Sandbreeze felt so ashamed. As she curled up in her nest, she readied herself for the dream ahead of her. As she closed her eyes, she thought of her talk with her friends earlier today. It helped a little, but she still felt horrible. She soon drifted off into a quiet slumber. When she opened her eyes, she expected to see the dark, gloomy forest with Breezepelt a whisker away from her face, hissing at her, but instead she awoke to a beautiful clearing, with four serious looking cats in front of her.
"Welcome, Sandbreeze, to StarClan." Meowed a blue-gray she-cat with icy blue eyes blazing like fire.
"Am I- am I dead" Sandbreeze studdered.
"No, you are here for a different reason." A flame colored tom answered her this time. Looking around, Sandbreeze observed the four cats. The two who hadn't spoken yet were gazing back at her, returning her stare. One of them was dark gray, with a broad flattened face, and the other was one she recognized.
"Squirrelflight! Your here!" She meowed. Now realizing she had the same ginger fur and green eyes that the tom who answered her last had. "You must be Firestar!"
"Yes I am." He replied. "And this is Bluestar and Yellowfang."
Sandbreeze gasped. These were some of the most famous cats in the clans. "It's an honour meeting you."
"We have no time for this!" Yellowfang snapped. "Why would you accept help from Breezepelt? Every cat knows he's evil!"
"Yellowfang! She didn't know, she was born outside of the clans, remember?" Bluestar cut in before Sandbreeze could answer.
"Enough of this, we must tell her what she needs to know." Squirrelflight meowed urgently.
"Yes." Firestar agreed.
"The envy has come, but repentance has blocked it, for now. Fire has grown stronger, spreading its flames to the forest. Destruction will come, and wind, cold, water and cloud must stop it, together. They must save the forest!" All four of them meowed together, as one voice.
Sandbreeze soon awoke in her nest, with the voices of the StarClan cat's still echoing in her ears.
Cloversplash entered the clearing the next day. Willowfrost had just come to see her, and told her that Rainkit had caught Greencough, the dreaded sickness that killed many. He had been moved into Jayfeather and Moonpaw's den, saying that no cat could approach him, in fear of more cats catching it. Jayfeather had also confirmed that Sandbreeze was having kits, but she refused to move to the nursery except when nescesary. Snowstorm was supportive but still insisted that it was for her own good that she moved in with Ambercloud, Willowfrost, Brightcloud and Daisy.
"Snowstorm, for the last time, no. I want to keep my duties for a while at least." She'd say.
While today was gloomy because of Rainkit's health, it was also excitable because of Sanbreeze's kits, but not only that, all of the apprentice's had passed their final assessments, and they'd be getting their names at last. The ceremony was due at dusk today, and all of the apprentices were chattering away, excited about their names. It seemed like it was only yesterday when Cloversplash, Sandbreeze, Willowfrost and Brightcloud were all apprentices with Snowstorm, Dewfeather and Ambercloud, arguing about what the older apprentices names would be. While Snowstorm was a great name, inside Cloversplash still loved Snowsquasher better.
Padding towards them, Cloversplash heard them arguing.
"My name will crush all of yours." Coalpaw boasted.
"Nah-uh, mine will be so awesome that yours will be literally begging me for mercy." Redpaw meowed.
"I bet Coalpaw's will cool." Frostpaw meowed a little quietly.
"Speak up Frostpaw, we didn't hear you yowling to StarClan about your crush on him." Firepaw teased, making Frostpaw duck her head in embaressement.
"Oh yeah? Well Firepaw, we all know about how much you lo-o-ove Jayfeather!" Coalpaw shot back at her.
"WHAT! He's a medicine cat! What the?" Firepaw meowed in confusion.
"I'm kidding, duh!" He meowed again, rolling his eyes.
"Enough chatter, or you'll miss your own ceremony!" Cloversplash called to them. It was true, they were talking so loud they didn't even hear Bramblestar call the meeting. They ran up to the Highledge, where Bramblestar was waiting.
"Firepaw, Coalpaw, Redpaw and Frostpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do." Meowed Firepaw before he even finished speaking.
"I do." Echoed Redpaw.
" I do." Coalpaw meowed as he raised his head high.
"I do." Frostpaw followed, excited for her ceremony, though all the warmth in her eyes were for Coalpaw.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Firepaw, from this moment you will be known as Fireleaf. StarClan honors your spirit and your warmth, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan. Redpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Redheart. StarClan honours your courage and your independence, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan. Coalpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Coalpelt. StarClan honours your bravery and your strength, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan. Frostpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Frostflower. StarClan honours your kindness and your patience, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."
"Fireleaf, Redheart, Coalpelt, Frostflower!" The clan cheered.
As soon as the ceremony ended, Cloversplash went to congratulate her former apprentice. They were all very popular with the clan, Fireleaf escepcially, so there was a long wait before there was enough room for her to sit beside her.
"Well done, Fireleaf." She meowed. "Sometimes it looked as though you'd never pass."
Fireleaf nudged her former mentor with her shoulder. "Oh please, I wasn't that bad."
"True," Cloversplash meowed, recalling all their times together. "Now, it's time for your vigil, remember, no talking, and you have to stay awake all night."
"Yeah, will the rest of us get a good night' sleep." Snowstorm called from Sandbreeze's side.
As the night grew on, Cloversplash left Fireleaf's side and headed towards the warriors den.
Sandbreeze was already there, curled up with Snowstorm. She soon drifted off, but awoke almost at once to a wail.
"Rainkit! No!"