Spottedstar sat near the river. She enjoyed the peace that it had to offer. She was very old and she knew Starclan would be coming for her very soon. It was only a matter of time. Spottedstar was calm in the matter of dying. She had lived a long life and felt like she deserved to be at rest. She had seen many battles, and grieved over too many cats. Perhaps that was why she was so calm. She knew she would be reunited with her loved ones. She continued to stare at the river, Oh how so much has gone by in a single lifetime, she thought. Her blue and spotted gray fur blew with the gentle breeze. She knew that she was not needed that much in the clan as of right now. Her new deputy would control the clan in a commanding yet fair manner. She sighed at the memory. It was only two moons ago when she appointed Whitefeather as deputy. Her previous deputy - Mudpool - had retired to the elders den when his brother, Toadsplash, died in a Thunderclan battle. No cat murdered Toadsplash; he was just too old to heal properly from his wounds. His death made Mudpool realize that he was too old to be deputy. His reason is justified. Mudpool is older than me and with every passing day I feel closer to Starclan, perhaps Mudpool feels the same...

-SNAP- The breaking of a twig broke Spottedstar's peace. The spotted blue leader rounded on a juniper berry push, her claws extended. Even for her age she was a threat to any and all intruders.

"Come on out!" She growled, her tail lashing from side to side. She smelled the air catching a scent; she relaxed a bit.

"I can smell! Show your selves already!"

By the smell of it, these intruders were just kits. Considering their scent that carried a twoleg smell, she believed them to be kittypets. She thought that her viscous growls and snarls would scare the kittypets away; she was definitely surprised one of them popped out the bush. He had black and white fur with a green collar. Only a heartbeat passed when a second one came out. She was a pure black kit with a pink collar. Together the kittypets and clan leader stared at each other. Finally the tom broke the silence:

"That's it!" he scoffed, "I was expecting a scary warrior with ugly scars, but instead I get an old bag of bones that looks like it's been dragged through a bramble bush."

Spottedstar stared at the kit. She had never been treated with such disrespect. Though she had to admit he had courage. She was twice his size and had her claws extended.

"Old bag of bones huh?" The Clan Leader spoke, "Well this old bag of bones in leader of Riverclan. And you kittypets are trespassing."

She crouched preparing to spring. Of course she was not really going to injure the kits, but she would scare them enough to chase them away; and indeed they did look scared. But then the black she-cat stepped forward.

"P-please wait!" she begged, "We are trespassing with good reason. My brother wants to join your clan! He is a fast learner and it would be a Riverclan's loss if you- their own clan leader- chased him away." Spottedstar was impressed by her argument. These kittypets are full of surprises!

"Why do you want to join Riverclan?" she could not help, but ask. Part of her was curious for his reason, but another part - perhaps the part of her that entered battles and has seen death - felt a slow anger rise at the kittypet's ignorance of what the warrior life would be like. None the less, he answered her question:

"You warriors are brave. You hunt with each other and care for one another. Neither of you are selfish. I have heard stories about your code. I have dreamed about being a strong brave warrior in a clan. I usually hide in this juniper bush. I have seen your warriors hunt and swim. I was so impressed that I taught myself how to swim! Warriors are the best!" The kittypet finished his answer with his chest puffed out, his eyes sparkling as he recalled the warriors of Riverclan.

Spottedstar sighed at his response, and the kittypet look distraught at her reaction. She was correct in her theory. This kit knew nothing about a warrior's life other than hunting and being in a clan. But as she opened her mouth to tell the kits to leave her territory, something stopped her. These kits would probably venture to the other three clans until the black tom got his wish. She retracted her claws and sat down. These kits needed to know what it truly meant to be a warrior. They needed to hear it for themselves.

"You know nothing about a warrior's life. You know nothing about battle-"

"You could teach me!" he interrupted. He flattened his ears when she hissed in annoyance.

"Yes but you still don't know the danger! This is a huge decision that will shape your future! You cannot just take the choice so simply!" She looked at the two kittypets. She closed her and sighed again. She needed to control her anger. When she spoke again it was much calmer:

"Would you like to hear my story? Would you like to listen about the life of an actual warrior?" She asked them. She felt like she needed to teach them about sacrifices that warriors make.

"If you are still interested by the end, I will speak to my senior warriors and deputy about taking you in." Spottedstar offered.

At Spottedstar's words the black tom looked excited and yet curious. He and his sister nodded, accepting to hear the story of the Riverclan leader. She closed her eyes and remembered her life. Scents and memories came rushing back to her. She lived too long to speak of her entire life. ...Yes, I will tell them about her. They need to know how strong you have to be in the clan and what clan loyalty demands.

Spottedstar laid down in a comfortable position, the morning had barely begun and she was not needed in the clan. She had time to spare with these kits. She stifled a purr at their curiosity, she felt like an elder telling stories to clan kits. Was this Starclan's reward? Allowing her to speak like the elder she could never be.

"Let's start when I first opened my eyes," she purred, "At first I thought I was born blind because..."

~The End...or actually the beginning...~