The Spirit That Comes At Night- Thanks for the review. I will really try to add that into my writing.
Wyldclaw- Thanks for all the reviews. :)
Long shadows where cast across the camp by weak rays of the setting sun. Fawnpaw hurried into the camp after Sandpaw.
They walked side by side to Bluestar, who sat underneath the Highrock with Whitestorm.
"We've buried Clawface." Meowed Sandpaw as they both stopped in front of the leader.
"Thank you." Bluestar replied as Fireheart padded up with Dustpaw, who's eyes where narrowed. Dustpaw padded forward to stand by Sandstorm.
"Bluestar." Fireheart began hesitantly. "Sandpaw and Dustpaw fought like warriors when Brokentail attacked. We would have been in much more trouble without their strength and courage."
Dustpaw's eyes widened and Sandpaw looked at the ground as Fireheart spoke.
Fawnpaw smiled at them and a purr rumbled from Whitestorm's throat. "It's not like you to be shy." He meowed to his apprentice.
Sandpaw's ears twitched uncomfortably. "Fireheart's the one who saved the clan." She burst out. "He was the one who alerted the camp so we were ready for Brokentail's attack."
Fawnpaw turned to see Tigerclaw enter the camp with the hunting patrol, carrying plently of fresh-kill.
Bluestar nodded at Tigerclaw and then turned to face Sandpaw and Dustpaw. "It makes me proud to know that Thunderclan has such fine warriors." She meowed. "It's time you both took your warrior names. We shall have the ceremony now, while the sun is setting, and then we can eat."
Sandpaw and Dustpaw looked at each other excitedly. Fireheart lifted his chin and purred. Bluestar called the clan together, and everyone gathered around.
Fawnpaw padded over to were Brindleface was sitting by Cloudkit. The kit's blue eyes shone with excitement.
Fawnpaw padded over and sat on the other side of her kit.
Fawnpaw watched as Bluestar stood in the middle of the clearing with Sandpaw and Dustpaw. This was the first warrior ceremony, and she wanted to see how it goes before her own- when ever that was.
The last arc of sun glowed pink on the horizon. The clan waited silently as it dipped out of sight, leaving the darkening sky pricked with stars.
Bluestar looked up and fixed her eyes on the brightest star in Silverpelt. "I, Bluestar, leader of Thunderclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these two apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn." She gazed down at the pair of young cats in front of her.
"Sandpaw, Dustpaw, do you promis to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend this clan, even at the cost of your life?"
Sandpaw stared back, eyes gleaming. "I do." She replied.
Dustpaw echoed her words, his voice low and strong. "I do."
"Then by the powers of Starclan I give you your warrior names: Sandpaw, from this moment you will be known as Sandstorm. Starclan honors your courage and your spirit, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan."
Bluestar stepped forward and rested her muzzle on top of Sandstorm's bowed head.
Sandstorm licked Bluestar's shoulder respectfully before she turned and walked toward Whitestorm.
Bluestar turned her eyes to the dark brown tabby. "Dustpaw, from this moment you will be known as Dustpelt. Starclan honors your bravery and honesty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan." She touched his head with her muzzel, and he too gave the leader's shoulder a respectful lick before joining the other warriors.
The voices of the clan rose in tribute, sending clouds of misty breath into the air. As one they chanted the new warrior names. Fawnpaw quickly joined in, "Sandstorm! Dustpelt! Sandstorm! Dustpelt!"
"In the tradition of our ancestors," meowed Bluestar, raising her voice. "Sandstorm and Dustpelt must sit in silent vigil until dawn, and guard the camp alone while we sleep. But before they begin their vigil, the camp will share a meal. It has been a long day and we have reason to be proud of these cats who defended our camp against the rogues. Fireheart, Starclan thanks your for your courage. You are a great warrior, and I'm proud to count you as a member of my clan."
The cats meowed again. As Fawnpaw watched, she saw Tigerclaw and Dustpelt look at her brother with hostility. But Fireheart didn't seem to mind.
Fawnpaw wondered if he had done something to make them both mad, or if they where just jealous of the ginger tom.
One by one the cats stepped forward to take some of the fresh-kill Tigerclaw's party had brought.
Fawnpaw purred to herself when she saw her brother walk over to Sandstorm and meow something to her. She was too far away to hear what he had said, but Sandstorm purred in reply.
As Fireheart dashed to the fresh-kill pile Sandstorm called something after him then turned and smiled at Fawnpaw.
Fawnpaw smiled in return then stood. She walked over to the fresh-kill pile that was quickly disappearing. She grabed a mouse and headed back to where Brindleface and Cloudkit sat.
Cloudkit had fallen asleep by now, so for the rest of the night Fawnpaw talked with Brindleface as they sared the mouse. Then all three headed back into the nursery to sleep.
In the morning Fawnpaw woke to the familiar call of her leader. Fawnpaw stood up and yawned. She stretched and then padded out of the dark, warm nursery. She had decided that it would be okay to leave Cloudkit alone in her nest for a little.
Fawnpaw wondered how Sandstorm and Dustpelt, the two newest warriors, felt after staying up all night, in the freezing cold. She hoped that when -or if- she becomes a warrior, she will not have to be out in the cold snow like them.
Fawnpaw padded out into the snow covered clearing, the sky was thick with snow-heavy clouds. In the middle of the clearing there where two bare spots from where Sandstorm and Dustpelt had sat. She watched as Fireheart walked over and sat in one of the spots, she quickly joined him in the other bare spot. It smelled of Dustpelt.
Bluestar began to speak, "I wanted to make sure you all know that Brokentail is in the camp." None of the cats uttered a noise. They already knew. The rumor had spread through the camp like a forest fire.
"He is blind, and harmless." A few cats snorted their displeasure, and Bluestar nodded to acknowledge their fears. "I am as concerned as you are for thr safety of our clan. But, Starclan knows, we cannot turn him out to die in the forest. Yellowfang will nurse him untill his wounds heal. Once they heal, we'll discuss this again."
Bluestar looked around, listening for voices from the crowd, but no cat spoke, so she leapt down from the Highrock. As the cats dispersed Fawnpaw noticed Bluestar walking towards them.
"Fireheart," she meowed. "One thing concerns me. You haven't settled things with Graystripe. I've not seen you eat together for days. I told you before, there's no room for fighting within Thunderclan. I want you to hunt together today." Bluestar turned Fawnpaw. "You can go out with them, it will be good for your training."
Fireheart and Fawnpaw nodded. Fireheart meowed, "Yes Bluestar." As Bluestar walked away he scanned the clearing for Graystripe. Graystripe was helping clear snow away from rhe nursery entrance.
"Hey Graystripe." Fireheart called. Graystripe continued as if he hadn't heard Fireheart. Fireheart bounded over to him, Fawnpaw right behind him. "Do you want to go hunting this morning?"
Graystripe turned to face him, his eyes cold. "Are you making sure I don't disappear again?" He snarled. Just then he seemed to notice Fawnpaw standing at Fireheart's side. He turned away quickly and continued his work.
Disappear again? What did he mean by that? What was going on between her brother and his friend?
Fireheart looked startled. "N-no, I just thought... after yesterday... Clawface..."
"I would have done the same for any Thunderclan cat. That's what clan loyalty is about!" Graystripe's meow was with anger, but he still didn't look at the ginger tom.
Fireheart turned away, tail down and began to walk through the snow to the camp entrance. "Come on, Fawnpaw." He sighed.
Fawnpaw glanced between the two. She still had no idea what had happened between the two.
"Graystripe." Fawnpaw meowed gently. "I understand that your mad with Fireheart, but he is your clan mate." Graystripe glanced over at her. "You can't just ignore him. Could you just try to get along this time?"
Graystripe paused and seemed to think for a moment. Then he stood up and sighed. "Fine." He growled, padding over to Fireheart and leading the way through the gorse tunnel.
"Thank you." Fireheart touched his nose to Fawnpaw's shoulder as they followed Graystripe out of camp.
It was a slow climb out of the ravine, with the boulders covered in snow. When they reached the top, the icebound forest stretched before them. Graystripe charged away at once, his face set grim with determination. Fawnpaw and Fireheart followed.
As Fireheart tracked a mouse and Graystripe rased after a rabbit, Fawnpaw headed in a different direction.
By the time it was sunhigh all three cats had caught a good amount of prey, Graystripe with the most and Fawnpaw with the least.
She told herself that was okay though. She had missed a bird and a mouse, and Fireheart had to help get her hunting crouch right again. But, it was only her second hunt and it was leaf-bare. Of couse she wouldn't catch much.
They returned to camp, their jaws heavy with fresh-kill. They padded into the clearing and dropped their prey in the usual place. The spot had been empty so far.
The snow was heavier now, and a cold wind was beginning to blow through the ravine. Fawnpaw hoped she could just stay in camp for the rest of the day.
Suddenly she heard Brindleface's warning meow near the nursery. Both Fireheart and Fawnpaw bounded over to see what was wrong. "What's the matter?" Fireheart asked.
"Have you seen Cloudkit?" She demanded.
Fawnpaw was instantly worried. Had something happened to her son?
Fireheart shook his head. "Is he missing?"
"Yes. So are my other kits. I only closed my eyes for a moment. I just woke up and I can't find them anywhere! It's too cold for them to be out. They'll freeze to death!" The queen swayed on her paws.
Fawnpaw's eyes widened. She couldn't let the white kit freeze in the snow!
Next chapter will hopefully be up soon!