Chapter 13

Hollyleaf padded into the stone hollow and Jaypaw limped after her, supporting Stripepaw with her shoulder. Firestar was outside his den with Brambleclaw, his head bowed as he listened to what the dark tabby told him, but as the three cats padded towards them, the Clan leader and deputy looked up. Alarm flooding into his green eyes, Firestar scrambled to his paws and met the approaching cats halfway, Brambleclaw hard on his heels.

"Hollyleaf, what happened?" Firestar gasped, his green eyes raking over Hollyleaf's torn ear and Jaypaw bleeding leg. Stripepaw had laid down and Brambleclaw sniffed the brown apprentice before racing off to fetch Leafpool. The light brown tabby followed Brambleclaw slowly, but when she saw Stripepaw, Leafpool instantly picked up her speed and in seconds was crouched over the brown apprentice. Seeing their medicine cat, Jaypaw saw the rest of the Clan pad towards them with curious eyes.

"Rogues," Hollyleaf snarled, her green eyes narrowing as she described the attack. Jaypaw felt her fur bristle as she remembered the attack and suddenly wished she had ripped over a bit more fur. Jaypaw turned to Hollyleaf as the black warrior finished with her explanation, wondering if she was feeling the same thing. Hollyleaf gave no signs that she was. "They headed towards the ShadowClan border, but we don't know if they crossed."

"These could be the same rogues that Briarcloud, Bumblethroat, and I chased the day we received our warrior names!" Blossomwhisker meowed, padding up to stand beside Hollyleaf. Brambleclaw- who had padded up when Leafpool was examining Stripepaw- nodded as though he agreed with his former apprentice. Jaypaw wondered if that was true; it was not like rogues to attack the same place twice. "There were only two that time, but they could have gotten a third in the past moon. I remember them being strong too. I still have a scar on my shoulder from them."

"Then they can't be allowed to attack our warriors again!" Lionblaze snarled, leaping to his paws. Birchfall and Graystripe yowled in agreement from the back of the Clan and Jaypaw was surprised. It was unlike senior warriors to agree with the agressive nature of the younger cats. "I'll lead a patrol to get rid of them once and for all." Lionblaze declared and flicked his tail to Toadflower and Bumblethroat, who scrambled to their paws to stand by him. Firestar opened his mouth to protest, but Jaypaw was surprised when another voice cut across him.

"No you won't," Hollyleaf growled at her brother and the two cats that followed him, "I have one more thing I want to say." Hollyleaf padded forward to stand directly infront of Firestar and- with a quick glance at Jaypaw- meowed, "Jaypaw and Stripepaw fought like warriors. They both proved themselves before this and I think their warrior names are long overdue." Squirrelflight and Foxfang padded forward to stand beside their apprentices as they guessed what was coming.

Firestar dipped his head, "I agree, Hollyleaf. Jaypaw and Stripepaw have proved themselves since their first time in the forest. Jaypaw helped ShadowClan with the fire and did a real miracle. Now Blackstar knows that not all ThunderClan cats aren't strong," Firestar added and then turned to glare at Stripepaw gently, "And Stripepaw showed herself since her own strength since her first time out of the hollow. She almost died, but that made her stronger." Firestar then shared a quick glance with Leafpool.

There was no need to call the Clan since they were already there so Firestar began, "I, Firestar, leader of ThunderClan, call my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in their turn. Stripepaw, Jaypaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do," Jaypaw meowed and Stripepaw did the same. Firestar nodded and continued, "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Stripepaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Stripepool. StarClan honors you for your kindness and courage, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." Firestar rested his muzzle on Stripepool's head and the brown warrior gave his shoulder a respectful lick.

Firestar then turned to Jaypaw, "Jaypaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Jaysong. StarClan honors you for your purity and power, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." Firestar rested his muzzle on Jaysong's head and the golden brown warrior gave his shoulder a respectful lick. Jaysong padded away to stand beside Squirrelflight, Foxfang, and Stripepool, but before she got there; she was almost bowled over by her family and friends.

Brackenfur twined himself with Jaysong while Sorreltail twined her tail with her daughter. Thornclaw gave Jaysong a swift lick on the ear while Brightheart blinked with her one good eye proudly at the golden brown warrior. Whitewing licked Jaysong's cheek while Rosetripe brushed her muzzle against her friend's. Cinderheart brushed pelts with Jaysong while Poppyfrost joined the rest of the Clan in calling out the new warriors' names. Jaysong turned to watch Stripepool and saw that her sister was twining herself with Toadflower, happiness in both of their eyes. Jaysong wondered if they liked each other until Stripepool bounded over to Spiderleg, affection in her amber eyes.

Jaysong felt a stab of happiness flood through her as she realized Stripeool may have found a mate in the courageous black warrior. With this and her warrior ceremony, Jaysong had never been happier and in her happiness thought she glimpsed a reddish brown shape standing near Highledge. Jaysong blinked and the shape was gone, but not before she recognized the bright orange eyes. Flowerpaw had entered ThunderClan camp for a second time.