BRAMBLESTAR
The grass quivered to Bramblestar’s left. Tasting the air, he scented a plump brown mouse. He dropped into a hunting crouch and slowly stalked forward. The mouse didn’t move, and stayed nibbling on a seed. Bramblestar killed it swiftly with his left forepaw and…suddenly he heard a familiar meow asking for permission to enter his den. Bramblestar blinked open his eyes to find himself lying comfortably in his mossy nest. Bramblestar meowed, “Come in!”
A silver and white she-cat pushed her way through the lichen that was draped over the entrance to his den. She walked with a hint of urgency, worrying Bramblestar. “What is it, Ivypool? I can see something is troubling you.”
Ivypool sighed. “I led the border patrol along the ShadowClan border. We scented ShadowClan inside the Twoleg greenleaf clearing.”
“Haven’t we had enough trouble with Dark Forest recently without ShadowClan causing trouble, too?” Bramblestar muttered unhappily.
Then, with a sigh, he padded out of his den and stood on the Highledge. “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!” he shouted.
At his words, the Clan gathered around and sat below him, waiting expectantly. “First, I would like to warn you all about ShadowClan. Ivypool told me that she has scented ShadowClan over our border. Border patrols, keep an eye open for ShadowClan.”
The Clan nodded in agreement. A few anxious meows cut through the silence, and every cat was tense. A battle with ShadowClan was the last thing any cat wanted.
Hoping to ease the mood, Bramblestar managed to keep his voice calm and steady as he spoke again. “Recently, our two apprentices have trained hard. Their mentors tell me that they are progressing well, so I believe it is time for them to receive their warrior names.” He glanced at Woodpaw and Wavepaw, who shared the same look of excitement and surprise.
Bramblestar beckoned for them to step forward with his tail. “I, Bramblestar, 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 noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn. Wavepaw, Woodpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your lives?”
Wavepaw spoke first, her amber eyes glinting in the fading sunlight. “I do.”
Woodpaw echoed her, his tail twitching nervously behind him, his voice quivering slightly. “I do.”
“Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior names: Wavepaw, from this moment you will be known as Wavefur. StarClan honors your bravery and determination, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan.” Bramblestar stepped forward and rested his muzzle on top of Wavefur’s head. Wavefur licked Bramblestar’s shoulder respectfully before walking over to join the other warriors.
“Woodpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Woodpelt. StarClan honors your skill and effort, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan.” Woodpelt stood there and licked Bramblestar’s shoulder after he rested his muzzle on her head.
The Clan began to chant the two young warriors’ names as the sun dipped below the horizon. “Wavefur! Woodpelt! Wavefur! Woodpelt!”
“You may not talk after moonhigh. In the tradition of our warrior ancestors, Wavefur and Woodpelt must keep a silent vigil until dawn, and guard the camp alone while we rest,” Bramblestar meowed. Then, he leaped down from the Highledge and took a thrush from the fresh-kill pile. Bramblestar grabbed a vole for Squirrelflight and settled down exhaustedly to eat beside his mate.
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Warriors: The Unknown Threat Series Book #1: ShadowClan's Threat
RandomIt has been a while since the Clans won the battle against the Dark Forest. ThunderClan is prospering under Bramblestar's leadership and the rest of the Clans have been thriving too. But a strange black liquid is covering ShadowClan's territory, kil...
