Chapter 9
Blackstar was in the dark forest. He started walking, and suddenly saw his former mentor, Foxfang.
"Blackstar, you're doing a great job with the other clans," he started. "But it's not enough."
"What do you mean by it's not enough?," asked Blackstar, looking at Foxfang.
Suddenly, Blackstar woke up. The cats had come back from battle, and Dapplesong was outside of his den, with four kits.
"Hi Blackstar, these are the kits we've got," said Dapplesong.
"Which are their names and ages?," asked Blackstar.
"This is Toadkit, he is six moons old," said Dapplesong, pointing a dark ginger tom with green eyes.
"This is Icekit she is five moons old," she said, pointing to a white she – kit with dark blue eyes.
"This is Foxkit, he is Icekit's brother," she said, pointing to a russet colored tom with dark green eyes.
"And this is Ferretkit, he is three moons old," she said, pointing to a gray tabby tom with green eyes.
"Okay. I'll make Toadkit an apprentice, but first, I'll make Talonpaw, Softpaw and Dewpaw warriors. It's already time," said Blackstar, as he went towards the highrock and gathered his clan.
"We are going to make three great apprentices warriors. These three apprentices are my kin, since we share the same father, Breezestar," he said.
Blackstar saw Luna was proudly licking her kits' fur.
"Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect it, even at the cost of your life?," asked Blackstar.
"I do!," replied the apprentices.
"Then, I'll give you your warrior names. You will be now known as Dewpelt, Softfeather and Talonheart respectively," said Blackstar.
"Dewpelt! Softfeather! Talonheart!," cheered the clan.
"Daisycloud is kitting!," shouted Hailtail, but the clan continued paying attention to Blackstar.
"I also want to make some new apprentices. Aspenkit, Pebblekit, Tuftkit, Toadkit come here!," he called, and the apprentices went running towards him.
"Bumblewing, you will train Aspenpaw. Teach your apprentice all the skills you learned," said the LakeClan leader.
Bumblewing and Aspenpaw touched noses.
"Windfoot, you will train Pebblepaw. Teach your apprentice all the habilities you learned," said the black tom.
Windfoot and Pebblepaw touched noses.
"Thundernose, you will mentor Tuftpaw. Teach your apprentice all your great techniques," said Blackstar.
Thundernose and Tuftpaw touched noses.
"Thistlefrost, I need a senior warrior like you to train Toadpaw," he said.
Thistlefrost and Toadpaw touched noses.
"Now the meeting is…," he started, but was interrupted by a cat.
"Sorry Blackstar, it's just that me and Gorsepelt want to retire to the elders' den," said Shadowfur.
"You were great warriors," said Blackstar. "And you will be honored in the seasons to come."
Shadowfur dipped his head respectfully, and then headed with his brother towards their new den.
After the meeting, Dapplesong went towards Blackstar.
"Blackstar, today is the gathering night. Which cats should we take?," she asked.
"Mmm… Take Tigerheart, Grayfether, Firetail, Frostwing, Sharptail, Minnowleap, Beetleflight, Specklepaw, Blossomclaw, Ebonywing, Boulderpaw, Cedarpaw, Russetpelt, Stormpaw, Wolfpaw, Hailtail, Runningpaw, you and I," said Blackstar.
"Daisycloud just gave birth. I don't think neither Wolfpaw nor Hailtail will be able to come," said Dapplesong.
Blackstar suddenly remembered his sister and went to see her. She was crouching next to three kits.
"Hi Blackstar. Came to see the kits?," asked Daisycloud, looking exhausted.
"Yes," replied Blackstar.
"The blue – gray one is Mintkit, the golden dappled one is Breezekit, in honor of our father, and the golden tabby is Lionkit," she said. "Breezekit and Mintkit are she – kits, while Lionkit is the only tom."
"I'm sure Lionkit will be as strong as his father," said Blackstar, remembering his best friend.
Daisycloud looked at Lionkit with grief. She missed Adderblaze as much as Blackstar.