AN: Short and dry, I know. It needed to be done, as it would have been too long if I'd attached at the head of the next chapter.
Scorchpaw padded along near the rear of the group of SkyClan cats as they headed towards the mountains. The cats seemed to be reenergized now that they had passed the twolegplace. They chattered excitedly to their Clanmates, trading stories and ideas about what life would be like living with other Clans. No cat had ever lived with other Clans on their borders. They didn't know what it was like to have something constant to defend their families from. Cats like Bristlehaze and Darkmoon were already flexing their claws at the prospect of regular battles or, at the very least, border disputes. They boasted about how the other Clans would fear them. Others, like Fawnstep, were fretting over what the other Clans would do to disrupt their regular Clan life. Certainly Sagepatch would be concerned for her kits.
The slow pace the Clan was traveling at made the more hyper cats far too restless. A couple had taken it upon them to head back and see how Sagepatch was fairing. The cats had been back before the group was very far from the thunderpath, reporting that Sagepatch, with her kits and escorts, were tailing SkyClan. Scorchpaw seemed to be the only cat who realized that the Clan had to be making worse and worse progress if a group of cats with young kits was catching up to them.
Cats were constantly dropping to the back of the group to see the new additions to SkyClan. Scorchpaw's pelt prickled with annoyance each time a cat passed him. He hated being in the middle of the assembly of cats. He tried to stay behind, but he was constantly being passed in both directions. Eventually, eyes dark with irritation, he stopped trying to fall back.
Scorchpaw kept his nose out of the news of other cats, plodding along quietly as the day progressed. This was the first time he had heard the cat's gossip in ages, and he had forgotten how thoroughly annoying it was. He blocked out the chatter about Sagepatch and her kits as he faced the mountains.
As the sun was setting, the cats arrived at the base of the mountain. It looked less intimidating than Scorchpaw had anticipated. He had always imagined the mountains like the gorge; with sheer faces of rock that were hard to climb without the beaten in paths that had been walked for generations. However, these mountains had plenty of paths and paw holds, along with some trees and bushes perched among the rocks.
Ravenstar drew to a halt, bunching his muscles and leaping gallantly up on to the nearest boulder. He turned to face his Clan, his eyes light with youth. Scorchpaw wrinkled his nose in distaste. What can he possibly have to say now?
"This journey has been tough, and it isn't over yet," the leader announced. "However, SkyClan remains strong. This is best shown through the naming of new warriors," he continued, making eye contact with Scorchpaw.
Me? Scorchpaw thought incredulously. He shook the excited thoughts from his mind. Now I can kill him as a warrior. Even better. He ignored the excited squeaks from Meadowpaw and Creampaw.
"I, Ravenstar of SkyClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices," Ravenstar began brightly. "They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in their turn.
"Scorchpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
Forcing his voice to stay flat, Scorchpaw looked into Ravenstar's eyes. "I do."
"Creampaw?"
"I do," the cream-colored she-cat responded with a bounce of excitement.
"Meadowpaw?"
"I do," the light brown she-cat confirmed with a dip of her head.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Scorchpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Scorchwhisker. StarClan honors your amazing skills in battle and your ability to keep a level head, and we welcome you as a full warrior of SkyClan."
Scorchwhisker padded forward as Ravenstar landed on the ground. The large black tom rested his head on his own, and Scorchwhisker tensed his muscles so he wouldn't jerk away. He licked Ravenstar's shoulder respectfully, masking his feeling of disgust before padding away to sit beside his father.
"Creampaw," Ravenstar continued. "From this moment on you will be known as Creamfur. StarClan honors your optimism and kindness, and we welcome you as a full warrior of SkyClan."
Creamfur did as Scorchwhisker had, licking the leader's shoulder as a sign of respect before joining her Clanmates in the crowd to watch the last apprentice be named a warrior.
"Meadowpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Meadowleap. StarClan honors your firm skills and your friendliness, and we welcome you as a full warrior of SkyClan," Ravenstar finished, resting his head on Meadowleap's.
As Meadowleap went to sit down, Fawnstep took Ravenstar's place.
"This ceremony is typically performed only in the eyes of StarClan. However, we are unaware where our next home will be or where our next place to meet with StarClan will be, so I shall do it here, with you as well as StarClan as my witnesses.
"I, Fawnstep of SkyClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of a medicine cat, and with your help he will serve his Clan for many moons.
"Thymepaw, do you promise to uphold the ways of a medicine cat and to protect all cats equally, even at the cost of your life?"
Scorchwhisker watched his brother look into his mentor's eyes with a quiver of excitement. "I do," Thymepaw meowed clearly.
Fawnstep continued with a smile. "Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your true name as a medicine cat. Thymepaw, from this moment you will be known as Thymeheart. StarClan honors your strong memory and caring qualities, and we welcome you as a full medicine cat of SkyClan."
"Scorchwhisker! Creamfur! Meadowleap! Thymepaw!" the cats cheered, three of the newly named cats glowing with pride. Scorchwhisker sat quietly by his father, looking to others like he had a thorn in his pad.
When the cheering died away, a loud screech split the air.
"Attack!"