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Iceswipe's gaze settled on the smaller of Goldenflower's kits, Tawnykit. Despite her diminutive size, Tawnykit possessed the makings of a formidable fighter. The mischievous, intelligent glint in her green eyes uncannily mirrored her father's cunning and determination, leaving Iceswipe feeling uneasy.
Logically, Iceswipe should have felt equally wary of Bramblekit, who shared their father's muscular build, dark pelt, and amber eyes. Yet Bramblekit seemed far more calm and compassionate, taking after their mother. Iceswipe knew it was unfair to blame Tawnykit for her father's misdeeds.
Suddenly, a shrill squeal pierced the air. Tawnykit had pounced on the smaller dark gray tabby kit, Mistlekit, pinning her to the ground. The helpless Mistlekit lay motionless, feigning death.
Iceswipe rushed forward without hesitation, barreling into Tawnykit and knocking her off her playmate-turned-victim. “Enough!” he hissed, his ice-blue eyes blazing. “What do you think you're doing?”
The tortoiseshell-and-white kit picked herself up; her green eyes narrowed with a mix of shock and indignation. “It's nothing, Iceswipe. We were just playing,” she mumbled, rubbing a paw over her ear.
“‘Just playing’?” Iceswipe demanded, his voice sharp. “Then why was Speckletail's kit crying out as if she were attacked by a rogue?”
Tawnykit shrugged nonchalantly. “How should I know? She can't play properly anyway.”
Goldenflower approached, her expression displeased. “Tawnykit!” she scolded. “If someone squeals, you must let them go. How many times do I have to tell you that? And don't be rude to Iceswipe—he's the deputy, remember.”
Tawnykit's gaze flicked towards Iceswipe and then away again. “I'm sorry,” she mumbled, lowering her head slightly.
“Make sure it doesn’t happen again,” Iceswipe snapped, eyes narrowing slightly.
Tawnykit walked past him to where Mistlekit was. She was with her mother Speckletail, who gave her daughter a once over, making sure she was not hurt. “Come on, you can get up. You're not hurt.”
“Yeah, come on, Mistlekit,” Tawnykit mewed, bumping her nose softly to the other kit’s ear. “I didn’t mean it. Let’s play, and this time you can be Thunderclan’s leader and I can be Shadowclan’s.”
Tawnykit’s brother, Bramblekit, sat nearby, his tail curled neatly over his paws. “She's no fun. She never has any fun games,” he grumbled.
“Bramblekit! Don't be nasty!” Goldenflower chided, cuffing him lightly over the ear. “I don't know what's gotten into you both, but you better be nicer to your Clanmates.”
Iceswipe turned away, not wanting to be embroiled in the family's private matters. But he couldn't shake the feeling of dread that Tawnykit's glare had instilled in him. He'd have to keep a close eye on her—for the sake of the entire Clan.
Icestar took a deep breath, the scent of the forest filling his nostrils. Yet he also detected another smell: a mouse! This was exactly what he had been searching for.
Swiftly, he dropped into a hunter's crouch and stalked forward, his ice-blue eyes focused solely on his prey. Just as he was about to pounce, a rustling in the leaves caught his attention. From the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a lightning-fast orange movement. Icestar leaped forward, ready to scold whoever had stolen his catch, when he came face-to-face with Tawnypaw. After a moment of shock, he regained his composure enough to speak. “What are you doing here?”
"I followed you from camp, Icestar," Tawnypaw replied, dropping the mouse at her paws. “I...I saw you leave camp, and I was wondering where you went, and I wanted to practice my hunting and tracking skills.”
“Well, they seem good enough, if you got this far.” Icestar wasn't sure whether he was angry with his apprentice or not. Tawnypaw shouldn't have followed him without permission, but it was impressive that she had tracked him all the way from the camp.
Meeting Tawnypaw's eyes, Icestar saw the young cat's nervousness fading, replaced by a steady gaze, as if she were weighing her mentor up. It was a long, intelligent look, and Icestar realized that he could see respect in the green depths. He was aware yet again of his certainty that Tawnypaw could be an outstanding warrior, if only she could escape her father's dark heritage. But would Tawnypaw ever be truly loyal to her birth Clan, with her father still in the forest?
“Do you not trust me?” Tawnypaw blurted out suddenly.
Bristling, Icestar initially had no intention of justifying himself to his apprentice; it was not Tawnypaw's place to question the actions of her mentor, who also happened to be the Clan leader. But in spite of the guilt Tawnypaw's question had provoked, Icestar couldn't help admiring the spirit that had dared to ask.
He took a deep breath. “I trust you,” he promised solemnly. “I chose to have you as an apprentice, and I wouldn't have done that if I didn't trust you.”
Tawnypaw gave a little nod, seemingly satisfied with her mentor's answer. “I know what it's like to have loyalties questioned,” she meowed. “I...I've heard that you only accepted me as your apprentice to keep an eye on me. To...make sure I don't end up like my father.”
Icestar felt another pang of guilt, even though he knew he was not the only one who had doubts about Tawnypaw's loyalty. “Did the other apprentices tell you this?” he asked.
Tawnypaw's response was tinged with sadness. “Yes. But I know some of the warriors don't like me and Bramblepaw because Tigerstar is our father. They say we're going to betray ThunderClan, just as he did. Do you think they're right? Do you think we'll betray ThunderClan? Smallear said that traitors get banished—are you going to banish us?”
Icestar was ashamed at hearing her words. He realized how much he and the young apprentice had in common—constantly having to prove their loyalties, defending themselves against doubts from their Clanmates. “No, I'd never banish you or your brother. You don't have to worry about that,” he said gently, wrapping his tail around the sobbing apprentice.
“I know where my loyalties lie,” Tawnypaw continued, her voice full of conviction despite the tears. “I'll prove that to the Clan...and to you.”
Icestar realized he trusted Tawnypaw. “What about Bramblepaw?” he asked. “Does he fear being banished?”
Tawnypaw looked hesitant, a troubled expression in her green eyes. “Bramblepaw does worry about it because he can be difficult at times—but that's just how he is. He's loyal at heart.”
Icestar nodded. “I know he is.” He noticed Tawnypaw wasn't entirely comfortable discussing her brother with the Clan leader. Icestar would need to keep a closer eye on Bramblepaw and ensure he had the support to become a reliable ThunderClan warrior. A word with his mentor, Brackenfur, would be wise.
“I need to finish hunting before dark. Would you like to join me?” Icestar added, smiling at Tawnypaw.
Tawnypaw's eyes lit up, her previous distress seemingly forgotten. “Can I?”
“Of course.” Icestar mewed. “We can do some training on the way.”
“Great!” Tawnypaw meowed enthusiastically, padding close to her mentor's side.
As they hunted, Tawnypaw became determined to catch a bird. Spotting a blue jay soaring high, she leaped up towards it, claws outstretched. But the bird was too high, and her attempts to reach it turned into a playful game.
Icestar watched with a rush of affection. It was good to see the young cat playing like a kit again. Surely Tigerstar had never chased blue jays just for the joy of it? Or if he had, when had he lost that joy and begun to care only for his own power and strength?
There was no answer to that question. For both Icestar and Tigerstar, there was no going back—their paws were firmly on the paths StarClan had decided. Sooner or later, the two leaders must meet to decide who should remain in the forest.
With a smile, Icestar continued to watch Tawnypaw, making no attempts to stop her playful antics.
“I, Icestar, 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.”
Glancing down at his apprentice, Icestar asked, “Tawnypaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?”
Tawnypaw's eyes shone with pride as she responded, “I do.”
“Then, by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Tawnypaw, from this moment you will be known—“
“Wait!” Tawnypaw interrupted, her voice respectful but firm. “I mean no disrespect, Icestar, but I would like to choose my own warrior name. If it's alright, I wish to be known as Tawnyswipe—after you—because you were such an amazing mentor. I want to carry your name with pride, as you did.”
Icestar paused briefly, then dipped his head. “A noble request,” he said. “Very well. Tawnypaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Tawnyswipe. StarClan honors your courage and loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan.”
The cats of ThunderClan began to chant her new name. “Tawnyswipe! Tawnyswipe!”
Icestar beamed with pride as he rested his tail over Tawnyswipe's spine. “Well done, I'm so proud of you.”
“Thank you for trusting me,” Tawnyswipe replied, a grateful smile directed at her former mentor. Shifting her gaze to her brother, Brambleflower, she finally exhaled a breath of relief.
The siblings had both become full warriors of ThunderClan. They had proven their worth and would show everyone that their loyalty to the Clan had never wavered. No one would dare question their allegiance again.
“It is over,” Icestar whispered in Tawnystar's ear. “You have done well.” He then raised his voice, announcing, “Welcome, Tawnystar!”
Tawnystar's new name echoed through the hollow, carried aloft by the cheers of every cat that watched.
“Tawnystar! Tawnystar!”
Tawnystar stood tall, dipping her head to the gathered cats—her mother Goldenflower, her former leader Bluestar, her clanmates and friends Mousefur, Lionheart, Ferncloud, Cinderpelt, Feathertail, and Ravenpaw. And there was Icestar, her leader and mentor, the best she could have ever had.
“Thank you all,” she meowed. “I will do my best to live each of these lives according to the gifts you have made. Icestar, your Clan will never forget you.” She held the ice-blue gaze of her mentor. “And if I can be half the leader you were, I will be proud.”
Icestar nodded. “Go well, Tawnystar,” he ordered. “I will be with you always.”