Here you go, I won't make you wait on the cliffhanger.
The sickening stench of blood hit Sharppaw full on, along with the mysterious buzzing sound. He stumbled towards it, feeling his gut twist in fear of the worst. He swallowed hard and pushed through the final layer of brush that stood between him and whatever the mysterious sound was. When he got through, it took his eyes a moment to adjust. Nothing could have prepared him for the horrifying scene before him.
There, in the middle of a clearing, lay Wrathstar's unmoving body. Only blood surrounded him, staining the forest floor with crimson red. A long gash ran from his neck to his tail, scoring across her underbelly. Blood… Oh no no…no… feeling nauseous, he forced himself to lower his gaze to Wrathstar's bloody paws. His claws were missing. Claw… Sharppaw gasped in horror and prayed that he was wrong or just seeing things. He took a terrified step closer, to get a better look. That's when he saw the cat bone, trapped under Wrathstar's forepaw. The bone had been picked clean. Bone… he thought with horror, shaking with fear. He averted his eyes and stole a glance at Wrathstar's chest. Two diagonal slashes were scored across it, forming an X-like scar. "Scar..." he whispered to himself, terrified out of his wits. He knew the signs all too well: blood, bone, claw and scar.
Sheer terror gripped Sharppaw's heart and he ran out of the clearing, not seeing where he was running. "I have to get away! They're coming! I must tell the Clan! I must tell Wildeyes!" He never saw his mentor until he ran full tilt into her.
Wildeyes was still staring at Wrathstar's body, shaking from the horror. "H-he's...d-dead. Wrathstar's...dead." She backed away, shaking her head. "Sharppaw, it was BloodClan, it has to be! No warrior would kill like this, not even ShadowClan would do something like...like this." She shook her head and turned away. She bolted, running as fast as she could, her heart pounding like a thousand clashes of thunder. She knew that lightning hadn't quite struck yet. "Wrathstar's dead!" she screamed.
"It's not just BloodClan," Sharppaw muttered, trembling with fear.
Wildeyes faltered in her run, causing her to trip over a stone and do a somersault in midair. She landed on her paws and spun around. "What do you mean?!" she asked shakily. "Who else could there be? It's bad enough while it's just BloodClan on its own! Are there more?"
"The four Twoleg place Clans," murmured Sharppaw, shaking.
Wildeyes blinked, "'The four Twoleg place Clans?' What do you mean? There's more than just one rogue Clan?! You've got to be kidding me!"
Sharppaw sighed, still trembling. "It's a long story. It began several moons ago, when I was just a kit, not long after my father's death. My three highest ranking cats disappeared. Their names were Bone, Scar and Claw. Later on, I heard that three new Clans of rogues had been formed: BoneClan, ScarClan and ClawClan. In order to distinguish themselves from BloodClan, they each did something horrific to their victims. BoneClan would take a bone from their victim and leave another in its place, ScarClan would put and X-like scar on their victims and ClawClan would steal and wear the claws of their victims. BloodClan, taking up the pattern, joined this group of marks and would paint their victims and the area around the body with blood. But none of the Clan cats ever go near each other and they never EVER chose the same victim. All those marks on one body can only mean one thing: that the four Clans have joined as one. The only reason they'd ever do something like that would be if they all shared a common goal. Now, all these cats were greatly loyal to my father, Scourge, and all wanted revenge. Therefor, the only common goal all the Clans share is their desire to destroy the forest and the Clans within." Sharppaw sat back, trembling more than ever. "What are we going to do Wildeyes? There are so many rogues in each Clan..." Sharppaw's eyes were full of fear.
Wildeyes was quiet for a time. When she finally came round, she stood firm and locked eyes with Sharppaw. "Four Clans of the forest against four Clans of death, LionClan against those rogue cats." She sighed, "We've lost our leader. Now we need a new one." She closed her eyes, thinking hard. "We need to take Wrathstar's body back to camp so we can sit vigil for him and say goodbye to his spirit before he goes to StarClan. Then I'll go to the Highstones with Shadowfall to get my nine lives. After that, you'll know me only as Wildstar," she looked into Sharppaw's eyes and her eyes brightened ever so slightly in that depressing place, "leader of ThunderClan."
Wildeyes turned and walked back to Wrathstar's body. She ignored the blood and picked up her leader's body. She looked over her shoulder at Sharppaw. "Help me carry him back to camp." Her eyes were wet with tears, but Sharppaw knew she was crying out of weakness, she was crying out of sorrow. She'd have to have a heart of ice not to cry.
Sharppaw nodded and walked over to his mentor. They carried Wrathstar's body back to camp in heavy silence.
***
Wildeyes lay Wrathstar's body on the ground in the center of the camp. Cats around were letting out yowls of sorrow and horror. "Who did this?!" Someone yelled. "Was it ShadowClan?"
Shadowfall came out of her den with Starpaw and they set to work cleaning the blood from Wrathstar's fur. "Get me some wet moss, Starpaw. We want Wrathstar's body to be clean for his ceremony."
Starpaw nodded and ran back to the den. Wildeyes sighed and looked up at the sky. She could see the stars beginning to come out as night set in. She climbed up to the Highrock and called out, "Let us all sit vigil for our great leader before the eyes of StarClan and bit her farewell before her spirit leaves to join our ancestors."
The members of the Clan glanced at one another and, one by one, sat beside their fallen leader to bid farewell. When everyone had spoken their silent words, they sat in silence for a long time until someone spoke up, "Who would do such a thing? Who killed our leader?" All heads turned to Wildeyes.
Wildeyes took a deep breath and started to tell her Clan the same story Sharppaw had told her, "BloodClan is rising. There are four rogue Clans in the Twoleg place now: BoneClan, ScarClan, BloodClan and ClawClan. We met BloodClan many moons ago when Tigerstar threatened our forest. We killed their leader, Scourge, but now the four Clans are rising together to launch the full attack on the forest. Wrathstar was killed by four cats, each from a different Clan. Wrathstar had only a few lives left but each was taken by these cats that walk with death."
A few cats let out yowls of terror. "What will we do?" A she-cat stepped forwards, it was Bronzegaze. "You say the four rogue Clans are going to launch a final attack on us, one that is going to annihilate the forest Clans. We won't just sit idly by and watch them destroy us, will we? What will we do?"
Wildeyes looked up at the stars, "We must prepare for battle. LionClan must rise once again and fight a battle to the death against DeathClan!"
The Clan was horrified and let out yowls of protest, but Bronzegaze snarled at them. "If anyone sees a better way around this, then please let us know!" There was an awkward silence. The cats who had protested hung their heads, unable to answer. Bronzegaze snorted, "I didn't think so..."
"How do you know all this?" A tom called out, his name was Emberstrike.
Wildeyes glanced down at Sharppaw, who was sitting between Dingopaw and Moonpaw. "Our Clan mate, Sharppaw, is a member of BloodClan. He is their leader and came to our Clan as a spy. But he has lived on lies and now he has seen the truth as it is, clear as day. We have shown him the true meaning of warriors. We have shown him to love and to care. He is no longer BloodClan, he is ThunderClan."
"How can we trust him?" Emberstrike yelled, "How can you be sure he won't betray us?!"
"I trust him with my life and Wrathstar trusted him also. We must place our faith in him now and prepare for a war that will either prove either our lives or our deaths. We must send word out to the Clans, host an early gathering, and tell everyone that we have to either rejoin as one or die. First, I will go with Shadowfall to get my nine lives. Then I will walk with a patrol to all four Clans to tell them to come to an early gathering at sundown in three days. The fate of the Clans lies in our paws now."
She looked down at Emberstrike, but he didn't argue. He dipped his head and backed into the crowd. He knows his place. They all know who is in charge now.
She jumped off of the Highrock and nodded at Shadowfall, "Let's go." She trotted towards the camp entrance.
"Wildeyes wait!" Sharppaw cried and ran towards her. "I want to come with you. If DeathClan has already struck than you could use someone like me. There may still be some warriors the fear me enough to listen to me."
Wildeyes looked down at her apprentice and smiled, "I'm going to get my nine lives, Sharppaw. The other Clans wouldn't listen to me properly if I wasn't this Clan's leader. When I get back, I'll round-up the patrol and I'm taking you with me." She walked up to him and licked his shoulder, "I'll be back soon. Don't worry."
"Just be careful," Sharppaw murmured. "I would hate to think what would happen if DeathClan found you..."
Wildeyes smiled, "I'll be fine. I killed that wild dog, remember? I'm sure I can handle a few rogue cats." She trotted out of the camp in the direction of the Highstones. Sharppaw waited, watching for his mentor to come back. "Wildstar," he admonished himself. He sighed, it would never really be the same between them anymore. I wonder if Dingopaw and I will become warriors soon...
***
The next day…
Wildstar padded through the gorse tunnel and smiled broadly. "I'm back!" She yowled. Several cats ran to her, including the apprentices and a few warriors.
"Welcome back!" Starpaw meowed happily.
"Did you get your nine lives?" Moonpaw grinned.
Wildstar laughed, "Yes I did. You'll have to address me as Wildstar now." She looked over at Bronzegaze, "Has Wrathstar's body been buried?"
Bronzegaze nodded, "We buried it while you were gone. My apologies for having him taken care of while you were away, but I understand that you will be too busy for that."
Wildstar smiled, "Don't worry, I'm fine. I was hoping you'd have it while I was away, I'm not good with those sorts of ceremonies anyway." Her features became serious, "Let's get the patrols ready." Her voice was more powerful than before. She had more responsibility. "First, to mark my coming as leader, I want to name three new warriors." She beamed at Sharppaw, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, join here beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting!"
Sharppaw sprang to his paws. I'm going to become a warrior!
Wildstar leaped onto the Highrock and looked down at her eagerly gathering Clan. They were all over-exited about their new leader's first warrior ceremony. It was a great way to mark the coming of a new authority. "Sharppaw, step forwards." Wildstar smiled as her apprentice stepped up and she knew his own smile would be many times brighter than hers in a few moments. "I, Wildstar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn."
"Sharppaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"Yes I do," Sharppaw said firmly.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Sharppaw, from this moment you will be known as Sharpblaze. StarClan honors your courage that blazes like a fire, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."
Sharpblaze yowled with happiness. There is no way DeathClan will triumph now! They tried to weaken us by killing our leader but we'll only came back stronger!
Wildstar smiled at him, and then turned to the she-cat on his left. "Dingopaw, step forwards." Dingopaw blinked in stunned happiness and hopped forwards. "I, Wildstar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn."
"Dingopaw," she continued, "do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
Dingopaw grinned happily and replied without hesitation, "Yes!"
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Dingopaw, from this moment you will be known as Dingosong. StarClan honors your loyalty to your Clan, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."
Dingosong leaped into the air and let out a yowl of joy.
Wildstar chuckled and looked down at her son who was trembling with anticipation. "Now, last but not least, Moonpaw, step forwards." Moonpaw stepped forwards, eager to become a warrior at last. "I, Wildstar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn."
"Moonpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"Yes!" He said happily, his eyes closed and ready.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Moonpaw, from this moment you will be known as Moonlight. StarClan honors your will to protect others, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."
Moonlight let out a howl of happiness. Wildstar stepped off of the Highrock and rested her muzzle on Moonlight's head. "Welcome to ThunderClan, Moonlight. I'm so proud of you. All of you." She stepped away and looked around for Bronzegaze. "Okay, patrol time! I'm sorry you don't have time to talk about finally being warriors. You can do that on the patrol. Sharpblaze and Dingosong will come on the patrol. I also want Bronzegaze. I won't need anyone else or we'll look like a battle patrol." She paused, "Though we probably are."
She turned and padded towards the gorse tunnel, signaling with her tail for the others to follow.
Starpaw ran up to her mother, "Wait Wildstar! You need to decide who the Clan deputy's going to be!"
Wildstar stopped and let out a growl of annoyance, "Mouse dung! I completely forgot about that! Thanks Starpaw." She looked around and her eyes finally lay to rest on Bronzegaze. She smiled, "Bronzegaze, you've done so much for me. You mentored my daughter and protected my kits when ShadowClan attacked us. Will you be my deputy?"
Bronzegaze blinked in shock, "M-me?! You want me to be your deputy? Are you sure, Wildstar?"
Wildstar nodded, "There's no one I could trust more."
Bronzegaze blinked, still stunned. "I-I don't know what to say..."
"Just say yes, Bronzegaze!" Starpaw yelled happily. "You can do it! Be our deputy!"
Bronzegaze blinked, not sure what to say. "Starpaw..." She sighed and looked up at Wildstar. "Alright," she meowed firmly, "I'll become ThunderClan's deputy."
Okay here you are.