Thunderclan entered a kind of stupor after the death of the deputy. Ravencall had been the one who kept the clan running when Silverstar was unable to. Without him there, no-one was certain where they were meant to be and when.

Although Silverstar had announced one of the senior warriors, Shellclaw as the new deputy, the clan remained nervous. He was one of the oldest warriors in the clan and it surely wouldn't be long before he was making his way to the elders' den.

Aspenpaw however was torn between her grief for the foster father who had treated her like his own kit and worry for Drypaw. Robinblaze had carried his apprentice back to the camp and deposited her unconscious into the medicine den. Poppydust had warned that the shock and blood loss could prove too much for the diminutive she-cat.

Ravencall's vigil was a difficult time. Icepaw nestled close to his father's head, his mother close to his side. On the other side of the deputy's head, Aspenpaw settled herself beside the deputy, resting her nose against his shoulder fur. Shadowpaw sat beside her, his nose buried in his mentor's pelt. No cat spoke throughout the long cold night.

At dawn, the deputy was buried. Icepaw padded away with his mother to comfort her. The other three apprentices made their way to the medicine den where they settled beside Drypaw. At some point, their exhaustion took over they all four of them fell firmly asleep.

They woke to find Drypaw stirring and by sunset that day she had opened her eyes and even managed to eat something. When Poppydust had checked her tail a few sunrises later, she reported it was healing well with no signs of infection.

And so, a new routine seemed to start for them. Upon finishing their duties, they returned to the medicine den to spend their time with her. They soon found that the apprentice was struggling with balance and even standing seemed to be painful for her. None of them seemed sure how to approach this until Icepaw had stepped forward and gently nudged her to her paws and gently guided her on a lap of the camp letting her lean against him. In the subsequent days, the friends had made regular trips around the camp, Drypaw propped between them until she became steadier on her paws. Finally, after about a quarter moon, she could almost walk unaided.

Aspenpaw and Shadowpaw were sitting together, sharing a vole and watching as Icepaw was leading Drypaw back into the medicine den. Robinblaze happened to look up at that moment and followed them in. He had been in there almost as much as they had, his face furrowed in concern for his apprentice.

"He cares so much about her..." murmured Aspenpaw.

Shadowpaw nodded. "Would it surprise you at all if they became mates once she's made a warrior?"

She stared at him. "Why would you think that?"

He rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on! She's had a thing from him as long as I've known her... and as you said, he cares for her an awful lot too."

She shrugged. "Mentors care about their apprentices, it doesn't mean anything will come of it."

Almost as soon as she spoke, Tigerfang and Blackheart padded into the camp, their heads close together muttering. After a moment, Tigerfang glanced over at Aspenpaw, nodded to his brother and padded away towards the leader's den.

She tipped her head as her father made his way over to her. "How's the prey running you two?"

"What's Tigerfang doing?" she asked curiously, though she had a suspicion she knew the answer.

Shadowpaw rolled his eyes at her again. "Could it be the thing he's been doing every quarter moon for the last three moons, Aspenpaw? I feel like it would be highly likely."

She cuffed at his ears and he ducked, catching her paw with his own and pretending to swipe at her. She gave a little laugh, feeling a warmth spreading from the middle of her chest, flooding down to her paws.

Blackheart was looking between the two apprentices, his eyes glowing. She could almost read her father's mind and part of her wanted to shrink in embarrassment. "Well, I'll leave you two to your dinner." He mumbled trotting away to the fresh-kill pile.

"Your father thinks we're a thing." He muttered.

"Half the clan probably thinks we're a thing." She replied with a smirk. "Drypaw already told me to prepare to be your mate when we're warriors. I told her what I thought of that idea."

He tipped his head at her. "What do you think of that idea?"

"It's totally preposterous, you fluffbutt." She sniggered, flicking him with her tail.

He grinned. "Right. Just checking. Also, surely you would be the fluffbutt rather than me, being as you're the fluffy tailed one."

"Syntax is such a pernickety thing." She mewed taking another bite of vole. She paused before nudging the rest of it towards him. Vole was both of their favourite, but she felt like she'd eaten most of this one... and maybe she sort of wanted him to have it.

He blinked at her before dipping his head and finishing the vole in a few quick bites.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the high ledge for a clan meeting." The summons rang out throughout the camp. They both looked up to see Silverstar stood on the ridge outside the leader's den, Tigerfang leaping down the rocks jutting out of the side of the cliff. The cats began to flock out of their dens towards the gathering spot. The hunting parties happened to come back at that moment, Badgerpaw padding along behind Creekshadow. They quickly placed their prey on the pile and hurried over. Icepaw and Poppydust ducked out of the medicine den, Robinblaze following propping up Drypaw. Aspenpaw glanced at Shadowpaw before they padded forward to join the congregating cats.

Once the clan had gathered, Silverstar sat, gazing around at the clan, her usual shadow of disinterest clouding her gaze. The scar on her throat from the fox's teeth seemed more obvious when she held her head that way. Silverstar got to her paws. "Clanmates." she called. "I have called this meeting as there is something I have neglected to do for a while now. A quarter moon ago, some of our apprentices faced a fox attack and between them managed to eliminate it. Thunderclan, and all the other clans will never have trouble with it again. I think it is about time to give them their warrior names."

Aspenpaw felt her stomach squeeze in anticipation. She looked over at Tigerfang to see him staring straight at her. He smiled and gave a tiny nod, his eye shining with pride. She let out a breath, trying to hold back her nervous excitement. Beside her, Shadowpaw was bouncing on his paws. "It's time." He whispered. "It's finally time."

Silverstar's gaze flicked around the clan. "Badgerpaw, Icepaw, Shadowpaw, Aspenpaw and Drypaw. Step forward."

The four of them hurried forward. Robinblaze helped Drypaw forward to the front of the crowd, letting her walk the rest by herself.

Silverstar's eyes fell to Drypaw's tail before she looked at Robinblaze. "Like apprentice like mentor." she mewed. "Not many cats would come so close to losing their lives and still come back for more." she gave a purr before throwing her head back. "I, Silverstar, leader of Thunderclan call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on 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." She lowered her gaze to look at Drypaw. "Drypaw, do you promise to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Drypaw looked up at Silverstar, her eyes shining. "I do." She mewed.

"Since coming to us, you have blossomed, and we will not forget the sacrifices you have made. By the powers of Starclan I give you your warrior name. Drypaw, from this moment on you will be known as Dryrose. Starclan honours your speed and strength of spirit and we welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan."

She moved forward to where Dryrose was sitting trembling and rested her muzzle on her head. She shakily leaned forward and licked Silverstar's shoulder. She stepped back, her gaze moving on to Badgerpaw. "Badgerpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend your clan even at the cost of your life?"

Badgerpaw puffed out his chest proudly. "I do."

"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Badgerpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Badgerbane. Starclan honours your bravery and strength and we welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan." Again, she rested her muzzle on his head and he licked her shoulder before raising his head proudly.

She turned her gaze to Icepaw. A ripple of pain seemed to run between them as she looked into the eyes that were so like her old deputy's. "I wish I had done this sooner." She whispered. "He'd have been so proud of you."

Icepaw ducked his head. "I hope so."

She resumed her professional demeanour. "Icepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do." Icepaw mewed without a moment's hesitation.

"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Icepaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Icemask. Starclan honours your courage and loyalty and we welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan." He licked her shoulder as she rested her muzzle on his head and stepped back, his tail raising and plush pelt fluffing up happily. Behind them, Hazelbreeze gave a little intake of breath. Aspenpaw knew she was silently berating herself for not grooming him before he went up. It would have been tricky for the smaller she-cat anyway. Icemask was not the kit he had once been.

Silverstar's gaze moved on to Shadowpaw. She paused again. "He said you were ready." She murmured. "He wanted to prove it to me that day... he was glad you were his apprentice."

Shadowpaw's eyes shone with emotion for a moment, before he blinked hard and it hardened into a look of determination.

"Shadowpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

He nodded. "I will." He said clearly. "I do."

"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Shadowpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Shadowstep. Starclan honours your quick thinking and enthusiasm and we welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan." His eyes were shining again in happiness, and he turned for a moment and glanced at Aspenpaw. She felt her own heart glow with a tenderness towards him as he turned back to Silverstar and licked her shoulder as she rested her muzzle on his head.

Finally, the moment she had known would come. Silverstar turned her grey gaze on Aspenpaw. For a long moment, the estranged mother and daughter simply stared at one another.

"You faced that fox alone." She murmured. "To protect me."

Aspenpaw nodded. "You're my leader." She said softly. "And my mother."

Silverstar's eyes softened for a moment, and Aspenpaw thought she saw a hundred regrets and a thousand unspoken words flicker through them. Then she blinked and only the cold grey gaze remained. "Aspenpaw." She said loudly. "Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life."

She gave a firm nod. "I do."

"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name." Aspenpaw held her breath, feeling every eye in the clan on her, their gazes burning into her pelt. "Aspenpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Aspenleaf. Starclan honours your determination and intelligence and we welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan."

Aspenleaf felt herself tremble as her mother moved forward and rested her muzzle on her head. She leaned forward slightly and licked her shoulder.

Around them, the clan erupted into cheers. "Dryrose! Badgerbane! Icemask! Shadowstep! Aspenleaf!"

Aspenleaf's chest puffed out in pride as she looked around at her friends. All of them were gazing at each other in wonder, none of them quite sure what to do first, what to say.

Hazelbreeze bounded forward, covering Icemask in licks, trilling about how proud she was. Creekshadow and Robinblaze bounded over to their apprentices, congratulating them and calling them by their new names. Aspenleaf went to turn towards where her father and mentor were sitting waiting for her.

"Wait."

She looked back at where Shadowstep was blinking at her. "I... well... congratulations Aspenleaf."

She purred before touching her cheek to his. "Congratulations Shadowstep." She murmured before she turned and bounded over to the two toms who were gazing at her, pride lighting their gaze's. Her father lowered his head to hers and gently nuzzled her, purring too loudly to speak.

"I told you you'd be a warrior eventually." Mewed Tigerfang, trying to suppress a smile.

She purred back at him, the reality finally beginning to set in.

They were warriors at last.

Aspenleaf CTA NizumiFangs (massive thanks)

---

Creekshadow belongs to Hannah Rowe

Dryrose belongs to Meadow Leon Flower

Badgerbane belongs to Nicholas Mullen