Chapter Text
“Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join around the Fallenpine for a clan meeting!”
Cinnamonstar’s yowl sounded through the entire camp and woke Amberpaw with a start. Pale sunlight filtered through the canopy of leaves and into the apprentices’ den. Amberpaw gave himself a quick wash before making his way over to the Fallenpine.
Mistpaw joined him soon after. The entire camp was shuffling into a single group. Amberpaw couldn’t help feeling a little overwhelmed.
“Why did Cinnamonstar have to call a clan meeting so early?” Mistpaw complained.
“It’s not that early,” Amberpaw pointed out.
Mistpaw muttered something under his breath, too quiet for Amberpaw to hear.
He always acts as if someone clawed his fur off, Amberpaw thought to himself.
Cinnamonstar and Skypaw were standing next to each other on the Fallenpine. Cinnamonstar turned towards Skypaw’s mentor, Scatteredleaf.
“Scatteredleaf, has your apprentice, Skypaw, learned the skills of a warrior? Do they understand the importance of the warrior code?”
Scatteredleaf bowed down. “They have.”
Cinnamonstar nodded.
“I, Cinnamonstar, leader of Forestclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in their turn.”
Cinnamonstar faced Skypaw. “Skypaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?”
“I do.” Amberpaw could feel the excitement in the air.
“Then by the power of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Skypaw, from this moment on, you shall be known as Skyfall. Starclan honours your courage and kindness, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Forestclan.”
Cinnamonstar rested her muzzle on Skyfall, and Skyfall licked her shoulder in return. The entire clan welcomed Skyfall with her new name. “Skyfall! Skyfall! Skyfall!”
Amberpaw felt so proud of Skyfall. They had known each other since they were both kits. But at the same time, he couldn’t help feeling jealous. He always thought they would become warriors at the same time. Amberpaw quickly reassured himself.
My ceremony isn’t too far away now.
The cats started to disband, most of them purred with approval for Skyfall. Amberpaw’s stomach suddenly growled. He hadn’t noticed how hungry he was over the ceremony. He walked over to the fresh-kill pile, savoury scents filling the air around it. He scented out a plump vole and finished it in a few quick, famished bites.
Amberpaw caught sight of his mentor, Blazeheart, walking towards him. His tabby pelt was shining brightly in the sunlight.
“Hello Amberpaw,” Blazeheart greeted. “I was just about to go on a hunting patrol. Would you like to join me? Skyfall and Mistpaw are coming too.”
Amberpaw’s eyes lit up. It would be nice to stretch his legs. “Sure!” he eagerly replied.
He followed his mentor as he bounded towards the entrance, where Skyfall and Mistpaw were already waiting.
“About time,” Mistpaw grunted.
Amberpaw ignored Mistpaw’s sarcastic comment and faced Skyfall.
“Congratulations on becoming a warrior!” he meowed.
Skyfall purred with satisfaction. “Thanks,” she replied. “It means the world to me.” Amberpaw could see her eyes shining with pride.
As Amberpaw left camp, he narrowed his eyes as a cold wind blew through the forest and ruffled his fur. Leaves were scattered all over the forest floor.
Leaf-fall should be arriving soon.
* * *
Amberpaw returned from a successful hunt, catching two squirrels and a vole. Mistpaw and Skyfall both caught a squirrel each, while Blazeheart caught a rabbit.
“The clan shall be well-fed today,” Blazeheart remarked.
Amberpaw dropped his squirrels at the fresh-kill pile and carried his vole over to the elder's den for Shorttail. The elder had only moved into the elder’s den a few moons ago, and yet he already looked so exhausted. Amberpaw dropped the vole at Shorttail’s paws.
Shorttail looked up from where he was resting. “Thank you.” He let out an exhausted sigh and began to eat his vole.
Amberpaw heard a voice behind him, “Amberpaw!”
He spun around to see the clan medicine cat, Cloudfoot, standing by the entrance of the medicine cat den.
Amberpaw bounded over to Cloudfoot. “Yes?”
Cloudfoot dropped some herbs near him.
“I need you to take these borage leaves to the nursery and give it to Nectarpelt. She’s kitting soon and I want to make sure she’ll have enough milk to feed them.” he told him.
Amberpaw shrugged, “Sure.”
“Thanks. I would ask Goosepaw, but I sent her into the forest to fetch some catmint.”
Amberpaw picked up the borage in his jaws and carried them over to the nursery. The strong, sour scent forced Amberpaw to wrinkle his nose. He located Nectarpelt and bounded over to her.
“Cloudfoot said you need to eat these,” he explained, nudging the herbs towards her.
Nectarpelt blinked at him with her sleepy eyes. She obeyed without question and ate the herbs quickly before going back to sleep. There hadn't been many kits born recently. A new litter would certainly benefit the clan in coming moons.
The noisy chattering of birds grew quiet as the setting sun shot rays of
twilight across the rustic sky.