Warriors: The Unknown Threat Series Book #3: Returning Enemy

Chapter 1: Groundpaw

GROUNDPAW

            Groundpaw’s tail twitched with excitement. He raced over to Grasspaw and Cavepaw. “We’re going to be made warriors!” Groundpaw exclaimed.

            “I know,” Grasspaw meowed, sounding irritated. “You just kicked dirt up onto my pelt. I spent half of the day grooming it!”

            “Sorry,” Groundpaw muttered, but he refused to let Grasspaw’s sour mood spoil his big night.

            Cavepaw trotted after him. “I want to be named Cavewind!” he said.

            Groundpaw looked up at the Highledge to see Bramblestar making his way out of his den. “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!” Groundpaw’s father called.

            Groundpaw and his brother darted towards the Highledge with Grasspaw right behind them hollering, “Groundpaw! Cavepaw! Wait for me!”

            The three siblings skidded to a halt, sending dirt flying up into their father’s face. “Hey! Watch it!” Bramblestar meowed, spitting the dirt out of his mouth.

            Groundpaw and Cavepaw said nothing. It was Grasspaw who whispered, “Sorry, Bramblestar!”

            “I, Bramblestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these three apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn. Grasspaw, Groundpaw, Cavepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your lives?” the ThunderClan leader said, his amber eyes shining with pride.

            “I do,” they said in unison.

            “Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Grasspaw, from this moment on you will be known as Grassfur. StarClan honors your kindness and courage and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan,” Bramblestar meowed, stepping forward to rest his head on top of Grassfur’s head. She gave his shoulder a quick lick before running over to talk to Lilyblossom.

            “Cavepaw,” Bramblestar called.

            Cavepaw looked at Groundpaw and whispered in his ear, “You'll have to call me Cavewind in a moment.”

            Groundpaw whispered back, “I bet you won’t be called Cavewind.”

            “From this moment on you will be known as Cavefrost,” Bramblestar was saying. “StarClan honors your bravery and determination, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan.”      

            Cavefrost stepped forward and his father rested his muzzle on the new warrior’s head. Cavefrost stepped back and Groundpaw whispered, “Told you so.”         

            “Groundpaw,” Bramblestar meowed.

Groundpaw stepped forward excitedly and in that instant, he knew was his warrior name should be. “From this moment on, you will be known as Ground…” Bramblestar continued.

“Wait!” Groundpaw exclaimed.

Bramblestar narrowed his eyes. “What?” he demanded.

“I want to choose my warrior name,” Groundpaw meowed. He noticed Cavefrost staring at him as if he was insane, and perhaps he was. “I want to be named after my mother.”

Grief and regret passed through Bramblestar’s eyes. Suddenly, the ThunderClan leader looked moons older, weighed down by sorrow and wistfulness. Groundpaw was beginning to wish he had never said anything. Then, Bramblestar straightened again. “Alright, Groundpaw,” he said finally. “From this moment on, you will be known as Groundsquirrel. StarClan honors your bravery and skill, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan.”   

Groundsquirrel licked Bramblestar’s shoulder as his leader rested his snout on Groundsquirrel's head, and then the young warrior's moment was over. Around him, his Clanmates were chanting, “Grassfur! Cavefrost! Groundsquirrel!”

“In the tradition of our warrior ancestors, Grassfur, Cavefrost, and Groundsquirrel must keep a silent vigil until dawn, and guard the camp alone while we rest,” Bramblestar meowed.

Groundsquirrel grabbed a thrush and a vole from the fresh-kill pile. He dropped the vole at Cavefrost’s paws. “Thanks,” Cavefrost mumbled around a mouthful of his vole.

“No problem,” Groundsquirrel meowed. Suddenly, he noticed Flowerburst walking towards the warriors den. He walked towards the pretty brown she-cat and she turned her sky blue eyes towards him.

“Hi, Groundsquirrel,” she meowed.

“Hi, Flowerburst,” he said nervously. “Do you want to go hunting with me tomorrow?”

“Sure, why not?” she said.

“Okay, then,” he said. “And we can…”

“Groundsquirrel!” he heard a sharp meow behind him.

He turned around to see Bramblestar’s angry amber eyes glaring at him. “Silent vigil,” his father reminded him impatiently.

            “Sure…”Groundsquirrel began to reply.

“Silence!” Bramblestar hissed. “Go and find Cavefrost. Grassfur is waiting for you two to join her.”

Groundsquirrel nodded and cast one last look at Flowerburst. Then, with a sigh, he went to find Cavefrost.