Warriors: The Prophecy of Frost - Apprentice's Journey

Chapter 24- The Ceremony

"Frostpaw!" Timberclaw gasped. "You are back!" He hadn't seen his apprentice for a long time. She looked sleek and bright, and he realised that she had grown stronger after her journey.

"I missed you," Frostpaw purred, touching noses with him.

"I have too," Timberclaw mewed. "How was your journey?"

"It was rough," she confessed. "But I had the help of a loner to get to where I needed to go. Then, I trained in another Clan with moves I have never seen before."

"Come," Timberclaw meowed. "The Clan will be happy to see you."

He led his apprentice past the thorn barrier. She followed him, suddenly looking cautious and wary.

"Don't worry," he mewed. "I can explain to the Clan."

"Thanks," she replied.

When Frostpaw padded into the camp, Timberclaw spotted Honeyfrost rushing towards her.

"Frostpaw! You are back!" she purred.
The other cats noticed Frostpaw and they welcomed her back.

"Poolpaw, how's training?" she asked smiling at the older apprentice.

"It's been good," Poolpaw mewed. "Lightningpaw has been a pain, as usual. Blazepaw is out on a hunting patrol and should be back soon."

"We are going to be warriors today," the familiar, yet annoying voice of Lightningpaw sounded in Frostpaw's ear.

"Congrats then," she meowed, not minding that they are going to become warriors.

Lightningpaw licked his paw smugly. "Thanks."

"How's... Hailfall?" Frostpaw asked.

"I'm here," her father padded towards her with narrowed eyes. "Where have you been?"

"Far away," she replied, shocked at how terrible Hailfall looked. "In another Clan."

"Do you know how worried I have been?" he hissed. "I tried to look for you every day but Silverstar wouldn't let me."

"I'm sorry," Frostpaw apologised. "But it was StarClan who sent me on a journey, not myself."

"Hailfall!" Stagwind broke in. "Get back into the den now!"

Frostpaw let out a gasp of surprise. "Hailfall, what's wrong?" she asked pleadingly.

"I'm fine!" he snapped with so fiercely that Frostpaw reared back.

This is not my father... This is a depressed cat who never cared for me.

"What happened to him?" Frostpaw's voice trembled.

"He is going crazy," it was Emberstorm who spoke. "He is... sick."

"Hailfall is going crazy with grief," a more firm voice spoke. Frostpaw stared at Silverstar worriedly.

"Will he recover?" she asked nervously.

"Unless he gets over his grief, he will not recover," Silverstar mewed with a heavy sigh.

The ThunderClan leader shook her thoughts off. "It's time for your denmates' warrior ceremonies. I better start it now."

Silverstar padded towards the Highledge and leaped up on the ledge. "Let all cats who are old enough to catch their own prey to gather at the Highledge for a Clan meeting!"

Most of the cats were already gathered, and the ones who were inside her dens padded out.

Frostpaw looked at her denmates. Their fur were neatly groomed and their eyes shone with pride.

"Today, ThunderClan will grow stronger with three new warriors. Lightningpaw, Blazepaw, Poolpaw, step forward," Silverstar announced.

They stepped forward excitedly.

"I, Silverstar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you in their turn. Lightningpaw, Blazepaw, Poolpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do," all of them mewed.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names: Lightningpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Lightningcurl. StarClan honours your courage and eager spirit, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan," the ThunderClan leader meowed.

"Blazepaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Blazestrike. StarClan honours your forethought and bravery, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

"Poolpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Poolshine. StarClan honours your determination and loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan," Silverstar finished.

"Lightningcurl! Blazestrike! Poolshine!" the Clan yowled.

Frostpaw found herself calling iut her former denmates' new names, but at the same time, she felt quite jealous.

"Yes!" she heard Lightningcurl's voice. "I'm finally a warrior!"

Blazestrike snorted. "I wonder how you made it."

"Before you two start arguing," Poolshine interrupted, "we still need to sit vigil."

Frostpaw let out a purr of amusement when she saw Lightningcurl's face. "If I didn't sleep first, I will freeze first!" he complained.

Frostpaw felt a nudge. It was Timberclaw, her mentor. "Let's catch up, shall we?"

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A/N: What do you think of the new warriors' names? :3