Savage

Chapter 22

Featherstar sighed as she headed out of the den. They had decided to let the Loners join. She had a feeling the clan wouldn't be happy about it. She leaped upon the rock and summoned the clan. When they gathered around her, she began.
"Cats of Featherclan, I have made my decision."
The Loners stared up at her, and she could feel her clanmates' eyes burning into her pelt. She took a deep breath.
"I have chosen to let Shell and his friends join. They will receive their names, and we will ALL respect them and treat them as one of us."
Her words were met by murmurs of cats, disapproval, and agreement. Juniperbush looked furious, and his ears were back, but he didn't say anything.
"Shell, Whale, Russet, Wolf, Bri, and Apple step forward."
Once they did, she continued. "Shell, Whale, Russet, Wolf, Bri, Apple, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and defend the clan, even at the cost of your life?"
She heard Berryeyes murmur to them.
"I do," Shell said confidently. "I do." The others echoed.
"Then, by the power of Starclan, I give you your clan names. Shell, from this moment forward, you will be known as Shellclash. Whale, you will be Whalepaw. Russet, you will be Russettear. Wolf, you will be Wolfclaw. Bri, you will be Locusfall. Apple?"
Apple had a distant look on her face, and Featherstar could tell that she wasn't paying attention.
Apple snapped back to attention and ducked her head.
"I can't," She whispered. "I'm sorry, but I must go. I don't want to live in a clan."
Shellclash let out a wail while Locusfall looked horrified. "But - but you can't!" Locusfall wailed.
"I'm sorry," Apple murmured.
She turned to go. "I want to go, now, and go back to our old camp. I know there are foxes, but perhaps I can find a camp near there."
She must have felt terrible because as she watched her friends mourn, she ran off toward the entrance of the camp.
Shellclash stared after her. "Apple....!" Featherstar blinked pity at him, and he glared at her.
"We'll miss Apple, Shellcl-" She was interupted.
"Fox!"