Chapter 24
A half moon hung over the ThunderClan hollow. Ravenflight felt anxiety course through her as she watched Jayfeather leave. At every half moon all medicine cats left to meet at the Moonpool. They were not tied by the warrior code like warriors. They had their own medicine cat code to follow, which made them unique in their own part. Ravenflight padded over to the warriors' den and curled up in her nest. She felt sleep take over after exhaustion had settled over her from the fight during the day.
Almost immediately she opened her eyes to see that she was dreaming. Surrounding her were trees that towered above her. She looked up to see that the stars were shining brightly against the jet-black sky. No moon showed, but she could see silvery wisps of clouds stretching across the sky. Ravenflight blinked when she realized that the stars were moving. One by one the stars began to move until they reached down towards her until the form of cats emerged from starlight. "Ravenflight, it is good to see you." She stiffened when a striped gray tabby approached her. She knew who this cat was - it was Millie. Beside her were Cloudpaw and Snowbird. Both nodded to her warmly in greetings. "We have waited so long to see the one who is born again."
"But...what are you talking about?" Ravenflight's hackles rose as she thought of how Millie could know about Ravenfeather. "We know who you are, young one," came another soft voice. Sure enough a blue-gray cat with a silver-tinged muzzle approached her, parting through Millie and Snowbird. "When one of the stars die, a new one is born. We did not know what this meant at the time, but now we do." Her voice was filled with awe when she held Ravenflight's shocked gaze. "You're...you're Bluestar!" Ravenflight gasped. "Remind me again why I am here," she hissed after recovering from the shock of realization.
"Ravenflight, look to the sky," Snowbird murmured. "The sky will give you your answer."
Ravenflight followed Snowbird's gaze and saw something she had not noticed before. Her eyes widened in disbelief when she saw a feather floating from the sky. It wasn't just any feather that seemed visible against the sky. It was a jay's feather. Her mouth gaped open and she looked back at Bluestar, who was shaking her head in disapproval. "Some mistakes cannot be changed," meowed the once great ThunderClan leader. "You must learn this the hard way."
She woke with a start when she felt a paw jabbing at her ribs. Ravenflight opened her eyes to see Blossomfur standing beside her. A look of concern washed over the pale brown she-cat's face. "Anything wrong?" she asked. "You were thrashing away in your sleep." Ravenflight looked down at her nest and saw that Blossomfur was right. The moss was torn into pieces where her claws had reached out. "I...I had an unusual dream," Ravenflight replied sheepishly. "Did I say anything in my sleep?" She was relieved when Blossomfur shook her head. "I'll get up now," she added after shaking pieces of moss from her pelt.
Blossomfur stepped aside and let her pass. Ravenflight's ears flicked from side to side as she emerged into the hollow. Sunlight filtered through the now bare branches that hung above the hollow. Ravenflight knew that leafbare was fast approaching, and that the Clan would need more fresh-kill than ever. But thoughts of her dream kept her from doing anything useful. The jay's feather had startled her in more ways than those StarClan cats could imagine. She didn't want to think about it at the time, but it continued nagging her.
"Let all cats old enough gather around the Highledge for a Clan meeting!" Firestar's calling yowl made Ravenflight look up in surprise. She hadn't seen him climb up the Highledge, but now she could see his orange fur gleaming in the sunlight like a brilliant flame. Cats pushed their way through the warriors' den, while Daisy peered out of the nursery with Ashkit and Lilykit. Once the Clan was fully gathered Firestar looked down at his Clanmates. "It is time for one of my favorite duties. By naming apprentices we show that the Clan will remain strong. Ashkit, Lilykit, step forward." Squeals of excitement quickly followed as the two kits bounded forward. "Lilykit, until you have received your warrior name you will be known as Lilypaw. Foxleap, you are ready for an apprentice. You were trained by Squirrelflight, and learned a great deal under her mentoring. I expect you to pass on what you have learned to Lilypaw."
Pride glowed within Foxleap's eyes as he touched noses with his new apprentice. An apprentice was just what the energetic warrior needed. Foxleap was full of energy and life, but he had enough patience to deal with young cats like Lilypaw. "Ashkit, you have chosen a special path that not many tread. Until you receive your full name, you will be known as Ashpaw. Jayfeather, you are ready for an apprentice. You had Leafpool to mentor you, and many seasons of experience. I expect you to pass on what you have learned to Ashpaw." Ravenflight gulped when she watched them touch noses. She'd once trained as Jayfeather's apprentice, but had quickly changed her mind when she found that training as a warrior was her true calling. She was glad that Jayfeather had another apprentice to train, but a little jealous at the same time.
"Congratulations Foxleap," Ferncloud and Dustpelt purred when they approached their son. "Your first apprentice." Foxleap ducked his head in embarrassment as his mother gave him a lick over the ear. "Well, hopefully I can do it without ruining everything," he replied.
"Looks like Honeypaw and Sparrowpaw won't be the only apprentices," Icecloud added. Ravenflight wondered if Foxleap's sister was jealous. "Of course the Clan will always need more apprentices with leafbare approaching." Icecloud glanced at Lionblaze as if to prove her point. Ravenflight tilted her head to one side. Icecloud had shown signs of admiration towards Lionblaze, but he had refused to look back at her. She seemed oblivious to Lionblaze's ignorance. "I'll go out on a hunting patrol if anyone else wants to come with me," she added when she rose to her paws. Briarclaw was quick to follow her as she led the way out of the hollow.
Ravenflight left the large family and padded over to where Ashpaw was sitting. The small gray and white apprentice looked up at her in surprise when he noticed her approach. "You'll do great as Jayfeather's apprentice," she purred reassuringly. Ashpaw ducked his head in embarrassment. "Thanks," he murmured. "I won't let the Clan down." His words made Ravenflight recoil in shock. She had not said the same thing when she became Jayfeather's apprentice. Ashpaw was already leaving by the time she realized what had happened. She'd just realized that she had given up too early when she was Jayfeather's apprentice. The thought sent chills down her spine.
You gave up in becoming a medicine cat because you followed your heart, Ravenfeather said reassuringly. Any cat would understand why you chose the path you did because you knew it was for the good of the Clan.
But I feel like I could have done so much more, Ravenflight thought.
You will do more as a warrior, and maybe even leader, Ravenfeather replied. Her voice quickly faded, and Ravenflight realized that she was right. She could become better as a warrior. Her life as a warrior had changed her in more ways than one. She was ready to defend the Clan. She was ready to become ThunderClan's future leader.