Shining of the Four

Chapter 44

            Lifepaw sulked around camp as cats prepared for her warrior ceremony. She knew she should be happy, but the meeting with Thornstar had put her in a bad mood. Who was he to go around and tell her what to think? What secrets were they keeping from her? She was just an ordinary cat, who was known for being motherless. She was not special in anyone's eyes.

            "Hey, Lifepaw!" Goosepaw called, running up to Lifepaw. It seemed he had noticed her lack of energy.

            "You okay?" he asked.

            Lifepaw bit her lip, wanting to tell him all about the prophecy, but she kept it shut for some reason. "I'm fine. I'm just nervous, that's all."

            "Well, your ceremony will be in a few minutes. It's not like Thornstar can change his mind anytime soon. You should be glad," Goosepaw advised.

            "I am. I guess I'll just miss spending time with you and Marshpaw and Ripplepaw," Lifepaw lied. Of course she'd miss them, but the sadness seemed to cover up the other issue bothering her.

            "We'll be warriors in a moon or so. Well, Ripplepaw won't get her full medicine cat title for a little while longer, but it'll be a short wait, you'll see. Plus, you'll get to go on all these patrols with your father," Goosepaw pointed out.

            Lifepaw grinned. She really did love Goosepaw for trying to be optimistic all the time and help her out. She was glad to have such a lovely tom in her life.

            "I love you," she replied.

            Goosepaw looked confused as to why this comment just came out of nowhere, but he smiled. "I love you, too." Before he could ask anything else, Thornstar's yowl echoed loudly throughout the camp.

            "ALL CATS OLD ENOUGH TO CATCH THEIR OWN PREY JOIN BENEATH THE ROCK FOR A CLAN MEETING!" he yowled.

            "Better go. I'll talk to you later," Lifepaw called to Goosepaw.

            He nodded, waving his blue tail as she padded away. Coming through the crowd and padding up the rock, she smiled, watching as cats gathered forward. She had to ignore Thornstar's prophecy for now. This was her moment, and she'd never experience this moment every again.

            Looking down below, she saw her father gathering, as well as Mousestripe, Stormnight, and Graytail, all looking up proudly at her. Near the back sat Goosepaw, Marshpaw, and Ripplepaw, the three seated next to Blueocean.

            "Cats of SnowClan," Thornstar began, quieting the crowd. "I call you all here together to celebrate the occasion of Lifepaw's conversion into a warrior." He smiled weakly at Lifepaw, then glanced up. "I call upon my warrior ancestors to look upon this apprentice. She has trained hard to follow your noble code, and I grant her to you as a warrior in return. Tinypelt," he spoke.

            Tinypelt padded forward, smiling at Lifepaw.

            "Yes, Thornstar?" she asked.

            "Do you believe Lifepaw is ready to become an apprentice?" Thornstar asked.

            Tinypelt smiled, directing her gaze at Lifepaw. She nodded, then turned back to Thornstar. "I wouldn't have it any other way, Thornstar. She is ready to serve her clan."

            "Lifepaw," Thornstar spoke, turning to her. His eyes stared at her, one of them a pale green and focused, the other dull. He had been blinded in one eye at a young age, though it had never stopped him from becoming leader.