Warriors: Powers of The Clans ~ Paws of Life (Book 2/6)

Chapter Seventeen

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather here for a Clan meeting!" Dockpaw snapped her head up, so used to hearing those words, as there were so many ceremonies needing to happen. Dockpaw stopped what she was doing with her herbs, and exited the den, happily padding over to the rock, where the rest of the Clan was gathering. It had been a week since the new apprentices were made, but it felt longer to Dockpaw. It must be time for Marblepaw and the others to become warriors! Finally! Dockpaw felt excited for her friends, and watched as Spottedstar signaled them all over. Spottedstar hopped off the high-rock, meeting the cats face to face.

"Today, four of our apprentices will become warriors, and sit vigil later on tonight." Spottedstar announced. "Sootpaw. Do you promise to uphold the warrior code for as long as you are a cat of ForestClan?" Sootpaw thought for a moment, his gaze hard, without a trace of doubt.

"I do." He swore. Nettlefoot and Flameclaw sat beside Dockpaw, their eyes shining with pride.

"Then from this moment forward, Sootpaw, you will be known as Sootstorm." Spottedstar announced. "Marblepaw." He addressed the she-cat. "Do you promise to uphold the warrior code as long as you are an apprentice of ForestClan?"

"I do!" She affirmed.

"Then from this moment onward you will be known as Marblefeather. Thistlepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code for as long as you are a warrior of ForestClan?" Spottedstar continued. Thistlepaw agreed in turn, and gazed up at his leader. "Then from this moment onward, you will be known as Thistleblaze. Lastly, Mosspaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code as long as you're a warrior of ForestClan?"

"I do." Mosspaw smiled.

"Then from this moment forward you will be known as Mossflame." Spottedstar finished, dipping his head. The Clan began to cheer the new warriors' names, loudly, Dockpaw joining in.

"Sootcloud! Marblefeather! Thistleblaze! Mossflame!" She shouted, smiling wide for her friends. She almost burst with happiness for them, her tail flicking from side to side.

"You will all hold vigil later tonight, but for now, either rest, or go on a walk. None of you will join hunting patrols, or patrols at all, until after your vigil." Spottedstar instructed, padding into his den.

"Congrats, guys!" Dockpaw bounded over to her friends, smiling at them.

"Thanks! I4t's not long till you become a full medicine cat though," Marblefeather pointed out.

"I don't know..." Dockpaw shuffled her paws. "I've been training for a shorter amount of time than you all."

"Yeah, well Tansypool is always talking about how quick a learner you are so-o-o..." Mossflame teased. Dockpaw rolled her eyes playfully, but her heart swelled at the comment. She knew she shouldn't be feeling these feelings, and should shut them out before she became a full medicine cat, but...he was just so nice now.

The cats began to separate, thanking friends and family, and grabbing prey. Dockpaw saw Sootcloud out of the corner of her eye, sneaking out of camp. Dockpaws lip curled, and she sent a prayer to StarClan hoping he wasn't meeting Cinnamon. Dockpaw snuck behind him, following him to a patch in the forest, where he sat and waited. The patch was just outside ForestClans territory, and Dockpaw new Petalsplash would be unhappy with how close a kittypet was getting. Dockpaw ducked under a bush, and watched the pretty she-cat pad up to SootCloud. She couldn't hear what they were saying, so she watched and waited until Cinnamon left, leaving Sootcloud alone. Sootcloud finally sat up, and padded over to his territory again, his eyes dull. Dockpaw leaped out of the bush, stopping her brother.

"Dockpaw!" His shock was replaced with anger, and he growled. "You shouldn't be spying on me like that!" Dockpaw hissed.

"You shouldn't be meeting a kittypet! You're a warrior now! You must stop breaking the code! I knew that this would go too far." Dockpaw sneered.