Also Dedicated To WarriorCatMoon335

Hey guys, just a quick note before I start the chapter :) Now, as you may recall, Acornstar had been to the Crystal Cove before becoming leader. I replied to one curious little fan that they would find out soon why, and this chapter will reveal just that. Though I realize this ceremony will be different than the one in the Prologue, so I will be editing that soon to make it consistent. Thank you for your patience :) If don't understand what I mean just yet, read the chapter ;)

Swift 🍃

~~~

A simple breeze ruffles my just-fixed tuft of hair on my head, but I don't mind too much. Though I mind too much about my father, with her. With Ambershine. I think about my mother in StarClan, crying to her sister, Dovesong about him. With Ambershine. I feel many emotions, and have felt many. Though I belive this is a first for betrayal. I feel as if my father has betrayed this family. With Ambershine. I hate myself to my bones for ever eavesdropping on their conversation. I've vowed to never do such a thing again. Thinking about that day m-,

"Sparrowpaw?" A voice murmurs quietly, poking me with her tail. I turn my head around, meeting a mix of cream and golden fur, surrounding soft blue eyes. Pollenpaw. "The ceremony is about to start, you should probably sit down." I chuckle, realizing I wasn't paying attention whatsoever and I was the only cat left standing. Embarrassing.

Acornstar leaps upon the small and old, yet sturdy stump and begins the warrior ceremony. The nut-colored leader smiles and waves her tail, signaling the start.

"I'm sure everyone was very aware of the five cats missing at moon high, but it was a very special reasoning indeed. Specklepaw and Autumnpaw, along with their mentors, Grasseyes, Fluffpelt, and myself had visited the Crystal Cove; the "camp" of where leaders recieve their lives, medicine cats communicate with our ancestors, though today most importantly, apprentices recieve their warrior names. These two apprentices have served their morning of silence, not sharing their names, but now, they will be fully named warriors." Acornstar takes a breath and flicks her tail at the littermates, and Specklepaw jumps up first. He smiles and waves his tail before sitting beneath the leader. "At moon high, Specklepaw was named by his father. Shall I reminisce of the wise golden tabby tom, who was once a lenient Kittypet. Though at Gatherings no cat could tell, he was very proud and courageous, his death fitting his personality, saving the cats of the nursery from a cruel and corrupt SwampClan cat. Specklepaw, your warrior name?"

"Specklenose." The tom meows proudly, head high and grin slapped on his face. Our leader curtly nods and Specklep- Specklenose moves out of the way for his sister, Autumnpaw.

"Autumnpaw was named next, but not by a clan cat, no, by her father's kittypet sister, Autumn, who in fact she was named after." Acornstar continues, acting like she's doing this for the thousandth time in her life. "No one here in the clan may know of Autumn, not even Quietflutter, but she was the one who told Suntail, her brother, she saw cats in groups catching prey. It was then when Suntail, then named Sunshine, portrayed his future and chased after his dreams. If it was not for observant, and sweet Autumn for these new warriors would be no more. Autumnpaw. Your name?"

The calm and quiet she-cat puts on a nervous smile, accompanied by a nervous laugh and meows softly, "Autumnleaf."

I grin at her 'oppositeness' to her brother, but smile and chant along with the crowd,

"Specklenose! Autumnleaf! Specklenose! Autumnleaf!"

~~~

"Okay!" Owlwatcher meows, a smile plastered in his gray face, joy pooling in his big yellow eyes. I wonder if him and Ambershine had... some fun last night, I've never seen him this happy. About gagging I shudder at my words, wishing I wouldn't think so... Oddly.

"The morning patrol," Argh, its so early the word 'morning' induces a yawn "will consist of Badgerthump, Sparrowpaw, Autumnleaf, Gooseflight and Poolpaw." Pollenpaw saddens her gaze and smiles weakly, though we both know we can't always be together. As the group of warriors and apprentices pad out of the camp into the lusher trees, Badgerthump sets out a bit ahead of me, talking to Gooseflight. With the group and the effects of one cat moving, Poolpaw ends up being at my side. Though I spoke too soon, as she cliché-ly rolls her eyes and snorts. I decide to ignore that act, but also try to get her with kindness.

"How is your training going?" I meow, actually nervous about talking to my own sister. How much more awkward could I be?

"None of your business, runt." She simply hisses, no expression on her face. "If you really are so nosy and weak to want to know, talk to my mentor." A bit hurt, though I don't show it, I nod my head and fall back next to Gooseflight.

"Hey Sparrowpaw!" He meows, almost with relief that it isn't his apprentice bothering him "What could I do for you?" I give a small smile and explain my conversation with my sister, and Gooseflight tells me that Poolpaw is doing okay as an apprentice, it's just that she can get rude and is very stubborn. Before I could reply, my mentor, Badgerthump, halts, as we've already reached the border.

"This is the SwampClan border, correct?" I meow to Badgerthump, though I figured it wouldn't come without an eye roll or scoff from Poolpaw, and I actually got both.

"Yes it is, you can tell by the swampy territory, and the steep decline leading into SwampClan territory." He meowed back, smiling and beginning to mark the border. "Come on everyone, we're here. Border time."

I quickly mark the border along with Badgerthump, all subconsciously for a moment, but I see a flash of cats on the other side of the border and realize why I marked the border so quickly. Mudpaw practically prances up to the border, eying us TreeClan cats and giving an over exaggerating sigh when he lays eyes on me. He leans over to another tom, if I remeber correctly, his brother, and laughs. A few words purposely are said louder, like runt, weak, loser, but I simply ignore it, something I belive I do too much of. Running away, far far away from all my problems seems like such a tremendous option, but I can't let cats like Poolpaw and Mudpaw win. I need to prove to them I'm the better cat, I won't be crushed by them. Speaking of Poolpaw and Mudpaw, I see them talking to each other, though both on their sides of the border, acting sort of odd. But they both are odd, so I'm sure everything is normal in BeRudeToTheRuntsClan...

After what felt like a season of trying not to look so vulnerable and beat, Badgerthump nods a curt goodbye at, I think, the deputy of SwampClan. My mentor gathers up us TreeClan cats and we lead back to camp.

As we arrive back into the cozy, yet mentally uncomfortable camp, I look around to find Pollenpaw, but my heart sinks right down to my stomach when my eyes land upon my father, sharing tongues with Ambershine. They about instantly notice me, as Owlwatcher looks up and gives me a friendly smile while Ambershine waves her tail. I simply force a smile, hoping it doesn't look overly fake, and stumble into the apprentice den. Tears begin to take shape in my eyes, but I scream internally at them, making sure they know they aren't wanted. I thrash around in my nest, scattering some of the moss but it makes me feel better. Heavy breathing swallows up my regular breathing as the tears begin forming and moving forward into my eyes. I shake my head, surrendering to the tiny drops of water that flow out of my eyes and put my head down into my nest.

"Sp-Sparrowpaw?" A small and quiet meow breaks my emotional breakdown. I wait for several heartbeats, my heart pounding at the thought of who else is in here. It sounded like Pollenpaw, but it wasn't exact. Maybe she was catching a small sickness. I raise my head up slowly, heart still pounding as I lay my eyes on a golden and white tabby, soft blue eyes like... Pollenpaw's. Like.

"G-Goldenpaw?" I meow back, really just surprised she's talking to me. The older she-cat gives a small nod with a nervous smile, glancing around fanatically each and every heartbeat, probably afraid Poolpaw will walk in and call her out for talking with me.

"Erm, especially since you practically just ruined your nest, Streampaw and I were wondering if you wanted his old nest, and Pollenpaw could have mine." Goldenpaw meows quietly, though a hint louder, along with me sitting up, gazing into her soft eyes. She and Pollenpaw do look quite a bit alike. A bit shocked by her kindness, I smile back, just a bit, and reply. "That would be so kind, but would that mean you and Streampaw are inheriting Specklenose and Autumnleaf's old nests?" Goldenpaw simply nods, allowing me to quickly continue, though I mumble back, "Poolpaw won't be very happy with that, will she?"

"I'm not talking about her, though I admire your kind heart." The tabby apprentice meows quickly, not without a hint of anger though "If you want the nests, you can take them. Then Streampaw and I take the open ones. Poolpaw can wait where she is. We all know older and worn out nests are the most comfortable." I nod in reply, talk realizing Goldenpaw is a bit brave, though caring about others, not such a quiet follower as I thought.

"Definitely." I grin with a chuckle "We'll take them."

~~~

Definitely one of, if not the longest chapter I've ever written! I felt like I should be making the chapters longer, as I've sort of made the book fly by. Sparrowpaw is already seven moons old! Let me know if you enjoyed, liked, loved, disliked, hated, whatever! I'm always open for comments from extremely nice (looking at you guys ;) to constructive criticism!

I know I say this every chapter but I appreciate every read to every vote. This book almost has 3K reads! It might be as much as others and seem small, but to me it means the world. The TreeClan page has almost 400 reads alone! You guys rock!

Swift 🍃

Also, if you still don't understand my message at the beginning I'll explain some more :) In the Prologue, there is a warrior ceremony, that is severely butchered by crazy ol' Rainstar. But it is not the same as the warrior ceremony in this chapter. I will be editing the Prologue, so the ceremonies match, soon. But don't worry too much, there will still be the hilariousness of Rainstar and Featherfeather ;)

I will let you guys know on my account when the edit happens :)

If you still don't understand... Comment here, I'll try and explain more.

Swift 🍃 #2