"StarClan honors you for your courage and fighting skills. I name you Ivytail," Dawnstar meowed as he touched noses with Ivypaw, now Ivytail.
Cheers erupted from the Clan, "Ivytail!" Ivytail!" Ivytail turned around, pleasure rippling through her. She gazed down proudly at her Clanmates, focusing especially on Darkstream, her former mentor. She had to thank him for the fact that she had received her Warrior name today, and not one moon later, along with her sister, Moonpaw. The Warrior had talked to Dawnstar to convince him to allow Ivytail to becom a Warrior earlier. Ivytail did not have the patience to wait that long, 11 moons of training were enough, rather much to long. Darkstream, too, had been a really good mentor to her; kind and patiently enduring her own impatient nature. Purring, Ivytail bounded off the Outcrop, Dawnstar's usual spot for announcements. More congratulations were exchanged between her and the other apprentices, and some even from the Warriors. Darkstream padded up to her and laid his tail tip on her shoulder. "Good job," he commended. Ivytail meowed at the young but somewhat experienced warrior, "All thanks to you!"
~~~~~~
The night was dark and chilly. Ivytail groaned as she shifted her weight. She stood up and padded around the fern entrance, the border where the forest made way for the beach, trying to relax her sore muscles. These was the only part of being a Warrior Ivytail hated. The vigil. She tried to focus on guarding the Clan for the night instead of her uncomfortableness. Suddenly, there was the sound of pawsteps, coming towards her. Alarmed, Ivytail unsheathed her claws and crouched down, ready to attack whoever was coming along that was not her Clanamte.
A dark shape shot through the entrance ferns and Ivytail pounced with a loud screech. She felt her claws tear through the cat's pelt. "Ivytail!" the cat yowled, "It's me! Darkstream! Don't attack!" Only then did Ivytail recognise the scent. Highly embarrased, she scrambled to her paws, ready to face whatever chidings her old mentor was going to give her. Why didn't she check the scent first?
But Darkstream did not reprimand her. Instead, he shook out his pelt and licked at the few scratches; making Ivytail feel even more embarrassed. "Sorry," she decided to apologized. "That's alright," Darkstream gazed up at her, "Any cat could have made that mistake." Any mouse-brained cat, Ivytail thought, but did not voice her opinion. "What were you doing out there? I thought all the cats were asleep, so I didn't bother to check the scent," Ivytail asked him curiously, wondering if she was prying. "Some hunting," Darkstream responded but could not meet her gaze. "Anyway," he continued, "This is supposed to be a silent vigil, remember? At this rate, you'll wake the whole Clan up. I guess I better not disturb you anymore. Good night!"
Ivytail watched Darkstream pad away. She was not fully convinced by his excuse.
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