When will the ceremony start? Flamepaw thought. He was just about to be made a warrior with his brother, Thornpaw. "Are you ready to be a warrior?" His mentor Briarflower brushed her pelt against his. Briarflower has always loved Flamepaw, and he knew it, but Pinepaw and him had always had a special connection. Pinepaw, Firepaw, and Mintpaw were getting their warrior names today too.

 "Wanna go catch our last piece of prey as an apprentice?" Thornpaw came up to him in between Flamepaw and Briarflower. "Sure! Want to go to the river? They have the best lizards by the bank." Flamepaw meowed going up in front of his brother. "Be careful, Thornpaw! Don't fall in." The orange apprentice warned. "I won't fall... Aah!" Thornpaw slipped and fell into the river, not being cautious. 

"Thornpaw!" Flamepaw yowled, but the current had already carried his brother away. Ravenstar, Lizardheart, and their mother; Willowmoon burst through the bushes and found Flamepaw, terrified. "We have to get him! He was just about to be made a warrior!" Flamepaw wailed. "I'm afraid it's too late, Flamepaw, he's gone." Ravenstar meowed. Willowmoon put her tail around Flamepaw.

 "Let's get back to camp, Flamepaw, it's time to get your warrior name. "I'm not going without Thornpaw." Flamepaw protested. "We're going to be late hurry up!" "No!" Flamepaw yowled at his mother. Ravenstar seemed amused at the apprentice's words. He jumped onto the rock and began the ceremony. "Flamepaw, Pinepaw, Firepaw, and Mintpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect your Clanmates at every cost?" "I do." the apprentices replied.

 "Then from this day forward, you shall be known as Flamewhisker, Pineflame, Firedash, and Mintnose!" "Flamewhisker! Firedash! Pineflame! Mintnose!" "I'm so sorry Thornpaw isn't here to see this." Mintnose meowed. Maybe Pineflame wasn't meant for him. Maybe Mintnose was. "Someone! Come quick! Bluefeather's having her kits!" Redwillow dashed over to the nursery with a bundle of herbs. 

Bluefeather's mate Buzzardwing was already there waiting. "The kits are supposed to be here in a moon!" Redwillow exclaimed. "The first one's coming out! It's a gray she-kit like Bluefeather." Buzzardwing mewed in amusement. "The second one's a golden tom!" Mintnose meowed. "The last one's coming out... it's a ginger she-kit!" Redwillow exclaimed. "I think something's wrong with Bluefeather... I think she's dead!" Buzzardwing wailed. 

"Well, what are you going to name the kits, Buzzardwing? You're the father." The medicine cat meowed. "The gray she-kit will be Ashkit, the golden tom will be Lionkit, and the brown she-kit will be Sparkkit." He meowed proudly. "Who will take care of them?" Pineflame mewed. Icestorm came up. "I will."