The sun was shining down on the clearing. The first snowfall of leafbare littering the ground causing a cold chill to be passing through the clan’s territories yet the warmth of the sun made the cold at least bearable for the cats of Thunderclan. The black furred apprentice leaving the apprentice den with freshly cleaned fur. Midnight blue eyes scanned the clearing and her eyes landed on the prey pile. The limp pieces of prey were getting thinner and few between hunting patrols even if it was just the start of leaf bare. Just as her paws went and touched the snow the hushed words of another patrol hit her ears causing the she-cat to turn her head to see the green eyes of her friend leading the group with pride. With a wave of her tail she walked over and slid into the spot next to the tom. “How was hunting? You guys were gone for awhile,” she asked as she let him drop the gray pelted squirrel down in the pile along with the rest of the patrol. “It was…good, I tried leading the group near the grand oak and that’s where we found most of our prey,” he said with a purr. Nightpaw purred softly, “That’s good!” Though when she looked up at him his gaze wasn’t at her. Instead it was focused on her and Thorns mentor. Hushed whispers being shared between them. Nightpaw softly brushed against him as her eyes were trained on Hawkstar and watched as the leader took at stand on high rock. “All cats old enough to climb trees gather under high rock!” his voice loud and with power. Grumpy mumbles and quiet whispers filled the clearing as they gathered close together in an attempt to cover from the cold, chilling wind. Looking over the crowd she could see the brown tabby pelt on Vinepaw sitting close to Creekpaw on the outskirts of the crowd. Her orange eyes narrowed as she stared over the group. Nightpaw sighed, she always seemed to be so angry about something, she thought. The crowd hushed to silence allowing the winds to be the only thing that fills the clearing. Turning her head she looked up at her leader as he had began to speak, “Creekpaw, Sheeppaw, Thornpaw- please step forward,” his voice full of the tone of a strong leader as his icy eyes looked down at the three apprentices. Night could feel the tightness fo the tom next to her, looking over she purred lightly. “Come on, they’re waiting for you,” she whispered as she nudged him ahead as he stood and joined the other two on top of high rock next to the Thunderclan leader. “I, Hawkstar, leader of Thunderclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in their turn,” his voice calm and steady. He looked at Creekpaw first, giving her the name Creekfrost, honoring her for her resilience and strategy. Sheeppaw now Sheepstep, honoring him for his thoughtfulness and honesty. Finally it was Thornpaw’s turn, Nightpaw looked up at her childhood friend with joy, she knew of Tom's fears and worries. It’s one of the things they both shared late at night so she knew that he feared of letting his clan down, not being worthy enough to be called a warrior yet here he stood earning his warrior name before the eyes of Hawkstar and Starclan. “Thornpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?”His eyes were wide, breath shallow as he swallowed deeply. “I do.” Hawkstar looked at him with pride, “Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Thornpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Thornpad. StarClan honors your loyalty and commitment to your clan, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan.” As soon as his nose touched Thornpad between the ears, Nightpaw’s heart filled with emotion and she stood quickly to her paws to cry out his new name. “Thornpad! Thornpad! Thornpad!” His new name filled her ears as she quickly walked through the crowd to be the first to meet him, she licked his cheek with glee as her purrs almost vibrated her chest. “I told you you’d get your warrior name!” Nightpaw said nuzzing him, her cheeks hot from excitement. Thornpad looked down at her with a sheepish smile, “I still can’t even believe I really got it.” Nightpaw looked over to see Roseheart coming over to also congratulate her son as the dark she-cat linked tails happily with the tom as she listened to the soft words from the elder she-cat. The moment was joyful for the clan, with new warriors joining the clan hope and joy filled the clan. Nightpaw felt it as she looked at the gray and russet tom, all the happiness filling her ceased when a certain voice hit her ears. “ “Idiots.”
Vinepaw’s voice hit her as she spoke with Creekfrost and Skypaw. Nightpaw unlinked from the tom as she turned to the trio. Skypaw was about to speak, but Nightpaw beat him to it. “What did you say?” her eyes were narrowed, her voice challenging almost beckoning for her to repeat even if she already knew what the tabby said. Vinepaw glared right back, not evening caring about the annoyed look on Creekfrost’s face or the way Skypaw was looking at Vinepaw. "I called you and Thornpad idiots." She spat towards the black apprentice. Not evening caring to notice the jab at herself her heart only flared at the degrading of her friend. “Thornpad is not an idiot,” she stated, taking a warning step towards the tabby she-cat. Noticing the state of the she-cat Thornpad stepped forward towards his friend, gently placing his tail on her back to almost try calming her, “Hey, it’s ok-” Shaking his tail off, Nightpaw interrupted him, “No it’s not. She has no right saying those things and she needs to apologize,” she said with a glare. Eyes not breaking away from her fiery filled orange ones. Silence filled the area between them, “Make me.” The brown furred apprentice spat quietly. Baring her teeth she saw white filled her vision as Skypaw tried stepping between them, "Vinepaw, Nightpaw," It was Skypaw trying to break it up this time. "Really, you guys don't need to fight-" “No, if Vinepaw's so eager for a fight then she can have one; but I won’t just let her continue to insult Thornpad. He's more of a warrior than she'll ever be,” she said, pushing past the taller tom her eye not breaking away from Vinepaws’. “He’s a coward.” ‘Coward?’ the other apprentice's voice echoed through her ears. He wasn’t a coward, if anyone was it would be her. All she does is talk and never proves anything and only seems to run away and hide. Just like she did when Brightkit was killed, she remembers seeing Vinepaw just standing there not moving to try and save her, to get her. Pulling her lips back she snarled lowly at the she-cat “At least he wouldn't stand frozen if a fox was killing his sister!" The words left her tongue before she could think and her ears folded down as silence fell around her and everything stood stilled. Before she could open her mouth to apologize a loud yowl filled the air as Vinepaw tackled her. Claws pulling at her pelt as they dug into her skin, seeming to just claw at anything she could. Nightpaw tried kicking, pushing. Nothing seemed to detach the she-cat from herself. Tears feel from her eyes as the fresh smell of blood hit her tongue as she cried out loudly. Almost as it started the pressure was gone and Vinepaw was pushed away from her. Looking up Thornpad stood over her, his lips back as he snarled lowly. Nightpaw looked up at them both as blood trailed down her face. Hawkstar ran over only to slow as he noticed the scene before him. Blood on Vinepaw’s paws with Nightpaw bleeding from the wounds on her pelt with Thornpad standing over her, ready to put his body between the two in case Vine decided to do it again. Hawkstar turned to the tabby as she lowered her body, his tail lashing behind him. “Vinepaw,” his voice shook with barely controlled anger. “Did you just attack Nightpaw?” Eyes looked at the scene in front of them, Nightpaw trembling. Cats whispered around them, glares sent to Vinepaw while Nightpaw was lifted up and soft whispers filled her still ringing ears. “Y-Yes,” her voice responded, feeling Thornpad press against her as she turned to watch her leader. His eyes were full of fury. Inhaling he spoke, "Well then, your warrior ceremony will be delayed for two moons. Hopefully in that time period you will learn to control your temper." Blinking, she felt her body weaken and Thorn brought her away. Her eyes are low. She didn’t mean it. She knew it wasn't her fault for Bright's death. They were only kits. Closing her eyes she allowed the gray tom to guide her body.
