Sunpaw's paws ached. Why did he have to run around the lake?

"We're not WindClan- why do we have to do this?" He squeezed out between gasps.

Bumblestar, who was beside him, replied, "We have to be fast; from your reports, the Dark Forest have some WindClan cats in training. Besides, Sunpaw, you shouldn't be questioning your leader."

Sunpaw's eyes widened. Does he think I'm disloyal? He wondered briefly, his heart beating faster from a sudden rush of defensiveness.

"I'm loyal! I would never do something like that!" He snarled. Soon after that, he realised his mentor was laughing. "What?" He snapped, then realised that Bumblestar was probably joking. "Oh."

"Oh, Sunpaw! You are hilarious. I know you're loyal- now, at least. The past is in the past. It can't harm us now." His mentor purred. Then his face turned serious. "But actually, I've decided to do something else."

Sunpaw's ears pricked in interest. "What? You know you can tell me anything, Bumblestar."

His uncle nodded, gaze staring into the distance. "I've decided to make you, Ivypaw and Heatherpaw warriors. Whitepaw is becoming a full Medicine Cat tonight- it is the half moon. You've trained hard and you've earned it."

Sunpaw was speechless. A warrior? Already? He simply nodded. Then, he gasped. "When?"

His mentor smiled at him. "Why, as soon as we get back." He purred, and Sunpaw suddenly felt a burst of pride in his chest.

"I'll race you back." He purred, and without waiting to hear if his mentor was following, took off, running faster than he'd ever ran before to tell his littermates.

~.~.~

"Guess what!" He shrieked, interrupting his sisters, who had been reciting the Warrior code for their mentors.

Ivypaw rolled her eyes. "What now? Can't you see we're busy?" Heatherpaw nudged her sister gently. "Let him speak, fuzz-brain." She muttered.

Just as Sunpaw was about to burst, there came a yowl from Highledge, causing all of ThunderClan to turn.

"May all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highledge for a clan meeting!"

Sunpaw allowed his aching paws to carry him to the overhang. He didn't make it far, however, before an all-too familiar she-cat stopped him.

"What, Hazelshade?" He sighed, rolling his eyes. He froze, however, when his mother began to groom his fur.

"Oh, Sunpaw... I'm so sorry. I never realised I was hurting you... He hurt me so much though... He killed my mother and abandoned us, his family... I'll tell you all everything later, but for now... Can you ever forgive me?" His mother sounded- No. She was- genuinely sorry. Sunpaw let out a long sigh, glancing over to where Bumblestar was. The leader was watching him happily, nodding. So Bumblestar knew what was going on.

"Mother, a someone just told me that the past is in the past- and believe me, it is. I should be the one apologising; I never really thought you'd ever apologize. I underestimated you."

The tabby-and-white she-cat couldn't hide the confusion in her eyes, but when she got no further reply, she nodded quietly, eyes glistening. "Go. Go, Sunpaw, and make me proud."

With a small nod, Sunpaw padded over to where his sisters were waiting.

"Heatherpaw, Ivypaw, Sunpaw, please step forward." The purr came from Bumblestar, eyes shining happily.

Unlike his apprentice ceremony, Sunpaw was the first to step forward.

"I, Bumblestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn.

"Ivypaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"

The she-cat's gaze was full of promise and dedication. "I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Ivypaw, from this moment you shall be known as Ivyfrost. StarClan honors your dedication and intelligence, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

Next, he turned to Heatherpaw. "Heatherpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Much like her sister, Heatherpaw nodded firmly, not an ounce of hesitation in her voice as she mewed, "I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name: Heatherpaw, from this moment you shall be known as Heathermist. StarClan honors your kindness and optimism, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

As soon as Bumblestar's gaze turned to Sunpaw, he felt words blazing into his mind, the words that his uncle had spoken at his apprentice ceremony:
Flatten your fur, Sunpaw. Don't be afraid. There is nothing to worry about. Some flames cannot be destroyed by water, no matter how much there is. And those are the flames of he sun.

Those words stuck in Sunpaw's mind as the ceremony commenced.

"Sunpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Sunpaw's gaze slid to the ones around him.

Willowpetal, Swanfeather and their four kits sat directly behind him, all watching him intently. When Cherryblossom saw Sunpaw looking their way, she flicked her tail at him with a purr.

He then turned his gaze to Ashcloud, who was nodding to his friend.

Then to Hazelshade, whose eyes were glistening with happiness as she watched her kits grow up finally. Sudden affection burst out of his heart that he'd never felt before; love, he realised, was a bond he'd never felt, but his mother's gaze was so full of it that Sunpaw couldn't help but love her back despite all she'd done.

"I do." He purred, turning back to Bumblestar, nodding to his mentor.

Bumblestar nodded slowly, then meowed, "then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Sunpaw, you shall be known as Sunflame. StarClan honors your strength and will to do right, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

Sunflame's ears grew hot as the clan began to cheer his name. "Ivyfrost! Heathermist! Sunflame! Ivyfrost! Heathermist! Sunflame!"

As soon as the shouting died down, Sunflame watched as Bumblestar's face turned sullen. "ThunderClan, I also have some news that is not so exciting."

Murmurs rippled among the clan as Amberpaw pushed his way between cats to him. "You know what's going on with Bumblestar, don't you? Congratulations, by the way."

Sunflame rubbed her cheek affectionately, with a quick lick on the ears. "Just wait." He murmured into her ear as Bumblestar began talking. "I don't think I should be the one to say this."

"Cats of ThunderClan," the leader began, "cats are attacking ThunderClan tonight. We must be ready."

Chaos erupted below the Highledge; cats were yowling in terror, bristling, hissing and snarling. "We'll get them, whoever they are!" Breezestorm snarled, standing next to his apprentice. Sunflame didn't miss how his tail was twined with Ivyfrost's.

"They'll never get to our kits!" Swanfeather promised, glancing nervously at his mate, who was nudging her kits into the nursery, despite their protests.

"ThunderClan, please settle down! The Dark Forest have convinced clan cats to attack us from other clans, and we must prepare for that! Sunflame," the tom jumped at his name, then nodded to his leader.

"You know the most about this training- you could try to think like one. I'd like you to lead a patrol out into the forest just before moon-high, when they should attack."

The leader then turned to Swanfeather.

"You will lead another patrol, and meet Sunflame's patrol by the Ancient Oak. If neither patrols have spotted anything suspicious, they will return back to the camp and help the remaining cats guard it.

"Amberpaw, Stonefoot, Owlsong and Raventail, go with Sunflame. Owlsong is our best tracker, so she will be a good help to you, Sunflame." He gave a nod to his former apprentice, then turned to another cluster of cats.

"Pebblesplash, Brindlecloud, Sorrelspots and Ashcloud, you go on Swanfeather's patrol.

"We don't know what to expect, so be on your guard, ThunderClan."

Bumblestar's weariness shone in his eyes as he leapt off the rock.

"Kestreltail, Cherryblossom, Toadfur and Oakfur, make sure any entrance to the camp except the Tunnel is blocked off. That includes the Dirtplace. Shrewfoot and Thistleheart, act as lookouts, one in the camp, one out the camp.

"Hazelshade, Gingerheart, Heathermist and Ivyfrost, I want you to prepare the camp for battle- reinforce the dens, block off the nursery and elders' dens and prepare my den for anyone who can't fight. Since Silverleaf and Whitepaw aren't back from the Moonpool yet, you'll need to prepare for anything, including wounds."

Ivyfrost suddenly stepped forward. "Wait, Bumblestar? Could I join Sunflame's patrol?"

That made Sunflame spin around. "What?" He mewed at the same time Bumblestar said it.

Then the leader nodded. "O-of course. Stonefoot, you stay here. How is everyone with their tasks. Good? Okay."

~.~.~

Sunflame led the way out of the camp, closely followed by Ivyfrost, Raventail close behind her, and Owlsong with Amberpaw bringing up the rear. His first mission as a warrior, just minutes after he became one!

As he led the way through the nightlit forest, Sunflame's ears twitched. Every slight rattle through tree branches had him on edge; was it the wind, or dark warriors stalking them?

When Amberpaw stepped on a twig, a crack broke the silence, making Sunflame jump higher than a rabbit.

He tried to ignore the fact that his patrol was laughing silently at him, except for Raventail, who was staring sullenly into the darkness.

"Moving on." He muttered, and with an irritated flick of his tail, led the way through the darkness once more.

He turned to search a different part of the forest where a slight rustle in the trees was coming from. "Wait, Sunflame." His sister's voice echoed slightly as she spoke.

"What?" He mewed, turning round. "Did you see one?"

She shook her head. "I haven't, but we don't need to check over there. Bumblestar only told us to check the route to the tree. Let's just go there."

Sunflame paused to look at the rustling tree, then nodded; it wasn't rustling anymore, anyway. "Let's go to the Ancient Tree."

~.~.~

"Any sign of anything?" A voice hissed hopefully as Sunflame halted at the base of the Ancient Oak. When he squinted, he could make out cats in the darkness.

"No." He shook his head, letting out a sigh.

"Good." Came the reply. Wait, who was that cat? Sunflame didn't recognise Swanfeather's voice.

"Five cats is easier than ten, don't you think, Screech? Nightshade?"

Clouds parted from the moon coincidentally at that second, revealing a large group of warriors, rogues and Dark Forest cats.

When Screech saw Sunflame's reaction, she let out a purr, though the hint of a snarl lingered in it.

"You didn't think you'd get rid of us that easily, did you? Pity. Thank you for saving our hides back there by the way, Ivyfrost. If you hadn't pulled Sunflame back, this may not be a battle worth fighting."

Ivyfrost took a step forward. "Now will you ensure their safety? It's bad not to hold your end of the bargain."

Sunflame couldn't believe what he was seeing. His sister had been plotting with the Dark Forest? For how long?

Screech flicked her tail, letting out an amused purr. "Of course not! They need to die, you see- especially this traitor." She nodded at Sunflame. "And so do you. Can't have you switching sides on us, can we?"

As Amberpaw let out the loudest yowl she could to alert the other patrol and possibly the camp, Nightshade leapt onto Sunflame, and the battle began.