"Raggedstrike! Raggedstrike!"
Nick smiled at his achievement, of becoming a warrior in this world of cats.
"We should've became warriors along with you." Hazelpaw growled bitterly with Rainpaw at her side.
"You two only have a moon or two left to go." Grassbreeze purred encouragingly. "You both have been doing great."
"Not great enough clearly." Rainpaw snapped. "C'mon, sis, let's go find a hunting patrol."
They walked to their mother, who was staring intently at Nick, whom was starting to become less oblivious to it and realize she must have reason for always looking out for him.
"You have the vigil." Tigerheart said to his former apprentice. "Suggest you eat what you can before the moon rises."
Nick nodded and took a chunk of squirrel to under a tree and began tearing at it hungry from his final assessment he did only minutes ago.
The night had risen and Nick took his place in watching the camp for the first time.
He thought of his tiring and hard assessment, that Tigerheart had planned to test his skill...
Nick was basking in the sun emitting from the entrance of the apprentice's den. He turned and the sunlight that soaked his dark brown fur made him even more sleepy.
He recalled only several sunrises ago that Fawndapple and Hollowheart became warriors, very proud but a moment of silence was heldfortheir sister.
But he knew this morning should be his final assessment, and he would be asleep and waiting for his mentor.
Hefelt less warm then he could be, being without Fawndapple and Hollowheart to keep him warm. Instead, Hazelpaw and Rainpaw were sleeping far away from him. StarClan knew why.
He saw a flash of dark brown come his way and he got up, sleepiness still tickling his brain.
"Raggedpaw says hello." Nick murmured. "Final assessment?"
"Yes, very perceptive my apprentice." Tigerheart replied. "It'll be out near the half-bridge, and catch and bring a piece of prey with you and defend it at all costs."
"O...kay." Nick nodded his head.
"I'll go ahead, wait till you can't see me anymore to start."
"Yes, Tigerheart." Nick meowed.
Tigerheart left and Nick heard the sound of squeaking kits behind him and smiled.
He waited a few seconds after Tigerheart disappeared and ran out of camp, the last thing he saw was Dawnpelt's eyes of admiration.
He ignored those eyes to avoid theslight distraction. The final assessment was pawsteps away.
He continued a fast sprint and caught a squirrel along the way, took it in his mouth, and dashed to the half-bridge.
Oddly enough, there was no cat there.
"Tigerheart?" Nick called, dropping his squirrel. He couldn't have been late, he went ahead of him.
Then he froze, putting a protective claw over his catch. It had suddenly occurred to him that it might be a trap.
He screeched when he felt a set of jaws clamp down on his tail and barely had time to react when a dark grey she-cat took his squirrel.
"Hollowheart?!" Nick hissed. "What?!"
He looked and saw Fawndapple biting his tail with no intention of letting go.
"Stop this!" Nick snapped. He looked in horror when he saw Tigerheart running to him.
With a dawn of realization, Nick scratched open Fawndapple's nose and leaped at Hollowheart. A hiss barely escaped her mouth when Nick smacked the piece of prey out of her jaws and snarled. Hollowheart looked shocked and backed away.
Nick wasn't ready when Tigerheart bowled into him with a ferioisity he'd never expect from his mentor. Fawndapple and Hollowheart looked on as the experienced warrior pinned him.
Nick fought desperately and dashed out of his mentor's grip, holding on tight to the squirrel in his mouth.
He growled and ran back to camp, the thundering clash of twelve paws behind him.
He felt a claw snag his tail, but he lifted it right away and put more speed on his paws.
He gasped when he finally made it to camp and dropped the squirrel to pant heavily.
His back arched when he heard the paws and protectively put a claw over his catch.
Fawndapple and Hollowheart crashed into camp, panting as well. Finally, Tigerheart broke through the bushes and looked at his apprentice.
"You...have passed the final assessment." Tigerheart gasped.
"Raggedpaw!" Nick shuddered as he heard the slight squeal of Dawnpelt's voice and sawher runing.
"Um, Hazelpaw!" Nick cried. "Your mom wants to talk to you!"
Dawnpelt was bowled over by her daughter and Rainpaw followed.
Nick saw Rowanstar and his mate leave his den and the former smiled expectantly at Nick.
"I knew you would pass." Rowanstar meowed. "Being trained by our son, after all!"
"Of course!" Tigerheart replied smugly. "I've been very proud to train you, Raggedpaw."
Nick smiled and nodded.
"Then let's get the warrior ceremony started." Rowanstar announced.
Nick's eyes flicked open and he stood up during the last moments of his vigil. He saw Tigerheart leave the warrior's den and nodded.
"A nest has been made for you in the warrior's den." Snowbird explained kindly.
"Cool, next to who?" Nick asked.
"Between Tigerheart and Dawnpelt." Snowbird replied.
"Great." Nick smiled, however it was fake. "Um, can it not be near Dawnpelt?"
"She-cats don't have cooties if that's what you're worried about." Stoatfur sneered.
"No, I just maybe want to be moved somewhere else." Nick snapped.
"What? Oh whatever you can sleep between Fawndapple and Hollowheart." Stoatfur snapped before taking off.
Nick smiled, he preferred the younger and frankly much less annoying sisters as friends.
He was really tired from trying to stay up all night so he quickly sniffed out his nest that should be between the sisters and laid down in it, his exhaustion overwhelming.
His eyes flickered open and he saw Dawnpelt holding a mouse over him.
"Thank." Nick muttered, pawing at the mouse, trying not to care that it was brought to him by Dawnpelt.
She finally left, and Nick thanked StarClan before letting sleep overtake him.