Warrior Cats: Billypaw's Code

Chapter 14

It was one of the Thunderclan warriors.

 He had a grey pelt and hazel eyes. He had dropped a raven at Billypaw's paws. Billypaw met his eyes, confusion flashing across her face.

 "You Mistclan cats don't catch much bird prey do ye? Well, anyway, eat up." He nodded to her before he turned to leave. She felt a warmness rise in her pelt. 

She knew as she dug into the raven that her acts of not going back to the clan in moons would have to be addressed at one point, but she hoped it wouldn't be soon.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Billypaw arched her back in a long stretch followed by a yawn, "I'm so happy we're heading back into the forest."

 "Same," Whitepaw meowed beside her, "It will be weird without Flounderpaw though."

 "We'll see her in camp," Billypaw nudged Whitepaw, "We'll make due without her." 

The other apprentice was about to speak, excitement sparkling in her eyes, when Wolfclaw's shadow melded with Billypaw's.

 "I can't believe I still have to train you after you ran away from Mistclan."

 "I did no such thing. And I have a better mentor now," Billypaw licked her white chest indignantly.

 "Lies! I am still assigned to you as your mentor. There is no way you could have trained without my guidence," Wolfclaw meowed, his blue-grey hackles raised. 

Billypaw fixed her gaze on Wolfclaw, her green eyes level.

 "You gave me so much guidance, so starclan sent a warrior to help me. I never left Mistclan, I just never came back to camp."

 Wolfclaw hissed, his mouth opened to speak, but Billypaw didn't care to notice. She cut him off by walking off towards the direction of the vine covered inertance to the Mistclan camp. She didn't need to take no fox dung from anyone, especially Wolfclaw. 

"You'll never catch up to the other apprentices without me!" Wolfclaw called after her.

 "Oh, It's quite the contrary."

 Billypaw was going to walk out the camp entrance, but the voice stopped her. She turned around. 

It was Darksight, he was in front of her, calmly facing a worked up Wolfclaw. 

Darksight tilted his head slightly, "My apprentice is far beyond the other apprentices her age. With the wit she had shown with the coyotes, I do believe she should be receiving her warrior name along with all the older apprentices today. No need for an assessment." 

Wolfclaw stared at the Starclan warrior, his mouth agape. A big black and white cat padded up to Wolfclaw, her belly swollen from the promise of kits.

 "You'll have to excuse my mate, Darksight, he gets a little worked up sometimes, he's having trouble ajusting without a tail."

 She gave Wolfclaw's ear a quick lick. His mouth was still agape, but his fur was flattening. Mistystar walked out of her den, the small clan leader's eyes flashing with confusion, then grief, then sadness, then surprise.

 The silver clan leader quickly padded up to Darksight. Billypaw glanced behind her as Bugpaw, Hushedpaw, and Fallenpaw walked through the entrance with Streamfur. They had just finished their warriors assessment.

 "Darksight, friend." 

Mistystar dipped her head affectionally for the star dappled pelt of Darksight. 

"Mistystar. Starclan deemed Wolfclaw unworthy to train Billypaw, so I had stepped in. She is ready for her warrior's title."

 "You can't be serious," Wolfclaw meowed, his fur still flattened in shock. 

"I am quite serious," Darksight replied calmly. 

"Billypaw has already proven herself to be a skilled cat. Worry not, I have taught her all that she needs to know. She is more than ready to take on the responsibilities of a warrior." 

"But she's just an apprentice," Wolfclaw mewed. 

"No, she's not," Mistystar meowed, fire in her eyes. 

"Billypaw has proved herself to be a smart fighter and a loyal friend. She will make a fine warrior of Mistclan." 

She turned to Wolfclaw and meowed darkly, "And don't ever belittle my kit again." 

Billypaw felt a lump form in her throat as she gazed at the star-dappled pelt of the StarClan warrior. She had never thought she would amount to anything, but Darksight had believed in her. Streamfur padded up to Mistystar and whispered in her ear. 

"Thank you, Darksight, may starclan light your path."

 Darksight moved his head towards the small silver she-cat with a bemused look crossing his unfocused eyes, "I'm Starclan, I'm the one lighting your path."

 With this, the grey warrior with stars in his paws vanished.

 "Well then," Mistystar meowed, "Let's begin."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Billypaw, step up."

 Billypaw obeyed, walking up to the meeting rock. Mistystar was perched there, looking down at Billypaw with cool, misty blue eyes. She was the last to be named. The new warriors were Bugcatcher, Fallenrapid, Rippleclaw, and Hushedwhisper. 

"I, Mistystar, leader of MistClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in their turn."

 This was really happening. 

This was really happening.

 "Billypaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" 

Billypaw looked up at her mother, "Of course." 

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Billypaw, from this moment on you will be known as Billyroar, for the moment you stood, unwavering, roaring at your enemies to protect more than just your clanmates. StarClan honors your wit and loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Mistclan.

 Billypaw's ears were met with a chorus of cheers. All for her. She swiveled her head around, working her one good eye to see her clanmates cheering her new name. Billyroar. Billypaw smiled. 

This is her life. 

This is the life she needed, and a life that every cat deserves. 

A good life. 

She padded off to her friends.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Billyroar!"

 A meow broke through Billyroar's half awake state.

 "Whiteridge," Billyroar meowed, "Join me, this is the one day in leafbare where it isn't freezing cold."

 "We do have to go on a border patrol."

 "We'll go in a minute. Enjoy the sun." 

Billyroar had lain in the sun all morning, soaking up their warm rays. 

"Careful not to lay there with Billyroar for too long," Flounderpaw spoke as she crossed through the camp, "You'll end up laying there for a majority of the day." 

Whiteridge light heartedly laughed and sidled up beside Billyroar. 

"It's because other cats don't know how to drag their rumps out of the sun, It's not my fault."

 "Whatever you say, Billyroar!" Hushedwhisper meowed, passing by Billyroar and Whiteridge to get to the prey pile.

 Pinetail padded up to the two, "Room for one more on the patrol?"

 "Of course!" Whiteridge meowed. 

"The more the merrier," Billypaw replied.