Finally, the moment that you and I have been waiting for: Runningpaw's warrior ceremony! It's about time, too- fourteen chapters written and I'm finally seeing my Runningpaw turning into a warrior! Oh StarClan, I'm acting like some kind of queen. Just read the chapter:D

Oh, thank you so much for the names. A special thanks to Silversparrow19 and Heartsong's Fanfictions for the wonderful cat names for the new little ones! Unfortunately, Ratfur has her kits at the end of book 2...sorry!

"Runningpaw, you were the one that brought our kits home. You and Cinderhope were the ones that saw ShadowClan stealing ThunderClan's kits. You are a wonderful hunter and fighter- it is now time for you to become a warrior."

A light brown tom stood in front of the Highrock, looking up at his leader. Nothing but pure excitement pulsed through him, not sorrow, not anger, but now it was just excitement.

"I, Ashstar of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. He has worked and trained well to learn the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in turn."

Runningpaw stepped up to the rock, trying to hide his excitement. Cinderhope looked happy too- seeing your own apprentice become a warrior was one of the happiest moments in your life other than becoming a warrior yourself.

"Runningpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?" Ashstar made sure that her green eyes bore into Runningpaw's sapphire ones.

"I do," Runningpaw meowed enthusiastically.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Runningpaw, you are now Runningshadow. StarClan honors your bravery and strength and we welcome you a full warrior of ThunderClan."

"Runningshadow! Runningshadow! Runningshadow!" The voices of the Clan yowled out to the heavens. Runningshadow sat in front of Ashstar happily, trying not to smile as she put her muzzle on his head.

"You are a good cat, Runningshadow," Ashstar murmured. "May you be as good a warrior as you were an apprentice."

Runningshadow dipped his head respectfully. What an honor it was to become a warrior! This was what it felt like, what it looked like, what it smelled like (jumbles of scents of the whole Clan all packed together)! It was all wonderful.

But there was one problem: Runningshadow had wanted to become warriors with Skycloud. But Skycloud had been made a warrior before him, and now…he was gone.

Runningshadow tried not to let the feeling of dread overwhelm his feeling of pride and happiness as the rest of the Clan gathered around him, congratulating him on his achievement. Brindlepaw praised him warmly, while Chasepaw didn't praise him at all. He was hunched at the edge of the crowd, scowling. He was jealous that he hadn't become a warrior…

Now Runningshadow felt guilt- so many feelings all packed into one cat! How could he stand it?

But the new warrior just stood there serenely, accepting the entire Clan's praise and congrats. He couldn't let all of this stuff go to his head- Runningshadow had to be happy. He was a warrior now, for StarClan's sake! He shouldn't be all sad and guilty and stuff.

Besides, now he had to go out on his warrior vigil. Cinderhope was there to guide him on the way out of the throng of Clanmates and into the gorse tunnel, where he would go for his vigil.

But Runningshadow was frightened. Because he remembered what had happened to the last cats named warriors. Their names had been Stormfeather and Featherstream.

R.U.N.N.I.N.G

A slight breeze ruffling his fur, Runningshadow stood up and stretched. Newleaf was starting to slide into greenleaf, which would go into leaf fall, which would turn into leafbare. But he was being a kit- this was just a bit…cooler breeze. Besides, it felt good in the hot days of early greenleaf.

Runningshadow saw a black and white tom. Strikefoot was heaving himself through the gorse tunnel. The warrior gestured to Runningshadow to follow him through. The long, restless night was over.

Thankful and sending a silent prayer to StarClan, Runningshadow trailed after the senior warrior and back through the gorse tunnel that led to camp.

"May I speak now?" Asked Runningshadow.

Strikefoot nodded. "Yes, you may." After a long silence, the older warrior mewed, "I remember when I was your age- just becoming a warrior. It was anxious for me, but I was really glad that all of that training paid off. You must be happy too."

Runningshadow nodded. He knew that now all of his training was paying off, but somehow it didn't seem…right. Skycloud wasn't here to become a warrior with him, just like how they had promised when they were kits. Right now, Runningshadow missed his old friend more than ever.

"Now I'll be happy to join the elder's den with my old buddy, Phantomheart. We became apprentices together, warriors together… too bad that Skycloud isn't here to share this feeling with you."

That was it. Runningshadow snarled and launched himself onto the black and white tom, clawing at his muzzle. "What did you just say?" He snarled.

"I said that it was too bad that Skycloud wasn't here to become a warrior with you. Or to ever become an elder with you!" Snarled Strikefoot.

"You'll regret what you just said!" Hissed Runningshadow. He slipped under Strikefoot and kicked at him with his back claws.

Suddenly, Strikefoot put all his weight onto Runningshadow. "No, I don't think I'm regretting anything yet," Strikefoot snapped. "I'm older than you, youngster. I have more fighting experience, way more than you! I have at least seven seasons and you have what, two thirds of a season!"

Runningshadow hissed. "Take that back!" He growled under Strikefoot's belly.

"No," Strikefoot softly hissed. The black and white tom's legs came down onto Runningshadow's belly and he kicked as hard as he could.

Runningshadow snarled, but it faded away as he noticed that he was defeated. The senior warrior had beaten him, as usual.

"Now get back into camp," Strikefoot growled. "Ashstar will want to hear about this."

The light brown tom rolled his eyes, even though that in his heart he felt fear. What if Ashstar made him go back to an apprentice when she heard that he had attacked a senior warrior?

Impossible, though. Leaders couldn't put warriors back down into apprentices for more than a sunrise- it was against their duty as a leader. It was Ashstar's decision to make Runningshadow into a warrior, so it wouldn't be the responsible thing to do for her to demote him the day he was named a warrior.

Runningshadow didn't take his icy glare off of the elderly warrior. "Well, you were slow for a cat with seven seasons of fighting practice," He hissed under his breath.

Strikefoot pretended to ignore it, but Runningshadow could tell that the tom was rolling his eyes at his remark.

They reached Ashstar's den. Runningshadow tried not to tremble at the thought of the leader's wrath.

Ashstar was talking to Cinderhope while she groomed her white-fringed ears. They perked up when she saw Strikefoot coming into her den.

The leader smiled. "Ah, thank you Strikefoot. I was too busy organizing who was going to the Gathering to get him. Leave him here and I'll make sure that Cinderhope takes him to his new den."

Strikefoot nodded. "Yes, Ashstar. But I'm afraid that I have something to tell you about Runningshadow."

Ashstar looked dismayed. "What?" She asked, shocked. Her eyes narrowed. "Tell me," She demanded softly.

Strikefoot cleared his throat. "I was talking to him about being a warrior when he started to attack me randomly."

Ashstar turned to the young warrior. "Runningshadow, is this true?" She asked.

Runningshadow gulped, but didn't nod or shake his head. "Ashstar, Strikefoot was talking to me about Skycloud…and how he left…he made me feel so angry… I'm awfully sorry, Ashstar."

The smoky gray she-cat nodded, shaking. Runningshadow hoped she wasn't too mad at him. But she wasn't angry- she was purring!

"Oh, yes, Strikefoot, you may go now. But try not to taunt Runningshadow about Skycloud- he misses him very much."

Strikefoot nodded, mumbled an apology and backed out of the den.

Ashstar focused her attention on Runningshadow.

"Ashstar, I'm so sorry, I-"

"Hush," Ashstar mewed gently. "It's fine. You must miss Skycloud so much- I've had that feeling once."

Runningshadow nodded. "So should I leave for the warrior's den, Ashstar?"

"No, come back!" Ashstar called to her young warrior.

Runningshadow turned around to see what his leader could possibly want with him.

"Come here, Runningshadow- I have to tell you something important." Ashstar nodded to Cinderhope to get out of the den. Perhaps he already knew, or maybe it was confidential.

Runningshadow settled himself beside his leader. "What is it, Ashstar?" He asked.

The gray leader sighed. "Runningshadow, you are a warrior now. I have been waiting ever since you became an apprentice to tell you this."

This was so important that Ashstar had to wait for him to become a warrior? Was that the reason she had made him a warrior in the first place?

"Not that that's the reason why you were made a warrior," Ashstar remarked worriedly, nearly reading Runningshadow's mind.

The young warrior nodded and tipped his head to one side, coaxing Ashstar to talk.

"Well, you know about your father, right?" She asked. "Well…I don't know how to tell you this in the right way, but…" She shut her eyes tight and sighed heavily. "Y- your father is alive, Runningshadow."

Runningshadow gaped. His father was alive! He thought that his father had died fighting for his Clan. "Didn't he die fighting in a battle for ThunderClan?"

"That was exactly the thing I wanted to talk to you about," Ashstar mewed gravely. "Runningshadow, are you sure that you are ready to hear this?"

Runningshadow nodded eagerly. "Yeah! I mean, why wouldn't I? I've been waiting a fraction of my life to hear this, haven't I?" He asked.

Ashstar nodded. She looked like she had just eaten something infested with maggots. "Runningshadow, what you are about to hear is completely the truth, and nothing else."

Runningshadow nodded, more excited than he had been when he became a warrior.

"I'm so sorry to say this to you, Runningshadow, but your father is a traitor to ThunderClan."