- A Blessing -
"Firestar's here," mewed a familiar voice. "I'll wait outside."
Tallstar flicked his ear in recognition. "Is that Brambleclaw?" he rasped. "Don't go. You should hear what I have to say as well."
Through hooded eyes Tallstar could see Brambleclaw's unease as he came back to sit beside Firestar, but what the WindClan leader had to say was important. He knew full well he was dying, and there was something of extreme importance that he had to take care of. Mudclaw could not be WindClan's leader.
He knew they would think he wasn't well, that he wasn't thinking straight, but Tallstar was perfectly lucid. He knew what he intended to do.
"Firestar, I have to thank you," he rasped weakly. "You have saved my Clan."
He ignored Firestar's murmur, because he knew what the flame-colored warrior would say - that he didn't save WindClan, he only helped...
"And Brambleclaw, you journeyed a long way, facing many dangers, to find this place for us. Even Graystripe, may he walk in peace with StarClan, would agree that you will make a worthy deputy of ThunderClan."
Now Tallstar ignored Brambleclaw's gasp. Tallstar hadn't anything to lose from impudence.
There was a long period of silence, in which the only sound Tallstar could hear was his own labored breathing, then Brambleclaw murmured, "It wasn't just me, it was all of us together..."
"You need to rest, Tallstar," came Firestar's gentle voice.
"Rest will do me no good now," meowed Tallstar, flicking his ear and gazing at Firestar.
"You will be a noble warrior among StarClan," Firestar murmured, pressing his muzzle gently to Tallstar's.
Tallstar tried to show his gratitude with his eyes, without having to speak the words. "Before then, I must say...I must say..." He choked like something was caught in his throat. His claws extended and pierced the leaf litter beneath him as he tried to cough it out; but then, gasping, he regained his breath. "Where's Onewhisker?"
"I'll go help Barkface find him," volunteered Brambleclaw.
"Quickly," rasped Tallstar.
Tallstar remained silent in Brambleclaw's absence, regaining some strength to make his announcement. When Onewhisker and Brambleclaw returned, he began to speak.
"Before I go to StarClan, there is something I must do," he began. "Firestar, Onewhisker, listen. Mudclaw is a brave warrior, but he is not the right cat to lead WindClan. In these past moons we have learned that the future of our Clans lies in friendship. I want no rivalry between ThunderClan and WindClan after I am gone. We must have no enemies. But this will not happen if Mudclaw rules the Clan." He paused and rasped in a breath. "I can still choose the cat who will lead WindClan after me. From this moment Mudclaw is no longer deputy of WindClan."
He could hear their gasps, feel their shock.
"I say these words...before StarClan. WindClan must have...a new deputy. Onewhisker, you must lead the Clan when I am gone."
He knew they weren't the right words and he begged StarClan for forgiveness, but he no longer had the strength to say them correctly.
"Tallstar, no!" came Onewhisker's gasp of horror.
"I am grateful to have brought the Clan this far...Onewhisker, treat our friends well when you lead this Clan. Remember everything ThunderClan has done for us."
Then he stood up and walked away from them, leaving his body behind him. All of StarClan was there to greet him, smiling down on him gently.
"It is a blessing to be here at last."
"And a blessing to have you, Tallstar, leader of WindClan," they whispered, their voices like leaves on the breeze, and then he bounded forward to join their ranks.