"Silverfur?" Ashtail's voice came from inside the cave. "Is something wrong?"
"No, nothing Ashtail." Silverstar replied, turning to the older lion. "But it's Silverstar now."
"Then we'll be on our way."
Ashtail and Silverstar walked through the forest, but Silverstar thought about the dream she had had. If what Whitecub said was true, then their father was still alive. And if that true, then was the tiger in the dream Stripefur or was it Stripedtail, seeking revenge on her?
She shook her head and found that they had reached the flat rock. Silverstar leaped onto it and looked up towards the sky.
"There is something bothering you, isn't there?" Ashtail asked.
"Yes." Silverstar responded.
"In the dream from StarClan?"
"Yes."
"You saw the young white pawed cub, didn't you?"
Silverstar felt as if her thoart were as dry as sand. She nodded and looked down at the dark lion.
"She told you her name?"
"Yes. Whitecub."
"And who she was in your life?"
"Is it true, Ashtail?" Silverstar asked. "Did I have a sister? Was it Whitecub?"
"Yes." Ashtail replied, "She was the smallest of you three. She wasn't strong enough to survive."
"Where is her grave?"
"You're standing near it."
Silverstar looked towards the small pile of dirt at the egde of CheetahClan territory. She had never bothered to sniff towards it, but she did so now and it smelt of rotten flesh.
"After Whitecub died, Strongheart would come out her and visit with her every night." Ashtail said. "But after Pureheart died, all his time was taken up by you and Stripedtail."
"I want to make Strongheart my deputy."
"That is your choice to make." Ashtail mewed, turning towards the camp. "You are the new LionClan leader after all."
Silverstar followed after Ashtail and they vanished from sight. A shadow stepped into the clearing and a tall tiger sniffed at the pile of dirt.
"I am sorry, Whitecub." he growled, "I let you and your older brother and sister down."
He stepped from the shade of the trees and stepped on top of the flat rock. His ginger pelt shined like flames and his black stripes were as dark as a raven feather.
His yellow eyes looked after the silver ligeress and the dark lion. He had waited for a long time to meet the female liger, and he didn't intend to stop searching now.
Silverstar woke to find Strongheart entering her den. It had been a few days since she and Ashtail had returned from the Moonpool, and Silverstar named Strongheart as her deputy.
"Strongheart?" Silverstar yawned, "What is it?"
"We've caught a tiger in our territory." Strongheart replied, "He claims to know you."
"A tiger?" Silverstar asked, "Is he young?"
"Not more then ten moons old."
"Did you chase him off?"
"Not yet."
"Good, I'll speak with him."
Silverstar got to her feet and walked with Strongheart outside to find the dawn patrol and Shortpaw sitting in the clearing.
"Shortpaw?" Silverstar asked, "What are you doing here?"
"I needed to speak with you." Shortpaw replied, "Alone."
"We'll speak in my den."
Silverstar led the way into her den and she sat on her nest. The dawn patrol came in as well and Silverstar lashed her tail at them. They bowed and left without a word.
"What is it that you neede to speak with me about?" Silverstar asked.
"I've been picking up the scent of a tiger near the border with the lake."
"So?" Silverstar asked, "You live in TigerClan after all"
"I know, but this is a tiger that I havn't smelled in a long time."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not really sure but, I'd know his scent from anywhere." Shortpaw mewed, looking into Silverstar's eyes, "It was the scent of Stripefur!"
"What? Stripefur? Here?"
"His scent crossed over all of our stretch of the lake and into yours." Shortpaw said, "That's why I was in your territory."
"Thank you for telling me this, Shortpaw." Silverstar said, "I'll escort you back to your territory."
"And I've had another dream." Shortpaw mewed, "But this time it was two tigers fighting and the larger had the smaller on the ground-"
"You can tell me on the way."
Silverstar stepped outside the den with Shortpaw right behind. The patrol looked up from their food, but Silverstar told them she'd take Shortpaw home.
They ran through the forest and came to the lake. Silverstar sniffed the air and scented a tiger. Shortpaw left towards his side of the border and Silverstar followed the scent.
She went along the lake, through the forest and emerged into the clearing where the flat rock stood. On top of the rock sat the tiger. He had his back turned and he was looking up towards the grave of Whitecub.
"I thought you'd come." the tiger said. "I've waited a long time to meet you."
"What are you doing in LionClan territory?" Silverstar hissed.
"Now, now there's no need to get angry."
The tiger turned and Silverstar could see that he had bright yellow eyes. A scratch across his face made him look dangerous, but his expresion was one of sadness.
"You have the same eyes as Pureheart did." he said, "And her almost ghostly pelt."
"What would you know?" Silverstar asked.
"I know, because I am your father, Stripefur."
"My father died moons ago!" Silverstar snarled, "After he was band from TigerClan!"
"I didn't die. Only made it look like that. How is your brother?"
Silverstar glared at the tiger but she said nothing. She didn't trust this tiger, but she could tell that he had the smell as the tiger she had met when she was a young cub.
"I didn't think you'd remember me." he said, his ear drooping.
"I remember some tiger!" Silverstar growled, "But I don't know why you came now after so long!"
"Woah, you've changed. You were the quiet one, now you're a leader..."
"No thanks to you!"
"Come now why are you so angry with me?"
"You left us!"
"I had no choice!"
Silverstar glared at him. He glared back, then he jumpped from the rock and looked into her eyes. Silverstar couldn't hold the tears back any longer. She rubbed her muzzle against his and tears rolled down her fur.
"It's okay." Stripefur soothed her. "I'm here now."
"It's been so hard." Silverstar moaned, "The other lions don't trust me even though I stopped Stripedtail from killing Palestar..."
"But she still died?"
"Yes."
"Then how are you the leader? I thought Strongheart was next."
"He was but at the last second Palestar named me as her deputy."
"That's like her."
"You knew her?"
"She didn't want me to visit when you were born, but I didn't listen to her."
"So that was you."
"Yes."
They talked for a long time and around dusk, Strongheart's scent came from the forest egde. Silverstar and Stripefur looked to see the dark lion walking from the shade of the trees.
"Silverstar, there you are!" Strongheart exclaimed, "I was getting worried-Stripefur!"
"Strongheart." Stripefur mewed in greeting. "How have you been?"
"I...I've been fine." Strongheart spattered, "I thought you were dead."
"No, just left the forest for a while."
"Silverstar, you've been talking to him since dawn." Strongheart said, "Lets go back to camp."
"Can't Stripefur come too?" Silverstar asked. "He looks like he hasn't had a good meal in a while."
"True. I havn't." Stripefur mewed.
"You're leader, Silverstar, you can do what you want." Strongheart said.
"Please come to the camp, Stripefur." Silverstar mewed, "I'm sure that some of the Clan would be happy to see you."
Stripefur looked at her for a moment then he purred. They walked into the forest and towards the camp.
I know it's really late but I've been busy with updates and last bits of school!
