It's the final chapter of Lionclaw's legacy! But don't worry readers! You haven't seen the last of these characters! I'm thinking of writing a sequel that focuses on Leafkit and Whiskerkit. Well enjoy the last chapter!
Lionclaw stepped out of the medicine cat den at the base of the large tree. It had been a quarter moon after the battle and the clan was still recovering from it. All the cats who had minor injuries did most of the work to be done around the camp while the ones with major injuries rested. Leafkit and Whiskerkit had also helped. They helped Sandclaw with the building of the apprentice den, which was halted because of the battle. Lionclaw looked up into the night sky. The stars twinkled brightly as well as a shining half moon.
"I'm ready to go," spoke Redpaw padding over to her mentor, "I just checked on Smalltail's eye and…I don't think it can be saved…"
"I know," Lionclaw placed his tail gently on the she-cat's shoulder, "Come. The Moon Jade awaits."
Linelinelineline
"Careful," warned Lionclaw, "The branches are tightly packed." He glanced back to see Redpaw carefully weaving her way through the branches. Satisfied that she wouldn't hurt herself, Lionclaw continued to lead. The huge green rock was bathe in the moonlight. Redpaw gasped when she saw it. Lionclaw gestured for her to come over. He touched his nose to the stone and checked that Redpaw did the same before letting Starclan take over his dreams.
Lionclaw opened his eyes to see the familiar field from his last visit to Starclan. Next to him Redpaw was looking around in wonder.
"Welcome Redpaw. Lionclaw," the three medicine cats appeared before them.
"Herbpelt, Squirrelpelt, Nightclaw," spoke Lionclaw, "There is something I wish to ask of you."
"Don't speak," replied Squirrelpelt, lifting up her tail, "We know what you wish. Wait for a minute."
Around Lionclaw and Redpaw many Starclan cats began to gather, including two very familiar cats. "Quietheart! Longleg!" exclaimed Redpaw. A lump rose in Lionclaw's throat as he saw Thunderfoot. However Thunderfoot didn't look upset, in fact he had a large grin on his face. A large gray tom stepped before Lionclaw.
"Lionclaw. Are you sure?"
Lionclaw dipped his head to the former leader, "Yes Heavystar. I have given it much thought and many of the cats in Treeclan edged me on."
"What?" asked Redpaw, "What are you talking about?"
Herbpelt placed his tail on Redpaw's shoulder, "Shhh," he whispered, "Watch."
Lionclaw took a deep breath, "I will become the new leader of Treeclan." Redpaw's eyes widen but she didn't speak.
"Then let us begin," yowled Heavystar, " Lionclaw. Are you ready to receive your nine lives?"
A million thoughts were running through Lionclaw's head. Was it the right choice? Would it be best for him to become the leader? Lionclaw shook the thoughts away and said, "Yes. I am ready."
Duskpaw-his former apprentice stepped forward first. She smiled at her mentor before saying, "With this life I give you the gift of kindness. Use it to treat all cats equally." Duskpaw touched her nose to her mentor's and a calm sensation filled Lionclaw's body. Duskpaw took a step back and Squirrelpelt took her place.
"With this gift I give you courage. Use it to defend your clan from danger." Squirrelpelt touched her nose to Lionclaw's. Lionclaw saw a vision of him defending Treeclan camp. He felt pain as a cat attacked him. Lionclaw fell to the ground panting.
"Lionclaw…" Herbpelt held Redpaw back with his tail.
Longleg took Squirrelpelt's place, "With this life, I give you tireless energy. Use it to carry out your duties as a leader." He touched his nose to Lionclaw's and Lionclaw had a vision of himself running through a field.
Quietheart smiled and took Longleg's place, "With this life, I give you love. Use it to take care of your clan." She placed her nose on Lionclaw's. Lionclaw cried out as the vision he received as a battle against other cats.
Hollystar, the Cedarclan leader took Quietheart's place, "With this life, I give you guidance to show your clan the right path to take." Hollystar touched noses with Lionclaw. Lionclaw saw a vision of him leading his clan.
Flamestar, the former Oakclan leader stepped in front of Lionclaw, "With this life, I give you friendship, to stay close with your clans in troubled times." Flamestar touched noses with Lionclaw. Lionclaw's vision was of him and Gorgefoot laughing.
Shiningstar approached Lionclaw, "With this life I give you faith. Use it to trust your clan." Shiningstar touched noses with Lionclaw. A vision of Risingrock talking about how nobody asked him what happened, entered Lionclaw's mind.
Before Lionclaw could recover, Herbpelt padded over to him and said, "With this life I give you the gift of mentoring to teach the young cats of the clan." Herbpelt placed his nose on Lionclaw's. Lionclaw got a vision of Whiskerkit touching noses with Runningtail.
Heavystar stepped forward, "And finally, with this life, I give you determination to do everything in your power for your clan." Heavystar touched noses with Lionclaw. Lionclaw's vision showed him working on the new camp. Heavystar backed up a step before gesturing Lionclaw to rise. Lionclaw obeyed. "I hail you by your new name, Lionstar. Your old life is no more.You have now received the nine lives of a leader, and StarClan grants you the guardianship of TreeClan. Defend it well; care for young and old; honor your ancestors and the traditions of the warrior code; live each life with pride and dignity."
"Lionstar! Lionstar!" yowled the Starclan warriors.
Redpaw smiled at the new leader, "Congrulations!"
"But!" spoke up Herbpelt. Immediately everyone was silent. Herbpelt turned to Redpaw, "Now that Lionstar is leader Treeclan is going to need a new medicine cat."
"But I haven't finished my training yet!" protested Redpaw.
Herbpelt smiled, "Redpaw. Do not worry. Lionstar will still train you but first you must become a full medicine cat. Lionstar cannot perform the ceremony now for he is no longer a medicine cat so I will do it instead." The gray tom took a deep breath before saying, "I, Herbpelt, the former medicine cat of Birchclan have looked down upon this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of the medicine cat and I as well as the rest of Starclan will help her serve her Clan for many moons. Redpaw. Do you promise to uphold the ways of the medicine cat, to stand apart from rivalry between Clan and Clan, and to protect all cats equally even at the cost of your life?"
Redpaw took a deep breath, her golden eyes shining, "I do."
"Then by the powers of Starclan I give you your true name as a medicine cat. Redpaw, from this moment you will be known as Redleaf. We honor your courage and your faith. By stepping up to become a medicine cat halfway through your warrior training you have proven to be the new medicine cat."
"Redleaf! Redleaf!" yowled the Starclan warriors.
Lionstar was proud of his apprentice. He remembered his ceremony to become a medicine cat and knew she must be feeling the same way.
"Now you must go," said Quetheart, "The clan awaits you."
"Tell my brother I am doing fine," smiled Longleg.
Lionstar and Redleaf woke. The sun was beginning to rise, casting the forest into a soft glow. "Come Redleaf," said Lionstar, "The clan is waiting."
Linelineline
Lionstar and Redleaf stepped into the quiet camp. Everyone was asleep. "Guess you should wake them up," said Redleaf.
Lionstar laughed before running over to the large tree and climbed up onto a branch, "All cats able to catch their own prey, gather here under the Highbranch."
Redleaf helped wake everyone up. Sleepy cats padded over to the Highbranch. Lionstar spoke, " Cats of Treeclan. We have some news to tell you. Redpaw has now become Redleaf, the medicine cat of Treeclan." Confused looks went around the waking cats. "I am now Lionstar. The leader of Treeclan." Immediately yowls of joy rang up from the cats. Lionstar waited for it to settle down before saying, "I have chosen the cat to be the first deputy of Treeclan. Sandclaw will be the first deputy."
Sandclaw's mouth dropped, "Me?" he stuttered.
"Come on Sandclaw!" Nightheart playfully hit the tom with a paw, "Act more deputy like!"
Sandclaw shook his head, "Yes Lionstar. I accept."
"That's much better."
"That is not all," said Lionstar, "Rainpaw, Tornpaw, Fernpaw. Step forward." The three apprentices obeyed. Lionstar jumped down from the Highbranch. "I, Lionstar, leader of TreeclanClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in their turn. Tornpaw, Rainpaw, Fernpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your lives?"
The three apprentices looked at each before saying at the same time, "I do!"
"Then, by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Rainpaw from this moment you will be known as Rainfeather. Tornpaw from this moment you will be known as Tornear. Finally Fernpaw. From this moment you will be known as Fernwhisker. StarClan honors your bravery and courage, and we welcome you as full members of TreeClan."
"Rainfeather! Tornear! Fernwhisker!" yowled the Treeclan warriors.
"You will sit vigil tonight and guard the camp," said Lionstar. He beckoned Leafkit and Whiskerkit over. "You didn't think I forgot about you two right?" He took a deep breath, "From this moment, until you have earned his warrior name, this apprentice shall be known as Leafpaw. Riverstream, you will be mentor to this apprentice. It is time you took on an apprentice." Whiskerkit watched as his sister touched noses with Riverstream. Lionstar continued, "From this moment until you have earned your warrior name, you will be known as Whiskerpaw." He paused, remembering the vision he had of Whiskerpaw touching noses with Runningtail. "Runningtail, you will mentor this apprentice. Teach your strength and swiftness to this young cat." Lionstar watched in pride as Whiskerpaw touched noses with Runningtail.
"Leafpaw! Whiskerpaw!" yowled the clan cats.
Lionstar climbed back up the tree, on to the Highbranch, "We have faced many problems in the beginning, but now I feel like we are truly a new clan. We have risen from our clan rivalries and have been born anew. This day marks the day when Treeclan is truly born!"
"Treeclan! Treeclan!" cried the clan cats.
Lionstar swept his eyes other them. At the three new warriors standing proudly. At the two new apprentices. To the many warriors that fought along side of him, as well as the one queen and her kits. He settled his eyes on Redleaf who smiled back up at him. Lionstar looked up into the sky to see one star, still visible in the early morning sky. He knew they were cheering as well. Lionstar knew that whatever happened next, they could face it. Together.