Chapter Six: The Newest Warriors

A/N: Since I'm not getting any reviews, I'll post the rest of the finished chapters, but I might not finish the story. Anyone can review so please do if you are interested in the conclusion. Or tell me why you hate it. Thank you for your consideration.

Starpaw couldn't believe it had almost been two moons since she had become an apprentice! With all of the training, battle practice, moss collecting, and getting ticks off of the elders (ugh, her paws had tasted of fish bile for weeks after that!) it seemed like one huge day. But now new apprentices were on the way! She had missed her kit friends, especially Nightkit, and was often too busy to visit her in the nursery. Soon Nightkit would be an apprentice too, and they could train together!

"Will all cats old enough to swim gather here for a Clan meeting!" called Poolstar. Everyone gathered and listened as Poolstar began his formal speech.

"We are gathered here today to celebrate the making of three new apprentices and three new warriors. Nightkit, Leapkit, Icekit, Alderpaw, Sunpaw, and Swiftpaw, please step forward."

Nightkit and her brother and sister looked nervous but excited; Alderpaw and Swiftpaw looked proud.

"Let's start with the apprentices. Leapkit, step forward."

Leapkit walked over, wobbling on his unusually long legs.

"Troutfin tells me that you wish to become a medicine cat apprentice. Is this so? You must promise to never have kits, use knowledge of herbs and remedies to heal your Clanmates, and interpret the will of StarClan."

Leapkit dipped is head gravely and Troutfin touched his nose to Leapkit's.

"Icekit, come forward please."

Icekit shivered intensely, though it was warm outside, her pale-blue eyes glinting in the sun.

"Duskfeather, you will be Icekit's mentor. Teach her honor and courage."

Duskfeather's dark green eyes flashed as his eyes met Icekit's. They met with shared knowledge, though Duskfeather had never seemed to notice Icekit before.

"Nightkit, walk nearer if you will."

Nightkit stepped forward with excitement.

"Nightkit, your mentor will be Pinetail." Pinetail trotted forward, his bushy tail waving happily. His red fur shined in the sun.

"Your new names are Leap-paw, Icepaw, and Nightpaw."

"Leap-paw! Nightpaw! Icepaw!" the crowd roared.

Starpaw saw Maplefeather and Coalfoot together, yowling their kits' names with pride.

"Now for the new warriors!" Poolstar meowed when the Clan was quiet. "Alderpaw, you're first."

Alderpaw dipped his head towards his leader and licked his shoulder respectfully.

"Coalfoot has trained you well for six moons and informs me that you were excellent at your assessment. It is high time for your warrior name. Do you promise to use your skills to aid RiverClan?"

"I do," Alderpaw mewed clearly.

"Then, from this day forth, your name is Alderleaf!"

"Alderleaf! Alderleaf!" the crowd chanted. Alderleaf stood taller, his emerald eyes shining joyfully from his black-and-white face. Starpaw's heart ached. He didn't love her, and wouldn't except as a friend, but she still loved him. Forever.

"Sunpaw, it is time for you to become a warrior. Stormwave has taught you about responsibility and wisdom. Do you wish to take the warrior's life as you own?"

"I do," meowed Sunpaw boldly.

"Then, from this moment and in the future, you name will be Sunspark!"

"Sunspark! Sunspark!" Stormwave, Nightpaw, and the rest of the Clan yowled, excited now. Sunspark's golden-brown pelt shone, and the sun caught the gold flecks in his deep amber eyes. Starpaw noticed her friend's eyes shining with rapt attention. Starpaw knew that feeling all too well.

"Swiftpaw, Runningbrook has been a fine mentor for you. You have learned well the ways of the warrior code. Do you wish to become a full warrior of RiverClan?"

"I do," meowed Swiftpaw as she straightened proudly.

"Then from now on, your name is Swiftstream!"

"Swiftstream! Swiftstream!" the crowd cried.

"Swiftstream, Sunspark, and Alderleaf, RiverClan's newest warriors!"

"SUNSPARK! SWIFTSTREAM! ALDERLEAF!" echoed the Clan.

"Goodbye, dear Alderleaf," whispered Starpaw as he and Swiftstream twined tails, purring, as they were cheered on by their assembled Clanmates. "Maybe I'll find someone else, someday."