"My king, you must wake," came Intono's deep voice. "Rain wishes to make a ceremony, and you must be present, for it is custom in this situation." Evectri sighed.
"Since when did this happen in our past?" he asked. Intono opened his mouth but Evectri silenced him. "Don't answer that." The silver king sat up, noticing the growing flexibility in his wounds. He smiled, content as he began grooming himself.
"The ceremony consist of burying the dead," Intono began. "There are proper words to say among the cats, apparently." Evectri's blinked curiously.
"Really? Well that's curious," he said. "Are they just burring their own dead?" Intono stiffened.
"He was wondering if you would allow our own to be buried like the cats," Intono answered with a frown.
"Does anybody here have an objection?" asked Evectri. Intono shook his head.
"No, my king," Intono answered, his amber eyes looking quite different. "They state that they have seen so many traits within us as within them to refuse to act different." Evectri smiled, his expression softening. It's happening, he thought. It's finally happening…
"I will meet Rain immediately," Evectri told Intono. "If you would, ready four other toms of our kind to fly back home. We must gather our kingdom and bring them here soon if Bravepaw is to return on time." Intono nodded before taking off into the sky.
The silver king padded up to the base of the Great Oak tree and lifted himself into the sky. He flew up to the third branch to where Rain sat, his eyes clouded with thought as he looked down to the cats below him.
"Is there something wrong, Rain?" asked Evectri. The grey and white tom didn't seem to hear him, but eventually, he sighed.
"My son is important, yes, but why? I feel like I lost another memory, and yet I have this sensation that I'll never get it back," Rain explained. He shook his head. "StarClan has screwed with my mind—I need to focus. If I am going to be leader of these cats, and if I am really going to perform this ceremony, I need to be focused." Evectri smiled.
"You'll be fine," he reassured his friend. "You've done something like this before, I'm sure." The silver king flew down to a branch below Rain's and sat, waiting for the gathering to begin.
Evectri noticed that there were more cats than usual. Twice as many, if only. He then caught the scent of Smoketail, Mudroot, and the other cats Rain sent to retrieve the rest of the cats. With that conclusion, Evectri figured out that all the Clan cats were gathered.
"Let all cats capable of walking, gather hear beneath the Great Oak for a Gathering!" Rain called. Many of the cats looked up and padded over, awe and curiosity soon filling the air. Evectri noticed these cats gathered very similarly to the way that the Cats of the Storms did.
"As you all may know, there are many who have passed away to StarClan, and though they are gone, they will be remembered for all that they are," Rain began. "Death is no sadness…no, I've had my share of it, and it is only a pathway to a new life. Grieve as you will, but know that they are not sad to leave nor happy to let go. They are simply watching you, hoping to guide your lives now that their mortal life has ended.
"Usually those from different Clans would bury their own with the others who died previous to this battle," Rain said, mostly to himself. "However, I believe that these cats died for too special a reason. I believe, and maybe you do to, that these cats deserve to become a reminder of those who fought and died protecting these Clans. Then, maybe from many moons in the future, decedents beyond will remember this battle and praise those who died." There were whispers, and Evectri smiled. Everything was going nicely so far.
"Will the following cats please step forward." said Rain. He began naming off cats, his voice becoming stronger. Evectri smiled once more, watching as several toms and she-cats stepped forward. "…Intono, and Klan." Evectri blinked, surprised to hear names of his own kind. He noticed that even more names had been called prior, which made his eyes widen slightly.
"Thank you," said Rain after he was done calling out names. Evectri noticed Rain pausing, and he guessed that he was talking to Jactur.
"StarClan," Rain began, his voice being joined with Jactur's. "We call upon your powers to help those who passed on a few sunrises ago, live above your stars. Guide them into your life up in the Silverpelt and help them live a peaceful life in the moons to come. Honour these cats with all your greatness for they have made the ultimate sacrifice for our cause." A bright mist appeared, and it rose until it engulfed the cats. The mist soon disappeared into the cats laying deceased further away from the Great Oak tree. They glowed for a minute, and then returned to normal.
"They have our blessing," a voice ran out. The cats whispered, curious as to what just happened. However, Rain was moving on.
"Those who I have called up, you may now carry out the honour of burring those lost in this bloody war," Rain ordered. The cats nodded before making their way to the other side of the island.
Eventually one tom lifted his head and said, "Are we burying the Volans as well?"
"Of course," Rain said. "They are, and forever will, be a part of our history now that this war has come to an end. I see no reason that they may not be honoured as well." Evectri purred in agreement even though no one could hear him.
As the cats were buried, everyone watched. Some were praying, others were crying, and some were simply watching. Demonfang, Evectri noticed, was staring at where Stormheart's body lay. Those of his own kind, however, were looking to their dead or allowing their heads down as they whispered to their lost ones.
We have always had a different way to honour those who died for us, Evectri thought to himself with a smile. But now, we may honour them in peace on our own terms. Finally…my dream has come true. After a while, the cats were done burying the dead, and just as Evectri was going to take off into the air, he realized that something was appearing on the graves.
Within the earth, a small inch thick line was being carved, and eventually it created a rectangle around the graves. It looked like the earth was hard and it wouldn't be able to move, and this made Evectri sigh. StarClan was showing off, it seemed.
The silver king jumped into the air flying high above the cats and other Volans before saying, "Klan, Azotar, Rivio, and Falivia, I shall be returning home to help escort the others back here. If you wish, you may help me." Immediately, they took off into the sky, joining him soon after.
"Intono is currently in charge while I am gone," Evectri announced. "Anyone who has a problem or question, please ask him." The silver king flew in one place as the four Volans he called joined him. He smiled to the rest of his kind and said, "I will return by nightfall if things go smoothly." And with that, he was off.
Bravepaw
Bravepaw had to say that the trip to The Cats of the Storms was pretty brilliant. It was always sunny, and even though leaf-fall was settling in, the air was warm with a simple breeze. The landscaped changed as well—one tree-length there could be a grassy plain, and the next it could be rocky and uneven.
"…even knows where we're going…" muttered Tigertail from behind him.
"Hey, I know exactly where I'm going," snapped Tanzen. Tigertail's gaze shot forward to the Volan, his eyes wide as Blueflash sniggered beside him. "I've fought in these lands before, remember, and to do that I always need to know my surroundings." Tigertail opened his mouth to respond.
"I think what Tigertail meant to point out is," growled Willowshade. "We've been going in the same direction for a long while, and after two days, we just want to know that this isn't for nothing." Tanzen nodded, though he looked forward instead of the ShadowClan deputy.
"Understandable," Tanzen said. "The Cats of the Storm's camp is in a straight line from your forest, though. It's remarkable. Our camp, though, is a different story."
"Wasn't it on some island?" asked Tigertail. Tanzen nodded, flicking his tail toward the sun-drowned place. "It's that direction, give or take a few fox-lengths. Really hard to find, and when one does, it is thought that it is inhabitable."
"What prey do you find there?" asked Blueflash.
"Water voles, mice, lizards, frogs, bats," Tanzen said, shrugging.
"Bats?" Blueflash asked. "Lizards? You actually have to eat those things?" Tanzen laughed.
"If we want to survive, then yes," the Volan answered. "Bats are just a bit tough, that's all. And lizards are hard to catch. Usually we stay away from lizards because of that, and bats can only be caught at night unless someone wishes to enter a cave and get swarmed by them. However, if one was up for a challenge, they are good prey to look for."
"The only challenges we get are the badgers and foxes," claimed Tigertail.
"For predators, we do have the occasional water snake," Tanzen said casually.
"Water snakes?" asked Willowshade. "Do you mean there are actually snakes inside the water?" Tanzen laughed once more, a smile growing on his face.
"Yes," Tanzen finally answered. "But, normally, we Volans can scent them fast enough to let them be."
"How can you scent something that is in the water?" Blueflash asked. "It's impossible for us cats."
"Well, Volans have very sharp senses," Tanzen explained. "For example, right now I can see a squirrel in that pine tree, and I can hear a lot of birds in that bush a bit over there." Blueflash and Tigertail seemed interested now, and Bravepaw chuckled at their expressions.
"What can you smell?" Tigertail asked eagerly.
"Well, let's see," said Tanzen, sniffing in. "The regular patrols of my kind haven't been here for ages, it seems, and the Cats of the Storms are silently drifting toward this area, making it their own. I smell a familiar cat about half way between here and the Cats of the Storm's camp, and…" Tanzen suddenly narrowed his eyes and turned, forcing the patrol to stop.
Bravepaw followed his gaze and saw the small outlines of King Evectri and four others flying toward with them. The patrol stayed still for many moments before Rainfur's son asked, "Tanzen, do you think it's urgent?" The Volan took a few moments to consider it.
"No, King Evectri seems at ease," Tanzen answered. "However, I could never know that for sure considering his training." Bravepaw sighed slightly, and then waited for the Volans to land.
They had come at amazing speed, landing like an eagle snatching its prey. They did so one at a time, Evectri landing first. Then they turned to face the patrol, and Bravepaw realized Tanzen was right; there were no signs of urgency or worry clouded any of the Volans' eyes.
"Is something wrong?" Bravepaw asked as soon as he could.
"No, we're just on our way to the island to receive the others," Evectri answered. "Rain asked me to make sure you were all okay, and I wanted to come to remind you that Shadow might be more willing to lead his Clan to your forest if they knew they could keep their traditions and ranks if they so wished." Bravepaw nodded.
"I'll be aware of that," he told the silver king.
"We'll probably return before you do, but don't feel rushed," said King Evectri. "You have a difficult job, Bravepaw, and you will be respected for taking the responsibility." Bravepaw smiled, and the silver king returned the response before turning and taking off into the air.
"Wow, you should be proud," came Tanzen's voice. Bravepaw shifted his gaze to the brown Volan. "Kings don't usually give someone of your rank such a compliment, if you count it as that." Bravepaw smiled after that, and he did so for a long time after they continued forward.
It didn't take long before Bravepaw realized that they had entered the Cat's of the Storm's territory. Tanzen revealed it all by his worried eyes and twitching tail. Also, the brown Volan seemed to be tense, ready to jump away at any given moment. It must be hard for him to be in enemy territory without much protection, Bravepaw concluded.
"Do they have patrols?" Bravepaw asked.
"No, just scouts on that hill over there," Tanzen explained. "We…we should keep going and wait for them to spot us, for they won't be able to see us from here." Bravepaw nodded and followed his suggestion. They walked through tall grass for a long while before making it to the rocky hills.
"Be prepared to defend Tanzen with tooth and claw," Bravepaw said as they got closer to the scouts. "These cats won't understand the fact that Volans may be innocent." There were murmurs behind him, but nothing more.
It was quite, and the silence was more frightening than any nightmare or war. Everything was still and unmoving, as if something was waiting to attack them. This made Bravepaw cautious, and he sniffed multiple times to check if they were being watched.
After a while, he said, "Alright, I think that this place is a good place to stop and wait—" Bravepaw was interrupted by something colliding with his fragile body. The wind in his lungs were knocked out of him as a cat pushed him to the ground.
Bravepaw reacted as fast as he could, standing up before the creature could pin him to the cold floor. Rainfur's son turned to face his attacker, and narrowed his eyes as he saw a normal cat in front of him. He could hear the rest of his patrol fighting as well, which confirmed his suspicions on who this was.
"You have invaded our territory with our enemy at your shoulder, and for that, you shall die!" hissed the ginger tom. His green eyes were narrowed, his tail was lashing, and his voice was filled with a feral touch that shocked Bravepaw.
"We don't want to fight you, we just want to—" Bravepaw began, but the tom lunged with unsheathed claws. With a swift movement, the pale grey tom moved out of the way, forcing the ginger tom to land only on ground.
"We've come to deliver a message that is all!" Bravepaw cried out.
"We take no messages from traitors who house the likes of him!" the ginger tom spat, his tail flicking to Tanzen. "No message is important enough to ignore that beast!" The tom jumped closer to Bravepaw, and before the pale grey tom could react, the ginger cat created a gash on Bravepaw's chest.
Rainfur's son yowled in agony, quickly backing away from the ginger tom. However, the cat lunged once more toward him, pushing the pale grey tom to the ground. The ginger tom held him down with strength that Bravepaw knew he couldn't match.
"Stop!" Bravepaw cried out quickly, uselessly struggling to get free. "Stop!"
Remind them that you are the son of Rainfur, came a distant voice. He paused, shocked to hear StarClan's voice.
"For the love of StarClan, please stop!" Bravepaw blurted out as fast as he could. "I am the son of Rain and he sent me to give you a message!" the ginger tom paused.
"How could a thin, weak tom like you even know about Rain?" asked the ginger tom bitterly. "There is no way that you could be his son." Bravepaw locked eyes with the tom as quick as he could and gave him a memory as fast as he could. It was the memory of his birth, a few memories here and there from his life with Demonfang, and then a single memory of Bravepaw talking to Rainfur.
The ginger tom paused before saying, "What kind of power was that?"
"I told you, I'm Rain's son," Bravepaw stated, as if that answered the question completely. "But they are all true memories, I swear. We've come for peace!" The ginger tom tensed immediately, the crazed look returning as he unsheathed his claws into Bravepaw's skin. The pale grey tom hissed as the pain came to him sharply.
"There is no peace here, you mouse-brain!" the ginger tom hissed. "Our leadership has fallen, and those beasts are going to attack any day!" Bravepaw was curious of what happened to their leadership, but he figured he would know what it meant later.
"No, they aren't!" Bravepaw defended. "They helped us defeat Negro, and now they are led by someone who has brought peace to their kind!" The ginger tom didn't seem to believe him, so the pale grey tom stared into his eyes and gave him several memories of the war, and of the outcome. Bravepaw also gave him the most recent memory he had of Evectri.
This made the ginger tom narrow his eyes tightly, and Bravepaw let go of the breath he didn't know he was holding. For a few moments, Bravepaw could only stare at the ginger tom as he listened to the rest of the patrol fighting. It seemed as if they were over powered as well, though.
"Why have you brought him?" asked the ginger tom.
"We wanted your Clan to know that we have allied with them," Bravepaw answered. "But not against you! No, we actually would have all died had they not come and helped kill their leader."
"What was Negro's purpose there?" the ginger tom demanded.
"He wanted our forest along with the island," said Bravepaw. "He wanted to kill us all and take the land for himself." The ginger tom paused once more. Eventually, he stepped off of Bravepaw and growled lowly.
"If any of your patrol or the Volan makes any wrong move, we will attack again," growled the ginger tom. He then turned toward the fight cats and yowled very loudly, which forced the battles to stop. "It has been proven to me that these are not intruders, but it has yet been decided whether or not they are trustworthy. We will take them to the Commander so that she might help us." A few of the cats sat up immediately, but others seemed to consider the situation before doing as their superior told them.
"Come, stand, strange ones," the ginger tom growled. "My patrol will surround you, but you must understand that we must be cautious. After what that prince did…"
"There have only been two toms in our entire history who were able to hide only their wings," hissed Tanzen defensively as blood drizzled down a nasty wound from his shoulder. "Evectri, and Negro's father."
"Nevertheless, we must be cautious," the ginger tom hissed. "Follow us without threatening our peace, and you could actually survive the journey to camp." The tom turned, then, and the patrol surrounded Bravepaw's. Tigertail growled, and Blueflash was still tense. Bravepaw gave a look to them, though, and that helped the two young toms along.
It was quiet as they went along. It was awkward, as if no one wished to speak in fear of the patrol outmatching them once more. After all, there were almost twice as many cats on the other patrol. Eventually, the ginger tom glanced over to him.
"You are quite young to lead a patrol," he mused. Bravepaw nodded.
"I'm…special, though," Bravepaw answered. "I have Rain as a father, and my powerful sister as well. Plus, I helped killed Negro. So, my father and the King told me that I would be best leading it. And…well, I'm the only one other than Rain who can do that memory thing." The ginger tom frowned, looking forward at that moment.
"That trick is very dangerous," the ginger tom warned. "Those of my 'Clan,' as you call it, won't like such strange things happening to them." Bravepaw nodded.
"I know," he answered. There was another awkward silence before he continued, "My name is Bravepaw, by the way." The ginger tom smiled slightly.
"Flame, Beta of the Cats of the Storms," the ginger tom responded. At Bravepaw's confused look, Flame added, "I am second in command, serving as the Commander's war and hunting strategist. I help with patrols and such too." Bravepaw nodded.
"I don't know what rank I'm considered to be," Bravepaw said, just trying to help the conversation along. "I was an apprentice—a tom in training—but then I die— went away for a long time and…well, I haven't had the time to have my ceremony yet. And besides, there have been no leaders to preform it." Flame narrowed his eyes.
"No leaders? But then how does your 'Clan' function?" Flame asked.
"Clans, you mean?" Bravepaw asked with a bleak smile. "Well, Rain is well respected, so he's been giving orders for the past few days."
"I meant on a regular day," Flame corrected. Bravepaw chuckled slightly then, his head lowering.
"Well, we had leaders," Bravepaw responded, "but they died in the war. All four of them, along with their deputies, or 'Betas' as you call them." Flame's eyes narrowed.
"That must have been one bloody war," Flame commented. "You have my condolences, Bravepaw."
From then on the two of them talked about little things, and Bravepaw became more at ease with the situation. Flame seemed to trust him more as well, and the pale grey tom also noticed those behind him speaking freely to the cats who had just attacked them.
When they made it to camp, Bravepaw was amazed at its defence. Stone prevented anyone from invading unless they defeated the guards and simply walked in, and once they were inside Bravepaw was amazed at how large it was. The dens seemed to be sturdy, and they had a highledge.
The toms and she-cats in the camp stopped from their daily business and looked at the unfamiliar cats. They began to murmur curiously, and then they hissed with fury as they saw Tanzen. They didn't attack, though, for they seemed respect their patrol's decision.
"My Commander!" Flame called from the base of the highledge. "I have returned with news you must attend to immediately!" There was a pause. The cats from the camp had gathered while the patrol stared at the den in which was near the highledge.
Finally, a golden she-cat walked out, her coat gleaming in the sunlight. Her blue eyes, though stunning, were cold and emotionless, and this scared Bravepaw. However, he calmed himself and waited for Shadow to walk out of the den as well.
"Speak, Flame, and explain why you have brought that monster into our camp," Huntress said, her voice edged with distaste.
"We found them wandering into our territory, and we attacked," Flame explained, his voice magnified so that the other cats could hear. "We easily outmatched them, but this tom here, Bravepaw, has proven himself son of Rain, and he has sworn as well as showed me that he and his patrol will do no harm." Huntress's icy eyes fell onto Bravepaw, making him shiver.
"Tell me, kit, as to why you have come?" Huntress asked.
"M-my father has sent me to speak to Shadow about a matter that is rather complicated," Bravepaw answered, trying to be as respectful as he could to the scary she-cat.
"If you wish to speak to my father, than you will have to pass over to whatever afterlife awaits us," Huntress hissed, though her emotionless expression did not change.
"He has died?" Bravepaw asked, his eyes wide.
"He was taken by a disease just three days ago," hissed Huntress. "I am the new Commander, so if you wish to speak of this complicated matter, I suggest you begin now, before I grow impatient of that thing being here." Bravepaw shifted with unease clawing at his belly.
If their Commander has died, then it is no wonder that they were all so feral, Bravepaw thought. After all, they were probably expecting the Volans to be ready to attack just like when it happened to Rainfur. If I can use their sorrow to my advantage though…I hope this won't make things worse…
"I am sorry to you all for the loss of your Commander, and you, Huntress, for the loss of your father," Bravepaw said, choosing his words carefully. "Our leaders have also died, all four of them, along with each of their Betas." Huntress's expression didn't change.
"What a pity," she said simply. "Whatever killed them must have been a scary thing indeed. Why does this concern me and my cats, though? I'd really like to know." Bravepaw's jade green eyes narrowed.
"That 'scary thing' was Negro, the previous King of the Volans," Bravepaw answered.
"And he is dead, I assume?" asked Huntress. Bravepaw nodded.
"Yes," Bravepaw answered further. "King Evectri, Rain, Stormheart, my sister and I defeated him just two days ago, and now we are recovering." Huntress gave a laugh, a smile of strange sorts crawling through her expression.
"What a wonderful lie you have there," Huntress chuckled. "Too bad that I don't have time listening to such foolish stories—I've got a war to continue planning."
"But there is no war!" Bravepaw yelled. "The Volans have retreated. In fact, they are moving over to our forest, and they will stay there, protecting us." Huntress sighed, her tail flicking with annoyance.
"No such thing will ever happen, kit, for those Volans are savage creatures who will only destroy you," Huntress said calmly.
"King Evectri is better than his father, though!" Bravepaw exclaimed. "They helped us fight their own kind, and after Negro died, all of the Volans got over being brainwashed and have lived with us in peace!" Huntress looked to Flame.
"Get these cats and that animal out of my sight," she hissed. "I have no time for them." Bravepaw's eyes narrowed, becoming very frustrated. And, as she looked back to him, the pale grey tom locked his gaze and began to give her memories.
First it was the memory of Negro declaring war. Then it was of Evectri coming and fighting against his father. Afterward, a mixture of memories in which contained the Volans fighting each other as well as helping the cats in which couldn't fly. Next, a memory of the creature that Jactur, Rainfur, Stormheart, Matar, Bravepaw, Demonfang, and Evectri made. And then it was the aftermath. There were Volans hunting for them, and others were carrying injured cats to the medicine cats. Also, he sent memories of Volans having conversations with cats, as well as Evectri talking to the council of other cats.
When the memories stopped, Huntress blinked, narrowing her eyes at Bravepaw before spitting, "What in the Elder's name was that, kit?" Bravepaw shifted in his spot, wary of the other cats around him. I could have been killed for that…he thought.
"I was giving you memories of what the Volans have done for the cats of the forest I live in," Bravepaw answered. Huntress was calm, but she had her eyes narrowed. Finally, he thought. A realistic response.
"That is impossible," she growled.
"Is what all my father did impossible?" Bravepaw asked. "When he nearly killed Lightning, and when he almost ripped the wing off of Lady Laidia? Maybe when he rose your dead and allowed them into the sky? Or why he could see through the Kreis Operio?" Huntress narrowed her eyes tighter.
"How do you know that?" she asked. "You weren't even here!" Bravepaw paused. She'd be the first one I'd really flat out tell, and StarClan told me…No, it's the only way she'll listen.
"Just a few moments ago you told me to go to the afterlife if I was to speak to your father," said Bravepaw carefully, forcing several whispers from his own patrol as well as others. "What if I was to say that I've already been there?" This forced many loud objections, but Huntress quickly quieted them.
"Impossible!" she hissed. "No one can die and return!"
"I was never alive, so how could I die?" Bravepaw asked. The confusion hit Huntress hard, the pale grey tom noticed. She was fidgety and tense. "I may have been given a soul, but I was never truly living. So I 'died,' and StarClan gave me information you would only dream of. And, finally, I was allowed to actually live." Huntress growled lowly.
"StarClan doesn't exist." she stated firmly.
"I'd have to disagree with that, Huntress," claimed a new voice. All heads turned toward a pretty silver she-cat who sat in front of a den. She was calm, content, even.
"And why is that, Ripple?" Huntress asked.
"Because, though you have not known, I have had contact with StarClan since I accepted my job as a healer," the silver she-cat—Ripple—answered. "They do, in fact, exist."
"No!" Huntress shrieked. "They were defeated moons ago, and so everything both of you have told me is a lie." The golden she-cat looked to Flame. "Get them out of my sight. Now."
"Could I show you?" Bravepaw asked. Everyone looked to him.
"And how would you go about doing that?" Huntress spat. Bravepaw blinked, and immediately began to plead to StarClan for help. I don't care how you do it, Bravepaw said. I just need some help convincing them of what's happening and what they need to consider.
A cloudy grey tom faded into view, standing right next to Huntress. He looked at her, waited for her to realize she was there, and then he said, "The Lone Huntress, it is an honour to meet you. I am, as you should know, Stormstar, the first leader of StormClan, or as you call it, The Cats of the Storms." Huntress's eyes grew wider than two moons.
"No! You aren't real!" Huntress shrieked. "This is all a trick! Attack! Attack them all!" Following her command, Flame lunged straight to Bravepaw, pushing him into the hard rock of the highledge. All went black for a few moments, his head throbbing. The next thing he knew, he was on the ground trying to blink the blurriness away.
Something was in front of him, but he couldn't tell what it was, so he carefully sat up and gasped. Flame had a large wound on his shoulder, and he was glaring at what looked like a sparkly version of himself. Its expression was blank, and as it stared at Flame, the cats around him backed away, their eyes wide.
"Do not fear me," came a voice that Bravepaw found familiar. However, he couldn't put a name on it. "I am not going to hurt you so long as you don't hurt him. Listen to Stormstar, and listen to what these young cats have to say." There was a pause, but eventually Stormstar opened his mouth to speak. Something interrupted him.
"O Lord of living…is that really you?" asked one of the elder looking cats. There were five, and as they walked into the sunlight, several cats of the Cats of the Storms gasped.
"It is indeed," Stormstar said, his voice booming throughout the clearing. "Thank you for joining us, wise Elders of greatness." Huntress looked over to the elders and back at Stormstar again.
"How do you all know each other?" she demanded.
"I am the reason you all have your names, and you, yourself, receive advice from the elders," Stormstar explained. "I am the one you worship." Huntress's eyes grew wide once more.
"It is true," said another elder. "He allows us to see through your lives and give you your names. He is the only one though."
"After StarClan was defeated, we retreated to another sky," Stormstar explained calmly. "Where this young tom, Bravepaw, is from is where we now live, along with the Dark Forest. I still wanted to care for my Clan, though, so I came to the five elders at the time and told them of what I would do. They thought me simply one god who would solve all their problems, and so that was what they told the Clan. And so your traditions and beliefs began."
"But that would mean…" said Huntress, though she drifted. "Where is my father? Where is my mother? Where do the dead go?" Stormstar shifted uneasily.
"To StarClan, of course," Stormstar answered. "They all live above the skies of where Bravepaw and the rest of these young cats live."
"But why can't you move back here?" Huntress asked.
"Our sky is destroyed," Stormstar answered simply. "Which is why these cats have come. They wish to invite you into their forests so that you can be reunited with your ancestors under the sky of StarClan." Huntress didn't respond. She just paced along the high ledge.
After a long while, she stopped and looked over to Stormstar before asking, "Are the Volans truly gone?" Stormstar nodded, and she sighed. "Then it would make all enough sense to stay. Why would we move when we're finally in peace?"
"If you stay here, you will never see your mother or father until death takes you," Stormstar pointed out. "The same goes for those you lead." Huntress nodded.
"Is all of what I saw true?" Huntress asked.
"Yes," Stormstar answered. "King Negro is no longer in power, Sharpmoon and the rest of their leaders are dead. Evectri is now King because he was the one who actually defeated Negro, and Rain shall be the leader of all the Clans aside from the Flock and your own Clan." Huntress narrowed her eyes.
"What do you mean?" Huntress asked.
"If you were to move, you would still be Commander, and your traditions won't at all be tampered with," Stormstar explained. "You are expected to attend gatherings every full moon, and meetings that Rain will of course need you there. Other than that, you will live on your own."
"What of the Volans?" said Huntress, her eyes narrowed.
"They will have their own territory, and they will live as they always had with the exception of war," Stormstar told her. "They are, if you may, a peaceful Clan now. With Evectri leading them, they will be fair and they will be just." Huntress was quiet for more moments after that.
"It just doesn't seem reasonable," Huntress murmured. "Why would I just get up and lead these cats to someplace when we have everything we need right here? We finally have peace…and how am I to truly know that you're the One and Only?" Stormstar sighed.
"Your name," Stormstar said. "It was given to you because you would witness the three deaths of the only people that you care about, and your friend would leave you as well. All of these things have happened, and yet you are a Huntress. You will make this decision on your own, hunting for someone you can love." Huntress gasped, taking a step back.
"That is almost exactly what the elders told me…" she gasped.
"Indeed it is," said Stormstar. "Do you believe me now?" Huntress didn't answer. She looked at her paws, her lips pulling to a frown.
I understand why Huntress wants to keep her Clan apart from everyone else's, but…I don't know. I think that she should allow her Clan has been alone to long. Bravepaw thought. She needed to know this. He stood up, trying to stand tall.
"Huntress, if I may, I would like to make a suggestion," Bravepaw said. "Your Clan has been in the dark for a long time, without any allies or new friends. Back at the Clans I live in, we live together not just for protection, but for friendly reasons as well. You and your Clan have never been able to have others to look forward to meeting at gatherings or excited kits in training who wish to meet others like them and show off their new moves. I can understand the hardship of moving, but maybe your Clan wants to meet others like them." Huntress stared at him for a few moments before she stood and faced the cats.
"If you would like a say in this decision, please state your reasons for staying or going," Huntress said. There was a small silence, but then suddenly a small trainee jumped up.
"Rainy's over there, and he could protect us from anything!" the kit exclaimed. "Even those Volans if they attacked!" There were a few laughs.
"The kit has a point," said Flame, an amused smile on his face.
"I think it would be good for the young ones to meet others," claimed an elderly she-cat. "After all, they could learn a lot from those not in our Clan."
"Yes, but what if those Volans come to attack us?" hissed a tense tom in the back. "I don't care if there is a new leader, I still don't trust them."
"It's as the kit said," mused a she-cat near Bravepaw. "Rain, his daughter, this young tom, and several others with powers we can comprehend will protect us."
"But what if they can't?" asked the tom.
"Rainfur has killed a whole band of rogues in mere moments," growled Willowshade. "I doubt that he'd have an issue with the Volans. And besides, his daughter is just as powerful, and Bravepaw has all the information one could possibly want from StarClan it seems."
"Our leaders also have nine lives," mentioned Bravepaw. "If the Volans were to attack, they would still be overpowered." More claims went out, and most wanted to leave, but there were a few who wanted to stay.
Finally, Huntress shook her head and said, "Those of you who want to stay go to that side of the camp, and those of you who want to leave go to the opposite side." The cats moved to the side that they wanted while Bravepaw and his patrol stayed silent.
Huntress frowned as she saw both sides of the camp and said, "It seems there are many of you who wish to leave…"
That was true. Two thirds of the camp was on that side while the other was on the side that wanted to stay. "Those of you who want to stay, would you be willing to leave simply because it is what the majority wants?" There were a few whispers, but eventually, they walked one by one to the 'leave' side. A few stayed, though.
"I can't trust the Volans," growled an older tom. "I've seen so many around me die because of them." Bravepaw looked to him and gave him a memory of Evectri and how he handled things as king. He also showed the tom of how well Tanzen treated Demonfang.
The tom blinked before glaring at Bravepaw. He growled and said, "They are untrustworthy."
"I cannot stay because of only three cats," Huntress pointed out.
"Then we will leave," he hissed. There were several gasps between the cats, and several cats screeched out. Bravepaw guessed that it was the tom's family who did that.
"Silence!" Huntress hissed. She looked back to the tom and his two companions. "Are you sure?" The tom nodded his head.
"My life here has been boring, and very unsatisfying," he said truthfully. "I want a new life, a peaceful one." The two other cats murmured in agreement. Huntress nodded.
"Then wait and say your good-byes as Ripple prepares our traveling herbs," Huntress said. "As much as I don't like this arrangement, is obvious you think it needed. Get ready to move out." She jumped down from the highledge walked forward to Bravepaw. His head lowered immediately.
"Whatever you said will be true or you'll regret it," she hissed. And then the golden she-cat walked away.
"Bravestar," came Stormstar's booming voice. "We must return." The blue version of Bravepaw nodded before fading away along with StormClan's first leader. Bravepaw let out a long breath.
At least she's finally agreed…Bravepaw thought to himself.