The ShadowClan camp was bustling with activity. Blacktail, Rainpaw's mother, groomed Rainpaw vigorously, and Rainpaw kept complaining in protest. Nearby, Stormpaw's face shone with pride, and he milled about anxiously. Adderflight and Ravenfoot sat outside the elders' den, complaining as usual while Cloudshade looked them over with moss drenched with mouse bile in her jaws. Nightstorm shared tongues with Swiftclaw outside the nursery, her stomach bulging with kits not far off. The Clan stopped as Maplestar leapt onto the Highrock and yowled, "let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting!"
As the Clan gathered, Rainpaw looked ready to burst with excitement. Nearby, Stormpaw, Blacktail, and Brackenwing's faces shone with pride. Silverpaw's eyes darkened, and she stalked into the apprentice's den, muttering angrily with her fur bristling slightly.
"I, Maplestar, leader of ShadowClan, 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. Rainpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect this Clan, even with your life?"
"I do," Rainpaw promised.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Rainpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Rainshadow. StarClan honors your loyalty and honesty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan." Maplestar rested her muzzle on Rainshadow's head, and Rainshadow gave her leader's shoulder a respectful lick.
"Rainshadow! Rainshadow!" The Clan yowled.
"By the law of the warrior code, Rainshadow will sit a silent vigil to guard the camp tonight," Maplestar meowed. "In addition," she added, "there is one more ceremony we need to do."
The aging deputy, Sandfeather, stepped forward.
"Sandfeather, is it your wish to give up the name of a warrior and join the elders?" Maplestar meowed.
Sandfeather's voice quavered as she replied, "it is."
"Your Clan honors you and all the service you have given us. You have been a great, loyal deputy for many moons, and I call upon StarClan to give you many moons of rest in the elder's den." Maplestar dipped her head to her friend.
"Sandfeather! Sandfeather!" The Clan called.
