Fawnpaw was crouched in a bracken thicket stalking a mouse. She and four other ThunderClan apprentices, Redpaw, Freezepaw, and Stormpaw, were on their warrior assessment. Fawnpaw knew that her mentor, Oakleaf, was overseeing the entire patrol. Her paws itched with agitation. I wouldn't cheat! And cats watching me makes me nervous.... She pounced and gave the mouse a killing bite.
"Nice catch!" Oakleaf trotted up behind her. "That makes three. You're pretty good at this!"
Fawnpaw felt her pelt grow hot with embarrassment. "Thanks," she replied quietly.
Redpaw and Breezeflight were close to Oakleaf, a bird in each of their jaws. Redpaw's amber eyes looked at Fawnpaw, and she smiled as a greeting.
"Greenleaf has brought some great hunting," Breezeflight reported. "Redpaw here caught two birds all by himself the moment I looked away!"
"A great hunter for an apprentice? Hmm, I wonder what that must be like," Oakleaf said playfully.
Fawnpaw's fur seemed to glow with pride.
"We'd better see how the others are doing," Breezeflight mewed. "Then we can head home. And you two have earned some new names," he added with a smile.
Redpaw gave a little hop of excitement and Fawnpaw felt a huge grin on her face.
The four cats headed toward the lake, where they could catch the other patrols' scents. Fawnpaw saw a dark gray flash in the corner of her eye and turned to see Stormpaw hot on the trail of a vole. Mistyfrost, his mentor, was perched in a tree a few fox-lengths away. The remaining mentors and apprentices stayed still and waited for Stormpaw to catch the vole. A few moments later, he emerged with the small shape in his jaws, trotting happily toward the patrol. Mistyfrost had a gleam of pride in her icy eyes.
"Hi, Stormpaw!" Redpaw was walking toward him. "Nice catch," he added.
"Thanksh!" Stormpaw said around the fresh-kill in his mouth. "Where'sh Freeshpaw?"
Fawnpaw couldn't help but mrrow in amusement. "We're off to look for her. If you're finished, you could join us?"
Mistyfrost leaped down from the oak she sat in. "I think he's finished. He's caught two other pieces of prey we've yet to retrieve. I'm sure Ravenstrike and Freezepaw are wrapping up."
"Hmmhmm! Let'sh go!" Stormpaw was already headed up the grassy hill up toward camp. The five other cats followed close behind until they reached a small clearing where they saw Freezepaw waggling her haunches.
About to pounce, Fawnpaw concluded. Within a few heartbeats Freezepaw had pinned and killed a rabbit.
"Whoa! I thought rabbits were only in WindClan?" Fawnpaw was confused.
"That is odd," Oakleaf observed. "Must have wandered over here. Not its lucky day, eh?"
"Heh, guessh not!" Freezepaw's voice was also muffled by her new catch as she trotted over to the small party of cats.
"Congratulations!" Mistyfrost exclaimed. "Where's Ravenstrike?"
"I dunno," Freezepaw answered. "He'sh gotta be around here shomewhere."
Breezeflight's jaws were parted to taste the air. "This way," he ordered. He headed toward camp. Near the entrance, the pitch black tom waited, three pieces of prey at his paws.
"Hey, Freezepaw!" Ravenstrike greeted his apprentice. "I see you caught one more piece of prey. Good work! I think you've earned a new name." Freezepaw's fur seemed to glow with pride. "Let's go back to camp."
The eight cats padded through the thorn tunnel into the ThunderClan camp. The abandoned twoleg rockplace was bustling with activity, from kits tumbling under queens' paws to senior warriors discussing border patrols. Sandstar sat at the edge of the highrock, looking down on the peaceful Clan. She saw the returning party and gave them a nod of greeting.
The patrol headed over to meet Sandstar.
"How did they do?" She mewed calmly.
Oakleaf whispered into Fawnpaw's ear. "Might wanna leave it to us," she advised. "I don't think Sandstar wants apprentices influencing our decisions, if you know what I mean."
Fawnpaw, while hurt, still had to respect her mentor's wishes. "Ok," she replied. As the mentors padded off, she looked to the apprentices. "Wanna go eat?" she prompted.
"Sounds good!" Redpaw's voice sounded over the other two apprentices. Must be hungry, she decided. They headed towards the fresh-kill pile.
"So, Redpaw-- you caught the most prey out of all of us, right? You're a very talented hunter," Fawnpaw complimented.
Redpaw seemed taken aback. "You were pretty good yourself," he said quickly, stuffing a vole in his mouth.
A moment passed before Stormpaw piped up. "Good hunting this season, eh? I've heard leaf-bare is rough on the Clans. But we'll be warriors then, so we'll be fine."
"Ooh, I'm so nervous... what if they think we shouldn't be warriors after all?" Freezepaw's paws were working in the sand below.
"Are you kidding? This is the most prey the Clan's had all quarter-moon! I'd be surprised if we weren't warriors by the end of tonight!"
Fawnpaw stayed silent. Oakleaf had told her and Redpaw that they were earning their names today. Was she trying to make us feel better? Nonsense. Oakleaf's better than that.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath the highrock for a Clan meeting!" Sandstar's voice rang throughout the hollow.
Oh! It's time! Fawnpaw found herself glancing at Redpaw every time something exciting happened. Stop that. But his amber eyes were hard to look away from at times.... She shook the thought from her head and trotted toward the base of highrock.
"I am pleased to announce that four new warriors will be appointed today."
Yes! We all passed! Fawnpaw saw their mentors padding down from Sandstar's den. They had a gleam of appreciation in their eyes. She grinned at Redpaw, and he grinned back. Freezepaw and Stormpaw hopped around excitedly. "Freezepaw and Stormpaw, please step forward."
Why are only they going up? Why is she making me go up with Redpaw? Oh, they're littermates, of course, totally normal. I'm not nervous, nope.
The two apprentices walked excitedly up to the ThunderClan Leader. She recited the age-old warrior ceremony, and when both young cats agreed to uphold the warrior code, she gave them the names Freezefall and Stormcloud, respectively.
"Freezefall! Stormcloud!" The Clan's voices cheered the new warriors' names. The two cats dipped their heads and headed back into the crowd.
"Now, we have two more apprentices to make warriors today. Redpaw, Fawnpaw, please come here."
Fawnpaw's paws itched with excitement. It's finally happening! She walked up to the beautiful sand-colored she-cat, the red calico tom close behind.
"I, Sandstar, 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 warriors in their turn. Fawnpaw and Redpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
The apprentices were overrun with excitement. "I do!" They both blurted out their answers.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Fawnpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Fawnheart, and Redpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Redbreeze. StarClan honors your courage, and we welcome you as full warriors of ThunderClan."
"Fawnheart! Redbreeze! Fawnheart! Redbreeze!" Fawnheart's Clanmates welcomed the new warriors.
Redbreeze looked at the brown warrior with an emotion in his brilliant amber eyes that Fawnheart couldn't quite place. Pride? Happiness? ...Affection? She gave him a smile. They were warriors now!
