Code Seventeen

Apprentices must train for twelve moons before they become Warriors.

It's painful losing potentially strong Warriors, but it usually happens if the Apprentice is not taught how to defend right, or is just merely undertrained and promoted to a Warrior. This Code comes from LeafClan.

An Un-Needed Death

Deep within the dense forest where LeafClan makes their home. Marblenight is training her first Apprentice how to fight.

"Yellowpaw, you're doing so well so far! You'll be a Warrior in no time flat!" Marblenight said.

"You really think so?" Marblenight nods her head.

"Let's call it a night and go home." Together the two cats pad back to their camp in silence.

LeafClan Camp

Clearing

Marblenight and Yellowpaw both pad over to the prey pile and take something to eat. They eat in silence before going to their appropriate dens.

Three Moons Later

Marblenight has continued Yellowpaw's training and has trained him for exactly four moons. Upon their return to the camp, Marblenight goes to Summerstar's den to speak with him.

Summerstar's Den

"What can I do you for, Marblenight?" Summerstar asked.

"Yellowpaw is ready to become a Warrior. I have nothing more to teach him," Marblenight said.

"Hmm. Very well then. We will have the ceremony at Sunhigh."

Sunhigh

Summerstar is standing on a large stump that puts him above his Clanmates. "May every cat that is old enough to catch their own prey gather so they can hear what I have to say!" The cats gather slowly around and look at Summerstar expectantly.

"What's going on?" Cherryheart asked.

We are having a Naming Ceremony," the LeafClan Leader said.

"Who is it for?" Littleleopard asked.

"You have proven your loyalty to your Clan continuously since you became an Apprentice, Yellowpaw. Do you promise to protect your Clan even at the cost of your own life?"

"I do!"

"From this day forward, you will be known as Yellowthunder," Summerstar said. A patrol of cats streak into the clearing of the camp. Their fur is on end and their eyes are wide in fear. Summerstar looks at the four cats in turn. "Dawnwhisper, Shadowwhisker, Bluefire, and Blizzardfreeze welcome back. However, where is Necrostorm?"

"He is by the border shared with WaterfallClan. Those mangy fish-eaters are attacking our border patrols again," Dawnwhisper said.

"And is he going to fight them alone?"

"No, Shadowwind is with him," Bluefire said.

"The Medicine Cat and the Deputy. Nice. All right take Yellowthunder and Silverheart with you and help them out."

WaterfallClan – LeafClan

Border

A stream of six WaterfallClan Warriors is pulling themselves out of the fast-flowing river. "Attack!" Willowstorm yelled. The two patrols launch at each other. In several minutes, the battle has developed into a full-fledged blood bath. Cats lay on the ground, some dead, or dying. Necrostorm looks around and sees the battle was thinning and stopping. Shadowwind looks at the cats on the ground.

Mallowstorm, Minnownight, and Clearstreak of WaterfallClan lay bleeding on the forest ground. Willowstorm, Ashwinter, and Pondpuddle help their wounded Clanmates back to their own territory. Yellowthunder lays unmoving by a small willow sapling his dull ginger fur matted with blood. Dawnwhisper looks at the young Warrior sadly.

The newly appointed Warrior did not survive his first battle. Hmm… he trained for only four moons and his skills were poor, both defensive and offensive. I think a final addition should be added to the Messenger Code. Dawnwhisper thought. Bluefire and Blizzardfreeze carry Yellowthunder back to their camp.

LeafClan Camp

Clearing

Yellowthunder's body has been placed in the middle of the camp clearing for the final Vigil. Marblenight looks at the young ginger tom horrorstruck.

"He was made a Warrior too soon. He hardly even knew what to do. Four moons of training are hardly enough to show what a full-fledged Warrior can do," Dawnwhisper said.

"What are you suggesting then?" Summerstar asked.

"Yellowpaw would have still been alive had he been taught to defend and attack at the right time. His lack of proper training is what got him killed today!"

"What do you suggest we do then, Dawnwhisper?" Necrostorm asked gently.

"I suggest a final addition to the Messenger Code: that all Apprentices must train for twelve moons before they are appointed as Warriors. It would prevent un-needed deaths and newly appointed Warriors should not join a battle right away. They should wait a day as the Nightly Vigil suggests."

"I understand. I will put forward your suggestion at the next Gathering. In the mean time, we will start training our Apprentices for twelve moons," Summerstar said.

"Thank you, Summerstar, for hearing me out." Dawnwhisper dips her head. Summerstar nods his head in reply. Dawnwhisper pads over to Yellowthunder and touches her nose to his icy cold flank. "Walk safely among Warriors, young one," Dawnwhisper said gently.

This is Code Seventeen