Blaze: yeah, it's the last chapter
Crimson: woohoo
Tigerstar: yay!
Blaze: here's chapter 27
Chapter 27
Dark Dawn
The air was filled with grief after Brambleclaw's death, Jayfeather could feel waves of grief coming off of Firestar as well as Squirrelflight. He was still in shock that the former ThunderClan deputy knew about the prophecy they now knew four were apart of.
He could feel the shocked waves coming off of Hollyleaf, Lionblaze and the newly found fourth of fire, Stormpaw. "Goodbye Brambleclaw," Hollyleaf whispered, pressing her nose into the dark brown tom's getting cold fur.
"Good bye, Brambleclaw," Lionblaze and Stormpaw whispered, also pressing their noses into Brambleclaw's fur. Jayfeather moved to sit in front of Brambleclaw's head and raised his muzzle to the ground before meowing the words that would led the former ThunderClan deputy to StarClan.
"Brambleclaw's dead?" the question was repeated throughout the entire clan and Firestar stood up before making his way over to the highledge. Jayfeather suddenly heard a voice whisper in the wind, he knew this was supposed to be only for Firestar so he ignored it.
Firestar sat down on top of the highledge as the clan gathered around in a semi-circle around the highledge. Jayfeather got to his paws before he, Lionblaze, Hollyleaf and Stormpaw padded over to stand close to the highledge. He scented Nightpaw's familiar scent as she made her way to Stormpaw's side, waves of grief came off of the young apprentice as well.
"Cats of ThunderClan," Firestar began, "the clans have witnessed a tragedy today. Brambleclaw has gone to hunt with StarClan."
Murmurs of grief came up from throughout the clan and Hollyleaf suddenly meowed something to low for Jayfeather to hear. "You did well in the battle, Rosepaw," she meowed.
"Thanks," Rosepaw meowed in reply.
"You did well as well, Toadpaw," Brightheart meowed, padding to join the group just behind Jayfeather. Jayfeather noticed that an unspoken message passed between the ginger and white warrior and the black warrior.
"We will pay our respects to Brambleclaw and I'll name the deputy soon," Firestar meowed before he disappeared into his den. Jayfeather heard Hollyleaf and Brightheart get to their paws before padding over to the highledge.
"Where are Hollyleaf and Brightheart going?" Jayfeather asked his brother.
"They are going to ask Firestar if he can make Rosepaw and Toadpaw into warriors," Stormpaw was the one that replied, his voice was subdued and Jayfeather turned his sightless blue gaze onto him.
"Are you alright, Stormpaw?" he asked.
"It was my fault, Brambleclaw died," Stormpaw whispered, "Demon was about to kill me but Brambleclaw sacrificed himself to save me."
"It's not your fault, Stormpaw," Lionblaze meowed, "he knew what he was doing."
"I still feel it is my fault," Stormpaw meowed in that same subdued voice.
"It's not your fault," Jayfeather meowed, "Brambleclaw knew what he was doing."
Stormpaw didn't reply but went back to his silent brooding and Jayfeather looked at Lionblaze, "he's really depressed," he commented, "I'd get him some thyme but I'm not sure if it'll help him or not."
"I think he just needs time to think it over," Lionblaze meowed.
"What's the matter with Stormpaw?" Hollyleaf's voice asked as the black warrior padded to her brother's side.
"He feels it is his fault that Brambleclaw died," Jayfeather replied.
"It was my fault," Stormpaw murmured.
"It was not your fault, Stormpaw," Hollyleaf meowed, "Brambleclaw knew what she was doing."
Stormpaw sighed before fallings silent. Does he really blame himself for Brambleclaw's death? Jayfeather thought to himself, feeling a pang of sympathy for the young apprentice.
******
Hollyleaf gazed at the young apprentice before sighing and gazing threw the throng of cats as Crimson and Leafstar padded forward to join Firestar, who had just appeared from his den. Firestar padded down from the highledge and sat down below the ledge.
"ThunderClan thanks you for your help," he meowed, dipping his head to the two leaders.
"We were happy to help," Leafstar meowed, dipping her head, "you've helped us so much in the past."
"And we knew the foxes were likely to come to one of our clans next," Crimson added, "so we thought it would be better if we fought together rather than alone."
"ThunderClan thanks you," Firestar repeated in a grief filled voice.
"I'm sorry about Brambleclaw, Firestar," Leafstar meowed, resting her tail comfortingly on the ThunderClan leader's shoulder.
"Thank you," Firestar murmured.
Leafstar dipped her head before raising her muzzle and yowling, "let's go, SkyClan." With that, she led her warriors out of the ThunderClan camp.
Crimson stayed a while and padded over to Stormpaw's side, "what's the matter, Stormpaw?" she asked.
"It's my fault Brambleclaw died," Stormpaw whispered.
"I don't think so, Stormpaw," Crimson meowed. "You can't be to blame for Brambleclaw's death unless you killed him yourself. And you did take out Demon so we won't have to worry about him anymore."
"I still feel it's my fault, he died saving me," Stormpaw murmured.
"I'm sure everything will be fine," Crimson meowed, resting her tail comfortingly on Stormpaw's shoulder before lifting her muzzle and yowling, "BloodClan, let's go home." With that, she turned around and led her clan out of the ThunderClan camp.
Hollyleaf watched her go before turning around and scanning the throng of cats, looking for one cat in particular. A moment later, a gray and white shape pushed his way through the cats and Hollyleaf let out a sigh of relief.
"Mousewhisker, you're alright," she meowed, happily.
Mousewhisker purred slightly, "I don't feel alright," he meowed and Hollyleaf noticed he was bleeding from a bite on his shoulder and many scratches laced his body.
Hollyleaf padded to his side before pressing herself against him, "I'm glad you're alright," she meowed.
Mousewhisker twisted his head to lick Hollyleaf's head, "are you alright?" he asked.
"I'm fine, Mousewhisker," Hollyleaf meowed, twining her tail with his before they padded to join Jayfeather, Lionblaze, a subdued Stormpaw and Nightpaw.
Firestar was silent for a few moments as the rest of the clan paid their respects to the fallen ThunderClan deputy. "It is nearly dawn," he began once everyone, but Squirrelflight, who stayed at Brambleclaw's side, was settled, "but we need a new deputy. But before I name the new deputy, I have another duty to perform, Rosepaw and Toadpaw, come here."
Rosepaw and Toadpaw looked in surprise and glanced at their mentors, Hollyleaf and Brightheart nodded to their apprentice, respectively and they rose to their paws before making their way to stand in front of the ThunderClan leader.
"These two apprentices fought bravely in the battle with the foxes and it is time they gained their warrior names," Firestar began before gazing up at the rapidly fading stars above.
"I, Firestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon these two apprentices, they have trained hard to understand the warrior code and I command them to you as warriors in their turn," Firestar meowed before looking down at the two apprentices.
"Rosepaw, Toadpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code? To protect and defend your clan even at the cost of your life?" Firestar asked.
"I do," Rosepaw meowed confidently.
"I do," Toadpaw replied, calmly.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names, Toadpaw from this moment on, you will be known as Toadpelt. StarClan honors your courage and your strength and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan," Firestar stepped forward before resting his muzzle on Toadpelt's bowed head. He licked Firestar's shoulder before stepping back to join the other warriors.
"Rosepaw, from this moment on, you'll be known as Rosewing. StarClan honors your enthusiasm and your bravery and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan," Firestar declared, stepping forward to rest his muzzle on Rosewing's bowed head. Rosewing licked his shoulder before stepping back to stand beside Hollyleaf.
"Rosewing! Toadpelt! Rosewing! Toadpelt!" the clan chanted.
Firestar waited until the clamor calmed down before he began to speak again, "Rosewing, Toadpelt, as according to tradition, you are to guard the camp while the rest of us sleep. Since it is already morning, you'll do that tonight," he meowed.
Rosewing and Toadpelt nodded and Firestar gazed around, "I've delayed this for too long, it is time to name the new deputy," he mewed before gazing sadly at Brambleclaw's body before looking up at the sky.
"I say these words before the body of Brambleclaw so that his spirit may hear and approve my choice," Firestar paused for a moment, gazing at the cats that were gathered around them.
"Hollyleaf will be the new deputy of ThunderClan," Firestar announced.
Hollyleaf's eyes went wide with surprise. Meas ThunderClan deputy. Why would Firestar choose me to become deputy? She thought to herself.
"Congratulations," Mousewhisker meowed, purring as he pressed himself close to Hollyleaf before stepping away.
Hollyleaf, her eyes still wide with surprise, padded over to join Firestar, "Firestar, ThunderClan," she began, nervously, "I-I never thought I would be chosen for position of deputy. I promise I will try hard to be a good deputy though I know I'll never be as good a deputy as Brambleclaw."
"Hollyleaf! Hollyleaf!" the clan chanted.
Hollyleaf gazed around the clearing but a sinister feeling swam through her and she gazed up at the sky. The sun was beginning its ascent into the sky but it was a dark red color. As the dark sun made its way into the sky, Hollyleaf felt it was a sinister omen.
I am ThunderClan deputy now, she thought to herself, gazing up at the dark sun, but I know our problems are not over yet. Something dark is coming but I don't know what it is. But I have this feeling it may be something we will be unable to stop.
A/n what do you think?
Blaze: I'm finally done with Fourth of Fire.
Tigerstar: Yay!
Crimson: yay!
Blaze: the next chapter is the summary of the next book in my Bloody Skies series
Tigerstar: yay!
Crimson: I can't wait, when are you going to post it
Blaze: once I get everyone's feedback on the ending
Tigerstar: that sucks
Crimson: language, Tijyslar
Tigerstar: hey! I thought you weren't going to call me that anymore
Blaze: I said I wouldn't call you that anymore
Crimson: I made no promise
Blaze: (laughs) please review, next book will be posted as soon as I can
