Only the Good Die Young

I dont own warriors.

I opened my eyes and found myself amongst StarClan. I saw our old deputies, Redtail and Lionheart. There was my friend, Runningwind, who had died in a rogue battle. There was a pretyy tortoiseshell, who I faguley remembered as our former medicine cat, Spottedleaf. There were some cats I recognized from other Clans to, like my friend Tawnypaw from WindClan who had died on the Thunderpath last greenleaf. There were some elders I had grown to love, like Rosetail, who had died protecting me from Blackfoot and other tyrants back when I was a kit in the nursery. There was also Halftail and Patchpelt, who had died in the terrible fire that tore through our camp a few moons ago. And Yellowfang was there too, seated beside Spottedleaf. There was another cat so young that it struck me how wise he looked. Snowkit.

All of these cats were gazing at a ginger haired cat, who lay in the center of this clearing. The cat had horrible wounds, some of which still pumped blood out. The cat wad dead.

What could do this to a cat? I think mildly. My mind flares instantly to the dogs, and I shiver.

Lionheart charged up towards me, flanked by Redtail and Runningwind. I dipped my head to the former deputy, respect twinkling in my confusion and greif for the cat in the clearing. And then Lionheart smiled at me.

"You still do not know, young Swiftpaw?" he asks me.

"Know what?" I ask suspisciously. Lionheart only nodds his golden head in the direction of the cat in the clearing. I look closely at the dead cats face. I gasp.

Thats me. I realize with a jult. Then, its like poison from an adder is corsing through my veins. The dogs killed me. I wont even become a warrior. I blew it.

"Its me." I say quietly and slowly.

Lionheart lays his head on my shoulder. Instantly, I feel electricity pump through me. As I look at my paws, I notice that they are now cloudy, and bright like the fellow StarClan warriors.

"Is there no hope yet, for Brightpaw?" I choke slowly.

Lionheart hesitates. "She has been blessed." he says quietly.

And I have been cursed! I think.

"I know what you are thinking." Redtail says. "but it is time for you to join us. Come, Swiftpaw."

Redtail summons me with his tail, the way he used to summon his warriors for battle. "We must go, Brightpaw needs us."

I nodd and follow the three StarClan warriors. We fanish through space, and time. I felt as though I was falling into nothingness. Then, the ligth come back, We are back at Snakerocks!

I glance down, expecting to see myself whole again. But we are all still mystical. I glance up, and see that dogs are still attacking Brightpaw!

Hatred runs through me. I make a move to step forward. But Lionheart stops me. "Watch." he says simply.

I wonder what I am supposed to me watching. I see a huge dog turn its head towards Brightpaw. She stumbles onto the ground, and the dog advances. He is about to make the death blow, when I bullet out of nowhere, leaping infront of Brightpaw, right into the dog.

"That is all." Lionheart says. He, Redtail, and Runningwind get up to leave.

"But what about Brightpaw!" I say wildly.

"You shall see." Runningwind says. We go back to the StarClan realm. The shadowy cats are watching us.

"Swiftpaw, you have given up your life to save another." Redtail says loudly. "In doing so, you cost yourself your warrior name."

No need to remind me. I think.

"Swiftpaw, cats who die young are, special." Lionheart explains. "they are unique, pure. You have died for a cause that directly benifit Clan life. You, Swiftpaw, are an honorable and loyal cat, and you deserve to be a warrior."

Redtail now steps foward. "Cats of StarClan," he declares loudly. "StarClan has a new member tonight. Let us all give praise for the life of Swiftpaw."

"Swiftpaw! Swiftpaw!" the cats chant, as though they are welcoming a new warrior. I can depict individual voices, but at the same time, the clearing sounds as one.

"Now, let us now welcome him into StarClan, by giving them his immortal name." Redtail continues.

Immortal what? I think bracingly.

"Swiftpaw, do you swear to obey the laws of StarClan, and oblige to the needs of all Clans, in the life or the afterlife?" Redtail asks.

The needs of all Clans... my heart juds.

"I-I do." I studder.

"Then, I give your immortal name. I now pronounce you as Swiftspirit. Your old life, is no more. You loyalty is no longer to ThunderClan alone, but to all the Clans." he now raises his voice. "Welcome, Swiftspirit!"

"Swiftspirit! Swiftspirit!" they chant as one.

"now Swiftspirit, come and see." Lionheart smiles. The cats part as Lionheart leads me to a pool. Inside is a swirling mass of color. It clears. "The image that you see is one that is now taking place."

Inside, I see the ThunderClan camp. My body is rested in the center clearing. Longtail is sitting beside me, as is my mother, Goldenflower. Cinderpelt is standing in the center.

"Swiftpaw hunts with StarClan tonight." she says. "May he watch over us, forever more."

And then, I see a figure in Cinderpelt's den. It is Brightpaw! She is alright !

I'll watch over you forever. I declare silently. And I'll be here to welcome you when you're time comes.

Did you like it?? I always wondered what happened to a cat when they died, especially an apprentice or kit. The next chapter will be Snowkit. I will also do young warriors, like Feathertail, and SOOTFUR!. I'm open for suggestions, if you have any. Review!

Mistystream Sootfur's Loyalty