Dawn settled upon the Clans of the forest.

A lone crescent moon lingered amongst the clouds, loath to leave, before fading away with the gloom. Serenity and quiet ebbed away as robins and wrens, warblers and goldfinches, began their daily song. A dusty sky and a few remaining stars watched over.

In the bare moorlands of WindClan, cats had just begun to stir. One was already up and about, organizing patrols and issuing orders.

"Breezecloud, can you please wake Hawkfeather up?" Shrewsong beckoned the tom over. "I believe she wanted to collect herbs at dawn. She said something about gathering herbs before the sun completely came up."

The dark brown warrior dipped his head, amber eyes glinting. "Of course, Shrewsong," he mewed before padding to where the medicine cat slept.

"And wake up Dawnsky and Smallpaw too! They're due for a dawn patrol with you."

"Okay. Where's Gorsestar?" Breezecloud called out, back to the deputy.

"In his den."

Breezecloud was surprised. Gorsestar rarely stayed in his den. He would be the earliest and take a walk or go on a hunting expedition by himself.

"He's deciding what virtues to give Sparkface—," the black she-cat elaborated—,"Sparkpaw, I meant."

Sparkface? What kind of warrior name is that? Breezecloud curled his lip slightly in a disbelieving sneer as he carried out the task his deputy had set him.

When he was allocated with Sparkpaw as his apprentice, he was severely disappointed. The little mouse-brain literally couldn't do anything right—it was one of her many fascinating idiosyncrasies. An enigma? Not completely. A special case? Certainly. Breezecloud had seen many strange things and had heard many ridiculous names in his life—

—but Sparkface?

That topped the list.

***

A rough nudge jolted Sparkpaw out of her sleep. A face loomed in front of her. Shaking herself awake, the cream she-cat blinked at her brother. "It's only dawn, Lionfrost," she mewed groggily.

The large orange tom nearly purred at her obliviousness. "Only dawn? Your warrior ceremony is today, Sparkpaw. You don't want to oversleep and ruin your ceremony, do you?"

That certainly jerked Sparkpaw straight out of her dreams of chasing mice and becoming the leader of WindClan. Lionfrost observed, with amusement, as his sister's eyes grew brighter and brighter with each passing heartbeat.

"I've waited for so long, Lionfrost! It felt horrible having to wait for an extra moon. I'm so happy."

He swished his tail. "Gorsestar's going to start the ceremony after he's had his vole. Get yourself ready."

He observed with amusement once more as Sparkpaw immediately straightened and began grooming blades of grass out of her fur.

"Do you think Lizardspot will be happy for me?"

Silence befell the two cats as they contemplated the question. Or, rather, brooded over the answer. Sparkpaw lowered her head. "Probably not. She just sees me as a burden."

Lionfrost watched silently as the tabby she-cat padded away.

***

It was sunhigh before Gorsestar finally decided to commence the ceremony.

"Let all cats fast enough to catch rabbits gather here under Tallrock for a Clan meeting!"

A group of two quickly increased to five, seven, and most of the Clan. A soon-to-be warrior was fretting silently, green eyes darting around and finally focusing on the Clan leader. The murmurs of the crowd faded as Gorsestar raised his tail and began to speak.

"As leaf-fall rolls by, more and more cats are needed to hunt and carry out Clan duties. Warriors especially are needed, to hunt efficiently, to teach and guide the younger cats, to lead patrols. I am honored to perform one of the most important ceremonies today: the naming of a warrior."

Hurry up! Sparkpaw thought, impatience showing in her inability to sit still.

"I, Gorsestar, leader of WindClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn."

Why was Hawkfeather shifting uncomfortably? Why was Breezecloud wearing a sneer? Shouldn't he be proud his apprentice that was about to become a warrior? Sparkpaw's ears twitched.

"Sparkpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" Even the leader's voice was becoming more and more uncomfortable.

What is everyone's problem?

"I-I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Sparkpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as—"

There were a brief silence as Gorsestar paused. Cats blinked in anticipation. Lizardspot snorted and looked away. 

And then a harsh cry shattered the quiet. Sparkpaw's eyes snapped up in shock, following the gaze of her Clanmates. She discerned an owl perching atop one of the few trees in WindClan's territory, wings poised to take flight. The nocturnal bird seemed to stare straight at her.

Utterances rippled out from the Clan following the disturbance.

"We never get owls! It's sunhigh, too."

"What could have caused this strange occurrence?"

"This must be a sign! It's a bad omen."

Gorsestar regained his composure, staring calmly at his Clan as he raised his tail.

"We will continue the ceremony regardless of the distraction. Sparkpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Sparkface. StarClan honors your enterprise and your determination, and we welcome you as a full warrior of WindClan."

Sparkface's legs trembled as Gorsestar leapt down from the Tallrock and rested his muzzle on her head. She clumsily licked his shoulder and turned around, unsurprised yet disheartened all the same when a stony silence greeted her. She could feel the weight of her Clanmates' gazes, never before heavier, as they eyed her like a stranger, weighing and judging.

Sparkface felt well and truly humiliated.

***

Must not sleep. Must not sleep.

Sparkface stared straight ahead, ears perked up and posture erect. It was only nearing moonhigh, yet she felt as if she'd ran to StarClan and back. I hate my life. I hate my name. I hate myself. Thoughts of her unworthiness and humiliation hovered in her mind like gnats, unrelenting and forever present.

It was just past moonhigh when she drifted into an uneasy slumber.

It was only heartbeats later when two tiny figures padded out of the gorse tunnel.

The next morning, the wail of a distressed queen woke the whole Clan. Sparkface's eyes snapped open and the new warrior leapt to her paws, instantly alert. "Fox dung!" she exclaimed. "I fell asleep."

Spottedclaw, a mottled grey she-cat, was wild with panic. "My kits! They've disappeared!"

Cats began crowding around her, offering solace and attempting to help. Gorsestar and Shrewsong pushed through the crowd, signaling for the other cats to back off.

"Could they have sneaked out of camp?" Gorsestar enquired gently.

"I don't know!" Spottedclaw wailed. "Last time I saw them was before moonhigh, when Stormkit wanted to play. I told him to go back to sleep and—"

Shrewsong, who had been investigating the exit of the camp, called,"There's a scent trail here. It appears that the kits have indeed sneaked out of camp. We'll have to send a patrol to find them."

Spottedclaw was right with her. "Sparkface should have seen them! She must've fallen asleep! She let my kits out of camp!"

Gorsestar laid his tail on her shoulder. "I'll definitely have a word with her. Meanwhile, let's focus on finding them. Shrewsong, send two search patrols."

He turned to Sparkface, who was sitting ashamedly to the side, awaiting her punishment.

"You will resume apprentice duties for two quarter-moons," he mewed sternly.

Sparkface nodded numbly, studying her paws.

"What were you thinking, Sparkface? Not only did you break the Clan rules, you also unknowingly let two kits sneak out of camp. What will you do if they're in danger? How will you ever compensate for two lives you may have ruined? You are young and foolish. You have no initiative and don't think for anyone but yourself."

More gently, the leader added," As Sparkface (Sparkface cringed at her name), a warrior of WindClan, you have a much larger responsibility than before. You are different from the other cats. Whatever you do has to be carefully and meticulously thought through first. Cats will judge you harshly."

But Sparkface wasn't even listening at that point. A wave of anguish and remorse nearly swept Sparkface off of her paws. 

You have no initiative and don't think for anyone but yourself.

Sparkface sat there, motionless, unable to tear her gaze off the ground. She sat there, even as Gorsestar brushed past her, tail lingering for a heartbeat on her shoulder, a futile attempt to jolt her out of her thoughts. 

What have I done?

~ By Saph! 🍩✨