"Hey Crescentsky."

Next mid-morning, Crescentsky was napping just inside the warriors den. The rain hadn't tapered off yet. Instead, it beat against the den walls with surprising force as she lifted her head.

"Lagoonstripe sent out an early-morning hunting patrol earlier, and I did it! I caught all of the prey, Crescentsky! Do you want to come see?"

Tinyflame woke with a start beside her. The little she-cat's nest was only a few mouse-lengths from Crescentsky's.

"What's this about?" Her sister sounded cross at Rainpaw's arrival. She'd been in the middle of a nap as well. Crescentsky thought that Tinyflame's deep chest punctures were taking longer to heal than her own injuries.

Guilt searing her pelt, she sat up and leaned over to give her a reassuring lick.

"Rainpaw just came to tell me about her assessment." She didn't bother trying to explain any further, and thankfully Tinyflame didn't ask.

"Oh. Well, you should've told me."

Despite her ire, Tinyflame stayed awake to watch, violet eyes staring across from the moss that was bundled up to her chin.

"I don't need to see the prey. I believe you," the tabby-and-white warrior told Rainpaw.

"Now, before I say the words to the ceremony let me make sure that I've picked a suitable name."

While she was speaking, Trufflefur walked into the den.

"You came!" Rainpaw turned around to touch noses with him, her tail quivering.

"Yes, but we must hurry. Sootface just went to the dirtplace, so he'll be back soon."

Tinyflame's eyes widened at that, and she looked around the gloomy den-space, but no other cat was there.

"I'm not picky, Crescentsky. As long as it sounds normal, I don't mind." Rainpaw sat down and curled her tail around her paws.

"You deserve more than that. You deserve a name that represents you." Trufflefur didn't hesitate when he said it.

The smooth den walls were a rich woody brown, since most of the structure was made from woven tree branches. They almost matched Trufflefur's auburn pelt, making him nearly indistinguishable. His name certainly suits him.

"I've got a few ideas. If I may give a suggestion, Crescentsky." Trufflefur padded close enough to whisper into her ear. He kept his voice so quiet that even Tinyflame couldn't hear, although she still leaned forward to try to.

"Rainpaw likes fighting. If I had known she was doing her assesment sooner, I would've offered to add in battle training." Crescentsky was faintly surprised.

"Don't let that shyness fool you. Her mother taught her in paw-to-paw combat well. Problem is, she doesn't get the opportunity to train with other young cats in order to show it.
So I recommend...."

🐈‍⬛ (skip the boring ceremonial words that we all would skim over anyways)

"I do."

"Then by the powers of Starclan, I now give you your Skyclan warrior name." Crescentsky was standing with her back straight while Rainpaw stood facing her proudly, blue gaze shimmering with gratitude and a gracious half-smile plastered across her face. 

"From this moment on your name shall be Rainstrike."

Trufflefur stepped closer with a lovestruck look on his face. His ears were relaxed to the side, his head lowered with a purr in his throat as he looked at Rainstrike.

"Apart from seeing what you already are, I can see what you will become one day, Rainstrike."

Crescentsky took a step back. She felt that he was only seeing her. There was no other cats here in the den with them, as far as Trufflefur could tell.

"Don't let being trapped under your mother's paw stunt your spirit. Stay the way you are, but grow and change too. Let other cats see the real you, my dove." His voice grew husky, and Rainstrike stepped closer, twining her tail with his. She looked like she wanted to cry with joy, or relief- or both.

Crescentsky glanced at the den entrance. Although she was too happy for them to rain on their good graces, she couldn't help but worry about other cats walking into the den.

But Trufflefur and Rainstrike stepped away from each other quickly. Their breathing had increased when they'd been close to each other.

Their time together must feel more precious than most, since they can only get snatches of each other's affection.

"Thank you so much, Crescentsky. I'm going to tell my mother tonight, just before sunfall. She'll have no other choice but to let me sit guard for my vigil."

Trufflefur didn't look hopeful, but he gazed at Rainstrike with his tail waving fondly.

"As long as Jadestar lets you keep it, that's what's important. Maybe it'll help her learn to let you go a little." His tone sounded desperate.

"I wish I could stand guard beside you during your vigil," the tom's voice tapered off.

He's so in love with her. I wonder if I could ever be so in love with another cat. But then she figured she would never find herself acting so sappy.

"Tinyflame, please don't tell on us." Rainstrike broke the sincerity of the moment with a crest-fallen sigh.

"Oh, I won't snitch." Tinyflame's eyes were calm, but they also shimmered with amusement.

"This has been quite the show, but if you asked me I'd say never saw a thing."

Rainstrike purred at her gratefully. Trufflefur's short brown pelt was still slicked against his frame. Respectfully, he had refrained from shaking out his rain-laden flanks onto the others.

"We'll see each other soon." The tom reassured his mate, blue eyes brimming with tenderness.

Crescentsky knew what he'd really meant. Not just see each other across the Riverclan camp; see each other alone together, so that they could share tongues and twine each other's tails.

Trufflefur nuzzled the she-cat, and they took turns exiting the den separately.

"Hey!"

Rainstrike's muffled yowl sounded accusatory. She started reversing back through the den entrance, dragging something backwards by her teeth. Her shoulder muscles bunched and flexed with the effort.

"Ow! Not so hard!"

The voice was Oatkit's. The young tom kicked out feebly, with just enough force to free himself but not hurt Rainstrike. The tabby apprentice was already so much larger than a 'kit' that he was surpassing Tinyflame in size.

"I heard everything you all said." He spoke up again snootily before Rainstrike could get a word out.

"I saw him crouched by the entrance. He jumped up and tried to run away before I could grab him! But I caught the little eavesdropping rodent."
Rainstrike didn't have any trace of malice in her tone as she spoke of her clanmate. She did sound cross, though, sitting down to block the exit with her body.

Oatkit's wet fur was spiky apricot in the dim-light.

"Why were you listening, Oatkit?"

Oatkit raised his head, his blue eyes sparking defiance.

"I want a ceremony too, that's why. I want to be named as an apprentice by Crescentsky!"

🐈‍⬛

After some arguing, they came to the conclusion that two things were true.

Thing one; Oatkit wasn't going to be told no. He said he'd reveal Trufflefur and Rainstrike's secret, if he was.

"That's a dirty thing to do, Oatkit. Holding a secret ransom." Tinyflame lectured him and then grinned.

"You certainly know how to get what you want."

Thing two; Crescentsky would have to find a mentor for him somehow. Skyclan mentors were ruled out since Jadestar, Pepperpelt and Sootface were the only options there.

He would have to be trained by a cat from Riverclan... Which would be non-traditional and controversial.

Wouldn't that make his ceremony and his apprenticeship less legitimate?

She'd just have to accept that they didn't have the resources to care.

"Okay. I'll find you a mentor tomorrow, Oatkit. Meet me back in the warriors den when you get the chance. Just don't tell your mother yet."

A/N:

Thought-provoking Questions (you don't have to answer them all, if any. Unless you want to; LOL!)

Q1: What drama might you expect to see from the claws and/or wolf secret being revealed?

Q2: From who?

Q3: On the flip side, who will be Crescentsky's supporters?