Disclaimer: I based the Clan structure on the Warriors books by Erin Hunter.

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Now here is the next chapter. Enjoy and please review.

Chapter 3

Two moons had passed since Falconstar became Clan leader. She and Hawkfeather have grown into their positions and were now leading their Clan confidently. They had also done great progress in mentoring their apprentices. Graypaw, Falconstar's apprentice, has turned into a great warrior and his hunting skills were excellent. The young gray tabby tom and his brother Mudpaw would soon be given their warrior names. Falconstar and Featherstorm had taken their apprentices out for a hunting mission. They decided to hunt near the ForestClan border where prey was running plentiful.

"Graypaw, Mudpaw. Your job now is to hunt by yourselves, while Featherstorm and I watch you. Be careful not to cross in ForestClan. We don't want to start a quarrel over this border." The Clan leader told the apprentices.

The two young cats nodded and dashed off into the outskirts of the forest to search for mice, shrews and squirrels. Ever so often they would catch a sparrow, pigeon or a thrush in the woods.

"There is little that I can still teach Mudpaw, Falconstar. I think it's time he became a warrior." Featherstorm mewed to his leader while the two cats remained hidden to observe their apprentices.

"I agree. Graypaw is ready, too. I was thinking of holding their naming ceremony before the next full moon. It gives us another half a moon to shape them up and they can go to the next Gathering as warriors." The black-and-ginger she-cat replied.

"That sounds good. They will like this." The pale grey-and-black tom nodded approvingly.

Graypaw was stalking a mouse in the undergrowth. He crouched down low and slowly crept closer to its prey. The mouse hadn't notice the gray cat yet. Graypaw pounced and drew the mouse in the air; one quick bite to the neck and the animal went limb in his jaws. The apprentice scraped some earth over his catch and continued his hunt. Featherstorm and Falconstar nodded approvingly to each other and went to see where Mudpaw was. They found him as he was stalking a squirrel and made it in time to watch him kill his catch.

Yes, they are ready to become warriors, Falconstar thought.

xxx

A quarter moon later, Falconstar called for a Clan meeting. Yesterday she and Featherstorm had overseen the final assessment of Graypaw and Mudpaw; both warriors had agreed that the young toms had passed the test.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey come here for a Clan meeting." she called across the camp. Graypaw and Mudpaw came out of the apprentices' den their fur nicely groomed. Lilyheart, their mother, had seen to that. Foxstep stepped out of the honeysuckle bush and Blacktail nudged Shredded-ear into the clearing. The brown tabby was so old he could barely move anymore. Grasswhisker went to him and helped him settle down. Petalflower and her two kits walked out of the nursery. Wetkit and Sweetkit were almost old enough to be apprenticed. Tallfoot, the kits father, sat with them and gently licked Petalflower's ears. The rest of the warriors had assembled in the clearing below the boulder where Falconstar stood. Hawkfeather was standing right beside her leader and Shinypaw, Hawkfeather's apprentice, sat with her mother Honeyflower.

"I have called you here today because two apprentices are given their warrior names. Featherstorm and I have agreed that Graypaw and Mudpaw deserve this honor. They have trained hard in the ways of our ancestors and learned to live by the warrior code.", the Clan leader began. "I, Falconstar, leader of MeadowClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I comment them to you as a warrior in their turn. Graypaw, Mudpaw. Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect your Clan even at the cost of your life?"

"I do." The two toms said at the same time.

"Graypaw, from this day you will be known as Grayfeather. The Clan honors your determination and loyalty." Falconstar placed her muzzle on her former apprentice's forehead and Grayfeather gave his Clan leader's shoulder a respectful lick. Then he stepped back and let his brother stand before their leader.

"Mudpaw, from this day you will be known as Mudheart. The Clan honors your skill and perseverance." Again, Falconstar placed her muzzle on Mudheart's forehead. The young tom copied his brother and gave the she-cat's shoulder a respectful lick.

"Grayfeather, Mudheart. Grayfeather, Mudheart." The Clan cheered at their newest warriors.

"As part of your naming ceremony, you two will hold a silent vigil tonight and guard the camp, while the rest of us sleep." Falconstar told the new warriors. Joy and pride sparkled in the toms' eyes as they gave a brisk nod.

xxx

After the Clan meeting, Hawkfeather went to her sister's den. Night was falling and Grayfeather and Mudheart would be guarding the camp tonight.

"Hawkfeather, come in." the leader called when she noticed that her deputy was standing outside. "I am glad I don't have to mentor Grayfeather anymore. I enjoyed it, but it distracted me from my work here. How is Shinypaw's training coming along?"

"She is a very good hunter already, but her battle moves need more practice. It will be another two or three moons until she is ready. Petalflower's kits are almost six moons old. When did you want to apprentice them?" Hawkfeather was crouching on the floor and tried to find a comfortable position.

"I am going to wait another half a moon. I haven't decided on their mentors yet." Falconstar admitted.

"You could give Birchheart one of them. Actually, I think you should give Birchheart one. He has been made warrior before us and he still hadn't had an apprentice." Hawkfeather mewed sternly.

"You're right. Duskstar was so fixed on the prophecy about us that he forgot about Birchheart. He can mentor Wetkit." Falconstar agreed. "Hmm, what do you think about Mousepelt for Sweetkit? She hadn't had an apprentice either?"

"I think Birdflight would be better. She is more sensible and Sweetkit would probably do better with her as mentor. There will be more kits in the Clan soon enough and Mousepelt will get her chance."

Falconstar nodded silently at her sister's words. She had always trusted Hawkfeather's opinion on their Clanmates. If she thought Birdflight would be a better mentor to Petalflower's daughter than Mousepelt, then so it would be.

xxx

A moon later, Wetpaw and Sweetpaw had joined Shinypaw in the apprentices' den. Hawkfeather was out hunting with her white-and-gray apprentice. They went to the woods close to the border with ForestClan. The trees gave them some shade to cool their pelts. The green-leaf sun was shining mercilessly on them.

"Let's see who can catch more, Shinypaw." The deputy told her apprentice.

The white-and-gray she-cat's eyes shone as she nodded and went to search for prey. Hawkfeather went deeper into the woods and soon found a mouse that she stalked. Suddenly, something disturbed the mouse and it ran into its burrow. Hawkfeather lifted her head and saw Talonwing standing on the other side of the border.

"Oh, did you loose your catch? I saw your apprentice over there, but she caught her prey." The ForestClan deputy teased her.

"Don't you have an apprentice of yourself to train?" Hawkfeather mewed, upset that he made her loose that mouse.

"Not anymore, Blackclaw is a warrior now." the young tom mewed proudly.

"Whatever, I have prey to catch. Leave me alone." Hawkfeather turned around and searched for more prey. She saw a squirrel busily picking at an acorn and went after it. One expert slash with her paw, a quick bite and she had killed it.

"Looks like you actually can catch prey, Hawkfeather." Talonwing was still sitting across the border and watched her. The black she-cat put down the squirrel and turned to him.

"Don't you have anything else to do?"

But Talonwing just sat there and watched her intensely. Annoyed, Hawkfeather picked up her catch and went to find Shinypaw. She wasn't in the mood to deal with Talonwing right now.

Continues soon...