Riverstorm was sharing tongues with Stormheart when Petalstripe came over to them.

"Hey, Riverstorm!" she called. "Ashstar wants you in her den."

Riverstorm touched noses with Stormheart, and with a nod to Petalstripe, padded to Ashstar's den.

"You wanted me, Ashstar?" he mewed respectfully, dipping his head.

"Your kits are ready to become warriors," she mewed, her eyes shining with pride.

Riverstorm settled down beside her, his tail flicking excitedly.

"That's great! We should talk about names!"

"What about Hollyfur for Hollypaw?" Ashstar suggested.

"No, I don't like that, I want her to save something unique," Riverstorm replied. "What about Hollyleaf?"

Ashstar nodded, purring. "That works."

"Now I remember Smokepaw saying she wanted to be Smokesparkle, and that's a nice name, but a little long, so what about Smokefern?" Riverstorm mewed thoughtfully.

Ashstar nodded. "Amazing names. You may go, Riverstorm, and thank you for your time."

Riverstorm nodded excitedly, and bounded up to Stormheart. "Smokepaw and Hollypaw passed their assessments! Ashstar and I decided on names!"

Stormheart rubbed her cheek against his, purring loudly. "That's amazing!"

Riverstorm nodded, but was interrupted by a loud call from Ashstar.

"All cats old enough to climb a tree gather for a Clan meeting!"

Riverstorm and Stormheart exchanged a frenzied look and each grabbed one of their kits and whisked them into the apprentices' den.

"You're becoming warriors! this is so exciting!" Stormheart mewed as she licked Hollypaw's fur.

Riverstorm groomed Smokepaw so that not a strand of fur was out of place. With a nod to his family, he padded out to wait.

"..two new warriors! They have trained long and hard and it is time for their ceremony. Riverstorm?" Ashstar mewed, turning to her deputy.

Riverstorm ducked his head inside the den and waved his tail. His two kits pranced forward to the rock, Stormheart following pridefully.

Ashstar jumped down lightly.

"Smokepaw, Hollypaw, do you promise to be good warriors and protect the Clan at the cost of your life?"

Hollypaw puffed out her chest, green eyes twinkling. "I do."

Smokepaw was a bit more thoughtful, but still purred, "I do."

"In that case, Hollypaw, from now on you will be known as Hollyleaf. The Clan honors your pride and determination and we welcome you as a full member of SilverClan."

Hollyleaf licked Ashstar's shoulder and stepped back, her eyes gleaming with pride.

"Smokepaw, you will now be known as Smokefern. The Clan honors your thoughtfulness and compassion and we welcome you as a full member of SilverClan."

SilverClan erupted into cheers. "Smokefern! Hollyleaf! Smokefern! Hollyleaf!"

Smokefern ducked her head, embarrassed from all the attention , while Hollyleaf stood tall, her tail weaving eagerly.

Riverstorm felt so proud of his daughters. They had come so far since they were kits, and now we're full fledged warriors. After the last of the cheers faded away, Riverstorm turned to them. "Congrats!" he purred.

Smokefern looked joyous. "I can't believe it!" she squealed. "I'm finally a warrior!"

Hollyleaf nodded. "When is the gathering, Dad?"

"I think it's in about two days," Riverstorm answered.

"I can't wait!" his two kits squealed at the same time, then burst out laughing. Ashstar dismissed the Clan, and Riverstorm spotted Needlepaw and Oakpaw sneaking out of camp.

He furrowed his brow, and made up his mind, padded after the apprentices, trying not to be too loud.

Oakpaw, let's go hunt in GoldenClan territory!" Needlepaw squealed, her tail weaving eagerly as she sidled up to the tom.

Oakpaw looked unnerved. "I don't know, Needlepaw," he mewed uncertainty. "It's against the warrior code!"

"It'll be fun!" Needlepaw coaxed.

Oakpaw finally gave in and padded after her. But before they could go far, Riverstorm stepped out of the bushes and confronted the two of them. Oakpaw gazed fearfully at the tall deputy.

"What do you think you're doing?" he asked commandingly.

Needlepaw took a step back. "Oakpaw forced me to go hunt in GoldenClan territory!" she mewed firmly, gazing at the small tom.

Riverstorm turned to Oakpaw. "Is this true?"

Oakpaw shook his head frantically. "No! It's the other way around!"

Riverstorm felt amusement and also sternness rise up in his chest.

"Both of you, come with me," he mewed, and led the way back to camp.

Needlepaw looked haughty as she followed the blue-furred tom, while Oakpaw looked fearful.

"Ashstar!" Riverstorm called as his strides took him to Ashstar's den.

The tabby leader ducked out. "What is it, Riverstorm?"

"I found these two trying to sneak across the border and to hunt in GoldenClan territory." Riverstorm said, wondering if Needlepaw would fall further into the hole she had dug for herself.

"No! It was Needlepaw!" Oakpaw wailed, trying to get his point across.

Needlepaw's eyes glittered coldly. "Liar. You forced me to go."

Riverstorm purred. "See here, Ashstar, I saw them sneak out of camp, and heard the entire conversation. It was Needlepaw that tried to convince Oakpaw to hunt in GoldenClan territory, not the other way around. So she decided to break three codes today."

Needlepaw looked balefully at him. "Why are you taking the liar's side? You know I'm right, and Oakpaw is just trying to get out of it. You're probably just taking his side because he's your little brother!"

"Why would I lie? I am the Clan deputy. I have no reason to lie. I am merely telling the truth."

Ashstar considered this. "Riverstorm, what you say is true. You have never lied before as a warrior and as my deputy, you have always been honest." She glared at Needlepaw. "As for you! You tried to convince your fellow apprentice to break a code with you, then lied to my face, and tried to blame Oakpaw and Riverstorm! You are getting a punishment that will teach you not to break the warrior code."

Needlepaw blinked and rolled her eyes. "Put me on tick duty all you want, I don't care.

"No, it's not tick duty. You're going to be held back from becoming a warrior for three additional moons. And if I find out you are being snappy or you broke another code, then it will be four. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Ashstar," Needlepaw mewed, her eyes widened with horror.

"You're dismissed," Ashstar said and turned away.

Needlepaw left the den, muttering something at Oakpaw that Riverstorm didn't catch. He smirked at her retreating figure and then followed.