Chapter Four
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather under the high ledge for a clan meeting." Firestar's voice echoed through the hollow just as Birchthorn entered with fresh kill hanging from his jaws.
He had just gotten back from visiting Applepaw. He had been going there for about a month and each time they grew closer. Every time he caught a piece or two of fresh kill so no one would think any thing.
Birchthorn padded over and set his fresh kill down and gathered with the crowd. He noticed Brambleclaw sitting at the edge of the group and was surprised. For the last moon he was wounded in Leafpool's den, Firestar starting talking.
"We good news to report today, Brambleclaw has recovered." He announced joyfully. Cats around him also mewed happily.
"And still, there is more good news to be shared. Ferncloud's kits have reached their sixth moon." He said nodding to four kits that sat at the bottom of the high ledge.
"Larchkit, please step up. From this moment until you receive your warrior name, you will be called Larchpaw." He mewed to a tan tom waiting quietly, "Rainwhisker, you are ready for your first apprentice, please pass on all that you know to Larchpaw. Icekit, until you have your warrior name you will be Icepaw." He mewed to a jumpy white she-cat, "Smokescreen, you have proven your loyalty and the clan has done a great job teaching you the ways of the forest. Please pass on that to this apprentice. Maplekit, from now on you will be called Maplepaw. Whitestone, Brakenfur did a great job of teaching you and I hope you will pass that on to Maplepaw." Firestar mewed. The ginger she-cat ran to stand by her siblings. Firestar continued, "Foxkit, you will be known as Foxpaw and your mentor will be Birchthorn." He finished and the auburn tom ran up to touch noses with his new mentor as his siblings did.
"Come on, now the den will be really crowded." Complained Berrypaw. Firestar purred in amusement.
"Yes you are quite right and I will do something about it right now. I have spoken with your mentors and they all think that it's time for you and your siblings to become warriors." Mewed Firestar. Berrypaw just stood there jaw open sorry that he had spoken.
" I Firestar, leader of the Thunderclan, call upon StarClan to look down upon these apprentices. They have trained hard to learn the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you a warrior in turn. Do you three promise to uphold the warrior code, even at the cost of your life." Asked Firestar.
"I do." The apprentices mewed in unison.
"Then by the powers of the StarClan I give you your warrior names. Berrypaw, you are now called Berryclaw. ThunderClan welcomes your courage and strength and you as a full member of the ThunderClan." Firestar mewed as he rested his muzzle on Berryclaw's head. Berryclaw gave Firestar's shoulder a quick lick.
"Hazelpaw, from now on you are Hazelgleam. ThunderClan welcomes your fighting ability and beautifulness and welcomes you as a full member of the ThunderClan." He mewed to Hazelgleam. Hazelgleam's hazel eyes shone with excitement as she waited for Firestar to set his muzzle on top of her head and she respectfully licked his shoulder.
"And last but not least, Mousepaw you will be known as Mousemoon. ThunderClan honors your careful thinking and speed and welcomes you as a full member of the ThunderClan." Mewed Firestar and rested his muzzle on Mousemoon's head and Mousemoon licked his shoulder.
"Foxpaw, Icepaw, Maplepaw, Larchpaw, Mousemoon, Berryclaw, Hazelgleam!" the crowd chanted. Firestar waited for the crowd to stop before adding, "Tonight is a gathering. The cats that will be coming with me are Graystripe, Brackenfur, Dustpelt, Sandstorm, Birchthorn, Whitestone, Maplepaw, Foxpaw, Cinderpaw, Leafpool, and Cloudtail. Eat and be ready to leave." Then he turned to the three new warriors. "Sorry you can't come tonight. You need to sit vigil." He said.
Birchthorn could tell from the look on their faces that they didn't care, they were just happy to be warriors.
Birchthorn went over to the fresh kill pile and picked a mouse. Whitestone sat down next to him.
"Just think, we got apprentices and this is our first gathering as warriors." Mewed Whitestone excitedly. Birchthorn nodded. Now that he thought about it, it was true. They both devoured their food in hungry gulps and got ready to leave. Birchthorn's apprentice, Foxpaw, came up to him as they walked toward the island.
"What do I do when I get over there?" he asked nervously.
" Try to meet apprentices from other clans. Make friends." Birchthorn mewed, repeating what his mentor had said when he had asked that same question.
Foxpaw nodded and bounded across the tree-bridge with confidence.
When Birchthorn and Whitestone got across they searched the crowd for their friends.
"Do you see them." Asked Whitestone.
"No, maybe they didn't come." Birchthorn mewed.
"Looking for us, perhaps." Mewed a familiar voice behind them.
The two cats turned to see Smokepaw standing behind them.
"Smokepaw!" mewed Whitestone happily. Smokepaw nodded.
"Hiya Whitepaw and Birchpaw. Guys come over here; Wavest…Wavepaw's found a great spot to watch the gathering from." Mewed Smokepaw. Birchthorn and Whitestone followed him under a tall bush with a tree growing out of it.
Birchthorn looked around. He didn't see Wavepaw anywhere. Smokepaw must have seen the confused look on Birchthorn's face because he pointed up with his tail.
The two ThunderClan cats followed Smokepaw's gaze. There was a small break in between the thick branches. He took a leap and disappeared through it. Birchthorn and Whitestone looked at each other and jumped up also.
Birchthorn gasped. It was like they had come into their own little world.
The ground was made of tightly twisted branches lined with soft moss. There was a small trickle of water at the back. Into other trees, made small dens. It was enclosed securely with tick leaves. In the front, which was facing the tree that the leaders addressed the clans, there was a hole big enough to see a clear view of where the leaders sat, but the hole was small enough so no one could see them. There was a hole in the top, which seemed to go up about two or three or maybe more stories, at there was a beautiful view of the moon and stars. In the middle there was a tree growing up and there were steps of somewhat to get up higher. In the back was the hole where the cats had jumped through.
"You likey?" purred Smokepaw. "At the top there is a branch that you cat sit on. It's higher than the place where the leaders sit and you can see the whole island and places beyond. Where we came from and where we could one day go." Smokepaw mewed, oddly mostly addressing Whitestone.
Birchthorn turned over to look at Whitestone and get her opinion on this place. In Birchthorn's opinion, this was the coolest place he had ever seen.
He was surprised to see Whitestone's green eyes filled with tears of joy and affection. It was pointed all at Smokepaw. Did she really like the black and gray apprentice?
"Oh Smokepaw, this is the most wonderful place I've ever seen." She purred.
"We can make it our meeting place, no one else can know about it. We can fix it up and make it even better." Mewed Wavepaw.
"I would like that." Mewed Birchthorn.
"Look, we'd better sit down by the hole," mewed Wavepaw motioning to window, "the gatherings about to start." She mewed. I nodded and we sat down just as the cats were calling the meeting to a start. Blackstar started.
"ShadowClan has great news. We have four new warriors. Dancingpaw is now Dancingwaters and Stormpaw is now Stormhawk." He mewed. Every one looked at a cat that looked almost exactly like Wavepaw and a dusty gray tom. Birchthorn looked at Wavepaw.
"My sister." She simply said.
"My brother." Smokepaw added. Blackstar went on, "Smokepaw is now Smokecliff," he mewed. Birchthorn and Whitestone looked over at Smokecliff. He just shrugged, "and Wavepaw is now Wavestorm." All the cats looked around searching for the two cats. The four cats purred with amusement. Blackstar waited till all cats' attention was on him. "Tawnypelt's kits are now apprentices. There are all here. They are Streampaw, Emeraldpaw, Tickpaw, and Cobaltpaw. Their mentors are Dancingwaters, Wavestorm, Smokecliff, and Stormhawk." Finished Blackstar. Birchthorn and Whitestone looked over at the two warriors.
"You didn't tell us that you guys are mentors or warriors." Mewed Whitestone.
"We wanted to surprise you, did it work?" asked Smokecliff. The two ThunderClan cats purred in agreement and laughter. They all turned back to the leaders and Firestar started talking.
"We also have good news, and bad news. A little while ShadowClan attacked us," Firestar mewed looking at Blackstar. Blackstar had no comment and just shrugged, "our deputy was hurt but is now recovered. One of our elders, Mousefur, died." Yowls of sadness echoed through out the clan. She was very old when she died and so almost everyone knew her. "But we are not weak in any way. We have had a litter of kits and we have five new warriors. Only two of them are here today. Mousepaw is now Mousemoon, Hazelpaw is now Hazelgleam, Berrypaw is now Berryclaw, Whitepaw is now Whitestone, and Birchpaw is now Birchthorn. One of the loners we took in is an official member of the clan; Smokey is now Smokescreen " Mewed Firestar. "We also have four new apprentices. They are Foxpaw, Icepaw, Maplepaw, and Larchpaw and their mentors are Smokescreen, Rainwhisker, Birchthorn and Whitestone." Finished Firestar. Leopardstar was about to speak when Graystripe's surprised mewed interrupted her and mews of shock followed his words.
"No, what are you doing here?" asked Graystripe as the cats made there way down to see what the group was staring at. They pushed their way through to see the sleek black pelt of Ravenpaw.
Ravenpaw was looking at the cats with a glace of surprise. The cats around him were letting out wails of utter shock and surprise.
The wails grew louder as more cats from behind him came to stand beside him.
Birchthorn recognized the cats by what his mother had told him. First came an old black and white lump of fur. This was Barley, a cat who had lived with Ravenpaw back in the forest.
Next came a tabby. It was Cody. She had helped Birchthorn after losing his siblings, and Birchthorn was mad when she left.
After came a tan pelted cat with white paws, she was named Princess and was Firestar's sister.
After there was a tawny-colored she-cat with a feisty attitude, this was Sasha. Her mate was Tigerstar and her kit, Mothwing, was in the RiverClan.
Next came three cats that Birchthorn didn't recognize. There was a cat that look almost exactly like Firestar, a plump black and white cat, and a thin black and white cat. Firestar must have known these cats because he called out with surprise 'Violet, Smudge, Fuzz!'
Six of the cats were carrying kits. One was beautiful white she-kit with deep blue eyes, one was a pale tabby she-kit, one was a very dark gray she-kit, one was a longhaired light brown tom, one was a gray and white tom, and the last was a dark brown tom kit.
"Did we interrupt something?" asked Ravenpaw.
"You have a lot of explaining to do." Mewed Firestar slowly.