A/N: YAY! Another upload! Well, y'all are gonna love me, because I'm updating all of my warriors fanfics today! woo~

R and R, as always :D

CHAPTER 6: Assessment

Tigerpaw, Nightpaw, and Mistpaw sat outside the apprentices' den, sharing tongues. Whitepaw wrestled with Brindlepaw and Frostpaw, Willowpaw, and Redpaw looked on. Spottedpaw was following Featherwhisker around, hoping to become his apprentice. She, Willowpaw, and Redpaw had joined the older six apprentices three moons ago, and the den was getting crowded. Goldenflower was chosen to mentor Frostpaw, and Stormtail was Brindlepaw's mentor. Sparrowpelt mentored Redpaw, Sweetcloud mentored Willowpaw, and Tawnyspots was mentoring Spottedpaw. Since Tawnyspots was spending more and more time with Featherwhisker and Goosefeather in the medicine den, Spottedpaw was learning how to care for him. Tigerpaw didn't know why anybody, including his aunt, would want to be a medicine cat; he loved protecting his Clan with tooth and claw.

"Tigerpaw." He looked up and saw Bluefur standing in front of him. "You and your sisters are going to have an assessment."

"Cool!" Nightpaw meowed, jumping to her paws and knocking Redpaw over in the process. "What are we doing?"

"Hunting," their mother mewed, padding up next to Bluefur with Thrushpelt on her heels. :You three will each go hunting in three separate areas of the territory. Tigerpaw, you will go by the ShadowClan border; Mistpaw, you're by the Great Sycamore, and Nightpaw, you're by Sunningrocks."

Tigerpaw glanced at his sisters, his amber eyes gleaming with excitement. "When can we go?" he asked his mentor.

Bluefur purred. "Now, if you like. Be back by sunset, though. Sunstar has a few announcements." Tigerpaw nodded, and headed out of the camp, his sisters right behind him.

Tigerpaw padded through the forest to the ShadowClan-ThunderClan border. He could tell that Bluefur was watching him – her blue pelt was difficult to hide in a green forest. He had already caught two squirrels, a rabbit, and a bluejay. He wanted to catch a few voles to show his mentor that he could catch small, fast creatures and not just large ones.

Suddenly, he heard a twig snap, and he looked up, scenting the air. ShadowClan… he thought, and he stepped out from under a bush.

"Halt!" he growled at a young white cat with jet black paws. That ShadowClan cat looked up, and recognition flashed in his pale amber eyes.

"Tigerpaw!" Blackpaw meowed, padding up him.

"Hi Blackpaw!" Tigerpaw mewed, relaxing his aggressive stance, but still standing strong. "What are you doing on ThunderClan territory?" he asked him.

Blackpaw lowered his eyes, ashamed. "Well, I'm on my final assessment, and I was chasing a frog. I almost caught it, but it hopped over the border. Before I could stop, I was over the border as well. But, I didn't take the frog from your territory, I swear." Blackpaw started to deflate under Tigerpaw's stern gaze.

"You shouldn't have crossed over, Blackpaw," Tigerpaw meowed. He was only a moon older than the white ShadowClan apprentice, but he felt as though he was six moons older.

"I know…you won't tell Sunstar, will you? 'Cause then he'll tell Raggedstar, and then… well…" Blackpaw trailed off.

Tigerpaw hesitated before meowing: "No, I won't tell Sunstar. But, if I see you over the border again, I will be forced to report you."

"Yes, Tigerpaw." Blackpaw dipped his head, almost like a warrior to his leader or deputy. Blackpaw turned and padded back into his territory.

Tigerpaw watched Blackpaw retreat, thinking, Blackpaw respects me… Now I know why Bluefur wants to be leader… It feels good to be respected… I want to be leader one day.

Tigerpaw carried his prey back to camp, carrying it all at once. He placed it on the fresh-kill pile.

"Very good, Tigerpaw," Bluefur purred, pleased. "Now please sit by your sisters and get yourself clean. There's a ceremony to perform."

Tigerpaw understood at once, and started licking his chest, making his way over to his sisters, who were already in the process of grooming themselves, vigorously.

As soon as Sunstar jumped up onto the Highrock, Tigerpaw, Mistpaw, and Nightpaw looked up, ceasing their grooming and wrapping their tails around their paws.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting!" the golden leader yowled. All three littermates sat up straight. Their mentors came up and stood next to their respective apprentices. Tigerpaw noticed that Bluefur was looking a little plump. More kits for the nursery! Tigerpaw thought, proud of his mentor.

"Three cats are ready to become warriors. Tigerpaw, Nightpaw, Mistpaw, please come forward."

Tigerpaw glanced at his mother, and his mentor. Both she-cats' eyes were filled with pride. Leopardfoot nodded for him to go. He turned, and padded to the base of the rock after his sisters.

"I, Sunstar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these three apprentices. They have trained hard to learn the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you in their turn.

"Nightpaw." Sunstar turned to the young black she-cat. "Do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do," Nightpaw mewed, her voice strong.

"Then, by the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Nightpaw, from this moment on you will be know as Nightfrost. StarClan honors your courage and capability, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." Sunstar rested his chin on Nightfrost's head, and she licked his shoulder respectfully. She backed away and sat next to Leopardfoot.

Sunstar turned to Mistpaw. "Mistpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do," Mistpaw meowed lowly. Tigerpaw could tell she was excited by her trembling tail.

"Then, by the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Mistpaw, from this moment on you will be know as Mistpool. StarClan honors your thoughtfullness and sense of fair play, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." Sunstar rested his chin on Mistpool's head, and she licked his shoulder, just as Nightfrost had done. She went and sat next to Nightfrost.

Finally, Sunstar turned to Tigerpaw. He watched Tigerpaw with fathomless eyes. "Tigerpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do.".

"Then, by the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Tigerpaw, from this moment on you will be know as Tigerspirit. StarClan honors your determination and loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." Sunstar rested his chin on his head, and Tigerspirit respectfully licked his leader's shoulder.

"Tigerspirit! Nightfrost! Mistpool!" The Clan shouted the new warriors' names. Tigerspirit puffed out his chest as he watched and stood between Mistpool and Goldenflower.

Goldenflower touched her nose to his ear, and murmured, "Congratulations, Tigerspirit."

Tigerspirit purred when she said his new name.

"Now, as custom, Tigerspirit, Mistpool, and Nightfrost must keep a silent vigil over the camp while the rest of us get a good night's sleep," Sunstar meowed, and the Clan purred with amusement. "But, before that, I think we shall have a feast to celebrate!"

The Clan yowled with approval, and Lionheart, Patchpelt, and Whitepaw went to the fresh-kill pile and started dishing out prey.

Tigerspirit felt Goldenflower touch his shoulder again. "Do you want to share with me?" the beautiful pale golden she-cat asked him. Tigerspirit nodded, and Goldenflower padded over to her brother.

Nightfrost sat by the nettle patch with Mistpool, Sweetcloud, and Rosetail. Tigerspirit padded up to his sisters and purred, "Congrats Mistpool and Nightfrost."

"Congrats, Tigerspirit," they purred back, their eyes glimmering with happiness.

"Goldenflower said she'll eat with us," Tigerspirit meowed, glancing at the fresh-kill pile.

"Not even a warrior for an hour and you're already padding after the most popular cat in the Clan," Rosetail joked. Tigerspirit rolled his eyes, but didn't deny it. He thought Goldenflower was a pretty great cat, She was sweet, caring, loving, and not to mention absolutely gorgeous.

My only hope is that she feels the same way about me as I feel about her, Tigerspirit thought wryly.