Thanks to everyone for the support! I wasn't going to do review replies... but what the hay!
The Skystorm - Thanks! *Hands out BlueXThrush pom-poms* Let's rally together!
Icefeather - I thought DoveXBumble was canon in the end? Oh well, doesn't matter. I have to say, I like Dovger better :)
MyBrokenHeart123 - Thank you!
Guest - I did have to look that up! Interesting, I think "tsundre" fits them both extremely well!
Guest - Yay, another BlueXThrush groupie!
Gingehfish - You're very welcome! I've completely forgotten about SwiftXBright... I love it!
Guest - You might just be getting what you want! :)
YouMayKnowMeAsAngel - I might have to join the IvyHawk groupie... group... as well!
Everlasting Meow - I think Lightpaw is definitely not the normal tom
Frosti xD - BerryXHoney... NOT ANOTHER ONE! I'm overloaded already!
Wazzzy Girl - Thanks!
Icewish - Thanks a bunch!
"-able to catch their own prey!" Bramblestar listened to his yowl bounce off of the camp walls, becoming more and more distorted with each pass.
As the meager supply of cats gathered beneath him, Bramblestar couldn't help but frown. How could he take enough cats to that night's gathering to keep up images, while leaving guards for the camp?
Suddenly, an idea hit him. He felt a tingling in his claws as a small smirk curled his lip. It was a perfect way to explain the lack of warriors at the gathering and at the same time explain Daisykit's untimely death. The only shortcoming was that it didn't explain Seedpelt's death.
Oh well, Bramblestar thought, I can think on my paws.
"Today, I am pleased to perform one of the most important Clan ceremonies. By naming warriors we prove that ThunderClan prospers."
The word 'prospers' brought whispers that Bramblestar chose to ignore.
"Lionblaze, has your apprentice Lightpaw passed his apprenticeship to the best of your comprehension?"
"Yes, Bramblestar" the yellow short-haired deputy nodded his head along with his words, stepping backwards.
Next the brown tabby leader turned his amber eyes to Lightpaw. The small fluffy gold tom sat stoically: his blue eyes ablaze. For a moment, Bramblestar was thrown off guard at how similar they were to Cinderheart's, his mother. It was almost as if the she-cat herself had risen from the grave with a different coat.
He shook his head, resetting.
"I, Bramblestar, 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. Lightpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
Lightpaw answered in the affirmative, his voice eerily even.
"Then, by StarClan's power, I crown you by your new name. Lightpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Lightfall, for your... compassion and your coat." Bramblestar stuttered, realizing he had messed up the order of the ceremony. "StarClan welcomes you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."
"Lightfall! Lightfall! Lightfall!"
After the cheering had died down, Bramblestar forged onward.
"Tonight, as you all know, marks the full moon. The cats that will be going to the gathering are: Lightfall, Lionblaze, Maplepaw, Jayfeather, Grasspaw, Toadstep and Spiderleg. We will be leaving in the next few moments to arrive in time."
Bramblestar waited until Maplepaw weaved her way out of the thorn tunnel before speaking to the group of seven cats before him.
"ThunderClan can not be seen as weak at this gathering."
"Why would it?" Grasspaw asked curiously, his tail flicking excitedly as he thought of the gathering.
"Seven cats is small. Double, maybe even triple that is what ThunderClan brought in it's prime." Bramblestar answered, his tail flicking. "So, to explain this, I have a story that I want us all to stick to."
The cats waited for him to speak, their dark eyes gleaming in the growing darkness.
"A fox attacked camp three sunrises ago. That's why we don't have many warriors with us, they stayed behind to guard the camp just in case. Also, the fox managed to kill Daisykit. I don't want a word whispered about Seedfall- Seedpelt giving her the wrong herb."
"What about Seedpelt? What do we say about her?" Bramblestar couldn't pinpoint who asked the question, but he would have bet his weight in mouse tails that it had been Lightfall.
He directed his answer at the golden warrior.
"If anyone asks, especially WindClan, simply say that it's quite a tragedy and we mourn her death. Skirt around the name lest anyone has questions."
At that, Bramblestar took off, not wanting to face any more questions. The surrounding cats followed him through the forest as he leaped the stream that fed into the lake and cut diagonally across WindClan territory. They wouldn't meet a gathering party now, surely. ThunderClan was late.
At last, the party reached the fallen tree bridge. Bramblestar leaped up with vigor, anchoring his claws onto the branch as he skittered across. He was all nerves, worried about how ThunderClan would be seen. Would the other Clans buy the fox story? Would they have already heard of Seedfall...pelt's death? Would they attack ThunderClan at dawn, sensing weakness?
ThunderClan burst into the clearing, panting. Seeing that the gathering was just about to start, Bramblestar nodded to his Clanmates and took off towards the tree with Lionblaze. The golden tom stayed at the bottom, while Bramblestar clawed his way up to the lowest branch. He avoided the other leader's eyes above him.
A loud, commanding yowl from Rowanstar announced that the gathering had finally begun.
"Now that ThunderClan is finally here, ShadowClan will speak first!" No cat objected to this, so the red-brown tom forged on. "Prey is running well here in late green-leaf. Ratscar has moved to the elder's den-" he paused for a few congratulatory yowls, and then continued "Kinkfur has moved to the nursery, and is expecting a litter soon. That is all ShadowClan has to say. RiverClan?"
BrambleStar was expecting Mistystar's croaky mew, but instead, a strong powerful voice rang out.
"I regret to inform you all that Mistystar has passed away! I stand before you as Reedstar, as I have received my nine lives from StarClan!" Reedwhisker- now Reedstar, called to the Clans. It seemed like every cat mewed congratulations to the tom. "I bring news: Honeypaw and Leafpaw passed their apprentice assessments and are here tonight as Honeyshade and Leafpelt. In addition, Icewing has given birth to my kits, two toms: Fishkit and Turtlekit!"
After the yowls had quieted, Reedstar signaled to the WindClan leader to talk.
"It seems as though this gathering will be a monumental one!" Bramblestar's expression grew surprised as he recognized Crowfeather's mew from high above. "Ashstar passed away only two sunrises ago.. WindClan will mourn her. However, I have decided to not take the role of leader, as I am not a young tom myself. Don't fear! I'm not quite an elder yet, though. I have chosen Emberfoot to be WindClan's next leader, and he stands next to me as Emberstar!"
Bramblestar craned his neck up to see the new leader, nearly losing his footing in the process. Crowfeather was still speaking.
"Emberstar has asked me to continue to serve as deputy of WindClan, and I have accepted." The black tom finished, and as if to prove he wasn't inept yet, took a diving leap off of the branch he shared with the leader and landed gracefully on the floor below. He moved to stand by Lionblaze, his son and fellow deputy.
"My thanks to Crowfeather!" Emberstar's voice carried out through the gathering. "WindClan hasn't had much excitement. My clan brings three new apprentices to the gathering: Larkpaw, Gustpaw and Swiftpaw. Larkpaw has chosen to serve under Kestrelflight as medicine cat apprentice."
Bramblestar knew it was now his time to speak. He stepped forward, and opened his jaws.
"ThunderClan welcomes the new leaders Emberstar and Reedstar!" His words echoed across the clearing as several cats mewed their agreement. "ThunderClan brings mixed news. Tonight, we have brought one new warrior and two new apprentices: Lightfall, Grasspaw and Maplepaw! In other good news, Rosepetal has birthed her second litter, with two toms and a she-kit: Stonekit, Tumblekit and Thistlekit. Sadly, her fourth kit: Daisykit, was killed in a fox accident. ThunderClan's camp has been left heavily guarded to ensure this will not happen again."
Bramblestar stepped back to end the gathering, but before he could leap down from the oak, Emberstar asked about Seedpelt.
"And your medicine cat?"
"Oh yes. I also regret to inform you that Seedp...fall has passed on. Her body was found in the lake by a WindClan patrol. ThunderClan gives much thanks to WindClan for bringing her home."
Emberstar nodded, satisfied, and jumped down from the tree, his darker patterned feet hitting the moss first.
Bramblestar stared after him.
Somewhere deep in his belly, he felt a strong sense of foreboding about the new WindClan leader.
Reviews would be great!
Traveling cats are next on deck, everyone okay with that?
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