It was the first sunny morning the clans had seen in a few days, the trees and grass still wet from the storm. A relaxing breeze blew through camp as every cat gathered under the Half-tree at the call of Snowstar, a loud buzz of voices and excited gossip spreading in the air like a swarm of bees. Scarpaw, Leopardpaw, Sparkpaw, and Maskpaw all made their way to the front, freshly groomed, to sit beside their mentors at the foot of the great stump. They were still in pretty rough shape from the night before, but they wore their battle scars well, and Leopardpaw made it her mission to show them off to anyone who glanced her way. She puffed her chest out as she sat next to Owltail, a thick puffy scar spread there, and Owltail batted her behind the ears playfully. Scarpaw twitched her whiskers in amusement as Snowstar gazed across the clan, Suntail and Webear seated on the stones below. Everyone was watching in anticipation.

"Cats of Rainclan, I gather you here today beneath the Half-tree for a very important ceremony. These four apprentices have proven their worth to our clan through their determination, their ability to learn and adapt to their training, and with their bravery. It has come time to name them warriors." Scarpaw felt her pelt bristle as Snowstar turned his head towards Maskpaw, the first apprentice, and he couldn't hide his excitement either. Despite his cool demeanor, Scarpaw noticed his neck fur bristle, and Nightbreeze was glowing with pride.

"Maskpaw, you will now be known as Maskclaw." His eyes brightened at his new name, and Nightbreeze bent to lick his head, purring. Scarpaw saw Berryface, his mother, smiling brightly from the nursery. Snowstar turned next to Sparkpaw, mewing, "Sparkpaw, I name you Sparkwhisker." Toadface nodded curtly, his tail stump twitching. Sparkwhisker smiled, Fawneyes calling his name from the back of the crowd. Leopardpaw was nearly bursting out of her pelt as Snowstar turned his gaze towards her, and for once, Owltail didnt try and contain his apprentice's excitement. "Leopardpaw, your name will be Leopardeye." She squealed, whiskers twitching, and Scarpaw took a deep breath. It was her turn now.

Snowstar looked down at her, something flashing in his blue gaze. He hesitated for a moment, seeming uncertain. Scarpaw blinked, anticipation crawling at her pelt as he looked lost in his thoughts, debating something unknown to her. After a long silence, he blinked, nodding slowly. "Scarpaw, your name will now be... Scarleg." She blinked, and the sounds of the forest around her seemed to deafen in her ears. What was this feeling inside of her chest? Not pride, nor excitement for her new name; it was more like shame, like anger, like... pain. Scarleg was not the name she had expected to receive. All the other cats were given names to represent their strengths and their values, while she was given a reminder of where she came from and why she is different from those around her. Why she feels like she doesn't belong. She could hear the crowd repeating the name over and over, and the realization struck her. Despite the name, she was now a warrior. Stormspirit purred loudly, pressing his muzzle into her pelt as she smiled. She glanced down at her scarred hind leg, and couldn't help but wonder what Snowstar's intentions were in giving her that name. Looking back at him standing atop the stump, his expression was clouded, icy. She felt rigid beneath that gaze. The chanting crowd only grew, and she took a deep breath, trying to regain some kind of grounding. She had her warrior name now, and had completed her training. Despite it all, she was proud of herself.

"With these names, you four are welcomed as Rainclan warriors. Mentors, you all succeeded in training these four strong apprentices, and I am honored to have such strong cats in our clan." The entire crowd was chanting their names now, and the four apprentices looked to one another, sharing in their pride. Scarleg shut her eyes, taking in the sounds and the nudges of the cats around her.

Snowstar raised his tail for silence, allowing the new warriors to join the rest of the crowd. Scarleg noticed Maskclaw sitting with Sagefur, exchanging warm embraces. It brought a smile to her face.

"Now, we still have more to celebrate. Dawnleaf, Opal, please bring your kits forward." Dawnleaf stood from the edge of the crowd, walking forward with her two excited kits behind her. They were the kits Scarleg and Leopardeye watched play from outside the nursery; they had reached six months, and were ready to become apprentices! Opal also stood from the very back, walking nervously through the crowd to sit next to her. She seemed uncomfortable with all the clan eyes watching her, and pulled her small kit closer towards her body.

"Dawnleaf, it is time your kits leave the nursery and join the apprentice den. Cricketkit, Finchkit, step forward." The two tumbling kits, wide eyed, practically tumbled over each other; Scarleg laughed, remembering feeling the same way during her apprentice ceremony. The she-kit, Cricketkit, pushed her brother Finchkit away as Snowstar spoke.

"Cricketkit, Finchkit, you will now be known as Cricketpaw and Finchpaw. Sagefur, you will be mentor to Cricketpaw, and Patchnose will be mentor to Finchpaw. You both have not yet received an apprentice, and I trust you will pass all you have learned from your previous mentors onto these fine young kits." The two mentors walked up with pride, touching noses with their respective apprentices, Cricketkit ecstatic to be trained by her father.

"Don't think I'll go easy on you," He purred, Dawnleaf licking both of her kits. Snowstar hopped down from the Half-tree to bend noses to the two new apprentices, then turned his attention to Opal and her kit.

"Opal will be staying with us in Rainclan, as it is unsafe for her to return to Thornclan. We will care for her kit in anyway possible." He bent his head in respect, and she nodded, still seeming uncomfortable.

Nightbreeze stood from her place in the crowd, mewing, "Are we sure this is the best choice, Snowstar? I don't foresee Thornclan being very keen on allowing us to keep their rogue in our camp." A few cats murmured agreement, while many others stayed silent. Snowstar flicked his tail, not turning towards Nightbreeze to say, "We will not fear Thornclan. This queen and her kit need help, and that we will provide." Nightbreeze said nothing, and sat down.

Snowstar turned his head back to Opal. "Have you decided on a name for your kit, Opal?" She blinked, looking down at her kit, licking her between her small ears.

      "Honey," she mewed, "Honeykit, as you clan cats say." Snowstar nodded, turning his head to the crowd. "We welcome Opal and Honeykit." The clan repeated the name, easing Opal's discomfort, and Scarlegs joined in. So much growth had come from last night's terror, and while the future promised many more uncertainties, the clan could celebrate something good, and celebrate they did.

Scarleg, Leopardeye, Sparkwhisker, and Maskclaw all sat at the entrance to camp, the moon and stars shining brightly above. It is stated in the warrior code that all new warriors must sit in silent vigil on the night of their naming ceremony, and they all sat together, listening to the lush sounds of the marsh and distant birds in the night. Scarleg looked at her friends, who looked at her in return. They could not speak, but they all understood what each other was thinking; Woodpaw deserved to be here with them.

Scarleg lifted her head to the sky, watching the stars blink softly. Woodpaw would be among them tonight, with his mother. She imaged the two, curled close and comforting, and closed her eyes. If only she had been a bit quicker, a bit closer...

Sparkwhisker's tail fell softly on her own, and she looked to him to see his blue-green gaze burning into hers with passion and emotion. She blinked slowly back, lucky to have him here with her, safe. Her whisker's twitched in amusement as she noticed Sparkwhisker was the least-scarred of the four, as he was busy gathering the patrol during the battle. He tilted his head in confusion but she shrugged it off with a smile; I'll tell him later.

Scarleg thought of Venomsight, and all the pain he caused for his clan, all for his own selfish wants and desires. Looking back towards the elders den, she caught sight of Coldclaw's grumpy, sleeping form. Everything Venomsight did, just to impress his father... was it worth it? Does Coldclaw grieve for his corrupted son, as Stormspirit silently grieves for his brother?

She shook her pelt, turning her eyes back up towards the stars. She hoped her father, Swifttail, was watching her now. Would he be proud? What would he tell her, about her sister? Is she doing the right thing?

As her thoughts began to cloud her heart, a single star twinkled brightly above. She blinked, watching it, as it grew brighter and brighter. A shooting star flew across the sky, disappearing as quickly as it appeared, and in her mind she heard the familiar words;

"Look up, and you will find me."

The fur on her neck rose as she watched the twinkling star, warmth spreading through her body. Her father was there, watching her. She wasn't alone after all.

Turning back to gaze at her friends, she was filled with a sudden sense of excitement for tomorrow. They will officially be warriors, hunting and fighting alongside their clan. No matter what comes next, they'll face it together, and Scarleg was ready. She shut her eyes, taking in the night sounds once more. The cicadas singing, an owl cooing softly in the distance, the wind in the trees, seeming to whisper, 'be strong, be strong...'