Jaywatcher's Love [Old, DISCONTINUED]

∆ chapter 16 ∆

Jaypaw felt a paw prod at her flank. "Jaypaw, Jaypaw!" A voice called. "Wake upppp!"

Jaypaw stirred, her eyes creaking open. "What?" She grumbled, the world coming back to her.

"Get up!" The voice snarled. Jaypaw lifted her head and recognized the voice as Blackpaw.

"Okay, okay!" Jaypaw hissed back, sitting up. "Why? What's going on?"

"Warriors! We're going to be warriors!" Blackpaw squealed.

"Really!?" Jaypaw squeaked back, awake in an instant. Warriors! She'd be a warrior!

"Yes!" Blackpaw shook out his fur excitedly. "Get up! Let's go!"

Jaypaw scrambled to her paws, leaving the medicine den. She turned and saw Silversong flash her a smile.

She kicked up clouds of dust as Jaypaw ran into the center of the clearing just in time to hear Redstar's words.

"All cats that are old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the Clanrock!" Redstar yowled, leaping onto the rock.

Jaypaw squealed internally, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Blackpaw clearly wasn't trying to keep his excitement in, and was squealing and jumping around.

Wolfpaw sauntered around them, and looked calmer than both Jaypaw and Blackpaw combined.

Jaypaw looked up with excited eyes at Redstar as the Clan gathered.

Smokeflame and Owlfang were sitting with Pinewhisker and Tawnyeyes on one side, and Jaypaw also saw Sageleaf and Nightpaw talking in hushed voices. Marshpaw and Silversong were just exiting the medicine den.

"We have four apprentices that have trained hard, and have proven themselves worthy of a warrior name." Redstar announced.

Jaypaw, Blackpaw, Wolfpaw and Nightpaw sat in a horizontal line, all staring up at Redstar.

"Nightpaw. Step forwards." Redstar beckoned the apprentice forwards. Nightpaw strutted towards the ShadowClan leader as he hopped down the rocks.

"Ooh, what'll her warrior name be?" Jaypaw heard some cats whispering.

Once the commotion died down a little, Redstar spoke the ceremony he'd said so many times. "I, Redstar, leader of ShadowClan, 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."

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

Nightpaw's voice was shaky. Jaypaw wondered if she thought the other warriors would bully her for her tail. "I do." She croaked out.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Nightpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Nightwhisker. StarClan honors your compassion and faith, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan." Redstar finished.

Nightwhisker licked the leader's shoulders as he rested her head on his shoulders, soon walking towards her former mentor, Sageleaf.

Jaypaw could see that Nightwhisker's eyes were shining with pride as she exchanged a glance with Sageleaf.

"Wolfpaw, step forwards." Redstar commanded. Wolfpaw stood on shaky paws as Blackpaw nudged him forwards until he was in front of the leader. Jaypaw could see his eyes darting from cat to cat as he waited for Redstar to speak.

"I, Redstar, leader of ShadowClan, 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."

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

Wolfpaw lifted his head proudly. "I do." He said confidently.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Wolfpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Wolfspirit. StarClan honors your strength and initative, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan."

Wolfspirit did the same as Nightwhisker, licking the leader's shoulders before walking away.

"Blackpaw, step forwards." Redstar called out, his gaze landing on the black-furred apprentice as he walked up.

I, Redstar, leader of ShadowClan, 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."

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

Blackpaw shook his fur out before responding. "I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Blackpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Blacktail. StarClan honors your intellegince and spirit, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan."

Blacktail followed his brothers footsteps by licking the leader's shoulders, and Jaypaw's ears twitched as she thought of what her warrior name might be.

"Jaypaw." Redstar mewed. "Step forwards."

Jaypaw nearly needed someone to help her move before her paws moved for her until she stood in front of the old ShadowClan leader.

"I, Redstar, leader of ShadowClan, 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."

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

Jaypaw thought of everything that brought her here. Blackpaw, Smokeflame...Wolfpaw...Rowantail, Tigerpaw...and Leafpaw. They had all guided her through her life. "I do." She said, hoping her voice didn't crack.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Jaypaw, from this moment on you will be known as Jaywatcher. StarClan honors your honesty and thoughtfulness, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan."

Jaywatcher cringed at her virtues. There was no way she was honest, but she wasn't going to let that little detail ruin the happiest day of her life.

Jaywatcher followed what the others did and licked Redstar's shoulders, walking back to her seat. She flashed a glance at Smokeflame, and the old queen looked as proud of her as her own kits.

I don't see why. Jaywatcher huffed. I'm not even her kit!

Blacktail and Wolfspirit crowded beside Jaywatcher as the whole of ShadowClan chanted their names.

"Nightwhisker, Nightwhisker!"

"Blacktail, Blacktail!"

"Wolfspirit, Wolfspirit, Wolfspirit!"

"Jaywatcher! Jaywatcher, Jaywatcher!"

Jaywatcher looked both her denmates in the eye as she looked at the setting sun.

She let out a little purr. "Ready for our vigil?"