Mossfire's Rebellion

Chapter Twelve

 "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the highledge for a clan meeting!"

Mosspaw woke up to the call from Smallstar. She stood up in the den, giving her body a good stretch. She looked around, Dawnpaw and Cedarpaw were already out, and her littermates were slowly waking up. 

"They're about to be made warriors!" Swiftpaw said with a smile, "Lets go!" 

Mosspaw nodded and burst out of the den, letting her eyes adjust to the sunlight. 

She noticed both Dawnpaw and Cedarpaw both run to the front of the group. Cats from the whole clan started to emerge from dens. Lightfoot sat beside Russetflower, Fuzzytail came out from the den and sat beside Goldenfur, and Mosspaw was soon surrounded by her littermates.

Smallstar stood on the highledge, looking around at the clan, "It is always a great day when it's time to appoint new warriors. Dawnpaw, Cedarpaw, please come forward.

The two apprentices walked forward. Dawnpaw looked excited and honored, and Cedarpaw looked determined and ready. She could see Sparrowflight looking with love from where he was sitting beside Ivybranch.

"I, Smallstar, leader of Thunderclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these two apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in their turn,"

The apprentices stepped forward, looking around the clan with a sense of confidence.

"Cedarpaw, Dawnpaw, do the two of you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of you life?"

Cedarpaw did not hesitate before saying, "I do." Dawnpaw looked around, "I do." He said with a sense of excitement.

"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give your your warrior names. Cedarpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Cedarclaw. Starclan honors your courage and determination and we welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan." Smallstar said, touching Cedarclaw's head with his muzzle.

"Cedarclaw! Cedarclaw!" The clan chanted. Cedarclaw sat higher, puffing his chest out. Mosspaw could tell he liked the attention.

"By the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Dawnpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Dawnfeather. Starclan honors your kindness and your bravery and we welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan."

"Dawnfeather! Dawnfeather!" The whole clan cheered, but Mosspaw was sure to try and cheer the loudest.

The two newest warriors stood in front of the clan, chests out, "There is one more thing I need to do during this meeting." Smallstar said. The cheering died down, "Snowtuft, please step forward."

"As many of you know, Snowtuft has been my deputy as long as I have been leader. He has been faithful and I always know that I chose right. However, there is something he brought to my attention a few sunrises ago."

Snowtuft stood beside Smallstar, his face full of both pride but sadness.

"Snowtuft," Smallstar started, "Is it your wish to give up the name of a warrior and go to join the elders?"

Mosspaw gasped. She didn't realize Snowtuft was old enough to become a elder, but upon closer inspection, she realized that she could see the gray hairs starting to form around his muzzle.

"It is." Snowtuft said sadly, "It has been an honor to serve as your deputy, and I know that the clan will be left in good hands."

"The clan honors you and all the service you have given to us. I call upon Starclan to give you many moons of rest." Smallstar touched his friend's shoulder with his muzzle. Snowtuft dipped his head and joined the rest of the cats.