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“Let all cats old enough to chase the ripples gather here beneath the willow tree for a Clan meeting,” Dappledstar’s strong meow carried throughout the camp, and Blisspaw felt as if butterflies were swirling in her stomach.
She cast a nervous glance to Whisperfur, who emerged from the Leader’s Den in the willow boughs, and gave her a subtle dip of his grey head, his eyes shining.
Blisspaw could practically feel Blizzardwing’s excitement vibrating out of his pelt, along with Frostwing and Snowpaw. “Good luck!” Blizzardwing whispered, as she padded nervously through the crowd.
“I, Dappledstar, leader of RippleClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice.” Blisspaw lifted her head, and hopped onto the branch beside Dappledstar, hind legs feeling stronger than she believed they ever could be. She could feel the glow of Silverpelt in the sky above her, despite the pale Newleaf sun that shone, unmarred by clouds. Was Lily in StarClan? Would they allow her to hunt with them, to run forever in fields and forests without borders, to feel the wind in her fur as they were always denied? Blisspaw hoped, with all that was in her, that she could. “She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in their turn.”
Nervously, Blisspaw straightened, green eyes meeting the tortoiseshell leader’s amber ones.
Dappledstar’s voice was warm, “Blisspaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?”
Despite her nerves, Blisspaw’s mew did not shake when she responded, “I do.” She only wished Lily was here, that she’d been able to protect and defend her.
“Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Blisspaw, from this moment on you will be known as Blissflower. StarClan honors your resilience, strength, and dedication to our clan, and we welcome you as a full warrior of RippleClan.”
Gently, Dappledstar rested her muzzle on Blissflower’s head, her strong muscles rippling beneath her pelt, and Blissflower rasped her tongue on the leader’s shoulder, remembering the frail bones beneath Lily’s pelt when she once groomed them.
Blissflower straightened, hearing the raucous cries of her new home echoing through the stones and reeds, as if it were whispering from the river itself. She had a new home here, and a life to remember Lily with, as a warrior for her Clan.