Okay folks, this is the last chapter. Sniff sniff…I really love this fic!! But don't worry, for everyone out there who likes it as much as I do, an epilogue page will be posted later along with a sequel that should be up soon as well. Thanks so much for everyone who reviewed it really means a lot. Here's the last chapter, ENJOY!!
Disclaimer- I don't own warriors or cute little Lionclaw no matter how much I wish I did.
The sun shone brightly in the sky, warming the pelts of ThunderClan. Lionclaw woke early and stretched his fur. Normally, today would've been a happy day for him. The weather was nice and the gathering was tonight. But however thrilled he was to be seeing Heatherpaw, he knew it would mean turning his back on everything he ever knew.
Deciding that he'd spend today talking with everyone, he eagerly walked into the medicine den.
"Good morning Leafpool." The golden tom meowed, giving her a lick on the ear.
"Well, someone's cheery today." The medicine cat meowed. "It must be because of the gathering."
"Yeah, it is. Is Jaypaw here?" the new warrior queried.
"Actually, he's collecting herbs but he'll be back soon." Leafpool meowed.
Nodding, Lionclaw padded out of the den in search of Hollyfrost. Finding her near the freshkill pile, he eagerly caught up with her.
"Want to go hunting with me?" he asked.
"Sure. I'll invite Honeyfur and Cinderfoot to come too." The black she-cat meowed, heading off to find the others.
While waiting for Hollyfrost to come back, Squirrelflight padded up to him.
"Are you going hunting? If so I'll come too. I need to get out of camp." The ginger warrior meowed.
"Okay great!" Lionclaw meowed, happy to hunt with his mother.
Once everyone was ready, he led them out of camp and into the forest. Quickly, everyone dispersed, intent on some piece of prey.
As Hollyfrost padded back with a mouse in her jaws, Lionclaw pulled her aside.
"I have something to tell you." The golden tom whispered.
Hollyfrost's eyes were wide with curiosity as she waited for him to continue.
"Tonight, after the gathering, Heatherpaw and I are…leaving the clans." He meowed.
Hollyfrost let out a small yowl of dismay. "NO!" she hissed. "You can't go. How can you just leave us like that? And what about your Clanmates, they depend on you Lionclaw!"
Lionclaw put his tail in front of her mouth to quiet her. "You don't understand. I love Heatherpaw, but in the clans we can't be together without breaking the warrior code. If we leave, there'll be no rules, no boundaries to keep us apart. Don't you see how this would work?"
Hollyfrost's eyes filled with dismay, but she eventually nodded. "I can see she makes you happy." She whispered, rubbing her muzzle to his. "And I won't tell anyone if you don't want me to." She added.
Lionclaw let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you." He meowed, giving her a lick over the ear. "It means more to me than you know."
Standing up once more, the golden tom padded off to hunt, though the only thing he could focus on were sparkling blue eyes and a light brown tabby pelt…
THIS IS A BREAK THIS IS A BREAK THIS IS A BREAK THIS IS A BREAK
"I need Brambleclaw, Leafpool, Jaypaw, Dustpelt, Honeyfur, Squirrelflight, Brackenfur, Hollyfrost, Lionclaw, Sandstorm and Mousewhisker to come meet outside, you'll be coming to the gathering with me and we need to talk."
Lionclaw padded over to his father and sister who were already waiting to leave. Slowly, the others arrived, fur gleaming under the light of the full moon.
"I'm so proud of you two." Brambleclaw meowed. "This will be your first gathering as a warrior!"
And my last. Lionclaw thought dejectedly.
"You know, I think that the others deserve a right to know." Hollyfrost whispered.
Lionclaw sighed. He knew she was right.
Padding to the front of the group he caught up with Firestar.
"Um, Firestar, I have to tell you something." Lionclaw began.
The leader nodded for Lionclaw to continue.
"Well, I've been thinking about what you said, you know about leaving ThunderClan, and I think that that's what I'm going to do." The golden warrior announced. "Tonight will be my last gathering before Heatherpaw and I leave."
Firestar blinked in surprise. "Are you sure this is what you want?" he asked.
Lionclaw nodded.
"Then I won't stop you. If you're happier somewhere else than its no good having a broken spirit in the Clan. I want you to be happy no matter what you do." The tom meowed. "Though I think your Clanmates deserve an explanation as to why you'd be leaving them."
Standing up, the tom padded up to his perch and called a clan meeting.
"Lionclaw has something he'd like to share with you."
The golden tom swallowed down his fear and stood up to face his Clanmates.
"Well, for awhile now I've been thinking and now I've made up my mind. Tonight I'll be leaving ThunderClan with Heatherpaw in search of a happier life."
Yowls of shock and disapproval sounded from the cats below but Firestar urged them to quiet down so he can speak.
"Lionclaw, though it will definitely be a loss, I respect your decision to leave. Tonight you shall say your goodbyes to ThunderClan. Then I'll send an escort to make sure you make it out safely." Firestar meowed.
Lionclaw dipped his head in thanks. Padding away, several warriors came by to wish him luck, and say a final goodbye. Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw however looked utterly devastated.
Padding in between his parents and siblings, he felt a pang of sadness that he'd be leaving them.
But there's no other way to see Heatherpaw. Lionclaw reminded himself. And he knew that was something that he couldn't live without.
THIS IS A BREAK THIS IS A BREAK THIS IS A BREAK THIS IS A BREAK
"I can't believe you're actually leaving." His parents meowed, once they were on the island.
Lionclaw nodded. He couldn't bear to take their sadness anymore!
Squirrelflight gave his are several licks. "Well wherever you go, just know that I'll always love you." She whispered.
"ThunderClan lost a great warrior today." Brambleclaw meowed dejectedly. "And I lost a brave son. Be careful wherever you go." He meowed stroking Lionclaw's back with his tail.
Lionclaw looked up to see Jaypaw padding towards him.
"You're really leaving me." He meowed shaking his head in disbelief.
"Jaypaw, I'm so sorry. You'll have Hollyfrost here to watch you though. And I might come back eventually to visit. It's just that I love Heatherpaw and we can't be together with all these boundaries."
The tom nodded, though Lionclaw could tell he was still upset. He was about to comfort him when Heatherpaw padded up.
"Hi Heatherpaw." Lionclaw purred, licking her cheek.
"Actually, its Heatherstorm now." She meowed happily.
"That's great! And I'm Lionclaw. And that's Hollyfrost."
Heatherstorm dipped her head. "Are you ready to go?" she asked.
Lionclaw nodded. "I don't want to see the gathering, it'll make it harder to leave.
"I know. Let's go now though, before anyone notices we're gone." She meowed, heading towards the log.
"Actually, ThunderClan knows I'm leaving. But they were fine with it." He meowed, carefully clawing his way along the makeshift bridge.
Jumping onto solid ground, the golden warrior turned to take one last look at the life he always knew, the cats that were always there for him.
"Come on." Heatherpaw whispered nudging him to follow her.
Turning around, he twined his tail with hers their pelts merging into one as the padded away together. Their fur glistened in the light of the full moon as both warriors set off to make a new life together.
Aww, okay I hoped you liked it! I'll try to post an epilogue page later today but I hoped you enjoyed the fic so far. Thanks again to everyone who reviewed and keep watching for the sequel!