Violet Flame

Chapter 6

"Silvershade. You are a viligant, patient, wise warrior. I trust that you will pass these traits onto Frost." Cloudstar mewed. Her father padded forward, touching noses with his new apprentice. 

"Frost! Frost! Frost! Frost!"

The white cat with blue paws beamed brightly. 

"I have also spoken with the mentors of a few certain cats. Sparrowpaw, Blazepaw, Thunderpaw, Diamondpaw. Please come forward. Sparrowpaw, do you swear to uphold the warrior code, and defend your Clan, even with your life?"

No hesitation. "I do."

"Then from this moment on, you will be known as Sparrowheart. Blazepaw, do you swear to uphold the warrior code and defend your Clan, even with your life?"

"I do."

"Then from this moment on, you will be known as Blazeheart. Diamondpaw, do you swear to uphold the warrior code and defend your Clan, even with your lif-"

"I do!"

Cloudstar chuckled softly. "Then from this moment on, you will be known as Diamondtail. Thunderpaw, do you swear to uphold the warrior code and defend your Clan, even with your life?"

Softly. "I do."

"Then from this moment one, you will be known as Thunderstrike."

Cheers exploded from the assembled cats. "Sparrowheart! Thunderstrike! Diamondtail! Blazeheart!"

A dark brown tom with white stripes emerged from the crowd. "Sparrowheart! I thought you'd never become a warrior!"

"Dad!"

"Leafheart. Good job, Sparrowheart!" Skywing mewed. Rosepaw smiled from behind her. 

"Nice. A warrior, finally! Diamondtail!"

"Snowstorm, no."

"Thunderstrike! Wow, you're a warrrior!" Sunpaw meowed.

Thunderstrike bumped his flank against Sunpaw's, but with his size, he pushed Sunpaw over. "You're not too far off."

Sunpaw smiled and bounced over to Briarpaw. Briarpaw winked at Sparrowheart and turned to his brother. Sparrowheart blushed and turned away, smiling. Rosepaw padded over and poked Blazeheart on the nose, then licked his cheek.

"Good job, bro. Blazeheart is an awesome name."

"Thanks, Rose. Aren't you close to getting your full medicine cat name?"

Rosepaw bounced up and leaped over her brother, on the tips of her pads. "Yep!"

"What do you think it'll be?"

"I hope not Roseheart. There's too many hearts around here. Hmm, maybe Rosefall? Or Rosestep?"

"I think I like Rosefall. That would be a good medicine cat name."

"Yeah. That would be nice."

"Yeah."

"Sparrowheart!"

"What?"

"Heads up!" Thunderstrike pounced onto Sparrowheart's back, squishing her. Sunpaw bounded across the clearing, managing to shoulder Thunderstrike off of her. But, then he swiped his claws across Thunderstrike's shoulder. 

"Hey! What the hell, Sunpaw!"

Sparrowheart looked shocked as Sunpaw came in for another swipe. Thunderstrike was ready this time though. He blocked Sunpaw's flailing paw, and Cloudstar came down. 

"Hey, what's going on here?"

"Sunpaw just attacked me, and he won't stop!" Thunderstrike yowled as he ducked yet another swipe from the russet apprentice. 

"Sunpaw, stop!" Diamondtail shouted. Sunpaw froze. His gold eyes looked dead. He was also expressionless, as if asleep. "Snap out of it!" 

Sunpaw shook his head, then started wheezing and coughing. 

"Sunpaw, explain yourself!" Cloudstar hissed.

"I-I..."

"Now!"

"It wasn't me! I swear! I swear, it wasn't me! I still had control of my mind, but not my body. I swear, I wanted to stop, but I-I couldn't!"

Cloudstar glanced at Skywing, and she nodded slowly. The leader faced the apprentice again. He waved Thunderstrike over to the medicine cats and motioned for Sunpaw to follow him. Head down, Sunpaw followed Cloudstar to his den.