Warriors: A New Beginning #1: The Beginning

Chapter 22

"Wheatpaw, from this moment you shall be known as Wheatwing. StarClan honors your courage and your loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan!"

Reedstar's voice echoed in the clearing as the cats cheered:

"Wheatwing! Wheatwing! Wheatwing!"

Wavepelt joined in, full of joy. She ran to congratulate her sister.

"Finally!" Wheatwing was beaming. "I'm finally a warrior!"

"You are." Wavepelt nuzzled the golden tabby. "We can finally sleep in the same den!"

"Wheatwing!" Curlyfur cried. "I had faith that you would make it."

Wavepelt's heart was bursting with pride, but there was also sadness. Wolfpaw, if only you could be a warrior too...

"Have fun during your vigil," she joked.

Wheatwing laughed. "I will."

"Wheatwing!" Smokekit and Ashkit ran up. "Come look! We made your nest look very pretty."

Wavepelt followed Wheatwing, Smokekit, and Ashkit to the warriors den. Ashkit darted inside and went over to a nest.

"This is it," she announced.

Wheatwing gasped. "Wow! It's very pretty." The two kits had used shiny things to decorate the edge of the nest, and feathers covered the bedding.

"The feathers were from me," Ashkit said proudly. "I took the ones I gathered in the camp last leaf-fall."

"Thank you!" Wheatwing exclaimed. "I love it. But I won't be able to use it tonight." Seeing the kits' disappointing looks, she added: "I'll be sitting vigil. But I promise you that I will sleep in it in the morning."

"Okay!" squeaked Smokekit, and he and Ashkit bounced out of the den.

"Wavepelt!" Flamefur called. "Reedstar's going to choose who will go to the Gathering!"

"I'm coming!" Wavepelt meowed. She turned to Wheatwing. "Bye."

"Bye!" Wheatwing mewed.

Wavepelt rushed out of the warriors den and into the clearing. Reedstar had begun to recite names.

"Let's see...who will go?" ThunderClan's leader pondered. "Sunfur, Dapplecloud, Curlyfur, Greenpaw, Barkstripe, Wavepelt, Waterfall, Tussledstorm, Sandypelt, Whiteheart, and Flamefur. As well as Spottedstripe and Mintleaf."

Reedstar had appointed Spottedstripe as replacement deputy, much to Cloverwing's protest.

"I can organize patrols just fine!" she had said indignantly.

"You're expecting kits," Reedstar had said. "Sure, you could organize patrols now, but when your belly is rounder, then it'll be a problem."

Cloverwing had just harrumphed.

"Hey!" Flamefur ran up to Wavepelt. "The three of us are going to the Gathering!"

"The three of us?" Wavepelt asked, confused.

"Me, you, and Tussledstorm."

Of course! Wavepelt felt like smacking herself on the head.

"Yeah!" she realized. "Say...do you have friends in other Clans?"

"Me?" Flamefur considered the question. Then he replied: "I met up with an apprentice from ShadowClan. He's called Windpaw."

"I met up with a WindClan apprentice: Pinepaw," Wavepelt meowed.