Chapter 17.

"I grant you the name ScarletLight."

The orange she-cat lifted her head and the sound of the tribe yowling around her signaled her entry into warriorhood in the tribe. Next to her, her siblings were standing proudly. FlowingRiver and BendingPalm. The two had already been named.

StepStorm watched as her friends go through the ceremony. Next to her was LongClaw. She couldn't believe that half a moon ago her friend had also become a warrior.

Half a moon.

It has only been half a moon but the illness that SpiralClam had now had a grip on MorningRush, StreakShells, FastFlight, SwiftBreeze and BurningRusset. That was why the new leader, ShiningDark had decided to make the remaining learners warriors. There wasn't enough to take care of the tribe in case of danger. Because of this illness KitSand's second kit, LittleDusk had died a few days after he was born and now KitSand was fearful for her remaining kit, LittleDawn. It has become so bad that the kitters now did not leave the nursery except for food. Only HealingWave, who gave her kits to KitStream, KitFish and KitSand left. She renounced her kitter status to take care of the tribe as a healer again.

StepStorm's eyes traveled to the spot under the High Rock where GrayShark stood. Spider webs covered his unhealed injuries. He and WaveWhisker were CrashingDark's two chosen deputies and their fight was vicious but GrayShark had come out victorious. StepStorm had never seen two cats fight as viciously as they did. Well, she had never seen cats fight before but that was besides the point.

The tortoiseshell looked back at the learner den. It was going to be very empty. KitStream's kits were too young and HerbRain slept in the healer den. StepStorm would be alone. The only learner. She understood though. She understood why. She was not as strong as her friends. She was not a true member of the tribe no matter how anycat looked at it. LongClaw had told her she would probably have to do more than the usual six moons of training. She hated it but couldn't do anything about it.

The newly named ScarletLight bounded over to her two friends, her eyes shining with excitement. "Wow LongClaw! That was the most epic thing ever! I can't believe how awesome it is to become a warrior."

StepStorm tried to be happy as her friend kept babbling on but she couldn't. There wasn't much happiness in the tribe anymore. She glanced over at the healer den. SpiralClam had been getting worse and worse. The last time StepStorm had visited her mentor had been coughing up blood. It reminded StepStorm so much of the first night that she couldn't stay there any longer so she had ran away like the coward she was.

"Calm down," said LongClaw but the amusement for her friend was clear. "Anyway. We should probably get you a nest in the warriors den." LongClaw shot StepStorm an apologetic glance. StepStorm nodded like she understood. She knew she shouldn't feel anger towards her friends for become warriors ahead of her but…she couldn't help it.

"StepStorm."

StepStorm looked back. Her current mentor, SandWhite padded over to her. The she-cat placed her tail on the young cat's shoulder. "Let's go train now."

"Right," replied StepStorm. She bid goodbye to her friends and followed SandWhite outside.

ScarletLight

"I feel bad for StepStorm," spoke the newly named ScarletLight as LongClaw led her into the warriors den. The den was roomy inside with many moss beds scattered around. The scents of the different cats that slept in this space overwhelmed ScarletLight's nose. It was much different than the smaller learner den.

"I sleep right here," said LongClaw. She gestured to a small bed near the entrance of the camp. It was typical LongClaw. She wanted to be near the entrance in case of an attack.

"What's that?" asked ScarletLight. She noticed a small pile next to the nest. She approached the pile and saw it was a pile of shark teeth. "What?" she turned back to her friend. The question was written on her face.

"Thos are from the shark," replied her friend. "I removed all the teeth before giving it to the clan to eat."

"Oh," replied ScarletLight. She didn't really know what to say. She shook her head. No. Today was supposed to be a good day. Not one with depressing thoughts. "Then I'll sleep near you," she said cheerfully.

LongClaw chuckled. "Alright then. Mark your spot and then let's go get you some moss.

Linelinelineline

LongClaw

LongClaw and ScarletLight returned to camp after collecting moss. When they got inside they could hear shouting. Cats were gathered around the High Rock and ShiningDark was on the rock.

LongClaw and ScarletLight exchanged glances before putting down the moss and joining the gathered cats.

"What's going on?" asked ScarletLight.

BendingPalm looked over at his sister. "Some cats think StepStorm is to blame because of this."

"What?" cried ScaretLight. "That's…that's crazy!"

"We were fine until that cat showed up!" yowled ShadowStripe.

StepStorm was by the High Rock by herself. She flinched as ShadowStripe's words hit her.

"That's right!" agreed DriftingStick. "Until she came to the tribe we never got sick with illnesses like this!"

A chorus of yowls agreed with him.

"I can't believe this," whispered LongClaw angrily. "How could they do something like this? They don't know if it's true or not!" She looked around for her brother but the spiriter was nowhere to be seen. For all the times he should be off doing spiriter things this was not it!

"SandWhite!" ScarletLight cried to her mother. "Do something! Help StepStorm!"

The white she-cat looked down sadly at her kit. "I'm sorry," she said. "But…BurningRusset, your father is sick…and…"

ScarletLight's eyes widen and she turned away. "Why are they thinking this now? This illness has been going on for half a moon now."

"I don't understand either but I can't just sit by and let this happen," said LongClaw. She already lost one dear cat because she didn't do anything. It won't happen again. She pushed her way to the front and stood next to the cowering StepStorm. "Knock it off!" she snapped angrily. "We don't know if StepStorm is the cause or not!"

"LongClaw please," spoke FastFlight. She took a step towards her daughter.

LongClaw shook her head angrily. "No. I will stand here!"

ShiningDark spoke for the first time. "The tribe has a decision to make," he said. "StepStorm has been accused of creating this sickness in the tribe." His eyes scanned the crowd of cats. "All cats in favor of exile?"

LongClaw felt her friend stiffen besides her. She gritted her teeth and looked up at the leader. "You can't-"

"LongClaw!"

LongClaw flinched at her mother's voice. She bit her tongue as yowls of agreement rang up in the tribe. ScarletLight watched her two friends with horrified eyes.

"I didn't know this was going to happen," whispered StepStorm. "I returned to camp after training and then this happened…"

LongClaw placed her tail on her friend's shoulder for support. The decision was truly up to ShiningDark.

"Looks like the tribe has spoken," said the leader. He looked down at StepStorm. "You are hereby exiled from the tribe."