Brambleberry's Path

Chapter 12:

Bramblepaw watched across the clearing as Hawkpaw and Darkpaw sat by each other, chatting with each other and occasionally laughing at something the other said or did. He felt a growing pit of an unknown emotion coil in his stomach, and he looked away from them angrily. He spotted an apprentice from another clan staring at Hawkpaw with ice blue eyes, his black pelt littered with white specks. Bramblepaw narrowed his eyes at the apprentice as he turned away and started talking to a white and grey apprentice next to him.

Just who was that cat?!

There was a yowl ahead, and Bramblepaw's attention snapped up towards the four leaders. He noticed Hawkpaw had moved towards Brightpaw and Birdpaw and sat next to her clanmates and was relieved. It was much better than her sitting next to some Sandclan cat.

"We have new kits in the clan." Bramblepaw zoned back in when he heard Wetstar's voice announce.

"Congratulations to Mistcloud for Snowykit, and to Fluffyface for Icekit, Swiftkit, and Frogkit. That is all." He mewed. The four leaders dipped their heads to each other and they started leading their clans out of the gathering. Somewhere within the chaos, Bramblepaw saw the black and white apprentice he spotted earlier brush against Hawkpaw. She turned towards him, confusion written in her eyes as she tried to search for the cat the brushed against her, but gave up and padded after her brother. Bramblepaw narrowed his eyes and followed after his mother as she padded away, chatting idly with Moonclaw.

He would start watching that apprentice more, he vowed to himself.

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It was their warrior ceremony day. A moon had passed since Sandclan attacked camp and Leafpaw had died. Bramblepaw couldn't help but feel sad that his brother would never be named a warrior. But he knew that Leafpaw was in a better place.

"Pebblepaw, will you uphold the warrior code?" Wetstar asked, staring down at his apprentice. Pebblepaw nodded his head and leaned forward anxiously for his warrior name.

"Then you shall be known as Pebblefoot from here on. Brightpaw, will you uphold the warrior code?" The silver tabby she-cat nodded her head, her sapphire eyes filled with determination. Mistcloud purred at her apprentice and her eyes lit up with pride.

"Then from this moment on, you shall be known as Brightface. Rockpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code?" He moved on as Brightface leaned back with a satisfied glint in her eyes. The dark grey tom nodded and sat up straighter, lifting his head to look at his leader.

"Then from this moment forward, you shall be known as Rockwater. Bramblepaw...." Wetstar continued, looking down at the dark tabby tom. He had grown larger and was now taller than most of the Warriors in the clan. It was easy to see how much he had grown in strength as well.

"Do you promise to uphold the warrior code?" He asked, his honey eyes gleaming. Bramblepaw blinked his eyes slowly and dipped his head.

"I do." His voice was deep and it rang through the clearing and through everyone's ears. Wetstar looked pleased as he leaned back on the HighBranch.

"Then from this moment on, you shall be known as Brambleberry." He mewed. Brambleberry nodded his head and waited patiently. Hawkpaw was the only one left.

"Hawkpaw?" Wetstar mewed.

"Yes?" She mewed respectively as she stared up at her leader.

"Do you promise to uphold the warrior code?" He asked her, eyes gleaming. Hawkpaw blinked and sat up straighter before she stared at Wetstar with determined emerald eyes.

"I do." She mewed, her voice confident and clear.

"Then from this moment forward, you shall be known as Hawkwing. Starclan, we ask that you welcome our new warriors and guide them in the right path!" He mewed, and the whole clan burst into howls of celebration. They chanted the new warriors' names, and Hawkwing purred at Brightface when Icekit tumbled over her paws.

"One day, I'm going to be as big and strong as you!" He mewed, his amber eyes lighting up with glee. He was the tiniest kit out of his litter, and his white fur was spiky and fluffy. Brightface purred and looked at Hawkwing.

"Sure you will." She mewed.

"We should be going to sleep. You five should be getting ready for your vigil. Go, now!" Heatherfoot mewed, ushering her son away and towards the Guard Tree. He purred and followed Hawkwing over to the roots and watched her clamber up the tree with her brother to keep lookout.

He couldn't believe they finally made it.