Dapplekit bounded across the clearing, chasing after her sister's tortoiseshell tail. "You can't catch me Dapplekit!" Flowerkit squealed.
"Fennelwind, please control your kits." Raggedfang snarled as Flowerkit ran into his dark tabby flank. Dapplekit stared in terror as the muscular tabby cat batted her sister away.
Lilyheart came out and ushered the little she-kit away. "Come on Dapplekit. We're going back to the nursery." Lilyheart meowed roughly. Dapplekit broke free of Lilyheart's grasp and tumbled back to the nursery. Lilyheart settled them in and pulled Fennelwind outside. As Dapplekit drifted off to sleep, she heard muffled voices outside the den.
"Fennelwind, you need to take better care of your kits. They are two moons old and barely recognize you as their mother. Redfrost is more of a mother to them than you ever were. Rosekit's death was a tragedy but you need to realize you have more kits." Lilyheart was hissing. Fennelwind pushed passed her sister and padded slowly back into the den and curled up in the corner where she usually slept.
Dapplekit awoke the next morning to Shadowkit's excited yowls. "Redfrost, can we please go to the gathering? Pretty please!"
"You aren't an apprentice yet. You have to wait another moon." Redfrost meowed sternly, sweeping her tail around the black kit. "But you can come to the Clan meeting."
Shadowkit bounded out of the nursery and out into the camp. Dapplekit shook Flowerkit awake and they quickly followed.
"...two of our apprentices have completed training. We gather here today to give them their warrior names." Tornstar was meowing. Sunpaw and Graypaw were standing in front of him, their eyes shining with excitement and pride.
"I, Tornstar, Leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warriors in turn." He meowed. "Sunpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do." Sunpaw meowed, not a trace of uncertainty in her voice.
"By the power of StarClan I grant you your warrior name. Sunpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Sunflame. StarClan honors your fighting skills and fairness and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." Tornstar rested his muzzle of her ginger head and she licked his shoulder.
"Graypaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend this clan, even at the cost of your life?" Tornstar's voice rang through the camp.
"I do," Graypaw meowed, his voice shaking.
"By the power of StarClan I give you your warrior name. Graypaw, from this moment on you will be known as Graypelt. StarClan honors your bravery and loyalty and we welcome you as a full member of ThunderClan.
"Graypelt, Sunflame, Graypelt, Sunflame!" The Clan yowled. The two new warriors had never looked prouder.
Someday, that will be me, Dapplekit thought to herself. I will be the greatest warrior ThunderClan has ever seen.
YOU ARE READING
Dappled Shadows
FanficDapplepaw is a determined young she-cat who just wants what's best for ThunderClan, but what happens when she is faced with one tough decision after another? As Dapplepaw uncovers mysteries of her past, StarClan knows what's in store for Dapplepaw...
