Emberpaw's Warrior Ceremony

Blizzardstar was almost a shadow of her former self. Her wounds were still healing and it was hard for her to move, her face held so much grief and anger after poor Thistlepaw’s death and worry kept a tight grasp on her heart and soul as she had to see her clan weakened, injured, and still without Sunningrocks. And on top of that she was fearful for the father of her clanmates, who had been taken away by the fox-hearts that lived across the river. The battle wasn’t over though, she wasn’t going to let them harm her friends any longer…

At least not everything was darkness in these times though, as there was finally a small glimpse of happiness, or light. An ember that burned bright between the shadows that tried without success to put it out. A small smile reached the leader’s muzzle as she hoped onto the Highrock, she had done a good choice by taking in this young cat, and now…all that time, all that training…against what many thought, it had finally paid off “All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather under the Highrock for a clan meeting!”.

Emberpaw made her way over to the gathering cats at Blizzardstar's call. A small part of her wondered if something bad had happened - not again, so soon after the battle? - but the smile on the leader's face, small though it was, assured her that this was something else. A ceremony, perhaps? She couldn't think of many things to be happy about at the moment, after all.

“Today, we gather not to mourn nor fight, a nice change if you ask me, but to celebrate that one of us is about to not only get her warrior name, but at least become officially part of ThunderClan. They proved their loyalty and bravery even in the darkest times, against all odds they left their easier life behind and became a cat I’m proud to call my clanmate. They proved those that doubted her wrong by showing that even in the face of the greatest of dangers, she will fight at our side until the end with honor and determination, qualities that even some clan-born cats lack” With those words she finally looked down at the former kittypet, soon to be warrior “Emberpaw, step forward".

So her initial thoughts had been right... And wrong at the same time. She had assumed it would be an apprentice ceremony, but... Not her own. She stepped forward, unable to keep a spark of happiness off her face - there were so few things to be happy about right now, she wanted to hold on to them for as long as she could.

Blizzardstar had to clear her throat before continuing. The wound that killed her was no longer there, as StarClan had healed her when she came back to life, but her throat was still sore and hurt a tiny bit, so talking as loud as she was doing it right now wasn’t exactly comfortable, but she was swilling to ignore it to enjoy this moment at it fullest “I, Blizzardstar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn” Her weak smile turned into a serious expression for the next words “Emberpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?”.

"I do," Emberpaw declared, her voice ringing loud and clear.

Blizzardstar's smile returned, just bigger, with Emberpaw's answer “Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Emberpaw, from this moment you will be known as Emberheart. StarClan honors your courage and determination, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan” With that, she leaped off the Highrock and rested her muzzle on the newly named warrior’s head to conclude the ceremony "Congratulations, Emberheart...you made it at last".

The newly-named Emberheart couldn't help but feel even more happiness than she had thought was possible, despite the recent tragedies.

She looked nothing like the tiny runaway kittypet who had charged into the forest now. She was larger, if not by much, and still feeling her battle wounds and holding herself with a pride that tiny kitten had only dreamed of possessing. That life was finally completely behind her now, at least in her own eyes.

She thought of everything that had happened in her life up to this moment. All the cats she knew. She thought of her mother, always encouraging and loving. Of how proud she would be if she could see her daughter now. Of the clanmates she had come to care for. Of the leader who had taken a chance on a runaway kittypet.

In the end, her mind went back to Gingerheart, and in particular to the very last thing he had said to her.

"So let me ask you once more: Why are you here, Emberpaw?"

In that moment, she felt she finally knew the answer to his question. She was here because it was where she wanted to be.

"Emberheart! Emberheart!" There was a voice that called out even louder than the rest of the Clan as they joined together to chance the newest warrior's name. Heatherpetal's eyes sparkled with such joy that could not be put into words.

She was so very happy for her best friend. Just like herself, Emberheart was finally freed from her past, and now they both could move forward together to become the best warriors they can be for ThunderClan.

And maybe... just maybe... the two former outsiders could take in and raise together an outsider kit of their own someday.