The Five Giants - Book 1

Chapter 16 - Flame

"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. Flamepaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Flamebreeze. Starclan honors your strength and integrity, and we welcome you as a full member of Skyclan."

I moved up to Billystar, and respectfully licked his shoulder as he rested his head on my shoulder.

"Flamebreeze! Flamebreeze! Flamebreeze!" The clan called out, although as I looked into the crowd, I could see Sparrow, now called Sparrowfur, staring me down.

And so it begins.

Sparrowfur stood up from where he was standing and made back to the warriors den. His head was hung low and his shoulders were hunched. He seemed... bored.

As I retreated into the crowd, Billystar called out. "Have you all forgotten? Tonight is the gathering! I have to announce who's going." Cats around me yowled with excitement as Billystar tried to quiet everyone down. "Besides Cedartail and the medicine cats, Skystorm, Snowheart, Peonypelt, Flamebreeze, Sparrowfur, and Yellowwhisker will be accompanying me to the gathering."

Perfect.

I assume that the others would be able to hold the meeting without me, or possibly without someone else, but it is definitely preferred that everyone be there.

"Flamebreeze!" Yellowwhisker was sprinting over to me as she called out my name. She slid to a stop directly in front of me. "We're finally warriors!"

I gave my sister a small smile as she ranted on about all of the things she was excited about. I looked over her shoulder to see Stonecreek standing in front of his den, beckoning me with his tail.

"... And leading patrols and- Hey, are you even listening to me?"

I shook my head and looked back to Yellowwhisker. "No, sorry, I got distracted. Stonecreek was calling me, I'll talk with you on the way to the Gathering." I didn't bother waiting for a response as I moved past her and towards the medicine cat's den. Stonecreek was already waiting for me as I entered the den.

"We have another meeting tonight, right?" I nodded. "Okay. Is there anything different now that you're a warrior?"

"Well, we had a truce while we were apprentices so that it would be a fair fight, but that's broken now that we're warriors. So besides all the normal things, that's basically it."

"Okay. And how are your flames coming along?"

"Pretty well." I shot a short burst of flames out into the shape of a messy leaf. "I'm trying to learn how to shape it so that I can fit it through foliage without burning anything."

"Is that why the forest always smells like burning leaves when I go out to get herbs?"

"Probably."

"Yeah I would train against something non-flammable."

"Like what?"

"Rocks." Stonecreek looked at me as though I was stupid. Sure I wasn't the smartest, that title belongs to Maple, and sure, I hadn't remembered that there were rocks in this forest, and sure, I hadn't-

Okay, now I'm starting to think that Stonecreek may have been right.

I turned around and exited the den, and was immediately greeted by Raineye. "Congratulations Flamebreeze! It took you long enough."

I snorted in response and responded, "Yeah, because you've been waiting all this time to retire to the elder's den."

"Ouch." Despite that remark, there was still a smile on Raineye's face.