"Sparklekit, from now on, you will be known as Sparklepaw." Moonstar announced.

Sparklepaw lifted her head proudly among her Clan.

"Your mentor will be Stormwhisker."

Excitement glowed into Sparklekit's eyes. Stormwhisker walked up to the High Rock, surprised. He'd finally have an apprentice! Sparklepaw licked his shoulder respectfully.

"I never knew you wanted to be a medicine cat with me."

"I always dreamed of it!" Sparklepaw exclaimed.

"Sparklepaw! Coldpaw! Eaglepaw!"

The Clan shouted the new apprentice's names. It had been three moons since the battle over joining Clans. Silentpaw looked proudly at Echowave, who had just become a warrior. Silentpaw was now an apprentice with Coldpaw and Eaglepaw. Snakepaw had become Snaketooth. Silentpaw was held back by her final assessment for some particular reasons by Wolfheart. He had been sharing tongues with Shadestripe more often now.

"I'm proud of you, Wolfheart," Shadestripe would say.

Proud of what? Becoming the deputy, or holding back Silentpaw, refusing to let her receive her warrior name? Silentpaw was jealous at first, not knowing why Wolfheart would do such a thing. But maybe it was for a good reason. Did Wolfheart get a sign from StarClan? Jealousy turned into pride, watching her best friend become a warrior of ThunderClan. It would be her turn next.

Wolfheart's tail ran through Silentpaw's flank. "Follow me," He ordered. Silentpaw swallowed and scampered behind her mentor. Was this her final assessment?

Wolfheart lead his apprentice down to the lake shore.

"I have to tell you something," he started, wrapping his tail around his paws. "I have to tell you why I didn't allow you to become a warrior yet."

What will he say? And why?

"I saw--I saw StarClan. I saw Jayfeather. He, well, he told me to wait. He said he wasn't ready yet. I didn't understand, because he said, 'he'. Anyways, He also told me that he needed to tell something to you. That's why. I thought about it for a while, it was hard, holding you back. To see your face, so disappointed. But Jayfeather also told me that'd you be a warrior soon, really soon."

Silentpaw nodded. Jayfeather was in this. So it was a good reason why. Now she understood. When she'll dream tonight, she'll ask him more.

When Wolfheart and Silentpaw got back to camp, Coldpaw and Eaglepaw were nagging their mentors, Bouncefire and Metalclaw, to come and explore the territory.

"When can we go to the lake? I wanna feel the water!"

"Can we go hunting instead? I'm starving."

Metalclaw flicked his tail to stop the racket. "With all the talking, you'll be going no where."

"Instead of going to the lake or hunting, we'll be collecting moss for the elders today." Bouncefire told them. Coldpaw and Eaglepaw's heads sunk and shoulders sagged.

"And next we'll teach you how to catch ticks and fleas from their pelts!" Metalclaw called over his shoulder.

The two new apprentices groaned and protested their way out of the bramble border.

I really have to train with them? Silentpaw thought, shaking her head. Silvermist stepped out of the nursery.

"I'm so glad they're apprentices. Now they're Bouncefire and Metalclaw's problem now." She purred with amusement. Another scent wafted towards them.

"Hello, Silentpaw," Shadestripe greeted. Silvermist smiled and padded away.

Not you again. Silentpaw thought coldly.

"I have a question," Shadestripe continued. And how can I answer it? No, really. Silentpaw rolled her eyes.

"Echowave amazes me. She's so brilliant, smart, happy. She would make a great mate and mother."

This subject surprised Silentpaw. Shadestripe had feelings for Echowave? This is going to be good.

"I know you can't talk, but Wolfheart tells me you can mark twoleg. Stormwhisker can read it, and tell me what I'll do to get her interest." Shadestripe said.

For starters, don't be a smarty-tail, and a lion-mouth. Silentpaw purred with her own thoughts. She headed for the medicine den, Shadestripe following.

You need to be with her more often. Like what she likes. Laugh at her jokes, and comfort her. She wrote.

"I'll get Stormwhisker." Shadestripe volunteered, and went inside.

"Not right now, Shadestripe. Unless you got a wound, get out." The voice of Stormwhisker snapped.

"But Silentpaw--"

"She's not my problem now. I got an apprentice now so I'm extra busy. Go deal with it yourself."

"She wrote something!" Shadestripe protested. Stormwhisker's eyes grew wide. "Wrote what?" He asked. "How am I supposed to know?" Shadestripe questioned, but was shoved out of the way. Sparklepaw scampered after him.

"What's this? It's not important."

"Yes, it is. Say it for me, now." Shadestripe ordered.

Stormwhisker glared at the young warrior and growled. "You need to be with her more often. Like what she likes. Laugh at her jokes, and comfort her." He read. Without another word, he padded away into the den, Sparklepaw on his heels.

Shadestripe nodded. "Okay," he said, and scampered away.
**********

"Why did you visit Wolfheart's dream? Why can't I be a warrior?" Silentpaw demanded.

"Tomorrow will be your final assessment. You will become a warrior. You just wont be hearing of me for a while after." Jayfeather answered, head down.

"Why?" Silentpaw asked, worry clogging in her throat. "Did Blood catch you?"

"Nothing you need to worry about now, precious. Wake from your sleep, now!" Jayfeather called, his sightless blue eyes were the last things Silentpaw saw in her dream.

"Silentpaw!" Wolfheart yelled. The amber colored apprentice opened her odd-eyes. She looked around in the den. Coldpaw and Eaglepaw's nests were empty.

When Silentpaw struggled out of her den, Wolfheart was up and awake, blue eyes shining with delight. "You ready for your final assessment?"

Shaking away the dream, Silentpaw looked into her mentor's eyes. She nodded in agreement, her pelt itchy with excitement.

"C'mon," Wolfheart flicked his tail. Metalclaw and Bouncefire were waiting with their apprentices at the bramble border.

"We will also be watching you do your assessment, Silentpaw." Bouncefire said. Metalclaw nodded. They all brushed past the brambles.

Birds chirped the morning song, as a harsh wing suddenly blew the ThunderClan cats' way. Swallowing, Silentpaw faced her mentor.

"It's been an honor training you, Silentpaw. I'll always love you." Wolfheart whispered into her ear. "Good luck." He said aloud.

The three warriors separated and jumped onto the trees. Shuffling leaves scratched the ground as a vole popped out of it's little hole. Squinting her eyes, Silentpaw pounced and killed it skillfully with one bite to the neck. She buried it into the ground. The mute apprentice flicked her ears in the direction of as squirrel collecting nuts at the bottom of a tree trunk. Stepping slowly, she rushed in it's direction and cracked it's neck with her claws. She walked over to where her first catch was and buried it with the vole.

A while after, she had caught a vole and three squirrels. Silentpaw was done, tired, hungry and thirsty. Wolfheart proudly jumped down the tree where he was viewing her.
"Good job, Silentpaw. You have passed your assessment, and tonight you shall become a warrior of ThunderClan!"
**********
The moon was just peeking over the forest trees as Moonstar jumped onto the High Rocks.

"Tonight, we celebrate a new warrior of ThunderClan!" She exclaimed. The ThunderClan cats gathered under the rock.

"Wolfheart, is it true that Silentpaw is worthy of becoming a warrior?" Moonstar questioned.

"It is." Wolfheart answered, and dipped his head in respect.

"Silentpaw, step forward," Moonstar ordered. This was it. It finally came! I'm going to become a warrior!

"Silentpaw has become a brave, proud, she-cat of ThunderClan. Even though she was born late and was muted by StarClan, that didn't stop her. Silentpaw, are you willing to become a warrior, to breathe, hunt, fight, and even die for ThunderClan above anything else?"

Silentpaw closed her eyes  and and looked down to the ground. She clawed on the rock, I do. Then, she looked at her Clan, and nodded.

"Silentpaw, from now on, until you can speak, your warrior name will be Silentmelody. I proudly announce you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

"Silentmelody! Silentmelody!" Wolfheart cheered. The whole Clan started joining in, and soon the whole forest was alive with Silentmelody's new name.