"Rainbowheart." Jade approached the black-and-white warrior who had just finished off a sparrow.
Everyone else had eaten and it was now time to leave.
"Yes Jade, what is it?" Rainbowheart looked up at the white cat.
"Well, since we are all a clan now, before we leave, the kits and I were wondering if they could get their apprentice names before we leave." Jade gave her new leader a curious look.
A few fox-lengths behind Jade, the kits were sitting, staring expectantly over in their mother's direction. It was obvious they'd asked their mother to ask Rainbowheart about them becoming apprentices.
Rainbowheart knew that the kits were due for their ceremony she had promised, but she also had a few other things that she also wanted to do. Right now would be a good a time as any to get them all out of the way.
"Before we leave, I'd like to address a few things. Please everyone gather around the stump," she called to the rest of the cats. As they were asked, the cats gathered in front of their leader who now sat on the stump.
"First, I'd like to say again, how happy I am that you all will be joining me. Second, I'd like to give some of you warrior names, if that's okay? You can have one or not, it doesn't matter."
Rainbowheart gave them all a cheerful smile, as they talked happily among themselves for a moment.
"You better make these names cool, Patchy," Merra said, tail twitching with the remark. "Don't give us something like Sleeps-All-Day, even though I'm sure Cliff here deserves that name."
"I do not sleep all day."
"Cliff, yeah you do."
"I didn't ask you Hampton."
Clearing her throat, Rainbowheart got everyone's attention, "Okay, OKAY. Nobody will get ridiculous names like that. I don't even think there's been such a ridiculous name like Sleeps-All-Day…"
"What about Snoozebutt?"
"Or Snoringloud?"
"I sleep as much as the next cat does guys!"
"Quiet everyone! I will first begin with Streak and Jade. Both of you please step forward."
As instructed, the pair of sisters broke away from the group, standing closer to their red-eyed leader.
As they were pressed for time, Rainbowheart decided to skip over some parts and get straight to the point. "Jade and Streak, do you swear to live by our own code,to protect your clan, friends, and your family, even at the cost of your own life?"
"We swear," said both she-cats.
"Then as leader of this clan, I Rainbowheart, proudly accept you as warriors. From this moment on, Streak, you shall be known as Streakflight. Jade, from now on, you shall be known as Jadeheaven."
The she-cats each touched noses to Rainbowheart's.
Both new warriors sat proudly, with their chests puffed out, as their clanmates cheered their warrior names. "Streakflight, Jadeheaven! Streakflight, Jadeheaven!"
Rainbowheart waited for the voices to die down, before continuing, and whispered quick commands to her two warriors. As it got quieter, Streakflight and Jadeheaven pulled the kits aside, to sit apart from the much older cats.
"Now it is time for the rest of you. Do you all swear to live by our own warrior code, and if not, then do you at least swear to protect your clan, friends, and your family even at the cost of your own life?"
It was a rumble of jumbled voices, as each and every cat there agreed.
"Then I, Rainbowheart, proudly accept you all as warriors.. Please come up as I call your names," the clan leader requested.
"Buck, Meera, and Apple."
All three cats padded forward, to gaze up into their leader's eyes.
"From this moment on, Buck, you shall be known as Lockjaw. Meera, you shall be known as Spiralfoot. And Apple, you shall be known as Applewhisker."
After all three of them had touched noses with the she-cat, the joined Streakflight and Jadeheaven.
Spiralfoot looked at Lockjaw, smirking.
"Don't even think about commenting." Buck flicked his tail across her head, before paying attention to the ceremony.
"Hampton, Cliff, Spike, and Hazel," Rainbowheart called off, and they gathered below her. "Hampton, you shall be known as Hawktooth. Cliff, you will be known as Cliffbreeze. Spike, you will be known as Wildfur. And Hazel, you shall be known as Hazelsky."
There were only three cats left now. "Rockslide and Shell."
Both old cats sat in front of the younger cat, looking up expectantly.
"You both have past your prime, and I can't exactly give you warrior names. You'll be elders instead? Sharing your wisdom and stories would be quite helpful to the younger of us."
Rockslide shrugged his shoulders, "Either way I was gonna get one of you young ones to clean the fleas out of my pelt." Shell pushed him with her shoulder, and Rockslide gave the white cat a humor-filled huff.
Rainbowheart smiled, "Then I hope that both you both will live happy lives as elders."
Both old cats dipped their heads and sat with the others.
"Star, please come forward," Rainbowheart looked down at the mismatched eyes of the blue-grey she-cat. "In every clan, there must be one who can take on the challenge of keeping its cats healthy. I never mentioned this one, but Star, I give you the position of medicine cat, and your warrior name, Northwind."
Rainbowheart then added, "And until she has learned all that you have to teach, Streakflight shall be your apprentice." Although Rainbowheart had originally intended Streakflight to be the deputy, it was clear she wasn't going to be the one.
Northwind dipped her head to her leader, before finding Streak and touching noses with her.
Rainbowheart looked at her new warriors with pride and satisfaction. She was not done however, with the ceremonies. There were still two that were left. "Before we all celebrate, with our leave, Jadeheaven, please step forward once more."
The white she-cat looked at Rainbowheart curiously, but padded up to once again, gaze into her leader's unusual eyes.
"I can't have a clan without a second-in-command." The leader jumped down from her perch on the stump to touch her tail to the white cat's shoulder. "Jadeheaven, I name you deputy of this clan."
Jadeheaven was wide-eyed at what her leader had just said. "I-I don't know what to say- you would pick me, to be your deputy?" She honestly couldn't believe that she would be chosen as deputy.
"You said you wanted to repay me for saving your life, before. I hope you will do so by helping me from your position. You're wise, and know when to not let emotion control you. I need a calm and collected cat to help me," Rainbowheart said, tilting her head.
The white she-cat's expression turned to one of gratitude for the chance. "Thank you, I won't let you down."
"I know you won't," Rainbowheart said. It was then she addressed the last issue.
"There is but one more thing that must be attended to now. Sparrow and Topaz."
At the sound of their names, the kits' eyes brightened. They gave excited mewls, which were quieted by their mother when they bounded over.
"Sparrow and Topaz, until the day comes that you receive your warrior names, you shall be known as Sparrowpaw and Topazpaw. As for mentors, I will train Topazpaw and Jadeheaven shall train Sparrowpaw."
When she finished saying this, Rainbowheart touched noses with her golden-furred apprentice. Seeing this, Jadeheaven and Sparrowpaw did the same. Everyone called out their names with great vigor, causing the young cats to burst with immense pride.
"Sparrowpaw, Topazpaw!"
Above the cats, the sky was already almost fully dark.
"Come along everyone. It's time that we take our leave." Rainbowheart scooted Topazpaw along to the edge of the clearing, where the others had gathered. They would be heading in the opposite direction of the twolegplace, where Hawktooth had reported the river was.
Topazpaw looked back at the clearing, and then looked up at his mentor, "Will we ever come back here?"
Rainbowheart's was thoughtful before answering, "Maybe. If we are needed, and if others are willing to help themselves next time." She turned around to stare at the dark abyss of shadowy woods that lay in front of them. She signaled her clan with her tail, "Let's move."
They all disappeared into the cool night.
The clearing was left in silence. Nothing, save for crickets, made a sound.
In the shadows, on the other side of the clearing, a red-brown tom slinked into the open area. He gazed longingly at where the group of cats once stood. Desperately he wanted to go with them, but he knew that he could do more if he stayed.
"Good luck to you all. Spiritjump, please watch over our friends," he whispered, before heading back into the brush.