Chapter Six

"Hello Talonpaw." Moonflower's voice sounded next to the she-cat's nest. She rolled over. The pretty silver and black cat was sitting with her tail around her paws. Though she appeared calm, the tip of her tail twitched.

"Hi Moonflower."

"I thought I should explain."

Talonpaw grunted and tore a shred out of her nest.

Moonflower began. "I have a, um, particular reason for wanting Thrushpaw to be a warrior as soon as possible." She stood up and began to pace. "I guess you know that you and your brother and Thrushpaw have been apprentices longer than you should be. Larksong, Stormtail and I kept asking Pinestar when you would be made warriors." She sighed. "He kept saying soon, but I was growing impatient. I do love mentoring Thrushpaw, but I've-" Her ears turned pink and she bristled slightly. "I'm having Stormtail's kits!" She blurted.

Talonpaw's eyes widened and she broke into a purr. "Moonflower! That's wonderful! Does Stormtail know?"

"No."

Talonpaw was shocked. "Why?"

"I should have known a half moon ago, but I didn't find out until yesterday. I was going to tell him after the race, your final assessment. But after you fell, I decided to tell him after he knew how you were doing. But then he was so angry that you weren't to be made a warrior, and I didn't want him to suddenly..." Moonflower looked up sadly. "Do you understand now? I can't train an apprentice for much longer, I'll be moving into the nursery."

"Ye-es, Moonflower." Talonpaw was very happy for her, but she still felt saddened at the naming of the warriors.

"I know that if I were in your paws, Talonpaw, I would feel the same, or much worse. I am very sorry." Moonflower touched the apprentice's ear with her tail and left.

The tabby she-cat lay curled up in her nest when she heard some one brushing through the entrance. She caught a familiar scent. Thrushpaw.

"Talonpaw?"

She didn't answer, even though she wanted to more than anything else.

"Talonpaw..." He padded over to stand in front of her. She closed her blue eyes.

"I..."

"What do you want?" She snapped.

Thrushpaw flinched, and Talonpaw felt sorry and opened her eyes.

"I'm sorry for snapping Thrushpaw."

He shrugged. "I can understand how angry you must feel right now."

She flicked her tail. "Yeah, well."

"I don't want to be made a warrior without you!" The sandy apprentice's green eyes were large and sad. As if realizing what he had just said, he turned and bounded out of the den.

He wants me to be there with him? Talonpaw felt ashamed for being so angry. This was the most important day of Thrushpaw's and Snowpaw's lives, and she wouldn't ruin it for them.

***

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath High Rock for a clan meeting!" Pinestar's clear meow rang throughout the clearing.

Talonpaw, leaning on Shadowclaw's shoulder, limped out of the medicine cat clearing. Greeneye, Weedwhisker, Mumblefoot and Mossflower padded out of the elder's den, and Leopardpaw and Patchpaw dashed out of the apprentice's den.

Stonepelt, Sunfall and Smallear and his apprentice, Whitepaw, came running through the gorse tunnel from the evening patrol, eager not to miss the important ceremony. Windflight and Fuzzypelt padded out of the warriors den to sit by Dapplepaw, Stonepelt, Tawnyspots and Speckletail. Robinwing and Poppydawn joined them.

Sunfall, Speckletail, Swiftbreeze and Adderfang sat closest to the inside of the circle, so they could view their kit's warrior ceremony.

Last to join were Thrushpaw and Snowpaw, flanked by their mentors. The apprentices were sleek and clean, their fur glossy in the twilight. Thrushpaw's green eyes shone, and Snowpaw's white fur bristled ever so slightly.

Pinestar waited patiently for every cat to settle before beginning. He began with Thrushpaw, who was a quarter moon older than Snowpaw.

"Moonflower, are you satisfied that this apprentice is ready to become a warrior?"

"He is ready." Moonflower's voice echoed with pride.

"Larksong, is your apprentice ready as well?"

"He more than ready." Larksong beamed.

"I, Pinestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these two apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn.

"Thrushpaw, Snowpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your lives?"

"I do." Snowpaw nearly yowled with excitement and honor.

"I do." Thrushpaw responded quietly. His paws were trembling with anticipation.

"Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior names: Thrushpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Thrushpelt. Starclan honors your courage and wisdom, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." Pinestar rested his chin on the new warrior's head and Thrushpaw licked his shoulder with the time honored custom. The sandy tom turned and joined the warriors.

Snowpaw stepped up. "Snowpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Snowowl. StarClan honors your talent and fierce loyalty and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." Snowowl licked Pinestar's shoulder respectfully before standing with Thrushpelt.

Talonpaw let out the first yowl, as loud as she possibly could. "Thrushpelt! Snowowl!" The rest of the clan joined in. "Thrushpelt! Snowowl! Thrushpelt! Snowowl!"

Shadowclaw guided Talonpaw over to the new warriors, her old denmates. After purring his congratulations, he left her leaning on Snowowl's shoulder.

"Congratulations, you two mangy fur balls." She head butted Snowowl in his shoulder and flicked Thrushpelt's flank with her tail.

"Thanks." They purred.

Snowowl looked up, sadness in his green gaze. "I'm sorry you weren't with us. Really, I am."

"Me too." Thrushpelt looked at his paws.

Talonpaw was touched by their apology. "It's fine. I'll recover soon enough, and join you in the warrior's den."

Stormtail walked up with Moonflower and Larksong.

"Congratulations, young toms." The gray warrior rumbled. "You will make fine warriors."

The cat's eyes gleamed, Stormtail didn't give praise lightly.

"You will sit vigil tonight." Larksong reminded. "There will be nests waiting for you in the morning."

Moonflower nudged Stormtail. "Well?"

Stormtail glanced at her lovingly, and Talonpaw stifled an amused purr. Stormtail never acted mushy over anything. Then the tom stated, "We have a happy announcement. Moonflower is having my kits."

Larksong, Thrushpelt and Snowowl broke out in happy purrs and trills. Talonpaw looked Moonflower in the eye, and spoke her congratulations that way.

ThunderClan was thriving. She would be a warrior soon.