Hey peeps! This is Goldenstar, leader of SunClan! This is basically my life story. It all starts with a burning love, a couple apprentices and a deadly message from StarClan that fortells death and destruction. I can't really tell you anymore, because that would ruin the purpose of this story so...
Disclaimer: I do NOT own the Warriors series. Erin Hunter does. But all of the characters from SunClan ARE mine. HurricaneClan and MagmaClan aren't mine either. Spottedstar leads MagmaClan and Hurricanestar leads HurricaneClan. Of course I don't own them!
Goldenstar sighed and padded, silently, out of her den. Her eyes shown with relief to see that the sky was clear today; the day before, rain had come in torrents. Now all that was left were a couple puddles and the heavy dew that rested on the green grass of newleaf. After breathing in a deep breath of the dawn air, the beautiful Clan leader leaped down the rocks that piled themselves up to her den. Just as Goldenstar had picked up a sparrow from the fresh-kill pile, Silverfang, one of her most trusted warriors, trotted over to her.
"Goldenstar. I need to speak with you about Graypaw." Goldenstar blinked for her to go on. "I believe that she is ready to become a warrior. Already, she has mastered every fighting move I know and is an excellent hunter. Just yesterday, she caught a pheasant!" Goldenstar nodded and narrowed her eyes, deep in thought.
"You are right, Silverfang. We will hold her warrior ceremony at sunhigh." Silverfang looked ready to burst with pride and happiness. Her apprentice was being made a warrior; before Goldeneye, the deputy's apprentice, Mousepaw and Goldenstar, herself's apprentice, Slypaw. Silverfang quickly dipped her head in thanks to her leader and sprinted away to the thick brambles the surrounded the SunClan camp.
Goldenstar walked through the busy cats that milled around the clearing. Finally at the fresh-kill pile, yet again, she picked up her sparrow that was still untouched. Taking a hasty bite of the prey, Goldenstar thanked StarClan that the harsh leaf-bare her Clan had had to suffer starving, was over. Prey was very scarce during leaf-bare, but this one had been particularly frightening. One of the elders, Flamefur, had not been able to take the cold and went to hunt with StarClan. Many others, including Goldenstar's own mate, Blackclaw, had not survived that terrible season. A look of grief crossed her face as she remembered all of the good times they'd had.
With another long sigh, the small golden-brown tabby padded back to her den, to think about Graypaw's warrior name.
A bright light awoke her. Blinking the sleep out of her eyes, Goldenstar leaped out of her den and onto the Highrock. She cleared her throat and called the initial greeting.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here, beneath the Highrock, for a Clan meeting!" Goldenstar's call rang all throughout the camp. A small smile crept onto her face to see Silverfang, with Graypaw at her side, her fur newly groomed, clean and shiny. It made Goldenstar happy to see her Clan improving. Apprentices being made warriors, kits being made apprentices, every piece of prey caught made her heart flutter with joy.
The cats of SunClan had begun to gather; Silverfang and Graypaw sitting at the base of Highrock. Goldenstar blinked at Silverfang, who nodded enthusiastically. The beautiful tabby turned to her Clan and bellowed out the words that she had practiced for so long.
"Graypaw has trained hard as an apprentice and I believe it is time she was made a warrior. Silverfang, is Graypaw ready?" Silverfang nodded, once again, and rested the tip of her tail on Graypaw's shoulder.
"Very well. I, Goldenstar, leader of SunClan, 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. Graypaw," Goldenstar turned to the silver apprentice. "Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
A look of determination crossed Graypaw's face as she boldly replied, "I do."
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Graypaw, from this moment, you will be known as, Grayfeather!" Goldenstar padded forward to rest her muzzle on Grayfeather's head, just as Sunstar had to her when she was made a warrior. Silverfang's eyes were glowing with pride as she raced towards Grayfeather to touch noses with her former apprentice. Grayfeather's mother, Dreamflower, was not able to keep still. Finally, she started the chant.
"Grayfeather! Grayfeather! Grayfeather!" While Grayfeather's Clanmates continued to call her name, Dreamflower ran up and intertwined her tail with her daughter's, extremely happy that her eldest had finally become a warrior.
"Oh! I'm so proud of you!!" Dreamflower's cry could be heard even over the chant of Grayfeather's name, which was slowly becoming softer. Grayfeather took on a look of embarrassment and annoyance.
"Mom. I'm a warrior now." The newly named silver warrior looked gently up at her mother and spoke again. "I'm not a little kit anymore." When a hurt look spread on Dreamflower's face, Grayfeather quickly added, "But I'll always need you."
Goldenstar looked down at her Clan and decided that now would be a good time to intervene. She cleared her throat and the cats below turned to her. "Grayfeather, you must now sit vigil outside the camp entrance."
"While we get a good night's sleep!" Cherryfeather chimed in. Goldenstar rolled her eyes and shot the black warrior a warning glance. Cherryfeather was always the one with the sharp-tongue. Grayfeather only nodded and dashed off for the camp entrance. She was stopped short by Slypaw and Mousepaw, who were bombarding her with congratulations and questions.
"She's going to make a great warrior." Silverfang had padded up beside her leader with Lightningwhisker. The black tom merely nodded his agreement and went back to watching Dreamflower's newest litter of kits: Eaglekit, Rosekit and Crystalkit. "Yes she will." Goldenstar had to agree. Grayfeather had shown much determination as an apprentice and was in the making to be the best hunter in the Clan.
Lightningwhisker had gone over to Dreamflower by now and was helping her groom her kits. Silverfang nodded at Goldenstar and walked away to the warriors den. The other cats had begun to disperse; some on patrols and others to the dens. With one last look at her thriving Clan, Goldenstar padded back to her den.
The golden-brown leader curled up in her bed of soft moss and soon fell asleep, unaware that from above StarClan was watching them, waiting to hand down the terrible message they had forseen.