CHANGES OF HEART AND TIDE

"Sunshade, I know you miss her, but she's with the Clan of Hidden Paths now," a soft pleading voice spoke into the darkness.

Silence was the only response.

"Please, your kit needs you to take care of him or to find someone who will. DarkClan has lost enough kits and apprentices al-"

"I know!" roared a deep voice, "but could you have a little pity for a deputy with too much weight already on his shoulders as his leader draws closer and closer to the last breath of her last life? And Swanfrost is not someone I'll get over in a hurry." There was a slight pause and the voice added, "I-I think I'm changing my name…"

A noiseless moment passed in shock at Sunshade's outburst. Its grief-struck tone reverberated off the cavern walls. A quietly trickling stream offered its condolences in its splashing voices, but the tom was paying more attention to the cat whose lifeless body it had carried away hours before.

"May you find your hidden path," the tom murmured in a gentler voice, "I'll miss you Swanfrost."

"May you find your hidden path," echoed the she-cat before the pair left the cave that had seen so many scenes like this before.

***

Faintstar stood proudly, yet fragilely upon a boulder on the far side of camp, directly across from the entrance. Two other boulders on either side of it rimmed the edge of the camp. Cats gathered below and formed a semicircle around the leopard spotted cat that faced his leader.

"Sunshade, the passing of your dearly loved Swanfrost has changed your heart and thus your name. You have resigned your days as a glorious warrior and deputy of DarksClan, we thank you for all you have done for the Clan." There was a pause during which the surrounding cats took all of this in. Sunshade was giving up his position as the deputy and as a warrior? Despite the seeming impossibility of this, the light gray she-cat continued with power and authority pouring into her frail voice. "Sunshade, I give you the new name of Ashentears."

The tom merely nodded and, to the surprise of all but Faintstar, he directly padded out of the camp. His face was hidden in shadows so no one saw his look of raw defeat and hopelessness as he tore himself away from the one place he loved but felt unable to stay.

The startled onlookers were speechless. The heart of their clan had departed.

"May you find your hidden path," the elderly she-cat meowed sadly before stepping down off the stone that was pitiless towards the burdens laid heavily on her weakening shoulders.

The Clan took this to be the end of the meeting and after seeing there was little explanation that was going to be offered by their leader, they returned to their dens to speak amongst themselves for the rest of the night. "Rainstorm," the aged voice commanded the attention of a dark gray tabby.

"Yes?" he asked as his clanmates padded away.

"I need to speak to you in my den," she said and turned to the large hole in the rock she had just dismounted.

The entrance to her den was narrow, but widened into a little cave that was large enough to comfortably fit three cats. Her pale gray fur was ruffled as she turned to face Rainstorm while he entered. She was tired, but it was her responsibility to see to her clan's needs while she still could. With a sigh she began. "Rainstorm," the crackly-voiced she-cat meowed, "Sunshade has faded into Ashentears and left DarkClan— for good as far as I can tell. Will you accept the position of deputy in his place?"

"Y-yes," stuttered the tom, he hadn't quite been expecting this, but he was determined to serve his clan well.

"Good," said Faintstar. It was nice to know that the clan would be in capable paws. Rainstorm was young, strong, and confident, but had gained an amount of experience that was impressive considering how much younger he was than her. She broke what would be the hardest news to him so he would realize how critical it was that he listen carefully. "You may as well know my last life is slipping away from me and I must discuss clan matters with you, now."

Rainstorm merely nodded, hiding how hard to accept this all was. The large tom dwarfed the she-cat, but he listened intently. Faintstar's wisdom wasn't something to toss aside.

The leader had already thought through this carefully, "I would suggest that you make Braveoak your deputy after I… leave. He learned much about WildClan in his youth and knows their territory the best, he's a fantastic fighter, and his fierce loyalty will be a strength to the Clan. However, his brother Savageclaw needs an eye kept on him. We don't need anymore 'accidents' with WildClan apprentices. He was always a little odd, much too violent, but maybe there's still hope for him to learn.

"Rosemist has been given charge of Ashentears' kit; he informed me of this himself. She has three other kits of her own so make sure she's properly taken care of and given the help she needs. DarkClan's strength lies in their newest generation and it can't suffer from neglect.

"Nightfall will be heartbroken over Ashentears' departure. He was like a brother to her. Please, comfort her; she'll need it. Silvercrescent, Goldenpetals, Riverfawn, and Brownvole will also feel the loss of the great Sunshade," the leader finished listing off the clan.

"I will do my best," the tom vowed, promising to himself as well as Faintstar. He suppressed a rise of emotion, maintaining composure. Faintstar had been a wonderful leader, mentor, and even friend, but the inevitable was, as always, inevitable.

"Good," Faintstar meowed, "because… I may… pass… tonight."

The den filled with the coughing of a dying cat.