Raven's Return

As the group of cats pushed though the gorse tunnel at sundown, shocked gasps and surprise filled the camp.

"It's Ravenpaw! He's back!"

"Ravenpaw!"

"Bluestar and the others are back! And Ravenpaw's with her!"

Soon, the clan took notice of a black kit padding with them.

"Who's that?"

"She doesn't smell like from any of the other clans. Perhaps a rogue? She smells a bit like Ravenpaw."

Bluestar waved her tail for the tired group. "Ravenpaw, Night, wait with Nightfrost. Fireheart, come with me to my den."

Ravenpaw, Night and Nightfrost waited for the leader and deputy when his friend padded towards them.

"How was the journey, Nightfrost?" asked Whitestorm.

"The journey has been well, but hot. We had to rest at Ravenpaw's place."

Whitestorm nodded and turned to Ravenpaw. "And young Ravenpaw! How have you been?!"

Ravenpaw sputtered. "W-well gr-great. I-i guess."

Whitestorm purred. "There is someone who like to meet you, Ravenpaw."

The white warrior flicked his tail. Frostfur padded to them, her ears flat. "I'm sorry, Ravenpaw. About back then, when I believed one of Tigerclaw's lies."

"N-no! It's fine, Frostfur! You weren't the only cat."

Bluestar pushed out of her den and padded to the Highrock, quieting the returned cats. "Let all cats old enough to hunt gather beneath the Highrock for a clan meeting!"

The rest of the clan fell silent, waiting for their leader. "Today, Ravenpaw has returned to Thunderclan. As he had just returned, and his warrior ceremony delayed, I have decided to have his warrior ceremony now."

The clan grasped in disbelief and murmured as it was the tradition for an apprentice to have a warrior cermony, they must be tested with assessments from their mentor or approved by a warrior. Bluestar continued, not waiting for the clan to stop.

"I, Bluestar, leader of Thunderclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn."

Bluestar turned to Ravenpaw. "Ravenpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do."

"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Ravenpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Ravenwing. StarClan honors your skill in hunting and warmth, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan."

Bluestar leap off and rested her muzzle in his head, to which Ravenwing licked her shoulder in respect.

"Ravenwing! Ravenwing! Ravenwing!" Fireheart yowled out first, then the rest of the clan followed, though uncertain.

A cat near Nightfrost mutter. "Is Bluestar in her right mind? I know Ravenpaw can become a warrior sooner or later, but why isn't he assessed?" The black warrior almost nodded in agreement.

When the cheering died down, Bluestar continued. "And we have a newcomer here, brought to us by Ravenpaw. Night is a kit who was living with Ravenwing and wishes to join the clan."

The leader flicked her tail to Night. The feathery she-cat padded up to her. "I have decided to let her stay here and become a warrior. Night, from this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Nightpaw. Your mentor will be Sandstorm. I hope Sandstorm will pass down all she knows on to you."

The pale ginger she-cat looked up in shock and surprise and padded out to the clearing. She turned happily to Fireheart, who returned her smile.

"Sandstorm, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from Whitestorm, and you have shown yourself to be courageous and spirited. You will be the mentor of Nightpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to Nightpaw."

The apprentice and mentor touched noses. This time, Thunderclan cheered for the apprentice and warrior, except for Ravenwing, who nodded and smiled at Nightpaw. The gathering cats soon left one by one. Ravenwing padded to the tunnel for his first night as a warrior. Sandstorm was mewing to Nightpaw, leading her to the apprentice's den. Nightfrost was about to pad to the warrior's den when he bumped into Longtail.

"Ah, Longtail..."

"Hello, Nightfrost." The pale tabby backed off a bit. The two stood near each other awkwardly.

"How is Cinderpaw? I'm pretty sure she a handful to any warrior," mewed Nightfrost.

"Cinderpaw? She's doing well as an apprentice. I thought she would be more...like how she used to be like. I guess the incident made her more responsible to her own actions," meowed Longtail, while fear scent came from him. And incident? Ah, that incident.

"Why are you so scared of me, Longtail?" Nightfrost couldn't help asking. The pale warrior kept glancing at him in fear and backing away a little bit.

"Well, you hate Tigerclaw, and I was friends with him...so..." Longtail looked to the ground.

Nightfrost nodded. Make's sense, but...wait a minute. "How do you know I loathe him?"

Longtail looked fully at his face then, surprised. "Well, at the catnip incident, you almost clawed Tigerclaw into shreds, yowling that you dislike him at much. The whole clan knows."

Nightfrost gaped.

The only reason why Night smells a bit like Ravenpaw is because they both used to live in the same place.