Erin Hunter - Path of Stars

Willow lifted her chin. “We will earn your trust.”

Gray Wing padded forward. “Trust takes time, Wind Runner. But you will never feel it unless you open your heart.” His mew was rasping, hardly more than a whisper.

Thunder searched his gaze and saw weariness there. Anxiety pricked through his pelt. Gray Wing was sicker than he’d ever seen him.

Wind Runner flicked her tail. “Let’s begin the ceremony,” she mewed briskly.

Thunder saw irritation rippling through Moth Flight’s pelt. He understood the young cat’s frustration, but Gray Wing was right. Trust came with time. He glanced toward Violet. Even though he’d felt a deep connection with Violet the moment he’d seen her, Star Flower’s betrayal had taught him to be wary. As she stepped forward with the other rogues, Violet met his gaze, her amber eyes lighting with affection. Thunder nodded to her, swallowing a purr as he slid between Lightning Tail and Leaf.

Warm breath billowed in the air as the cats formed a circle around the rogues. Wind Runner padded to Gorse Fur’s side. Gray Wing nestled between Spotted Fur and Minnow. Clear Sky stood beside Nettle, his gaze fixed on Red.

The russet tom shifted his paws nervously. Thunder noticed Willow glaring at the rogue tom with undisguised contempt.

Juniper and Raven stood, heads high, while Moss and Dawn huddled close to Drizzle and Pine, shielding their kits from the icy wind.

River Ripple stood at the center. He gazed around the rogues as peace fell over the hollow. The breeze dropped, and only the sound of snow crunching beneath paws stirred the chilly air.

“Do you promise loyalty to your new campmates?” River Ripple glanced around the rogues.

“Yes.” Willow was the first to answer. The others murmured their agreement.

Thunder narrowed his eyes, watching Ember. Had the orange tom spoken along with the others?

He pricked his ears as River Ripple went on.

“Will you hunt for them and fight for them? Protect them when they are weak and stand by them when they are strong?”

“Yes!” Raven fluffed out his fur, his gaze flashing toward Tall Shadow.

Drizzle’s mew piped up. “I’m not allowed to hunt yet.” She sounded worried. “Does that mean I can’t be part of the group?”

River Ripple purred, fixing his gaze on the kit. “Will you promise to fight and hunt for us when you’re old enough?”

“Yes!” Drizzle nodded her head eagerly.

“Then you are part of our group.” He lifted his gaze to the stars. “Our ancestors have watched us tonight. They have heard the promise you have made to your new campmates. May you keep it always, for their sake and all of ours.”

Thunder purred loudly. Beside him, Lighting Tail’s eyes shone with satisfaction. Murmurs of approval rippled among the watching cats, while the rogues blinked at one another proudly.

Dawn lifted her tail. “I want to change my name so that I sound more like a forest cat.”

River Ripple blinked at her. “What would you like to be called?”

“Dawn Mist.” The orange-and-white queen puffed out her chest.

“I want to be called Willow Tail!” Willow called.

“Fern Leaf!” Fern’s mew sounded beside her friend.

Clear Sky padded to River Ripple’s side. “Taking a new name is a great idea!” He looked expectantly at Red. “Will you change yours?”

Red purred. “Call me Red Claw from now on.”

Clear Sky dipped his head. “A good name for a fine hunter.”

River Ripple turned to Moss. “Would you like to change your name?”

“Yes.” Moss’s whiskers twitched happily. “I’d like to be known as Moss Tail.”

“And I want to be Pine Needle!” Pine mewed beside his father.

River Ripple glanced expectantly at Drizzle.

She was staring thoughtfully at her paws. As silence fell around her, she lifted her head. “Do I have to change my name?” Worry sparkled in her eyes. “I like being Drizzle.”

River Ripple purred. “You can be Drizzle for as long as you like.”

Drizzle gazed at him gratefully with round, blue eyes. “Thank you.”

Tall Shadow nodded toward Juniper and Raven. “Do you want new names?”

Juniper nodded. “Will you choose them for us?”

Tall Shadow frowned, her eyes clouding with thought.

Sun Shadow blinked at her. “What about Juniper Branch?”

“And Raven Pelt!” Pebble Heart chimed in.

Tall Shadow faced her new campmates. “Do you like those names?”

Juniper purred loudly. “Yes.”

Raven dipped his head. “May I join the first patrol tomorrow?” he asked. “As Raven Pelt ?”

Tall Shadow’s eyes shone. “You can lead it, if you like.” She glanced toward Sun Shadow, Mud

Paws, and Mouse Ear as though searching for approval. As they nodded, Jagged Peak stepped forward. “You can show us new places to hunt.”

Holly whisked her tail. “You said there was a great place to hunt frogs near the Thunderpath.”

Thunder wrinkled his nose. Did the pine cats eat frogs ?

Reed padded forward. “I’ve been a moor cat for many moons, and I think my name should reflect that.”

“Mine too!” Minnow hurried to join him. “I’d like to be Swift Minnow.”

Wind Runner blinked at them in surprise. “But—”

Reed interrupted her. “I know you don’t like change, Wind Runner. But I’d appreciate it if you’d call me Reed Tail from now on.”

“Reed Tail.” Wind Runner echoed the words, her pelt rippling uncomfortably along her spine.

“Okay.”

River Ripple nodded to Thunder. “Are your cats going to take new names?”

Thunder glanced at Violet. “You’ll have to ask them.”

Violet gazed at him warmly, as though there were no other cats in the hollow. “I’d like to be

Violet Dawn,” she mewed huskily.

“Violet Dawn.” Thunder repeated her new name dreamily. “That’s beautiful.”

He jerked from his thoughts as River Ripple turned to Ember. “And what about you? Do you want a new name now that you’re part of Thunder’s group?”

Ember stared at him. “Just because I sleep in the same camp doesn’t mean I want to change who I am.”

Tall Shadow’s tail quivered. “I guess he doesn’t have to change his name,” she meowed cautiously. “Drizzle kept her old name.”

River Ripple ignored her. His gaze was fixed on Ember. “Are you part of Thunder’s group or not?” he asked softly but firmly.

Ember eyed him challengingly. “Thunder lets me sleep in his camp. Does that mean I have to act like we’re kin?”

Thunder shivered. Ember sounded hostile. Was it safe to let him stay in the ravine?

River Ripple hadn’t moved. “You’ve just promised to hunt for your campmates and protect them when they are weak and stand beside them when they are strong. Isn’t that a little like being kin?”

Ember snorted. “Slash never expected anything of us. Our lives were our own.”

Anger surged beneath Thunder’s pelt. He darted forward and faced the orange rogue. “Your lives were never your own with Slash. You had to obey every word he said!”

A vicious snarl sounded from the high rock.

Thunder spun, his eyes widening as he saw the thin, muscly outline of Slash. The rogue was glaring down at them, lit by moonlight at the top of the boulder. Thunder’s fur lifted along his spine.

Had the rogue come here to fight?

“No one ever had to obey me,” Slash hissed. “They could have left if they wanted.”

“That’s not true.” Fern limped forward and glared at Slash. “You said you’d hurt Beech if I didn’t come back.”

“So?” Slash curled his lip. “Beech died anyway.” As he spoke, Bee padded from behind Slash.