A/N- Yay! Three updates in three weeks! (or was it two in two weeks? Oh who really cares!!) Kind of short, but there's a lot of stuff that's gonna be happening in the next few chapters, and I have to figure out how to break it up to make sense.

Chapter 17- Joy and Dread

Disclaimer- I'm being completely serious when I say that in the span of a week I acquired the rights to Warriors! Yeah! In a dream I had last Tuesday!

"Let all those dogs old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting."

As Spiritstar's clear voice rang throughout the camp, Beechpaw felt his heart pound with excitement. When the last dog had arrived, Beechpaw rose, head high, and padded alongside Darkclaw to the base of the rock.

Spiritstar leapt down to meet them and spoke, "Darkclaw, are you satisfied that this apprentice is ready to become a warrior of ThunderClan?"

Darkclaw bowed his head and boomed, "He will make the Clan proud."

Spiritstar looked to Beechpaw and recited, "I, Spiritstar, 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."

Her blue eyes locked with Beechpaw's, "Beechpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Forcing his voice not to shake, Beechpaw replied, "I do."

"Then by the power of StarClan I give you your warrior name. Beechpaw, from this moment you will be known as Beechclaw. StarClan honors your courage and your determination, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

She rested her muzzle on top of his head, and he gave her shoulder a respectful lick. He barely caught the gleam in her eyes before he was surrounded by his Clanmates congratulating him and calling his new name.

Despite the happy atmosphere, Beechclaw couldn't help but notice the one dog that wasn't crowding around him.

He looked towards the medicine den, remembering how Swiftpaw had once promised to be the first to call him by his warrior name. He sighed quietly, thinking once again of Beetlepaw, but as he took up his position in the center of the clearing, he felt a slight warmth despite the cold, late leaf-bare night.

OOOoooOOO

"Burningpelt!"

Beechclaw sprang awake as the cry filled the camp. Yawning, he stretched and padded out of the warriors' den just in time to see the medicine dog disappear into the nursery with Dreamsong right behind.

He wasn't too concerned, this was practically a ritual. A pup would get sick, a first-time queen would get worried, and they'd call Burningpelt. It rarely turned out to be worse than a slight cough.

He headed to the fresh-kill file and picked out a plump thrush, settling down on the nettle patch to eat it. He glanced up when Burningpelt reemerged carrying a small bundle.

He froze mid-bite, horrified. 'Please,' he begged silently, 'StarClan, anything but that!' and bolted after her.

OOOoooOOO

All was dark and peaceful.

Swiftpaw sat with her eyes closed in the silence. It calmed her, like a break in the storm.

Then the murmuring started again. Swiftpaw couldn't remember when it had first began, but it was almost always the same deep voice. There had been times when different voices had intervened, but no matter what she could never understand what they said.

Her eyes snapped open as she picked up on the urgency in the voice, as well as occasional words, "Swiftpaw…pup…sick…come back…"

The pleading words made Swiftpaw want to help, but a thought held her back. Did she really want to go back? To leave her calm sanctuary to go to a world filled with turmoil and hurt?

As she argued with herself, the voice grew steadily to a howl, accompanied by others.

"Swiftpaw…Swiftpaw…"

"Go…Go…"

"Leave it…Leave it…"

All at the same time, it was deafening. Squeezing her eyes shut, she just wished it would stop!

Just like that, all was quiet.

Swiftpaw's eyes flickered open to see the ThunderClan medicine den. She tried to lift herself to a sitting position but fell back with a groan as her side protested the movement.

"Swiftpaw!" a disbelieving voice cried, and Beechpaw appeared at her side, blue eyes sparkling with concern, "Thank StarClan you're awake." He said, "We've been so worried."

Confused, Swiftpaw stuttered, "Wha-what do you mean?"

"You were asleep for almost half a moon!"

"Half a moon!" she yelped, cringing as her side protested again, "well, how is everyone? Where are they? What's happened?"

"My warrior ceremony was last night." He replied proudly, "I'm Beechclaw now."

This made her feel guilty for not being there, and she was just about to congratulate him when an even worse thought ran through her head.

"Where's Hazelpup?" she demanded frantically. "The half-breeds must have her. What are we going to do?"

He quickly calmed her, telling her what he knew of the battle. He hesitated slightly afterwards, wondering if it was too soon to tell her.

She noticed and asked slowly, "Beechclaw, what aren't you telling me?"

Looking into her dark eyes, he finally gave up and stood silently, motioning for her to follow him. She did so, rather apprehensively, and he led her across the den, stopping by another nest.

Swiftpaw peered into it and felt her heart drop.

"No," she pleaded, staring in horror at the small, brindle pup shivering in the nest, nose and eyes streaming, "Not her."

A/N- I would have updated this over the weekend, but (surprise surprise!) my mom banned me from the computer, again. Oh well, it's up and hopefully you like it.

I was very happy about the reviews thing, and I will keep my promise. Scarflower (love that name by the way, it's like bittersweet, same concept), Skylaar Wolf, Aspenmist, EyeOfTheTiger (I'm not saying you have to do anything! Please don't feel like I'm pressuring you! I just mean that if you feel like naming her, you can!), Poisonfire-'Con-, and .o-Oceansong-xo (as you can see, I already used one of yours!) get to give warrior names! Yay!