Storm: The Storm That Poured

Chapter 8:

        3 moons passed, the drought was over. Maplepuddle had her kits. Only Wolffur had died from thirst, no one else. She just passed her assessment, Mistpaw was congratulating her.
        "I'm so proud of you!" her sister was meowing.
        Her heart fluttered when Waspflight came up to her, and licked her ear.
        "You did a really good job on catching prey," he said.
        She caught a big enough pile to feed the nursery and herself.
        "I hear someone passed," Cedarstar's loud voice came from the High Branch.
        "Lightpaw did very well on her assessment, and I think it's time she's made a warrior." Dappledfeather said in approval.
        "Lightpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
        "I do," she meowed firmly.
        "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Lightpaw, from this moment you will be known as Lightshine. StarClan honors your courage and strength, and we welcome you as a full warrior of SunClan." Cedarstar looked at her proudly. He rested his muzzle on her head, and she licked his shoulder.
        "Lightshine! Lightshine!" The Clan cheered.
        "Now remember, you have to sit vigil." Cedarstar looked at the sky, making her look as well.
        It was sundown, and her long vigil would begin now.

        "Lightshine, I want to talk to you," Waspflight meowed happily.
        "Sure," Lightshine meowed.
        Waspflight led her just outside the camp. "I've loved you for so long, and I haven't been able to say it because we were too young as apprentices."
        "I love you too," Lightshine meowed.
        Waspflight licked her forehead, "Will you be my mate?" 
        Her heart lurched, blue eyes shining with happiness. She stared into his dark brown pools. "Yes." she began. "I know you want to know about kits, and I'll have kits whenever you're ready."
        "Whenever Starclan grants us kits, I'll be happy, but now let's enjoy your first day as a warrior." Waspflight glanced at Minnowpelt, who was under the High Branch giving out patrols.
        "We should see if she wants us to do anything," Lightshine meowed.
        Waspflight shrugged, "I guess we should."
        "Do you want us to do anything?" Lightshine asked the deputy.
        "Well, there's some of us heading out to see if the rogues are still here, I'd like you two to go on that." Minnowpelt told her. "Sparrowwing, Cloudclaw, and Hawkstripe will be going on that with you. I thought Sparrowwing would remember that she's leading the patrol, but I guess not."
        "And where will we be going?" Waspflight meowed.
        "Go to the side where we don't border anyone, you'll know what side that is because there's rogue scents all over our territory." Minnowpelt murmured.
        Lightshine and Waspflight nodded, going to find Cloudclaw, Sparrowwing, and Hawkstripe. They found the three in the warriors' den. Cloudclaw was giving his silver pelt a wash, Sparrowwing and Birchfoot nuzzling at each other. Hawkstripe laid in her nest, Hallowshadow sleeping next to her. 
        Lightshine went over to her father, who just finished washing himself. 
        "We need you for patrol," she meowed, her eyes gleaming.
        "What for?" Cloudclaw prompted.
        "We're going to be investigating the rogues." Lightshine meowed.
        Waspflight was talking to Hawkstripe and Sparrowwing, who got up instantly.
        "Oh no! I forgot," Sparrowwing exclaimed.
        Cloudclaw's tail curled up in amusement, stretching as he got up.
        Once they left camp, a strong whiff of rogue scent got caught in her nose. 
        "Minnowpelt was right," Cloudclaw muttered.
        Lightshine saw Hawkstripe gag, "It smells like fox dung too!"
        "There's fox scent mixed in with this musty rogue scent," Sparrowwing added.
        Waspflight licked her ear, "I'll protect you."
        She blushed, feeling her love for him and annoyance that he would think she needed protecting. "Hey! I'm not a kit!"
        Cloudclaw looked at them, "Focus on your surroundings, just because we're all together doesn't mean the rogues won't attack." 
        Hawkstripe's eyes glistened with amusement, "Easy Cloudclaw, we all knew they were mates before they left the nursery." she teased, making Lightshine lick her chest fur in embarrassment.
        "Let's get going, follow the rogue scent, and be careful," Sparrowwing meowed.
        

        Lightshine collapsed next to Waspflight, who nudged a mouse closer to her. 
        "I'm so tired," Lightshine complained, her paws aching after the long patrol. 
        "You should go to sleep early then, but make sure to actually save me space in the nest this time!" Waspflight teased.
        The bright half moon shone in the sky, tonight Mistpaw said she would be getting her full name.
        "I will this time, but you act as if you save me room!" Lightshine laughed.
        She took a big bite of the mouse Waspflight had, and went to their nest. She fell asleep, watching the setting sun.