Pineshade's Loss

Chapter 25

Flamepaw and Mousepaw are currently out taking their warrior assessments. Pinepaw finds it odd that the two much younger apprentices are being assessed before Milkpaw, Frogpaw, and himself who are all older than them. However, he does not complain because he knows he asked for it by staying behind to be with Milkpaw, who is almost ready for her assessment herself. Frogpaw is definitely ready for his assessment, and Hawktalon has even gone to Boulderstar about it, but Boulderstar refused to assess him. Pinepaw's father stringy believes that cats who do not have Clan blood are lesser cats than those who are, so he has been pushing back Frogpaw from becoming a warrior longer than the usual apprentice.

Flamepaw and Mousepaw have been training with their mentors endlessly, even without breaks, due to Juniperleaf's requests. The ginger-furred warrior wants to prove to Boulderstar that her kits are just as worthy, if not more worthy, to become a warrior compared to kits with full ShadowClan blood. Boulderstar, strongly believing he is correct, took the challenge.

Pinepaw sits and waits in the rain impatiently for the two apprentices alongside Milkpaw and Frogpaw.

I'm sorry, Boulderstar. You're my father and all, but I really hope you're proven wrong. Pinepaw thinks.

"Hopefully the rain won't interfere with their assessments," Pinepaw meows as the rain begins to get heavier.

"Nah," Frogpaw meows. "More birds, frogs, and toads come out when it's raining. The hunting portion should be easier with rain than without it," he meows.

"I guess that's true," Pinepaw responds. Then, the dark gray tom twitches with excitement as he watches Mousepaw, Flamepaw, Jaggedfoot, Deerwhisper, and Boulderstar return from the assessment.

"We passed!" Flamepaw cheerfully announces to the other apprentices.

"No, you didn't," Boulderstar grumbles.

"B-But, we each caught fresh-kill and beat our mentors in battle!" Mousepaw protests. "Isn't that all we have to do for our assessments?" The young she-cat asks in a quiet, frightened tone.

"Not for the two of you, it isn't," Boulderstar meows. "There is one last part of the assessment that the two of you have to do."

"What is it?" Mousepaw asks, tilting her head out of curiosity. "I can do it!"

"That's not fair!" Flamepaw meows, responding differently from his sister. "Every other warrior only had to do those two parts of their assessments! What's so different about us? Are you going to use that same half-kittypet excuse again?" The dark ginger tabby ball of fur spats.

"You're exactly right about that last part," Boulderstar meows. "The two of you are too young to become warriors. You're too small and helpless. Besides, that kittypet blood of yours contributes to the helplessness. As soon as I make the two of you warriors, you're just going to lay around and eat," he meows. Pinepaw's tail twitches in anger at his father.

"Think about Goosecloud," Flamepaw continues to fight back boldly.

"He's going to be in serious trouble after this," Frogpaw mumbles about his best friend.

"She used to be a kittypet, Jaggedfoot told us everything. She was found as a lost kittypet named Angel in the middle of a terrible storm. Cherrystar, unlike you, had a good heart and let her join ShadowClan, where she was treated just like any other apprentice and warrior. She became a great warrior of ShadowClan. She also brought new life into the Clan through her kits. Is she any less of a warrior to you?" Flamepaw continues. Boulderstar is left speechless.

"You go, Flamepaw," Pinepaw could hear Milkpaw whisper from beside him. He gazes over at Goosecloud, who is sitting alongside Jaggedfoot. The cream-and-white she-cat is beaming with pride, her purple gaze focused on the young tom.

"Destroyed by an apprentice," Frogpaw whispers with a purr of amusement.

"No," Boulderstar responds. "Cherrystar saw potential in her. She proved herself through all of her moons as a ShadowClan apprentice, warrior, and queen. However, the two of you are young inexperienced. Although you both passed those parts of your assessments, you still have to prove yourself more before I will make you warriors," he meows.

"What will we have to do?" The drenched ginger fluff ball asks his leader.

"The two of you will have to defeat me in battle," The large dark gray tom answers.

"It's a deal," Flamepaw responds bravely.

"Flamepaw... are you sure about this?" Mousepaw asks her brother nervously, glancing over at him.

"Yes, we will become warriors today, as we rightfully should," Flamepaw assures his sister.

"Boulderstar," Lizardtail meows from behind his leader. "Don't you think this is a little... out of hand?" The Clan deputy asks.

"Be quiet, Lizardtail," The dark gray leader responds. "They need to prove themselves more."

"Haven't they proven themselves enough already? Don't you know how hard these apprentices have trained? They barely had any time to rest. That proves enough, doesn't it, Boulderstar?" Lizardtail protests. Cheers erupt from the rest of the Clan, including Pinepaw himself. He watches as the leader lets out a heavy sigh. Boulderstar turns around, pads away, and leaps onto the highbranch.

"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.

"These two young apprentices have passed their warrior assessments and are now ready to become full warriors of ShadowClan," Boulderstar announces. Pinepaw glances over at Juniperleaf, who is beaming with pride over her kits.

"Flamepaw, please come forward," Boulderstar says. Then, Flamepaw 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 Flamepaw.

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

"I do," Flamepaw promises.

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

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

"Now, Mousepaw, please come forward," Boulderstar says. Then, Mousepaw steps forward as she is told.

"I, Boulderstar, leader of ShadowClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn," Boulderstar meows. He then looks down Mousepaw.

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

"I do," She promises.

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

The clan begins to cheer her new warrior name. "Mousetuft! Mousetuft!" They cheer.

"The Clan meeting is now dismissed," Boulderstar meows, leaping down from the highbranch.

"Well, that was interesting," Pinepaw mumbles.