Dovepaw glanced at Ivypaw, who'd just came back from her warrior assessment. She's going to get her warrior name. I just know it. Dovepaw hadn't caught anything for her hunting assessment, meaning she wouldn't be getting her warrior name anytime soon. Ivypaw deserves it. I don't. Forcing a cheerful smile onto her face, Dovepaw purred as Ivypaw bounced over to her.
"So? How was it?" prompted Dovepaw, shifting her paws uncomfortably. I shouldn't have to ask. Ivypaw did amazing, and I didn't. Ivypaw's dark blue eyes shone with excitement, giving away all Dovepaw needed to know about how it went. Much better than my assessment.
Ivypaw purred loudly. "It was great! Hazeltail and I caught two mice!" And I caught nothing… Dovepaw shook away the thought. My sister will be getting her warrior name. She deserves it way more than I ever could. Ivypaw was spying for Jayfeather and Lionblaze in the Dark Forest, risking her life every time she closed her eyes. While the only thing I'm doing is just existing and having the label of 'Third Prophesized Cat Destined to Save the Clans'. She's more important I'll ever be and deserves to be a warrior.
Dovepaw smiled at her littermate. "That's fantastic! Firestar's going to make you a warrior for sure!" She choked out, guilt hanging over her words. I should be happier for Ivypaw, but I'm not. Why can't I just be happy for her? Ivypaw's tongue rasped against Dovepaw's cheek fur.
"Don't worry," She whispered between licks. "Firestar knows how important and special you are. He'll make you a warrior for sure." I don't want to be a warrior if that's why he'd make me one! Dovepaw didn't want to be reminded of her "specialness" and how "important" she is to the Clans' survival, especially through her warrior ceremony. Why couldn't she just have a normal warrior ceremony if she couldn't be a normal cat? Why did StarClan have to choose her? Why couldn't they have picked Ivypaw instead? Why did the prophecy even have to exist?
Dovepaw closed her eyes and sighed. "I just want to be judged normally for once," She murmured so no one else could hear. I want to be judged for who I am, not because of my powers. "Like you."
Her sister tilted her head, bamboozled. "But you aren't like the rest of us." She pointed out. But why should I be happy about it? Everyone else gets to lead a normal and organized life, while StarClan decided that I had to be their blessing and be their prophecy. Dovepaw winced. She shouldn't think like that. She should be grateful that StarClan had given these powers to help her Clan. But why do they all act as if it's a blessing, when all it has been so far is a curse?
"But I wish I were." Dovepaw muttered, trying to fight back the tears welling up in her eyes. She wouldn't cry during Ivypaw's ceremony. She had to remain happy, at least until it was over. And by the end I'll still be Dovepaw, while she's Ivy- something.
"Hush!" Dovepaw snapped her head up to see her mentor, Lionblaze, glaring at the two of them. Am I in trouble? She turned to see the leader of ThunderClan -Firestar- darting towards Highledge through the clearing. Is he in a rush to make Ivypaw a warrior? Her mind whirled as she struggled to remain interested in what was going on. Firestar leapt onto Highledge, his flame-colored glowing in the harsh leaf-bare sunlight.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather under Highledge for a Clan meeting," He announced, his mew solemn.
The ThunderClan cats began to assemble within the camp's clearing; from the corner of her eye Dovepaw caught Poppyfrost's kits -Molekit and Cherrykit- frisking about in the front of the group. Poppyfrost swept her tail over them and made them sit quietly, much to their dismay. Daisy and Ferncloud were gazing up at Highledge from the nursery entrance, their pelts brushing up against one another as they sat in the clearing. Soon enough, Mousefur and Purdy -the elder's of ThunderClan- had taken their places beside the Elder's den. At the same time Foxleap, Jayfeather, and Briarlight had come out of the medicine den, watching from the entrance. As cats seemed to settle themselves, some of the senior warriors such as Sandstorm, Dustpelt, Cloudtail, and Sorreltail placed themselves at the foot of the cliff. So many cats must come to a warrior ceremony, Dovepaw realized in shock. Regardless of the Clan.
Firestar went on with his announcement. "Cats of ThunderClan. I think we all know of Icecloud's accident earlier today. She had fallen into a hole and dislocated her shoulder, but Jayfeather's put it back into place." He meowed, his tone firm and confident. He really must understand the Clan's worries about what happened with Briarlight… "He says that Icecloud should stay off her paws for a quarter moon, but will be back to warrior duties soon."
Murmurs of relief rose from the Clan. A couple of cats in the clearing shouted Jayfeather's name, calling out "Jayfeather! Jayfeather!" From the sound of it, Ferncloud and Dustpelt are cheering the loudest for him. It did make sense. Icecloud was Ferncloud and Dustpelt's only daughter since their other daughters from an earlier litter -Hollykit and Larchkit- had died young. I remember Birchfall telling me and Ivypaw about them. I wonder what they would've been like if they'd lived.
"I'll have to check the hole out for myself," continued Firestar, his green gaze boring into Lionblaze. Lionblaze gave him a curt nod in response, to Dovepaw's confusion. Is Firestar asking Lionblaze to take him there? I guess it makes sense. Lionblaze won't die if he falls into the hole like Icecloud, he'll recover faster as well. "I want Dustpelt and Brackenfur to cover up the hole using a solid barrier. I request that it be finished by sunset today, as we can't have anymore cats fall into it."
Dustpelt nodded briskly. "Of course Firestar," He mewed, dipping his head. "We'll get to it once Brackenfur returns from patrol."
From the corner of her eye, Dovepaw caught Poppyfrost warning her kits about the hole. "And don't either of you dare go near that hole." She sternly meowed, reinforcing her warning with a tail flick around their ears. Both Molekit and Cherrykit let out squeaks of protest, making Dovepaw mrrow in amusement. Were me and Ivypaw ever like that before our apprentice ceremony? Dovepaw knew the answer to that question.
"I have another announcement to make. Two apprentices completed their warrior assessments today." Firestar went on. Dovepaw felt her heart lurch. I didn't complete my assessment. Ivypaw did. She should be becoming a warrior and I shouldn't. I don't deserve to become a warrior if I failed to meet what was expected out of me.
Ivypaw's eyes shone with excitement, her tail lashing impatiently. Dovepaw knew she should feel happier about the warrior ceremony, but she just couldn't no matter how hard she tried. I must be really selfish if I can't feel happy about Ivypaw becoming a warrior. From behind her, she could tell that Lionblaze wouldn't be all that pleased with her skills shown today.
Firestar turned towards Cinderheart, who was Ivypaw's mentor. "Cinderheart?"
"Ivypaw's battle training is exceptional, no doubt. Her hunting could still use some work, though. When she was hunting alone today she had gotten a vole, but it was a messy catch. Ivypaw let the vole get downwind of her and it nearly escaped." Cinderheart meowed. The gray tabby warrior glanced at Millie and dipped her head politely. "What did you think, Millie?"
Millie nodded in agreement. "Likewise, I agree." She glanced briefly at Hazeltail, who was sitting nearby the medicine den alongside Foxleap. Looking back she added, "During the team hunting, Hazeltail seemed to be embarrassed having to tell her what to do. Ivypaw will have to learn to shape up if she's ever put in charge of a patrol." Dovepaw could tell with just a brief glimpse that Ivypaw was listening with wide, troubled eyes. "But they caught two mice, both of them neat catches. Those mice never stood a chance! Ivypaw definitely should become a warrior. She deserves it, in my opinion. We'd be lucky to have her!"
A chorus of yowls came forth, all shouting in approval of Millie's words. Dovepaw gave Ivypaw's ear a lick. "Millie's right. You do deserve it."
Ivypaw's eyes glimmered with relief. "Thanks. I was really worried when Cinderheart said that about the vole. It was an awful catch." She confessed, staring at her paws. At least you caught something. Dovepaw held back the sharp retort and continued listening. It's my turn next.
"Lionblaze? What about Dovepaw?" Firestar spoke again as the Clan grew silent. Dovepaw's heart began to pound as if it were to burst out of her chest. He can't hide the fact that I failed. I can't be a warrior. And even if he did manage to hide it, Spiderleg was there as well. He'll make sure that the truth is out there.
Lionblaze rose to his paws. "Dovepaw is the best apprentice any cat could hope for. She works hard and she works fast. Today she started her assessment by searching for a squirrel," He meowed. Dovepaw glared at her paws. Here it comes. The blunt reveal of how I failed to pass my assessment and that I won't be a warrior. Shutting her eyes and flattening her ears, she attempted to block out what they were saying. I know how bad I messed up. I don't want to be reminded of it.
She felt Ivypaw's tail brush up against her back. I don't want sympathy right now. She wanted to snap, but she knew that Lionblaze was still speaking. I don't want to make this day worse than it already is… Dovepaw took in a deep breath. Should she really be going on and on about this so much? Maybe I should try to calm myself down. However she tried to calm herself, she still couldn't help but feel crestfallen.
"In that case-" Firestar began, his voice breaking Dovepaw's train of thought. I knew it. He wouldn't make me a warrior anyways. To her surprise, Spiderleg interrupted Firestar.
He mewed, "Hang on, Firestar. I haven't finished. While Dovepaw did make a mess of the hunting," He went on. "She went to help Icecloud when she had no idea of the danger that she could've faced beyond the bramble thicket. When we tried to get Icecloud out of the hole, she volunteered to be lowered down to help her, even though we had no idea what was on the other side. These are the qualities ThunderClan needs the most. Courage, loyalty, and the willingness to face danger for the well being of a Clanmate. In my opinion, we'd be mouse-brained not to make her into a warrior." Spiderleg finished.
Dovepaw's heart leapt as the yowls of approval drowned out most of her thoughts. She was going to become a warrior alongside Ivypaw. Maybe today wasn't that bad after all. Ivypaw skipped around her as if she was an excited kit. I'm going to be a warrior, She thought incredulously.
"Thank you, Spiderleg. ThunderClan will be all the stronger with these two apprentices joining the ranks of a warrior." He bounded down the rocks on Highledge, padding in front of them to face his Clan. He beckoned Ivypaw forth with a swish of his tail. At once the Clan settled down, their attention focused on Ivypaw and Firestar.
Firestar gazed down upon the silver and white tabby she-cat. "I, Firestar, call upon my warrior ancestors to look upon this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn." He declared, reciting the ancient words spoken since the Clans' birth. "Ivypaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I-I do." Ivypaw stuttered, her meow shaky.
Firestar went on. "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Ivypaw, from this moment on you will be known as Ivyfang. StarClan honors your courage and loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." Firestar took a pace forwards and rested his muzzle on Ivyfang's head, while the newly named Ivyfang licked his shoulder in response.
"Ivyfang! Ivyfang!" The Clan cheered. Ivyfang stepped back towards Cinderheart and Dustpelt once the yowls died down, with Cinderheart briefly laying her tail across her former apprentice's shoulders and with Dustpelt giving her an approving nod. It's my turn next.
As expected, Firestar beckoned Dovepaw forwards with his tail. Dovepaw took a pace towards him, her paws tingling. Staring up at the flame-colored tom, she held her breath in as the ceremony continued. "Dovepaw," He began. "Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
Dovepaw gave him a brisk nod. "I do." She squeaked.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name." continued Firestar, his mew beginning to bore Dovepaw. What will my warrior name be? Doveflight? Dovewing? Doveblaze? Dovefeather? Deciding not to think about it anymore, Dovepaw forced herself to focus purely on Firestar's voice. Not gonna think about it anymore…I hope. "Dovepaw, from this moment on you will be known as Dovecloud, after the warrior you'd saved, Icecloud." Dovecloud because of…Icecloud? Because I saved her? Dovecloud pushed away the thoughts. There wasn't any time to dwell on it. "StarClan honors your dedication and cleverness, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." As he did with Ivyfang, Firestar rested his muzzle on Dovecloud's forehead and she licked his shoulder in response.
"Dovecloud! Dovecloud!" The Clan yowled as if they were chanting to the stars themselves. Dovecloud stepped back a pace and bounded back to where she was standing before, only to be greeted with a playful yet hard shove from her former mentor, Lionblaze.
"Well done!" He purred, his amber gaze lit up with warmth. "If a cat ever deserved their warrior name, it's you." Dovecloud was purring too loudly to reply, but she nodded in response. She was a warrior now. As Firestar went on with his final announcement, Dovecloud caught a shared glance from Icecloud, whose blue gaze was shimmering with pride.
Dovecloud grinned and nodded back at her, her heart pounding with joy. I'll prove that I'm worthy of the name Dovecloud, She decided at once as she gazed over in Icecloud's direction. For you, Icecloud. I'll try my best.