*This chapter's a bit short, but it also ends the first part of Maplepaw's Redemption. Instead of starting a whole new book, the "sequel" will just be put as a part 2.*
For the next quarter moon, Yellowstar-no doubt at Freezepaw's insistence-stayed in her den, resting, while Mistpaw kept watch over her and Paletuft organized patrols. Ravenkit was fully weaned now; he'd decided it was time, all by himself, and though Patchkit was still too young to stop drinking milk altogether, he started following Ravenkit to the fresh-kill pile to sample pieces of prey the warriors brought back from hunting. Falconpaw came to camp every day with a piece of prey (usually shrew, Patchkit's favorite) for his adopted son and Ravenkit, who wasn't quite his, wasn't quite Mapledawn's, and wasn't quite Redpoppy's adopted kit, but who seemed to belong to everyone in the Clan.
Yewpaw didn't visit as much, since leaf-fall was well underway and all cats were needed for hunting, but that was okay. The kits were all beginning to eat warm prey now. Ravenkit, our little kit-leader. They just couldn't let Ravenkit be the only one eating meat!
Wrencatcher was still nowhere to be seen. Mapledawn hadn't even noticed him disappear the day of the battle with Scratchface. She hoped it was with Yellowstar's blessing, but she wasn't willing to disturb Yellowstar's rest to ask. It wasn't her problem, not anymore. She wasn't leader or deputy. She wasn't even a senior warrior yet, with no apprentice of her own.
She was Patchkit's mother, and that was enough for now.
She did pull Paletuft aside one day to mention her idea about the elders. Pigpaw, Burrpaw, and Littlepaw still didn't have dedicated mentors. They couldn't until Yellowstar was well enough to assign them, and welcome them officially to FireClan. Paletuft promised she'd suggest the idea to Yellowstar when she was better.
"It's unusual," Paletuft had said, "but so is bringing six outsiders into a Clan all at once. And we're stretched thin on warriors." She'd nodded thoughtfully. "I was expecting you to ask to mentor one of them."
"Of course I'd love to," Mapledawn had mewed. "But I'm still caring for Patchkit."
"Plenty of queens leave the nursery early, if there's extra paws to help with the kits," Paletuft had returned, "but that's up to you."
And she would love to mentor one of the crash cats; Pigpaw or Burrpaw especially. But there'd be plenty of opportunities to become a mentor. She obviously wouldn't train her own kit or her mother's new litter, but Ravenkit would make a fine apprentice one day, if Yellowstar thought it was okay.
When Yellowstar finally left her den, it was with ceremony. "Let all cats old enough to be called 'paw' gather below Highledge for a Clan meeting!" she yowled one morning after the early day patrols had returned to camp. Slowly, FireClan's warriors swarmed below the flat rock jutting over camp, eyes wide as they looked up at their leader. Her rest had obviously done her good. Mapledawn could see scars laced across her shoulder, but her muscles were sleek, her pelt well-groomed.
"Go on," Redpoppy purred in Mapledawn's ear. "Thrushflight and I can handle the little ones."
"Are you sure?"
Redpoppy licked her cheek. "I have a feeling you'll want to be a part of this one," her mother said with another purr, her deep orange eyes soft.
"Thanks, Mom." Mapledawn licked her cheek back, and tucked Patchkit against Redpoppy's long fur. "I'll be back soon, little one."
"Cats of FireClan," Yellowstar called, "may the Ageless ones bless you!"
"May StarClan guide you," they chanted back.
"Today we perform a few ceremonies that are long overdue. Although born outside of Thunder forest, the newcomers have shown great promise in learning the ways of the warrior code. It is rare for a Clan to have so many apprentices, and so few warriors to teach them." She nodded to Falconpaw, Yewpaw, Burrpaw, Littlepaw, Pigpaw, and Mistpaw, who sat beside Freezepaw. "Mistpaw, you have your own ceremony to undertake with Freezepaw at the Moonpool. Typically, the previous medicine cat gives the new apprentice their full name." She fell silent, her eyes growing misty. "But Cloudstep is not here. I call upon my warrior ancestors and the medicine cats in their rank, and ask them to look down on this medicine cat apprentice. She has trained hard in the mysteries of the Ageless Ones and the art of healing, and has acted as the Clan's only medicine cat with strength and courage, despite losing Cloudstep before she could finish her training.
"Freezepaw, come forward." Freezepaw's eyes were guarded as she stepped toward Yellowstar. "Do you promise uphold the ways of a medicine cat, to stand apart from rivalry between Clan and Clan and to protect all cats equally, even at the cost of your life?
"Yes," Freezepaw murmured.
"Then from this moment on, you will be known as Freezecloud. Cloudstep taught you well. StarClan honors your clearsightedness and tenacity, and I know you will pass these qualities down to Mistpaw in turn."
Freezecloud licked Yellowstar's shoulder, then draped a wreath of sweet-smelling plants around Mistpaw's right leg.
"Cats of FireClan," Yellowstar began again as the medicine cats stepped back, "this is a day of strange traditions. But a tradition's holiness isn't based on following the exact words and rites. It's based on honor, loyalty, and fealty to the warrior code. As such, I have another…" Her mouth twisted up in a wry smile. "...strangeness to subject you to." She raised her head. "Oaktree, please step forward."
A few gasps rippled through FireClan, but Oaktree stepped boldly forward, his tail held high. Flecks of gray dotted his muzzle, and his dark brown stripes covered patchy fur, but his eyes were clear and bright, and Mapledawn could still see muscle beneath his pelt.
"Pigpaw, please step forward as well."
Pigpaw's eyes were wide, his mouth half-open, as he approached the sturdy elder. "I'm being trained by an elder?"
Oaktree's nape bristled, and Dapplecreek gasped, but Pigpaw continued: "I must be really special!" His tail went straight up in the air, and his chest puffed out.
Oaktree purred warmly, his eyes half-closed in a smile. "I think we're going to get along just fine, young'un."
"Pigpaw, you were born outside the Clans, but you have worked hard to understand our code. Do you swear fealty to the warrior code, to StarClan, and to FireClan?"
"I do!" Pigpaw chirped.
"Then from this day until you complete your training, you will be known as Pigpaw. We welcome you fully as an apprentice of FireClan. Oaktree," Yellowstar continued. "You have earned your rest in the elder's den many times over, but you have graciously volunteered to mentor young Pigpaw in the ways of the Clan. Oatfur, father of my father, trained you well, and you trained Seedtail with patience and strength. I expect you to pass these qualities onto Pigpaw as well."
A few more murmurs cut through the Clan; Yellowstar raised her tail to silence them.
"Oaktree," she said, "will only leave camp with another warrior beside him. He may sleep in the warrior den if he wishes, or return to the elder den. Once Pigpaw's training is complete, he can choose to return full-time to the elder's den. But Oaktree is a strong cat, and I know he has many, many moons of wisdom to share with FireClan yet." She turned back to Pigpaw and Oaktree. "The wreaths," she whispered.
Oaktree rested his head on Pigpaw, who licked his chest. He stepped back so Oaktree could wrap a paw wreath around his foreleg.
"Oaktree!" The Clan called. "Pigpaw! Mistpaw! Freezecloud!"
The ceremonies continued. Falconpaw's apprenticeship to Dapplecreek became official; Yew, with Yellowstar's blessing, chose the path of a denmother, which freed Downtail up to mentor Littlepaw. He still swore loyalty to the warrior code, and took a full name: Yewleg. Littlepaw fits Downtail's personality better, anyway. Fallensnow was given Burrpaw to mentor. She seemed thrilled to have an apprentice. This turned out perfectly, Mapledawn thought, chanting: "Burrpaw! Littlepaw! Falconpaw! Yewleg!"
If I was leader, Mapledawn thought, calling out the apprentice names until her throat was hoarse, I wouldn't have done anything differently.