Fire and Ice

Chapter 27

Skyfall padded over to the nettle clump to lick her filthy pelt. She would visit Yellowfang after she was done tending to cats with worse injuries.

Long shadows ran through the camp like claw marks as the sun set behind the trees. Longtail had gone to replace Dustpaw as Brokentail's guard. Tigerclaw had taken his former raiding party out hunting. Skyfall's stomach growled at the thought of a warm meal. She looked up at the sound of pawsteps, but it was only Sandpaw and Swiftpaw returning from the burial.

The two apprentices padded over to Bluestar, who was speaking with Whitestorm under the Highrock. Skyfall got to her paws and walked across the camp to join them. As she passed, she motioned for Dustpaw to join her from where he was licking his own scratches beside the tree stump. Dustpaw flashed her a questioning look but got up and followed her.

"We've buried Clawface," meowed Sandpaw.

"Thank you," Bluestar replied. The ThunderClan leader turned to Swiftpaw. "You may go." The black-and-white apprentice dipped his head and padded away.

Skyfall signaled for Dustpaw to come closer. The brown apprentice narrowed his eyes but moved closer to sit beside Sandpaw.

"Bluestar," Skyfall began once Dustpaw was settled. "Sandpaw and Dustpaw fought like warriors when Brokentail attacked. We would have been in much more trouble without their strength and courage." Dustpaw's eyes widened and a large grin spread across Sandpaw's face. She looked at the ground quickly when Bluestar glanced at her.

A purr rumbled from Whitestorm's throat. "It's not like you to be shy," he meowed to his apprentice.

Sandpaw's ears twitched as she lifted her head. "Skyfall's the one who saved the Clan," she burst out. "She was the one who alerted the Clan so we were ready for Brokentail's attack and she told the elders and kits to hide in Yellowfang's den so they were safe."

It was Skyfall's turn to point her gaze to her paws. She was relieved when Tigerclaw's patrol returned with their jaws crammed with prey.

Bluestar nodded to Tigerclaw and turned back to Dustpaw and Sandpaw. "It makes me proud to know that ThunderClan has such fine warriors," she meowed. "It's time you both took your warrior names. We shall have the naming ceremony now, while the sun is setting, and then we can eat."

Sandpaw and Dustpaw turned to each other with the widest grins Skyfall had ever seen on either of them. Skyfall licked Sandpaw over the head with a loud purr. Bluestar called the Clan together and Skyfall sat beside Graystripe who appeared from the warriors' den.

The Clan gathered around the Highrock. Elders and queens sat with kits on one side; Skyfall sat with warriors and apprentices on the other side. Bluestar stood in the center with Dustpaw and Sandpaw.

The sky turned pink as the sun was almost gone over the horizon. The Clan waited silently as it disappeared, turning the sky a dark blue with glittering stars.

Bluestar looked up and fixed her eyes on the brightest star in Silverpelt. "I, Bluestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these two apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn." She turned her proud gaze to the two apprentices before her. "Sandpaw, Dustpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Sandpaw stared back, her voice gleeful but controlled. "I do," she replied.

Dustpaw echoed her, his voice strong and low. "I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior names: Sandpaw, from this moment you will be known as Sandstorm. StarClan honors your courage and your spirit, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." Bluestar stepped forward to rest her muzzle on Sandstorm's bowed head.