Chapter Three

New Warriors and Apprentices

Six Days Later

Six days have passed since the last Naming Ceremony and the birth of Crystal's Kits. It seems to be time for another Naming Ceremony to take place. Red, Blue, and Sage have been training vigorously so that they can be accepted into the Clan as full-fledged Warriors.

Nursery

"Moonshadow, can you watch my Kits for me for a few minutes?" asked Crystal.

"Yes." Moonshadow stands and stretches leaving her sleeping Kits in her nest and moving to Crystal's mewling Kits and lays down letting them snuggle into her belly so they can nurse. Crystal pads out of the Nursery and makes her way to Nightstar's den.

Nightstar's Den

"Nightstar?"

"Come in Crystal." Crystal pads into the dim den. "What can I do you for?"

"Can I change my name to a Warrior's name?"

"Yes, we will hold the ceremony at Sunhigh."

"Thank you." Crystal dips her head and then leaves the den.

Camp Clearing

Lightwing is preparing patrols for hunting and border checks. "Starlight, Runningpaw, Onyxfur, and Lightheart, you will be the dawn patrol." The four cats leave the camp. Cinderpelt begins helping Lightwing.

"Blackfoot, Duskpelt, Blue, and Sagepaw, you will be the hunting party for now." The four cats charge from the camp at once.

"Diamondclaw, Red, Dustpelt, Sage, Tornadoclaw, and Goldpaw you will be the Sunhigh patrol." The six cats nod their heads in acceptance.

"And the dusk patrol will be Nightwing, Shadowfur, Princecloud, Princessberry, and Cloudfur." The named cats nod their heads and continue doing their daily chores. Nightstar pads over to the Highrock and sits down with her tail wrapped neatly around her paws.

"The Sunhigh patrol can wait until after the Naming Ceremony." Crystal returns to the Nursery and her hungry Kits. Moonshadow returns to her own Kits.

"Another Naming Ceremony so soon…?" questioned Brindlefur.

Sunhigh

At Sunhigh, the hunting and border patrols return in time for the ceremony.

Nightstar is now standing on the Highrock above her Clan. She looks at Crystal who is sitting next to Moonshadow and Lightningblaze.

"Crystal you came to me earlier today asking me if I can change your name." The Clancats look from Nightstar to Crystal in turn. "Are you guys satisfied that Crystal is willing to become a Warrior of CloudClan despite her past as a HouseCat?"

"Yes, we are!" answered the Clan as one.

"Then I, Nightstar, Leader of CloudClan, call upon our Warrior Ancestors, to look down upon this Queen. She is willing to work hard train and understand your noble Code, and in return, I commend her to you as a Warrior in her turn. Do you, Crystal, promise to protect your Clan and uphold the Messenger Code even at the cost of your life?"

"I do!" said Crystal strongly. But I still need to train first!

"Then by the powers of HeavenClan, I give you your Warrior name. From this day on you shall be known as Crystalheart. HeavenClan welcomes you as a full Warrior of CloudClan." The Clan calls Crystalheart's new name loud and clear. Nightstar turns to face Blackpaw who is sitting next to his Mentor Lightwing. "Lightwing has Blackpaw trained to you utmost satisfaction as an Apprentice?"

"Yes, he has."

"Blackpaw, you have worked extremely hard since you became an Apprentice. Do you, Blackpaw, promise to defend this Clan and uphold the Messenger Code even at the cost of your life?"

"I do!"

"Then by the powers of HeavenClan, I give you your Warrior name. Blackpaw from this day on you shall be known as Blackstone. HeavenClan welcomes you as a full Warrior of CloudClan." The Clan calls Blackstone's new name. Nightstar looks at Goldpaw who is sitting next to his Mentor Tornadoclaw. "Tornadoclaw has Goldpaw trained hard enough to become a Warrior."

"Yes, he has."

"Goldpaw, your cautiousness has helped you to survive many dangerous battles. Do you, Goldpaw, promise to defend your Clan and uphold the Messenger Code even at the cost of your life?"

"I-I do!" Goldpaw stuttered.

"Then by the powers of HeavenClan, I give you your Warrior name. Goldpaw, from this day on you shall be known as Goldstripe. HeavenClan welcomes you as a full Warrior of CloudClan." The gathered cats call Goldstripe's new name. Tornadoclaw licks Goldstripe's head in congratulations. Nightstar faces Moonpaw who is sitting next to her Mentor Cinderpelt.

"Cinderpelt has your apprentice train hard enough to become a full Warrior of CloudClan."

"Yes, she has." Nightstar turns back to Moonpaw.

"Moonpaw, your courage and understanding has led you to become stronger than your littermates. Do you, Moonpaw, promise to defend your Clan and uphold the Messenger Code even at the cost of your life?"

"I do!"

"Then by the powers of HeavenClan, I give you your Warrior name. Moonpaw, from now on you will be known as Moonpool. HeavenClan welcomes you as a full Warrior of CloudClan." The Clan calls Moonpool's new name. Nightstar turns to face the entire Clan again. "I am told that Leafpool and Mapleleaf's Kits are ready to become Apprentices." Nightstar looks at Rowankit who is sitting on Leafpool's left. "Do you, Rowankit, promise to train as hard as you can and live by the Messenger Code?"

"I do!"

"Then from this day on until you receive your Warrior name, you will be known as Rowanpaw." Nightstar turns to look at Dustpelt. "Dustpelt, you are a strong and courageous Warrior, please pass these traits onto your Apprentice, Rowanpaw." Dustpelt and Rowanpaw briefly touch noses and then sit side by side. The Clan calls Rowanpaw's new name. Nightstar looks at Frostkit who is sitting on Leafpool's right. "Do you, Frostkit, promise to train hard and live by the Messenger Code?"

"I do!"

"Then from this day on until you earn your Warrior name, you will be known as Frostpaw." Nightstar turns to face Duskpelt. "Duskpelt, you are cunning and brave, pass these traits onto your Apprentice, Frostpaw." Leafpool looks at Rowanpaw and Frostpaw proudly. Duskpelt and Frostpaw gently touch noses before sitting down. The Clan calls Frostpaw's new name. Nightstar looks at Dawnkit who is sitting on Mapleleaf's right. "Do you, Dawnkit, promise to train to the best of your ability and abide by the Messenger Code?"

"I do!" said Dewkit in a shaky voice.

"Then from this day on until you earn your Warrior name you shall be known as Dawnpaw." Nightstar looks at Tornclaw. "Tornclaw, you are proud and powerful, pass these traits onto your Apprentice, Dawnpaw." The Clan calls Dawnpaw's new name. Tornclaw and Dawnpaw touch noses and then sit down. Nightstar looks at Mistykit who is sitting on Mapleleaf's right. "Do you, Mistykit, promise to train as hard as necessary to become a fine Warrior and to abide the Messenger Code at all times?"

"I do!" Mistykit squeaked.

"Then from this day on until you have earned your Warrior name you shall be known as Mistypaw." Nightstar turns to look at Diamondclaw. "Diamondclaw, you are kind and yet powerful, please pass this onto your Apprentice, Mistypaw." The Clan calls Mistypaw's new name. Diamondclaw and Mistypaw touch noses then the sit down. Nightstar looks at Leopardkit who is sitting in front of Mapleleaf. "Do you, Leopardkit, promise to train hard and live by the Messenger Code?"

"I do!"

"Then from this day on until you've earned your Warrior name you will be known as Leopardpaw." Nightstar looks at Cloudfur intently. "Cloudfur, you are strong and thoughtful of others, pass these traits onto your Apprentice, Leopardpaw." The Clan calls Lepardpaw's new name. Cloudfur and Leopardpaw briefly touch noses and then sit side by side. Nightstar looks at Darkkit who is sitting on Mapleleaf's left. "And you, Darkkit, do you promise to train hard and abide by the Messenger Code?"

"I do!" said Darkkit confidently.

"Then from this day on until you have earned your Warrior name you will be known as Darkpaw." Nightstar looks at Lightheart. "Lightheart, you are proud, strong, and courageous, pass these traits onto your first Apprentice, Darkpaw. The Clan calls Darkpaw's new name. Lightheart and Darkpaw reluctantly touch noses and then they sit down. Nightstar looks at the entire Clan again. "As you all know, we recently got new Clanmates." Nightstar then looks at Red who is sitting next to Diamondclaw. "Red, since you joined the Clan you trained like there was no tomorrow." Nightstar looks at Diamondclaw before speaking again. "Diamondclaw are you satisfied on how Red has trained since he joined the Clan."

"Yes, I am."

"Do you, Red, promise defend your Clan, and live by the Messenger Code even at the cost of your life?"

"I do."

"Then by the powers of HeavenClan, I give you your Warrior name. Red, from this day on you shall be known as Redtail. HeavenClan welcomes you as a full Warrior of CloudClan." The Clan calls Redtail's new name. Nightstar looks at Blue who is sitting next to Duskpelt. "Duskpelt, are you happy on how well Blue has trained under your watchful eye?"

"That I am."

"Blue, you are proud and understanding of our ways. Do you, Blue, promise to defend your Clan and follow the Messenger Code even at the cost of your life?"

"I do!"

"Then by the powers of HeavenClan, I give you your Warrior name. Blue from this day on you shall be known as Bluefur. HeavenClan welcomes you as a full Warrior of CloudClan." The Clan calls Bluefur's new name. Nightstar looks at Sage who is sitting next to Dustpelt. "Are you satisfied how Sage trained since he joined the Clan, Dustpelt?"

"Yes, I am."

"Sage, you have proven that you enjoy Clanlife. Do you, Sage, promise to defend your Clan and live by the Messenger Code even at the cost of your life?"

"I do."

"Then by the powers of HeavenClan, I give you your Warrior name. Sage, from this day on you shall be known as Sagefur. HeavenClan welcomes you as a full Warrior of CloudClan." The Clan calls Sagefur's new name. Nightstar bounds down from the Highrock and into the clearing. She makes her way to the small river that runs through the middle of the camp and laps up some water. The Sunhigh patrol leaves to patrol the quiet borders.