Work Text:
His mother was purring in his ear, warm tongue rasping over the stubborn fur behind his ears as Bramblepaw fought to smooth his ruffled pelt. He wanted to scurry away from her warm affections and protest that he was about to become a warrior, he was too old to be pampered, but his mouth was drier than sunbaked reeds.
Bramblepaw had agonized and rejoiced as Firestar led him out of camp at sunrise, when mist still hung in the air, and quietly told his apprentice what was expected of him today. His assessment to determine if he was ready to be a warrior.
This was an honor Bramblepaw had been fighting for since his birth, whether he realized it at the time or not. Due to his lineage, the cat his clanmates saw before they saw him, Bramblepaw worried he would never be good enough in the eyes of ThunderClan to fully join them. His sister had worried the same, and found no home in their birth clan, but Bramblepaw prayed to the Silverpelt that he could shine through.
That his mentor would one day see Bramblepaw rather than his father. That he would see tabby fur and burning eyes and think only of him. Not a traitor, not a murderer, not a tyrant, him. Bramblepaw.
And Firestar had seen him. Green eyes warm with pride and affection, he brushed his tail tip over Bramblepaw’s shoulder and lightly purred that Bramblepaw should prepare for his naming ceremony.
Bramblepaw was going to become a warrior, he would sleep amongst the strongest, most loyal of his clan. Excitement made his fur bristle, but nerves, deep insecurities made him scurry to the nursery, searching for the warm reprieve of his mother.
Goldenflower purred harder, shaking with the force of her joy. They both knew it should be two apprentices prickling with nerves instead of one and Bramblepaw suddenly missed his sister more than ever, but she was happier where she was. Tawnypelt would be with him in his heart just as he had been during her naming ceremony a moon ago.
The lichen to Firestar’s den whispered as he stepped into the light, climbing the Great Rock with familiar ease. Bramblepaw bounced to his paws before dropping his rear back into the grass. He was getting ahead of himself.
Goldenflower’s whiskers twitched with amusement, watching her kit with love as he watched their leader’s every move.
Gracefully laying his tail over his paws, Firestar called out to the clan, calling for a meeting. Bramplepaw’s clanmates slunk into the clearing and gathered under the Great Rock, casting a few glances to the squirming apprentice. He hadn’t moved from his spot by the nursery.
Goldenflower took the first step, casually beckoning Bramplepaw with her tail. Bramblepaw tried to keep his paws steady underneath him as Firestar called him forward. Stepping up to his leader, Bramblepaw anxiously stared into the steady green gaze of his mentor.
“Bramblepaw, the time has come for you to receive your warrior name. For all of your days, you have been forced to live under the shadow of your father, forced to bear the scars he left on our clan.” Firestar meowed, breaking from tradition. Bramblepaw’s fur felt chilling. Was this not the ceremony he thought it was?
“You have been unjustly judged for actions that were not your own, but you have remained loyal. You have worked harder than most to prove yourself a kind and strong warrior.” Firestar continued, eyes betraying nothing to his thoughts. “You have been looked at, but only your father has been seen. But that is not that cat that you are, and Tigerstar is not all that you are. Beyond the color of your pelt, there is another cat that shines through.”
Firestar’s gaze shifted beyond Bramblepaw’s shoulder and found Goldenflower’s wide eyes. “You are your mother’s son. Kind and loving, the warmth of your mother’s protection and care shines through you more than your father ever could. And that is why StarClan bestows this name upon you.”
“I, Firestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in their turn.”
Bramblepaw felt as if the ground was shifting under his paws, the very forest trembling with the fate unraveling before him. No cat would see his father anymore.
“Bramblepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?” Bramblepaw was nodding before Firestar even finished.
“I do.” He choked out, voice weak but conviction strong. He would never again exist in a shadow. He would live bathed in golden light.
“Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Bramblepaw, from this moment on you will be known as Brambleflower. StarClan honors your loyalty and care, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan.” Firestar stepped forward and pressed his muzzle to Bramblepaw – no, Brambleflower’s – head. Brambleflower licked Firestar’s shoulder in return.
The cats of ThunderClan, his clanmates, began to chant his name in rapturous applause. Brambleflower purred and beamed with pride, turning to his clan. His mother stood amidst the crowd of cats, but he found her gaze nonetheless. Love melted her features into a warm stare and Brambleflower knew he would never have to face a darkness that was not his own. His mother would shine through his soul, following his pawsteps through the stars.
Brambleflower stood amongst his clan and found his father no longer had a place in his existence.