Chapter 8

All three cats turned around in surprise when Mothstar spoke up. The WindClan leader was flanked by Darkwing and Leafpelt, who both seemed just as unsure of what was happening. Mothstar didn't seem as concerned about what had happened. All that mattered to her was that the threat in her Clan was taken care of.

"Mother?" Reedtail echoed. His head tilted in confusion until he saw the similarities between Nightpaw and Mothstar.

"I gave up my kit so that I could lead WindClan," Mothstar explained with a shrug. "Her father wanted her to join him. I thought it would be a good decision."

Leafpelt's eyes were narrowed in disgust when he looked at Mothstar. All of the respect that he had once felt towards her disappeared when he realized what she had done. Sympathy suddenly gleamed in his eyes when he looked back at Nightpaw. Her paws shifted uncomfortably when she realized that every cat was looking at her. She wasn't sure what to make of this situation. Mothstar had just told the group what happened. The story of her past had slipped, and now it seemed like a new chapter was about to begin.

"I tried to save her," Darkwing murmured. "She didn't deserve to live with those rogues." The medicine cat lifted her muzzle and stared at Nightpaw. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

"You're not going to hurt her, are you?" Hawkpaw's voice was filled with alarm when she glanced at Mothstar.

Mothstar looked away before Nightpaw could read her expression. There was something other than hate in Mothstar's eyes. Nightpaw's whiskers twitched every now and than when she saw longing gleam within Mothstar's eyes.

Did Mothstar regret giving up her only surviving kit? Nightpaw's head tilted when she thought of the possibilities they could have now.

But I still have my mission, she reminded herself.

"No." Mothstar's tail had lashed when she replied. She lifted her muzzle to stare at Darkwing. "I've already made too many wrong decisions."

Is that what I am? Nightpaw wondered bitterly. Am I nothing but a wrong decision?

Mothstar had turned away to return to the camp before Nightpaw could ask her. Darkwing and Leafpelt exchanged glances before joining her. Only Reedtail and Hawkpaw stayed by Nightpaw's side as the three cats disappeared over the hill. She could already tell that they would have several things to say. Reedtail looked like he wanted to scold Mothstar for acting like a lost kit. Hawkpaw didn't seem to have anything to say about Mothstar.

The three of them stayed huddled together until a ThunderClan patrol passed by. By now Nightpaw had learned about their names, thanks to Hawkpaw who described each and every one of them. Acorntail, Moonpaw, and Ivysplash flanked each other when they reached the stream. All three of them looked at the WindClan cats warily.

"Trying to take back the border, are you?" Acorntail sneered.

"We're not here to fight, Acorntail," Reedtail muttered.

"Than why are you so close to the border?" Moonpaw demanded.

Ivysplash didn't say a word. Her eyes were focused on Nightpaw's, who had held Ivysplash's stare up until now. Ivysplash flinched from the harsh look that Nightpaw gave her. There was no mistaking that Nightpaw was a well-trained rogue. She could hold herself against a fight when it came to cats like Ivysplash.

"Come on Moonwhisker, when have you ever seen us cross the border since Mothstar became the leader?" Hawkpaw growled.

Moonwhisker glared at Hawkpaw, but didn't reply. Instead she turned around to lead the patrol away. Both Acorntail and Ivysplash blinked in surprise. Clearly Moonwhisker wasn't the one leading the patrol, but she didn't seem to care. Once the three of them were gone, the tension seemed to fade.

"What will you do now?" Hawkpaw's attention had returned to Nightpaw, who was crouched beside her.

"I guess I go back," Nightpaw replied.

The sun had already risen to its fullest height by the time they reached the WindClan camp. Nightpaw's legs felt numb from the running that she'd endured all day. Yet she felt a strange sense of openness when she joined Hawkpaw and Featherpaw. Reedtail had returned to Mistypelt's side as her kits tumbled out of the nursery at the sound of their return. The gray and white queen had been growing annoyed over the past couple of days since Reedtail spent much of his time with Nightpaw.

Both of their kits tumbled around excitedly around Mistypelt and Reedtail as they shared tongues. They were in a peaceful world, one that Nightpaw had only seen when her eyes had barely opened. Dusk had treated her the same way when she and her siblings played around. She looked away when a sense of longing suddenly overwhelmed her.

They don't know what it's like, she thought scornfully. They've never lived like she had. They didn't have the same expectations like she did. If she didn't pull through with her mission, the outcome would likely kill her.

"Stripedpaw told us what happened." Featherpaw's voice broke Nightpaw from her staring. She turned to face the pale gray apprentice. "He said that you're. . .hers."

"He isn't exactly descriptive," Nightpaw muttered.

"He didn't want to get in trouble." Bluepaw had joined them when his patrol returned. Whitefur, Branchclaw, and Redwhisker had returned with him. All three cats had been joined by their Clanmates after the news spread like wildfire. "Stripedpaw really isn't bad once you get to know him. He can be a jerk at times, but so is his father."

"We have the same father mousebrain!" Hawkpaw snapped.

Nightpaw fought back a purr of amusement when they began to argue among themselves. It reminded her of when she and her siblings would constantly bicker over who was better. She thought back to the days when Dusk would take care of her when she was a kit. Those days were long gone, and she would have to take care of herself from now on.

By now the sun had begun to set above the shallow scoop of camp. Nightpaw and Hawkpaw were sharing a rabbit when Mothstar emerged from Darkwing's den. Every cat had looked at their leader suspiciously when she met their gazes. Mothstar didn't seem to notice them when she reached the Sandpile. Her pelt turned golden brown when the sun gleamed over it. For the first time since Nightpaw had joined WindClan, she almost felt sorry for Mothstar.

This decision will effect the entire Clan, she thought. Mothstar had made difficult choices in the past. And Nightpaw was one of those difficult choices.

"I know that every cat has been wondering what I would do now," Mothstar meowed when a dull silence filled the air. A hawk screeched in the distance, but that was the only sound that Nightpaw could hear. "I am still your leader, even if I have made difficult decisions in the past. Those choices are behind me now, and I wish to continue leading this Clan."

Murmurs of approval quickly followed her words. There were a few cats who glared at Mothstar, but most of them were younger warriors or elders. Rosewhisker nodded in approval when the WindClan leader looked at her. Nightpaw felt as though this decision had weighed down on her shoulders, yet Mothstar had refused to look at her.

"There is also a ceremony for two apprentices in this Clan that needs to be held," Mothstar continued once all cats had looked at her again. "They have learned all that is needed to learn about the warrior code, and their mentors have told me that they are ready to become warriors." Both Hawkpaw and Stripedpaw stared at her in shock. Nightpaw could already feel their excitement rising as they padded forward. "Stripedpaw, Hawkpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and defend this Clan, even with the cost of your life?"

"I do," Hawkpaw meowed. Her legs were trembling from the ceremony as she spoke. Nightpaw fought back a purr when she saw that Hawkpaw was more than ready to become a warrior.

"I do," Stripedpaw replied.

"Than by the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Hawkpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Hawkfire, in honor of your courage and friendship towards other cats. May your friendship spread through the Clans like your name." Mothstar stepped forward to press her muzzle on Hawkfire's forehead. Nightpaw watched as Hawkfire licked her leader's shoulder, as if they were mother and daughter.

"Stripedpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Stripedfur, in honor of your battling skills and fur color." The two shared the same moment that Hawkfire had shared. Stripedfur moved a little more impatiently when the WindClan leader stepped back.

"Hawkfire! Stripedfur! Hawkfire! Stripedfur!" All of the cats cheered their new names. Nightpaw found herself joining in as well, despite all that Stripedfur had put her through.

Once the meeting was over, Nightpaw had tried to press forward so that she could meet Hawkfire. But the rest of the Clan had shouldered her aside. They were all congratulating them like she would have. Nightpaw stared at them for a few heartbeats. Had she been a warrior, or a Clanborn cat, perhaps the cats wouldn't have pushed her aside.

She turned around when she realized that she wouldn't get the chance to greet them.

It didn't take her long to find Mothstar. The WindClan leader was speaking quietly to Darkwing, who only shook her head. The medicine cat seemed worried about something. Nightpaw couldn't tell what it was, but she knew that when Darkwing was worried, it meant trouble for the Clan.

"We don't know how much sooner the rogues will come," Darkwing muttered. "All I saw was darkness. That cat you gave your kit to. . .he's coming with them."

Nightpaw blinked in surprise when Darkwing mentioned her father. He was coming to the lake? She fought back a shudder at the thought. If her father was coming, than that meant trouble was coming. The Assassin wouldn't have come unless he knew that she could complete her task. Clearly he saw that she wasn't worthy of finishing the job for him.