fixed him with an intense stare.
"I won't let you risk bringing StarClan's wrath down on my Clan." she hissed. Then she was gone.
Dawnpaw stood stone-still with shock.
He had known since he was small that there were cats who distrusted him for his origins. He knew that many cats outside of CedarClan thought Blizzardstar was mad for taking in a kitty-pet kit. He had no idea, however, that any cat in his own Clan would still think of him this way.
Dawnpaw shook himself. His heart was pounding. Maybe he should have let Slatepaw come.
"Dawnpaw?" a soft voice called out. Dawnpaw spun around in time to see a short, spotted brown she-cat push her way out of the ferns. She looked around, confused.
"Who were you talking to?" She asked. Dawnpaw shook his head.
"Myself." He lied. He raised a paw to lick it again.
Spottedfur's green eyes softened.
"You must have the cleanest paws in the Clan. Nervous?" she guessed.
Dawnpaw nodded quickly. His twitching tail and fear-scent could be explained away by nervousness.
Spottedfur brushed her cheek against Dawnpaw's jaw.
"You'll do wonderfully." She purred. Dawnpaw breathed in her familiar scent, letting it calm him. He had just as much, if not more, support in the Clan than dissenters. They wouldn't let a few frustrated warriors drive him away.
"Thank you Spottedfur." Dawnpaw purred back. He nuzzled her shoulder then padded over to push the foliage out of the way. "Let's go back."
Together they made their way back. When they entered through the fern tunnel, Dawnpaw was greeted almost immediately by Slatepaw. He had been sitting right next to the entrance.
His gray fur relaxed on his shoulders when he saw who Dawnpaw was with. Slatepaw fell in stride beside Dawnpaw as they led the elder queen back to the nursery.
"I remember when you were just kits." Spottedfur said, her eyes glowing with nostalgia. "Dawnpaw, you would follow Slatepaw around and pretend to be his deputy."
Slatepaw flicked his tail at Dawnpaw, a playful gleam in his eye. Dawnpaw flattened his ears, embarrassed. Spottedfur continued.
"When Sootcloud and Lilypool went to StarClan I knew that it would be hard for you two. I knew you'd face many challenges. But look at you now." She backed away from the apprentices and looked them up and down. Dawnpaw realized with a jolt that he was now at least a head taller than the old queen. Last time he had checked, he only had an ear's height on her.
"You're going to be warriors!" Spottedfur purred.
Dawnpaw touched Spottedfur's nose with his own.
"You raised us well." He said. Slatepaw stepped forward and rested his muzzle on the old she-cat's head. Spottedfur's purr loudened. They stood, a family stitched together by circumstance and tragedy, but as strong as any blood bond.
"Dawnpaw! Slatepaw!" Dawnpaw looked up to see Blackmoth waving her tail at him from next to Blizzardstar's den. Her eyes were bright with excitement. Whiteshade was pacing beside her.
"It's time!" Spottedfur cried. She head butted Dawnpaw and Slatepaw, pushing them in the direction of their mentors.
"I'll be the first to call your names." Spottedfur promised as the apprentices padded away.
As they crossed the clearing Dawnpaw noticed that much of the Clan had already gathered in anticipation of the meeting. He saw Heronpaw sitting with Kestrelfeather. The apprentice looked happier than he had this morning. His eyes were bright with excitement and his head was held high. Dawnpaw felt relieved. Heronpaw had reason to be proud on this day. Falconstorm was not going to ruin that for his son.
Dawnpaw also noticed Brushfire and Cloudpelt sitting together at the edge of the gathering Clan. Brushfire caught Dawnpaw's eye and drew her lips back in a snarl. Cloudpelt avoided his gaze completely. Dawnpaw looked away. They were just angry. Once they realized he could be a loyal warrior they would come to accept him.
Dawnpaw and Slatepaw reached their mentors and sat beside them. Blackmoth immediately started fussing over Dawnpaw's pelt.
"You're a mess!" she huffed. Dawnpaw ducked out from under her tongue.
"I'm fine Blackmoth." He purred. Blackmoth twitched her whiskers.
Whiteshade sat, back straight and eyes forward facing the Clan. Slatepaw sat beside him like a shadow. Dawnpaw marveled at how noble his denmate looked.
The dark gray tom looked like a seasoned warrior. He had poise and presence, skill and loyalty. Any Clan would be happy to have a warrior like him. Dawnpaw puffed out his chest, trying to imitate Slatepaw's commanding stance.
They only had to wait a moment before Blizzardstar emerged from his den. The huge tom nodded at the waiting cats before leaping up onto the low hanging branch that hung above his den. The chatter among the Clan ceased at their leader's arrival. Dawnpaw felt a thrill of excitement and nervousness.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the High Branch for a Clan meeting!" Blizzardstar boomed. He curled his long tail around his paws and looked down at his Clan with dark blue eyes. Dawnpaw marveled at how magnificent the great cat looked. He had only ever seen the leader's ceremonial paint once before, and Dawnpaw had been very young then.
Streaks of color adorned Blizzardstar's stark white pelt. Yellow swirls covered his flanks and his tail tip had been dyed a pale blue. He had two deep red half-moons under his eyes and a vertical stripe down his chin that gave his face a fierceness that rivaled that of a great eagle. Dawnpaw remembered his own apprentice ceremony where one of his front paws had been dipped in blood red dye to symbolize the blood he would spill on behalf of his Clan. His paw twitched with the memory.
The few stragglers that hadn't already gathered were hurrying over and taking their seats among their Clanmates. Once every cat was seated, Blizzardstar began.
"A group of rogues made an attempt to settle on our territory near the river. They refused to leave and demanded to fight for the land."
A chorus of angry hisses met his words. Dawnpaw wanted to show his teeth too, but he remained stiff and proper.
"A patrol of CedarClan warriors met our enemies in battle. Our cats drove off the intruders with little effort."
There was a ripple of movement among the Clan. Everycat wanted to look at one of the warriors who had fought. Dawnpaw felt a rush of pride and embarrassment as the eyes of his Clanmates passed over him.
"Let those who dare underestimate our strength hear this now." Blizzardstar raised his voice to a deep thundering roar as he rose to his four massive paws. "Our claws are sharp. Our teeth are bared. We will defend this land with our blood and our bones. We are strong and wise. We are CedarClan!"
A deafening wave of triumphant yowls met Blizzardstar's proclamation. Adrenaline pumped through Dawnpaw's veins and his claws itched to fight once more.
"Drive out the foxhearts!" Kestrelfeather yowled from the crowd. Blizzardstar let the noise continue for a moment, then lifted his tail for silence. Immediately the Clan fell quiet.
"Four young apprentices stood shoulder to shoulder with their Clanmates on that triumphant battlefield. They proved their skill in battle as well as their unwavering loyalty for this Clan. Slatepaw, Dawnpaw, Morningpaw, and Heronpaw, we honor you." Blizzardstar's blue eyes sparkled as they passed over each apprentice. They lingered on his daughter, Morningpaw, before he continued. Dawnpaw felt a twinge of jealousy. The feeling was chased away by shame just moments later.
"For many moons I have watched Dawnpaw and Slatepaw hone their skills and define their talents. Today, StarClan will honor them with their warrior names." Blizzardstar leapt down from his perch to face the two apprentices. Slatepaw had his head held high and his muscles flexed. Dawnpaw cleared his mind and stared straight ahead. A cold fire of determination burned in his belly.
Blizzardstar drew the hollow half-skull of a long dead animal towards him with a large paw. Inside was a thick paste dyed a brilliant blue.
"Come forward Slatepaw." Blizzardstar commanded. Slatepaw took a few steps forward until he was almost nose to nose with Blizzardstar's huge figure. Blizzardstar looked into Slatepaw's eyes for a moment. He then gave a tiny nod and lifted his head to the sky.
"I, Blizzardstar, leader of CedarClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn." A visible shiver ran down Slatepaw's back as these words were said. Blizzardstar looked back down into Slatepaw's face. Dawnpaw held his breath. Those ancient words would be spoken to him in just a few heartbeats.
"Slatepaw, do you vow to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do." Slatepaw's voice was firm and sure. Blizzardstar nodded. He dipped a forepaw into the blue paste and lifted it to Slatepaw's forehead. Slatepaw closed his eyes as Blizzardstar pressed his paw firmly onto his fur. The leader drew away, leaving a large blue mark.
"You are now nameless before your ancestors."
Dawnpaw watched, breath held, as his denmate stood, stripped of a name and waiting to be granted one once more.
Blizzardstar closed his eyes and lifted his chin skyward.
"I ask StarClan now to grant this cat a name fit for a warrior of CedarClan."
There was a moment of tense, excited silence. Every eye was fixed on Blizzardstar. He stood stone-still for a few heartbeats before giving a tiny nod and opening his eyes once more.
"From this moment on you will be known as Slatefang. StarClan honors your loyalty and courage and we welcome you as a full warrior of CedarClan." Blizzardstar rested his head on Slatefang's head and the new warrior licked his leader's shoulder.
"Slatefang!" Spottedfur's voice called. The rest of the Clan soon joined in.
Blizzardstar signaled for silence once more.
He motioned for Dawnpaw to step forward. Dawnpaw felt like he was going to be sick. What if Brushfire and Cloudpelt were right? What if StarClan refused to give Blizzardstar a name?
Dawnpaw took a shaky breath, catching a familiar, flowery scent. Another breath brought a crisp, woody smell.
Lilypool. Sootcloud. You're here with me?
If they were here then...
He forced his paws to move.
Several hisses of anger rose among the Clan. Dawnpaw kept his head held high. He would prove them wrong. Blizzardstar paid the interruption no heed. He looked down at Dawnpaw, pride shining in his eyes.
"I, Blizzardstar, leader of CedarClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn."
"Dawnpaw, do you vow to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
Dawnpaw couldn't help but glance quickly to the side. He saw Brushfire's face. It was twisted in a snarl. Lilypool's scent wreathed around Dawnpaw once more. He straightened his back and looked into Blizzardstar's eyes.
"I do."