A Feather By Any Other Name [closed]

Beetlepaw had been so busy with training that he hadn't gotten to spend much time with one of his best friends lately. It was even more upsetting as he had only been able to congratulate her in passing on her warrior name, and he was definitely feeling her absence in the apprentice den. Oh sure, he had his sister and Dandelionpaw still in nests near him, but Dawnfeather was a special friend. He felt really close to her. After all, she had showed him her special hollow, which meant they were best friends, right?

He had finally managed to find some spare time to meet up with Dawnfeather, and had asked her to meet him in the tree hollow she had showed him. They could go hunt from there if she wanted, but he really just wanted to spend some time together.

The black apprentice found the tree and with only some difficulty made his way up to the higher branches. He had the strong leg and shoulder muscles of a SkyClan cat, but they were not the inherited traits of someone Clanborn. He had earned them through training, and he still was not quite as fast as pureblooded SkyClan cats at climbing. It didn't matter to him, though. He was good at plenty of things.

"Hi Dawnfeather!" He purred, as the pretty molly joined him, his paws feeling warm and light.

Dawnfeather had been enjoying being a warrior. There was freedom… and she had a cool name… and she  might be able to train an apprentice at some point… alright, the apprentice part was really fun and she enjoyed looking forwards to it almost as much as she’d enjoy actually doing it. But… beneath it all… she felt almost… lonely. She slept near Prima in the warrior den… but she kinda missed her friends in the apprentice den… especially a certain fluffy tom. Maybe she missed Hawkuncle… or maybe she just felt lonely because she hardly knew the warriors…

That was why, when Beetlepaw asked her to come to their special hollow to just enjoy it, she accepted joyfully. It was just that. Not anything else. She’d do the same to anycat… but she’d shown him her special hollow, and she hadn’t shown anycat else (although that was mainly because Prima, Smokema, and Beechaunt didn’t like climbing and she hadn’t seen Hawkuncle in far too long). Who knew? Maybe she’d just keep it as their special place… that sounded nice.

The colorpointed warrior had to finish up some important warrior stuff (or at least that’s how it had sounded) and then headed out into the forest, leaping elegantly into a tree and heading towards the creek. She was tall now, taller than the average cat but still dwarfed by her enormous family. Her fur wasn’t scruffy or fluffy anymore, but more silky and long, and her tail was feathery. She felt wonderful as she sped through the trees. She’d never be able to repay Hawkuncle for teaching her to climb this way- it wasn’t even climbing so much as flying.

She spiraled up the colossal oak, tail rustling the leaves. When she poked her head in the hollow, Beetlepaw greeted her warmly, and she blushed with happiness. “Hello!” She purred in response, climbing in to sit beside him. “How’s training been going? We definitely need to talk more.” She’d been so busy with warrior stuff… sitting and talking was calming and delightful. Especially with Beetlepaw.

"Training is going great! I should be a warrior soon, I think." Beetlepaw looked proud at that. He wasn't completely sure it was accurate, but he was definitely outgrowing his nest in the apprentice den, and he missed sleeping near Dawnfeather so much that he couldn't imagine anything else to be true. The feeling of her fur brushing his pelt made him warm with happiness.

"How is being a warrior?" To be honest, the concept was still a little foreign to him. He knew that it came with more responsibility, but he didn't see how it could be much different from how he was living now. Still, the thought of a strong name was exciting, and Dawnfeather was such a pretty name that perfectly suited the pretty she-cat that sat next to him. It would be interesting to see what traits of his would be highlighted.

Dawnfeather’s eyes shone with happiness as Beetlepaw continued. She was overjoyed for him, and it was only a hope, a thought that his ceremony would come soon. No one in the history of the Clans had deserved a ceremony as much as him. What would his name be, she wondered. Beetle… Beetle… it was hard. Beetle didn’t so much represent him as his black pelt. Well, it wasn’t like his mother knew what he was like the moment he was born. Dawn- had just happened to fit her, and it was a wonderful motivation to work hard.

“It’s… not that different from being an apprentice, to be honest,” she confessed with a twinkle in her eye. “I do like having a nice new name! I wonder… what will your warrior name be?” she mused, looking quizzically at him. Beetleshine, perhaps, and yet that didn’t quite sum up all of his potential. It was good that she wasn’t the one to choose warrior names, or else she’d puzzle over them for moons. Beetleshine was bright, a light holding back a darkness, -light more soft and soothing, -wing light and airy, ready to flit on the winds.

Beetlepaw let out a little hum, so he had been right. It wasn't that much different. Still, a new name would mean that he was being recognized as an individual, not just an overly large kit training to be a part of the Clan. It would also be nice to be with his friends that had been promoted again, although it would be sad to leave the friends in the apprentice den behind.

"I really don't have much idea," he admitted. He couldn't think of any quality to immortalize in his name. He was just...Beetlepaw. "Dawnfeather is such a beautiful name, but Beetlefeather wouldn't make any sense. Beetleflight, maybe? But I'm not nearly as good at leaping through the trees as most of SkyClan...And not anywhere near as good as you are!" He flushed under his pelt, realizing how many compliments he had given her in such a short time.

Dawnfeather ducked her head, her ears burning bright red. Beetlepaw was so nice. Just being around him made an okay day into a wonderful day. “You’re much better than I am on the ground,” she admitted. “There are holes on the ground and I always end up falling in them. But that’s really nice of you to say!” She swished her tail, beaming, her blue eyes glittering with a warm, content feeling.

“And don’t worry about climbing,” she assured him, “We all have different strengths. I’m slow on the ground and and have absolutely terrible nightvision. Wolfstar doesn’t like to climb trees, neither does Bloodstrike or Beechaunt or Prima. I think it isn’t so much of a SkyClan thing as much as a Hawkuncle thing. He’s a really good teacher,” Hopefully Beetlepaw knew that tree-climbing wasn’t a necessity to become a warrior. Many of the cats she loved weren’t fans of climbing. It wasn’t the outside strengths that made a cat, it was the internal strengths, like a star shining through thick clouds.