"You are ShadowClan's new apprentice!" Froststar mewed in surprise. "Where did you come from?"

Alderpaw smiled and mewed, "Me and Daisypaw were forced to join the rogues when we were kits. Our mothers were dead, so we were alone. Then, during a hard leaf-bare, a rogue cat found us and brought us to their camp. I was a great fighter, but I knew soon a battle would happen."

"When was that battle?" Froststar asked.

"A couple of moons ago," Alderpaw replied.

"Were you in that battle then?" she asked again, narrowing her eyes this time.

"No," he mewed. "I pretended to go and find a place to make dirt, but I actually hid myself in the trees of your territory. They were too absorbed in fighting to notice I was gone."

"I see," Froststar mewed, sighing in relief. "I thank you once again for your bravery, but as you know, you should be back in your own territory now."

Alderpaw nodded. "I'm glad to help."

He looked at the rushing river and added, "I believed they were good cats once, but perhaps their own greed blocked that away." He turned to the ThunderClan leader. "I bid you farewell."

Froststar nodded as the brown apprentice began to walk out of ThunderClan territory.

~~~~

Fernpaw watched as Alderpaw left the territory. Froststar turned to her and licked her comfortingly.

"Are you hurt?" she asked.

"Just a few bruises," Fernpaw replied.

"But I think you are tired, so you should go and rest," Froststar mewed. "You had a long day."

Fernpaw nodded as Hailpaw followed her back to camp.

At the freshkill pile, she sat down to have a quick mouse. Stripepaw was chatting with Hailpaw nearby, while Icetail grabbed a vole for his mate, Specklebreeze.

It looks so peaceful, Fernpaw sighed. Hopefully it stays that way.

She got up and padded to the apprentice den where she lay down, closing her eyes.

~~~~

A moon later, Stripepaw and Berrypaw were ready to become warriors. Honeyfrost looked at them in pride as Froststar spoke, "Specklebreeze, Spikethorn, are you sure that Stripepaw and Berrypaw have learned the ways of our warrior code and proven themselves worthy of becoming warriors?"

"Stripepaw is ready," Specklebreeze replied steadily.

"Berrypaw too," Spikethorn mewed.

Froststar nodded and she mewed, "I, Froststar, 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 a warrior in their turn."

"Stripepaw, Berrypaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?" Froststar asked.

"I do," Stripepaw mewed.

"I do," Berrypaw mewed excitedly.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names: Stripepaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Stripepad. StarClan honours your loyalty and courage, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

"Berrypaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Berryheart. StarClan honours your kindness and commitment, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan," Froststar announced.

"Stripepad! Berryheart!" the Clan yowled.

Fernpaw smiled at her former denmates. I wish I am made a warrior now.

Hailpaw stared at them in envy but he congratulated them warmly.

Soon we will be warriors! Fernpaw thought in excitement. Along with our friends, serving the Clan as a full warrior.

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A/N: Firstly, sorry for the shorter chapter. Secondly, please don't kill me in the next chapter... *coughs* some sad things are going to happen. Oh and thank you all for 600 reads!