CHAPTER SIXTY

Birdpaw watched the scene with growing unease as cats began arguing amongst themselves. She was horrified when one cat suggested slitting Emberstar's throat. She knew other cats would object with the idea of letting SkyClan stay at the lake. What she hadn't anticipated was the protests that would follow. Or the fact that several others didn't believe Emberstar's story.

What's going to happen if they reject us? she wondered.

Flamestrike stood close beside her, tail wrapping around her almost protectively. Birdpaw glanced at him warily, suddenly aware of how much danger she and her Clanmates were in. The only consolation they had was the fact that the Gathering was a peaceful setting. If the Clans started fighting, StarClan would surely disapprove.

"This Gathering is over!" Russetstar declared before Emberstar could continue defending himself.

The rest of the Clans looked more than happy with that decision.

Her heart sank at the thought of what would happen if the other Clans rejected them again. She always knew it was a possibility, but she hadn't anticipated what would happen if it actually occurred.

"Well, that was a disaster," Lilypool, Flamestrike's sister, let out a sigh.

"It could have gone better, but it could have also taken a turn for the worse," Oakfire reminded them. Birdpaw looked at him warily as he approached the young warriors. "You did well, considering this was your first Gathering."

Birdpaw ducked out of sheer embarrassment, though it was getting harder to make herself appear smaller. She'd grown twice her size since they started their journey in the mountains. Her muscles were powerful now thanks to traveling along the stony path. She stood out among the other cats thanks to her back legs, though those legs were also part of the reason she was pure SkyClan.

"I'm surprised Petalstar and Emberstar allowed her to join us," a pale gray she-cat sniffed as she approached them. Birdpaw recognized the she-cat as Heatherpelt, another senior ThunderClan warrior. "But I suppose in some ways it gives you experience you'll need as a warrior."

"Enough of this," Emberstar growled as he stalked past them. Birdpaw's ears flattened when he reached her. She didn't miss the anger burning within those green eyes, though truthfully, she couldn't blame him for feeling so frustrated. It felt as though just when it seemed like things would start looking up, everything ended in disaster. "It's time I met with my Clan and discussed matters."

"Emberstar, please give the Clans some time to consider their decisions," Petalstar insisted. "I know times are difficult right now, but eventually they will see that this is necessary."

"Necessary by threatening to slit my throat?" Emberstar's eyes narrowed with fury. "Necessary by claiming what we told them is a lie? My Clan was nearly destroyed because of your ancestor's poor choices. I am tired of having to wait around and see if we will be accepted by the other Clans that rejected us."

"Jumping into a fight will not get you anywhere, Emberstar," Oakfire warned him.

Not to mention we don't have the numbers to defend ourselves, Birdpaw agreed with him silently. She glanced around the older cats anxiously, suddenly aware that they were on the verge of fighting. She hadn't seen Emberstar look so furious since their encounter with the Tribe. Then again, we have everything to lose.

She wasn't sure what her Clanmates would do if they were forced to leave again. She couldn't imagine what it had been like for her ancestors let alone what it would be like in today's day and age. Birchpelt soon followed once it was clear the Gathering was over. Birdpaw caught the look of pride written across her mentor's face when she reached her.

"You did well, Birdpaw," she licked her between her ears.

"I just wish we didn't have to fight for our place here," she let out a quiet sigh as the rest of the Clans dispersed.

Luckily, Petalstar was able to convince Emberstar not to fight with the other Clans. Birdpaw knew it would only be a matter of time before he changed his mind again. Not that she couldn't blame him for feeling that way. After everything the Clan had been through, they needed a time of peace. Getting into a fight was the last thing any Clan needed.

My first official Gathering and it ended in disaster, she thought bitterly.

The moon was sinking below the horizon as Emberstar and Birchpelt led the way back to the farm. By now, Birdpaw was exhausted. She said her goodbyes to Flamestrike and his sister, knowing full-well they would see each other again. She hoped it was under better circumstances. Flamestrike was a good friend of hers ever since they worked together to bring SkyClan back to the lake.

"Sometimes the only way to victory is through unsheathing your claws," Birchpelt reminded her. She flicked her tail across Birdpaw's ears as the apprentice trotted alongside her. "But in spite of all of that, you have earned yourself a good rest. I also think it's time for your final assessment; you're long overdue for your warrior name."

Her eyes widened in disbelief and excitement at those words.

She was the only apprentice in SkyClan at the moment, so she would still carry out apprentice duties. But the idea of being a warrior never occurred to her. Finally, she would have her warrior name!

"It's a good thing too, since Specklewing mentioned she's started gaining weight," Dewspots put in. "I haven't told her anything yet, but I suspect she might be expecting kits."

More kits means more mouths to feed, a voice argued with the medicine cat. Yet, it also meant there would be a brighter future for SkyClan. Birdpaw hoped that was the case. She wanted nothing more than for her Clan to thrive. After everything they went through, they deserved that.

…

Cool grass tickled her underbelly as she carefully stalked through the undergrowth. A heavy mist rolled over the lake, causing her senses to go haywire for a brief moment. Birdpaw stopped in her tracks to taste the air, sensing that she wasn't alone. Her ears angled towards a patch of grass not that far from where she stood.

Gotcha.

Her whiskers trembled ever-so-slightly. She knew she wasn't alone in the field, and she needed to be careful or else she would be caught. She sprang forward, using her back legs for extra strength. However, the thrush suddenly squawked and flew away before she could reach it. Birdpaw's tail lashed with frustration, though just as she turned she felt something ram into her.

Get up! a voice shouted at her.

Birdpaw's hackles rose with fury as she did just that. She leaped to her paws, only to find a familiar face looking back at her.

"Frozenfoot?" she asked in disbelief. The older she-cat didn't give her the chance to collect her thoughts. Faster than she could blink, Frozenfoot dashed forward and swiped her paw. The force of the blow was enough to send her skittering across the ground. "Frozenfoot, what in StarClan are you doing?"

"We're not Clanmates, mousebrain!" the she-cat yowled.

Her shoulders stiffened in confusion, but Frozenfoot didn't give her the chance to regain her composure. She continued jabbing her paws at Birdpaw with every opening she found, though Birdpaw noticed with a start that Frozenfoot wasn't using her claws. That gave her an idea. She knew now this was just a mock fight. She remembered Birchpelt mentioning something like that before her assessment came up.

Carefully she ducked out of the way just as Frozenfoot launched another volley of attacks. She used her longer legs to her advantage, springing forward once more, but this time to leap over her opponent. She used her tail for momentum, remembering what Birchpelt taught her for balance.

"Your tail can also be used in a fight," the deputy explained when she started teaching her battle moves. "It will take time and practice, but eventually you will learn how to utilize the space around you."

My tail can be used as well, she reminded herself. She kept her eyes on Frozenfoot, noting that the older she-cat took time turning so that they could face each other. Battling is all about strategy.

Frozenfoot ran ahead, and Birdpaw saw her opening. She ran forward as well, only to leap forward once more and land on the older she-cat's back. She felt Frozenfoot stiffen in surprise as she battered her paws into thick fur. Frozenfoot was quick to throw her off, though Birdpaw jumped off before she could cause further damage. She continued launching her own volley attacks, nipping here and there at exposed paws or tail when Frozenfoot tried getting her baring.

"That's enough!" Both Birdpaw and Frozenfoot stopped at the sound of Birchpelt's voice. "I've seen more than enough to see that my apprentice has learned from her training. You've done well to surprise her, Frozenfoot."

The gray she-cat beamed at those words before dipping her head, "It was a pleasure. Anything to rile up an apprentice."

She added the last part with a sneer towards Birdpaw, whose tail lashed in annoyance. She dare not argue with the older cat. Frozenfoot was kind enough not to use her claws in a mock fight. Birdpaw didn't want to experience what it was like to be on the receiving end of her wrath. Thankfully, she was saved from having to spend more time with Frozenfoot.

"Does this mean I passed?" she asked nervously. "I missed my prey."

"True, you missed that thrush, but that was not your intended target," Birchpelt reassured her. Birdpaw's eyes widened in surprise as Birchpelt gave her a look of amusement. "Relax, Birdpaw. Frozenfoot is a seasoned warrior; I asked her to take part in your assessment, and she happily agreed to see if you had what it takes."

Oh, I'm sure she did, Birdpaw wanted to scoff.

She supposed it was a good thing it had only been Frozenfoot. Since she was the Clan's only apprentice, she never learned about partner fighting or techniques apprentices learned together. It was only thanks to Birchpelt and through watching the young WindClan cats that Birdpaw managed to learn, and those skills were recent.

"I'm just starting to get familiar with WindClan scent," she admitted as they headed back to the barn. "But it smelled as though they've recently been near the border."

"I noticed that as well," Birchpelt hummed in agreement. "I'm surprised you noticed though. None of us have had the chance to get to know the other Clans or their scents."

Birdpaw ducked her head in embarrassment. She wasn't sure how that worked. Spruceleaf mentioned that her own scent would have washed away by the time they met. Her uncle and his mate didn't smell anything like a Clan cat; they spent too much time rolling around in the hay for her to recognize WindClan's scent. She simply recognized it from somewhere, though she couldn't explain how.

"To be fair I was at the Gathering the other night," she tried defending herself.

They would have also picked up WindClan's scent if that's the case, a voice argued with. You will have to come up with a better excuse if you want them to believe you.

Thankfully they didn't dwell on the topic. Birdpaw glanced over her shoulder nervously when she picked up their scent again in the wind. She remembered what Spruceleaf said about how hostile WindClan had been lately, especially to those outside the Clans. While SkyClan was technically still a Clan, that didn't mean the other Clans believed them.

Her tail lashed as she thought of what could be done to avoid a confrontation with the other Clans. She, Flamestrike and Spruceleaf tried thinking of ways to avoid a fight. Reedriver suggested they find a territory outside the lake, but somewhere close enough that the other Clans could still have contact with them. She almost scoffed at the thought.

We're still as much of a Clan as the rest of these Clans, she reminded herself. More-so because of what we've had to fight for.

"I take it the assessment went well?"

Birdpaw stopped in her tracks at the sound of Emberstar's voice. It took a few heartbeats for her to realize they were at the barn already. She blinked a few times, registering the fact that she spaced out again. This wasn't the first time that happened, and something told her it wouldn't be the last.

"Birdpaw passed without fail," Birchpelt purred. "She handled Frozenfoot's attack rather well, considering it was an ambush."

"Good," Emberstar dipped his head before glancing down at Birdpaw. "You've done well to make it this far, Birdpaw. I know the journey here has been harsh, but in spite of that, you have proven yourself."

She gave her chest fur a few embarrassed licks, though her pelt warmed at his praise. She wasn't sure if she really earned that kind of praise, but she was grateful for it nonetheless.

Emberstar led the way into the clearing where the other SkyClan cats were waiting.

Ever since they arrived at the lake, the Clan had been debating where the safest place to stay was. The barn seemed like a logical choice, but Wildheart pointed out that too many cats would attract unwanted attention. They were already easy targets for foxes or badgers that might be wandering the area. Unease crawled through Birdpaw as she recalled horror stories of foxes roaming the gorge at night, or worse, rats.

"Let all cats old enough gather around for a Clan meeting!" Emberstar yowled once he reached the center of the clearing.

Birdpaw glanced around her as everyone did just that. Her heart soared with joy when Darkflower approached her, eyes glowing with pride.

"My little kit is about to become a warrior," she let out a warm purr. "I never imagined this day would happen."

"Mother, please," Birdpaw ducked her head in embarrassment, though she couldn't help but relish the warmth and affection her mother provided.

Other cats watched them in amusement, knowing full-well Darkflower meant every word. She helped groom Birdpaw's pelt, smoothing down her ruffled fur as Emberstar addressed the Clan.

"As I'm sure you're aware, the Gathering was held last night at the full moon," he began. "We tried announcing our arrival peacefully, however, the other Clans were not as willing to accept our presence as we hoped."

"If we can't find a home here at the lake, then where will we go?" Mothflower asked.

"We've traveled for so long… I'm not sure if I can handle more journeys," Bouncestep admitted.

More questions and comments of concern followed. Birdpaw's heart sank at Bouncestep's comment. The elders suffered the most during their journey. She was lucky; Emberstar made her an apprentice early so she could begin her training. That made her stronger a whole, but she knew Bouncestep was right. The elders wouldn't be able to handle traveling over difficult terrain if they were forced to leave again.

"We will not be traveling again," Emberstar reassured them once he silenced them with a wave of his tail. "The other Clans will take time to convince, but I can assure you, we will not have to leave again." He paused to let those words sink in. Birdpaw didn't miss the fact that a few cats didn't look satisfied with that answer. She knew it would take time for them to accept this notion; for now, the barn was their home until they could find one around the lake. "There is another matter I wish to discuss, one that has a positive effect on our Clan. Birdpaw has passed her assessment, and she is ready to receive her name."

Mews of congratulations followed, though they sounded disgruntled after the last announcement. Birdpaw's ears flattened in dismay.

I hoped this would be received on a higher note, she admitted silently.

Then again, she didn't think Emberstar would use her ceremony as a way to announce what happened at the Gathering. She tried pushing those thoughts away. She needed to stay positive, especially with so much riding on this ceremony.

"Birdpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your own life?"

Emberstar's question cut through her thoughts once again. Birdpaw blinked before feeling someone nudge her from behind.

"I do," she replied after remembering what Birchpelt told her.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Birdpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Birdflight in honor of your courage, your bravery, and your ability to see beyond what we can see."

His words lingered in the air for a few heartbeats, and confusion swept through her. She tilted her head to one side as his last few words echoed in the back of her mind.

"Birdflight! Birdflight!"

Her pelt warmed at the cheers that followed. It took a few seconds for her to register that Spruceleaf and Wildheart were also cheering her name from the background. Standing between them were Harepaw and Gorsepaw; both apprentices had been present for the ceremony, along with their mother.

"Congratulations, Birdflight," Darkflower purred once the cheering died down. "You've more than earned your warrior name."

Birdflight's heart soared upon hearing those words.

Memories of their time together in the mountains suddenly came rushing back. Darkflower had done everything she could to protect her daughter. She would always be grateful for that notion, but she was even more grateful that Emberstar took the risk to name her an apprentice early.

"Spruceleaf suggested that Harepaw and Gorsepaw take on apprentice duties since we've been staying here," Birchpelt put in. Birdflight glanced at the pale brown she-cat thoughtfully. Spruceleaf trotted across the clearing and gave her shoulder a playful nudge, earning a look of amusement from her. "I thought that was a wise idea; the elders could do with some looking after."

"Indeed… with Birdflight now a warrior, the Clan doesn't have any apprentices," Emberstar nodded in agreement. "Are they willing to accept this idea?"

"My uncle wants them to have as much experience with Clan life as possible," Spruceleaf explained. "And truthfully, they have too much energy sometimes. Apprentice duties would be good for them."

Birdflight agreed with her on that. She couldn't imagine what their lives must have been like before this mess. Spruceleaf and her family had been exiled from WindClan over lies. She knew somewhere along the lines they would have to contend with that mess, though for now, she enjoyed the peace while she could.

"With that thought in mind, it's time for you to sit vigil," Birchpelt said to Birdflight. "It's another tradition that all newly named warriors must partake in."

I know that already! she argued silently, though she dare not say it out loud.

She was already on edge over the fact that she recognized WindClan's scent. She didn't want to point out the fact that she already knew traditions that weren't taught to her by her mentor or mother.

Thankfully, Birchpelt didn't dwell on the topic. Birdflight let out a sigh of relief as she took her place near the edge of the clearing. She sat for a few seconds, though not without Spruceleaf reaching her in a few quick strides. Birdflight glanced at her thoughtfully, eyes widening when Spruceleaf offered a mouse from the barn.

"It's a long night… some fresh-kill will help with that," she purred.

Birdflight dipped her head in thanks and took a quick bite, relishing the fact that she was surrounded by friends and family. She glanced back at the sky as the sun began sinking below the horizon. Almost at once, a new, daunting thought crossed her mind.

I'm a warrior now, she realized. Now, nothing will stand in my way of protecting this Clan.

AN: Well I've somehow gotten the chapters mixed up and out of order, so now the whole story is out of order XD At this point I'm just winging it to see how I end it. But if people are enjoying it enough, then I'll see where I can go from here. I'd also like to point out the fact that there is a story thief currently lurking the Warrior's fandom (like anyone cares at this point) *you know who you are asshole* As always, reviews are welcome! Thanks for taking time to check this story out.