-Whew- finally finishe this chapter. Sorry for not updating in, like forever, peoples, i'm hoping you still will though!
Pinkpelt the Crack Butterfly: wrong, wrong!
ThrushflightEdwardsStalker: sure thing!
CinderDreams: What about these italics?
Cloudfire: NO! Don't murder Smokey! He has an IMPORTANT role as the ANTI-Snakepaw person!
Freeheart: Sorry for the delay!
Sleets: Yeah, I haven't given anyone a big hint, really.
Princess Alyra: none of the above :)
She Who Sulks In the Shadows: I like Bluepaw too, and Petalpaw. Anyways, Thrushflight says hi
Runningstorm: I'm getting alot of interesting answers!
Pebblepaw: Oh yeah? Well I'm a Jedi Ninja Samurai!
Starfrosts' Spirit: I like your ideas XD
Tainted Shadow Rebel: UWAH! I'M SORRY!
ll my life I had wanted to be a warrior, to walk proudly along my mother and father and hold me head high in confidence, maybe even become deputy or leader. Almost every cats wishes that, Darkflower did until she became close with Blackstripe, and I know Silverpaw and Marshpaw want to make our mother and father more proud then anything in the world.
The only difference between me and them is that I need it to survive.
"Smokestar, I want a word with you," Blackstripe called his brother, flicking his tail for me to sit down. Darkflower had gone off to Brownleaf for herbs, and, although i believe Blackstripe suspected another cat was at the badger attack, he did not know about Bluepaw.
"Blackstripe?" Smokestar padded over, eyes briefly flicking to me and then back to his brother, "What's wrong? Did Snakepaw do anything?" I felt the fur along my spine prickle, why was it that whenever Blackstripe was going to say something good about me, my father always thought it was bad?
Blackstripe seemed to sense this as well, and flicked his tail irritably, "No, brother, he has not. Instead, I'm here to tell you that I believe Snakepaw is ready to be a warrior." Doubt flicked across Smokestars' face, but before he could say anything Blackstripe continued, "He defended Darkflower and I, hold off a badger until we could get to safety by himself. He's old enough and bold enough. It's time."
Smokestar shot a quick glance at me and then nodded, "Very well, we'll have the ceremony now, and it's the best time for a warrior ceremony." He turned and made his way to high branch, and I felt my heart thud painfully in my chest as I followed them over, flicking my two tails eagerly.
Smokestar leapt to the top of the branch, letting out a loud yowl and summoning the cats in the clearing. Darkflower slipped out of the medicine cat den, but before she could go any farther Brownleaf appeared next to her and snapped at her to sit down, probably before she hurt her shoulder even more.
Diamondshine slid out of the nursery, belly wide and churning with lives yet to be born. Silverpaw and Marshpaw went to sit next to her, while Graypaw and Bronzepaw sat behind me. Bluestorm sat nearby as well, her gray-and-black pelt rippling in the light.
"It's time for a warrior ceremony." Smokestar spoke loudly, eyes flickering over each cat, "It is time for Snakepaw to become a warrior. Snakepaw, please step forward." I did so, and felt my paws tremble as I sat beneath my father, looking up at him. He did not look down at me though.
"I, Smokestar, leader of ShadowClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior," he looked down at me, "Snakepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
I felt a fire burn in my chest. Protect? Defend? HELL YES. I raised my head, looking up to my father.
"I will." I answered clearly, and I heard a brief murmur behind me. I ignored it, preoccupied with become a warrior. Smokestar looked down at me, but instead of the shine of pride in his eyes I saw during Darkflowers warrior ceremony, I only saw ice, ice and hatred. I felt a chill run down my spine. No… oh please, no…
"From this moment on you will be known as Snakeheart," meowed Smokestar clearly, "And until morning you must not speak, and keep a silent vigil while we sleep in peace." He flicked a tail and dismissed the clan, and I made my way to the center of the camp, sitting down and wrapping a tail around my paws.
I couldn't believe it. I had wanted it so bad, dreamed of it for so long, and trained for it so hard. I had pictured it a thousand times, looking up to my father, my eyes bright and his eyes shining in moonlight, reflecting pride, love, and calling me my warrior name warmly. I could hear the clan chant my name as I lifted my head proudly and basked for the first time in their pride. But now, as I looked around, I saw no warm greeting, no happy grins to calls of pride. Nothing but emptiness as they filed away into their dens.
When I believes everyone was asleep I felt pawsteps behind me, and I turned, half expecting to see Blackstripe or Darkflower there to congratulate me, but instead saw Bluestorm and her sharp ice-blue eyes. I flicked my ears, pressing them down to my skull and looking down to my paws. Bluestorm sat down next to me, looking up at the stars.
"Do you feel… discouraged, Snakeheart?" she asked without looked at me, "Or do you ashamed?" I looked over at her, startled, but she didn't look at me still.
"I saw the look Smokestar was giving you," she murmured, "I'm ashamed as well, ashamed to have a leader who cannot be proud that one of his apprentices, his own apprentice in fact, is becoming a warrior. He looked down at you, Snakeheart, with eyes that would make you think no one was proud of you. And right after the ceremony Smokestar called Blackstripe and Darkflower to his den, and they're still not done talking."
Now she looked at me, eyes crested in moonlight, "Snakeheart, before it makes its way into your subconscious, I want you to know something." She looked back up at the stars, "No matter who looks at you with hatred, during your moments where you shine, where you feel like nothing can bring you down; there is always someone proud of you. Either in the dead or the living. I know for a fact Blackstripe and Darkflower are, and so am i." she puffed a snort of amusement.
"Goodnight, Snakeheart, I'll see you in the morning." And she turned and left.
Bluestorm was a savior to me in that dark hour. When I felt lost, she pulled me out almost at once and left me in the sunlight, where I would shine, where I could lift my head up as high as I wished and let out a loud yowl of happiness. She told me the truth, she told me nothing but the truth until the day she died. There was always someone proud of me, always. And when I thought of her then and now, and realize what she was to me.
She was like a sister, who was always there to support me in my darkest times.
She was always proud of me.
pshaw... nice chappie, Flower, nice chappie. Anyhoo, Sorry i was gone for forever and a half, school stuff and whatnot, but anyways, review! You know you want to!
Poll time!
IF YOU HAD ANY KIND OF WINGS, WHAT WOULD THEY BE?
I'll answer mine in the next chappie, oh, and
WHAT DO YOU THINK MY WINGS WOULD BE?
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Reivew!
you KNOW you want to...
you know you want to answer the questions...
come on, who wouldn't want to answer it?
it's a preeeeetty question...
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