Warriors-Secret of the Realms-#1 Dark Tunnels

Chapter 17

Violetpaw

She stretched her legs. Stormpaw wasn't back yet. What's taking so long? She thought as she took a mouthful of the thrush. Her hunting trip with Bluepaw was successful, but the fresh kill pile was stocked.

Mosspetal's kits had already been born, she had two eager she-kits. Aspenkit and Leafkit.
They were hopping around the fresh kill pile right now, trying to find the perfect piece of prey.

"I want to eat a Squirrel." Complained Aspenkit. "I found a Hare" answer Leafkit, pawing the plump Hare towards her. "Let's eat!" They dragged the Hare towards the nursery. "You need to eat outside" Mosspetal gently shoved the Hare and the kits out. "Hmph" Said Leafkit.

Violetpaw let out a purr of amusement. They were like her and her littermates when they were kits. Aspenkit gobbled up the Hare while Leafkit took one mouthful. "I'm full" complained Aspenkit. "Let's go play moss ball!" Squeaked Leafkit.

Violetpaw padded into the apprentices den and hooked out a piece of moss. She walked back outside to where the kits were trying to find suitable moss for their game. "I have moss right here" she called to the kits. Mosspetal blinked gratefully at her.

Aspenkit and Leafkit bounded towards her. "Thanks, Violetpaw!" Exclaimed Leafkit. They took the moss and started tossing it back and fourth. "Got it!" Squeaked Aspenkit, tossing it into the tree. "Uh-oh" Mewed Leafkit.

Violetpaw twitched her whiskers. "I'll go get it." She heaved herself to her paws.

She scrambled up the trunk. She found herself on top of a thin branch, she stepped to edge of it slowly and then leapt for the moss ball hat was stuck in the leaves. She managed to get a grip on the whole ball and she twisted mid-air so she could land on her paws.

The kits were staring in awe at her performance. "Will we do that when we're apprentices?" Asked Aspenkit. "You probably will" she replied cooly. She dropped the moss ball in front of them.

The kits took it once again and played in a more open area. Aspenkit was eager. Violetpaw hopes that she could be a warrior in time to have her as an apprentice. Leafkit will be fine too, but Aspenkit is special... she trotted to the apprentices den and curled up in her nest.

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She hadn't been asleep long. But the yowls Of excitement outside her den woke her. She got herself to her paws and wearily padded out. "What's happening?" She asked Featherstep, the nearest cat. "Stormpaw and Puddlepaw are back."from their assessment?" Asked Violetpaw, now eager to hear what she would say.

"Yes, of course." Graywhisker looked proud. "Thanks Featherstep," she backed away from the crowd to talk to Graywhisker. "Did Stormpaw pass?" She asked nervously. "You'll have to find out" he answered, his face betraying nothing.

Puddlepaw's mentor, Runningfur, emerged from Birchstar's den. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath the Highrock for a clan meeting!" He yowled. The cats of Wingclan gathering under the rock. Stormpaw and Puddlepaw sitting proudly under the Highrock.

"We have the news of two new warriors, Stormpaw and Pudddlepaw." He began, his gaze fixed on the two apprentices.

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

"Stormpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of you're life?" Birchstar Asked Stormpaw.

Stormpaw's eyes gleamed in excitement. "I do" he replied firmly.

"Then by the powers Of The Realm Of Stars, I give you your warrior name. Stormpaw, from this moment you will be known as Stormfall. The Realm Of Stars honours your strength, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Wingclan."
Stormfall looked like if he got any happier he would burst.

"We have given you the name Stormfall as you found a snapped twig that was burnt. This is a sign from The Realm Of Stars." Birchstar Mewed The Honouring.

Stormfall she thought. The clan cheered his name. "Stormfall! Stormfall!" Violetpaw caught his eye as she cheered the loudest. The crowd fell silent as Puddlepaw's turn came.

"I, Birchstar, leader of Wingclan, 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."

"Puddlepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?" Birchstar Asked the excited Apprentice.

"I do" Mewed Puddlepaw, trying to suppress her excitement.

"Then by the powers Of The Realm Of Stars, I give you your warrior name. Puddlepaw, from this moment you will be known as Puddlesplash. The Realm Of Stars honours your wits and kindness, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Wingclan." Birchstar Mewed the final words.

Puddlesplash looked as if she would burst, she was more enthusiastic then Stormfall.

There was more. Birchstar continued. "I have given you the name Puddlesplash as you found a puddle. You saw a snail drowning and you took action. You had lifted it out without harming it. Our ancestors had sent a sign. The puddle splashed yet you hadn't felt it." Birchstar's honouring echoed across the clearing.

The clan cheered Puddlesplash's name. "Puddlesplash! Puddlesplash!" Stormfall was bristling at how much louder they were cheering For Puddlesplash. Violetpaw didn't cheer for her.

"The meeting is over" Birchstar flicked his tail dismissively. The clan departed. Some had retreated to their dens, others had gone hunting or sharing tongues with one another.

I'm going to meet Stormfall she decided. "Stormfall!" She Called, Stormfall was chattering away with Bluepaw.

Stormfall glanced at her and nodded to her then continued to talk with Bluepaw.

Violetpaw felt disappointment. It didn't matter, she would have to talk with Leopardpaw then. She scanned the camp to find her sister. Leopardpaw was talking in a hushed tone with Puddlesplash casting a glance at her and Stormfall.

The saw her staring at them and snapped their heads away. Their acting weird she thought as they split ways. "Leopardpaw?" She called to her sister. Leopardpaw ignored her.

She frowned. Why was everyone avoiding her? She shook her head. Maybe she should go hunting to clear her head. She padded out the entrance and sniffed the air for a rabbit. What she found was different.

It was cat scent. Not the scent of any clan cat she knew, or any clan. She sniffed it again and this time she heard the screech of a huge eagle. She clambered into the undergrowth, in hopes that the eagle wouldn't see her.

She looked upwards and the sky was clear, but the sun shone unusually brightly. There were shapes in the sun! A cat was battling an eagle. It Screeched and took off, the cat yowling in triumph. She could make out the words-

"Don't mess with old Cloudmist!"