Chapter 16.
"My kit!" FastFlight rushed forward and furiously licked at StepClaw's fur. StepClaw resisted at first but she relaxed as she felt her mother's body shake. Her mother was worried for her.
"There's no way you could have killed that shark," said WaveWhisker. "No way." He looked over at the leader and spiriter. "She has to be kidding."
SpiritCave turned to WaveWhisker, his eyes had the shining quality of the spiriters but also had the love of an older brother. "She did do it. She killed a shark."
"I can't believe you," cried StepLight as FastFlight finally released her kit. "I can't believe you would do something so reckless."
"I agree!" exclaimed StepStorm. "I thought you were going to die! I was so scared!"
"I'm sorry," said StepClaw to her friends. She understood that it probably looked bad from StepStorm's point of view. She placed her tail on StepStorm's shoulder. "I'm alright. Really."
"Let's head back to camp," ordered ShiningFeather. She purred a bit as she spoke before walking in front of her tribemates.
StepClaw hung in the back with her friends. She suddenly remembered the shark and turned to get it but her brother was already ahead of her. He had picked up the shark with his jaw and was carrying it for her.
She thanked her brother before catching up to her friends. StepStorm and StepLight were talking away but StepClaw was in her thoughts. She could remember every little detail of the fight with the shark.
Linelinelineline
StepClaw didn't think as she pushed air out of her body to give her a burst of speed. She landed on the shark's back, her long claws digging deeply into the shark's skin.
It kicked the thrashed. She dug in her claws deeper but didn't pull them out. That would let the blood flow free and the shark would truly enter the blood frenzy. Within her mind, she was in a dead silence. She had no thoughts about what would happen to her friends if she failed to kill it. She wasn't even concerned for the air in her lungs.
The shark thrashed angrily but StepClaw's claws just dug deeper and deeper. She shifted her position as best as she could until she was actually fully on the back of the shark. Her claws were dug into its side though making her be in an awkward position.
She struggled to be careful on the shark's body, knowing that the shark's skin had tiny scales that could cut her skin. She hissed in annoyance as one of her back paws slipped. Since her back claws were also unsheathed a long trail of claw marks was against the side of the shark.
There was a sudden change in the shark's movements. It began moving at a much faster rate. It twisted and turned, almost knocking StepClaw off. However she was not a cat with anything to loose. She didn't care.
Her front claws were beginning to loosen in the shark's side. She would have snarled if she wasn't underwater. She continued to stay attached to the shark's side until it was in a good spot before ripping her claws out and swimming away. The little bit of air in her lungs pushed her forward until her head was out of the water. She sucked in air and used it to push herself along faster, making quick turns whenever she could.
She dove underwater again. Surprisingly the moonlight was bright enough to penetrate the water. The shark was swimming towards her with ridiculous speed.
StepClaw swam right towards it. Before they could collide, StepClaw shifted to the side and raked her claws against the shark's gills before twisting herself in the water to swim away. She could feel the shark's teeth close around the mere hairs of her tail and she yanked her tail closer to her body instinctively.
The brown she-cat twisted herself again and lashed her claws out in the direction of the shark. She missed and the shark had a good idea of where she was. It turned to her but it was slowing down. The injury to its gills would make it a bit difficult to breath.
She raced towards it again, this time aiming for the other set of gills. The shark was slowing down as she slashed her claws against the other gills.
StepClaw knew it would be only a matter of time before the other sharks would come to the scent of the dead one so even though it was still alive, she grabbed it by it's back and continued to attack it over and over until it was finally still.
Linelineline
"StepClaw?"
StepClaw jumped and looked over at StepStorm. "I'm fine," she replied quickly. "Just thinking."
StepStorm didn't say anything as they climbed up the rocks into camp. ShiningFeather jumped onto the High Rock and called for a tribe meeting.
Grumbles came from the cats who were aroused from sleep as they slowly walked out. KitStream poked her head out of the nursery. Her kits tumbled out behind her. The elders slowly made their way out of their den.
SpiritCave placed a tail on his sister's shoulder and led her to the front of the tribe cats. StepClaw stared up at him in confusion but he didn't say anything as he put the shark down next to her. He nodded to her before slipping back into the crowd of tribecats.
"Cats of OceanTide," began ShiningFeather. "You may not believe it, but your tribemate. StepClaw, has killed a shark."
Murmurs ran through the tribe cats along with pointed stares. StepClaw puffed out her chest and stood proudly. She had every right to be here. She had killed the shark by herself. Maybe with the help of the Spirit Wind but she had done all the work!
"What are you talking about?" asked CrashingDark, pushing his way to the front. The way his fur was ruffled, he was probably asleep before this. "There's no way."
"Look at the shark itself," said ShiningFeather. Her voice rang with confidence of a true leader. "The claw marks in it are shaped in the shape of StepClaw's."
The murmurs seemed to get louder. StepClaw sent a smug look to WaveWhisker who was looking at her in hatred. Let him. She had proven her worth.
"And because of this, I have decided to make StepClaw a warrior."
StepClaw almost fell over at the news.
"What!?" cried WaveWhisker. He stepped forward. "She's not even twelve moons."
"Isn't that a part of the tribe code?" put in GrayShark. "A cat needs to be twelve moons to become a warrior. And pass the warrior test!"
ShiningFeather's blue eyes swept her tribe. "Yes. I know what the code itself states. However, cats can become warriors if they prove themselves. StepClaw has done just that. She has done the honor that could be given to a learner that faced a battle and fought with vigor and lived. Because of that I will name her. If any cat objects they may leave the tribe."
The tribe cats were silent. Exile was worse than death. Where could a cat of OceanTide go if they were kicked out of the tribe? StepClaw turned her attention to her friends who were watching her with happiness. Were they happy because she was back? Or was it because she would become a warrior first?
"And now."
StepClaw wasn't sure but she thought she saw ShiningFeather shake up there on the High Rock. She pushed the thought away as ShiningFeather continued the ceremony.
"I, ShiningFeather, leader of OceanTide, along with the will of the Spirit Wind shall look down on this young she-cat. She has proven loyalty to her tribe for killing a shark. And for that I wish to give her the status of warrior. Now, as the leader of OceanTide, I grant you the name LongClaw!"
Yowls rang out throughout the tribe. A normal thing to do after a cat was named a warrior. Her friends yowled the loudest for their friend.
StepClaw-no, her name was LongClaw now stood proudly. She couldn't believe it. She had become a warrior. "See SunTalon? I knew I could-"
She was broken out of her thoughts as the yowls of happiness turned to yowls of fear. KitWave pushed through the crowd of cats along with HerbRain. Not really understanding what was going on, LongClaw whirled around.
ShiningFeather was lying on the High Rock. Her eyes were rolled to the back of her head and blood dripped out of her mouth. StepClaw tore her eyes away and located her brother in the crowd of cats. However she couldn't find him anywhere. Where was he?
"ShiningFeather!" cried StepLight.
"Stay back!" ordered KitWave before the tribe could surge forward and cause panic at the High Rock. "HerbRain help me!" she ordered her learner.
"Stay back at least three monkey-lengths," ordered CrashingDark. His voice was filled with authority but his eyes showed the worry he felt for the leader.
"She has to be okay," said StepStorm slowly. Her eyes were wide in horror and her body was shaking. "She can't be dead."
LongClaw placed her tail on her friend's shoulder. Why did this have to happen now? What was wrong with her?
"Could this be the same illness that SpiralClam has?" asked ShadowWing.
LongClaw was confused for a moment. Illness? What illness? She retraced through her memory and realized with a jolt to what ShadowWing was talking about. She didn't even think about it at the time because she was in grief.
KitWave yowled and stepped away from the leader. She shook her head slowly. "Come on HerbRain," she whispered. "There's nothing we can do."
Cries of dismay rang through the tribe cats.
"But, she has to have another life left!" yowled BurningRusset.
"No."
The tribe cats parted. SpiritCave began to walk through the way made for him. His whole legs were covered with the henna dye along with the area below his eyes like tears. He held a stick of jasmine in his jaw. The sweet scent filled the air but all the tribe cats recoiled from it like it was poisonous.
"What's he doing?" asked StepStorm.
"The burial ceremony," replied StepLight slowly, trying to keeping her emotions in check.
"It wasn't done to SunTalon because there was no body," answered LongClaw before StepStorm could answer the question.
SpiritCave reached the High Rock. KitWave and HerbRain had backed away to join the other tribe cats. He placed the jasmine stick on ShiningFeather's body before closing her eyes with a paw. "ShiningFeather was a great leader," he said. His voice was neutral and devoid of any emotion. "She taught many of us and was there for all of us throughout our lives. We will miss her with all of our hearts." SpiritCave turned to the tribe. "The spiriting releasing will begin soon."
He jumped off the High Rock and gestured for CrashingDark to step forward. The deputy did. SpiritCave helped CrashingDark get the deceased leader onto his back. The young deputy was filled with sorrow as he led the way out of the tribe with the spiriter. Behind them SwiftBreeze, GrayShark, KitWave and RisingSand followed. StepLight took a deep breath and followed after the group.
StepStorm was about to go as well but LongClaw held her back with her tail.
"What?" asked StepStorm. "Aren't we all going?"
"No," replied LongClaw, "Only those who were close to ShiningFeather may go. StepLight was only allowed because she was ShiningFeather's learner."
"Oh," replied StepStorm.
LongClaw struggled to keep her emotions in check. "We will have an all night vigil here. To watch for her spirit as she joins the Spirit Wind."
StepStorm nodded in reply sadly.
LongClaw led her friend to a comfortable spot away from the High Rock. The other tribe cats were getting settled around her. KitStream hurried to quiet hers and KitWave's kits. SharkTyphoon and his siblings sat near LongClaw and StepStorm. The camp was silent as the tribe mourned for the death of the leader.
StepLight
StepLight's footsteps seemed so loud as she followed the small group of cats. The moon was hidden by clouds. It was as if the Spirit Wind was also in mourning for the death of the leader.
CrashingDark and SpiritCave led the group to a small cave in the neutral territory between ForestRose and OceanTide. The smell and sounds of a fire crackled as StepLight entered the Spirit Flame's home for the first time. Her eyes widen in wonder at the huge fire dancing in the center.
CrashingDark placed ShiningFeather's body on the ground near the Spirit Flame. The older warriors walked to the other side of the Spirit Flame to watch the ceremony. StepLight followed them.
"Here tonight," began SpiritCave. "We will set the spirit of the leader ShiningFeather free. Let she find happiness in the Spirit Wind." As he was saying this CrashingDark was moving back and forth from the pile of sticks. He piled them onto top of the leader until she was barely visible. He dipped his head and stepped to the side.
SpiritCave picked up a long stick with his jaw and set the end to the Spirit Flame. The flames grabbed it greedily. He took it out when the end was burning.
StepLight's emotions welled up within her as SpiritCave placed the burning stick in the pile of wood on the leader. Next to her, RisingSand was sobbing into SwiftBreeze's fur. KitWave was just staring helplessly and GrayShark stared at it in shock.
StepLight also couldn't keep her eyes away from the flames as they danced. She narrowed her eyes as she thought she saw something in the flames. Was it a cat? Whatever she saw was gone faster than it came.
After an eternity of watching it, the flames died out as the ashes were the only thing left. SpiritCave picked up on the banana leaves on a pile and carefully brushed all the ash on it. He picked it up so the ashes wouldn't fall out and left the camp. The group of mourning cats slowly followed the spiriter as he made his way down to the ocean.
StepLight remembered this part of the burial ceremony in what her mother SandWhite had told her. It was to release ShiningFeather's spirit.
When they reached the beach SpiritCave released the banana leaf in his mouth. The ash began to fly away on the wind and as it flew StepLight thought she saw the faint outline of a cat jump into the sky.
"May we sit vigil for the brave leader," said SpiritCave before falling silent.
StepLight lowered her head. She would complete this vigil as best as she could. She closed her eyes but opened them as she heard laughter in her ears. Picking up her head she looked out in the waves. She wasn't sure but she thought she could see a young long haired she-cat dancing among the waves.