Chapter 17

So, today in my wonderfully intresting life, which I'm sure you're wondering all about, I'm about to fight a battle to the death with clans I've only ever seen once. Because, you know, I've never been to a gathering.

The warriors and apprentices were all gathered in the center of camp, eager to find out who stays and who goes. Peachstar gave me a choice. I wasn't exactly sure why, but I chose to fight. I sort of wanted revenge on Scourge, in a way. Though, if it came to it, I wouldn't be able to kill Scourge. For sure.

Peachstar stepped out of his den and onto the highrock, and called the clan's attention with a yowl.

"Redwillow, are our warriors ready?"

Redwillow nodded, "I'm proud to fight beside each and every one of them."

Our leader's gaze flicked to our medicine cat. "Sparrowjaw?"

"I've given each apprentice and warrior traveling herbs, for the strength they'll need."

I cringed as I remembered the sour taste of whatever herbs he had given me.

"Good. We leave just before sunrise... But before any preparations continue, I have something else to do."

He glanced at me. "Beechpaw."

Huh?

He leapt off the highrock and meowed, "Come forward."

I padded to my leader, and stood, with my head high. And my tail higher. This was my warrior ceremony. Finally.

"You have trained hard and learned much, and StarClan gratefully accepts your return. We all do. For all that you've endured, and all you have pulled through, Your warrior name is Beechwhisker."

Peachstar gently touched his muzzle to my forhead. And, legs trembling, I licked his shoulder in return.

Then, we broke apart and I listened for the cold silence I'd prepared for all these moons. But instead, I heard Bloodfur and Whiterain call, "Beechwhisker!"

Gradually, more voices joined loudly, chanting:

"Beechwhisker!"

"Beechwhisker!"

My heart seemed to swell with an unexpected feeling, of... pride? I wouldn't know, I doubt I've ever experienced it before. Whiterain ran to me, Bloodfur close behind. When my mother reached me, she covered my ears in licks, and Bloodfur pushed us apart to give me a hearty shove. "That's it Beechwhisker! You're a warrior now!"

I wanted to stay and celebrate, but I couldn't- none of us could. A battle was nearing.

I meowed to Whiterain, "I've got to go do something before we go."

Her eyes darkened and she nodded. "Okay."

I padded away and looked for my destination, where I was sure to find the cat I had missed most.

I leaned into the medicine den, and meowed, "Fawnpaw?" Sparrowjaw's head suddenly popped out of the back cave, and he meowed, "Out gathering herbs."

"Where?"

Sparrowjaw disapeared back into the darkness, then popped up again, and he meowed through a bundle of herbs, "The Great Oak."

I thanked him, and quickly headed out of the gorse tunnel. Hopefully, I 'd reach him on his way back, alone.

I smelled him sooner than I saw him, and called out his name.

"Yes?" His reply was slightly muffled also, he had a bit of moss tucked under his chin, or something. I couldn't quite tell, his back was to me.

"Uh, er. Hello."

"One sec. Getting moss."

He turned around, and gradually picked up his head to look at me. I tried not to laugh. "You look like a constipated squirrel!"

"Who's that?" He dropped a few balls of moss and looked up at me. "Beechpaw!"

"Well, actually, you just missed my warrior ceremony. I'm Beechwhisker now."

Fawnpaw's eyes weren't angry or annoyed, or even disapointed to see me. His eyes were lit with some kind of strange...happiness. He purred and brushed his muzzle on my shoulder, and he limped back to pick up his moss. I quickly meowed, " Here-let me help"

I picked up as much as I could, and tucked it to my chest, grunting uncomfortably with the effort. We started to head back to camp, and I was sure to be slow for Fawnpaw. But I didn't have to really, he charged on ahead easily.

We arrived to a busy camp- and I scented three of the other Clan's scents. ShadowClan, RiverClan, and WindClan's leaders were all here. Along with their deputies. Redwillow and Peachstar huddled with them in the middle of camp.

As I dropped Fawnpaw's moss off in the medicine den, I head my leader yowl the clan into the clearing, just as Gillstar, Peatstar, and Hollowstar charged off out of the gorse tunnel. I padded out and sat next to Whitrain, Fawnpaw right behind me.

I watched as Peachstar padded into the middle of camp. With a flick of his tail, he meowed, "Let's go."