Snakepaw crouched low to the ground. The bird he was stalking a mere fox length away. He kept as flat as he could. Today was his final assessment. Snakepaw had been training to become a ThunderClan warrior for nearly three moons; his mentor, Lionblaze, had promised him that if he passed this final assessment, he would be made a warrior. Warrior. Even the word sent a tingle through Snakepaw's golden body. Lionblaze wasn't just his mentor, he was also his father and the best friend Snakepaw could have ever wanted. Everyone said that he looked exactly like Lionblaze but he had his mother's eyes. Lionblaze was a large, powerfully built tom with the most meaningful green eyes that a cat could have. Snakepaw was the spitting image of his dad; they had the same slightly curved ear-tips and fluffy cheeks. But in the form of his body, Snakepaw took after his mother. Like Cinderheart, Snakepaw was quite small, smaller than any of his littermates and wasn't as muscular as his father. But as if StarClan had wanted him to make up for it, he was very fast, the fastest apprentice by far. Snakepaw had always thought it was because of his WindClan grand-father, Crowfeather. It was strange none of his other family had been as fast as him. Snakepaw tiptoed a few more steps onwards. The bird was totally oblivious to his presence. It was strange, Snakepaw thought, that Brambleclaw or Lionblaze could be watching him right now. He swiped his head around in the hope that he could see a flash of gold or the crunch of dead leaves under Brambleclaw's huge paws. Just to be safe, Snakepaw wanted to put on his best performance. He crept a few more paw steps towards the colorful bird. It was hopping stupidly on the ground, pecking around as if trying to disturb a worm. Snakepaw's whiskers almost twitched but he knew that he was only just in the bird's blind spot. He kept downwind. It was time. He bunched his muscles together and unsheathed his claws. Snakepaw leaped, his golden pelt like a flah of sun as he landed on the bird. He dispatched it with a clean bite to the neck. Snakepaw daintily picked it up and tried to look as casual as he could as he padded over to the little mound he'd made. He scraped away the dirt covering his previous catches, three mice, a thrush and a squirrel. Snakepaw dropped his catch.

"Snakepaw!"

Snakepaw nearly jumped out of his pelt. His fur was all standing on end and his blue eyes wide with shock. He let his fur lie flat when he saw who it was.

"Oh," He mewed. "Hey Dovewing."

Snakepaw looked down at his paws. His right one was making weird circular motions. He felt is face flush. Dovewing was a new warrior. She was his size and a fluffy light gray. Her eyes were a bright blue, just like his. She was probably Snakepaw's closest friend, apart from Lionblaze and his three littermates Hollypaw, Ashpaw and Heatherpaw.

"Lionblaze asked me to come and help you take your catch back to camp," She mewed cheerfully. Snakepaw nodded.

"That's thoughtful of him," He responded thoughtfully. Dovewing nodded.

"Nice catch," She complimented, eyeing his kill.

"Thanks," Snakepaw purred. Praise from Dovewing meant so much to him but he wasn't quite sure why. She bent down and picked up his thrush and one of his mice. Snakepaw blinked gratefully before collecting the rest. Snakepaw started walking back to camp. This is probably the last time I'll see these woods as an apprentice.

"So," Dovewing mewed through the gap in her mouth, "What do you think your warrior name will be?"

To be honest, Snakepaw hadn't thought about it.

"I-ff-d'nt-kneeew," Snakepaw tried to meow, his mouth stuffed with prey. Dovewing's whiskers twitched in amusement.

"Haha," She purred, "Tell me what you think when you've got it."

Snakepaw twitched his whiskers too.

As the duo entered the camp, Snakepaw looked for Lionblaze. His father was engaged in conversation with Brambleclaw, Icecloud, Foxleap and Berrynose. No one paid attention to them as they padded to the fresh kill pile. Snakepaw dropped his catch and rotated his jaw in circles to try and regain the feeling in it after carrying so much. Dovewing carefully deposited her share and glanced over at him.

"Dovewing!" Ivypool called from across the camp. The gray and white warrior was Dovewing's littermate. Snakepaw as one of the few cats to notice how sickly sweet Berrynose was around her, as if he no longer loved his mate, Poppyfrost, and wanted Ivypool instead.

"Coming!" Dovewing mewed back, she turned to face him, "I'll see you around Snakepaw."

She awkwardly touched her nose to his and butted his flank affectionately as she bounded towards Ivypool, her tail held high. The sisters sat in conversation on the edge of the camp, Dovewing occasionally glancing at him. Snakepaw felt himself go red. Suddenly he heard Heatherpaw's voice.

"Hey Snakepaw!" The white and tortoiseshell she-cat came bounding over to him and touched her nose to his.

"Hi Heatherpaw," He replied, thoughts of Dovewing clouding his mind.

"Brambleclaw wants to talk to you, and me, and Hollypaw and Ashpaw!" She squaked excitedly. Snakepaw's eyes lit up, Dovewing suddenly vanishing. He looked around.

"Where are Ashpaw and Hollypaw?" He enquired.

"They're already under the Highledge waiting for us," She answered, "Let's go!"

Snakepaw nodded and bounded after his sister, blood roaring in his ears. Heatherpaw had been right, Snakepaw spotted the black pelt of Hollypaw and the gray one of Ashpaw as they sat impatiently under the Highledge. Snakepaw glanced up and saw the flame colored pelt of Firestar moving towards its tip. The Clan leader sat down and nodded to him. Snakepaw's heart filled with pride. Hollypaw blinked in welcome as he sat down beside her. Ashpaw just nodded and re-focused on Firestar.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting," The ginger tom yowled. Snakepaw's heart began to beat faster with every passing moment. Dovewing sat close to him, and nodded in encouragement. Snakepaw sat up tall and proud. As the Clan gathered, Firestar continued.

"I have called you here today to celebrate the most memorable day in the life of these four young cats."

Snakepaw felt Lionblaze's shadow cast over him. Pride was shining in his father's amber eyes.

"Hollpaw, Ashpaw, Heatherpaw and Snakepaw have learnt the ways of the warrior and I present them to StarClan in turn,"

Snakepaw felt Firestar's eyes shining on his, his emotion clearly overjoyed.

"I call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in their turn."

Firestar looked at Heatherpaw.

"Heatherpaw," He started, "do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Heatherpaw nodded.

"I do," She promised.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name." Firestar continued, "Heatherpaw, from this moment you will be known as Heathernose, StarClan honors your enthusiasm and bravery and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

Firestar moved on quickly.

"Ashpaw," He mewed, "do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do,"Ashpaw meowed.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name." Firestar continued, "Ashpaw, from this moment you will be known as Ashflame, StarClan honors your skill and patience and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

Me next, me next. Snakepaw willed time to go faster, but to his dismay, Firestar laid his eyes on Hollpaw next.

"Hollypaw," He meowed, "do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do," She swore.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name." Firestar continued, "Hollypaw, from this moment you will be known as Hollyclaw, StarClan honors your independence and spirit and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

Oh my StarClan. Snakepaw thought. I'm so excited! Snakepaw felt Firestar's green gaze.

"Snakepaw," He started, "do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Is that a trick question? Of course!

"I do," He promised, knowing in every pore of his body that he meant it.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name." Firestar continued, "Snakepaw, from this moment you will be known as Snakefang, StarClan honors your courage and strength and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

"Heathernose! Ashflame! Hollyclaw! Snakefang!," The Clan chorused. Snakefang felt light as air. I did it. I'm a warrior now! He heard Dovewing's voice louder than anyone else's. It was all about him to her. I did it for you Dovewing, I hope you're proud of me. When the gathering split up, the fluffy gray she-cat made a bee-line for Snakefang.

"Snakefang huh?" She purred proudly, "How do you like it?"

"I love it," He breathed, "How would you like to hunt together?"

Dovewing blinked.

"I'd love to," She mewed happily. Snakefang purred and rubbed his head against hers. Heathernose and Hollyclaw were chatting excitedly by the Fresh-kill pile whilst Ashflame talked with Berrynose. They won't miss me. Dovewing and Snakefang padded out of camp together. The happiness that radiated off of Dovewing was amazing. Snakefang had never felt so happy in his whole life.