Chapter 10

That night, Hawkwing's body was brought out by the elders and buried. WaterClan warriors and GrassClan warriors alike mourned him until late, and then, Wovenstar gave the call, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath the High rock for a clan meeting!"

Then he began, "Bronzepaw has gone through enough mourning tonight, he has finished his training and is now going to become a warrior," Bronzepaw's eyes shone in the moonlight, "I, Wovenstar, leader of GrassClan, 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. Bronzepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend this clan even at the cost of your life?"

Bronzepaw had hopped up onto the rock when Wovenstar had started and now he lifted his head and mewed, "I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior name. Bronzepaw, from this moment on you will be known as Bronzepelt. StarClan honors your skill and spirit and we welcome you as a full warrior of GrassClan."

Wovenstar stepped forwards and rested his muzzle on Bronzepelt's head. Bronzepelt licked it respectfully, his eyes glowing.

Goldenpaw lead the cheer, "Bronzepelt! Bronzepelt! Bronzepelt!" The crowd of cats yelled.

"Now, Goldenpaw, please step forwards," Wovenstar flicked his tail gesturing Goldenpaw up onto the rock, "I, Wovenstar, leader of GrassClan, 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. Goldenpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend this clan even at the cost of your life?"

Goldenpaw raised his head and mewed, "I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior name. Goldenpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Goldenfur. StarClan honors your skill and spirit and we welcome you as a full warrior of GrassClan."

Wovenstar pawed towards him and rested his muzzle on Goldenfur's head. Goldenfur licked it respectfully, his eyes glowing.

This time Bronzepelt lead the cheer, "Goldenfur! Goldenfur! Goldenfur!" The crowd yelled.

Warriors and queens surrounded them licking and nuzzling them to their hearts content. Wovenstar lead the WaterClan warriors to the fresh-kill pile and they picked out something to eat, after Night-kill everyone went to bed. In ritual, Goldenfur and Bronzepelt are to hold vigil and guard the camp until morning and are not allowed to talk until dawn.

Everyone went to bed with a full stomach that night and in the morning the WaterClan cats went back to their own camp.

"Congratulations Goldenfur and Bronzepelt," Applepaw mewed as she walked over to them in the morning.

"Thank you Applepaw," Goldenpaw thanked.

"The same comes from me," Pumpkinpaw congratulated.

"Why thank you too," Bronzepelt mewed, "It's great to be out of that den, we would have been cramped with all of you and your siblings!"

"That's true," Applepaw agreed, "Hey, aren't you supposed to go to the Mooncave tonight?"

"That's right," Goldenfur mewed, "Except its tomorrow."

"Right," Bronzepelt concurred, "Tonight we sleep in the warriors den then tomorrow we go to the Mooncave."