Chapter 6
The sun shone brightly, as Stormflower thought about things. Swiftpaw was very close to becoming a warrior; very close. If the Clan has his warrior ceremony now, he could still speak for a while yet before moonhigh, before his vigil.
"Hey, Vixenstar, it's me, Stormflower!" SpringClan's leader was taking a sunbath in the warming rays of the sun. An ear flick acknowledged that he knew his name was being called. The tom grunted and laid back down. "Vixenstar!"
"Wha'?" , said a confused Vixenstar.
"It's me, Stormflower. Hey, listen, I wanted to have Swiftpaw's warrior ceremony today. Is that okay with you?"
"Oh, well, if he's ready, then beckon him over. I need to do something besides lazing around in the sun like a fat kittypet all day."
Stormflower walked around camp in search of Swiftpaw. The apprentice was chatting with Dunepaw, and nodded to Stormflower. "C'mon, Swiftpaw!"
"What, Stormflower, what is it?" , Swiftpaw asked.
"Follow me," chirped Stormflower. The two made their way to Tallpine, where Vixenstar was ready.
"SpringClan cats, gather 'round!", called Vixenstar. Most of the cats immediately walked around Tallpine, but some were still lazing around. Dunepaw ran up and tripped over Hornwing, causing the elder to snap at him.
Vixenstar said, "I call upon StarClan to look down on this apprentice. He has trained well in the ways and traditions in hopes of being a warrior. His apprentice title is stripped away to bear his new name: Swifteagle." The Clan roared and cheered its appreciation of the new warrior, Swifteagle.
Swifteagle's father, Eagletalon, had an honored look on his face. The tom was proud that his son was now a warrior and that the last part of Swifteagle's name came from his own name. Swifteagle talked to Cloudflower for a while.
"You know, Swifteagle sounds like a fierce name, a name that belongs to a cat I can't resist," Cloudflower said flirtatiously.
"Well, I am pretty cool," Swifteagle agreed. The two walked away together, tails intertwined.
"Seems like we have a love couple," cooed Tawnyrose. "I'm not just meaning Swifteagle and Cloudflower; I mean you and Talonstorm too."
"But I honestly don't like him!", objected Stormflower.
"Why not?"
"I just don't find any substance, you know. He's handsome, but not quite right for me," responded Stormflower. Stormflower and Tawnyrose heard a grunt behind them, and turned around.
There sat Talonstorm, with a pitiful expression on his face. "You mean you don't…you-you…is it me?"
"No, no, no! I'm just not ready yet," Stormflower explained.
"Well, I'll be here when you are," sobbed Talonstorm. The tom's tail drooped and he moped into the warriors' den.
"Now look what you've done!", hissed Tawnyrose. "Wait, Stormflower, who do you like?"
"Not any cat particularly at the moment. I'm good, really."
"Uh huh," said Tawnyrose. Stormflower went to talk to Swifteagle.
"So, how does it feel to finally be a warrior? I know I felt so exhilarated when I became one."
"Yeah, I feel like that, like I can do anything. No cat can stop me," Swifteagle proudly announced.
"Except this cat!" , yowled Talonstorm. The gray tom pounced on the new brown warrior and tussled with him for what seemed like moons.
"Come on, you two, stop it! You know what, you two are both so immature. I mean really? Really? I'm leaving," huffed Stormflower. The she-cat warrior approached Poppyfire.
"May I organize a hunting patrol, Poppyfire?" , Stormflower asked.
"Oh, yeah, you can," Poppyfire said distantly.
"What's wrong?", Stormflower inquired.
"Nothing, Stormflower, it's nothing. I zone out sometimes is all."
Stormflower trotted to the warriors' den. "Tallminnow- and Eagletalon- come with me!" The two toms were sluggish at first, but followed Stormflower soon after. Stormflower thought, "I shouldn't exclude the two newest cats to SpringClan." She walked over to the makeshift den Stonefeather and Ember had to share.
"Hello, Stormflower," purred Ember. Ember stood up and said , "What is it?"
"Would you care to join me on a hunting patrol?" , asked Stormflower. Stonefeather grunted and the she-cat said, "You want to come too, Stonefeather?"
"No, I'll pass." The noon hunting patrol met at camp's center and headed out, towards SpringClan's southern territory. Heading out, Stormflower began to think. Swifteagle was a warrior, and Ember and Stonefeather were about to be, officially. Stonefeather didn't deserve it.
That mangy furball was evil in some way, Stormflower knew. Only time would tell, though. Time better hurry up and prove me right , thought the she-cat. Or else.