Chapter Twenty

Gentlestar peered down from her perch in the Skytree observing Branchleaf as he organized patrols. She had lead many, many glorious seasons in TreeClan and was on her final life. Brackenfang kept his promise and took all eight of her lives. Frost clung to the ancient tree's pine needles. Snow delicately fell from the swollen grey clouds that hung above her head. Her once-pretty golden fur was tinged with silver and her coat was uneven from scars.

Branchleaf organized the patrols easily, for he had been deputy since Foxstep died. Her loyal friend died a brave death. Just moons after she became leader, he sacrificed himself to Brackenfang when the dark golden tom tried to attack her. She knew that Brackenfang would strike again, but when was the question. Sundance had died from infected wounds from their major battle when Tawnystar died. Gentlestar felt no pitty toward her rogue mother.

Cloudynight, Nightwing, Darkear, Waspclaw, and Gorseleaf had all died peaceful deaths as elders. Now Silverclaw and Whitespirit took their places in the elders den. Soon, Emeraldclaw, Sharpeye, and Redhawk would join them. Gentlestar directed her attention to Branchleaf once more. "I want Emeraldclaw to lead a patrol along the OceanClan border. Take Lillypaw, Rushwater, Snowfall, and Daisypaw." he called to the senior black she-cat.

Gentlestar watched as the five cats padded out of the clearing. She leaped from her perch on the Skytree and padded to sit next to Branchleaf. Though he was still young, he would soon lead this Clan and she knew it. Sootwhisker came to her often and told her she would be joining the ranks of StarClan soon. Although she hated to leave TreeClan, she knew her Clan would be in good paws. "Are you ready to lead this Clan, Branchleaf?" she asked the brown tom without making eye contact with him.

He looked at her with astonished green eyes. "What are you saying?" he whispered.

Gentlestar looked at him then meowed, "What I'm saying is that, I won't live forever. You must be ready to lead soon. My time is coming."

Before Branchleaf replied, the thing Gentlestar had been waiting on came. A shriek sounded from the territory. The shriek belonged to a cat she knew all too well. Gentlestar stood then yowled, "Branchleaf, Blackshade, Rosepaw, Sharpeye, Otterleap, Whispersong, and Leafsong, follow me! The patrol is in danger!"

Immediately, her warriors were to her. She thundered out of the camp clearing with her clanmates at her heels. She crashed trough hazel bushes and saw the dead body of Emeraldclaw lying on the ground with Brackenfang standing over her. The tom was old, but still full of hatred and pure rage. He instantly began to fled with Barkclaw trailing farther and farther behind. The patrol took care of Barkclaw as her patrol kept pursuit on the murderer known as Branckenfang. Her paws ached from the cold snow. Her old bones yelled at her as she ran after him. He took a mighty leap and dug his claws into the bark of a willow tree. Gentlestar leaped up the tree with Blackshade just behind her. "Gentlestar! Be careful!" Branchleaf called from the floor as they ran.

Gentlestar ignored her deputies warning and leaped from branch to branch. Just a mouse length in front of her was Brackenfang. She extended her claws and grabbed the dark golden tom's hind leg. He snarled at her in pain then turned to face her. Her opened his wide jaws and locked his stained yellow teeth into her shoulder. She yowled in horrific pain. Gentlestar clawed Brackenfang with flailing ivory claws. He batted her across the muzzle with a flick of a skilled paw. He turned to leap to the next branch until Gentlestar stopped him.

"I will not allow you to destroy my Clan any longer!" she yowled as the branch quivered as she leaped up on top of the tom and dug her teeth deep into his neck.

Crackling sounded from the giving branch. Brackenfang shrieked in pain and astonishment when the branch snapped. He flew down the tree with Gentlestar attached to his neck. Branches hit her with protest, causing her to let go of the tom. Knowing what would happen, she still yowled with terror as she fell down the tree. She heard the larger tom slam against the stones below. The crunch of bones echoed in her ears as she, herself, landed on horrific jagged stones. Her pelt was instantly drenched with water from the lake. Her eyes closed as pain surged through her hind legs and back.

She opened her eyes one final time to see Branchleaf standing over her with worried green eyes. She looked down at her body to see her legs twisted in awkward angles. Her daughter, Rainpath stood over her with wide grief filled blue eyes. Gentlestar flicked her gaze to her right to see Brackenfang's lifeless body. His jaws were parted in a horrific snarl and her claws were extended. Beginning to feel her final life ease away from her, she looked at Bramchleaf and croaked, "Lead well, Branchleaf."

Gentlestar lifted her head from the pool and felt the warm pelt of her mate, Sootwhisker beside her. "Welcome home." he purred as Lynxtooth padded up to them with a flicking stubby tail.

Gentlestar knew her reign as leader of TreeClan was glorious and her after-life with her family and clanmates would live on forever.

A/N: Awww! :'( this makes me so sad to end this story! Did anyone catch the ending? In the prologue, she was in StarClan and looked into the pool Tawnystar showed her! So all this was just her basically reliving her life! I hope you all have enjoyed Gentlestar's Reign! Look at The Shadowed Path, the second book in this trilogy! It's up and available for you all to read! Thank you for all the reviews and please continue with me to The Shadowed Path! Thanks:)

-Nightwish