Bearheart's Shame

Chapter 8

Bearpaw trudged to her den, ignoring all of the congratulations coming her way.

Dawnpool was dead, and there was nothing she could do.

The camp fell silent, eyes drawn to Dawnpool's torn up body.

"What happened?" Some cat asked, voice full of sorrow.

Bearpaw stopped, backed out of the den, and turned around.

"I'll tell you what happened." Bearpaw snapped. "A Shadeclan warrior mercilessly tore at Dawnpool's stomach, until his guts were oozing out."

Cats all around her gasped, and Hawkfern pulled her kits back into the nursery.

Sparrowstar shook his head.

"All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here for a clan meeting!"

Bearpaw looked up at the tom, her eyes glazed over with grief.

What is he going to do? Bearpaw thought.

"I would like to make an announcement before sending our warriors to their dens."

Sparrowstar yowled.

"There were four apprentices who fought like warriors in the battle. Bearpaw, Doepaw, Dustpaw, and Lionpaw.

These four apprentices will be made warriors under the moonlight tonight."
Bearpaw couldn't feel happy.

"I, Sparrowstar, leader of Thornclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn.

Lionpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do!" Lionpaw replied excitedly.

"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Lionpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Liontail.

Starclan honors your strength and determination, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Thornclan."

Sparrowstar named Bearpaw's other littermates, and beckoned her forward.

Bearpaw growled quietly as he started the ceremony, hardly listening to the words he said.

"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Bearpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Bearheart. Starclan honors your intelligence and spirit, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Thornclan."

Sparrowstar leapt down from Shadow Stone to rest his muzzle on Bearheart's head. She licked his shoulder in return.

As Bearheart went to the middle of the clearing to sit vigil, she noticed Pineclaw watching her happily.

He should have been at the battle, fighting alongside me. Bearheart thought.

Pineclaw turned his gaze away from her, and Bearheart struggled not to run after him.

"Oh! We're warriors!" Doefang exclaimed.

"Yay." Bearheart mumbled sarcastically.

"Oh, Bearheart we know you're upset, but Dawnpool would want you to be happy. To enjoy your time as a warrior." Doefang flicked Bearheart over the ear with her tail.

"Alright."

Bearheart sat down and stared up at the stars.

"Are you looking for him?" a voice asked.

"Yes." Bearheart told Dustberry.

He nodded and sat down next to her, resting his tail on her back.

Hours passed, and the sun began to rise.

"You are all relieved of your task. Now go rest. You must be tired from both battle and vigil." Sparrowstar emerged from his den.

Bearheart sighed and stumbled towards the apprentices den.

"Come on, frog-face! Warriors den!" Liontail led her across the camp.

"Oh! I..." Bearheart stopped. "I can't go in there."

"Sure you can." Liontail urged her. "Just step inside." 

"Liontail, you mouse-brain!" Dustberry hissed in the golden tom's face.

"What!?" Liontail exclaimed.

Bearheart shook her head and crouched low to the ground, her eyes fixed on the den.

"It's okay, Bearheart. Perfectly fine." Doefang reassured her.

Bearheart flicked her ear as Dawnpool's death replayed in her mind.

"She's traumatized. Liontail, go get Antwhisker." Dustberry hissed urgently.

Liontail turned and ran, leaving Bearheart with Doefang and Dustberry.

"It's okay. Antwhisker will give you an herb for shock, and everything will be okay." Doefang soothed quietly.

Soon Antwhisker came running across the camp, a small white flower in his jaws.

"What happened?" Antwhisker dropped the plant.

"We were going to our den after the vigil, and she just stopped." Dustberry explained.

"She's in shock. Once I give her this chamomile, she should be okay." Antwhisker responded.

"Doefang, you know what poppy seeds look like, right?"

Doefang nodded.

"Go get me some. There are ivy leaves growing next to the den. Grab one of those to hold the poppy seeds." Antwhisker instructed her.

The white tom bent over Bearheart, stroking her back gently.

"Bearheart, can you eat this for me?" Antwhisker pushed the flower forward, urging Bearheart to eat it.

She stretched her neck to reach the petals, and as she chewed them, a bitter taste broke out over her tongue.

Soon Doefang came running back, a leaf covered in little black seeds, clamped in her jaws.

Doefang set it down next to Bearheart, and scurried away, tail tip twitching.

"Lick those up." Antwhisker told her quietly.

Bearheart did as she was told.

Soon she began to feel drowsy, eyelids drooping.

"She'll sleep now." A muffled voice meowed.

In just a little while Bearheart was asleep, her mind clear.