Rising Moon

Jedi Goat

Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors.

Author's Note: Thank you for the reviews! Nameless Nightmare, I'm sorry about Spiderleg, but I'm glad you like the cats' names.

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Chapter 5

It was moonhigh, and the moon shone brightly, casting the center of the camp into the limelight. Shadows flitted around camp restlessly, waiting.

A ginger form appeared in the entrance to Firestar's den. "All cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather here beneath the Highledge for a clan meeting!"

The cats clustered in the clearing, some pelts a creamy white in the light, others nearly invisible in shadow. Moonkit, Oakkit, Wolfkit, Honeykit, Molekit and Cinderkit hung about the nursery entrance with their mothers.

Firestar leaped down from the Highledge. "Tonight we begin by honoring another warrior who joins our ranks," he began. "He has trained hard and energetically to earn his right to be a ThunderClan cat." Firestar's gaze swept the crowd. "Berrypaw, please come forward."

The beige tom, seated between his mother, Daisy, and his mentor, Brambleclaw, rose to his paws with a gleam of pride in his eyes.

Firestar looked up at StarClan, sparkling above in Silverpelt. "I, Firestar, leader of ThunderClan, 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."

Berrypaw bowed his head as Firestar continued, "Berrypaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do," he murmured to the ground.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Berrypaw, from this moment forth you will be known as Berryfoot. StarClan honors your courage, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

Firestar rested his head on the new warrior's head. Berryfoot gave his shoulder a respectful lick and stepped away.

"Berryfoot!" Brambleclaw called, and the other cats soon joined in. Daisy looked ready to burst with pride.

Firestar flicked his tail for silence. "Secondly, tonight we welcome some new apprentices into our clan." He looked over at the nursery. "Sorreltail's kits, come forward."

With an excited yelp Honeykit darted forward, skidding to a stop in front of Firestar. Molekit, Cinderkit and Moonkit exchanged eager glances before following. Moonkit couldn't help but hold her head high; tonight, she would become an apprentice! This was her time to shine.

Firestar gestured Honeykit to step in front of him first. "From this day forth," he announced, "until she has earned her warrior name, this apprentice will be called Honeypaw."

Honeypaw raised her head proudly. Firestar continued, "Squirrelflight, you are ready for your first apprentice."

With a small gasp, the she-cat stood and padded over. Her eyes glistened with undisguised excitement. "You will train Honeypaw. Pass on everything Dustpelt taught you." The clan leader looked especially proud; Squirrelflight was his daughter.

The mentor and apprentice touched noses and went to sit down.

"Molekit," Firestar called. The brown tom jumped up. "From this day forward, until he has earned his warrior name, this apprentice will be named Molepaw."

Molepaw smiled, struggling to sit still as the ceremony continued.

"Rainwhisker, you will mentor Molepaw." The dark gray tom slipped out of the crowd to join his new apprentice. "Pass on everything you know to him."

"Yes, Firestar," Rainwhisker mewed, before touching noses with Molepaw.

"Now, Cinderkit and Moonkit." Firestar had a troubled expression on his face; he struggled for his next words. "Until you two have earned your warrior names, you will be known as Cinderpaw and Moonpaw." He glanced up at the sky. "StarClan willing, Leafpool will take on both of you as her apprentices."

There came a few gasps and scattered whispers from the clan. Leafpool emerged from the crowd, settling in front of her leader.

"Leafpool," Firestar began, "you shall pass on your knowledge of healing and StarClan to these apprentices."

Leafpool nodded solemnly, bending to touch noses with both her apprentices. Then they padded away.

Moonpaw followed in her mentor's footsteps, a bit confused but nevertheless happy. She glanced at Cinderpaw and saw her thoughts mirrored in the gray she-cat's sparkling blue eyes.

"You can't do that!" Dustpelt's furious yowl rose above the clamor. "It's against the code!"

Firestar nodded, but he didn't reply. He gestured for silence, but the clan's voices continued to crescendo.

Leafpool sighed and bounded back into the center of the clearing. The light splashed against her fur, turning her pelt to ice. "Cats of ThunderClan!" she yowled.

Silence eventually reigned, broken by only a couple of buzzing mutters.

Leafpool spoke, her voice calm and steady. "Today I received a message personally from StarClan." She explained, "I believe it was telling me to choose both of these young apprentices as my own. If that is the incorrect interpretation, then it is my own fault, not Firestar's." She dipped her head respectfully to her father. "Take up your complaints with me."

The cats were silent; they wouldn't complain to their medicine cat, at least not until the ceremony was complete.

Firestar cleared his throat. "If Brightheart's kits would come forward."

Wolfkit and Oakkit bounced into the clearing, looking excited. Moonpaw gave them her biggest smile.

"Wolfkit?" The gray she-cat padded forward. "Until she has earned her warrior name, this apprentice will be called Wolfpaw. Dustpelt, you will train her." The dark brown tom approached and nudged his apprentice's nose. The two of them walked away, Dustpelt still casting an unforgiving, annoyed glance back at Firestar for breaking the warrior code.

"Oakkit, come forward." The white-and-brown tom stepped up nervously. "Until he has earned his warrior name, this apprentice will be named Oakpaw," Firestar announced. "I will train him."

Oakpaw raised his head, amazed yet proud. His leader touched noses with him, and with a final nod Firestar ended the apprenticeship ceremony.

A dark gray tom watched from the edge of the clearing as the cats parted to their dens. Eyes narrowed, he watched the ThunderClan leader whisk away up the Highledge. The tom nodded in satisfaction and disappeared through the brambles, sneaking quietly out the secret entrance to ThunderClan camp.

He knew where the kit was. That was all he needed.

To be continued...

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