리틀팍스

 "So, this cat is from LittleClan, huh?" Ashstar was still staring at Stoneleaf even after Redheart explained all about LittleClan and their encounter with the Clan. Well, as the matter of fact, every single cats from AirClan, WoodClan and DarkClan were. Mudpaw was dying to see his keens and friends and Shinepelt's kits, but he didn't dare go bounding toward the nursery in this situation. 

 Ashstar finally seemed to realize what was going on, so she shook her head and looked around Redheart, Sniffnose, Leafpaw, Riverpaw and Mudpaw with pride and delight gleaming in her amber eyes.

 "Now, everyone, we have a very important event for this Clan- WoodClan." Ashstar added hastily, because cats of AirClan and DarkClan were listening intently on her words. Mudpaw's paws trickled; Was she about to do what he thought she would do?

 "Let every cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Woodrock for a Clan meeting." Mudpaw's whiskers twitched and his head whirled as the ancient words rang out in the clearing. This was the last moment he would be ever called by the name Mudpaw. Joy and pride swooped his body down as WoodClan's cats rounded up beneath the Woodrock. Ashstar eyed Mudpaw, Leafpaw, Riverpaw, Jumpypaw and Snowpaw, beckoning them to stand side by side. 

 When they were ready, Ashstar started to make the older apprentices warriors: Riverstream, Jumpytail, and Snowruffle stood proudly a little away from Mudpaw and Leafpaw.

 "...from this moment, you will be known as Leafbranch. StarClan honors your confidence and your loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Woodclan." Leafbranch respectfully licked Ashstar's shoulder and stepped back, leaving Mudpaw alone.

 "Shinepelt, Cloudpelt," Ashstar turned toward the two warriors. "Did your apprentice learn all he should as an apprentice?" The two nodded approvingly. Then, Ashstar turned toward Redheart, who looked surprised when she did. "I ask this question to you, Redheart, because you have seen Mudpaw journeying and therefore seen how he grew up for that time. Is Mudpaw ready to become a warrior?" Redheart purred, "As ready as anyone could be, Ashstar."

 "Then, Mudpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your lives?" "I do." "Then by the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior name: Mudpaw, from this moment, you'll be known as Mudshade. StarClan honors your loyalty and your caring for others, and we welcome you as a full warrior of WoodClan."

 Cheers and yowls erupted from the croud -Mudpaw thought, possibly from AirClan and DarkClan too- as Mudshade licked Ashstar's shoulder. He felt extremely proud and delighted, too much to express in words.

 After a while, cats joined the new warriors, congratulating and asking about their journey(and LittleClan, of course).

 But Mudshade was padding toward the nursery, dying to see Shinepelt's kits. 

 Milky smell drifted toward his nostrils as he pushed the brambles of the nursery entrance, but he soon saw that Shinepelt and Sniffnose were together with their kits between them. Mudshade paused, but Shinepelt smiled and let him in.

 "Come in, we were about to name the last two kits." She meowed. "This is Sycamorekit -she prodded a brown tom with black ears with her tail- and this is Shinekit -she did the same with a she-cat that looked exactly like her: shiny white coat with brown-tipped tail-, I wanted to name her like that, and I hope you don't mind." Sniffnose, however, looked thoughtful as he stared at the third kit he was supposed to name. It was a very beautiful she-cat, with extremely bushy blue-black furs, golden left eye and light green right eye. 

 "I think we should name her Ripplekit." He finally declared, then looking at the last black-and-white tom, he purred, "And this little kit will be called Jetkit." 

 "Great names." Shinepelt agreed, moving a little to make more space for the kits, because they started scuffling witn each other. Watching the pleasant scene, Mudshade quitely got out of the nursery and went toward a crowd of cats, with Stoneleaf at the center. 

 "...we are alone, with no other Clans. There are loads of cats! Me and Leafspark was made apprentices right before I started off toward here. My mentor was Lionclaw, the deputy. Yeah, Cinderstar's warrir name was Cinderblaze, and Stripestar was the leader, but..." She reeled off telling everyone about the life in LittleClan. It sounded nice indeed, and Mudshade's ex-pression darkened as he wondered miserably when peace would come to their own forest. 

 Just then, Ashstar's voice rang out from the Woodrock. 

 "Cats of WoodClan, AirClan and DarkClan!" She yowled, with star beside her. "We are planning to attack FireClan and rescue the cats a week later- now we have two warriors back and five new warriors to stand with us. And one warrior to help us."

_Stoneleaf(yippe! I'm gonna fight FireClan too!)