Warrior Cats: SkyClan Returns #2

Chapter Twenty-Five

Sandystar leapt onto the Low-branch. From there she could see the entire camp, and felt a rush of pride. We've come so far. I couldn't be more proud of SkyClan. Fluffpelt's kits gathered proudly beside their mother, who was viciously licking at their fur. Limepaw and Robinpaw were crouched near the apprentice den, sharing a squirrel. Sandystar's whiskers twitched. They have no idea...

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Low-branch for a Clan meeting!"

Sandystar hollered. The SkyClan cats filed into messy rows, looking up at their leader.

"Fluffpelt's kits have reached their sixth moon, and are ready to become apprentices. Mosskit, Sparrowkit, Ferretkit, come forward,"

The three kits trotted up to Sandystar. She leapt down to them.

"Sparrowkit, from this day forward, you will be known as Sparrowpaw!"

Sparrowpaw skipped forward, eagerly scanning the clearing for the cat who would be her mentor.

"Snowtail. You are ready for an apprentice. You will mentor Sparrowpaw,"

The two cats touched noses as Sparrowpaw's brothers watched with jealousy.

"Mosskit, from this day forward, you will be known as Mosspaw. Greysquirrel, you are a skilled warrior, and I trust you will pass your skills onto your apprentice,"

Greysquirrel touched noses with Mosspaw, leaving just a fidgeting Ferretkit.

"Ferretkit, from this day forward, you will be known Ferretpaw. Cherrysong, you will mentor Ferretpaw. Good luck,"

Sandystar meowed with amusement as the two cats touched noses.

"Sparrowpaw! Mosspaw! Ferretpaw!"

The Clan chanted. Cherrysong's got her work cut out for her with this one, she thought. But if any cat can handle rowdy Ferretpaw, it's Cherrysong. Cats started to pad off.

"Wait!"

Sandystar called. The Clan looked at her, confused.

"Limepaw, Robinpaw, come forward,"

Confused, the two littermates padded up to Sandystar. Sleekfur and Tallheart looked questioningly at their leader as their apprentices headed toward her.

"Although these apprentices haven't had their final assessments, they both showed great courage and skill on the journey over here,"

She shot a glance at Tallheart and Sleekfur, who nodded vigorously. Sandystar turned to Limepaw and Robinpaw.

"I, Sandystar, leader of SkyClan call upon our warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and commend them as warriors in their turn,"

The two apprentices exchanged excited looks.

"Limepaw, Robinpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Sandystar meowed.

"I do!"

Robinpaw said confidently.

"I do!"

Limepaw meowed, voice quivering with excitement.

"Then by the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Robinpaw, from this day forwards, you shall be known as Robinclaw. StarClan honours your intelligence And your determination, and welcome you as a full warrior of SkyClan,"

Robinclaw's eyes beamed at the sound of his new name. Sandystar licked Robinclaw's shoulder.

"Limepaw, from this day forward, you will be known as Limefeather! StarClan honours your energy and your faith, and welcome you as a full warrior of SkyClan,"

Limefeather's eyes lit up as she licked the leader's shoulder.

"Robinclaw! Limefeather! Robinclaw! Limefeather!"

The two newly-made warriors looked as though they would burst with pride. Sandystar called the meeting to an end, and cats raced to congratulate the new warriors and apprentices. Ferretpaw, Mosspaw and Sparrowpaw left through the tunnel with their new mentors.