Warrior Cats: Rainfall

Chapter Five

   The aftermath of the warriors' ceremony was probably Ashfrost's favorite part. Other warriors congratulated them on their feat and gave them blessings for the years to come. Ashfrost felt truly praised to be looked at with such happiness. For a long while, she felt like she couldn't do anything right, but here she was as a young warrior. 

   The only sad part about the aftermath was that neither of her parents were here to congratulate her. Featherwing was busy in CloudClan, and only StarClan knows who her biological father is. Pikeleap had been her fake father but died soon after she was born, so it was pointless to her.

   Since Ashfrost was sitting near the entrance, contemplating her thoughts, she heard a rustle in the spiky bushes.

   "Ashfrost?" The hoarse whisper was Longwhisker's.

   Ashfrost looked around to make sure no one was watching, then she walked through the entrance to find Longwhisker right there. Five unfamiliar scents touched her senses and she realized his kits must be hiding somewhere.

   "Do I just... go in?" He asked warily.

   "It'll be a little embarrassing," Ashfrost admitted. "But if you want them to join the Clan, all six of you have to be able to bare the hot gaze of everyone in camp. It should be worth it because I'm confident that Stonestar will let them in."

   "Can you do it with me?"

   "I'd love to aid you, Longwhisker, however, this is your job alone to bring them in. Plus, since I'm assuming most of them are gray because both parents are, it would be rather convincing that I'm their mother. It would be a misunderstanding hard to get others to comprehend. Almost everyone knows that Mousefoot and I have a thing."

   "I see," Longwhisker looked down at his paws, then back to her. "Can you at least stand outside the entrance and reassure me? I feel like a kit on its first day out of the nursery."

   "That I can do," Ashfrost purred.

   Ashfrost was sitting back in front of the entrance. She was staring at the ground, trying her best to count the blades of grass without losing track. Several times she had messed up already, but she needed to seem like she was lost in her thoughts so no one would come ask her about being alone by the entrance. She looked at the cats in camp, most were sharing tongues, and it has only been about half an hour since Ashfrost was given her new name. She flicked her tail noisily, it was time.

   Longwhisker tread through the entrance, his fur slightly snagging on the spiked leaves of the bushes. As he walked through, five kits hopped behind him. The one closest to his father was the largest. He was light gray and had darker gray ears, paws, and tail tip. His green eyes blazed with determination and curiosity. Another tom was behind him, he was also light gray but had a cream underbelly and muzzle. It was quite an interesting color combination. This one, like his brother, also had green eyes. Yet another tom followed behind the second, he was black and had amber eyes. Finally, two she-kits were at the tail of the line. The first one was a light gray tabby and had blue eyes. The one behind her was black and had a gray underbelly, muzzle, paws, and the whole of her tail. Her green eyes were sharp with interest and seriousness. She highly resembled her mother, Nightwing.

   Stonestar had been lying on the Great Boulder, head on paws. But his head rose and his ears flattened as he saw the group of six walk into camp.

   "What is the meaning of this, Longwhisker?" His stern gaze would've burned Longwhisker's pelt right off, should he have had the ability to do so.