CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

"Do it." His father's amber eyes gleamed with malice. Sootpaw was rooted to the ground, horror blossoming in his chest. Falconswoop hung by his claws, leaving deep furrows in the black earth. He was grinning, as if he knew something Sootpaw did not.

"Prove your worth," said Falconswoop. There was a sudden flurry of movement, a soft, plaintive cry, and then the scent of blood and death filled the air. A corpse lay impaled on the jagged spurs, crumpled and broken.

"Leave the body. It's only fit for crows now." But it was not Eaglestar who was speaking. It was Falconswoop, healthy and whole. Sootpaw didn't understand. Falconswoop was dead!

"Eaglestar," he mewed urgently, but the words wouldn't come out. He couldn't breathe over the blood pooling in his throat. Heart pounding, Sootpaw struggled to rise, but darkness was beginning to slide over his vision. The tom tried to cried out, but his screams were only choking wheezes. Falconswoop turned and walked away. Kitepaw and Eaglestar followed him. They didn't look back.

"You couldn't kill him," said a voice. Then all went black.

Sootpaw woke up with a violent start, his paw pads clammy with cold sweat. It was dark outside, and beside him, Kitepaw and Flowerpaw still slept. Flowerpaw looked peaceful, but Kitepaw was curled into a ball, and Sootpaw wondered if his brother was having the same kind of nightmare. A trace of a smile crossed his face as he looked at the tom.

Desperate for fresh air, Sootpaw padded out of his den and into the clearing. Redfur was sitting guard, though her belly was already swelling with kits. ShadowClan was so low on warriors that they had no choice but to rotate the queens on watch. And now we're one warrior shorter, thought Sootpaw grimly.

They hadn't stood vigil for Falconswoop. Sootpaw wasn't surprised. He knew he should hate his father, but instead he could only pity him, and the realization made his stomach churn uneasily. Falconswoop could have been a great warrior, but he had let the darkness inside destroy him. Sootpaw thought about losing Dawnpaw, and picturing that, he could almost understand why Falconswoop had turned into such a monster. He wished he could have known his father before, when he had been strong and unblemished.

My father never cared about us, said Dawnpaw softly. Sootpaw was surprised – he hadn't noticed that she was awake. The she-cat continued: Our parents saw having kits as a duty, and though they were kind, once Branchpaw and I became apprentices, we were on our own.

I'm sorry, said Sootpaw.

He could feel the warmth and weariness of her smile. Don't be. It's alright. My Clan is my family. You are my family.

Sootpaw hesitated. He wanted to tell her how he had felt, rushing in to lend her his strength. Seeing her, so beautiful and fragile and determined, had woken a whole torrent of emotions inside of him. Though her chin had trembled, her eyes had been full of determination, and he had never loved her half as much as he did then. Everything had been colours then, bursts of red and yellow and orange and purple, filling his mind with an inexplicable high.

But Dawnpaw had been preoccupied with Branchpaw. When Sootpaw had given her his strength, all he had felt from her mind was her love for her brother, and her horror at the task in front of her. Giving himself to her had felt so right. He wished he could do it again and again. She had given so much of her strength to him – her life, according to Brambleclaw – and lending her his strength had been the least he could do.

Pulling away from her had wrecked him. I need you, he had wanted to tell her. Don't make me go back there. I need you. He remembered all the times he had fallen into her, how perfect they had been.

Sootpaw? Her voice was soft.

Sorry, he murmured. I got caught up in my thoughts. Are you still sitting vigil for Branchpaw and Brindlefeather?

Nettleclaw just relieved me, she said. Sootpaw looked up to see streaks of orange beginning to lighten the sky. Dawnpaw sighed. I don't feel right talking yet. Once I do, they'll be gone.

Sootpaw pressed his mind to hers and felt its membrane tremble. They're already gone, he told her. To a better place.

There was a noise behind him. The tom turned to see Kitepaw padding across the loamy clearing. The brown tabby's fur was fluffed up against the cold as he walked, pawsteps light, toward Sootpaw.

"Slatestar's going to name you a warrior," Kitepaw said as he approached. His voice was soft and calm. Sootpaw waited until Kitepaw sat down before pressing his pelt to his brother's.

Sootpaw blinked in surprise. "How do you know that?"

"He told Birchcloud," admitted Kitepaw.

"Oh," said Sootpaw, softly. He knew it was about time he was named a warrior, but suddenly he wasn't so sure he wanted it anymore. His stomach felt queasy. This was everything he had ever wanted, but there was no joy in it. "Are you Birchcloud's apprentice now? Since Falconswoop isn't...isn't in your way anymore."

Kitepaw hesitated. "Sort of," he mewed at last.

Sootpaw turned to stare at his brother through slightly narrowed eyes. "Sort of?"

The brown tabby shrugged, trying to draw attention elsewhere. "Eaglestar will announce it to the Clan."

The pair lapsed into a comfortable silence. Sootpaw drank in the warmth of his brother's pelt as he watched the sky begin to lighten. Birds began to sing around them, and Sootpaw opened his mouth to breath in the familiar scents of peat and pine. If his brother was right, this could be his last sunrise as an apprentice. Despite his earlier misgivings, the notion sent a tingle of excitement through his body.

"Kitepaw," he said suddenly, his mind wandering back to his dream. "I...can I ask you something?"

The tabby blinked. "Anything."

Suddenly nervous, Sootpaw stared down at his paws. "If you hadn't found us when you did, or if Cricketsong hadn't appeared to you...do you think I could have killed him?"

"I don't..." Kitepaw trailed off. "I don't know. Why?"

"I couldn't do it," mewed Sootpaw quietly. "I told myself that if I did it, I would become like him. But if I hadn't killed him, he would have escaped, and one day come back to finish off the Clan. If you hadn't come..."

"You would have down the right thing," said Kitepaw reassuringly. He blinked, sympathy clear in his bright amber eyes. "It's not an easy thing, to kill another cat."

"But it was what I should have done," Sootpaw insisted. "What if another cat threatens the Clan like that and I can't kill them?"

"Stop worrying about it," said Kitepaw softly. There was grief shining in his eyes. "What's done is done, Sootpaw. Falconswoop is dead."

"You're right," said Sootpaw. He looked back up and tried to find the warmth in the sunrise. It was only once Dawnpaw pressed her mind to his that he began to relax once more. Thank you.

"All cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the Hazelbranch for a Clan meeting!" Eaglestar's voice rang loud and clear through the quiet camp. The tom had leapt from his den to the branch hanging above, and now he surveyed the others from his vantage point. Though his face was sunken and tired, he seemed healthy, the scar on his neck all but gone.

Other cats pulled themselves from their dens. Sootpaw saw Pigeonkit dart from the nursery, only to be pulled back by his exasperated mother's paw. Kitepaw scrambled to his feet. "Here we go," he mewed quietly.

"It's early," said Sootpaw, confused. "Why is he doing it so early?"

"The warrior code states that a new deputy should have been named at moonhigh," said Kitepaw slowly. "But I don't think Eaglestar had made up his mind by then. Anyway, it's not like any of the warriors were actually sleeping."

That was true, Sootpaw reflected. Redfur had been keeping guard, Greywing and Seedfur had been to antsy to sleep, and the queens had been kept up all night due to Tankit's cough. Only the apprentices had slept, though Sootpaw wished he hadn't. The smoky apprentice settled in beside Kitepaw and a newly awakened Flowerpaw, watching Eaglestar intently.

"Cats of ShadowClan," said Eaglestar. "As you all know, Falconswoop was a traitor. He killed Hailstripe in his quest for power, and he conspired to kill me as well. Now Falconswoop is dead, and ShadowClan must choose a new deputy. I say these words in front of all of you, so StarClan may see and approve my choice. Redfur shall be the new deputy of ShadowClan."

There were some hushed murmurings from the cats below. Sootpaw frowned; Redfur was pregnant. She couldn't be deputy.

"Once Redfur's kits are born, they will be given to Sprucetail to nurse," announced Eaglestar. "Until then, Greywing and Seedfur will help the new deputy with her obligations. This is to be a time of rebirth. Though we are strong, our numbers are few. We must focus on rebuilding our strength, and we must keep our peace with the other Clans. Do you all understand?"

The assembled cats nodded. Redfur was staring up at Eaglestar in awe. Sootpaw approved of their leader's choice. Though she was nowhere near as strong as Falconswoop or as wise as Hailstripe, she was a good warrior, determined and brave. She would make a good deputy.

Eaglestar's expression brightened almost imperceptibly. "Now there is another matter to deal with. Sootpaw, please step forward."

Though he had known this moment was coming, it still sent a jolt of excitement right down to his core. Breathless, Sootpaw stepped forward. He could feel the eyes of the Clan on him, and he basked in their gaze. This was his moment.

"I, Eaglestar, leader of ShadowClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn." Eaglestar's voice was unwavering. He gazed down at Sootpaw with what was unmistakeably respect. Sootpaw felt his pulse begin to quicken. "Sootpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do," said Sootpaw. The two most important words of his life. From far away, he could feel Dawnpaw's warm glow of approval and affection.

Eaglestar nodded. "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Sootpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Sootclaw. StarClan honours your bravery and your strength, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan."

Sootclaw could only sit there in disbelief as Eaglestar leapt down from the branch to rest his muzzle on the new warrior's head. After a moment of hesitation, Sootclaw licked the tom's shoulder, completing the ceremony.

"Sootclaw! Sootclaw! Sootclaw!" cheered the Clan. Flowerpaw and Kitepaw were shouting his new name joyfully, while Redfur was murmuring words of congratulations into his ear. Greywing and Sprucetail looked at him, their eyes shining with respect, and even Pigeonkit, who had escaped from the nursery, was looking at him in awe.

A shiver ran through him. He was a warrior now. He was Sootclaw. The name tasted so good in his mouth, so fluid on his tongue. "Sootclaw," he murmured experimentally. "Sootclaw."

For once, all thoughts of Falconswoop fled from his mind. It was time to start living as a warrior; it was time to make his Clan proud.

Congratulations, Sootclaw, said Dawnpaw, and his name was even more perfect in her voice. You deserve it.

Sootclaw blinked and looked up at the sky, where the rising sun had cast streaks of orange and purple across the darkness. His last sunrise as an apprentice had been mere moments ago; this was his first sunrise as a warrior.

x x x

Kitepaw wandered through the forest, Seedfur by his side. The day was cold and crisp, and now that the sun had fully risen, the sky was a drab grey-blue. He heard larks singing, but the melody sounded far-off. Even Seedfur's voice sounded distant, as if his former mentor were miles away. But the scents of the woods were still alive to him, sharp and rich and earthy.

Abruptly, the scents changed. A foul smell entered the air; it was the musk of squirrels and stone, ThunderClan's scent. Seedfur hesitated by the border, but Kitepaw urged her forward. "They won't attack us," he said calmly, hoping his words were true. "There's only two of us, and I'm not much of a threat."

Seedfur's shoulders sagged. The she-cat had been deflated since Eaglestar's announcement – Kitepaw couldn't blame her – but she had done her best to accept his decision. "It wasn't your fault," Kitepaw had told her multiple times. "You were a fine mentor."

They padded on in silence. Kitepaw observed the territory around them, unnerved by the amount of leafy trees and shrubs. Where ShadowClan's forests were filled with pine trees and darkness, ThunderClan's territory was all greenery and light. He would have to get used to it, though. He knew that.

There was a rustling in the bushes behind them, and a ThunderClan patrol stepped out. Kitepaw cursed under his breath. They must have been downwind. The brown tabby turned to see three of them stalking towards him, all more confident and at ease than either of the ShadowClan cats.

"Intruders," snarled the leader of the patrol, a large ginger-and-white tom. Kitepaw recognized him as Nettleclaw, the Clan's deputy. "What do you want?"

"We're not here to invade," said Kitepaw, trying to keep his voice calm. He needed to make a good first impression to these cats. "I'm Kitepaw and this is Seedfur."

"We're here to talk to Slatestar," mewed Seedfur. In the face of Nettleclaw and the two warriors flanking him, her youth was beginning to show. But the brown she-cat held her ground regardless, determined not to let them see her nervousness.

"Why would Slatestar want to talk to the likes of you?" asked the second warrior, a scrawny pale tabby. A young she-cat peered out from behind him, her eyes wide and anxious. She was a small thing; Kitepaw must have missed her in his first assessment of the patrol.

"It's important," mewed Seedfur calmly. Her eyes flickered from cat to cat.

"We should bring them back to camp, Nettleclaw," mewed a golden-brown tabby whom Kitepaw recognized as Elmheart. He had first seen the tom during the battle in ShadowClan camp, and he had been at the Gathering where Slatestar had announced his warrior name. Just the memory of the fight made Kitepaw's chest ache. He could feel the gash again, the terrible pain. Sootclaw had saved him. His brother.

You have to let go now. Kitepaw brought himself back to reality.

Nettleclaw nodded. "Mousepaw, run ahead and tell Slatestar that we're coming. Owlfeather, Elmheart, you make sure that neither of these two try to run off. There's already too much ShadowClan stink on our territory."

ShadowClan stink? Kitepaw wondered. Who else had been on ThunderClan territory? He remembered how Sootclaw had run off after Falconswoop's death, and almost asked Nettleclaw what he meant, but restrained himself at the last minute. If his brother was keeping secrets, he would respect that.

They walked the rest of the way in silence. Kitepaw could feel Owlfeather's eyes burning into his pelt, and shivered. The tom didn't trust him, and he had no reason to do so. But if everything went according to plan, Kitepaw was going to need that trust soon.

He stumbled over a root. "Keep moving!" barked Nettleclaw, and Kitepaw shivered again. I will make it through this, he vowed. I have to.

.

By the time they were done speaking with Slatestar, the sun had begun to set in the sky. Seedfur had bid Kitepaw a brief farewell before Owlfeather had escorted her back to the border. Meanwhile, Kitepaw settled himself in a dark corner of the camp, uncomfortably aware of all the eyes that were upon him. A long-haired apprentice brought him a mouse, but said nothing. Kits peered at him from the nursery, their eyes eager with curiosity.

After what seemed like forever, Slatestar bounded onto the Highledge. He yowled the words of ceremony out into the cold air, but the gesture was unnecessary. All of ThunderClan was already gathered underneath the quarry ledge, anxious to hear what was happening with their ShadowClan visitor. Kitepaw hung near the back, nervous. Slatestar had already agreed to his proposal, and he didn't expect the tom to renege on his word – no, the brown tabby wasn't worried about that. He was worried that the rest of the Clan wouldn't feel the same way as Slatestar.

"As you know," began Slatestar calmly, his yellow eyes shifting from cat to cat. "ThunderClan has lost both of its medicine cats. In his madness, Branchpaw murdered Brindlefeather, and would have killed more cats. It is due to the bravery of two apprentices that this threat is no more. We are all saved by Branchpaw's death, but now we are left with no healer."

Some cats in the crowd were nodding. Mousepaw twisted around in order to give him a nervous glance. Kitepaw looked down at his paws, wishing he could change his mind and run away. He would continue training under

"To repay us for aiding them against RiverClan, ShadowClan has given us a gift," said Slatestar. His keen gaze found Kitepaw. "A new medicine cat apprentice. Kitepaw is young, but he will learn, and he will serve us well."

"Slatestar!" objected a lean brown tom, leaping to his feet. "I've seen Kitepaw before. He's just a regular apprentice. He doesn't have any training with herbs."

"I've always wanted to be a medicine cat," said Kitepaw quietly. To his surprise, the clearing fell silent at the sound of his voice. "It was my father who stopped me. He wanted me to be a warrior, and I didn't dare cross him. But I would be honoured to serve as ThunderClan's medicine cat. There's nothing I would like more."

The words were the truth. As much as he loved his Clanmates, Falconswoop's memory would always remain as long as the young tom lived in ShadowClan. It broke him to leave Sootclaw, to abandon Birchcloud and Flowerpaw, but this was the only way he could become his own cat. His father held no influence here.

His words had heralded some sympathetic mews from the ThunderClan cats. Larkflight was staring at him with pity, while Nettleclaw's initial hostility had gentled into a reluctant acceptance. Slatestar cleared his throat. "Kitepaw will be trained by Birchcloud and the other medicine cats until he receives his full name. His former mentor, Seedfur, assures me that Kitepaw has a natural affinity for herbs. Come forward, Kitepaw."

Nervously, Kitepaw did as he was told, padding past the ThunderClan cats to stand underneath the Highledge. "I recognize you as Kitepaw, medicine cat apprentice of ThunderClan. Do you promise to protect and defend your new Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Kitepaw blinked. Those were the customary words of the warrior ceremony. It seemed fitting that both he and Sootclaw were getting the same words for their new lives. He dipped his head. "I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I pronounce you a true ThunderClan cat," said Slatestar. He leapt down to face Kitepaw, his eyes warm, and rested his muzzle on the apprentice's head. Kitepaw licked Slatestar's shoulder, hoping the grey tom couldn't hear his heart pounding. The stench of ThunderClan filled his mouth as he drew his tongue across Slatestar's fur, but he tried his best to ignore it.

"Kitepaw! Kitepaw! Kitepaw!" chanted the cats. They came up one-by-one to welcome him, their eyes warm more often than not. Kitepaw recognized the cats from the patrol and others from Gatherings, and then there were cats that he didn't know, but they greeted him all the same. Kitepaw felt a new warmth spread through his chest, slow and heavy and intense. There was no Falconswoop here. This was his home now.

He was Kitepaw of ThunderClan.

X X X X X X X

A/N: Aw, happy ending? For now, at least :) To be quite honest, I didn't know how big of an effect Sootclaw's ceremony would have on me, but actually writing it...I feel like he's all grown up now! That may seen sentimental and cheesy, but I've been writing this story for over a year, and he's gone from spoiled, selfish brat to angst-filled, miserable apprentice, and finally to determined and capable warrior. His insecurities aren't over yet, but for the meantime, his worries are on hold. They all have about four moons of peace and prosperity ahead. So yay for them.

Kitepaw got what he wanted too. It's going to be a bit of a rough adjustment for him, but he's never felt at home in ShadowClan. Besides, we couldn't leave ThunderClan without a medicine cat, could we? Hands up if you saw this one coming.

This was the final chapter, though there will be an epilogue up in a few days. Until then, thanks to all my readers for supporting me this far :) 304 reviews...wow...I had high hopes for this fic, but I never expected this much.

zestia240: Thank you!

Wildheart930: Wow, I'm glad! :) I wish you the best of luck with your future writing. And we'll see ;)

Blackish: Yeah, you're right that Falconswoop's death was a bit choppy. Apart from that...it is more in Dawnpaw's character to run to Sootclaw for help. He's older, he's stronger, etc. But Sootclaw didn't force himself onto her story; he didn't start talking to her or interrupting her before she called to him for help. What you said about Dawnpaw and Sootclaw having endings contradictory to their character (in a good way) was a great point. I wasn't doing it consciously before, but now that you bring it up, I think it's an interesting development to follow through with in the next story. Sootclaw continues to gentle, while Dawnpaw continues to harden.

I had two reasons for including the Branchclaw story there. First, you were right that the original backstory was vague on how exactly he transitioned from angry apprentice to killer. Second, Dawnpaw was trying to stall for time so Sootpaw could arrive. I'm sure there's a trope for keeping the villain talking while you're waiting for something to happen.

frostfeather: Yeah, Dawnpaw went numb. I think a part of her was also surprised by just how easy it was to kill him. You're right that she's in a state of disbelief. As to the explosion of feelings, Dawnpaw was a little distracted at the time, but hopefully Sootclaw's thoughts on it in this chapter make up for that.

Scribe of the Owls: I was using the word handsome to mean noble x3 Anyway, I don't know what there is to say that I haven't already told you in my reply, so...Oh yeah. The thing you mentioned that I said I would address in this update? Here we go: it's not a mistake, it only happened here because of Dawnpaw's agitated mental state, but it is something that will play heavily in the next book.

The Last Clan: Anndddd Kitepaw ends the fic, so there you go! He's one of my favourite narrators, mostly because how he acts and how he thinks is entirely different. If you read the last few chapters, he talks like he's brave and calm, but he's really just so scared. That being said, his POV in this chapter wasn't all that long or deep.

Coqui's Song: Nope. Never updating again. Hurr. I mean...um...here you go! As for Branchpaw, he's in a better place now. PS. There's not just one Thickfur chapter in Knight. According to my outline, there are about six. Wow. Only six. D: It seemed like a lot more than that before I counted them up.

Juniperleaf of BlazeClan: Again, don't be sorry for giving me some critique! :) Dawnpaw was never my favourite character either, and I'll take your advice to heart. Thanks for deciding to review!

Stayed tuned for the epilogue! We'll finally get the answer to Cherrytail's kits, though I'm sure it won't come as too much of a surprise. Also, I reread some of my older chapters, and it feels like my prose was so much better then. D: Oh well. I'll endeavour to make Knight about a hundred times better!

Thanks for reading and please review!

- PV :)