CHAPTER 8 | WARRIORS
1322 Words
Rainpaw’s POV
“I’ll help you every step of the way,” purred Rainpaw. It hurt Rainpaw to see Whitepaw in such a terrible state but she was glad to know that he would get better.
“Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath the highledge for a clan meeting!” Firestar called the ancient words to summon the clan to the clearing.
Rainpaw quickly nudged Whitepaw up softly. He was still in a bit of pain but the poppy seeds still hadn’t worn off. Rainpaw let Whitepaw lean against her shoulder and led him to to the edge of the group of cats that were now gathered around the highledge.
Firestar stood on one of the rocks from the rockfall that created the staircase to his cave den up at the highledge. “We are all exhausted from the battle early this morning. We have a long way to recover but we must try our best to carry on.” Firestar’s voice quivered.
Rainpaw wondered how many lives the flame coloured warrior had left. All deputies when they finally made into a clan leader recieve nine lives, and each time they die they recover with one less live. Rainpaw was worried he wasn’t going to be around for long.
The whole clan must have been thinking the same thing and Firestar must have seen it in their eyes because he reassured every cat. “Do not worry. I still have many lives yet to lose.” The clan relaxed, and the tension that had hung in the air a moment before was gone. “Although we have defeated WindClan and have shown them we are not to be messed with we still have ShadowClan. . . We will figure that out later but right now we have something else to discuss.” He turned his gaze on Rainpaw and Whitepaw.
As the clan looked their way there were gasps of shock and a few growls.
Firestar continued. “Rainpaw and Whitepaw have come back. They were here to help us.”
Gasps and a couple cheers came from the crowd.
“I have reason to believe it was Rainpaw who saved us. Or her belief?” He questioned the last sentence, willing her to speak.
“I. . .” How will her clan take what she had to tell them. Will they believe her that she believes in StarClan or will they think she is lying just so she could be in ThunderClan once more? “I believe in StarClan.” Silence from the listening cats. “Bluestar spoke to me and told me you were in danger and we came back to help you. I was almost beaten in the battle but asked StarClan for help and they fought alongside me. That’s how we won.” No cat argued, but they all looked at one another with smiles and approving nods toward her.
“Then there is only one way to reward you and to say thank you for your help.” Firestar turned toward the crowd of cats that were astonished and had big eyes. “What do you say?” He asked the clan. “We make them both warriors?”
Yowls of approval and recognition filled the hollow. Rainpaw was so surprised and happy. Whitepaw that was sitting next to her was smiling and purring at her and he wrapped his tail around her.
“What do you think, Dlizzardclaw?” Firestar asked the white apprentice’s mentor. “Is Whitepaw ready to become a warrior?”
Blizzardclaw stepped forward and with pride he meowed, “Whitepaw has always been very strong. He has worked hard in battle training and hunt training. He is the most loyal apprentice a mentor could ask for.” Rainpaw looked at her mate who sat awkwardly due to his injury beside her as he licked his chest with embarrassment.
Firestar nodded toward Whitepaw and the white apprentice slowly made his way to his leader and stood beside him.
Then firestar began the warrior ceremony. “I, Firestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in their turn.
Whitepaw was churning his claws against the hard rock in excitement.
Firestar continued, “Whitepaw, 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. Whitepaw, from this moment on you will be known as Whitestone. StarClan honors your strength, independance and loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan.”
Firestar rested his muzzle on Whitestone’s head, and the former apprentice licked Firestar’s shoulder.
The clan broke out in sheers, calling the white warrior by his new name. “Whitestone!” “Whitestone!”
After Whitestone made his way back to his position next to Rainpaw, Firestar beckoned her with his tail to stand beside him.
She stood and stared at Whitestone. His eyes were full of pride for himself and for her.
“What do you think, Tawnypelt?”
Tawnypelt’s expression was full of pride for her apprentice, like a mother who’s kit was achieving something huge. “Before Rainpaw left the clan many thought she was unloyal. But Rainpaw is the most loyal she-cat you will ever find. She works hard and I saw such improvement in our last hunting patrol.”
Rainpaw looked at her paws in embarrassment.
Once Firestar had waited for the clan to settle down again he began the ceremony with the ancient traditional words that had been used moons upon moons before. “I, Firestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in their turn.” Rainpaw looked at her leader with golden, shining eyes. “Rainpaw, 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. Rainpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Rainmist. StarClan honors your loyalty, passion and courage, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan.”
Once again all the cats in the hollow started cheering and yowling the new warrior’s name. “Rainmist!” “Rainmist!”
Rainmist stepped back down to Whitestone and licked his ear. “Looks like someone isnt happy,” she said as she looked across the clearing toward a red coated cat. Foxpaw. He was bearing his teeth at them.
“I guess we better sit our vigil then,” Whitestone meowed as he ignored the angry glare of Foxpaw.
Rainmist helped Whitestone move to the centre of the clearing. Dusk was beginning to fall as the cats in the clearing finished saying their congratulations and headed off to their nests.
The dusk patrol was sent out, Rainmist not caring to notice who was in it and sat down next to her mate. She pressed her muzzle against his and he looked into her golden eyes, his blue eyes shining in the light of the moon as it crept over the trees and into the hollow.
From now till dawn they were not allowed to speak during their vigil and must stay awake in appose to stay guard for the clan.
The clearing fell silent with the last border patrol out and the clan in their dens, leaving the newly made warriors to sit their vigil together.
Finally. . . Rainmist and Whitestone had made it.
- Writer
