A/N: Sorry for dropping off the face of the earth for who knows how long. My, it's nice on Mars this time of year. ...Anyway, I don't own Warriors. :-)

Chapter 16

Rainfire watched the hawk circling in the air. "We'd better get back to camp so we can warn the others," he meowed urgently.

The hunting patrol began to race back to the camp. The apprentices surged ahead, their tails streaming out behind them. As he ran, Rainfire kept an eye on the hawk in case it decided to go after a member of the patrol. They were almost at the camp.

Suddenly, the hawk dived, and Rainfire looked for it's target, startled.

"Oh, no," he whispered.

Hazelkit was out in the open, practicing the hunter's crouch. Her eyes were fixed intently on a grasshopper, her tail stuck up in the air.

"Hazelkit, look out!" Dapplepaw screeched wildly. Her mentor, at the same time, yowled, "Hawk!"

The she-kit looked around, bewildered, and squeaked in terror when she saw the hawk swooping down on her. She gave a mighty bound, trying to escape, but the hawk was too close.

Out went the first claw, the talons nicking Hazelkit's hindquarters. The second, however, was more successful, scraping down her sides before closing like a vise around her tail.

Satisfied, the hawk flapped its wings powerfully. It had gotten its prey and wanted to return to its nest.

Ravenpaw put on a burst of speed and leapt at the bird, scraping and digging his claws into its wings. With a squawk, the hawk faltered to the ground, unable to fly with the extra weight. The apprentice quickly buried his fangs in its neck, finishing it off.

Rainfire bounded over to the hawk and nudged a scared Hazelkit. "We'd better get you to my sister," he meowed. "Those are nasty scratches." He looked over at Ravenpaw. "Well done, Ravenpaw. That was an amazing leap!"

His apprentice's chest puffed out with pride.

The other cats were beginning to pad over to see what had happened. Leafwhisker hurried over and led the trembling she-kit to her den. Rainfire followed.

"Will I still be able to be a warrior?" Hazelkit asked anxiously.

"Yes, don't worry," Leafwhisker mewed warmly. "You'll be fine." She had managed to stop the bleeding and Hazelkit was lying drowsily in the den.

Leafwhisker noticed Rainfire. "Oh, Rainfire, thank goodness you're here," she meowed. "I need to take this marigold poultice to Ripplegaze, but I want to stay with Hazelkit. Could you do it for me?"

Rainfire nodded and took the poultice.

"Thanks," His sister murmured gratefully, already turning back to Hazelkit.

Rainfire located Ripplegaze, took the poultice over to her, and tended to her bite.

"Thanks, Rainfire. I think my paw's almost better," the brown she-cat meowed. He nodded and headed back to the hawk.

"Wow," Dewpaw was murmuring. "This hawk is huge!"

"You caught this, Ravenpaw?" Barleypaw said incredulously.

Ravenpaw nodded bashfully.

"I wish I could have seen what happened," Dewpaw moaned. "I was with the elders".

"I'm glad you got there when you did, Ravenpaw," Dapplepaw mewed, eyes shining. "I wish I could jump like that!"

Ravenpaw looked even more embarrassed. Rainfire could practically see the waves of heat rising from his fur.

"You'll probably be a warrior soon," Barleypaw said wistfully. "I'm still too young."

Dewpaw nosed the hawk thoughtfully. "It's so big and plump. I bet it'd taste pretty good!"

"I wonder if we can eat it," Dapplepaw said. "Have the elders been fed?"

"Yup. They got that swallow Squirrelheart caught. I saw Leafwhisker give it to them," Barleypaw replied.

"Hmm... I could give my thrush to Cloverleaf," Dapplepaw meowed. She bounded off to the queen, who was nervously grooming her kits. Willowface and Brightkit were with Leafwhisker.

"Oh, go ahead and eat it," Rainfire meowed finally, twitching his whiskers in amusement.

The apprentices all perked up. "Thanks, Rainfire!" They chorused, then busied themselves dividing the hawk.

Rainfire chuckled at their antics. The hawk was pretty big; all four apprentices would be well fed. He felt proud of Ravenpaw, who was a little bigger (and older) then the rest of the apprentices. Ravenpaw was a hard worker and a great jumper. Maybe it was time for him to be a warrior. Rainfire felt a twinge of excitement about the idea, but he thought he should pass it by with Ripplegaze before he mentioned it to Shinestar. After all, she had been Ravenpaw's first mentor and ought to have a say in the matter too.

He padded over to Ripplegaze. She had finished with her poultice and was basking in the dim tree-bare sun.

"Ripplegaze?" He meowed.

"Yes, Rainfire?"

Rainfire shuffled awkwardly under her blue gaze. "I was thinking it was time for Ravenpaw to be a warrior."

Ripplegaze was quiet for a moment, thinking. Rainfire hoped that she didn't think the idea was mouse-brained. He liked and respected Ripplegaze, although her piercing eyes were a little unnerving.

Then Ripplegaze grinned at him. "Yes, I think it's time too."

Rainfire's pelt bristled with excitement. "Do you want to tell Shinestar or should I?"

"We'll both go," the senior warrior said stoutly. Rainfire glanced nervously at her injured paw. "Oh, don't worry about that," Ripplegaze sniffed, waving her tail dismissively. "I can make it to Shinestar just fine."

The two set off through the crackling grass. My first apprentice is becoming a warrior! Rainfire thought. I can't wait for the ceremony! Then he felt a prickle of grief. Hawkpath wouldn't be there as well.

Rainfire sighed, his good mood diminished somewhat, and padded over to Shinestar's side.