Chapter Text
Thunderpaw and Kestrelpaw lay back against the old oak tree, sharing tongues.
It was the end of the day, and Falconfeather, Snowstar, and Yellowleaf had congratulated them for figuring out and passing their test of loyalty. But something was still on his mind. There must have been some traitorous expression on his face that spilled the secret that something was bothering him, because a while later Kestrelpaw stopped and asked him, “I know something is on your mind. Don’t try to deny it, spit it out Thunderpaw, what’s bothering you?’’ Thunderpaw was about to reply when a yowling broke out, Onestar was calling a Clan meeting. Hurriedly they got up and went over to the camp.
“Today, we are here gathered under our warrior ancestors to give three of our courageous apprentices their warrior names.” Yowled Snowstar, “Whitefall, has your apprentice Dawnpaw followed the warrior code and done all she could to help the Clan?”
Whitefall presented her apprentice and looked up at Snowstar and meowed firmly, “yes, Dawnpaw has always given her all to aid WindClan.” Snowstar bent his head to her in acknowledgement then turned the Dawnpaw.
Snowstar nodded and looked toward a cat with a white pelt that had yellow stripes,
“Breezeflame, has your apprentice Thrushpaw always tried to aid his Clan and has he always held up the warrior code?”
“Yes, he has.” Meowed Breezeflame. Snowstar nodded. Then turned to a cat whose pelt faded from orange to yellow to white.
“Fadingechos, has your apprentice Medowpaw always strived to aid her Clan, to protect it. And has she always held up the warrior code?” He asked.
“Yes, Medowpaw has proven herself to be more than worthy.” Replied Fadingechoes.
“Dawnpaw, Thrushpaw, and Medowpaw. Do you to swear to uphold the noble code of the warriors and to protect and aid your Clan even at the cost of your life?” He asked.
“Yes.” They replied unwaveringly.
“Then I, Snowstar, leader of WindClan ask our warrior ancestors to look down on these three,”
“STOP!” Snowstar stopped and looked at Thrushpaw, everyone did.
“Thrushpaw, why do you stop me?’’ Snowstar asked controlling himself very well. Thrushpaw took a gulp of air then looked at Snowstar determined.
“I don’t deserve to get my warrior name.” Thrushpaw yowled. The clearing was silent, then it broke out into yowling and nervous meows, this had obviously never happened before.
“SILENCE!” Whitefall’s yowl quietened them all. They all looked at Thrushpaw, waiting for an explanation.
“For the last quarter-moon I have been leaving camp,” Thrushpaw began, “at the last gathering I met a ShadowClan cat named Pinkpaw. We fell in love. Pinkpaw never felt at home in ShadowClan so she decided that she wanted to come to WindClan to be with me. But I couldn’t bear waiting till the next gathering to see her. So I sometimes go out to the ShadowClan border where we would meet. Banish me if you want Snowstar, but please let Pinkpaw join WindClan, her family had aided both Darktail and the Dark Forest cats. They went there themselves. It was a long time ago, but Pinkpaw can’t lie it down. Many of the ShadowClan cats whose ancestors were killed by them still hold a grudge on their family. Pinkpaw isn’t anything like them! She is a kind compassionate cat who just wants the best for everyone. She deserves her happy ever after! After what I have down, I don’t deserve to be here.”
Thrushpaw looked away, awaiting Snowstar’s answer.
All around him cats were murmuring. Then something in Thunderpaw’s mind clicked, he bent his head down to Kestrelpaws’ ear and whispered, “Thrushpaw must’ve been the cat we saw sneak out of camp and go to the ShadowClan border! That must’ve been why he was being so sneaky! He was going to go visit Pinkpaw!”
“Oh my gosh! You’re right!” Kestrelpaw gasped.
“Thrushpaw,” Snowstar was speaking, everyone quietened and turned to hear Snowstar’s verdict, “you have broken the warrior code, but I commend your honesty, you have acted like a true warrior owing up to your mistakes, and because of that you will not be banished. But you will have to keep training as an apprentice. However, I am willing to give Pinkpaw a chance. No cat deserves to be unhappy.” Thrushpaw looked up eyes shining.
“Oh, thank you Snowstar! I promise to do better this time round!” With that Thrushpaw turned and padded over to Breezeflame who nodded his approval. Kestrelpaw went over to Thrushpaw and nudged him. Then Thunderpaw remembered that they were littermates. “Good job for owning up to it Thrushpaw. Was last night the night you were going to go visit her?” Thunderpaw asked as he went over. Other cats were also commenting his courage, but when Thunderpaw brought that up Thrushpaw looked at him confused.
“I wasn’t out last night, I knew I was getting my naming ceremony today, so I made my mind up. Last time Pinkpaw and I had decided to confess.” Thrushpaw said, tilting his head to the side. Kestrelpaw turned her worried eyes to Thunderpaw who was equally confused. Then out of the corner of his eye he thought he saw a cat looking at him, but when he turned around, the cat was gone.
“Thunderpaw, is everything alright?” Kestrelpaw asked.
“Yeah, I just thought I saw cat in the shadows watching us. But when I turned around, they were gone. Kestrelpaw, I think some cat is watching us.”
“Hmm, but why?’’
“I don’t know. But I feel like they have something to with the cat we were following last night.”
“So, what should we do? What are you suggesting Thunderpaw?”
“I think it’s time we told Snowstar.”