Goldeneye was anxious as she was with the entire Clan at Sunningrocks. As the moon was shining in the dark night, the barks of the Dog pack could be heard as they echoed in the air. The White and Honey furred Molly was sitting with the other Queens , waiting. As the time passed, some of the cats her mate Fireheart chose to lure the Dogs returned : Dustpelt, Sandstorm , Mousefur , Longtail , Fernpaw and Ashpaw. All of them looked tired after the run and Mousefur had torn her claw but nothing serious.
To her horror , Graystripe and Fireheart were missing and panic was filling her mind 'Did they got caught by the dogs ?!' 'Are they hurt ?!' 'Are they dead ?!' Sandstorm , who was sitting next to her, tried to calm her friend down a bit until Whitestorm appeared : he seemed….scared ? "Whitestorm ! What's going on ?" the pale ginger she-cat asked her old mentor with a worried raise-brow. The senior Warrior looked at her in panic "Bluestar disappeared !"
The two mollies were in shock and they were sharing Whitestorm's worry : no one should be alone in the forest with the pack still out there. A long time passed and no trace of Fireheart , Graystripe or Bluestar. NOW they were worried. Unfortunately, Goldeneye grew more and more scared and worried for her mate and she prayed Starclan that the three of them were safe.
Suddenly, the bushes near them rustled causing everyone to tense. The Warriors stand between the Clan and the unknown threat. But then, a familiar scent hit their nose and they all calmed down when Graystripe approached. Goldeneye sighed in relief but noticed that her mate wasn't with the gray tom "Graystripe where is Fireheart ?" she asked him with a worried expression on her face.
"He is at camp and he sent me to tell you that we all can come back ! The Dogs are no more a threat for us !" the gray tom announced happily and the Clan cheered but then Goldeneye noticed the sad look on Graystripe's face. But before she could ask , someone beat her to it "Graystripe why with the sad face ?" Whitestorm asked the younger warrior with a raise-brow of confusion.
The addressed gray tom sighed deeply in sorrow as he said those words "Fireheart also sent me to tell you that Bluestar….is dead..." A loud gasp of shock echoed as Thunderclan looked at him. Goldeneye couldn't believe what she just heard : Bluestar was dead ? How ?! "How did she died ?" Smallear asked sorrowfully and Graystripe responded sadly"Fireheart ordered me to let me explain….Now we should go..."
At those words, the entire Clan followed the gray tom to their camp where they found Fireheart sitting in the clearing. Despise the Deputy's presence, Goldeneye noticed that some of her Clan-mates were sniffing around in case a Dog remained. Then the White and Honey furred Queen approached her mate before licking his face repeatedly "Oh Fireheart I was so afraid that I lost you !" she cooed in happiness as cuddled her mate who returned the gesture. Then her expression clouded "Is that true that Bluestar is dead ?" Her mate nodded in sadness "Yes...I tried to save her but I failed… She is in her den right now… With Stonefur and Mistyfoot..."
The last part shocked her : what was two members of Riverclan were doing with their Leader ?! "But...what...why are they here ?!" she asked him still in shock "They helped me dragging her here and….she was their mother….Not now I will explain later..." The flame pelted tom said the last part hurriedly as he saw the questioning on his mate's face.
After that Fireheart praised Ashpaw and his sister for their helps to lure the dog pack over the gorge. Ashpaw told him that they hid in the hazel thicket and jumped out as soon as they saw the Dogs. The male apprentice confessed that he was terrified, and his mentor Dustpelt told him that they did brilliantly despise this and Fireheart replied to the brown tom that he did well too, and the Clan thanked all of them.
Goldeneye then watching him talk to Lostface and like before she cringed at the horrible name Bluestar gave her. When her mate finished with Cloudtail's possible mate, the fire colored tom talked with Cinderpelt then with Whitestorm who seemed pretty sad at the moment. Soon the rest of the Clan gathered around the Deputy "Fireheart ! Is that true that Bluestar is dead ?" Brackenfur asked with a bit of sadness. "Yes she is….As you all know, I was the last one to lure the pack to the gorge. But at the edge, Tigerstar came out of nowhere and pinned me down so the Pack Leader could catch me… The Dog would have killed me if Bluestar didn't appeared. She leaped on the Dog right at the edge of the gorge, and they both had went over..."
Gasps of shock from the crowd until Frostfur asked with a small voice " and what happened next ?" "I jumped in but I couldn't save her... Then Stonefur and Mistyfoot had helped me rescue her from the river, but it was too late, and she had already lost her ninth life and had joined StarClan..." Fireheart responded with pure sadness as he was shivering at the memory.
Wails of grief echoed in the clearing when the Deputy stopped talking "Bluestar isn't gone and she is still watching us from Silverpelt..." Fireheart added in an attempt to comfort them but then he muttered something to himself and Goldeneye didn't hear him. "I would like to see Bluestar… Where is she ? In her den maybe ?" Speckletail said as she was making her way to Highrock alongside Dappletail and Smallear. Fireheart's eyes widened as he remembered that the two Riverclan Cats were still inside and he tried to stop them but it was too late. "What are you doing here ?!".
Frostfur looked at the rest of Thunderclan "There are two Riverclan Warriors here and they're mauling our Leader !" "No they are not ! " Fireheart tried to explain until Darkstripe asked " Why did you bring enemy warriors in our camp ?" "Stonefur and Mistyfoot helped me to drag Bluestar here !" The flame pelted warrior argued but the gray tom didn't believe him , questioning how they knew he was telling the truth. Darkstripe asked why Riverclan cats should help ThunderClan, and Fireheart replied that they've helped them in the past, saying that they would've died in the fire that destroyed the forest if RiverClan hadn't given them shelter.
Mousefur commented that it was true but it wasn't an excuse to have these two with their Leader and asked the Deputy what they were doing here " We were giving her honor !" Stonefur responded as he stepped out of the Leader's den with his sister Mistyfoot. Mousefur asked them why and Mistyfoot announced them that Bluestar was their mother.
Goldeneye was a bit shocked that the Clan was learning the news like this and noticed that her mate seemed embarrassed. Speckletail growled ,saying that Bluestar would never let her kits be raised in another Clan and Stonefur retorted that it was the truth , whether she believes it or not. Fireheart warned the Riverclan Deputy to be silent and added that he will take care of it as he dismissed the two RiverClan Cats.
As Bluestar's kits left the clearing to their own camp, Fireheart leaped on Highrock and Goldeneye noticed that Darkstripe was eying her mate as if he was ready to go announcing Tigerstar the news. Then her attention turned to her mate as the Flame pelted tom told the Clan that Bluestar had given her kits to her mate Oakheart in order to become Deputy. Frostfur snarled as she asked how he knew this . She stated that Bluestar would never do this, and that if the RiverClan cats had said that was the true story, then they were lying.
He Deputy responded calmly to the she-cat that Bluestar was the one who told him this herself. Frostfur hissed angrily ,asking if Bluestar was a traitor. Suddenly, Whitestorm spoke up, commenting that Bluestar was always loyal to her Clan. Darkstripe , however, contradicted him stating that if Bluestar was so loyal then why did she let a cat from another Clan father her kits?
"Everything can happen… Bluestar would have raised them to be loyal Warriors of Thunderclan but..." Fireheart began to explain before being interrupted by Smallear " I remember her kits ! They disappeared from the nursery and we all though that they were snatched up by a fox or a badger...Bluestar was distraught… Are you saying it was all a lie ?" " No...Bluestar was distraught by the loss of her kits but she had to give them up in order to be deputy..." The flame pelted Warrior responded calmly to the Elder
"So for you, her ambition was more important than her kits ?" Dustpelt asked the Deputy with a puzzled expression on his face. Fireheart responded that Bluestar putted her Clan first as always and Whitestorm approved.
Goldeneye was completely taken aback by what she learnt but her thought were interrupted by Tawnypaw's question "Fireheart ! Are you our new Leader ?" Before the Deputy could respond, Darkstripe stepped in " Would you accept a kittypet as our Leader ? Did you lost you mind ?!" "That isn't the question Darkstripe ! Fireheart is the Clan Deputy so he succeed to Bluestar that's final !" Goldeneye sighed in relief as she was thankful that Whitestorm , the most respected Warrior in the Clan, supported her mate.
"But he is a kittypet !" Darkstripe yelled in disgust as he glared at the Deputy. Fireheart looked ready to jump from Highrock to claw the gray tabby's fur off. Goldenflower then approached "You are wrong Darkstripe ! Fireheart proved his loyal A LOT of times ! No Clan-born cats could have done more than him !"
Goldeneye looked at the golden she-cat with a happy expression on her face. "Fireheart don't listen to him ! Everyone here want you as our Leader beside him ! You are the most qualified one to take this role !" Brackenfur said to the Deputy and murmurs of approval .
Fireheart then promised that he would strive to become the leader that ThunderClan deserved. Goldeneye looked at him with nothing but warmth as she was very proud of him. "And you Darkstripe ? If you don't want a kittypet as your Leader then you are free to leave !" The addressed tabby looked at his superior with an infinite hatred but he went in the Warriors Den when he received a growl from Sandstorm, Goldeneye and Graystripe.
Fireheart resumed talking , saying that tonight they would hold the mourning ritual for Bluestar . Then Cloudtail shouted that they should attack Shadowclan since they led the dogs to ThunderClan and killed Brindleface. The Deputy signaled with his tail for silence and answers his nephew with a no. The young White Warrior angrily asked why and the Flame pelted tom responded that it wasn't ShadowClan who did made the trail or fed the Dogs but Tigerstar and him alone.
Cloudtail snorted angrily in me-contentment and Fireheart fixed his former apprentice with a hard stare. Then the blue-eyed White Warrior sat down again, but his eyes still are blazing with anger, and he muttered something to Lostface.
The Fire colored tom looked back at the Clan "Now we must pay our respects to Bluestar ! Cinderpelt are you ready ?" The Medicine cat nodded "Graystripe , Sandstorm Can you bring Bluestar's body to share tongues one last time under Starclan's eyes ?"
The two Warriors nodded and entered the Leader's Den before coming back with Bluestar's body. They carried the corpse to the center of the camp before gently laying it down. "Sandstorm I want you to organize a hunting patrol after you say goodbye to Bluestar ! Mousefur, Can you lead a patrol near Snakerocks and the Shadowclan border ? I want to make sure the Dogs are gone for good and that no Shadowclan Cats are on our territory ! But be careful and don't take risks !"
Mousefur obeyed and invited Goldenflower and Longtail to join her. Then the group approached Bluestar's body to share tongues one last time and Sandstorm, Dustpelt and Cloudtail did the same. Cinderpelt stood near Bluestar's head and gazed at Silverpelt she talked about how Bluestar was a noble leader. She thanked Starclan for her life, and said that she dedicated her life to her Clan, and she would never fade from their memory. The twisted legged she-cat commended her spirit to StarClan.
The Medicine Cat said that Bluestar would watch over her Clan in death, just like she did in life. As Cinderpelt finished talking, the Clan began to murmur softy. The Warriors chosen to go on patrol approached Bluestar's side and began to groom her fur before pressing their noses against her flank. After a few moments, they retreated and others took their place, mourning their dead Leader, until everyone had shared tongues with her. The patrols left, and the Cats went into their Dens while Fireheart staid at the base of Highrock with Whitestorm , Goldeneye and Cinderpelt.
The White and Honey furred Molly waited for everyone to be away before giving honors to Bluestar. She pressed her muzzle against the dead Leader's flank whispering " Thank you for allowing me to join your Clan..." Then she got up , licked Fireheart's cheek before entering the nursery while her mate crouched against Bluestar's side along with Whitestorm who was filled with grief.
The next morning, after the Elders went away with Bluestar's body to bury it, Goldeneye , Graystripe and Sandstorm approached Fireheart who was about to enter the gorse tunnel with Cinderpelt. " Do you really think you are going to leave without saying goodbye ?" the gray tom asked with a grin as he punched his friend's shoulder. Goldeneye , for her part, pressed her head against Fireheart's , purring while Sandstorm told him that they would always stand with him. Cinderpelt then called for him to hurry up, as they have to reach Highstones before nightfall. Fireheart mewled farewell to his friends before racing out of camp after the Medicine Cat.
Goldeneye watched him go with a smile and she made her way back to the nursery were Willowpelt welcomed her "I still can't believe Bluestar is gone… She was good Leader..." "Yes she was… But I bed Fireheart will be a good Leader as well !" Goldeneye replied cheerfully and her comrade nodded "He did a great job as Clan Deputy despise his young age..." Goldeneye then groaned painfully causing Willowpelt to look at her in concern "Are you okay ?"
"I felt a kick..." The White and Honey furred Molly groaned in response and the older Queen sighed "Thats mean your kits will come out really soon !" " I hope so ! I can't wait to see them !" "I bet they would be beautiful !" Willowpelt commented and Goldeneye smiled as she tried to image her kits. After that, the two Queens chatted happily as the White and Honey furred Molly couldn't wait for Fireheart to come back.
Goldeneye was sharing a rabbit with Sandstorm at the nursery's entrance. But then Ashpaw yelled loudly " Firestar you are back !" His yells alerted the rest of the Clan who approached the new Leader before greeting him happily. All except Darkstripe but it wasn't a surprise. Goldeneye pressed her head against Firestar's and the two purred gently at the same time "Have you really seen Starclan ?" Fernpaw asked the flame colored tom with amazement " Yes I did but I am not allowed to talk about the ceremony.."
The apprentice didn't seemed disappointed as she looked at Dustpelt "I bet he would be a great Leader !" "He better be !" the dark brown tabby responded with a growl before nodding respectfully to his Leader. Graystripe then approached his longtime friend " How it was ? You look like a fox that's been dead for a moon !" Firestar responded that it was tough. Goldeneye giggled as she heard it but sadly someone else heard it as well.
Cloudtail overheard them and commented that it is only their beliefs that make Firestar trek to Highstones and back for cats to accept him as Leader. He said that as far as he's concerned, Firestar's already proven himself worthy to lead ThunderClan. Of course, the new Leader gave to the young White Warrior a hard stare and Goldeneye understood why : because of his nephew's lack of faith in their ancestors.
The the Fire pelted tom noticed Whitestorm and went over to greet him. He asked how things went while he was gone, and if there was any trouble. Whitestorm assumed him that there wasn't anything at all : they patrolled the entire territory, and there had been no sign of neither dogs or Shadowclan Cats. He adds that Sandstorm took out a hunting patrol, while Mousefur and Brackenfur sent out all the apprentices hunting . The White tom noted that Bramblepaw was a skillful hunter, and that he lost track of how many pieces of prey he brought in.
Firestar seemed happy by his apprentice's skills but Goldeneye noticed the look in her mate's eyes and frowned when she understood that the flame pelted tom was still wary of the brown apprentice. Cinderpelt approached him before telling him that she is returning to her den and that if Firestar needed anything, to just call. Then she reminded him to also appoint a new Deputy before moonhigh and Firestar nodded as he watched the Medicine cat walking toward her Den.
Goldeneye approached him before licking his neck "I can't believe that my mate is the new Leader of Thunderclan~" "Me too…." Firestar responded with sadness and his mate nuzzled to comfort him , knowing that he missed Bluestar.
Firestar then made his way toward the Leader's Den, now his , under Highrock. Goldeneye went after him. In the small cave , the couple found Thornpaw who explained to them that Whitestorm told him to change the bedding and to fetch him some fresh-kill.
The new Leader commented that it looked great and asked the apprentice to thank the senior Warrior for him and Thornpaw left. Firestar then called him back before telling the apprentice to ask Mousefur , his mentor, to have a word with him tomorrow about his Warrior Ceremony. Thornpaw's eyes lighted up in excitement and he dashed off.
"Do you want some ?" Firestar asked his mate who shook her head "I already ate ! Now you do you plan to chose as your Deputy ?" she asked him with curiosity. Firestar looked at her with a grin "Do you really think I will tell you ?" Like usual, she whined " Pleeeeeeaaaaaaaase tell me I won't tell anyone I swear !" "No" the Fire colored tom responded with a playful grin causing her to pout "You are a meanie…. I will like you alone then..." with that said she left . The new Leader chuckled from his mate's antic as he started to feast on the prey he was given while thinking about WHO will be the next Deputy.
As the moon started to rise, Goldeneye saw her mate leaped on Highrock before saying "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting ! " As she approached the tall rock, Goldeneye noticed that Mousefur was snapping at Tawnypaw as if the two had a disagreement. When everyone was present, Firestar began the ceremony, telling the Clan that the time had come to appoint a new Deputy.
To everyone's surprise and joy, Whitestorm was chosen to be the new Deputy. For a moment there was nothing but silence as the senior stared up at Firestar with a look of pleasure and surprise across his face. Slowly, Whitestorm rose to his paws and adressed the Clan , saying that he was honored to have been chosen and that he would do his best to serve ThunderClan. When he finished talking, the entire Clan began to yowl their congratulations and a few cats called out his name before they pressed their furs against Whitestorm, congratulating him.
Among them was Goldeneye who was agree with her mate's choice : Whitestorm was a wise and noble Warrior. He would do a good job as Deputy. But suddenly a wave of pain traversed Goldeneye's body and she wailed in pain. Her cries caused everyone to look at her with shock "Goldeneye are you alright ?!" Firestar asked her as he approached his mate with worry.
"Firestar they're coming ! OUR KITS ARE COMING !" she yelled painfully and hurriely.
(To be continued…)
Note : Finally she is giving birth ! The next chapter would be exclusively based on Firestar and his new family.