River (Book 1) A Warriors Fanfiction

Chapter 3

    
•Riverstorm•

Bright sunshine streamed through a crack in the roof. A raindrop splashed onto a nest nearby. More rain pitter-pattered down. Groans of despair rose as everyone started to get wet. Someone yowled as someone else stepped on her tail. "Watch where your stepping," she hissed. Every cat was cranky because of the weather. It had been raining straight for almost a quarter moon. Last night had been the first break since then.
    
A dark gray tom stood up. He shook each paw in turn and then arched his back. He walked to the entrance of the den. The she-cat that had yowled came and sat next to him. "Lovely morning," he joked. She growled and flicked her tail at him. He purred.

She turned to look at him with her soft, amber eyes. They were deep pools of something he couldn't quite place. She leaned her head on his shoulder. He looked down at her. "If only this rain would stop." She licked his ear and purred.

"Maybe soon," she mewed, "It's letting up a little this morning." He gazed up at the sky. The pale, gray dawn was slowly growing brighter as time passed by.
    
"Let all cats old enough to swim the Great Current gather beneath the Tall Rushes for a Clan meeting!" Cranestar's voice rang out amidst the quiet dawn. The two gray cats weaved their way through the crowd to a nice shady spot beneath the Tall Rushes. Cranestar cleared his throat.

"Flintpaw, Blackpaw, come here please." A light grey tom and a black tom picked their way to where Cranestar was sitting on a boulder. Cranestar looked at the rising sun for a moment before speaking.

"I, Cranestar, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code and I commend them to you in their turn. Oneleg, Lilyleaf? Are they ready to become warriors?"
    
The two cats mentioned nodded their heads. Cranestar continued.
    
"Flintpaw, Blackpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to defend your Clanmates and those in need, even at the cost of your life?"
    
"I do."
    
"I do."
    
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Flintpaw, from the moment forward, you shall be known as Flintheart. StarClan honors your courage and skill. Blackpaw, from this moment forward, you shall be known as Blackfur. StarClan honors your bravery and determination. We welcome you as full members of RiverClan."
    
The newly named warriors received cheers and congratulations as they made their way back to the back of the crowd. Everyone started to get up and leave. Cranestar lashed his tail.

"Wait!" He commanded. "Sit down. All of you." The gathered cats sat down in a hurry.
    
"At this time, it is my duty as leader of RiverClan, to check in with all members of the Clan. For those of you too young to remember the last analysis, it is the custom, the night after the Assembly, to assess how the Clan is doing. Birdtail, Thrushpaw, and I will be examining you all. Please wait patiently until it's your turn."
     
Cranestar leaped down from the boulder in the Tall Rushes. He headed toward the two gray cats in the shade. He called to them. The dark gray tom murmured in the silver she-cat's ear.
     
"I bet he's going to ask you if you're expecting kits yet." She laughed.
     
"He'd better not," she said. He purred.
     
"Or he'll ask you if you have your eye on any toms." She looked at her paws, suddenly shy. She looked up at him.
    
"Um, actually," she started. "Riverstorm, I-" Cranestar reached them.
    
"Sorrelstream, we'll start with you. Are you expecting kits?" He asked. Riverstorm gave Sorrelstream an amused glance. She purred.
    
"No, Cranestar." She mewed, her whiskers twitching.
    
"Are you sick, fatigued, nauseous, having unusual mood swings, or anything of that sort?" Sorrelstream gave an exasperated sigh. She looked at her father.
    
"No, Cranestar," she said to him. He paused a moment.
    
"Any other concerns?" He queried. Sorrelstream shook her head. Cranestar turned to look at Riverstorm.

"Let's go somewhere private, shall we?" Riverstorm just nodded, feeling confused. As soon as they were out of earshot, Cranestar turned to him.

"Does she have her eye on anyone?" He asked.

"We were just joking about how you were going to ask her that, but instead you ask me? Why don't you ask your daughter yourself?" Riverstorm felt anger boiling up on Sorrelstream's behalf. Cranestar had no right to go probing in her business by asking him. He could ask her himself! Cranestar looked slightly embarrassed.

"Er—well, I thought since you two have been hanging out so much lately, you might know..." He trailed off as Riverstorm growled.

"She's your daughter, for StarClan's sake. You can ask her yourself!" He flexed his claws. Cranestar cleared his throat.

"Of course," he said, "I'll go talk to her myself, on one condition." Riverstorm tilted his head.

"Yes?"

"Your analysis."