Caɾղaցe Ɱօօղ ~𝙰 𝚆𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚛𝚜 𝙵𝚊𝚗𝚏𝚒𝚌

47 🌙

"What do you mean? Like conduct a warrior ceremony... on our own?" Tinypaw mewed, sounding appalled.

"Well, yeah." Cheetah looked up the dark sloping ridge, where thick barberry bushes were sprouting high above the nearby bracken.

"You could complete your assesment by catching one piece of prey on this new terrain after nightfall." She flicked a fallen oak leaf out of her way. "If you succeed in the time that's left before Moonhigh, then we could have the ceremony."

They were silent for a moment.

"I haven't scented any prey since we set paw outside of Windclan. So it would be difficult to find some..." Tinypaw began skeptically.

"When?" Crescentpaw impulsively asked.

Tinypaw's eyes widened. "We can't, Crescentpaw! Warriors have to hold a vigil."

"Right before we visit the Moonpool." Cheetah looked at them diligently.

"After all, Starclan can see that you've waited long enough. They know you're past warrior-age. And you could hold your warrior vigils tomorrow, when we get back to camp."

"...This is a crazy idea. We don't have the authority." Tinypaw sounded baffled. She had one ear flattened, and her tail flicked as she fought to explain herself.

"I mean... for one, picking our own warrior names? No cat does that. In fact, it might be better to wait and see if Starclan will pick them for us-"

"We've been waiting and seeing, Tinypaw." Crescentpaw cut her off before she could fully disperse from the idea.

In a way, it was beginning to warm on her. The thought of having her warrior name by tonight was enthralling. The dark tabby she-cat's eyes glimmered at the prospect of it.

What if I don't do this now, and Riverclan never gets new leadership?

"You could pick warrior names for each other, that way it's more acceptable." Cheetah straightened, advocacy in her tone. "If I understand it right, it's more customary for other cats to give you parts of your name because that's what mother-cats do for the word preceding 'kit', isn't it?"

"Yes."

Well... I think it's a worthwhile idea. Tinypaw?"

"Wait! I'm thinking!" Tinypaw growled at her.

"What if Starclan or our clanmates don't accept our names?" She looked up over at them, worried.

"You don't have to tell them-" Cheetah began, but Crescentpaw wanted to put her sister's mind at ease.

"If they keep calling us 'paws after we've visited Starclan for them, then they're fish-brained!" She declared, lifting a white forepaw indignantly.

Tinypaw still looked doubtful. "It might be more complicated than that. I mean, it's not like they asked us to come... and we disobeyed orders by up and leaving."

Crescentpaw waved her paw and sat it back down. "I know, I know! But you get my point." The dark shadows behind her nearly camouflaged the tabby parts of her pelt.

"Cheetah is right. We deserve this, and no cat should be able to keep it from us any longer." She was beginning to act stubborn.

I don't want to do it by myself, but either way I'm doing it.

Crescentpaw was being impulsive, and she didn't care.

Tinypaw held her frown for a little while longer. Then she gave an angry shrug, her eyes gleaming.