12/28/08 Edit: Fixed spelling errors and changed Cinderclaw to Cinderheart and Heathergaze to Heathertail. Since I despise the names Lionblaze and Hollyleaf and am disappointed that such awesome characters got lame names (looking at you, Lionblaze) they'll still be known as Lionclaw and Hollyfrost in my story. Mousewhisker is still dead, so that ThunderClan may not become overpopulated.
Disclaimer: I own neither Warriors or said little quote.
"There is not such thing as a 'self-made' man. We are made up of thousands of others. Everyone who has ever done a kind deed for us, or spoken one word of encouragement toward us, has entered into the make-up of our character and of our thoughts, as well as our success."- George Burton Adams
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!" Firestar stood tall and proud on the Highledge, his green eyes gazing down upon the cats that had already gathered around his perch in preparation for the ceremonies that were about to take place.
Lionpaw and Hollypaw stood in the front of the crowd, the golden tabby nervously trying to smooth out his fur. He was aware that in just a few short moments he would be under the watchful eyes of all of ThunderClan and his heart fluttered like a crazed bird just by thinking about it.
Hollypaw noticed her brothers anxiousness and gave him a reassuring nuzzle. "Don't worry," she whispered. "You'll do fine."
"But what if I mess up?" Lionpaw asked.
From his place on the other side of Hollypaw, Foxpaw snorted. "How can you mess up?" he hissed back. "All you have to do is say two words and lick Firestar's shoulder."
"Do you know how many ways I can mess up?" the golden tabby meowed. "I could accidentally trip when I'm trying to like Firestar's shoulder and send us both tumbling off the Highledge. I could blurt out something else other than "I do," then be made fun of for moons. I could-"
Hollypaw flicked her black tail over her brother's mouth, ears perked and trained solely on Firestar. "Thank you great and merciful Hollypaw," Foxpaw whispered in relief.
Lionpaw's ears laid flat back against his head in resentment, but he didn't dare try to flinch away from Hollypaw when she was in one of her dominating moods. His amber eyes narrowed as he silently glared at Foxpaw, who smirked and went back to listening to Firestar speak a few words in memory of Mousewhisker, who had passed away the previous moon due to an attack by rogues that had since been driven out of the territory.
Ever since the trip back from the mountains, Foxpaw had stuck to Hollypaw like a burr. Lionpaw had decided the reddish tabby tom was crushing on his sister and had let the matter be, as he had other important things, like secretly training with Tigerstar and Hawkfrost, to worry about. But Hollypaw had shared Foxpaw's feelings, and both cats were as close as ever, especially when Hollypaw's best friend, Cinderheart, had become a warrior.
"Now," Firestar's voice broke Lionpaw from his thoughts, "let us get to the matters at paw here. Two apprentices showed great bravery and valiance the other day when they helped drive out an invading ShadowClan patrol out of the territory. Their mentors, along with myself, have deemed them both worthy to become warriors."
Hollypaw inhaled deeply in anticipation, finally releasing her hold on Lionpaw. The tabby sighed in relief and spat several balls of black fur out of his mouth.
"Hollypaw, come forward."
The black-furred cat stepped toward her grandfather, her green eyes so identical to her mother's solemn and proud.
"I Firestar, leader of-"
"Go, Hollypaw!" All cats turned their heads towards Cinderheart, who coughed in embarrassment and shuffled her paws. With a grunt of amusement, Firestar continued.
"I Firestar, leader of ThunderClan call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn. Hollypaw," the she-cat looked up at her name with twitching whiskers, "do you promise to uphold the warrior code and promise to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
The answer came without hesitation. "I do."
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Hollypaw, from this moment you will be known as Hollyfrost. StarClan honors your loyalty and your forethought, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." The newly named warrior bent down to look Firestar's shoulder and he touched her head in return.
"This is it," Foxpaw whispered into Lionpaw's ear. "Better not mess up. Remember, all of ThunderClan is watching you right now."
Lionpaw pretended to ignore the younger apprentice's taunt, but on the inside his stomach was churning. When Firestar beckoned him forward, Lionpaw gulped nervously and padded over to meet his leader, aware that all the eyes of ThunderClan seemed to be burning holes in his pelt.
"I Firestar, leader of ThunderClan call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. Lionpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and promise to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do." Lionpaw's voice came out in a much high pitch he used when he was nervous and several cats chuckled in amusement. Growing hot under his fur, the tabby cleared his throat and repeated his answer in his regular voice. "I do."
"Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior name. Lionpaw, from this moment you will be known as Lionclaw. StarClan honours your courage and strength and welcome you as a full member of ThunderClan."
Lionclaw looked into his grandfather's warm green eyes and felt all his embarressment leave him as he saw the encouragement in them. Respectfully, he bent his head down and licked Firestar's shoulder. The ginger tomcat touched Lionclaw's head with his muzzle and whispered in his ear, "You did fine."
"Hollyfrost! Lionclaw! Hollyfrost! Lionclaw!" ThunderClan called out enthusiastically, Foxpaw's and Cinderheart's voices among the loudest of them all. Bumblekit, Briarkit and Blossomkit, Graystripe's and Millie's children, bounced around in glee.
"Look at that," Tigerclaw meowed from Lionclaw's side, invisible. "They're all cheering for you, Lionclaw. And one day, they will cheer you on again for being the best warrior in all four of the Clans."
But they're cheering for Hollyfrost,too, one side of the tabby's mind argued. But Lionclaw's pride over-whelmed that small protesting thought, his chest puffing up as his head grew ever bigger.
"Tonight Hollyfrost and Lionclaw will sit the traditional silent vigil. But until then, we have two new apprentices to welcome." Rosekit and Toadkit began to squirm in excitement.
The two new warriors quietly stepped out of the limelight and went to sit back in their positions, both taking the congratulations and wishes of good luck they heard from their Clanmates with more than a little bit of pride. Hollyfrost stared hungrily at the soon-to-be apprentices. It was no secret that the black she-cat desired an apprentice of her own.
Foxpaw noticed what his best friend was thinking and meowed, "Dont get your hopes up, Hollyfrost. You were just made a warrior a moment ago. Firestar's going to apprentice those kits to experienced warriors, and you know it."
Lionclaw was barely paying attention to Foxpaw, who kept on trying not to get Hollyfrost's hopes up, and his sister, who seemed totally focused on the apprentice ceremony alone. The golden tabby watched as Rosepaw was given to Sorreltail and noticed Hollyfrost's look of longing and envy become ever stronger.
"Toadpaw," Firestar was saying, "you show great promise at being an extraordinary fighter when you become a warrior. However, you will need a great mentor to help you reach your full potential." His green eyes swept over the crowd and came to a rest on Brightheart, who nodded without surprise.
"Sorry," Lionclaw whispered to his sister. "There's always next time."
But Hollyfrost was still staring intently at Toadpaw. No one noticed as Firestar's green eyes suddenly clouded and he shook his head to clear his thoughts. "Hollyfrost, you will mentor Toadpaw." All cats in the crowd, including Hollyfrost herself, gaped in shock.
"WHAT?" the black she-cat yowled.
"You heard me," Firestar replied. "Despite your youth, you have shown astounding loyalty to the warrior code and have been one of the greatest hunters in the Clan. Not letting you mentor Toadpaw would be the loss of a great warrior on his part." Several voices of protest, including from Toadpaw's father, Spiderleg, erupted from the crowd.
"You're letting a brand new warrior mentor my son?" the long-legged black and brown tom demanded. "She hasn't even sat her vigil and yet you trust her with the future of a young and impressionable apprentice?"
"My kits had plenty of training and experience before they were given apprentices," Dustpelt called out. "Why does your kin get special treatment?"
"Enough!" Firestar growled out. "Questioning your leader's decision and demanding an apprentice be given to another mentor when he is already being trained by a capable warrior are both against the warrior code. I know that Hollyfrost is still very young, but I have no doubt that she will be an excellant mentor to Toadpaw."
No cat dared protest, although several dark glances were exchanged between Clanmates. Even Graystripe, who was Firestar's best friend and always believed in his companion's decisions, looked unsure about the situation.
"Does it really even matter?" Foxpaw muttered. "So what if Hollyfrost is new? I seem to recall the elders saying that Graystripe and Firestar themselves were plenty young when they got their apprentices."
"Yes," Lionclaw conceded. "But they were at least warriors for a moon. Hollyfrost just recieved her warrior name."
Foxpaw shrugged, losing interest in the matter all together. He was one of the few cats that cheered when Holllyfrost and Toadpaw, who couldn't care less about who his mentor was, finally touched noses.
"Rosepaw! Toadpaw! Rosepaw! Toadpaw!"
Hollyfrost was soon surrounded by cats that offered her congratulations and wishes of good luck for getting both a warrior name and an apprentice. Lionclaw was about to join in when he felt a tail bar his way.
"Hold on," Tigerstar meowed from next to him. "You and I need to talk. I sense there's something troubling you."
Lionclaw nodded, padding over to an isolated corner of the Clan far away from the crowd to talk. The new warrior could see a flash of dark tabby fur from the corner of his eye and could scent the musky scent of Tigerstar near him.
"You're concerned about Hollyfrost recieving an apprentice so early in her life." This was said as a statement, not a question.
The golden tabby sighed. "Exactly," he meowed. "I know Hollypaw- I mean, Hollyfrost- is a full member of ThunderClan now, but she's been one for only a couple of minutes! And I saw Firestar looking at Brightheart when he was about to pick Toadpaw's mentor." Lionclaw shook his head in confusion. "I don't know what yet, but there's something strange things going on around her. And it's just not the prophecy."
"Does it really matter whether the kittypet meant to pick Brightheart or not? He chose Hollyfrost instead and the warrior code dictates not to question the leader's decision, no matter how mousebrained it is." Seeing the look of doubt on Lionclaw's face, the dark tabby quickly added, "Besides, Hollyfrost is a full member of the Clan. There's nothing wrong about being picked before another cat, like Birchfall or Hazeltail, for an apprentice."
Hearing his Clanleader called a "kittypet" irked Lionclaw a little bit, but he shoved it to the back of his mind. Something more important than a tiny insult was bothering him at the moment. "Last time I spoke to him, Hawkfrost said Firestar broke the warrior code," Lionclaw began. "Is that true?"
"Dear Firestar allowed countless useless kittypets and rogues into the Clan, Millie and Daisy among them. I have nothing against outsiders with actual skills being allowed into the Clan, so long as they follow the warrior code, but didn't Millie throw the offer of getting a warrior name back in Firestar's face?"
"She didn't throw it back into his face," Lionclaw protested. "She just...politely declined the offer. Millie just wanted to keep the name she was born with."
"If Firestar had denied a Clan name back in Bluestar's time and insisted on being called Rusty, you wouldn't be here right now."
"But that's different! Times have changed since then!"
"Have they?" Tigerstar retorted. "Clancats have followed the warrior code for generations and they seemed to fare quite well. Defying the code is defying the very thing that makes you a warrior. Firestar allows rogues in knowing that next leaf-bare there might not be enough prey to feed his own Clan, let alone the newcomers. He insists on going into other territories and trying to solve everything peacefully."
"He just wants to make sure their isn't any unnecessary blood-shed!" Lionclaw argued. "Besides, warriors are useful for other tasks that don't involve fighting other cats."
"Like?"
"Like protecting the queens, elders and kits from bigger predators. Or marking and patrolling the borders and hunting for prey."
"Lionclaw, who are you talking to?" The golden tabby whirled around, coming face to face with the suspicious face of Jayfeather. Lionclaw squirmed under his brother's sightless blue gaze, aware that Jayfeather could feel another cat's emotions.
"Myself," he answered as calmly as possible.
The medicine cat's whiskers twitched suspiciously. "Yourself?" he repeated. "You were talking to yourself?"
"Yeah," Lionclaw meowed nervously. "Don't you talk to yourself sometimes?" Seeing that his brother wasn't shaken, he changed gears and went on the offensive. "And why do you care?" he demanded angrily. "Can't you trust me to be off on my own?"
"Last time I left you alone you went off and broke the warrior code," Jayfeather meowed flatly.
Lionclaw's blood went cold. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Heatherpaw," Jayfeather repeated bluntly. "Back when we were apprentices you and her went off and played together back in the tunnels, didn't you? Don't even try to lie to me, I can tell when you do."
"Her name is Heathertail now," Lionclaw meowed automatically. "Why does it matter? I'm a loyal warrior of ThunderClan now, not some little ditsy apprentice. I made it perfectly clear to both you and Hollyfrost that I'm seeing Heathertail anymore."
Unable to put up with Hollyfrost and her apprentice, Tigerstar's sharp conversations, and Jayfeather's mental probing, Lionclaw simply turned away and stalked off. He didn't notice Brambleclaw staring after him with thoughtful amber eyes.
Once again I'm left with another short and boring chapter. Don't worry, next chapter things will start to finally pick up. By the way, Bumblekit, Briarkit and Blossomkit are not mine. According to the Erins themselves, Millie will actually give to birth to three kits named these.
The names Hollyfrost and Lionclaw are not cannon, although it is confirmed tha Jayfeather is. Hollyfrost is an awesome name for Hollypaw in my opinion and sadly Lionclaw will probably become cannon with the whole -claw trend going on with Tigerstar's kin.
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Tamera Ali: Eh, sorry about the mispellings. Since MicrosoftWord went and deleted itself, I've been stuck with NotePad for writing and the spell-check thing on the Documents page on this site.