[glow=red,2,300]Chapter 20[/glow]
Five moons... five long moons of being trapped in WindClan. Brookpaw opened her bloodshot eyes and gently got up, careful not to wake Eagleflight. She looked out at the small opening to the clear stars. It was a moon into newleaf, so prey was more plentiful. However, even though her belly was comfortably full, her heart was filled with ache. She couldn’t spend much longer away from her home. The only thing keeping her sane was Eagleflight. He was so kind to her, and always understood her. If he weren’t here, she may as well just die right there. What was there to live for, if not for her clan?
She started grooming her fur and felt another pelt rub against hers. She looked up and saw the gentle eyes of Eagleflight. He smiled. “Up a little late, are we?”
She purred. “I couldn’t sleep.” She frowned again. “I’m sick of being stuck in here. You have no idea what it’s like to see the wide open sky for five moons.”
“I know,” he said soothingly, licking her cheek. “I spoke with most cats in the clan, and we think it’s time.”
She looked up in surprise. “Really?”
He nodded. “Onestar doesn’t do much anymore. He just sits around. The real threat is the dogs. We have to make sure he’s dead before he could order the dogs to attack.”
“What about the deputy?”
Eagleflight sighed sadly. “Our deputy died yesterday. Onestar refuses to appoint another.”
Brookpaw’s eyes widened. “How?”
“She drowned. Somehow she fell into the lake while hunting and she couldn’t swim.” He looked away. “She was going to help us, too.”
Brookpaw sighed. “She’s in StarClan now.”
Eagleflight nodded and straightened up. “We are attacking when the light fades. Frostbite and I are going to sneak up on him, and the rest of the warriors are going to keep his supporters away. But I want you to stay away from the fighting.”
“What?” she snapped. “Why? I want to fight! I’m not some young kit, you know!”
His eyes flashed. “Just stay away!”
She hissed. “Why? Do you think I’m useless? Just because I’ve been cooped up in here doesn’t mean I can’t fight!”
Eagleflight hissed back. “I never said that! I just need you to stay safe!”
Brookpaw snarled. “Why? Tell me why!” She fluffed out her tail. “Tell me!”
Eagleflight’s eyes filled with fury. “Do you think I think you are useless? I have never thought of you that way! Ever since I met you I knew you were far from that! You are one of the strongest cats I’ve ever met!” Brookpaw tried to cut in but Eagleflight rounded up on her. “Maybe I want you to stay away because...because...”
“Because what?” She snarled.
“Because I love you!” he spat.
Brookpaw froze in place, her anger melting away. Did he just say what she thought she heard? She looked at him, and saw his anger fade as well, and he hung his head. “I...”
Brookpaw slapped her tail over his mouth to stop him. “You don’t need to say anything more. Your eyes say it all.” Emotion filling her heart, she pressed her fur against his, feeling something she never had before. She could have stood there forever, in that perfect moment in time. But suddenly Frostbite ran in. She immediately broke in, and Eagleflight jumped.
“It’s time,” he mewed. Eagleflight nodded, and looked at her, eyes filled with sorrow. “Brookpaw-“
“Go,” she mewed in understanding. “Your clan needs you.”
He shook his head. “WindClan needs me. I am not one of them.” He looked at his brother, and they both ran out. Brookpaw was left standing there, until Eagleflight’s lingering scent faded.
Suddenly he heard a yowl, and without thinking, she darted out to see what was happening.
There were WindClan against WindClan, and Eagleflight and Frostbite with Onestar. To her horror Frostbite was laying on the ground, the life bleeding out of him. Onestar had Eagleflight pinned down.
“You useless lump of crowfood!” he hissed menacingly. “I don’t need the dogs to kill you.” Onestar lunged for his throat.
“No!” Brookpaw yowled, and leaped. She barreled Onestar off of him and slashed his face with her razor sharp claws. “Never keep a cat locked up for long. They become smarter!” Without thinking she slashed her claws out. A gush of blood followed, and Onestar’s eyes rolled into the back of his head. He dropped to the ground, dead.
“Onestar! He’s dead!” A gray warrior called out in horror. All of the WindClan cats froze, and some screeched. Some shapes yowled and fled the camp, leaving their former clanmates behind. The huge pack of dogs, behind Onestar’s den, barked and whimpered and finally ran off.
Brookpaw leaped off of Onestar’s body and ran towards Eagleflight. He had some scratches, but other than that was okay. “You did it!” he cried, covering her face with licks. “You saved WindClan, and all of the clans.”
She blushed. “I just did what I thought what was right.” She looked around and saw that Frostbite had not gotten up. “No...”
She dashed over to his side, but it was too late. The warrior was already gone. She felt Eagleflight next to her, and she heard a small cry come from his throat. He bent next to his brother and pressed his nose into the cold white fur.
Brookpaw looked around. All of WindClan was looked at her, battered and frightened. A white she-cat emerged from the cats and padded up to her. “WindClan can’t thank you enough,” she mewed, dipping her head. Brookpaw shuffled her paws and dipped her head as well. “I did nothing more than all of you,” she meowed.
She nodded. “You must want to go home. And of course you can. The thanks of all of the clans go with you.”
Brookpaw looked at Eagleflight. He had gotten up and was padding over to her. “Whitetail, I have to tell you something... I’m going with Brookpaw.”
She widened her eyes. “But... but why? The dogs have fled, and WindClan will be just as it once was. Please don’t go.”
He looked at his paws. “I’m sorry... I just can’t stay here any longer.”
Whitetail sighed sadly. “Then may StarClan light your paths, both of you. I’ll miss you.” She dipped her head, and backed away into the crowd.
Brookpaw and Eagleflight looked at them, then at each other, and finally, padded out of the camp. Neither took one look back at the place where so much pain had been made. And yet, one amazing thing had occurred in the dark pain. Maybe in every place of pain, something good came out of it nonetheless.
Smokepaw looked around. A gathering had just been called, and every cat in the clan had gathered for what Rockstar had to say. But Smokepaw knew, and his littermates knew what was happening. After six moons of training, they were becoming warriors at last.
As the final cats gathered, Smokepaw found his thoughts drifting to the dark cat whom he had been meeting with for three moons now. Tigerstar had been mentoring him and teaching him how to fight. Smokepaw knew it wasn’t right, but one night Smokepaw had refused to train with him, and Tigerstar attacked him. When he woke up, he was covered in wounds. He knew he had to listen or he would be punished.
But that was the least of his troubles. Tigerstar had been showing him dreadful visions of the future. He didn’t know what they were about, and Tigerstar won’t tell him. And none of them had been clear. Smokepaw was terrified himself of what they were, and did his best not to think about it anymore.
Last of all, he thought of his absent sister, Brookpaw. She had been gone for five moons now, and most cats think she’s dead. Rockstar refuses to believe it, but every day, hope got smaller and smaller. Smokepaw himself was close to giving up hope.
He was jolted back to the present by his father’s voice. He smirked at his congratulating smile aimed at him. He knew that Rockstar didn’t care; he didn’t have to fake it.
“It is time for Smokepaw, Wavepaw, Shinepaw, Rainpaw, Wildpaw and Bramblepaw to become warriors. All of you please step forward.”
Despite his annoyance, excitement coursed through him. Warriors at last! Rockstar smiled in pride. But first his eyes grew serious.
“As we all know, Brookpaw should be up here getting her warrior name with her littermates. Let’s just hope that she finds her way home soon.” He paused for a minute, closing his eyes. He smiled in pride. “Bramblepaw,”
The tabby she-cat stepped forward, her eyes glowing. “From this moment, you will be known as Bramblestorm. StarClan honors your kindness, and we welcome you as a full warrior of SkyClan.” In tradition, he laid his muzzle on her head and she licked his shoulder in respect.
Once she had stepped aside Wavepaw looked at his father, with the same wise gaze. “Wavepaw, from this moment you will be known as Wavemoon. StarClan honors your devotion, and we welcome you as a full warrior of SkyClan.” He did the same, and Shinepaw stepped forward. Smokepaw was next.
“Shinepaw, from this moment you will be known as Shinespirit. StarClan honors your enthusiasm, and we welcome you as a full warrior of SkyClan.” Shinespirit purred and did what Wavemoon and Bramblestorm had done before. Smokepaw stepped forward, pride filling his heart.
“Smokepaw,” Rockstar mewed. “From this moment you will be known as Smokeshadow. StarClan honors your bravery, and we welcome you as a full warrior of SkyClan.” Smokeshadow felt his father rest his muzzle on his head, and he in turn licked his shoulder. Then he moved over to where his littermates were. They were all grinning with pride. Rainpaw’s turn.
“Rainpaw, from this moment you will be known as Rainfrost. StarClan honors your courage, and we welcome you as a full warrior of SkyClan.” When Rainfrost had gone though the tradition, Wildpaw stepped forward.
“Wildpaw-“
Suddenly there was a yowl at the entrance, and Smokeshadow felt his heart nearly stop. There stood Brookpaw, his sister who had been taken by WindClan. She had finally returned home. Yowls of pure joy filled the air, and all of her littermates ran over to her, including him. Happiness filled his heart as he pressed his fur against hers. Finally she was where she should be.
“You’re home!” Rockstar cried, and ran down from the rock to meet her. He immediately started licking her fur lovingly, and his throat filled will a throbbing purr. But it soon turned into a growl as another scent entered his nose. WindClan cat! He whipped around to see a black and tan tom standing there. Smokeshadow prepared to pounce when Brookpaw intervened. “It’s alright!” she mewed. “He’s with me.”
“Why did you bring a WindClan cat here?” he growled uneasily. She looked at him. “This is Eagleflight. And yes, he was WindClan, but not anymore. He helped me escape, and saved WindClan, and all of the clans.”
Eagleflight shook his head. “Not as much as Brookpaw did. She saved my life.” He paused for a moment, and took a deep breath. “Do you all remember that advantage Onestar said he had? Well, it was a giant pack of wild dogs had he somehow taught to obey his every command. Brookpaw and I came up with a plan long ago to throw him over. But it would take awhile, as it did. Tonight, we attacked Onestar. But...” He paused, seeing a tear run down his face. Brookpaw pressed her fur against him comfortingly. He looked up again. “But he killed my brother, Frostbite, and nearly killed me. But Brookpaw threw him off of me and killed him. The warriors supporting him fled as well as the dogs. If Brookpaw had done nothing, the wild dogs would be at Onestar’s command, and all of the clans would have been destroyed.”
Rockstar stared at him for several long heartbeats, and then finally asked, “Why did you leave your clan then?”
He looked Rockstar directly in the eyes and mewed. “I never felt like a WindClan cat, and I wanted to start over. Brookpaw told me that this was a good place to do so.” Rockstar looked at his daughter, and then back at the warrior. Finally he dipped his head. “Then you are welcome to stay here, Eagleflight. Welcome to SkyClan.”
Eagleflight smiled and dipped his head. “Thank you, Rockstar.” He pressed himself against Brookpaw, and they twined tails.
Smokeshadow felt wariness rise up, but then it melted. His sister was home, and that was all that mattered.
Rockstar smiled and leaped up back into the tree, followed by Wildpaw, Brookpaw, and Eagleflight. He turned to Wildpaw and continued. “Well, we were just naming warriors, and I know that you are ready as well, Brookpaw. Wildpaw, from this moment you will be known as Wildheart. StarClan honors your devotion, and we welcome you as a full warrior of SkyClan.” Wildheart followed the tradition and finally Rockstar turned to Brookpaw.
“Brookpaw, from this moment you will be known as Brookfeather. StarClan honors your compassion, and we welcome you as a full warrior of SkyClan.” Both bursting with happiness, Brookfeather jumped down.
“Eagleflight, your bravery and devotion to Brookfeather and WindClan prove you worthy of SkyClan. Welcome.”
Eagleflight smiled and jumped down next to Brookfeather. As the clan chanted out there names, Smokeshadow felt a pelt brush against his, and heard the menacing voice of Tigerstar whisper in his ears. “Tonight, you learn the truth.”
TADA THE FINALE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Next book comin soon!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D