“Wow! Do I leave right now?” “Get some food first.” “Ok!” He squeaked, rushing out to grab a mouse from the fresh-kill pile. Flutterstar chuckled, and began to trot towards the hunting grounds. When Lionpaw padded back into the den. He placed the mouse on the ground. “Where’s Flutterstar?” He asked Ripelily. Ripelily shook her head. “How would I know?” “Because you were here.” “I mind my own business. Now go. Shoo.” “I might as well get started. Here, you take this.” He meowed, placing in front of the Elder as he padded out of the den. She sighed and stalked back into her den.

The snow had made the ground soggy, damp. However, warm beams of sun beat against the Apprentice’s back as he made his way towards the hunting grounds, full of holes, little tunnels, and everything else. Lionpaw crouched down, sniffing a rabbit hole. Deep down, it was a home to a doe with her three sniffling kits, all rounding the age of maturity. With flickering ears, they could be heard stirring. Lionpaw sat down to think. These rabbits could run away, or keep hiding, ending him up with no prey. On the other hand, if he could get the prey, he would have dirty, muddy paws. Lionpaw stood up. He began placing lots of twigs by the hole. He then walked over to another rabbit hole, and shouted into it. “BOO!” The rabbits sampered. One dashed out of the other hole, and the rest ran to the deepest part of their tunnel. The twig snaps alerted Lionpaw. He rushed over, slamming a paw down on the rabbit and killing it with a bite to the neck. The rabbit screamed, and became lifeless.

Lionpaw made a content purr as he scratched the nearly-frozen ground and buried the rabbit, twitching his ear to the chirping of a lone bird. It was plump, and carrying moss. It was perfect. Lionpaw stalked up to the tree, crouching low. The bird fluttered their wings, yet suspected nothing as it glanced around. He slowly climbed, launching himself at the bird when he was close enough. The bird attempted to flee, but was crushed under the tom’s weight. Lionpaw happily dropped down to the ground, and buried the pine warbler with the rabbit. With pride, a scamper of a vole could be heard.

The pale tom lowered himself into a hunter’s crouch. This is easy. The vole swiftly ran down a tunnel. Lionpaw shot his paw in after it. Suddenly, something crashed into him, knocking him to his side. Sharp stabs of claws raked his flank and teeth sank into his shoulder. Lionpaw pushed out with his hind legs, throwing off the attacker. Flutterstar hissed, and circled him. He jumped at Flutterstar, biting her shoulder but not enough to draw blood. She was knocked to the ground, but gave him a good thump on the head. Lionpaw drew his head back with a shake, then pounced on top of his Leader. His leader rolled onto her back, and kicked him up into the sky. He hooked an unsheathed paw on a low branch, and scrambled up it. Flutterstar quickly followed. She threw herself on top of the tom. He hissed, striking her with powerful blows of his forepaws. She heaved, after taking the blows. She staggered and yowled. “You’re doing good….” She panted. Lionpaw puffed out his chest. “Thank you.”

Flutterstar crookedly smiled. “Can you handle another Warrior?” Suddenly, a force pounded on top of Lionpaw. The force made Lionpaw fall off of the tree. He landed on the cold ground, the wind knocked out of him. Bearclaw smiled, his large paws crushing him down flat to the ground. “Sorry.” He chuckled. The pale tom rolled, heaving the large brown tom off of him. Bearclaw shook his pelt. “You’ve proven you can fight off any attackers…” Flutterstar noted, nodding her head along. Lionpaw jumped up onto his paws, swatting at Bearclaw. Bearclaw swatted back, knocking him down. Lionpaw went limp, waiting, looking as if he was defeated. Bearclaw poked him, stabbing him lightly with his claw. He suddenly pushed up, sending Bearclaw flying. Bearclaw fell to his side, revealing his underbelly. Lionpaw punched on it, running his paws swiftly over it as if he had his claws unsheathed. Bearclaw yowled in alarm, pralayzed. Fluttertstar gently placed the tip of her tail on his back. “Enough.”

Lionpaw stepped away from the Warrior. “Sorry. I forgot about your wounds from Rogueclan.” “It’s fine… But you can fight… And hunt… Congratulations.” The whole forest seemed to freeze, as Flutterstar nodded. “You are now a Warrior of Meadowclan.” Bearclaw blinked. “But he’s only caught two pieces of prey- You said he had to catch four. She blinked. “Wait really? I thought he killed some rabbits in that one tunnel.” She turned back to Lionpaw. “Go get some more food.”

Lionpaw nodded as he turned and stalked away, glaring at Bearclaw over his shoulder. Flutterstar shot a glare back at Lionpaw as she rested the tip of her tail on Bearclaws back. Some time later, Lionpaw had caught a vole, and was sniffing around. “There’s no prey scent.” The tom murmured. Rain began to drip on top of him. “Rain? Just my luck. Doesn’t even make sense when there’s snow on the ground” He sighed, and kept going. Distant birds cheered from far. He perked his ears, and started stalking towards the tree. Soon, he could see a family of birds. Plump while holding moss. “More moss I guess.” He murmured as he climbed the tree. The birds didn’t seem to notice. He then lurched up, grabbing one of the birds and pulling it down off of the branches. The rest of the birds squealed out in surprise and flung out the tree. Lionpaw landed on the ground with his fourth piece of prey. “Finally!” He mumbled around the feathers. “I can be a Warrior now!”

When he got back to camp, all eyes were on him. Splashkit trailed behind him, stuck to his tail. “Hi Lionpaw!” “Hefro Splashkit.” He mumbled around the rabbit he was carrying. The rest of his prey was on his back. Flutterstar was caught by the amount of prey he had. She purred and walked to the Highhill, eyeing him with soft eyes. He placed the prey down at the fresh-kill pile. “All cats gather around the Highhill!” She yowled. Splashkit padded out of the den, being guided by Sunfur. Amberface was still sick. Sunfur sighed and glanced up, almost blinded by the bright sky above. Lionpaw purred as he glanced back at his mother. His mother bursted with pride and swiftly got to his side, grooming him. “Mom!” She smiled.“I just want you to be cleaned.” “I’m clean enough.” “Just in case!” She fretted. “Alright.” He murmured. But he only stayed a few seconds before he padded up to the Highhill. All eyes were one him.

“Lionpaw. You have shown me that you can do the ways of Meadowclan. Do you promise to keep on upholding the Warrior Code and praise Starclan?” “I do.” “Lionpaw. You are now a Warrior of Meadowclan. Your new name is Liontail.” She smiled. The Clan exploded with cheers. “Liontail! Liontail!” They all called out, their voices surrounding the young Warrior. Liontail lifted his broken tail in the air, puffing out his chest in pride. “Liontail!” Squeaked Splashkit, hopping onto his tail. Lionpaw purred as he gently batted the tom. “Splashkit.” Flutterstar said, sitting back down. “There’s something for you too.” He gasped, his eyes widening. “Yes?” “Remember- This is only because Flytail needs to leave soon but… You will start Medicine Cat training now. Splashkit screamed with joy. “Thank you!” “Splashkit. Do you uphold the Medicine Cat Code, and promise to heal your Clanmates, whatever it takes?” “I do!” “Then from now on, until you get your Medicine Cat name, you will be known as Splashpaw.”

“Splashpaw! Splashpaw!” Cheered the Clan. Splashpaw puffed out his chest with pride.

Everything From Warrior's Thunder:

Chapter 16:

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