Firestar was gone.

He told the clan that he was needed elsewhere, and would be back as soon as possible. My half-sister, Sandstorm, followed him.

I became a mentor. My apprentice was Rainpaw. I was surprised that Firestar had given him to me. This was my half-brother.

My kits tumbled into the nursery, where I was sharing tongues with Brightheart. "We're going to be warriors!" they meowed. I smiled. I could see their father's courage shining in their eyes.

It's time.

I lead them to the Thunderpath and sat down at the edge. "Take a good look, little ones," I meowed. "I think it's time you were told the truth." I told them about Runningwind, a brave young warrior who died by Twolegs. Grief pierced my heart.

"Why are you telling us this?" Lightpaw asked.

"He's your father, Lightpaw. Not Onewhisker, not Longtail, nor any other warrior. He's dead. I'm so sorry I never told you."

I held them close to me. "We forgive you," Sweetpaw whispered.

.

Graystripe looked nervous. Cinderpelt had insisted upon him leading the ceremony, for it would be long before Firestar returned. He had discussed it with me, and I had accepted. I was offered to name them, and I did, just to make him feel comfortable. "I, Graystripe, deputy of ThunderClan, call upon our warrior ancestors to look down upon these apprentices. hey have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I present them as warriors in their turn. Lightpaw, Eaglepaw, and Sweetpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and defend this clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do," they said in unison.

"Then by the powers of StarClan I present to you your warrior names. Sweetpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Sweetcloud. StarClan honors your stradegy and kindness, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan.

"Eaglepaw, from this moment on you will be known as Eagleheart. StarClan honors your speed and courage, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan.

"Lightpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Lightfoot. StarClan honors your stealth and loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

"Sweetcloud! Eagleheart! Lightfoot!" The clan called. I was the loudest. I knew Runningwind would be watching.

.

Rainpaw fell softly on the sandy floor. He hauled himself up and shook his pelt. "Good try," I meowed. "But you lost attention at that last second. Try to-"

"I hear something."

I stopped. He was right. Two cats were whispering inaudibly and rustling through the ferns that surrounded the hollow. "Get ready to fight, Rainpaw," I meowed. "They might be hostile."

We crouched silently and awaited the invaders. Rainpaw was shaking beside me. I recalled that he hadn't been in a battle yet, despite learning more advanced battle moves. The clans haven't been very hostile lately, even though they knew Firestar was gone.

At the first sight of fur, Rainpaw pounced on a small cat. I landed on the bigger one. They smelled of Twolegplace. "Well done, Rainpaw. Now keep..." I trailed off. I was looking at the smaller cat. He had pure white fur and sparkling blue eyes. I loosened my grip on the other cat. "Snowkit?" I meowed. "It can't be...you were killed by an owl!"

"I escaped. It's grip wasn't tight enough, and it was older than it looked," he explained.

I gasped. "But-but you're supposed to be deaf!"

"You were deaf?!" the other cat exclaimed.

"I was. But when I fell, somehow my ears popped, and I could hear."

I was without words. I glared at the other cat. "And who are you?!"

"Oh, sorry. I'm Snowy. I got separated from my housefolk, and I was wandering around the forest until I met Snowkit."

"My name is Snowkit?" Snowkit asked. "I love that name!" He beamed. "What is my mother's name?"

"Speckletail," I replied, "and she'll be very happy to see you." I turned toward camp and gestured for the cats to follow.

.

Firestar returned with Sandstorm, and was overwhelmed with the news of what had happened. "Well," he meowed. "I guess it's time to have a ceremony, then. Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highrock for a clan meeting!

"Sandstorm and I have returned from our quest, and I thank Graystripe for his great care over my clan in my absence," he announced. ThunderClan yowled in thanks. "And, being the leader of ThunderClan, I believe it's time to name new warriors. Will Rainpaw, Sorrelpaw, and Sootpaw please join me on the rock?"

Rainpaw gasped. I nudged him forward. "Go on, you've earned this." He smiled at me and went to join his leader.

"I, Firestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I present then as warriors in their turn. Rainpaw, Sorrelpaw, Sootpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and defend this clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do," they all mewed.

"Then by the powers of StarClan,I present to you your warrior names. Rainpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Rainwhisker. StarClan honors your loyalty and courage, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan.

"Sorrelpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Sorreltail. StarClan honors your determination and enthusiasm, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan.

"Sootpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Sootfur. StarClan honors your patience and skill, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

"Rainwhisker! Sorreltail! Sootfur! Rainwhisker! Sorreltail! Sootfur!"

"Before we head back to our duties," Firestar continued, "I hear there are new faces in the clan who have been training with the apprentices. I feel that it is time he received a name. Would Snowy and Snowkit please join me on the rock?"

They looked nervous as they cautiously climbed the rock. "From this moment on, until he has received there warrior names, these apprentices will be known as Snowpaw and Stormpaw. Thornclaw, you will be mentor to Stormpaw."

Thornclaw's face lit up as he joined his new apprentice. "Thornclaw, you have shown yourself brave in battle and patient with the apprentices. I trust you will have no trouble in training one of ThunderClan's apprentices."

The new apprentice proudly touched noses with his mentor as the clan chanted his name.

"Cloudtail, you will be mentor to Snowpaw. You were a great mentor to Sweetcloud, and I hope you will pass down all the same skills to Snowpaw."

They touched noses, and the clan chanted. ThunderClan is strong again, I thought.