No internet means incorrect ceremonies. Sorry! I did my best to remember them correctly! Darn short memory…
Here it is, the last chapter in The Nine Have Come. Hallelujah.
Tada! THE EPILOGUE!!
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"Springkit, Smokekit and Sunsetkit, please step forward," Stonestar yowled.
Springkit's black pelt shone in the moonlight. Smokekit's red socks and red tip on her tail, looked almost black in the darkness of the night, and Sunsetkit's cinnamon pelt faded into black almost completely.
"These kits have reached the age where they will begin their training to become warriors! Springkit, from this day forward until you complete your training you will be known as Springpaw. Your mentor will be Waterstripe." Springpaw squealed as his mentor's name was told. "Waterstripe, your courage and humor has brought this clan through tough times, I hope you will pass this onto Springpaw."
"I will."
Waterstripe padded up to Springpaw almost casually, and they touched noses. Nightstorm watched as Waterstripe whispered some comforting words to Springpaw.
"Sunsetkit, from this day forward until you complete your training you will be known as Sunsetpaw. Your mentor will be Willowheart. Willowheart, your kindness and strong heart shone as your last apprentice Haretail was made a warrior. Now, we need you to pass these qualities unto Sunsetpaw."
"I will."
"Smokekit, from this day forward until you complete your training you will be known as Smokepaw. Your mentor will be Nightstorm."
Nightstorm's heart flipped over, and Smokepaw began jumping about in a circle excitedly.
"Nightstorm, you have shown great leadership and bravery while you have been a warrior. Hopefully, you will pass this onto Smokepaw."
"I will." Nightpaw promised, nodding to Gingerleaf who was tearing with joy.
Smokepaw's eyes shone with excitement as she touched Nightstorm's nose.
"You're doing great," Nightstorm encouraged the little she-cat.
"You all asked for the good news first, but with every good news comes bad news. Pebblefoot, our dear deputy has joined StarClan. Now, a deserving cat is going to take this place. May StarClan hear my words and approve my choice, Nightstorm will be the new deputy of DarkClan!"
"Nightstorm! Nightstorm! Nightstorm!" DarkClan cheered.
"Congratulations, deputy! You'll be a great leader of our clan someday," Darkflower purred.
Smokepaw's red sock appeared in Nightstorm's face, "I have the deputy as my mentor!" she stuck her nose in the air.
"You must be very excited," Darkflower commented as Smokepaw batted Nightstorm's muzzle.
"Can't even tell you of my excitement," Nightstorm meowed sarcastically, dodging Smokepaw's ill aimed blows.
Smokepaw stopped attacking Nightstorm and paused to lick her red paw. "So… when do we start practice?" she asked enthusiastically.
"Not now," Nightstorm answered, "You and I both need to go to sleep, we'll start tomorrow."
"Good luck taming that shrew," Darkflower joked slyly.
"Your loving support is greatly appreciated," Nightstorm meowed equally as sarcastic.
"Hey, good job Nightstorm!"
"Deputy! Congratulations!" some cats yowled.
"Thanks, I'll serve my clan in every way I can," Nightstorm promised.
"Whoops!" Smokepaw yowled as she fell into a pile of herbs.
"Way one," joked Waterstripe, who padded up with Springpaw. "Keep that apprentice of yours out of trouble."
"Congratulations Nightstorm!" Mintfeather licked Nightstorm over his ear, "An apprentice, and you're deputy."
Nightstorm pretended to look shocked, "No snide comment? None? If I know you, something really great had to have happened tonight, and I'm not talking about my ceremony."
"Shadowheart asked me to be his mate!" Mintfeather meowed joyfully.
"Finally!" Nightstorm joked, "He took long enough."
"He was waiting for the right time," Mintfeather defended, "It was beautiful with the setting sun…"
"Amberheart and Woodwhisker got together before you slugs did!"
"You will pay for that comment, Nightstorm! No more missus nice cat!" Mintfeather unsheathed her claws for emphasis.
"Point taken," Nightstorm padded away, waving Smokepaw to the apprentice den.
"Nightstorm?" Spiderfoot grabbed Nightstorm's scruff and pulled him behind the dens into the shadows.
"What was that for?" Nightstorm asked angrily.
"I need to talk to you."
"So? Talk," Nightstorm curled his tail around his paws.
"Haretail's been ignoring me, and… avoiding me! And, I- I think I love her Nightstorm, and, I don't understand!" Spiderfoot stuttered.
"What?"
"Why she doesn't love me back!"
"And you expect me to know?" Nightstorm meowed.
I think I'll play it dumb from here… let the tom figure it out himself. How should I know anyway?
"Well…"
"Spiderfoot?" a voice came from inside camp.
"That's her," Spiderfoot looked sadly beyond Nightstorm.
"Spiderfoot! I want to talk to you!"
"Go get her," Nightstorm bumped Spiderfoot into the open with his shoulder.
Spiderfoot nodded his thanks.
"Goodnight to you to," Nightstorm muttered, as he padded into the warriors den. Darkflower was already asleep, and he curled up next to her, ready for a long night's sleep before having to train Smokepaw in the early morning.
"Nighstorm…" Darkflower whispered in her sleep.
I love you too… Nightstorm drifted into a long sleep.
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Woah. Did I just write the last sentence in this book? I think I did! Did you enjoy it?? Huh? Huh? Did you?? I did. Better than the chapter before it. xD
I just want to thank you all for reviewing and watching me fail my deadlines, and waiting patiently for the next chapter. I hope you all don't hate me for being so late…
Behind The Scenes: Months ago I bought a bound journal so that I could keep track of all my ideas so that I wouldn't forget them. One of the first ideas I wrote down was an idea of two she-kits, Midnightkit and Twilightkit daughters of Nightstar. Then, a couple months later, I thought of The Nine Have Come, and seeing as how the main characters Nightstar and Nightpaw had the same name, I merged them together. So technically, I thought of the sequel before the prequel! Hah.
In other words, I am possibly going to write a oneshot if not a twoshot, possibly fourshot on his daughters, and some trouble they get into as apprentices. Otherwise said as, this is not the end!!
So put me on Author Alert, and you will be seeing that come out very soon. (Hopefully! :)
Love you all,
Grassy
P.S. Review!
Note: Originally, in Plan LOT (Otherwise known as the PLot) Springpaw was going to get his warrior name Springleaf, but it feels more like he should be an apprentice now. –sigh- It's finally done. I'm going to put up one more chapter, where there are the new alliances for DarkClan and LightClan (maybe).