Choice - warrior cats fanfic

Chapter Eight

Two sunrises had passed since the fray at the border, and Acornpaw found it impossible to have a normal conversation without someone mentioning the impending battle on the horizon.

Although Lakestar had not announced anything directly to the clan about the battle ahead, she'd seen the leader speaking quietly with Goldpelt, Chasingfur, Shrikestripe, and Chaffinchflare, her closest advisors, on multiple instances.

"Acornpaw."

Beetlepelt was padding over to her, causing her to snap out of her thoughts.

"We're going on a border patrol later. Goldpelt wants us to stay in camp because Lakestar will be making an announcement soon and wants the entire clan here."

Acornpaw's ears pricked.

"It must be important," she mewed, glancing curiously at Shade Rock.

She noticed there was a small hint of excitement in Beetlepelt's gaze.

"Runningpaw will be made a warrior today," Beetlepelt said, his tail twitching excitedly.

She was startled by the eagerness lighting his gaze. It was strange to hear her mentor talk with so much enthusiasm. He always seemed to have a...flat and almost sharp tone of voice. She would sometimes wonder if the very thought of being a mentor bored him so deeply that he couldn't even bring his voice to sound cheerful.

Maybe whatever arguments that have been going on between him and Runningpaw caused him to sound so distant all of the time. And maybe, those arguments have finally cleared up, she offered herself.

Acornpaw gazed around the clearing, surprised by the number of cats present in the camp. Normally, there would be several patrols out.

"All cats old enough to catch their own prey join me beneath Shade Rock for a clan meeting!"

Lakestar's yowl caused her to jump in surprise. She shook her ears before racing over to where Cherrypaw was seated, her golden-brown ears pricked eagerly.

"Maybe it's about the battle!" Cherrypaw whispered in her ear as she settled down.

"Beetlepelt told me it's Runningpaw's warrior ceremony," she mewed quietly.

"Oh." Cherrypaw's whiskers drooped a little.

Finally, the last cats gathered, which included Strawpaw, who quickly sat down on Acornpaw's opposite flank.

"Cherrypaw is such an annoying furball," Strawpaw grumbled in her ear.

She glanced from Strawpaw to Cherypaw. That was when she noticed that each of their pelts' was bristling slightly.

"What happened?" She whispered.

"I'll tell you after," he mewed, glancing up as Lakestar began to speak.

"By the day, ThunderClan has been growing more hostile!" Lakestar's voice rose in anger. "They have pushed their limits at our border! They waltz into our territory and attack innocent warriors. I mean, what can you expect from a band of squirrel cats that live in a bunch of brambles?"

Several yowls of anger met her words. Lakestar waited for them to die down before continuing on.

"This is why we need more warriors! And today, I'll give you one."

Lakestar nodded down to Runningpaw.

His sage-green eyes were sharp and clear, while his long ginger pelt flowed around him like a cloud. His chin was lifted proudly, and his fluffy tail stuck up directly in the air.

"Runningpaw, please step forward."

As he stepped closer to the Shade Rock, Lakestar began the ceremonial words.