Black Sky

Chapter 24

Blackpaw lay in his nest, gazing out through the entrance of his den. He heard scuffling and raised his head. Leafkit was scrambling towards him. He smiled and mewed a greeting.

"Hello, Leafkit," Blackpaw mewed. "What's up?"

Leafkit grinned. "Hi, Blackpaw! When do you think I'm going to become an apprentice like you?"

"Oh, that won't be for another four moons, Leafkit!" Blackpaw chuckled, stretching. "Why don't you go over to Leafclaw and ask for some stories? I'm sure he'd like it."

Leafkit's tail drooped. "But I wanna play with you!"

"Sorry, Leafkit, I'll be busy today," Blackpaw explained. "I'm going to do my warrior assessment."

Leafkit cocked his head. "What's that?"

"Before you become a warrior, you have to take a test to prove that you're ready," Blackpaw told him. "And my test is today, so I'll have to get ready soon."

Leafkit looked up. "Can I watch you practice?"

"Sure! Do you want me to show the hunting crouch?"

Blackpaw padded over to Waterwish and Fernstar, who were waiting for him at the entrance of the CaveClan camp. Waterwish, elusive as ever, was calmly looking at him. Fernstar looked as if she was somewhere else. Snowpaw, Appleheart, Ivyfall and Willowpaw came to join them.

"The time has come," Fernstar mewed. "For you three to become warriors. But, as always, you must first prove you are ready to do so. There are times when a cat must train a little longer before they are worthy of a warrior name, and I hope you will pass this test and prove your worth."

Ivyfall nodded. "Come, now."

The seven cats trotted out into the forest. The branches were glistening with the first frost of the moon, and the snow and leaves crunched beneath their paws. Leaf-bare had come at last.

"We will be watching you as you hunt," Ivyfall told them. "You must do your very best. Leaf-bare is harder to hunt in, and we expect it will not be easy. But we don't think you should come back with empty paws."

Appleheart nodded. "Do your best, and you'll be rewarded."

"You may begin," Waterwish meowed.

As their mentors disappeared into the forest, Willowpaw padded away in the direction of the Twoleg nest Cloudpaw and Ravenpaw used to live in, and Snowpaw decided to hunt deeper in the forest, near the Thistlepath. Blackpaw headed in the direction of Trailstones, then was reminded of Honeypaw. He hadn't seen her since before he found Leafkit, as he wasn't allowed to go to the last gathering. Would he see her over the border?

Concentrate. You aren't here to see that dumb she-cat. Blackpaw started as a voice echoed behind him.

He whirled around, just to see the outline of a black and white cat be swept away by the breeze.

Blackpaw gave a swift killing bite to the lizard's neck. He dug up the rest of his catch and brought it back to Waterwish and Fernstar. Appleheart and Ivyfall came back shortly, followed by Snowpaw and Willowpaw. He looked at what his sisters had caught and knew they'd tried hard.

"You have done well," Fernstar mewed proudly. "I think you have all passed. Now, let us bring this fresh-kill back to camp."

As they padded back to camp, Blackpaw felt a sudden burst of excitement. He was finally going to become a warrior! He wondered what his warrior name would be. They padded in through the cave entrance, Fernstar leaping onto the Cavestone.

"All cats old enought to leave the cave gather beneath the Cavestone!" Fernstar yowled.

Turtlepaw and Jackalpaw exited the apprentices' den, a curious look on their faces. Oakfoot and Whitewhisker looked up from their conversation at the prey-pile, and Thrushsong, Stormwhistler and Wolftooth hurried from the warriors' den. Oliveleaf came out of the nursery followed by Fennelfoot, Nettlestem and her kits. Leafclaw and Sunstorm backed out of the elders' den, while Stonesong and Treeheart came from the medicine den, Stonesong licking her herb-covered paws. Nightflower, Redmoon, Cloudpaw, Ravenpaw, Leafkit and Beeflight were already at the Cavestone. Ivyfall and Appleheart went to sit beside them, while Waterwish leaped up beside Fernstar.

"I, Fernstar, leader of CaveClan," Fernstar began, looking down at Blackpaw, Snowpaw and Willowpaw. "Look down on these three young cats. They have learned and respected the ways of your noble code, and I commend them, to you, in their turn, as they are no longer apprentices."

She beckoned them to step forward. Nervously, Blackpaw stepped forward with his littermates. He blinked as Stonesong leaped up onto the Cavestone to whisper something into Fernstar's ear. Fernstar nodded.

"Blackpaw, Snowpaw and Willowpaw, do you promise to obey the warrior code, and to protect and defend your Clan at all costs?" Fernstar asked.

Blackpaw nodded with his siblings. "I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan," Fernstar continued. "I give you your warrior names. Snowpaw, from this moment forward you will be known as Snowfall. StarClan honors your kindness and your altruism, and we welcome you as a warrior of CaveClan."

Fernstar leaped down from the Cavestone to lay her muzzle on Snowfall's, and the newly named warrior licked her shoulder in return. Fernstar turned to Willowpaw.

"Willowpaw," She mewed. "From this moment forward you will be known as Willowfern. StarClan honors your bravery and your thoughtfulness. We welcome you as a warrior of CaveClan."

As she did with Snowfall, Fernstar repeated the exchange. Willowfern looked proud of herself. Finally, Fernstar turned to Blackpaw.

"Blackpaw," She murmured. "From this moment forward you will be known as Blacksky. StarClan honors your honesty and your curiousity, as we welcome you as a full warrior of CaveClan."

The cats of CaveClan seemed to erupt into cheer around him. "Snowfall! Willowfern! Blacksky!"

Blacksky glanced around to see Leafkit bouncing up and down, roaring his new name. Redmoon was beside him, gazing happily at Blacksky. Suddenly, the sound started to become muffled. The cheering was no longer there. It was silent. Blacksky looked around wildly, but he was no longer in camp. Everything was dark, lit with dim red light. Black tree trunks stretched up higher than he could see, obscuring the stars and the sky. He heard loud hissing and growling nearby. Cautiously he padded in the direction of the sound to see three cats bickering: a black and white tom with green eyes, a cream tabby tom with black stripes and a small grey tabby she-cat.

"You said that the kit is a tom!" Figstorm growled at Beeflight. "But Ghostkit is a she-kit. A stupid she-kit! You know she-cats are more trusting to their Clanmates than toms!"

Pebblepaw hissed. "You're the mouse-brain here, not Beeflight! Why does it matter?"

"I'm talking to a she-cat who didn't even last long enough to become a warrior," Figstorm snapped back.

Pebblepaw looked hurt. "B-but not all she-cats-"

"Anyways, we'll have to deal with it!" Beelight mewed through gritted teeth. "I only assumed! I agree with Pebblepaw, why does it matter?"

Figstorm sighed. "I guess. Another thing. WHY DID YOU LET BLACKPAW FIND OUT?!"

"Blacksky. His warrior ceremony is happening right now," Beeflight corrected him. "And I don't know how he found out. All I know is that we need to find someone else, because Fernstar knows about me and Snowpaw." He shifted his paws nervously. "Is this really neccessary? I don't want to kill more cats. I don't mind killing Blacksky or Willowfern. But why anybody else? Surely they're the only cats in the way?"

Pebblepaw flicked her tail. "Did you really forget?"

"Remember Leafkit, the kit that lizard-brain Squirreltuft gave Blacksky?" Figstorm probed. "I can't believe Squirreltuft betrayed us! He's given the enemy another ally!"

Beeflight sighed. "Oh yeah. I've talked to Waterwish about that before I came to you. He'll take care of it."

"Good," Pebblepaw replied. "Because we don't have much time left."