Sunpaw's Warrior Ceremony

Sunpaw yawned and stretched. She'd slept in a bit late, having joined the very last patrol of the night the day prior - and then worked on battle moves even after that. She was determined to earn her warrior name sooner rather than later, especially since Cloudjumper had earned hers moons ago. Her loss against her sister in their little spar had only humiliated her for a moment, then motivated her more; she'd see to it that she became the best warrior her Clan had ever seen, no matter how many late nights it took.

She made a half-hearted attempt to fix her fur before heading toward the Tallrock. Tigerstar had called the meeting, so either something had happened, or he was naming another one of his kits a warrior before their time. Still, she couldn't look like a mess in front of her Clan - she refused to. What if it was her ceremony? Or Moonpaw's, Gorse's, Snake's? Sunpaw finished smoothing her fur down and headed to join the growing crowd.

Sunpaw felt a jolt of excitement as Tigerstar began the ceremony. Ooh, someone was getting their warrior name! The Clan leader had her full, undivided attention now. The naming of a new warrior was always interesting, but at the same time, Sunpaw couldn't help the whirlwind of emotions it stirred up within her. The anger, the resentment - and with it, the shame. She was certain it'd be anyone else's ceremony. Which kit of his is he naming this time? That fluff-brain, Foxpaw? Or maybe that mousebrain Falconpaw...

The last name she'd expected to hear was hers. But it was hers he spoke all the same - her name that left his lips. Sunpaw. This was her warrior ceremony.

She'd waited so long for her warrior ceremony that she'd stopped getting her hopes up. Cloudjumper had earned her name so long ago. She couldn't even remember the last time she'd slept in the same den as her sister. After a while, she'd figured she was doomed to be overlooked all her life. That Cloudjumper would be the golden kit, and Sunpaw would be stuck in the apprentices' den with Moonpaw for the rest of her life. 

At least there wasn't company better than Moonpaw.

At once, she felt his eyes on her pelt, and Sunpaw gathered her thoughts. It wasn't just Tigerstar; everyone was looking at her. The black and gold molly made her way to the front of the crowd, a sudden wave of self-consciousness washing over her. Was she really, finally good enough? She must be. She had worked so hard for this. Finally, she took her place at the base of the Tallrock. The ground here was worn already, from the generations of cats that had stood here before her, awaiting their own names, standing beneath their own leaders. Slowly, Sunpaw felt warmth bloom beneath her pelt like confidence; a sudden power that she deserved this more than anyone, that she belonged here.

She scarcely listened to Tigerstar's words. She already knew what he was saying - it was the same thing he said every time. Did she promise to defend her own Clan, blah, blah, blah. Basically, she thought - do you want to be a warrior? She did, more than anything. Sunpaw took a deep breath, then let her voice ring out across the clearing. "Yes. Yes, I do."