Chapter 6

Four moons passed, and Splashpaw knew it would be this moon when she became a warrior, and Goldenkit, Dewkit and Eaglekit would become apprentices. Blackpool had also died she had drowned in the river and had left Brightmist as the only medicine cat, maybe not for long. "Let all those cat's old enough to catch their own prey, join here in front of the High Rock for a clan meeting" Dawnstar's call echoed through the camp at once every cat left their duties and the dens to gather. "Splashpaw, Sunpaw, Swiftpaw step forward please" Dawnstar flicked her tail so the three apprentices would come forward "I, Dawnstar, leader of ThistleClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in their turn. Splashpaw, Sunpaw, Swiftpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do" they said

"Then by the powers of SilverClan I give you your warrior name. Splashpaw, from this moment you will be known as Splashpelt. SilverClan honors your enthusiasm and kindness, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThistleClan. Sunpaw, from this moment you will be known as Sunstrike. SilverClan honors your independence and courage, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThistleClan. Swiftpaw, from this moment you will be known as Swiftfoot. SilverClan honors your bravery and strength, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThistleClan"

"Splashpelt! Sunstrike! Swiftfoot!" the Clan cheered for the new warriors. "We have still another ceremony to preform five kits have reached their age of six moons amd are ready for thir apprentice duties. Goldenkit, Eaglekit, Dewkit,you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior names, you will be known as Goldenpaw, Eaglepaw. Your mentors will be Iceblaze, Butterflywing and Ashfoot" Dawnstar said "Iceblaze, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from Sandfire, and you have shown yourself to be wise and loyal. You will be the mentor of Goldenpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to her" Dawnstar said. Goldenpaw touched noses with her mentor and waited for her brothers to receive theirs "Ashfoot, you will be the mentor of Dewpaw you have shown to be strong and brave I hope you will pass this down to your apprentice. Butterflywing you will be the mentor of Eaglepaw, you have shown to be kind but strong I hope you will pass this down to your apprentice" Dawnstar finished.

Once Eaglepaw and Dewpaw had touched noses with their mentors the Clan cheered "Goldenpaw! Eaglepaw! Dewpaw!". Splashppelt felt very proud finally after four moons her kin had received their apprentice name and mentor. I´m sure Tansyclaw and Lionsplash are too Splashpelt thought gazing at the stars that shined brightly agains the black night I hope your proud too. "Hi Splashpelt!" Goldenpaw´s echo ran through Splashpelts ears "Hello Goldenki-I mean Goldenpaw" Splashpelt replied. At last Splashpelt, Sunstrike and Swiftfoot´s vigil had finished, they got the chance to sleep until SunHigh. "Swiftfoot, Splashpelt" Embertail called, at once Swiftfoot and Splashpelt came to him from the Fresh-kill pile. "Yes Embertail" they both said "I want you to join Iceblaze and Goldenpaw on a hunting patrol" Embertail told them. The two warriors nodded and left with the two she-cats.

"Iceblaze, could you take Goldenpaw to Sky Hollow I need to talk to Swiftfoot in private" Splashpelt whispered, the she-cat nodded and said "Goldenpaw and I will go to Sky Hollow to she can practice her hunting skills, that way as well as chatching her prey she practices hunting it too", "Alright, we´ll catch up to you in a moment" Splashpelt replied. Once Iceblaze and Goldenpaw left, Splashpelt took a deep breath and said "Listen, Swiftfoot, I have something to tell you" she began "Me too, you go first" he replied "The thing is, I-I-I-I love you Swiftfoot" Splashpelt told him. "Well this is awkward, I love you too, Splashpelt" he said "And I was going to ask you if you wanted to be my mate?" he asked. "Yes, Swiftfoot I will be your mate" Splashpelt replied, "We will have beautiful kits strong and beautiful like you" he said "I´m sure they will because they will have your blood coursing through their tiny veins" Splashpelt replied.

The hunting patrol came back with three thrushes, two magpies and five mice. "Well done all of you" Dawnstar praised, "You should give extra credit to Goldenpaw she caught on of the thrushes, three of the mice and one of the magpies" Splashpelt said. "It´s no that big a deal" Goldenpaw addded shyly "Are you joking?! Not many apprentices catch that much prey on their first day" Iceblaze said. "Why don´t you take that prey over to the elders and queens" Dawnstar suggested, Goldenpaw nodded and hopped to it. Dawnstar left with Iceblaze, Swiftfoot and Splashpelt alone. "Someone looks happy" Sunstrike said " Well why wouldn´t I be Swiftfoot and I are mates" Splashpelt replied, "Mates?! That great little sis, surprised your so weak" Sunstrike replied "Hey! I´m only 3 minutes younger that you!" Splashpelt retorted. Sunstrike laughed, at that moment Splashpelt lost it and tackled him rolling in the sand like newborn kits, "Hmm, now who is the weak one" Splashpelt retorted as she pined her brother down.

She let him go, Splashpelt and Swiftfoot walked towards the fresh-kill pile. "Hey is it true you and Swiftfoot are mates?" Goldenpaw asked bouncing up and down with curiousity "Yes... Who told you?" Splashpelt asked whiping her tongue around her mouth to clean the last pieces of mouse from her muzzle, "Sunstrike" Eaglepaw said running in, Dewpaw chasing his brother. Splashpelt let out a small mrrow of laughter. "Let all those cats old enough to catch their own prey join here benaeath the High Rock for a Clan meeting" Dawnstar´s call echoed through the camp, "Tonight is the gathering and I shall bring: Splashpelt, Swiftfoot, Goldenpaw, Iceblaze, Leopardstrike and Dovesong" Dawnstar announced, Goldenpaw trotted towards Splashpelt "Why don´t Embertail and Brightmist come?" she asked "Well because the deputy and Medicine Cat always come to the gather so the leader doesn´t need to anounce it" Splashpelt replied "Oh ok, I have one more question... Are you and Swiftfoot going to have any kits?" Goldenpaw asked "Well we´re planning on having kits but for the moment we´re going to spend a moon or two as warriors" Splashpelt replied-

"But are you mates or not?" Goldenpaw asked again, "Yes we are still mates but just because we want to wait a moon or two to have kits doesn´t mean were not mates" Splashpelt replied, "Oh now I get it... oh well do you think Dawnstar will let me have a small nap?" Goldenpaw asked "Well why don´t you ask her" Splashpelt suggested, the young apprentice nodded and padded over to Dawnstar.