Pineshade's Loss

Chapter 16

Pinepaw steps out of the apprentices' den. Milkpaw is currently on dawn patrol with her mentor, so he is unsure what to do until she returns. Then, his mentor, Leafshadow approaches him.

"Beetlepaw is having his warrior assessment today, are you sure you still want to wait for Milkpaw? It will be much longer since she has to relearn everything. You're beyond ready to become a warrior now if you want," Leafshadow meows, stopping in front of her apprentice.

"I'm sure," Pinepaw meows without hesitation. "Thanks for making sure, though," he meows.

"Okay then. You will be an apprentice for longer. But, if you change your mind, you can let me know and you can take your assessment at any time," The dark brown she-cat meows.

"Thank you," Pinepaw responds.

"You're welcome, I wish your brother the best of luck," Leafshadow meows before padding
over to Hawktalon and Ebonyfrost.

***

Pinepaw sits in the camp near the entrance with Spikepaw, Milkpaw, and Acornpaw, waiting for his brother.

"So, if Beetlepaw passes his assessment, he will become a warrior?" Milkpaw asks the other apprentices.

"Yes," Spikepaw responds to his sister.

"So he will get a new name too?" Milkpaw then asks.

"Yes," Pinepaw meows. "Like, when Hawktalon and Ebonyfrost became warriors, the -paw at the end of their names was replaced with their warrior name," he meows.

"Oh, there he is!" Acornpaw meows, spotting the black tom heading back towards the camp entrance, with Russetblaze and Boulderstar following closely behind him. Once the three cats return back to camp, Boulderstar heads straight over to the Highbranch and leaps up onto it.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the high branch for a meeting!" Boulderstar calls out. The clan then gathers beneath the high branch, including Pinepaw and the other apprentices.

"Beetlepaw passed his warrior assessment and is now ready to become a warrior of ShadowClan," Boulderstar announces.

Yay! Pinepaw thinks proudly.

"Beetlepaw, please come forward," Boulderstar says. Then, Beetlepaw steps forward as he is told.

"I, Boulderstar, leader of ShadowClan, 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," Boulderstar meows. He then looks down at his son proudly. Pinepaw watches as he looks back up at him proudly.

"Beetlepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" He meows.

"I do," Beetlepaw then responds.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Beetlepaw, from this moment on you will be known as Beetlenose. StarClan honors your bravery and skill, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan," Boulderstar meows.

The clan begins to cheer his new warrior name. "Beetlenose! Beetlenose!" They cheer.

"Thank you, Boulderstar," Beetlenose meows happily and steps back to where he was.

"The Clan meeting is now dismissed," Boulderstar meows, hopping down from the Highbranch. The Clan begins to gather around Beetlenose and congratulate him. Pinepaw quickly heads over to his brother, followed by the other apprentices.

"Congratulations, Beetlenose," Pinepaw purrs happily.

"Are you sure you're okay with staying back?" Beetlenose immediately asks his brother.

"Yes, it's my choice," Pinepaw responds. "I want to stay by Milkpaw's side."

"Do you have a thing for her or something?" Beetlenose then asks. However, he is immediately interrupted.

"Congratulations!" Spikepaw then meows to his friend, standing beside Pinepaw.

"Yeah!" Milkpaw responds, joining her brother. "I will try my best to learn everything so I can become a warrior too!"

"Thank you," Beetlenose responds. "I have to hold silent vigil tonight, though," he meows.

"What's that?" Milkpaw asks.

"When you become a warrior, you have to sit vigil all night and guard the camp," Pinepaw explains.

"That sounds boring, but important," Milkpaw responds.

"Let's go train," Volenose then meows as he approaches his apprentice.

"Okay!" Milkpaw responds. "See you later!" She meows before walking out of camp with her mentor.

She's not the Milkpaw I used to know. Pinepaw thinks.