Runningpaw flipped and twirled in the air, striking out with her front and back paws, and landed on the ground on all fours. "Yes!"
"Good job, it took how many tries for you to land on your feet?" Spottedpelt nodded and giggled somewhat at the joke.
Runningpaw shook her head. "Way too many for my liking. My muscles are sore now."
"That's OK, we can go back now." Spottedpelt led the way on the trail from the sandy hollow back to the camp.
Runningpaw stepped on a stray thorn. "Ouch!" This wasn't her first time. She sat down, pulled her paw up to her face and yanked it right out of her pad. "OK, let's go."
Spottedpelt turned back to the trail and walked at a slower pace, knowing that Runningpaw's pad must be in pain. "With that attitude, you can shake a scratch right off your pelt."
Runningpaw shrugged. "Well this isn't my first time getting a thorn stuck in my pad, and not my last." She shook her head and continued to follow her mentor down the path.
"You're going to be a really tough warrior, you know that?" Spottedpelt commented.
"I'm going to be the best warrior there ever was!" Runningpaw puffed out her chest proudly.
"I bet you will." Spottedpelt moved his head around to see what was going on in the camp.
"What's all the commotion? Is something happening?" Runningpaw hopped ahead of Spottedpelt to get to the camp quicker. She stumbled through the entrance. The clan was gathered around the High Rock, below, Petalpaw, Whitepaw and Blackpaw stood with their mentors. "I think it's a warrior ceremony!"
Flowpaw was sitting closer to the front, her eyes locked on Blackpaw. Runningpaw rolled her eyes. She walked up next to her sister and sat down. "Oh good, you're here, the ceremony is just starting." Flowpaw curled her tail around her paws and looked up at Whitestar.
"I gathered you all here today to witness the moment of three apprentices becoming warriors." Whitestar leaped down off of the High Rock. He stood in the middle of the three apprentices. "I Whitestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon these three apprentices, they have trained hard and diligently to understand the ways of your noble code and I commend that you make them warriors in return." He waited silently for a few moments. "Blackpaw, do you pledge to your clan to protect it, even at the cost of your life?"
Blackpaw's whiskers quivered. "I do." He promised.
"Then I give you your warrior name, Blacknight, StarClan honors your courage and willingness to protect your clan." Whitestar touched his nose to the young warrior's forehead and Blacknight licked Whitestar's shoulder in respect. Whitestar moved onto Whitepaw. "Whitepaw, do your pledge to protect and uphold your clan, even at the cost of your life?"
Whitepaw sat up straight and puffed out his chest. "I do."
"Then by the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior name, Whiteglance, StarClan honors your bravery and intelligence, and they hope you will train your very own apprentice." Whitestar touched his nose to Whiteglance's forehead. Whiteglance licked his leader's shoulder. Whitestar walked over to Petalpaw. "Petalpaw, do you promise to protect and uphold your clan, even at the cost of your life?"
Petalpaw looked straight into Whitestar's eyes. "Always."
"Then by the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior name," A white petal flew from the medicine den on a breeze and landed on Petalpaw's foot. "Petalfoot, StarClan honors your honesty and skills and grants you as a full member of ThunderClan." Whitestar touched Petalfoot's forehead with his nose. Petalfoot licked his shoulder in return. Whitestar backed away and bounced onto the High Rock. "I welcome you, Petalfoot, Whiteglance, and Blacknight as full members of ThunderClan, congratulations."
"Petalfoot, Whiteglance, Blacknight! Petalfoot, Whiteglance Blacknight!" The clan cheered their new warrior names. Petalfoot seemed the most exited, and stared at the clan with wide eyes. Whiteglance acted the most mature, he puffed out his chest and raised his chin slightly. Blacknight's whiskers still quivered from excitement.
Runningpaw leaned her head back and called all the way to StarClan, "Petalfoot, Whiteglance, Blacknight!"
It would be very soon that Runningpaw and her littermates would get their warrior names. But there was a lot to learn. But with past knowledge, Runningpaw could figure out most of it. She trained hard with her mentor and her littermates. Runningpaw was ready to become a warrior, but first, she must attend her first gathering.
Runningpaw walked up to the hill and peered over the edge, only one clan had arrived. RiverClan? Runningpaw nodded and followed her mentor down the slope to the clearing. A cold breeze ruffled her fur as she sat down with her littermates. The other apprentices were huddled close but they were talking about RiverClan things.
Runningpaw scooted closer to Brownpaw, he had the fluffiest coat. Another breeze whipped in and chilled Runningpaw to bone. She wrapped her tail around her paws and looked up at WindClan walking down the slope to the clearing. Runningpaw looked up at the Great Rock, Bigstar, Whitestar and Scarletstar were all lined up, waiting for ShadowClan.
ShadowClan hurried over the hill and down the slope and quickly got situated. Duskstar hopped up onto the Great Rock and stood beside the leaders. Scarletstar walked forward. "Let the gathering begin," Scarletstar walked back.
Whitestar prodded forward to the edge of the Great Rock. "ThunderClan is having some prey trouble but since leaf-bare is here, that is expected. Also, we have three new warriors, Petalfoot, Whiteglance and Blacknight!"
All four clans cheered the new warriors' names. "Petalfoot, Whiteglance, Blacknight! Petalfoot, Whiteglance Blacknight!"
"And four new apprentices, Brownpaw, Runningpaw, Forestpaw and Flowpaw."
The clans cheered the apprentices' names. "Brownpaw, Runningpaw, Forestpaw, Flowpaw!"
Runningpaw puffed out her chest. Even though she wasn't a new apprentice, this was her first gathering. And would the cats be surprised at how fast she would become a warrior? Doesn't matter, all that matters to Runningpaw is becoming the best warrior. The gathering continued, and Runningpaw just wanted to get home to sleep.
