WattyWarriors Fan Magazine 2.0

Contest Entree: Swiftpaw's Death (LightningStrikeTC)

(So this is an admin entry, and won't count for the contest :3 Lightning just wanted to share her ideas.)

Swiftpaw watched as Bluestar spoke. "Cloudpaw, you fought well against RiverClan this morning, and I have decided that the time has come for you to take your place as a warrior in ThunderClan."

He knew this was coming. Why does he get to be a warrior and us others don't? Can't Bluestar realize that we don't need more training? he thought bitterly, watching as Cloudpaw eagerly walked up to their leader. This is so unfair! Cloudpaw isn't even Clanborn!

The white furred apprentice took steps closer to Bluestar. Swiftpaw caught Fireheart's glance of pity for a second, but turned away. Brightpaw nudged him closer to the clearing, and the other apprentices were settled around him, in the back of the group of cats. The sun was low in the sky, barely visible by the trees that covered the dimming light.

Bluestar gazed around the clearing before she began to speak the ritual words. "I, Bluestar, leader of ThunderClan, 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."

Her voice was harsh, and Swiftpaw realized that Bluestar was going through the motions of a ritual that had ceased to have meaning for her. Swiftpaw watched Cloudpaw's eager face--he wasn't noticing the leader's tone of voice, probably since he was thinking about his ceremony.

"Cloudpaw," Bluestar continued, "do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do," Cloudpaw meowed fervently.

Swiftpaw looked down to his paws. That should be him and Brightpaw up there too, not only Cloudpaw! Bluestar was being unfair . . . did she not realize she was going to displease StarClan? Oh right, he thought. Just because we believe in it, she won't accept us, or even her own Clan!

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name," she went on, looking over to the group of apprentices in the back of the clearing. Swiftpaw's hurt eyes met her's. "Cloudpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Cloudtail. StarClan honors your courage and your independence, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

She leaped down the Highrock, resting her muzzle on Cloudtail's head. Swiftpaw sighed and looked to Brightpaw. Her eyes were full of longing, and she was upset just like he was. Cloudtail gave Bluestar's shoulder a respectful lick, and she left him, padding over to Fireheart.

The Clan was at unease, and no cat chanted his name. Swiftpaw himself was nervous for a moment, but sighed. He shouldn't be a warrior anyways, he told himself bitterly.

Brightpaw nudged him. "Let's go congratulate Cloudtail," she whispered. "I bet he'd do the same to our warrior ceremonies."

Swiftpaw snorted. "If we ever become warriors," he growled, pushing past Ashpaw and Fernpaw to get to the apprentice den. No cat had noticed him go, except for the other apprentices. Brindleface was the first one to congratulate him, and then the whole Clan began to crowd around telling him how glad they were he was finally a warrior.

What about me? he thought, upset. He buried his face in his paws. Brightpaw and I had worked as hard as Cloudtail has! We should be warriors too.

Swiftpaw fell asleep a few moments after, his heart completely broken by the choice of his leader.

* * *

Swiftpaw stared up at Bluestar, and she stared back down with proud eyes. "Swiftpaw," she said, and her voice seemed to echo sweetly. He felt like honey was running through his veins. "I was wrong. You were meant to become ThunderClan's new warrior . . ."