Foxpaw’s enthusiastic expression faded abruptly; Yellowfang guessed that the squirrel suddenly wasn’t as impressive. With a disdainful curl of her lip the apprentice turned her back. Yellowfang rolled her eyes. Foxpaw is always in a huff about something.
“Yellowfang!”
At the sound of Littlebird’s voice, Yellowfang turned to see the elder standing at the entrance to her den, a few tail-lengths away.
“Yes, what is it?”
“Oh, Yellowfang…” the elder began. “There’s a tick at the base of my tail, and I can’t reach it. I wonder if you could—”
“Aren’t there any apprentices to deal with your ticks?” Yellowfang interrupted, staring pointedly at Foxpaw.
“But I’m asking you, Yellowfang,” the elder insisted.
Yellowfang’s pelt burned at the smug look on Foxpaw’s face. She was conscious of the apprentice’s gaze following her as she plodded over to the elders’ den. Inside, the den was warm and stuffy. Lizardfang wasn’t there, so there was plenty of room for Littlebird to stretch out and show Yellowfang where the tick was.
Yellowfang was still cross that Littlebird had ordered her around in front of Foxpaw. She didn’t want to go to Sagewhisker for mouse bile, so she dealt with the tick by gripping it in her teeth and tugging. It came out, and she ground it into the bracken underpaw.
“That’s better,” Littlebird sighed, craning her neck to give her fur a lick. After a heartbeat she added casually, “I see you and Raggedpelt are getting along much better since he was attacked by the badger.”
“Yeah… I guess,” she muttered.
“I’ve seen the pair of you fall out before now,” the elder went on, sounding concerned.
Yellowfang just gave a noncommittal grunt, not meeting Littlebird’s gaze.
“You know, Yellowfang,” Littlebird meowed, “I’m sure you have a long future ahead of you. There’s no need to rush into pairing up with a mate.”
Embarrassment prickled Yellowfang’s paws. “I’m not in a rush to do anything!” she protested.
Littlebird nodded. “That’s good.”
“I should go,” Yellowfang muttered, eager to get out of the elders’ den. “Patrols… hunting…”
“Just remember what I’ve said,” Littlebird called after her as she scrambled into the open.
More cats had gathered around the fresh-kill pile. Russetpaw and Boulder, in a patrol with their mentors, appeared laden with prey and dropped it on the pile. Poolcloud and Brightflower were sharing a pigeon, while Nutwhisker was demonstrating a battle move to Wolfpaw and Rowanberry. Foxpaw was still there, Yellowfang noticed, leaning close to Raggedpelt as he devoured a starling. Yellowfang stalked up to them in time to hear what the apprentice was saying.
“Why don’t we go hunting together, Raggedpelt?”
“You can’t go out on your own patrols!” Yellowfang informed her icily, before Raggedpelt could say anything. “You’re an apprentice!”
“Not for much longer,” Foxpaw mewed with a pert flick of her tail. “I passed my final assessment this morning!”
“Great,” Yellowfang meowed, unable to summon up much enthusiasm. She’ll be twice as obnoxious once she’s made a warrior!
“Wolfpaw was a good apprentice.” Brightflower dipped her head to Poolcloud. “I enjoyed training him. And Blizzardwing told me how quickly Foxpaw picks things up.”
“I couldn’t be more proud,” Poolcloud purred, turning her head to give her shoulder a couple of quick licks. “I know that Foxpaw and Wolfpaw will impress the whole of ShadowClan when they become warriors.”
“I’m sure they will,” Hollyflower added, padding up in time to hear the last few words.
Yellowfang jumped as Nutwhisker’s whiskers tickled her ear and he muttered, “Foxpaw is bound to be leading patrols before she even goes to her first Gathering as a warrior.”
Yellowfang nodded glumly. I don’t want to patrol with her, she thought. But I suppose I’ll have to put up with it. She’d better not try ordering me around, though!
“Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Clanrock for a meeting!”
Foxpaw gave an excited bounce. “It’s our warrior ceremony!”
Cats emerged from their dens and gathered around the Clanrock in a ragged circle. Yellowfang spotted Russetpaw and Boulder near the front, their eyes gleaming with anticipation, and realized that this was the first warrior ceremony they had seen. Featherstorm and Mousewing, their mentors, sat with them, joined after a moment by Archeye, Blizzardwing, and Deerleap. Brackenfoot bounded over to Brightflower, and the two cats sat down with Nutwhisker and Rowanberry.
Lizardfang had reappeared, and crouched outside the elders’ den with Littlebird. Yellowfang could feel the old she-cat’s gaze upon her as she padded over to Raggedpelt and sat beside him. To her relief, Foxpaw had gone to stand at the front with Wolfpaw. Raggedpelt acknowledged Yellowfang with a flick of his ears.
“One of the most important times in the life of a Clan is the making of new warriors,” Cedarstar announced. “Today, two apprentices will take their warrior vows.” His gaze searched out Brightflower, and he asked, “Is Wolfpaw ready to become a warrior?”
Brightflower dipped her head. “He is, Cedarstar.”
“And Foxpaw?” The Clan leader turned toward Blizzardwing. “Is she worthy of this honor?”
“Worthy and more,” Blizzardwing replied. “She will be an outstanding warrior.”
Cedarstar nodded. “If that is so, it’s due to your excellent training,” he told the mottled white tom.
Foxpaw had puffed out her chest when she heard her mentor’s praise.
“She’d better watch out,” Yellowfang whispered to Raggedpelt. “She’ll explode if she gets any more pleased with herself.”
Leaping down from the Clanrock, Cedarstar continued, “I, Cedarstar, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn.” He beckoned Wolfpaw and Foxpaw forward with a flick of his tail. “Foxpaw, Wolfpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your own life?”
“I do,” Wolfpaw vowed, flexing his claws.
“I do!” Foxpaw’s voice rang out confidently.
“Then by the powers of StarClan,” Cedarstar announced, “I give you your warrior names. Wolfpaw, from this moment you will be known as Wolfstep. StarClan honors your courage and your loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan.” He stepped forward to lay his muzzle on the top of Wolfstep’s head, and Wolfstep licked his shoulder before stepping back into the ranks of his Clan.
Then Cedarstar turned to Foxpaw, repeating the same words and giving her the name of Foxheart. “StarClan honors your energy and commitment, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan.”
As Foxheart stepped back after licking her leader’s shoulder, the Clan exploded into yowls of welcome and congratulation. “Foxheart! Wolfstep! Foxheart! Wolfstep!”
Yellowfang noticed that Boulder and Russetpaw were joining in enthusiastically, their eyes shining as they called out the new warriors’ names. They’re not at all bitter that they haven’t been made warriors too—even though Boulder must be a few moons older.
“You know, I never thought I’d say this.” The voice was Amberleaf’s; Yellowfang glanced over her shoulder to see the older she-cat talking to Finchflight. “But those Twolegplace cats have really settled into the Clan. Maybe they’ll make warriors after all.”
Finchflight nodded. “They work hard, and Mousewing tells me they’re doing their best to understand the warrior code.”