Chapter 11 Awakening

The two pokemon arrived at camp the next day, and Goldmoon was shocked to see them so battered. Bladestar had ordered them to get sleep, which Silverpaw was relieved to get. He was more relieved for Auraeyes, since she had been getting tired more easily as they went. She insisted on talking to Goldmoon alone, so once Silverpaw had gone to his den she went off to talk to the Healer.

He slept for what seemed like days. His muscles cramped easily from not moving, so once he did wake up he had to walk around first before doing anything. That morning he found Auraeyes next to the frest kill pile, and he approached her quietly.

"So, what did you want to tell Goldmoon?" he asked.

"Oh!" she said, startled, "N-nothing... I just wanted to tell her about your evolution is all. She was a little curious, it was nothing."

Silverpaw could tell she wasn't telling him everything, but he didn't want to pester her on the subject. "So, when are we going training?"

"Well, I think we can go after this. We can hunt a little and then head off to the Gathering, since that is tonight."

Silverpaw wasn't sure that he wanted to go to the gathering, since he was so different now. But what Auraeyes said before they left Skypeak assured him a little, so he agreed. They finished, and headed back out hunting once more.

---

They returned before the gathering had to leave with a couple Magikarp in hand, and the clan mates who stayed behind were curious at this new kind of meat. The rest gathered at the entrance to the camp, and made their way to the Fourstones.

Silverpaw sighed as he noticed Auraeyes with Razorclaw again, and rushed ahead next to Twilighttail. The group arrived just after Moonclan to the Fourstones, and Bladestar made his way to sit next to Darkstar.

The Glaceon looked around for some familiar faces, but he didn't notice anyone. Soon, Iceclan came and Nightclan not long after and the gathering was set to start. Nightstar had returned to his position, clearly stronger but still battered.

"Clans! Welcome to the gathering this evening!" Darkstar began. He mentioned a couple new births in the clan, and that everything was well. Emberstar had no new news, other than prey was running well. Bladestar made mention of Silverpaw's journey to the Skypeak, which received a few congratulations from members of the crowd.

"So, Nightstar, anything new with Nightclan?"

"Other than I have recovered? Not really. Things are normal as they can get." He said, "We have had-"

A bolt of lightning and a roar made the leader stop, and his eyes grew wide as a yellow cat approached the crowd. Beside him stood a larger, brown pokemon of the same figure. The yellow one laughed, and glared at Nightstar.

"Rajaon!" Silverpaw gasped, and when he looked at Auraeyes she seemed shocked too.

"You! I have come for you again, seeing as I have already taken care of your mate." he sneered, "She came to me with no problems, and offered herself."

"Where is Mistshallow?" Nightstar demanded, standing on the stone with fur standing on end.

"Does it matter? Oh well, Atarin!"

The blue bird flew down from the sky and the crowd gasped as the bloody figure of a pokemon was clasped in it's talons. Atarin dropped the figure in front of Nightstar, and he gasped as he realized the pokemon was Mistshallow. Her body was covered in burns and gashes, and she looked at Nightstar with a smile.

"Night... star.... my love..." she wheezed.

"Mistshallow... Rajaon, why?" Nightstar growled, "Why did you do this!"

Rajaon sneered, "Because she broke the laws of the Legnara! That is not an Vaporeon, but a Suicune in disguise. I'm surprised she has the strength to stay in that form, unless she's stuck. No matter, we have come for you, and your son." He glanced at Silverpaw, and smiled.

"You cannot think to take on all of us!" Bladestar said, "That would be foolish."

"Yes, there are way more of us than you." Emberstar commented.

"I think, you underestimate our powers." Rajaon said, "Esaro, show them what we can do!"

"Certainly." he replied, and the brown pokemon took a giant leap to land just behind Bladestar. Esaro opened his mouth, and a great torrent of flame engulfed the Fireclan leader. Members of his clan screamed, and when the flame ended the leader stumbled and collapsed onto the ground in front of the rock.

"Bladestar!" Goldmoon cried, and rushed to the leaders aid with Twilighttail close behind.

The remaining three leaders roared, and charged at the pokemon standing behind them. Darkstar jumped at the pokemon, making it dodge into Emberstar who left a gash in Esaro's side. The pokemon roared in pain, and jumped onto the rock.

Meanwhile, Fireclan members had charged at Rajaon. Other clans attempted to reach Atarin, with little luck. Rajaon growled as pokemon after pokemon charged at him, and he finally roared in disgust.

"Fine! You win this time, but I swear we will come back with more..."

Esaro jumped to stand beside the Raikou, and together they left the clearing. Atarin flew above the trees and dissapeared like the rest.

Nightstar had returned to stand beside Mistshallow, and Silverpaw approached him carefully. His mother was dying, he could tell that. Nightstar glanced up at the apprentice, and sighed.

"I am sorry... they wanted all of us... but she paid in the end."

"Father... she..."

"Nightstar... it is... alright." Mistshallow coughed, and looked at him lovingly, "I did what I did... for both of you. And... I am glad you are both here with me."

Silverpaw looked at Nightstar, and they both cuddled closer to the Vaporeon.

She coughed, and a weak spasm went through her body. "Thank... Bladestar for his kindness... I wish to go back to Fireclan after....ward.... and... I... hope that Skyclan will have me..."

She sighed, and with one last breath lay still. Silverpaw nudged her smooth fur, and licked the cooling fur lightly. Nightstar stood up, and looked over at the crowd gathering around where the Fireclan leader had fallen. He jumped down from the ledge, and soon found Twilighttail looking somber.

"Is he alright?" Nightstar asked.

The Glaceon shook his head. "He's already lost a life, almost instantly. And Goldmoon says the burns go past his armor, onto the skin underneath so she can't treat them."

Silverpaw had come back to join his clan, who all looked distraught. He found Auraeyes at the front of the crowd, and he watched as Goldmoon frantically tried to fit herbs underneath the armor plates on the Aggron's burnt body. He groaned in pain, only making Goldmoon gasp and work harder.

"Goldmoon... it is no use." he finally said, looking at the healer, "Do not waste your herbs on an old coot like me..."

"No! Bladestar, you have to get healed! Your clan needs you!" she said, and rushed to make more juices.

"Goldmoon... no... Twilighttail can take over the clan, I have served it well enough to be satisfied." the leader replied back.

Goldmoon choked back tears, and Twilighttail approached his leader quietly.

"Bladestar... I do not wish for you to leave us, but what happens must happen... however, I think you are forgetting one thing you wanted to do tonight back at camp." he said.

The leader looked confused, but remembered after a second and nodded.

"Right, Silverpaw... where are you?"

The apprentice looked shocked, and approached the group around Bladestar. The leader really did look pitiful, burned and charred on the ground as his clanmates tried to save him. But he still had a proud look in his eyes, not the eyes of a pokemon awaiting death. Bladestar looked up to the stars, sighed, and began:

"I, Bladestar.... leader of Fireclan, do call upon my warrior ancestors one last time to look down on this apprentice... he has trained hard and learned the ways of your code... and I wish you would look down upon him as a warrior in turn..." The leader turned his head to the apprentice, "Do you, Silverpaw, promise to uphold the warrior code and... follow it in every way?"

"I do, Bladestar." came the reply.

Bladestar smiled, and looked back to the sky. "Then, from this moment on, you shall... be known.. as Silversong..." he took a breath, and with a smile lay still.

Silversong looked at the leader, and as tradition approached him and licked his shoulder respectfully. Silversong had hoped this would be a happy occasion, but no one around him was cheering his name. They all sat silent as the body of their former leader lay in front of them.