"From this moment on, you shall be known as Batwing. StarClan honors your justice and courage, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Gloomclan." Skystar rested her muzzle on his head, and Batwing licked her shoulder in return.
"Batwing! Batwing!" Hollyheart cheered, and Berrypaw joined in loudly. Batwing padded over, circling around Berrypaw happily. The tom's eyes glimmered with love and pride.
"One more ceremony. Snowkit, step forward."
Snowkit trembled as he padded forward, his eyes shining. One day, mine and Berrypaw's kit will stand there before Skystar, Batwing thought happily. "From this day forward, until you receive your warrior name, you shall be known as Snowpaw. Hollyheart, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You will be a mentor to Snowpaw." Hollyheart touched noses with her apprentice. Batwing approved of her choice. Hollyheart was a strong warrior, despite her injury. After the meeting broke out, Berrypaw trotted over to Skystar.
"Can I sit vigil with Batwing?" He asked, "I want to make sure he's okay." He added quickly, licking his fur self-consciously.
"Of course. But you don't have to." Skystar purred.
"I want to." Berrypaw breathed, gazing at Batwing fondly. Batwing shuffled his paws. He padded over to him, his fluffy tail brushing against Batwing's fur. "C'mon, warrior."
Batwing and Berrypaw were chattering happily about small things. Berrypaw mewed suddenly, "What do you think about taking a mate?"
"I want one, someday. But not now." Batwing shuffled his paws, "There's a cat I really like and I really want to be with him. But I'm not sure if he feels the same..."
Berrypaw's fur bristled, before flattening. "Is it me?"
"Of course it's you. Remember that promise we made? When we were both of-age, we would become mates." Batwing puffed his chest out. "I love you so much, I can't think of anyone else I'd want to be with."
Berrypaw gazed at him, before choking out, "I love you."
"I love you too!" Batwing nuzzled his fluffy head.
"Batwing! Hey, can I steal my brother for a minute?" Cherryleap padded towards them. Batwing blinked.
"Yeah." Berrypaw seemed as confused as Batwing was. "Bye, warrior."
"See you, apprentice." Batwing mewed teasingly.
Cherryleap took Batwing to a cramped shady corner. "I need some crush advice." She confessed. Batwing groaned. She-cats! Is that all they think about? He thought, annoyed. But, I think about Berrypaw and I all the time. He reminded himself. "Iciclecrash is so funny, and nice, and cute..." She gushed, "But she only seems interested in Snaketooth."
"Does she like she-cats at all?" Batwing tipped his head.
"I'm pretty sure, yeah. She likes both toms and she-cats." Cherryleap mewed.
"That's good. Maybe try to spend more time with her. And maybe bring her some of her favorite prey. And try to get you two alone." He added, recalling his own experience with Berrypaw. "You two can go to the glowing-mushroom field west of our territory. It's beautiful at night."
"Do you think she'll agree to that?"
"Yeah. You can ask her to go hunting. Don't say, 'oh, wanna go to a mushroom field and kiss?', she'd think you're a weirdo. And wait until nighttime to ask her."
"Got it." Cherryleap's eyes brightened, "Thanks!"
"Tell me how it goes." Batwing told her, squeezing himself out of the corner and back to Berrypaw. Berrypaw was waiting for him, holding something behind his back.
