CHAPTER 8
Stonepaw sat beside his litter-mate's as their mother Brightstar stood up on hightree, her fur softly glowing from the sun setting behind her, casting a fiery orange glow. Stonepaw sighed nervously, his tail tip twitching with built up nerves, he had been training hard these last two moons to catch up with his litter-mates. "Starclan, please let me become warriors with my siblings!" thought Stonepaw begging Starclan, Brightstar's crystal blue eyes glowed with clear pride. Brightstar smiled as the wind ruffled her pelt, "Amberpaw, you have proven that you are ready to become a warrior, do you promise to uphold the warrior code even at the cost of your life?" meowed Brightstar her words sending shivers down Stonepaw's spine. Amberpaw stood up quivering slightly with contained excitement; Amberpaw nodded his eyes serious; "I do Brightstar." he purred. Brightstar gave a soft smile at her son's words; "then by the power of Starclan I Brightstar leader of Blossomclan names you Amberpelt; Starclan honors your eagerness to learn and skill in hunting." declared Brightstar; Amberpet purred his yellow and green eyes glittering with pride. Stonepaw purred, feeling himself fill pride and happiness for his brother, "he worked so hard to become a warrior!" thought Stonepaw with a soft smile. Amberpet sat beside his litter-mates wanting to be beside them, Tidepaw nervously licked her shoulder fur, her nervousness obvious. Brightstar gazed down at her daughter Tidepaw, "Tidepaw you have proven yourself capable of becoming a warrior, do you promise to uphold the warrior code. Even at the cost of your life?" The question hung in the air for a moment before Tidepaw took a deep breath and nodded. "I promise Brightstar." meowed Tidepaw her voice a bit solemn considering becoming a warrior was a great honor; Stonepaw frowned noticing the sadness in Tidepaw's eyes. "I'll ask Tidepaw about it later." thought Stonepaw made a mental note to do so, Brightstar nodded at her daughter's words. "Then by the honor of Starclan and I Brightstar leader of Blossomclan name you Tideripple; Starclan honors your swift thinking and kind heart." purred Brightstar pride clear in her gaze. Tideripple's dark blue eyes shone with happiness, her earlier sadness fading back slightly, Amberpelt nudged his sister's shoulder in good humor. Tideripple nudged back with a slight purr, Brightstar watched her warrior kits with a slight chuckle. Then she became serious again as she turned to Bluepaw; Bluepaw stood up at once when her mother locked eyes with her, Brightstar took a deep breath before speaking. "Bluepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code even at the cost of your life?" Brightstar's words were serious, Bluepaw dipped her head with grace; "I do Brightstar." meowed Bluepaw elegantly Brightstar purred at her daughter's seriousness. "Then I Brightstar leader of Blossomclan Bestow your warrior name; Blueflame, Starclan honors your seriousness and fast claws." meowed Brightstar eyes glowing with happiness. Stonepaw felt his nerves begin to build more, "it should be my turn now." thought Stonepaw looking up at his mother trying to read her expression. Brightstar's eyes shined with pity as she gazed at her crippled son, Brightstar dipped her head. "Stonepaw…. My son, I am sorry but you aren't ready to become a warrior." meowed Brightstar; Stonepaw felt as if his heart had been torn open by claws, a hard lump formed in his throat and he swallowed, trying hard not to show his sadness. Stonepaw lowered his head noticing his litter-mates looking at him sadly, Stonepaw stared at the ground below him. "I tried so hard to catch up…. But it wasn't enough!" thought Stonepaw's despair filled his whole heart and body, he stood up and bolted out of camp. Stonepaw ran even with his limp; he was fast, Stonepaw felt tears fall down his cheeks running down his chin and splashing onto the leaf littered floor. A lightning bolt flashed above as rain clouds filled the sky turning the sky dark, Stonepaw kept running, feeling the water in the air make his lungs sting. "Starclan why?!" wailed Stonepaw all he had ever wanted was to become a warrior alongside his litter-mates, Stonepaw began to pant having no idea how far he had run or where he was even going. Rain began to fall fat raindrops hitting Stonepaw's face blurring his vision, Stonepaw's nostrils filled with the cold scent of rain as he ran. Stonepaw's paws splashed in puddles, his tail waving behind him as the wind began to pick up. "Starclan, why can't I just be a normal warrior?!" screamed Stonepaw as he realized his paws had subconsciously carried him to the thunderpath where Stonepaw's whole future had changed within a flash. Stonepaw collapsed beside the thunderpath covering his face with his good foreleg, Stonepaw sobbed in front of the place his life had forever changed. Stonepaw's pelt was soaked from the storm that seemed to echo his feelings; Stonepaw shivered from the cold but he barely felt the cold. "Why can't I be normal?!" thought Stonepaw for the first time since waking up with his crippled leg he had finally realized he would never be the same. Stonepaw heard pawsteps behind him, Stonepaw raised his tear streaked face to see his mother; Brightstar's eyes showed so much sadness and pain, Brightstar came to lay beside her son curling her tail around her son and pulling him to her side. Stonepaw laid his head on his mom's back crying still, "I just wanted to be normal…." cried Stonepaw trembling slightly; Brightstar sighed and leaned her head over to her son, licking his forehead comfortingly. "I know… But Starclan doesn't have that planned…. Even so I know you'll train hard to become the warrior I know you'll become." purred Brightstar love clear in her sweet gaze. Stonepaw gave a long sigh, shaking his head slightly, "has Starclan abandoned me?" sadness cracked in Stonepaw's voice as he spoke his fears that had slowly begun to crawl into his mind. After Minkpaw had spoken in his dreams two moons ago Stonepaw hadn't seen another Starclan cat sense, he had begun to think Starclan had forgotten about him. Brightstar's eyes burned with sudden anger making Stonepaw flinch, "don't you dare think for a moment Starclan would abandon you!" hissed Brightstar angry that her son would even think for a second that he wasn't important enough. "I know you have been through a lot Stonepaw…. Losing Minkpaw after trying so desperately hard to save her, I know that must have been hard… Then finding out your life would permanently change, but even though all of that…. You still pushed ahead overcoming obstacles no matter how difficult. I know you'll overcome this too…. Your strong Stonepaw, don't you ever forget that!" Brightstar sounded so kind and caring beginning to groom her child. Stonepaw cried into his mother's fur; he didn't realize how much he had just needed to hear those words; Stonepaw felt his mother's soft strokes of her tongue as he cried. Brightstar smiled softly knowing her son just needed a good cry, the rain splashed around them, the thunderpath behind them was quite not a monster to be found. Stonepaw's sobs slowly calmed down and slowed as he began to calm down, Stonepaw nuzzled into his mother's soft white fur; Stonepaw slowly took long shuddering breaths as he finally calmed down. Brightstar nuzzled her son's head purring, "feel better?" asked Brightstar, kindness flooding her voice; Stonepaw nodded slowly "I do…. Thanks mom…" rasped Stonepaw, his voice rough from crying. Brightstar closed her eyes smiling, "of course I am always there for my children, do you want to go back?" The question sent a ripple of appreciation for his mother filling his heart. Stonepaw gave a soft shaky smile and nodded. He needed to go back and face his clan-mates "I will become a warrior." he declared Brightstar smiled pride flickering in her gaze as she nodded. Brightstar slowly led the way back to camp as the storm above them began to clear, the clouds parting in Stonepaw's heart as well as in the sky; letting the sun shine through. Stonepaw lifted his head feeling hope and determination shine in his heart like the sun shone through the parted clouds, Stonepaw suddenly saw a huge rainbow awe filled his heart. Stonepaw knew it was a sign of a promise; Starclan promised to him that they had not given up on him. "I'll make Starclan as well as Blossomclan see my strength!" thought Stonepaw grinning.