Flamepaw padded through the forest, behind the patrol heading toward the SwiftClan border line. She felt a surge of excitement as she matched step by step with Leafpaw. Leafpaw looked certainly ahaead, staring in the direction of SwiftClan, her stride filled with confidence.
Flamepaw let her gaze lead her up, making her stare at the amazing view of light pouring through the leaves above. She turned her attention around the forest, admiring the sun beams dancing and dazzling on the forest floor.
She closed her eyes, reciting Cinderstar's speech.
This is it! I can finally see what SwiftClan territory looks like!
She purred loudly, both in her head and out loud. Flamepaw reopened her eyes once more. She heard Leafpaw giggling softly. Flamepaw laughed a bit herself. She turned her head, staring straight at Leafpaw. She stuck her tongue out, smiling wide.
"Hey!" she laughed hysterically as Flamepaw made a funny faces at her. She laughed as Leafpaw nudged her shoulder with her head. Flamepaw licked her ear, continuing to trot happily along, her tail held high in the hair.
"Ok you two, let's stop at the border and wait for a patrol." Cinderstar ordered the apprentices, a smile creeping up on her face. Flamepaw liked it when her leader was happy and in the joking mood. They all padded a couple more fox lengths before stopping, looking across SwiftClan territory.
A gust of breeze spun across the forest and fields, making leaves and bushes rustle. Flamepaw enjoyed the cool breeze, as today was a scorching hot day.
As the wind stopped, the sounds of pads hitting the ground sounded. Abruptly, a she cat with a gray pelt stepped out of a blueberry bush, followed by a small molten brown tom and a white and black pelted warrior.
Cinderstar dipped her head to the SwiftClan border patrol. Flamepaw could see that the leader of the group was confused to see them standing there, waiting.
"Hello Amberspots, Runningpaw and Whitefoot," she mewed respectfully to all three cats. Amberspots nodded in acknowledgement, while Runningpaw's eyes glittered with awe as he stared up at the LeafClan leader. Whitefoot nudged him, making him snap back into reality.
"Greetings, Cinderstar," Amberspots looked at all three cats then Cinderstar. Her red eyes were clouded with question. Flamepaw glanced into Cinderstar's icy blue eyes, which were always unreadable and unblinking.
"We wish to speak with Gorsestar," Cinderstar explained to Amberspots. Whitefoot exchanged a glance with the gray pelted she cat. Amberspots looked back at Whitefoot, then at Cinderstar.
Flamepaw could sense Runningpaw looking at her, but she didn't dare look back at him. She just stared off into the hills of grass in front of her, too embarrassed to lock eyes with the SwiftClan apprentice
"For what, may I ask?" Amberspots asked; her tone remaining respectful, yet hinting a little aggression and impatience. Flamepaw was about to lose patience with the warrior if she kept asking questions. If she asks one more question in this burning heat I am going to melt like snow She growled to herself
"That will be between me and Gorsestar." Cinderstar glanced challengingly at Amberspots, ready to retort again if the SwiftClan patrol questioned her again. The SwiftClan warrior looked taken aback, and then narrowed her eyes into slits.
She nodded to Whitefoot and Runningpaw, signaling them to get on either side of the LeafClan patrol. They formatted around her clanmates. She dipped her head respectively to Whitefoot, who stood beside her.
Flamepaw moved toward Leafpaw, fixing herself so she brushed pelts with her. Flamepaw looked around, then at Leafpaw to see what she was looking at. She noticed her denmate soaking in the entire environment around her.
"It's beautiful and open, isn't it?" Leafpaw meowed, her mouth gaping open with awe.
"Imagine running across those wide and open hills." Flamepaw purred, imagining being free and able to run forever.
"Yeah, but I would give up everything to live beneath the branches and leaves!" Leafpaw declared, her eyes shining with pride.
"Good," Cinderstar looked over her shoulder at the two apprentices. Flamepaw knew she had to say something too to show her loyalty to her leader.
"Yeah, me too!" she mewed to Leafpaw. She looked away from the patrol, watching the grass sway in the wind. It was soothing, and calm. She sighed, watching the tree line disappearing behind them. She hoped that one day she wouldn't have to leave it for good.
"We're almost there," Amberspots murmured. Flamepaw could just barely see the barrier of the camp in the horizon. She nudged Leafpaw, directing her with her tail. Leafpaw gasped, clearly taken by surprise by what it would look like. Flamepaw was too, it was so different than what she had expected!
"There it is!" Leafpaw mewed excitedly. Flamepaw could tell by the flexing of her muscles that so much adrenaline was pumping through her that she might burst!"
They reached the entrance to the camp. Ferneye turned to Flamepaw. She leaned down a little, laying her muzzle on top of her head.
"Don't do anything stupid, and don't anger SwiftClan" Ferneye licked her kit between the ears before disappearing through the camp tunnel. Then Cinderstar, and after Leafpaw.
"Go on then," Whitefoot urged Flamepaw. Flamepaw gulped.
"Ok," she whispered before diving through the entrance. You can do this She told herself. She emerged in the hollow; the sun's light blinding her.
Harsh whispers and murmuring from the SwiftClan camp engulfed her hearing. She closed her eyes, making sure that the sun wouldn't blind her.
She felt the shaking of the tunnel behind her as Amberspots, Runningpaw and Whitefoot joined them in the clearing. Whitefoot brushed past her, almost making her fall over. She gulped back a growl, making sure she did as Ferneye told her to.
She opened her eyes again as she looked around, scanning the clearing; every cat had their eye on the LeafClan group. Warriors, apprentices and even kits crowded around them.
"Why are you here?"
"Go away!"
"Go back to the trees you squirrels!" All the cats growled at them. Flamepaw flattened her ears, trying to block out the hateful words. She looked up at her leader. Cinderstar managed to remain calm, and so did Ferneye.
She was amazed at how they could not even flinch from what SwiftClan was saying to them. Flamepaw crouched beside Leafpaw, slightly frightened by their anger and reactions.
"I wish to see Gorsestar," Cinderstar told the rioting clan around her. The LeafClan leader's eyes were lit with amusement. What is so funny? Flamepaw asked herself, and by the looks of it, she wasn't the only one that was thinking it.
"What's so funny, fox brain?" A warrior thrust their muzzle a nose length from her leader. Flamepaw sprung to her paws. She leapt in front of her leader, shoving the SwiftClan warrior off of Cinderstar.
"Keep your rabbit breath to yourself. She didn't attack you, so calm down!" Flamepaw growled. Cinderstar stroked her spine with her tail, trying to soothe her anger.
"It's alright, Flamepaw. Just sit back down," Cinderstar purred to her. She obeyed, sitting beside her and Ferneye. She leaned down and whispered,
"They're so dumb and hostile, that's what's so funny!" Cinderstar looked at Flamepaw, amusement glittering in her eyes. Flamepaw giggled at Cinderstar's joke.
"That's right little kit, sit with your mommy!" An apprentice snickered. She could see her leader's point. Flamepaw swallowed back a retort.
I will shred you in battle if I see you She glared at the blue pelted SwiftClan apprentice. Flamepaw noticed that she had front gray-blue paws and electric blue eyes, hard and bright enough to pierce any shadow.
The spitting and hissing camp around Flamepaw silenced at once as a ruffled cream colored tom padded out into the clearing, standing in front of Cinderstar. He blinked in greeting.
"Welcome Cinderstar, to SwiftClan camp. How can I help you?" He asked calmly, no sign of hostility or aggression in his voice or eyes. That made Flamepaw worry a little less, seeing the kindness of the leader. Wish all the cats in the camp were like him She wondered.
"Well, I have some to talk to you about something of importance." Cinderstar explained, looking questionably at him. He nodded understandingly, guiding her to his den. Before Cinderstar entered his den, she nodded at Flamepaw, and Flamepaw blinked in acknowledgement.
As her leader disappeared into the den, Flamepaw leaned closer to Ferneye. "What do we do?" she whispered, looking at all the cats around them as she spoke with worry and fright. Ferneye licked her cheek.
"We sit here and wait," she purred softly, looking at the den Cinderstar and Gorsestar had disappeared.
She sighed softly, closing her eyes for a moment, trying to picture everything completely silent.
As soon as her eyes completely closed she heard pads thrumming the ground, coming toward her. She flashed open her eyes, seeing Runningpaw sitting in front of her. She jumped a little, then laughed at her own stupidity.
"Hi there, my name's Runningpaw!" He purred, his eyes filled with warmth.
"Oh, hello Runningpaw, I'm Flamepaw!" She smiled back at him, thankful for his friendliness and kindness. She laughed again.
"Say, I'm surprised that you aren't as hostile as some of your clanmates!" She joked, staring into his glittering yellow eyes. Runningpaw chuckled a bit too, looking around his camp. Before he could say anything back, an order sounded from amongst the crowd.
"Runningpaw, get away from that LeafClan apprentice!" Whitefoot called. Flamepaw became a little disappointed. She enjoyed talking to someone. Before leaving, Runningpaw shot an apologetic glance at Flamepaw. Flamepaw nodded understandingly to him, making sure he knew it was ok.
Flamepaw's ears swiveled as she heard the rustling of bushes as Cinderstar padded out from Gorsestar's den. Cinderstar blinked at Gorsestar respectfully.
"Thank you for your time, Gorsestar." She mewed calmly to the leader, as if nothing happened. Flamepaw was a little surprised at their words, but she thought nothing of it. Just leader stuff
Gorsestar blinked at her softly.
"Anytime you need to discuss something, I'm here," he told her warmly. Flamepaw tilted her head, eyes widening. What just happened? As Flamepaw went up to interrogate her, she lashed her tail.
"Ferneye, Leafpaw, Flamepaw, we should be heading back to camp now." She signaled to the tunnel of the camp. She let everyone go before her. As Flamepaw was about to bound through the exit, Runningpaw ran up to her and whispered softly,
"Meet me at the Mighty Rocks at Moonhigh," She looked at him. His yellow eyes clouded with eagerness. Flamepaw smiled and nodded. Moonhigh She repeated as she followed her clanmates out of the SwiftClan camp.
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Flamepaw emerged into camp. By the time they arrived back into their home, the sun was setting. Ashpaw and Tidalpaw swarmed around her, with Pinepaw listening close by. As Flamepaw was about to tell them all about what happened, Cinderstar leapt up onto the Hightree.
"All cats old enough to climb gather beneath the Hightree!" Her voice rung around the camp, enough to be heard by everyone. All the cats huddled in a small group, gazing up at Cinderstar. Flamepaw sat next to Pinepaw and Ashpaw.
She looked down at her clan proudly.
"I have spoken with Gorsestar, and we decided that LeafClan will keep the Mighty Rocks as our own!" She declared. Yowls of joy and triumph immediately filled the camp. Flamepaw joined them, happy that her training could continue on the Mighty Rocks. Cinderstar waited until they fell silent.
"And in celebration, I have decided that I will do something special." She looked straight at her.
"Flamepaw, Ashpaw, Tidalpaw, and Leafpaw, please step forward." Excitement suddenly overwhelmed Flamepaw, making her dizzy. She felt like collapsing to the ground.
No Way! She rose to her paws and totted slowly in front of the Hightree, beside Ashpaw and Tidalpaw. She started the ceremony.
"Leafpaw, you have shown great courage and bravery! I, Cinderstar, leader of LeafClan ask StarClan to watch over this young apprentice. She has trained hard and long to earn her warrior name. From this moment forward, you will be known as Leafpelt."
Cinderstar leapt from the Hightree; touching her muzzle to her shoulder.
"Flamepaw, you have shown loyalty and intelligence. You have gone through lots by losing your father, and you could not have made him any prouder. From this moment forward, you will be known as Flamesoul!"
Flamesoul's eyes lit up as the leader pressed her muzzled against her shoulder, and in turn she licked her cheek.
I have the greatest name is history! She was freaking out. She looked across the clearing, spotting Ferneye. Her gentle green eyes were raging pride. She nodded, smiling as big as she could. I will make you proud, mother
Cinderstar continued,
"Ashpaw, you have shown great strength and skill. And from this moment forward you will be known has Ashclaw!" Flamesoul looked at Ashclaw as the leader pressed her muzzle against him. His calming blue eyes weren't calm, but filled with adrenaline. He smiled at her, and she smiled back.
Congratulations. We are warriors at last! I'm so proud of you! She wished she could say those words to him.
Cinderstar padded over to Tidalpaw.
"Tidalpaw, you have shown defiance and have shown how smart you are. You have also gone through a lot, and for all you have been through, from this moment-" Cinderstar was cut off by Tidalpaw.
"I don't want to be a warrior," she confessed. The whole clan gasped around her. Flamesoul's jaw fell open as she stared at her sister. Tidalpaw looked confidently at Cinderstar and Cinderstar only.
"I want to be a medicine cat!"