Chapter 2

Swirlpaw paused at the edge of the Moonpool hollow to take a breath. Her sister stopped beside her. “I’m nervous,” Curlflower confessed. “What if StarClan doesn’t accept me?”

“They have to,” Swirlpaw replied, even though she shared her nervousness. What if StarClan doesn’t accept her? What if Spiralpaw’s vision wasn’t real after all?

“Come on, Curlflower!” Berrypelt called as he slipped into the bushes that surrounded the hollow. “Let’s go! StarClan is waiting for you!”

Swirlpaw wished she had some of the dark ginger tabby’s enthusiasm. She slipped into the bushes after him with Curlflower. Even though she had seen the Moonpool before, the sight still took her breath away, even in daylight. The surface of the pool still shimmered in the light, and the sound waterfall nearly washed all her worries away.

Berrypelt, Spiralpaw, and Crystalpaw were already waiting at the edge of the pool. Swirlpaw scrambled down the spiral path with her sister and halted beside the others. “What are we going to do?” she wondered. “There’s no medicine cat, so we probably can’t see the ceremony with Curlflower.”

“I’ll just touch my nose to the water and sleep,” Curlflower decided. “You don’t have to do anything.” She leaned toward the water and pressed her nose against it.

Swirlpaw watched as the gray-and-white she-cat slept, keeping an eye on the rise and fall of her sister’s chest. What happens during a nine-lives ceremony? she wondered. What happens if StarClan doesn’t accept her?

“Swirlpaw, remember we have to guard,” Spiralpaw meowed.

“Oh, yes,” Swirlpaw murmured, glancing at the rushing water. “I don’t think any cat can come in through the waterfall, but I’ll keep an eye on it, just in case.”

“I’ll watch Curlflower,” Spiralpaw murmured. “Crystalpaw and Berrypelt can watch the entrance.”

It seemed like moons had passed until Curlflower blinked open her eyes and stood up again. Swirlpaw tore her gaze away from the waterfall and licked her sister’s ears. “Did you get your nine lives?” she asked excitedly.

Curlflower’s eyes shone as she replied, “I did.”

There was a brief moment of complete silence, and then Swirlpaw started cheering her name. “Curlstar!” Spiralpaw, Berrypelt, and Crystalpaw joined in.

Curlstar flicked her tail. “This is all very well, but let’s first get back to camp to share the news.”

 

“You’re actually Curlstar now?” Lilyflame asked again.

“Yes,” Curlstar insisted. “You don’t have to keep asking!”

Swirlpaw wrapped her tail around her paws as she listened to the conversation, feeling at peace. She twitched her ears as her mentor, Berryleaf, padded over to her, barely stopping herself from groaning, More training?

“Swirlpaw, I think you’re ready for your assessment,” the black-and-white she-cat meowed.

Swirlpaw leaped to her paws, excitement fizzing beneath her pelt. I’m finally going to be a warrior! “That’s great!” she mewed. “Are we doing it now?”

“Sure,” Berryleaf purred, “even though it’s not dawn. Go into the forest and catch as much prey as you can. I’ll be watching you. We’ll go until afternoon, shall we?”

“Okay,” Swirlpaw agreed, and padded eagerly out of camp.

Once out in the forest, she padded toward the Ancient Oak. I’ll try for squirrels first. She opened her mouth to taste the air and scented one, then spotted the creature near a tree root. Swirlpaw dropped into a hunting crouch, setting her paws down lightly on the ground as she crept toward the squirrel. She pounced and killed it with a bite.

“Thank you, StarClan, for this prey,” she mewed aloud as she started to dig a hole to keep her catch in.

After sunhigh, Swirlpaw padded back to camp with two squirrels and two voles in her jaws. She bounded over to the fresh-kill pile and dropped them. Berryleaf emerged into camp after her, her green eyes sparkling. “That was great, Swirlpaw!” she meowed. “I’ll tell Curlstar about it.”

Swirlpaw was positively sure that the Clan leader would make her a warrior, since she was her sister. Well, there’s one thing good about Curlstar being leader! She glanced up and realized the gray-and-white she-cat had emerged from her den and was making her way up to the Highledge.

“Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath Highledge for a Clan meeting!”

Swirlpaw joined her Clanmates as they began filing out of their dens and coming together again. But this time it’s for my ceremony! she thought eagerly.

Once all the cats were assembled, Curlstar meowed, “Berryleaf, has your apprentice learned the skills of the warrior? Do they understand the importance of the warrior code?”

Berryleaf blinked proudly as she replied, “She has.”

Curlstar beckoned Swirlpaw forward with her tail. “Then I, Curlstar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice.” The new leader’s yellow eyes shone with love and pride. “She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn.”

“Swirlpaw,” Curlstar went on, “do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan even at the cost of your life?”

“I do,” Swirlpaw replied sincerely. It’s really happening.

“Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior name. Swirlpaw, from this moment you will be known as Swirlstem. StarClan honors your loyalty and compassion, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan!” Curlstar rested her muzzle on Swirlstem’s head, and she licked her sister’s shoulder in return.

“Swirlstem! Swirlstem!”

As the Clan cheered her new name, Swirlstem couldn’t help realizing that this ceremony was somewhat similar to the ceremony StarClan had used when she and her friends had gotten their gifts from the Crystal Sun.

Curlstar padded over to Swirlstem as the Clan broke apart. “Congratulations,” she purred, rubbing her muzzle against hers. “I’m so proud of you.”

“Thanks,” Swirlstem murmured, licking Curlstar’s ears affectionately. “I like my new name. It’s unique.”

Curlstar purred even louder. “Well, now you just have to sit vigil.”