Hollyleaf is pretty awesome, I guess. Pshh, some wee turnip was complaining that Hollyleaf wouldn't have any good life to give Brambleclaw? If you think Hollyleaf doesn't deserve to give a life, well. You can go fly a kite. But if you like the idea, stay with me, this story is still going a bit more.
I don't own Warriors.
"Here they come!" called Yellowfang, flicking her tail for the surrounding cats to get back. "Look sharp!"
Hollyleaf hustled to stand next to Bluestar, not wanting to mess up her part. She suddenly realized she had no idea what she was supposed to do when it was her turn. "Wait, Bluestar, what is the order? How do I give a life? And what should I say?"
The gray she cat rested her tail on Hollyleaf's shoulder. "You have nothing to worry about, Hollyleaf. Speak the words from your heart, and your heart will do the rest. That is how we grant leaders their nine lives."
Yellowfang padded over to them and squeezed between her and Bluestar. "Move your rump," the older gray cat snorted, shoving Hollyleaf aside.
Hollyleaf didn't argue and scooted to the side to make room for the prickly warrior. She thought about Bluestar's words. Was it really that simple? What does my heart say? She thought about what could be important enough to give to her old Clan leader. She had always valued the Warrior Code. Could she make a life out of that?
"They are here," Yellowfang whispered, barely loud enough for the other cats to hear, her eyes hardening with seriousness as she gazed at a spot in the grass.
A gust of wind swirled through the clearing rustling Hollyleaf's fur. A bubble of energy seemed to well up before her, and with flash of light, it burst, washing out over the surrounding StarClan warriors. In the middle of the clearing, two cats had appeared.
Her heart filled with warmth as she recognized her brother's gray tabby fur and Brambleclaw's bulk. Seeing them now felt so different than how it had when she was still alive. She may have looked up to them then, but now they had to look up to her!
The two toms lay in the grass, as if dead. Was something wrong? She was about to suggest some cat check on them when Jayfeather raised his head.
Her brother's gaze swept over the gathered cats, resting on her for a heartbeat longer before returning to his leader. He nudged Brambleclaw's tabby shoulder and the bigger cat got slowly to his paws.
Hollyleaf's memories drifted back to the nursery, playing with her littermates. She remembered Brambleclaw padding into the den, his proud gaze filling with warmth when he spotted her. She raced up to him, reaching up on her hind paws but still not even coming up to his shoulders.
"How is my brightest daughter doing, today?" he purred, reaching down to give her a lick on the head. It almost knocked her off her paws, but she did her best to keep her balance. "I just came back from the ShadowClan border. You should know, no enemy warriors dared to cross the border while I was there."
Hollykit purred loudly. She had felt so proud that this cat she thought was her father was also the Clan deputy! "Next time you go out, can you take me too?" She bounced on her hind paws. "I would tear those mange pelts apart!"
A mreow of laughter escaped his lips. "I'm sorry, Hollykit, but you will have to be patient. You still have a few moons before you and you littermates can leave the protection of the camp." He gave her playful bat with a soft paw. "Don't worry, I'll keep the Clan safe until you are big enough to fight beside me, I promise."
Hollykit was about to say something more when Lionkit tumbled into her, Jaykit not far behind, and she gave a squeak of pleasure as she wrestled her brothers to the ground. One day, she would be respected by all the Clans, and maybe, she would even be leader.
Hollyleaf shook her head, clearing it of her memory. She knew now that she would never be a leader, but with a jolt, she realized what her heart told her. She stood beside the other eight cats and watched as Firestar stepped forward to greet Brambleclaw.
"I'm so sorry," Brambleclaw mewed to the shining ginger cat, but Firestar raised his tail.
"You have no need to be sorry, Brambleclaw," Firestar purred. Hollyleaf couldn't see Firestar's face from where she stood, but she could imagine the pride that must be shining in his eyes. "No cat lives forever and you have waited a long time for this moment. I no longer see the terrible side of Tigerstar in you, just the proud worthy cat Tigerstar could have been if he had chosen the right path."
Hollyleaf tilted her head in confusion. She had never thought about the good side of Tigerstar. All she had ever heard of were the horrible things he had done throughout his existence. She was reminded of how she had been afraid that all she would have been remembered for was doing a horrible thing. She had tried to ruin Leafpool and Squirrelflight's lives in front of all the Clans.
Firestar reached up to rest his muzzle on Brambleclaw's. "With this life, I give you the will to be the best you can be." His mew was full of passion as if he was feeling every single word. "I may have been a great cat, but you shall be greater if you let your heart, not your ambition guide your path. Be a cat that your friends, Clan, and kits can be proud of. There is no limit to how much you can achieve, Brambleclaw."
Hollyleaf's whole body shook as the life passed over to the new leader. If she was feeling the life from where she stood, what must it feel like to Brambleclaw? She couldn't imagine it.
Firestar stepped back, giving room for Goldenflower to take his place. Hollyleaf had never met the she cat before in her life, but from the way the she cat spoke to Brambleclaw, Hollyleaf guessed she must be his mother. Hollyleaf trembled again as the golden cat gave the life for compassion.
Bluestar stepped forward next, going over how she had made Firestar Brambleclaw's mentor. Hollyleaf had already known about that, but hearing it from a StarClan warrior made it all the more impressive. They touched noses and Bluestar gave the life for bravery.
Yellowfang was next, and Hollyleaf suddenly realized it would be her turn soon. She tried to form complete sentences in her mind, but nothing seemed to be working. She was about to blow the whole ceremony! Had that ever been done before?
Yellowfang gave the life for confidence and stepped back. Hollyleaf put on a serious face, trying to hide the confusion that was filling her inside. She stepped forward until she was face to face with her previous Clan leader, his bright amber eyes staring deep into her green ones.
Suddenly, words seemed to fly to her lips, as if a greater force were speaking through her. Her heart was speaking! "With this life, I give you the patience of a father for his kits."
She reached up to touch noses with the big cat, feeling as if a small part of her were slipping away, lost forever in this other cat's life, and suddenly a piece of that life flew back to her. She had a vision of kits playing in the nursery, playful and strong. Brambleclaw stood over them, his eyes filled with happiness. But the kits weren't her and her siblings. They were his own kits! "Hold onto it when you speak with every cat less fortunate than yourself, and when you have your own kits. Yes you will have kits, Brambleclaw, and they will be beautiful. Never forget that all wounds heal with time."
She stepped back, admiring the powerful figure that stood before her. She was suddenly overwhelmed by her feelings for him. She realized she might be breaking the rules of the ceremony by speaking, but she didn't care. "I wish I could have been alive to see you leading our Clan to greatness. I miss the days when I still thought you were my father."
Brambleclaw's warm gaze was enough to show that he missed her. She could see the hurt in his eyes, but she knew, one day, they would be together again. It wouldn't be for many many moons, but she could wait.
She turned to look at Jayfeather, his fur still messy from the fight against the Dark Forest. She missed him and Lionblaze more than any other cat, but she couldn't have been more proud of them. "Keep a close eye on him, brother."
Jayfeather jumped in surprise, his brilliant blue gaze flicking to her. "Of course, Hollyleaf."
Hollyleaf stepped back to stand with the others and Feathertail stepped forward to give the life for courage. Whitestorm gave the life for strength, and Tallstar a life for honesty.
Ashfur was the last cat, and Hollyleaf had to force down the growl that was rising in her throat. She hated the fact that this traitor got to give Brambleclaw his very last life. But she wouldn't ruin the ceremony.
"I did many things wrong when I was alive," the gray warrior mewed sadly. "So I asked StarClan if I could give you your last life. I am sorry for what happened between us, but please don't hate me for it. Keep her safe."
Hollyleaf figured he was referring to Squirrelflight. Brambleclaw might forgive the traitor, but she could never imagine doing that. There had been too much pain for just a few words to wash away, but she listened intently to what he had to say.
Brambleclaw dipped his head to the gray warrior in understanding.
"Then with this life, I give you the reasoning to forgive," Ashfur continued, touching noses with Brambleclaw. "Always know that cats can change for the better and grow stronger because of it. You are a great cat, Brambleclaw. I wouldn't have trusted any other cat to stay with my sweet Squirrelflight."
Hollyleaf couldn't help but roll her eyes. Change for the better? Not after bringing so much pain and evil. But something about that did make sense to her. She herself had done a horrible thing but that didn't mean she was a horrible cat. The Clans had forgiven her, so did that mean she should forgive Ashfur? Maybe in time she would learn to forgive him, but right now he hated him with a passion.
Ashfur stepped back, the ninth and final cat. It was done. Brambleclaw wasn't Brambleclaw anymore, and he never would be called that again. He was Bramblestar, leader of ThunderClan!
Hollyleaf raised her voice in a cheer with the others, the words wringing with power. "Bramblestar! Bramblestar! Bramblestar!"
Her gaze slid to Jayfeather who remained still and silent as they chanted for the new leader. Though this moment was all about Bramblestar, she couldn't help but feel that the young medicine cat still had an adventure ahead of him that would take him far away from her and the Clans.
Be safe, Jayfeather, and never forget about your sister in the stars.