Chapter Three
Several moons had passed since Stonepaw and his littermates were made apprentices. Since then, many things have changed with ReedClan. The older apprentices—Bluepaw, Pebblepaw, and Mosspaw—had been given their warrior names of Blueclaw, Pebblefoot, and Mosspool. Meanwhile, a fierce battle with LeafClan left the ReedClan deputy Stormfang dead; his only kit, Icespirit, being named in his place as the new deputy.
Stonepaw liked the older warrior. Icespirit was good friends with Stonepaw's father, Marshpool, and the apprentice admired the new deputy's courage and silent determination. The battle with LeafClan left tensions high however, and patrols were doubled along the shared border. Stonepaw padded quietly beside his mentor, while his littermates and their mentors were moving up ahead. Let those mangy squirrel chasers try something! He thought, unsheathing his claws.
A yowl caused the patrol to bristle. Across the river was a LeafClan patrol, consisting of a few cats Stonepaw recognized from the last Gathering. The warrior Echopool was in the lead, while a smaller tortoiseshell she-cat stood beside her. Stonepaw guessed she must have been a new apprentice. Frosttail—a LeafClan warrior known for her sharp tongue—glared at the ReedClan cats with undisguised hostility. Her apprentice, Foxpaw, paced the border tail lashing. Embernose was beside Echopool, while the apprentice Silverpaw came to stand beside her sister, Foxpaw.
Spottedfern met the LeafClan warriors gazes evenly. "What are you doing so close to the border?"
"We're allowed as close to our borders as we want!" Foxpaw snapped.
"Be quiet!" Frosttail hissed at the apprentice. She stared across the river. "We've come to mark our borders, just the same as you I assume."
Goosefur pushed up to stand beside Spottedfern. "Yes, that is why we are here."
Silverpaw's eyes flashed. "Are we just going to let them go?" she challenged her mentor. "After they killed Bluehail and Brackenwing?"
"We didn't kill anyone!" Stonepaw growled, fur bristling. It was true that the two LeafClan warriors had perished in the battle, but every cat knew that their deaths weren't intentional.
Echopool's eyes glazed with emotion. "They died as warriors," she told the silver apprentice sternly. "Don't forget that ReedClan had lost their deputy as well."
The cats all stared across at each other in silence. A shared grief for their lost Clanmates overcame them, only to be swept away in an instant. "Let's mark our borders and be done with it," the warrior Embernose grunted.
Stonepaw watched the three apprentices with interest. Amberpaw was clearly the youngest, her tortoiseshell fur still soft and kit-like. An easy opponent if we go into battle again, Stonepaw noted. Foxpaw however would be a much harder enemy. Under her dark ginger fur were lean muscles, and it was clear the she-cat would put up a good fight. Lastly there was Silverpaw, who still glared across at the ReedClan patrol. The spotted tabby was more slender than her sister, but even then strong muscles shone under her silver fur.
"What are you staring at fish breath?" she sneered at Stonepaw, jerking him out of his thoughts.
Bristling, he returned her glare. "Nothing interesting that's for sure."
Silverpaw gave a snort. "I didn't realize they let kits become apprentices in ReedClan."
Growling with indignation, he opened his mouth to protest. The silver apprentice had turned away from him pointedly, following her Clanmates away from the border. How dare she? Stonepaw burned with fury. He felt a hard shove and turned his head sharply. Heronpaw was facing him, tail tip twitching.
"Are you going to stand there all day staring after those fox hearts? Or are you going to help remark the border?"
With one last glance back over the border, Stonepaw gave a huff and joined his Clanmates.
"Stonepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" Willowstar's meow echoed through the ReedClan camp.
Stonepaw trembled with excitement. Heronpaw and Minnowpaw—newly named Heronwing and Minnowstripe—sat nearby, their eyes shining with pride. He faced his leader, chin raised. "I do."
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Stonepaw, from this moment on you will be known as Stonetail. StarClan honors your forethought, and dedication. We welcome you as a full warrior of ReedClan." Willowstar padded over to him, resting her muzzle on Stonetail's head. Licking her shoulder in response, Willowstar stepped back as the Clan cheered the new warriors names.
"Heronwing! Minnowstripe! Stonetail!"
As the cheers died down, Marshpool and Dapplefoot made their way over to their kits. Dapplefoot purred loudly as she wove between the three of them, while Marshpool nuzzled them affectionately. Stonetail flinched at the still raw wounds along his father's flank.
Only a few days ago, there was battle with PineClan over territory. Shellskip, Creekpelt, and Goosefur had been killed in the battle; and a glimmer of sadness shone in Heronwing's eyes as she clearly remembered her dead mentor. A flash of gratitude lingered in Stonetail's mind, relieved to still have his own mentor alive and well.
"Goosefur would have been proud of you," Stonetail murmured to his sister, brushing his cheek against hers.
Heronwing gave a quiet mew of thanks, before moving to join their brother at the center of camp. Sympathy jabbed at Stonetail's heart as he watched her go, but quickly pushed it away when Specklerock approached him. His former mentor's eyes were warm with pride, and Stonetail let out a purr as he brushed his muzzle with hers.
"A warrior at last," Specklerock purred. "It seems like only yesterday you were made my apprentice."
Stonetail butted her shoulder with his head. "You sound like an elder with talk like that!" he teased.
"You won't be rid of me that easily!" she retorted, cuffing his ears playfully. "I still have plenty of seasons left in me before I join the elders."
Ducking from her paws, he pounced over her. "Only if you can keep up with me!"
"Cheek!" she yowled, swiping at him with an amused glimmer in her eyes.
Purring, Stonetail ran over to join his littermates. Their vigil would be starting soon. Already the sun had began to sink below the horizon, dappling the clearing with soft iridescent hues. Pressing close to Minnowstripe, and Heronwing doing the same on his other side, the three siblings sat quietly; content in each others' presence. Whatever the road they faced ahead, Stonetail was confident they could face it easily.