The Sky's Rise
Chapter 9
By the time dawn approached, Lionstar and Birchleaf had arrived back in camp and were waiting patiently for the rest of ThunderClan to arouse. "Birchleaf, how was Sunmist when you left?" The new leader asked quietly, his eyes on the medicine den entrance.
"She's getting better, but Moonshadow said she was taking the loss of her second litter hard." The honey furred tom responded. Lionstar nodded, his eyes lingering on the medicine den. "Lionstar, you can't worry about she-cats right now. Especially ones with mates. You're leader now, so put your clan first." Birchleaf mewed sternly, his eyes on Lionstar.
"She's part of the clan." Lionstar hissed quietly.
"Yes, she is part of the clan. You need not worry about part of the clan, but the clan as a whole." Birchleaf replied as he padded away from Lionstar.
Lionstar glared after the medicine cat. Why can I not love her? He wondered. Lionstar sighed as he sat under High Stone, his tail wrapped neatly around his paws. He saw Whitepatch come out of the warrior's den. The tom smiled at his leader as he approached him.
"Welcome home Lionstar." Whitepatch's voice thundered deeply.
"It's good to be home Whitepatch." Lionstar breathed with a grin. Bearfur emerged from the den walking beside Fawnfur. Robinfeather followed them and Willowfire followed him. Duskpaw walked with his sister Dreampaw and Dawnpaw out of the apprentices den as the other warrior's emerged from the warrior's den more slowly. They each greeted Lionstar with smiled and purrs, and as the new leader glanced around, the only cats missing were Cloverlight, Sunmist, Birchleaf, Moonshadow, Silverfur and her kits, and the elders. Lionstar sighed, but couldn't help but smile at the gathered clan. He left them and padded up the slope to the High Stone.
"Cats of ThunderClan, please gather below High Stone for a clan meeting!" Lionstar's voice thundered around the camp. Silverfur padded out of the nursery, her kits whining from inside. Birchleaf showed up and sat down at the edge of the group while Moonshadow and Cloverlight helped Sunmist out of the medicine den. Just with a single glance, Lionstar could tell Cloverlight and Sunmist hadn't slept much.
The leader forced back a growl as he saw Nightclaw go over to Sunmist and wrap his tail around her. He looked away from them and looked at rest of the clan. He smiled down at them and cleared his throat before continuing.
"As you all know, Birchleaf and I went to the Moon Pool last night, and I am proud to tell you that I have received my nine lives." Lionstar almost didn't get to finish his sentence before the clan burst into cheer. As it died down, he continued. "Now, I must name the new deputy. I say these words before StarClan for them to approve my choice. Whitepatch will be the new deputy of ThunderClan!" He yowled. Most cats looked in shock, especially Nightclaw, but soon everyone was cheering, even the former leader's son.
"Whitepatch! Whitepatch! Whitepatch! Whitepatch!" He could see Whitepatch's mate, Willowfire, yowling the loudest.
"I have more to say." Lionstar purred. "Owlkit, Frozenkit, Lacekit, please step forward." Lionstar beckoned the three siblings. Lionstar chuckled as Swanwing licked the kits frantically and Stormcry rushed over, trying to help her.
"Swanwing, Stormcry, they look amazing." Lionstar mewed. Swanwing looked up at him, unsure. He nodded and she let the kits step forward, but not before getting one last lick on Frozenkit's head. Frozenkit shook herself and sat down.
"Owlkit, Fozenkit, Lacekit, you are now six moons old and are now old enough to be apprenticed. Owlkit, from this moment on until you have earned your warrior name, you shall be known as Owlkit. Bearfur, you trained Redfur well and I pray you will teach Owlkit just was well." Lionstar mewed.
"I will do my best." Bearfur mewed, his long fur blowing in the gentle breeze. Owlpaw and Bearfur touched noses and Lionstar continued.
"Frozenkit, from this moment on until you have earned your warrior name, you shall be known as Frozenpaw. Fawnfur, you trained Frostbird to be an outstanding and I pray you do the sane to your new apprentice."
"I promised to teach her everything I know." Fawnfur promised as she touched her nose to Frozenpaw's.
Lionstar dipped his head and turned to Lacekit. He recalled when Lacekit had been left in ThunderClan territory and Swanwing had gladly taken him in as her own. "Lacekit, from this moment on until you have earned your warrior name, you shall be known as Lacepaw. Blackdream, it has been moons since you had an apprentice, but I remember how Featherstar said you were one of her best warriors. I know you will make Lacepaw a warrior ThunderClan will be proud of." Lionstar mewed to the black and gray she-cat. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Moonshadow's eyes gleaming with pride and Sunmist smiling weakly for her mother.
Blackdream and Lacepaw touched noses, the she-cat purring softly.
"Owlpaw! Frozenpaw! Lacepaw!" The clan cheered. Blackdream and Lacepaw parted and Lionstar yowled, ending the clan meeting. He climbed off of High Stone as the clan bustled around the new apprentices. He saw Moonshadow exchange a quick word with Sunmist before padding over to Blackdream with a smile. His paws itched to go speak with the black and golden she-cat, but he couldn't. Not with Nightclaw and Cloverlight there.
Then, as if by the power of StarClan, Whitepatch padded over to them. Lionstar was close enough for the deputy to tell the warriors to go eat something and rest. As Nightclaw and Cloverlight bid their good-byes to the healing Sunmist and retreated, Lionstar padded over to her, burying the pained love he felt for her behind concern. "Sunmist, how are you feeling?" He asked as he came closer. Sunmist's head snapped towards him, her eyes wide. He noticed how tense she grew and guilt gnawed at his stomach.
"I'm better." She mewed as she avoided his gaze.
"That's good. I, uh, I was worried." Lionstar mewed. Sunmist nodded and sighed.
"Why did you do that to me?" She asked.
"Do what?" Lionstar titled his head.
"Why did you say that? When I was hurt, what in the name of StarClan made you say you love me?" Sunmist hissed in a hushed tone. Lionstar gulped as he shuffled his paws.
"I've always cared about you Sunmist. I just- I didn't think that-" The golden leader stuttered. He sighed, regained himself, and looked at her with blue eyes clouded with tears. "I've always loved you and when you fell, I didn't think I'd ever be able to tell you." He mewed.
"What if I didn't want you to tell me? I have a mate! His name is Nightclaw, you know, Featherstar's son! Or did you forget about that?" Sunmist hissed spitefully. Lionstar almost cowered at her harsh words. He looked her in the eye, and for a moment, he saw a flicker of something. Her eyes had softened and shone with an emotion he couldn't place. It had been there and had gone so quick that he couldn't tell what the flicker was, but he was determined to find out.
"What makes him better than me?" Lionstar asked.
"He asked! He's the one that told me he loved me. He asked me to be his mate. And he doesn't go around trying to be with a taken she-cat." Sunmist growled.
"I told you I loved you." Lionstar protested.
"After I was with someone else! It doesn't count now." Sunmist argued.
"What if I'd told you before him? Would you have said yes?" Lionstar asked, his voice breaking to a whisper. Sunmist fell silent and glared at him. Lionstar stared at her amber orbs, falling deeper into her gaze, even when it shone with anger.
After what felt like countless moons, Sunmist managed to choke out, "Yes." Lionstar's jaw gaped open in shock. Before he could say anything more, Sunmist added, "But it's too late now. You waited too long. I love Nightclaw and I'll be with him as long as I can. You can't tear us apart. I don't love you. Not anymore." Sunmist growled and stalked into the medicine den. A lump formed in Lionstar's throat and he felt like crying.
I really did miss out. She'll never leave him. The golden leader thought as he watched her leave. After a moment, he forced a weak smile. But she's happy. He makes her happy. He said mentally and with a heavy sigh, he turned away to the rest of his clan, leaving Sunmist behind.