Chapter Seven

"Sunfall will lead the sunhigh patrol. Take Adderfang, Whitepaw and Snowowl. I'll take a hunting patrol out with Dapplepaw and Stormtail. Fuzzypelt, you take another hunting patrol out. Larksong and Speckletail will join you. Tawnyspots, you are in charge of the camp while we are out."

Talonpaw sat outside the medicine clearing and listened wistfully as Pinestar issued orders to her clan mates. She longed to go back to her duties with them. It had been a quarter moon since the accident. Her side had never felt better and she didn't understand why Shadowclaw wouldn't let her go back to being an apprentice.

"Hey Talonpaw!"

Thrushpelt's mew interrupted her thoughts. The tom trotted over and sat down next to her. She felt his fur brush against her as he sat down.

"Hi Thrushpelt." Talonpaw purred.

"When is Shadowclaw going to let you go back to your duties? You've been in here for absolute ages. Stormtail doesn't seem to know what do to without an apprentice."

Goosepaw suddenly walked out of the fern tunnel from the medicine clearing. "If Stormtail is bored, he could take more care of Moonflower." He snapped.

Talonpaw was confused by the growl in the cat's meow. Did he think Moonflower was being neglected by her mate?

"Why do you say that Goosepaw?" Thrushpelt spoke her thoughts. "I see Stormtail fetch Moonflower the biggest piece of prey on the pile, every dawn and evening."

"But does he ever offer encouragement?" The fluffy apprentice shook his head. "My sister showed poor judgment when she chose that arrogant cat for a mate."

Talonpaw bristled. Growling, she retorted, "Stormtail might not be the most loving cat, but her cares about Moonflower, and is a loyal cat." She wouldn't let Goosepaw speak harshly against her mentor.

Goosepaw glared at her. "Shadowclaw says you may leave now," he spat. "He says you're well enough to go back to the apprentice's den." Goosepaw bounded away and disappeared through the gorse tunnel.

Thrushpelt looked at Talonpaw with concern. "Don't let that arrogant apprentice get at you. He doesn't like Stormtail because he once told him that he was about as much use as a tick. He just sits around and uses other cats to survive." He flicked Talonpaw on the flank. "Let's go find Stormtail's patrol and tell him the news."

***

"I, Pinestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior. Talonpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Talonpaw felt herself shiver. This was the most important decision she would ever make.

Knowing the power in her oath, she solemnly replied, "I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior name: Talonpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Talonclaw. StarClan honors your perseverance and loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

Talonclaw licked her leader's shoulder as he rested his muzzle between her ears.

"Talonclaw! Talonclaw! Talonclaw!" Her Clan yowled her new name to StarClan.

Moonflower, her kits due in one moon, came padding up heavily. "Congratulations! You are a warrior at last."

Stormtail licked Talonclaw's ear, "You'll be the best warrior any Clan has seen since LionClan."

Talonclaw purred loudly. She would miss being Stormtail's apprentice, and she could hardly believe that she was a warrior finally.

Snowowl, Dapplepaw and Thrushpelt bounded over to her.

"Thrushpelt made a nest for you!" Dapplepaw exclaimed.

Thrushpelt's ears turned the color of fire. "We both made it!"

"Oh yeah. I forgot." Dapplepaw imitated Thrushpelt's deep mew. "'I'll go to the Great Sycamore. The best and softest moss is there.'" Dapplepaw pretended to pout. "And then when I offer to help I get told I might leave a thorn in it or a sharp stick!"

Talonclaw sat down with an embarrassed thump. She stared at her paws, feeling her ears burning madly. She could hear Snowowl trying, in vain, to stifled enormous amused purrs.

If he says anything, I'll stick burrs in his nest as well as Dapplepaw's!

A loud call came from the high rock. "Cats of ThunderClan!" Pinestar called. "I have one more announcement." The leader looked sad. "Larksong, come forward."

The beautiful senior warrior of ThunderClan stepped forward.

"Larksong, is it your wish to give up the name of a warrior and go to join the elders?"

"It is." The she-cat spoke with conviction.

"Your Clan honors you and all the service you have given to us. I call upon StarClan to give you many moons of rest."

"Larksong!" Snowowl cried out.

"Larksong! Larksong! Larksong!" The Clan joined in.

Larksong eyes glimmered with affection for her clan mates. She turned and joined Weedwhisker, Mossflower and Mumblefoot.

Talonclaw glanced worriedly at Shadowclaw's den. Greeneye wasn't with the other elders to welcome Larksong because he had caught whitecough. It was unusual to catch it in the middle of greenleaf. Shadowclaw said this meant Greeneye had weak lungs, and the elder could die if it even came close to developing into greencough.

There was another thing Talonclaw was worried about. What had Larksong meant when she said Pinestar was delaying their warrior ceremony? She looked at the leader suspiciously.

Did he purposely keep me from being made a warrior sooner?

Seeing her leader speaking warmly to his clan mates, she found it hard to believe. Pinestar would never do something so malicious.

Or would he?