Holy StarClan, this story has almost reached 200 reviews! :D :D :D :D You guys are just….amazing. Anyhoooo, onto the comments :3
Rainy1212: Thank you so much!
Sunshadow-and-Leaffang: But of course you can have a Forestfur plushie! *throws you one*
Silent Steps in Silver Snow: You know, I've heard so much about the show Pretty Little Liars, but I have yet to see a single episode. :\ Anyway, I decided on another title :3 and it's okay…I just didn't think it would be rational for a newly made warrior with no apprentice to become leader :\ but it fit in your story so don't worry! ^0^ AND UPDATE YOUR STORY WOMAN! D:
Mistyflower68: D'aww, thank you so much!
BF5DBlover: Thank you for your support, you amazing reviewer you! ^-^
CheyRaye: I read it! ^0^
Ashclaw10: I'm sorry! *hands you Forestfur plushie* I didn't know so many people liked her! D:
Quadethepeanutbutter: I person of little words…but somehow you made me smile. (: Thank you so much.
Graymist (Guest): Wow, thank you for your compliments! And I didn't really plan it or anything...I just wrote whatever came to my mind at the time and it ended like this without her deputy OR having kits! XD Also, thanks for your opinion but I have decided on a name for my next story!
Iceflower of ThunderClan: Nah, Tangled in Secrets sounds familiar for some reason…but thanks for your suggestion!
Meow: Thank you so, so much! And as I said last chapter, there will be no sequel, prequel, OR ANY OTHER –QUELS YOU CAN THINK OF! XD
And now, the moment you probably all haven't really been waiting for…the name of my next story is going to be….A Symphony of Secrets. DUNDUNDUN! You'll understand why I decided on that later in the story because I actually sort of have THAT story planned and formatted in my head. Unlike this one…*shrug* now read on my lovely viewers!
Oh, and I just noticed I didn't really put any disclaimers in this story at all except for one at the beginning…:\ so, here's another just in case.
Disclaimer: DahliaStarr has never and will never own the warrior series because if she did then Firestar would have died a long time ago and Ashfur would never have existed, meaning that Hollyleaf wouldn't have had to try and commit suicide which means that the whole stupid crisis would have been avoided. :3
There we go. Now, ON TO THE STORY! …again.
As the moons passed, Echowing was beginning to realize that time was all just a matter of perspective. Because to her, it seemed to drag at an Elder's pace: terribly slow and tense. However, according to Rowanstrike, it was like a bird: Flying by so quickly he couldn't seem to keep up. The Clan was starting to move passed the battle and most of the ThunderClan cats were just trying to forget the whole thing. This was hardly easy with reminders everywhere she looked.
The dens had more or less been restored to their full potential and the bramble entrance was now as thick and pointy as ever. The rain had washed away all traces of blood from the ground and the clearing was now just a sandy area again.
However, the empty room in the warriors' den was a hash reminder of Forestfur's death and Mouseclaw didn't even have the energy to make a snappy retort. He would just crouch silently at the entrance to the Elders' Den and stare at the sky mournfully. And with Petalstar as the new leader, the death of Hawkstar could never fully be erased.
But through it all, there were some bright spots where the sun shined. Ivypetal's kits were thriving and Tinyfeather's were due any day now. Echowing was more than grateful when nobody questioned who the father was. She figured her Clanmates either guessed or didn't really care enough to make it a big deal.
The small creamy she-cat was sitting beside Rowanstrike as they ate the plump prey that the beginning of new-leaf had brought. Their pelts were brushing and it was sun-high, the perfect time to be warming their fur.
"I'm so glad leaf-bare is over," she mewed after swallowing a big mouthful of vole. "That was the craziest one the Clans have ever seen."
Rowanstrike nodded. "That'll be a story the Elders never get tired of telling," he meowed. A half-chewed piece of fresh-kill hung from his chin and she purred before flicking it with her tail.
"You really have to learn how to eat properly, Rowanstrike," she told him.
He gasped in mock surprise. "How dare you insult me like that? I thought you loved me just the way I was!" he cried dramatically, rolling onto his side and pretending to sob.
Echowing rolled her eyes in amusement, letting out a purr and poking his stomach with a paw. "Don't be so melodramatic."
He cracked open one blue eye and looked at her. "But I thought that's what you liked best about me."
"Get up you great fur-ball, before someone sees you acting like a kit," she meowed, cuffing him lightly on the ear.
Rowanstrike partially sat up and looked at something over her shoulder. "Speaking of kits…watch out!"
Before she could do more than turn her head, Echowing was suddenly bombarded with two balls of oversized fluff as Cinderkit and Willowkit jumped on her from behind. Their equal weight rammed into her and she didn't even have to fake flopping over on her side because they were only slightly smaller than her.
"Get away from our territory you ShadowClan mouse-dung!" Cinderkit growled, his fluffy light gray and gold fur tickling her nose as he pounced on her.
"Yeah, this is our territory not yours!" his sister Willowkit snarled, kneading her back with tiny silver paws.
"Oh no, someone please help me!" Echowing cried. "I'm being attacked by two small fur-balls and they have me pinned."
"You'll never get away from us," Willowkit crowed, swiping with sheathed paws at the warrior's tail.
"Oh please have mercy on me," Echowing begged, trying to get to her paws. She was almost standing when Cinderkit crawled onto her back and sent her crashing back down again.
"Oomf!" she huffed as the two kits continued their "attack". "Honestly, why do you two always have to climb on me?"
Cinderkit blinked his big mischievous blue eyes down at her. "Because you're the smallest cat in the Clan which makes you the easiest to overpower," he explained innocently.
"Yeah, you're much more fun than Fishleap," Willowkit chimed in, sliding off of Echowing and landing with a squeak. "He's always on patrols and Ivypetal's usually too tired to play."
"You should be proud of your father," Rowanstrike stated, looking amused. "He's providing for his Clan and making sure you guys have enough to eat."
"Yeah, we know." Cinderkit flexed his tiny claws. "It's just so boring in camp!"
Echowing let out a yawn. "You'll be apprentices soon though, won't you?"
Two kits nodded excitedly. "Two more sunrises!" Willowkit squealed.
"I hope I get you as my mentor Echowing," Cinderkit meowed enthusiastically.
"No, I want you!" Willowkit protested shoving her brother out of the way to stare up at the small warrior with her huge amber eyes. "You're the best warrior in the Clan 'cause you beat Crowstar."
Echowing flicked her with her fluffy tail. "Petalstar picks the mentors she thinks are best for you. And I'm not the best warrior in the Clan."
"Are too!" Cinderkit argued, bouncing forward eagerly. "Ivypetal says you beat that huge nasty RiverClan leader just a few moons ago and she said he was much bigger than you."
Echowing felt a bit uncomfortable with the praising. She looked to Rowanstrike for help but he just watched the whole exchange in amusement. He was not going to be any help. Sighing, she sat down and narrowed her eyes at the kits. "Wait a second; I thought there were three of you."
Cinderkit bobbed his head up and down. "There are. But Mosskit has been following Littlewhisker around the camp everywhere he goes. Herbs are all she talks about anymore," he huffed, looking downcast. "I wish she wanted to be a warrior instead."
Willowkit bumped him fondly with her shoulder. "You still have me, mouse-brain."
"You know, learning to be a Medicine cat is just as important as being a warrior apprentice," Echowing mewed, wrapping her tail around her paws. "If there wasn't a Medicine Cat, who do you think would heal all those battle wounds or cure a sickness?"
Cinderkit and Willowkit considered this for a moment. "I dunno," the small tom finally admitted. "I guess I should try and be more supportive…"
"Can you tell us a story Echowing?" Willowkit suddenly asked, skinny tail twitching in anticipation.
She glanced at Rowanstrike. "Do you think it's a good idea?"
The ginger tom purred and rose to his paws, giving his pelt a good shake. "Actually I have to go on a border patrol right about now but I'm sure Ivypetal wouldn't mind, seeing as she already told them about Crowstar." He touched his nose t her ear. "See you later." He turned and headed to the bramble entrance where Furzebelly, Hollyfrost, and Jaypath were waiting.
Thanks for leaving me on my own, she thought in exasperation. But she couldn't stay even slightly mad at him for too long. Turning her attention back to the kits, she caught Willowkit staring coyly at her. "What?"
"Are you and Rowanstrike going to be mates?" the silver she-cat questioned, tilting her head to the side.
Echowing blinked. "Um…why?" That was not was she had been expecting.
Willowkit shrugged and allowed her gaze to follow Rowanstrike as he left the camp. "Because he's really handsome and he loves you." She said it so simply that it surprised Echowing how observant the little kit was.
"Uh…I…don't know If we're going to be mates or not…" She shifted as her ears heated up with embarrassment. She still had yet to tell Rowanstrike about not being able to have kits, not that she would even begin to explain that to Willowkit.
"Well, I don't want a mate," Cinderkit declared, leaping into the air and lashing at an imaginary attacker. "I'm going to be the best fighter in Thunderclan!" However, as he tried to rear back on his hind legs, his tail tangled in between his paws and he ended up sprawled out on the ground in a heap of fluffy fur. Willowkit just rolled her eyes.
"Anyway, didn't you want to hear a story?" Echowing meowed quickly, taking the opportunity to change the subject and get back on safer ground.
"Yes please." Cinderkit jumped to his paws, not even noticing that his fur was full of sand and his pelt was ruffled.
Echowing purred and tried to think of a story that would satisfy the two rambunctious kits. Her mind came up blank.
"Can you tell us about Hawkstar? Fishleap said he was the leader before Petalstar," Willowkit stated, eyes glowing.
"And also how you defeated Crowstar?" her brother added.
"Oh alright, but you two have to actually sit still or else I'm not going to tell you a single thing."
Obediently, the kits settled down and watched her with wide eyes as she began the story.
"Hawkstar was not just a leader of ThunderClan, he was also my father," she started, but Cinderkit interrupted her.
"Really? That's so cool!"
She blinked at him and didn't continue. The gray and golden tom looked confused before Willowkit hissed, "Be quiet stupid!"
"Oh...sorry."
"As I was saying, he was always much more than a leader to me and my brother. He was the best father I could have ever asked for. He ruled ThunderClan for many seasons and the Clan thrived under his command. However, like the rest of us, he endured much heartbreak." Here she paused and swallowed hard. "When my mother Brightfeather was giving birth to me and my brother, she was terribly sick with Greencough and didn't have enough strength to keep living. And Hawkstar took her death really hard."
Cinderkit and Willowkit sat in awed silence as Echowing continued.
"But he accepted that it was the destiny that StarClan had planned for her all along and continued to lead his Clan. But when I was an apprentice, Crowstar-yes, that Crowstar, Willowkit-staged an attack on us and my brother Pinepaw died." Echowing closed her eyes, knowing she could never tell these two innocent kits how she had shredded Pinepaw's killer without even a speckle of remorse.
She heard Willowkit gasp. "You're brother's dead? That's terrible!" Echowing opened her green eyes to see the small kit press closer to Cinderkit.
"Yeah," she murmured sadly. "It was." Then she shook her head in frustration and pushed forward. "Anyway, after that I vowed that I would do anything to stop Crowstar from taking any other cat I cared for. Hawkstar grew very withdrawn as he mourned Pinepaw but he came to accept it just as I have had to. That's when Crowstar and Shadestar led a double attack on WindClan and we had to go help Swallowstar fight them off."
"I would have shredded them," Cinderkit muttered, wrapping his tail protectively around his sister. Echowing purred and shook her head.
"It was one of the worst battles I'd ever seen," she meowed. "And so Thunderclan raced to help WindClan-that's when Ivypetal was first pregnant with you three by the way-and we finally fought both of the Clans off. But a lot of cats were wounded and my friend Featherpool, the Medicine Cat before Littlewhisker, died while crashing into Crowstar and causing them both to fall of a really high bolder. Crowstar lost one of his lives during it and Featherpool is now in the ranks of StarClan." Her voice trailed off as she remembered that night.
Willowkit shuddered. "I'm starting to second guess being a warrior now."
"Oh no, that's not the point of this story!" Echowing hastily assured her. "No, no, being a warrior is one of the best things ever, believe me. Actually, I really don't think I should be telling you this story until you're older."
"No, please continue," Cinderkit begged.
But Echowing was already shaking her head. "Maybe some other time when you're apprentices I'll tell you the rest."
"But we're going to be apprentices in two sunrises Echowing!" Willowkit whined. "We're old enough to hear it."
"Then maybe I'll tell you in two sunrises, but not today, okay? Now I think Ivypetal's looking for you," she answered, gesturing to the dark gray she-cat who was poking her head out of the nursery and scanning the clearing.
"Cinderkit! Willowkit!" the queen called. "Stop pestering the warriors, they have important warrior things to do!"
Cinderkit rolled his blue eyes at his mother's stern voice. "She treats us like we're kits," he groaned.
"That's cause we are kits, thistle-brain!" Willowkit sniffed, lifting her small chin with a proper delicacy that neither Echowing nor Cinderkit possessed. "Now come on before she locks us up in the den for the next two days."
Grumbling, Cinderkit reluctantly followed his sister as she pranced back to their waiting mother. But before he could get too far, he glanced back at Echowing. "Thanks for the story, Echowing. I really hope I get you as a mentor."
I hope so too, she thought as the mischievous kit padded away. They would just have to wait and see.
0-0-0
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join under Highledge for a Clan meeting!"
Echowing looked up from where she was talking with Tinyfeather as Petalstar's call rang round the clearing. It had been two sunrises since she had told the story to the kits and she realized that today they were becoming apprentices. "Come one Tinyfeather, let's get a good spot!" she meowed, helping the heavily pregnant queen to her paws.
Littlewhisker had told her that the kits would be coming very soon so there needed to be a warrior close by her at all times in case she suddenly got contractions and couldn't easily get into a good position to lay down. Tinyfeather had vehemently protested but the tom would hear nothing of it.
"You don't want to possibly hurt your kits do you?" he had snapped.
Echowing thought that he was being a bit extreme, but respected where he was coming from. After such a violent attack, ThunderClan needed all the new life it could get and nothing was worth taking chances in case another thing went wrong.
Now, Tinyfeather looked mortified when she realized that she needed to lean on Echowing for support. "This is ridiculous," her friend muttered as they began heading towards the Highledge. "I can't even walk without needing help. These kits better be the best kits in all of ThunderClan for what they're putting me through."
Echowing stifled a purr, knowing the moody she-cat wouldn't exactly appreciate it. However, Tinyfeather heard it anyway.
"Glad you find this so amusing, Echowing," she grumbled and sat heavily on her haunches when they finally arrived. "Must be nice to know you'll never feel this way."
Echowing flinched at the careless remark, knowing that Tinyfeather didn't really know what was coming out of her mouth right then. The silver she-cat had been the only one she had confided in about not being able to have kits and Tinyfeather had been very empathetic.
"Oh, I'm sorry Echowing!" Tinyfeather gasped, realizing what she had just said.
The creamy she-cat shrugged dismissively. "It's fine." And it was…sort of.
"You have to tell him, you know," the queen murmured gently, glancing to where Rowanstrike was talking animatedly with Tanglewhisper his ginger tail twitching back and forth. Petalstar had told him that he would be mentoring either Willowkit or Cinderkit, but he didn't know which one yet.
Echowing shook her head. "It'll hurt him too much."
"It'll hurt him anyway because you kept it from him for so long," Tinyfeather mewed, shuffling her paws. "Just…don't wait until it's too late Echowing."
Before she could fully process what her friend meant, three excited squeals erupted from the nursery and Cinderkit, Willowkit, and Mosskit tumbled out of the den with Ivypetal and Fishleap following. Cinderkit's fluffy gold and gray fur was sticking up in places even though Echowing knew his mother had tried desperately to lick them down. Willowkit looked as sleek and shiny as a fish and quiet Mosskit's sandy fur looked like her sister's.
The three kits halted in front of the Highledge, all six eyes wide with excitement. Petalstar looked down at them, amused, and began the ceremony.
"Cats of ThunderClan. We all know that we have lost many cats dear to our hearts, StarClan bless their spirits, but today proves that no matter what we endure, our Clan will continue to thrive and we will always stand firm in our loyalty to the Code and to StarClan." This was met with cheers from every cat and when they quieted down, the white leader continued.
"Willowkit, step forward." The silvery she-cat padded nervously forward, eyes glowing. "From this day forth and until you have earned your warrior name, you will be known as Willowpaw. Rowanstrike!"
The ginger warrior made his way toward the quivering apprentice and Echowing saw his blue eyes blazing with pride.
"Rowanstrike, you have proved your worth many times over and it is time for you to have an apprentice to pass on your courage and loyalty to. I know that you will teach Willowpaw all that Windfur has taught you and I trust that you will help her to become a warrior worthy of ThunderClan," Petalstar meowed.
As the two touched noses, the Clan began to cheer. "Willowpaw! Willowpaw! Willowpaw!" Echowing shouted the loudest, feeling proud that her mate had been chosen as Willowpaw's mentor.
As the calls died down, Petalstream motioned to Mosskit. "Mosskit, please step forward." The shy kit padded forward on trembling paws and craned her neck to look up at the leader.
"Littlewhisker, you may speak," she told the Medicine Cat who dipped his head and stepped forward to face the Clan.
"Cats of ThunderClan, as you know I will not be around forever. So it's time I took an apprentice. I have chosen a cat that has an eagerness to learn the ways of StarClan and who wants nothing more than to heal her Clanmates in their time of need. So I have decided that your next Medicine Cat following in my pawsteps will be Mosspaw," the silver tom called out.
Petalstar turned to the glowing apprentice. "Mosspaw, do you accept the post of apprentice to Littlewhisker?"
"Yes Petalstar," Mosspaw answered, speaking clearly and steadily.
"Then at the next half-moon you must travel with me to the Moonpool to be accepted by StarClan before the other Medicine Cats," Littlewhisker told her, green eyes shining with happiness.
"The good wishes of all of ThunderClan will go with you," Petalstar mewed.
Littlewhisker and Mosspaw touched noses and faded back into the rest of the group as call of "Mosspaw! Mosspaw! Mosspaw!" quieted down. Echowing looked at Cinderkit, the last of his littermates to be an apprentice, and saw that he showed no nervousness of trembling that his sister's showed.
"And last but certainly not least, Cinderkit step forward."
The tom walked forward with his chin held high and the only sign of anxiety was in his barely twitching tail tip. He stopped under the Highledge and looked up with clear eyes.
"Cinderkit, from this day forth and until you have earned your warrior name, you will be known as Cinderpaw. You have shown every cat in ThunderClan that you are not afraid to stand up for what you believe in and that you are loyal and protective of the ones you love," Petalstar murmured. "So that is why I have chosen a warrior who is the exact same way."
Wait a second…
"She has known more loss than any cat I know and yet she has overcome it and has made herself into the great and noble warrior that she is today."
She can't mean…?
"Echowing."
Every head whipped around to look at her in surprise and Echowing stared at Petalstar with wide eyes. There were so many other good choices for Cinderpaw and she was the youngest warrior so why did the ThunderClan leader pick her?"
"Go, mouse-brain!" Tinyfeather hissed and pushed her forward. She stumbled but caught herself in time as she realized every single pair of eyes was looking at her. She stepped up to Cinderpaw whose blue eyes were blazing with excitement.
Petalstar gazed down at her with a tender expression on her features. "Echowing, even though you are young, you have proved yourself time and time again to this Clan and you are ready to take on an apprentice. You will be Cinderpaw's mentor and I know that you will pass on all the knowledge that Forestfur taught you."
The warrior's throat closed up and she found that she couldn't speak.
"You have a fierce protection over the ones you care and cared about and I have no doubt that you will push Cinderpaw to be the best warrior he can be."
Echowing could only nod as she gently touched her nose to the tom's to seal the bond between apprentice and mentor. Then the Clan erupted into loud cheers and she realized they were not just cheering for Cinderpaw, but for her as well.
"Echowing! Cinderpaw! Echowing! Cinderpaw!"
She spied Tinyfeather and Rowanstrike screaming her name and she spotted Jaypath and Sandfur gazing at her with the pride of a mother and a father. Echowing suddenly felt a brush of fur on either side of her and looked around.
Her heart leaped when she saw her whole family-Brightfeather, Hawkstar, Pinepaw, Featherpool, Forestfur, and even Lionflame-gathered a little ways away watching her with glowing pride. Her throat ached with longing to call out to them, to let them know how thankful she was that they were there, but she didn't have to say anything.
We're so proud of you, Echowing. Featherpool's sweet scent wreathed around her and Echowing's heart ached.
I wish you all could be here, she cried silently, looking at every single one of them. I'm so sorry…
This time, it was Lionflame's voice in her head. You have nothing to be sorry for. You avenged my death and that is all I've wanted since I've joined StarClan. Thank you.
She felt peace flow through her as Lionflame's shimmering form slowly faded out of her vision. She knew that she could now finally let go of the guilt she had been carrying. Her eyes sought out Pinepaw and she blinked slowly at him. I miss you.
She felt his rumbling purr and then heard his familiar voice. I've always been with you; you just have to think about me. You're my sister and I know now that it was my fate to be killed by that warrior. Don't worry, Echowing. I'm not jealous or anything.
Echowing could have leaped with joy right then and there at hearing her brother's teasing but she contented herself with just saying simply and truly: Thank you.
The he, too, faded out.
She gazed at Brightfeather and Hawkstar who only had one thing to say, which they told her together. We love you.
When the only ones left were Featherpool and Forestfur, the black she-cat simply dipped her head to the small warrior. Echowing felt that the gesture of respect said more to her than a dozen words ever could. In return, she nodded once and waved her tail as her former mentor disappeared.
Finally, only Featherpool stood there. There was so much that had been left unsaid between them that Echowing struggled to form her thoughts into a coherent sentence. But she found that there was no need because the Medicine Cat said it all for her.
Remember, Echowing, to never lose faith in yourself and follow your heart whenever you need directions. It will lead you well. And always, always know that there forever will be hope.
I just need to find it, right? Echowing asked.
She felt Featherpool's amusement. Yes, you just need to find it.
Her friend grew transparent and then much too soon, she faded back into StarClan. Echowing blinked, hard, and realized that Tinyfeather, Rowanstrike, Willowpaw, and Cinderpaw were all staring at her.
"What was that all about?" her apprentice questioned in confusion. "You just suddenly started staring over at that tree and had a blank look on your face."
"It's a secret," Echowing told him, purring, and her heart felt lighter than it had in moons.
"Humph," he sniffed as if he was insulted.
She caught Rowanstrike and Tinyfeather gazing at her in concern but she flicked them each with her long fluffy tail. "Don't worry about me you two. I'm perfectly fine." More than fine, actually.
Willowpaw seemed to have no problem with moving forward because before either of her friends could open their mouths, the silver apprentice meowed, "So…"
The ginger tom glanced fondly at his apprentice. "Yes, Willowpaw?"
"Well, I was wondering…"
"Yes?" Echowing prompted.
"Can we go fight ShadowClan now?"
*sniffs* omg…the next chapter is the LAST ONE! *bursts into tears* anyway, please review, my loyal readers. And stay tuned for the Epilogue and (of course) a very watery goodbye. ^0^
