As the sun came up, Leopardtail stood up and stretched, and then sat back down. She waited for her old mentor, Foxfur, to emerge from the warrior's den.
"You may speak now." He meowed. "The sun's coming up, so you no longer have to sit."
"Oh, finally!" Leopardtail exclaimed. "My muscles are so cramped that I could run to the end of the world."
"Right, why don't you go take one of the apprentices out hunting?" Foxfur asked. "Berrypaw might want to go."
He padded away and Leopardtail thought she saw a hint of worry in his eyes. She turned away and bounded to the apprentices den. She poked her head in and called for Berrypaw.
"Berrypaw!" She whispered.
The apprentice looked up. "What is it?" He asked.
"You want to go hunting?"
"Why with you? Where's Dawnpelt?" The small apprentice asked about his mentor. "Is she alright?" Worry flashed in his eyes.
"No, no. She's fine; Foxfur just wants me to take you. He thinks it would be good experience for me, I guess." Leopardtail mewed.
"Oh, okay. Let's go!" Berrypaw bounded for the gorse tunnel and stopped at the entrance to camp, waiting for Leopardtail.
She started to pad toward the tunnel when Honeystar called her. Berrypaw nodded and sat down.
Leopardtail turned and stalked toward the leader.
"Leopardtail, I want you to know something. Come into my den." Honeystar turned and padded into her den. When they got inside, she sat in her nest and looked up at Leopardtail. "Gorsestar has wanted you for the longest of times." Her eyes stretched wide. "He kept on me about giving you up to Riverclan."
"But, why would Riverclan want me?" Leopardtail asked.
Honeystar let out a sigh and hung her head.
"Because you are part Riverclan. I never told you because I thought you would never have respect for your mother."
"So why did you tell that Thistlefur was my father?"
"Because he loved me. That's why. I broke the warrior code by having kits with a cat of another clan. I kept telling myself that it was wrong, but Dustfur and I met at the River one night while patrolling the borders. After that we met more often." Honeystar sounded depressed. "When I had my kits, everyone thought it was Thistlefur, and…I let them. Thistlefur told me that he wasn't going to ask who the father was, and just that he would help me raise you and your littermates. Unfortunately, they were killed by a badger when you were just born. It snuck into the den one night and took Whitekit and Featherkit."
"It's okay. I understand, I think. But Honeystar, you have to understand as well that I'm a warrior now, and, I make my own decisions. I choose to go to Riverclan for the sake of our clan."
I know, and I do understand. It's just; I'm so worried about you." Honeystar mewed as she rested her head on Leopardtail's shoulder. "I want you to go. You deserve to be in the hands of Riverclan."
"I will see you as much as I can at the gatherings. I look forward to meeting you again." Leopardtail gave her mother a quick lick on her ear and backed out of the den. She bounded to the gorse tunnel and quickly explained the situation to Berrypaw.
They walked out of the tunnel and out to the ravine. As they padded out into the forest, Leopardtail wondered what was in store for her in Riverclan.
When Leopardtail and Berrypaw arrived at the Riverclan border, Gorsestar had been waiting for them. He swam across the river with two warriors, Mossfur and Hazelpelt, flanking him. When Gorsestar finally padded across the water and shook it off his pelt, he spoke.
"So, have you made your decision?" He mewed expectantly.
"Yes, I have. I have decided," Leopardtail sighed. "That I would join to Riverclan."
"Well, Leopardpaw-"
"Leopardtail." Berrypaw corrected.
"Sorry. Leopardtail, you have made the best decision."Gorsestar sat down. "And I 'm going to tell you why."
"I know. Honeystar told me everything. From my real father to you wanting me since I have lived." Leopardtail put in.
"Oh- well I look forward to having you in my clan and I hope you do to. You may say goodbye to your friend but starting tomorrow, you must be loyal to Riverclan."
"I understand." Leopardtail said as she turned to Berrypaw. "I'm going to miss you and everyone else. Tell everyone I said goodbye."
She touched noses to Berrypaw and they said their farewells. Leopardtail turned to Gorsestar and spoke.
"Let's go." She mewed.
"Do you know how to swim?" Gorsestar asked.
"No, but I can figure it out." Leopardtail exclaimed.
"I don't think so. Let Mossfur help you."
"No, I think I can manage."
"Well, okay. If that's the way you want it."
Gorsestar slid into the water and swam away. Hazelpelt went after him and then in went Mossfur. Leopardtail padded to the shore and looked into the swirling black water below her. She felt dizzy as she stared down into it.
With one last glance over her shoulder at Berrypaw, Leopardtail stepped into the water. At first she drew her paw back at the icy touch and gasped. Then she stepped back in and slowly got deeper until her belly fur was underwater.
Gorsestar looked back at her from the middle of the river.
"You sure you can manage alone?" He called.
Leopardtail nodded and took one more step and gasped as she plunged forward into the water. She had stepped into a hole and slipped along a rock at the bottom of the gurgling river.
Leopardtail flailed with her paws and looked over her shoulder just in time to see Berrypaw jump into the water to help her. He yowled at the cold and thrashed about with his paws.
Leopardtail tried her hardest to turn to him but got caught between two rocks as the river swept her downstream. She yowled in pain as her body slammed against the rock and suddenly she lost all her strength.
Leopardtail could see Berrypaw stop moving with one jolt of his body and start sinking. A wave of rage pulsed through her. It was not herself or the Riverclan cats that stood staring in horror on the opposite bank, but the river. She was furious with Starclan. They had been taking the lives of many cats all leafbare and now another one was gone.
Leopardtail found her strength and swam as fast and easily as a Riverclan-born cat. She was at Berrypaw's side in moments and pushed him back to the surface. Leopardtail bit into the limp apprentice's neck and dragged him to the shore.
"Berrypaw, Berrypaw! Can you hear me?" Leopardtail yowled. "No, No! He can't be gone!" She raised her head to Starclan and whispered, "Why?"
"Lep…Leopardtail? Is that you?" Berrypaw's tiny mew came almost silent against the sound of the gurgling river.
"Yes, yes it is me. Berrypaw, don't die." Her voice softened to a whisper. "Please, don't die. You're the only apprentice left."
Berrypaw suddenly sounded old with wisdom.
"I'm sorry. I can't make that decision, it's Starclan's. Just, just tell the clan that it was my time. Goodbye, Leopardtail." After his last words, his eyes closed and the apprentice to one last breath and then his flank lay still, never to move again.
"I can't let you go back to your birth clan; it would bring to much grief. I'm sorry." The meow came from Gorsestar. "Go find the stepping stones; they should help you get across."
Leopardtail nodded and, with one last glance at the small dead cat that lay on the river bank, she padded away, lost in grief.
