Warriors: Project Star

Chapter 25 | Ferretpaw | True Warrior

Ferretpaw puffed out his chest with the pride he had in his body, eagerly awaiting the ceremony. Kestrelwing watched ominously, no smile plastered on his ash-grey face. Did he not think I should be one?

No, I've earnt this. Mapleleaf ordered it earlier, stating an event will come up and it was required to be done now. Besides, he isn't a bad cat. Whatever it meant, it did include that he was worthy of being a warrior. Taking a deep breath and stepping out of the den, Ferretpaw was met with a lot of congratulatory faces surrounding him.

"Are you ready?" Emberpaw asked, her tortoiseshell coat rippling with excitement. He gave a brief nod before Hawkfluff rushed in, amber eyes warm.

"My kits grown up!" Hawkfluff exclaimed, rewarding Ferretpaw with some licks on his head.

"T-that's enough!" Ferretpaw exclaimed as he tried to wriggle away from his father's affection. In front of him, Jaypaw solemnly stood in silence, his blue eyes fixated on Clamstaras the pale grey she-cat prepared her lines.

"You excited?" Ferretpaw asked, making his way up to Jaypaw who stayed still.

"It's good to finally be done with apprenticeship," Jaypaw snorted, his mind flashing back to his fleeting youth.

"I'm so jealous! You two get your names and I don't!" Emberpaw wailed, nudging them both on the shoulder. "You're still be doing duties though."

A thought flashed into Ferretpaw's mind like a rabbit. Mapleleaf mentioned leaving - when would that be? Would they leave Emberpaw all alone to handle all the apprentice tasks? Ferretpaw shuddered. He didn't like the sound of that.

"Cats of WaveClan, I welcome you all to a ceremony for two young cats. Today, we stand before StarClan to offer up these apprentices to become warriors," Clamstar's voice was bold and powerful as she insisted on the ceremony. "Ferretpaw, Jaypaw, do you swear to give your life for this Clan to protect and serve it?"

"I do," The two spoke in almost unison, Ferretpaw's tail flicking in nervousness whereas Jaypaw stood still. Ferretpaw felt a pant of regret when he realised Swanpaw wasn't and wouldn't ever rise up to become warriors with him. His mentor who trained him when his own wouldn't, died far, far too soon.

"Then I grant you your warrior names. Jaypaw, from this day on you have become Jayfrost. StarClan honours you for your wisdom and skill, and we welcome you as a full Water-Watcher of WaveClan," The gazes turned to him, searching him up and down.

"He's too young to be a full warrior!" A cat cried, making Ferretpaw's fur spike up in shock at the amber eyes that glared at him. "He doesn't deserve it, and  he hasn't taken a test!"

Ferretpaw was so, so heartbroken to hear it was Kestelflight who uttered the rebuttal.

* * *

The CliffClan camp was quiet on the cool Leaffall night. Leafpaw was seated next to Foxpaw, both watching over the camp exit from the apprentices' den, waiting for Fawnfoot to leave his post. His white-sprinkled brown pelt seemed to stay motionless, however.

"Is he asleep?" Leafpaw inquired as she left the den. Foxpaw gave a brief nod before abruptly escaping the den, scampering over to the entrance and sneaking past Fawnfoot. Leafpaw prudently followed in his pawsteps, making it out rapidly.

"We're meeting Ferretpaw and Swanpaw again tonight, right?" Foxpaw inquired about the mission as he traced his steps to the border.

"Yep yep, but I believe they're earning their warrior names today!" Leafpaw meowed enthusiastically.

"Let's hurry up and head to the border then."

* * *

Hovering over the world as the ruler of the night, the moon soared over the PrarieClan camp, waking a disgruntled dAdderthroat up. Unfortunately, he had barely slept last night, tossing and turning like a kit who had been told a ghost story. This time, it was him thinking of what he had done to that cat. Deciding to not think about it anymore, Adderthroat silently left camp. He didn't know why he was going, but a strange sense just told him to approach the WaveClan border. What he would do there was unknown. Would this urge make him cross the border? Antagonise WaveClan? If that was even possible, they seemed to avoid war at all costs.