Look who's actually back on time! ME! Okay, I'm still getting in the groove of this story again, so this chapter is really awkward. I don't like how I wrote it, but next one is better. Also, please excuse my horrible portrayal of emotions. Ew.
I hope you guys like the names I chose. Feather's name comes from my loyal reviewer, Shadowmist, so thank you ma' dear! I had thought of Thorn's a few days ago and realized it was perfect, and Rose's was planned from the beginning :) I staggered this chapter through the other clans so you guys could see the other cats and their new names, and also get a grip on how they were feeling about the battle. Next chappie is either Roseheart or Featherstream (undecided) and I'm going to do a Shadowfur POV! I thought I might as well switch it up a bit, spice things up. I'm excited for that one! Review Answers!
Call Me Mockingjay: I'VE MISSED YOU TOO! OH GOSH, AND I LOVEEE THE NEW USERNAME! Darkpaw and so on have received their names HEREE as you shall read. HUGGGSSSSSS. Oh gosh, I did miss you so much! I hope you like Darkpaw's name!
Endless Hourglass: Oh, as I said before, i joined Track, and school got super stressful. You have no idea how stressed out i am about one of my grades. AHHH! And Oh my gosh, I am so happy for you! You totally deserve all those reviews! Your story is wonderful (although I haven't read it all through yet) and I am so glad people are starting to see that! SO happy for you :)
Spiritwing: And i love you :) Thank you dear!
Tangleflame: Aw, thank you so much ^_^ Keep reviewing, I love it when you do!
miss tangerineleaf: You shall seeeeee ;)
Shadowmist1999: I read all my reviews, don't you fret dear xD I am so sorry this took so long and that you were so disappointed! (thank God indeed for those alerts). YAY! you forgive me! I love you so much, I couldn't cope if you didn't forgive me xD And thank you for the names! I actually decided to use Featherstream because it was better than the one I had picked and it was just PERFECT. Thank you so much for that one ^_^
Silvertail: Oops, sorry :) I've missed you so much too. Here is the new update!
Tatyana: AH! I missed you too, and Congrats on the new bunnies! Oh gosh, don't we all love bunnies? And wow, everyone wants Feather/Thorn. You are all going to be extremely surprised by the ending, I must say xD I'm excited. And I stopped reading the actual Warriors after Holly "died". Like, I never read about Dovekit or Ivykit or anything. They whole series just went downhill from the second arc, and I decided not to spoil my memory. The first arc remains my fave by far :) I miss Darkflight tooooo :'(
TearStainedAngel: Hahaha, fist pump for late updates! What's your problemoo?
Spottedflame: Thank you dear ^_^ Life is a jerk ALL the time, but c'est la vie, no?
Watercolour Rainbows: WELCOME NEW REVIEWER! Welcome to this crazy family, and here is a Rosepaw plushie! Wow, your dedication amazes me. I am honored you took so much time to read my stories ^_^ In Raven's Wing and in the beginning of this story, I shall admit there were some horrendous grammar issues. I hope that i avoid most of them nowachapters haha, and if I don't please point them out! I enjoy the criticism xD I honestly don't think my stories are all that good, but thank you anyway :) You make my day! And I love ramblings! They are extremely enjoyable to read and also extremely entertaining. I hope you like their names!
Continuing!
Chapter 26
Thornpaw
His head spun as he gazed up at his powerful leader. Beside him, his sister and Featherpaw both looked just as excited, their breath quickening. Ravenwing and Echostep slipped to their sides to escort them to the Highrock. Leafstar leaped down, standing before the young cats.
"I, Leafstar, Leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon these apprentices. They have trained hard to learn the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in turn. Featherpaw," she mewed, turning the tortoiseshell she-cat. Featherpaw's eyes blazed with uncontained excitement.
"Do you promise to uphold the code, to protect and defend this clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do," Featherpaw meowed, voice strong and loud.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Featherpaw, from this moment on you shall be known as Featherstream. StarClan honors your determination and loyalty," Leafstar meowed. The assembled cats murmured to each other. Loyalty was a rare trait to praise in a ceremony. Featherstream's eyes gleamed with understanding. "And we welcome you as a full member of ThunderClan!" Leafstar concluded.
Featherstream licked her leader's shoulder respectfully and joined Branchfur and Mosspelt where the warriors were gathered.
Grief struck something deep in Thornpaw's gut as Featherstream took up her new place. His mother stood alone, a similar sorrow shining in her eyes. Darkflight.
His father should be here, watching his son and daughter become everything they had trained to be. Darkflight's pale eyes danced before him, and Thornpaw was struck by an idea.
Thornpaw felt his heart begin to pound as the leader turned to him. While she recited the familiar words, he flashed back to all the prey he had caught, all the wounds he had received. Everything he had sacrificed for this moment.
"I do," he answered confidently when the time came. Before she could continue however, he stepped forward. "Leafstar, I-I wish to suggest a name for myself."
His leader paused, surprised, and he hurried on. "In honor of my father, I would like my name to be Thornflight. Because he cannot be here today."
Leafstar's eyes softened and Ravenwing purred with pride. Rosepaw brushed up against him and the entire clearing fell silent as Leafstar continued.
"By the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Thornpaw, from this moment on, you shall be known as Thornflight. StarClan honors your courage and understanding, and we welcome you as a full member of this Clan."
Thornflight's heart soared and for a moment, he wondered if it was his father's scent being carried by the wind. He went to stand by Featherstream and the others and watched as his sister's turn finally arrived.
Rosepaw trembled there before her mentor, suddenly alone and vulnerable. However, a moment later, she straightened and lifted her chin defiantly. Thornflight purred proudly, glad to see her old spirit shining through.
When her time came to reply, her voice was steady and strong. "I do," she mewed, lifting her head just a little bit more.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Rosepaw, from this moment on, you shall be known as Roseheart," Leafstar declared. Roseheart. A perfect name, Thornflight thought. "StarClan honors your intelligence and sacrifice, and we welcome you as a full member of this Clan."
"Featherstream, Thornflight, Roseheart! Featherstream, Thornflight, Roseheart!" the Clan chanted. Their mother came bounding up, purring. Her eyes blazed with extreme pride.
"I am so proud of you!" she laughed, covering them both in licks. "Darkflight would be too," she whispered in their ears sorrowfully.
Roseheart gave Ravenwing a gentle lick on the cheek. "Thank you, mother. We love you though we left the nursery long ago."
Ravenwing's purr became choked and she turned to her former apprentice. "Featherstream, your past has only the effect on now as you allow. Do you understand?"
Featherstream too became choked as she nodded, burying her head in her mentor's dark fur.
The other members of the Clan crowded around, congratulating them. Branchfur joked with Roseheart and Thornflight about their kit antics and murmured something to Featherstream before slipping away. Thornflight was amazed by the warmth in which his Clanmates congratulated him. Faces he had known since kithood flashed before him, and he was suddenly keenly aware that soon, some of these faces may not be there anymore. In two days' time, they would be fighting for everything they had held dear for countless seasons.
"You begin your vigil at sunset. Until then, you have a day off," Leafstar murmured, padding up to them. Roseheart darted forward, burying her head in the elderly she-cat's chest fur. The others faded away, as well as Featherstream. Thornflight watched his sister breathe her mentor's scent.
"Thank you, Leafstar."
"Oh, little one," the silver she-cat whispered, shutting her eyes tight. Thornflight turned away, knowing this was not for him to see. This was between former mentor and newly named warrior.
He turned away to find himself confronted by Gingerstrike. "Congratulations. You and Rosep-heart, you all definitely deserve it," he mumbled. Thornflight purred.
"Gingerstrike, she really cares for you."
"Really?" he murmured, and Thornflight could sense the insecurity resting just below the surface. He rested his tail gently on the ginger tom's broad shoulder.
"Talk to her," he whispered before turning and padding away. Gazing around the clearing, he realized that their ceremony had lightened the mood. Warriors came and went on patrols while others reinforced the barrier. Thornflight was struck by the absence of kits. There were no apprentices anymore, and Snowpelt's kits weren't due for another couple weeks. Even then, they couldn't become apprentices for another six moons. He sighed.
Suddenly, he found his paws leading him towards the gorse tunnel. He silently slipped into the forest, the scent of growing plants and new life filling him. He felt alive again. The sunhigh light was dappled and warmed his back as he weaved his way through the undergrowth. Thornflight felt a surge of pride at his new name and hoped his father had seen. Hoped his father approved.
He found that his paws had lead him near the Thunderpath. He stared in the direction of ShadowClan, Dapplepaw's ice blue eyes piercing him it seemed, even from so far away.
Thornflight's own green eyes pierced the dark undergrowth of ShadowClan territory, wishing he could see into its murky depths. He wondered what the dappled apprentice was doing, and what she thought about when she let her imagination run.
ShadowClan: Dapplepaw
The young she-cat stared at her leader in utter surprise. The newly named Darkfire sat beside the also recently named Shrewfur, green eyes blazing. Dapplepaw could hardly contain her excitement.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Dapplepaw, from this moment on, you shall be known as Dapplesong. StarClan honors your bravery and intelligence, and we welcome you as a full member of this clan."
Listening to the Clan chant her name, Dapplesong couldn't keep her purr back. Intense pride threatened to burst her heart as her Clanmates congratulated her and Darkfire. Their parents were bursting with love and pride. Snowpaw padded up, eyes shining.
"I'm so happy for you two," she purred. Dapplesong gazed at her affectionately, and Darkfire wound her slender body around the medicine cat apprentice.
"You will get your name soon," Darkfire murmured. "And we'll all be together to see it.
Dapplesong nodded, though worry gnawed at her. Shadowfur was attacking in two days. Their ceremony had helped keep a jovial air around camp, but being ShadowClan, that would soon disappear. Everything they had known since the day they were born was about to change. And Dapplesong couldn't help but realize that no matter what they did, cats were going to die.
"I'm so proud of you!" Berryfur announced, coming up beside her. Dapplesong gave her former mentor an affectionate lick on the cheek.
"Thank you, Berryfur," she murmured happily. "For teaching me and putting up with me."
Berryfur laughed good-naturedly. "You'll be a great warrior, Dapplesong. Just don't be afraid to let your heart win over now and again, all right?" he instructed. Dapplesong nodded, soaking in the last lesson her mentor would teach her. He padded away, and she watched him sorrowfully. She would miss their spirited training sessions.
"Dapplesong," Russetfur called. Dapplesong turned, mewing a warm welcome to the handsome warrior. He and Frostclaw had received their names just a couple weeks before. She felt a pang of pity for the red-furred warrior. Nightstar had forgotten to mention their ceremony at the Gathering, with all the Shadowfur mess. "Good job," he meowed. Dapplesong purred thanks.
Calling a farewell, the tom went to eat. She watched him go, amused. As Russetpaw, he had been annoying and immature. For some reason however, once named a warrior, he had mellowed out and found a sense of honor. She admired him for his devotion to his elderly mother, Skytail, who now lay in the elder's den with a blinded eye.
Dapplesong spent the rest of the day with her family, taking part in mock battles and attempting to push Thornpaw out of her mind. She couldn't keep herself from wondering though, if the tom would be receiving his own name soon as well.
As she sat vigil, she stared at the black sky where their warrior ancestors sat their own eternal vigil. They twinkled down coldly, showing no sign of emotion. And Dapplesong wondered how they could watch as the Clans were torn apart. For the first time, she began to think that StarClan may not have all the power in the universe.
WindClan: Blackpaw
The dark-furred tom sat beside his large brother silently, staring into the empty moors. His amber eyes were still alight with joy as he reflected on his new name.
Blackfoot. Being the smallest of the apprentices, he had been the fastest, fast even for WindClan. Runningpaw, whose new name was Runningstorm, had excelled more in fighting than agility.
The wind from the moors blasted their fur, though Blackfoot was unbothered. He was too excited to feel the cold. Cloudstar had just given them their names at sunset and he exchanged a glance with Runningstorm, who also refused to feel the cold. Blackfoot wished they could talk, but their vigil forbade speaking. This was the night they sat vigil and reflected on their new status in the Clan.
Blackfoot closed his eyes and savored the memory of the Clan chanting his name to the pink and orange sky. Petalfur had rubbed her cheek against his and Snakeclaw had for once treated him as an equal. His mother didn't leave his side throughout the entire event and his father, for the first time he could remember, was genuinely proud of his small son.
"I am proud of you, Blackfoot. You trained hard for this, and you deserve this," Ashfeather murmured. Blackfoot blinked at his father gratefully.
"Thank you, Father," he answered sincerely.
Blackfoot found his thoughts wandering to the imminent battle. It was coming at last, and Blackfoot actually found himself ready for it. With his new name came a newfound confidence, and the young warrior thirsted for revenge. The older warriors had told him of the battle, and all it had done to the Clans. He was fortunate to be part of it, to be able to put a final end to Shadowfur.
Rosepaw and Thornpaw flashed before him. They had taken a lot on, and Rosepaw's scars still haunted his darkest nightmares. She had given a lot, sacrificed so much, and was still willing to push forward. He admired her strength and her determination. Thornpaw had been hit hard by his father's death and Blackfoot wished he could take some of the pain away. But only time would dull the grief.
As his vigil drew to a close, all the tom could think was, Let them come. We're ready. Let them come.
So I hope you like all their names :) Snowpaw's is coming soon, promise. Next chapter is most likely Roseheart and Shadowfur POV, then Leafstar and Ravenwing, Thornflight and Featherstream (by then, it'll be the battle). Most of the battle will be in Roseheart's POV. And after that, I can't say or you'll guess the epic ending. HEHE. And also, just a hinty for you guys, if you read close enough, you'll find some hints of future pairings ;) Just to make this a little more fun for you guys.
~Ciao, Monkey~