Chapter Twenty-Three

Shadowheart's POV

Shadowheart stared into the river as he held his breath. Neither leader came up; the only thing he could see was darkness under the ripples of water. Stonetail rushed past him as he splashed through the shallower parts of the river. The ReedClan deputy yowled out his leader's name, looking around the water frantically. Thunder rolled overhead with wind howling softly through the trees. Stonetail suddenly let out a surprised yelp, Icestar's muzzle breaking the surface. The albino leader had Echostar's scruff in his jaws; dragging her into the shallow end of the riverbed.

"Echostar!" Shadowheart yowled, rushing to his leader's side.

He waded through the water to his leader, and grabbed her scruff in his teeth. Icestar looked up from the river, breathing heavily. Timberfall and Amberfur rushed to help Shadowheart, lifting the LeafClan leader out of the water. Sliding her onto the ground carefully, Shadowheart stood over his leader. Echostar's eyes were closed, and she laid eerily still.

"StarClan no," Amberfur breathed, burying her muzzle in Timberfall's flank.

No! I'm not going to let Echostar die! Shadowheart thought determinedly. He placed his paws on Echostar's flanks, thrusting them forward. Firelight ran up beside him, prying Echostar's jaws open. After what felt like moons, their leader gave a loud gasp. Water pooled out of her mouth and she coughed deeply.

Echostar lifted her head weakly. "Shadowheart?"

"I'm here," Shadowheart told her, lowering his muzzle to hers.

"My warriors, are they okay?" she asked, closing her eyes.

Frowning, he looked over at the lifeless body of Duskstrike. Nettleleaf laid over her dead mate in grief, while Rainfall stared down in his paws; clearly still in shock by Fishpaw's death. He hesitated to answer Echostar, worried that the truth would set her off.

"Duskstrike is with StarClan now," it was Firelight who answered, her voice unusually gentle. "He died like a warrior."

Echostar was still for a few moments. She opened her eyes slowly. "Yes," she breathed quietly. "I can see him now."

Frozen, Shadowheart watched as his leader laid her head down. "Echostar!" he exclaimed, fur rising.

"Shadowheart," Echostar murmured, staring up at him. "You are a brave cat. Do not make the same mistakes I had made. No matter what, you must stop Hawk."

"No!" Shadowheart snapped, lashing his tail. "You can do it yourself! You're not going to die here, not now!"

Firelight pressed her side to his; eyes dark with grief. Shadowheart felt panic well up in his chest. Echostar couldn't die here, not now. What would LeafClan do without her? The old she-cat looked calm; calmer than Shadowheart had seen her in days. It was clear that Echostar had accepted her fate, and was confident that her Clan would be safe.

"I do not have much time left," Echostar rasped. "Tell Foxchaser that I'm sorry; she will be a far better leader than I ever could be. I will see her again, when she comes to receive her nine lives." She closed her eyes. "Maybe then I will be able to face Silversky again; and see the kits I never had the chance to meet."

Shadowheart laid beside her, trembling with emotion. "Echostar, please don't die," he choked back a sob. "LeafClan still needs you."

Weakly, she wrapped her tail around him like a mother would her kit. "LeafClan will live on, with Foxchaser as their leader," she murmured. "My time is up, and StarClan calls me. I'm afraid this is it; tell Foxchaser I'm sorry..."

As her voice trailed off, Shadowheart sat up frantically. "Echostar?" The old she-cat was ominously still, her eyes staring off into the distance. "Echostar!"

"Oh Echostar..." Firelight whispered.

Grief crashed down like a heavy wave over Shadowheart. He let out a tiny wail, burying his muzzle into Echostar's flank. Rain continued to fall from the sky; and silence gripped the cats in the clearing. Echostar had given Shadowheart the chance to be a warrior; a chance to have a better life than he would have as a rogue. She never doubted his loyalty and her wisdom was something he had always loved about her. Now she lay lifeless, her final life having ebbed away fighting for the Clan she so dearly loved.

Shadowheart dug his claws into the ground as he lifted his head. Fury burned in the pit of his stomach. Hawk would pay for this, and Shadowheart vowed to make sure of it. He turned his gaze over towards Icestar, who sat nearby with an unreadable expression.

"This battle should have never happened," Shadowheart told him, holding back a resentful growl. "No cats should have died today."

Icestar narrowed his eyes. "What's done is done," he stated. "This battle is over. My warriors will take Blueclaw and Fishpaw back home to be buried."

Longwhisker drew back his lips into a snarl,, from where he stood beside Duskstrike's body. "Good. Get out of our territory."

The wounded LeafClan warriors watched with hostility as ReedClan gathered themselves to leave. Once they crossed the river, Shadowheart laid down to let Firelight and Timberfall drag Echostar's body onto his back. Longwhisker carried Duskstrike, Nettleleaf limping slowly beside him; her back leg twisted at an awkward angle. Rainfall walked beside Sagepelt, his gaze staring blankly ahead. Each cat was battered and bloody, their gaits heavy and tired.

As they returned to camp, Foxchaser was waiting for them under the Highoak. Shadowheart laid Echostar in front of her, his heart heavy. The LeafClan deputy stared at her dead sister, eyes full of disbelief. Wails from the apprentices' den erupted as Longwhisker laid Duskstrike down; Snowpaw, Brownpaw, and Sandpaw surrounding their father in grief. Nettleleaf collapsed beside Duskstrike's body, her back leg awkwardly splayed beside her. Sleetwhisker and Pinepaw rushed out of their den at once, tending to each cat's wounds.

The cats who remained in camp emerged from their nests. Hollycloud rushed towards Sagepelt and Rainfall, looking them over; Silverpaw and Redpaw right behind her. Timberfall and Amberfur greeted Yellowsky and Ivyfrost, while Firelight and Alderleaf went over to join them. Softstep and Cloudflight talked in a hushed circle with Lionclaw, while the elder's peered outside of their den. Longwhisker went to be with Dawnrise and his kits. Foxchaser still stared down at Echostar, a mixture of shock and grief in her eyes.

"Foxchaser," Shadowheart began, recalling Echostar's last words. "Echostar wanted me to tell you that she was sorry, and that she has faith in you as our next leader."

Foxchaser closed her eyes, her claws digging into the ground. "Foolish cat," she growled, her body trembling. She buried her muzzle in Echostar's flank, silently grieving.

The rain died down then, weak sunlight peeking out from the clouds. Foxchaser lifted her muzzle from Echostar's fur, and turned to look at the Clan. They all sat nearby, looking to their new leader. Lifting her head, Foxchaser climbed onto the Highoak.

"Echostar has gone to walk with StarClan, and we will honor her many moons of leadership," Foxchaser began. "We also lost a valuable warrior to LeafClan, and Duskstrike will be honored for his sacrifice today. A vigil will be held for them both tonight, and I will announce the next deputy of LeafClan at moonhigh."

Jayeyes, Oaktuft, and Frosttail came over with herbs after Foxchaser spoke; preparing both Echostar and Duskstrike for their vigils. Shadowheart watched them quietly, his wounds stinging from the battle. Sleetwhisker managed to move Nettleleaf to his den, carefully supporting her as they walked. Sagepelt and Alderleaf went over to Duskstrike's body, sharing tongues for the last time with their littermate. Ivyfrost—who had been his apprentice—joined them. Shadowheart laid beside Echostar's body, pressing his muzzle into her fur. He felt Firelight brush up beside him, joining him in the vigil. Wounds throbbing, Shadowheart fell into an uneasy slumber.

Shadowheart awoke to the sound of Foxchaser's summons. Stiff from his wounds, he lifted his head up to gaze at her. The others looked up from their vigils, watching Foxchaser with weary gazes. Evening had come, and it was time for LeafClan's new deputy to be announced.

"I say these words before StarClan, so that the spirits of our warrior ancestors may hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of LeafClan is Longwhisker."

Longwhisker had a surprised look, but stood to address his new position. "Thank you Foxchaser," he meowed. "It is an honor to be chosen."

"Longwhisker! Longwhisker! Longwhisker!" the Clan chanted in support.

Foxchaser dipped her head. "I will begin my journey to the Cavern of Stars," she told the Clan. "Sleetwhisker and I will leave immediately."

The former LeafClan deputy climbed down the Highoak, and with one final glance at Echostar's still body, she turned and left through the thorn tunnel with Sleetwhisker.

Shadowheart looked up the darkening sky. A tiny star blazed overhead, it's glow brighter than the rest. Echostar, please continue to watch over us, Shadowheart silently prayed. I promise we won't let you down.