Embers

Chapter 16

Emberstripe watched with her kits as Dawnpaw and Elmpaw were called up to Mothstar. They had passed their assessments and were now being made warriors.

"I, Mothstar, leader of Thunderclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in his turn. Elmpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Elmpaw took a breath and looked at Mothstar "I do,"

" Dawnpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and depend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do" Dawnpaw said confidently.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Elmpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Elmshade. StarClan honors your intelligence, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan. Dawnpaw, from this moment on you will be know as Dawnbreeze. Starclan honors your bravery and we welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan." Mothstar finished. The clan called out their new names while the new warriors puffed out there chests, though Elmshade looked a bit sad. She guess it was because Smokeheart had died and hadn't seen his apprentice become a warrior. Since Smokeheart died, Mothstar herself had continued training the brown tom until he was ready. Emberstripe called their names out loudest, proud that the cats she had escaped with from Crystal had grown up to be great warriors. She walked over to the new warriors once their ceremony was over.

"Congratulations, Elmshade and Dawnbreeze," she said, hinting at their new names. They thanked her and more warriors went over to them to congratulate them as well. Soon the crowd of Thunderclan cats thinned and Dawnlight and Elmshade walked outside of camp to sit vigil.

"When will I be a warrior?"Thrushkit asked. Shadekit and Foxkit asked this as well and they all looked at their mother. She ushered them to the nursery and curled her tail around them.

"When you reach six moons, then you're apprenticed. You train with your mentor until they think you're ready for your final assessment. If you pass, then you get made warriors," she said. Moonkit walked in and sat down with Emberstripe as she spoke. 

"I'm not going to train as a warrior," he said to his littermates. They looked at him oddly, and Shadekit stood up. "I'm going to be a medicine cat,"

"What? Why would you want to be a medicine cat? You'll smell all herb-y and not do anything cool like battle training or hunting!" Shadekit said, and Thrushkit nodded. Moonkit looked at his brothers sadly and his tail drooped, but Foxkit lashed her tail.

"Shadekit, Thrushkit-" Emberstripe was cut off by Foxkit

"If Moonkit wants to be a medicine cat, he can be. And if he wasn't a medicine cat, then when Cloudshine dies you won't have anycat to help you if you're hurt or sick!" she said to Thrushkit and Shadekit. Moonkit raised his tail happily.

"You can't tell us what to do! Only the warriors can, and Emberstripe and Dustfur!" Thrushkit snapped. Shadekit agreed and hissed.

"Would you stop it! Foxkit is right, he can be a medicine cat if he wants to be. He's your brother, and you should be more supportive," she scolded. Thrushkit and Shadekit mummbled their apologizes and lay in the nest, closing their eyes. She licked their fur, then Moonkit, then finally Foxkit, who was still awake.

"Do you think I'll be a good warrior?" she whispered. Emberstripe looked into her daughter's sky blue eyes.

"You stood up for your brother today, and you have so much confidence, Foxkit. I know you'll be an amazing warrior," she said, licking her fur. Foxkit snuggled into her fur and fell asleep quickly. Dustfur quickly and quietly sneaked in and gave each of his kits a lick on their ears. Emberstripe whispered to him about what had happened, and he gave a soft purr.