At Last.

Fellstar beamed as he leaped up onto the Jaybranch, calling the clan to order "All cats old catch their own prey gather at the JayBranch for a clan meeting!" He smiled as he scented his his daughters, gathered with the rest of the clan under the JayBranch. They had made great strides in their training, developing new ways for hunting and fighting. He remembered when they were young kits, now they were adults, young and beautiful, and it was their due time to become warriors

"I, Fellstar, leader of JayClan, 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 turn.

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

"I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Ebonypaw, from this moment you will be known as Ebonywave. StarClan honors your determination, and we welcome you as a full warrior of JayClan.

Fellstar rested his muzzle on Ebonywave's head and whispered something in her ear. Ebonywave smiled and stepped back.

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

"I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Ivorypaw, from this moment you will be known as Ivoryflame, StarClan honors your kindness, and we welcome you as a full warrior of JayClan."

Ivoryflame beamed as he rested his head on her muzzle.

Ivoryflame! Ebonywave! Ivoryflame! Ebonywave!

Fellstar leaped down from the Jaybranch and immediately ran into a cat. He stopped... it was Lightenedcall. "Don't think just because their warriors, they'll live." she hissed and ran off.

Striker

Striker finally got back to camp about moonhigh, and instantly regretted coming back at all. Ehel, of course, had to be guarding camp. Striker attempted to strut into camp, his head held high, but as soon as he came into Ehel's line of vision, the sleek white tom spat at him "Stupid brother. What were you doing out so late anyway?"

Striker shook his head "Nothing."

Ehel hissed and struck him on the head, claws unsheated "Don't lie to me, you were out seeing that she-cat. Fraternizing with Clan cats again." Ehel looked disgusted and Striker cringed "If you are going to take the position of healer, Like you were meant, you cannot be with those vile disgraces of cats."

Striker growled "She is NOT vile. She's not like the other cats."

Ehel hissed "Naive cat, all clan cats are the same. They killed Mae." Just the mention of Mae made Striker's heart heavy with grief "Don't even bring her into this!" Ehel ignored him
"Your lucky I don't tell Craw, he'd demote you. You'd never be healer!"
"Well maybe I don't WANT to be healer!" Striker spat, wincing as Ehel raised his paw to Strike him again, instead, Ehel's voice grew deadly calm "It was our mother's wish that you become healer, and I become leader. Now, understand this you will do as mother wished..."
Striker looked away, he was going to bring it up again
"Seeing as you were the one that killed her."


Striker woke in the morning, his fur ruffled by the wind. As he padded out of his little corner in camp, the usual hisses of "Loser!" and "Weakling!" greeted him, even Craw joined in, his amber eyes glinting as they usually did when Striker walked out.

Ehel glared at him, and Striker made his way toward Makahl, his ears pinned back. The old she-cat smiled at him, her tortoiseshell pelt was now lined with gray. Craw would soon banish her from camp and strand her on clan territory, and he would loose his only ally.

Makahl acted like she didn't realize her days were limited, but her voice was urgent when she talked to him "You have to know your herbs. You're soon going to be taking my place." her eyes were sad "Sooner than you think."

Striker narrowed his eyes, "Makahl?"

She shook her head "If I have taught you anything, its not to dwell on the Negatives boy. I will always be looking down on you,"

Striker looked away "How?"

Makahl winked "The clouds."

"Those big fluffy things in the sky?"

Makahl nodded "When a cat passes, their spirit become wispy, and white, it floats up to the sky, and stays there, so they can look down on the cats they love, in other words a cloud."

Striker felt close to tears "Makahl..."

Craw padded in, shoving Striker aside "Makahl-" he began

"Don't give me the speech, I know whats coming." she looked at Striker "Good luck healer. Look to the sky, if you are ever in need."

Striker watched as Craw led Makahl away, her head held high. There went his tutor. His ally. His one and only friend.

The Life of Finnick

Finnick ran through the forest, streaking silently across the ground. Once he was out of JayClan territory, he gasped for breath and looked up. He sighed, and looked around, before slipping into a hollow tree. On the other side was a large, hollow. When he padded in, he was knocked down. He snarled and kicked out with his back legs, but he was pinned down. He stared into the ice blue eyes. The black cat stared at him.

"What do you think you're doing!?"

The cat hissed, and dug his claws into Finnick's shoulders.

"I told you to stay away from her. Do you want more scars?!"

Finnick struggled, but that only made the black cat dig his claws in farther.

"Answer me."

Finnick bared his teeth.

"Hurt me all you want, I will never stop seeing her."

The black cat snarled, and ripped through Finnick's flesh. He winced, but tried not to react.

"I have a better idea. Why would I hurt you, when I can hurt her."

Finnick leaped up and snarled.

"You can't! She never trespassed!"

The black cat smirked.

"Oh, but what if she did? If she does, I'll be the one to attack her. You can count on that."

Finnick lowered his head, his blue eyes matching the colour of the black cat's.

"Then you wouldn't be my father. I will kill you before you ever lay a paw on her. Then I will leave this group. If you can even call it that, Aesir."

Aesir narrowed his eyes, and struck out. Finnick yowled in pain, and backed up, shaking his head. Cats had come out to watch, and had formed a circle around the two toms. Aesir flicked his tail.

"Don't kill him. I don't want the next leader of our group dead."

Aesir walked out of the circle, and didn't look back as the cats leaped onto Finnick. Finnick yowled in pain as the cats tore into him, giving him the punishment of a traitor. Though a traitor would normally be killed.

As the sun was going down, the cats moved away from Finnick, leaving him in the middle of the hollow, torn and bloody. He crawled to the edge of the clearing, his eyes glassy and his silver pelt tinted red. He then saw blue eyes coming towards him, and stiffened when he saw it was Aesir.

"Have you learned your lesson?"

Finnick glared up at his father, breathing heavily. His eyes burned with rage, and he struggled onto shaky legs.

"I... will... never... listen to you."

Aesir snarled viciously and grabbed Finnick and threw him against the ground. Finnick's vision blurred and it felt like his mind went numb. Aesir leaned down, hissing into Finnick's ear.

"I hope you die. As long as I live, you will never be considered my son."

Finnick smiled slightly.

"Then maybe you should die."

He leaped up with the last of his strength and grabbed Aesir's neck. Aesir yowled and slammed his paw into Finnick's face. He gasped, and let his father's neck go, before falling limp to the ground. Aesir padded away, his fur standing on end.

::---::

Ebonypaw followed the scent of Finnick until the scent became stronger. It was soon mixed with the scent of other cats, and the reek of blood hit Ebonypaw. She padded quickly, and padded silently into the hollow. She sniffed the air, and heard the deep breathing of many cats sleeping. Ebonypaw's ears spun and she heard coarse breathing, and recognized Finnick's scent mixed with blood. She ran over to where Finnick was.

"F-finnick!?"

He raised his head slightly, trying to see through the blood.

"Ebonypaw...?"

She licked his head fiercely, tears streaming down her face.

"W-what happened?!"

He shook his head.

"You have to leave. He'll kill you. You still have a life. I'm dying, I can feel it. Go back to your own territory, prepare your clan for an attack. It may come. You can still live."

She shook her head slowly.

"N-no. I'm not leaving you. I'll save you. I-i'll fix you!"

Finnick laughed slightly.

"There's no hope for me. Please, leave, for me? I couldn't die knowing you died. I would have died for no reason. It would all have been a waste, protecting you."

Ebonypaw sobbed, and gasped for breath.

"You aren't going to die! I-i can't let you! You saved me. I couldn't- I can't live without you. I-i love you."

She buried her head into his blood soaked fur, and he sighed, purring slightly.

"I... I love you too. Please, be okay. For me. You'd leave if you wanted me to be happy. I only want you to be safe. Please."

Ebonypaw stood still, the only sound was of the other cats. She lifted her head, and licked his shoulder, then his cheek, then his forehead.

"I love you. Please remember that, and I'll find you again. I swear by it."

Finnick smiled as he looked up at her determined face.

"I'll remember everything. Good-bye..."

Ebonypaw nodded, before turning around. She looked back once more, seeing only darkness, but she could imagine his body laying there, his sweet scent came to her through the blood, and she stifled a wail, before running as fast as she could with her leg. Once she was a safe distance in her own territory she collapsed and curled into a ball. 

Once the sun started to come up, she got up, her legs stiff. She shook slightly, and she limped back to camp. Ebonypaw stumbled into camp, trying to get to the apprentices den. As she was walking in, Ivorypaw came out.

"Ebonypaw? Where have you been? What happened?"

Moving On

Ebonypaw struggled to stand. She was getting stronger everyday, and though she couldn't use her back leg, she fought to get better.

Wandernight watched Ebonypaw struggling to walk, she still wanted so desperately to be a warrior. But how could she? How could she fight? She looked at Ivorypaw. Ivorypaw too would have trouble fighting. Even hunting and running. She sighed, and Fellstar came to stand next to her.

"How are they going to be warriors? They can get warrior names, but they can't help the clan."

Fellstar shook his head.

"Special training. I won't be able to help Ebonypaw train now. She needs a warrior that can see. Bayfrost can still train Ivorypaw. She's far behind in her training, since she was missing for many moons, and when she got hurt they were only half way through. Ebonypaw was going to get her name, but now she needs to retrain. It's almost as if both of them need to start from the beginning again. They can't use the same hunting techniques, or fighting techniques. We need to make up new attacks for them. They both can't climb any more, which is a main skill of JayClan. Ivorypaw can still jump to catch birds. But Ebonypaw won't be able to. She may still be able to climb, but it's hard to say at this point. We'll jsut have to make stuff up as we go."

Wandernight nodded.

"Who could be Ebonypaw's new mentor?"

Fellstar thought for a moment.

"Maybe Fringeblade. He may be fierce and ambitious, but he may be able to teach her with Bayfrost there with Ivorypaw. He's our head warrior and he hasn't had an apprentice yet. And I'll still help occasionally."

Wandernight stood up stretching.

"As long as they train together, then fine."

She padded away, her heard low.

::---::

Ebonypaw itched to get out of camp. What happened to Finnick? Was he okay? Questions went through her head, and all she wanted to do was see him. But she could barely walk alone, and her parents were always watching her. She scowled under her breath, and closed her eyes, trying to imagine his scent.

She also wanted to start training again. She wanted to prove that she still could become the warrior she should have.