Chapter 24

You guys are extremely lucky that this chapter is being posted now. x) I'm actually on vacation right now, and this is the only day that I'm getting extended computer access. So, I do apologize if this chapter seems extremely short and horrible, especially since this is the last chapter. My excuse is that I had to type it up in a couple hours, and on a different program than I usually use. Anyways, the sequel to this story, Assassins, probably won't be posted until October, or possibly before if I feel like it. I will post a notice on this story once the sequel is up, so remember to keep on checking for new chapters. :)

Honeyfern - I'm still not spoiling it. x) You'll just have to keep on reading.

Lightkit - Nope, he didn't! xD Yeah, he is a loser! Stormfur isn't going to be the leader - but he is going to be deputy. You'll just have to read this chapter to figure out who the leader is. ;)

Marshpelt - Thanks! Yeah, I know it probably wouldn't be that easy, but I didn't have much time to write the last chapter, and I didn't want to make it too long. I've seen stories where nobody reads or reviews the long chapters, but go crazy over the short ones, oddly enough. xD

Nightpaw knew she was dreaming. Otherwise, she wouldn't be sitting in the center of Fourtrees as the stars fell out of the sky and formed a trail in front of her. The gray she-cat couldn't help but twitch with anticipation as she watched, knowing she was about to speak with a StarClan warrior. She had so many questions to ask them. Why didn't Hawkstar have nine lives? Was he in StarClan or the Place of No Stars? And most importantly, who was to become the new leader of ThunderClan?

As Nightpaw watched, two orange blobs appeared at the other end of the star trail and began to move towards her. As they grew closer and more defined, the apprentice recognized her grandfather and her mother.

"Firestar! Squirrelflight" Nightpaw cried in greeting as the two StarClan warriors stepped onto the ground. "I didn't think I would see you again after I got my body back."

Firestar sat down and smiled, curling his tail around his paws. "You have a connection with StarClan now, Nightpaw," he explained. "You can speak with us whenever you want."

"Wow," Nightpaw meowed wonderingly. "I guess I'm the only normal cat that can dream about StarClan."

"I could when I was a warrior," Firestar meowed. "But then again, nobody thought I was normal, either."

Nightpaw tilted her head to the side curiously. "How come?"

"Because he saved the forest from Tigerstar and BloodClan," Squirrelflight meowed proudly, glancing at her father. "No normal cat could ever do that."

Firestar rolled his eyes playfully. "Of course they could," he meowed, flicking Squirrelflight's ear with his tail. "Anybody could, if they really wanted to."

Squirrelflight snorted. "But none of them would have a prophecy to back them up."

Nightpaw couldn't help but twitch impatiently as her kin argued back and forth. She needed to ask Firestar about Hawkstar and ThunderClan's future, and her brothers would surely wake her if she slept in for too long.

"I think we should just settle this argument for now," Firestar meowed as he noticed the gray she-cat's expression. "Nightpaw has something to say."

The two starry warriors turned to look at her, and Nightpaw sighed in relief before bursting out, "What happened Hawkstar? How could he die so quickly? And who should be ThunderClan's new leader?"

Firestar chuckled. "One question at a time," he said with a smile. Nightpaw closed her mouth and watched the ginger tom attentively, waiting for his answers.

"Hawkstar died so easily because he never had nine lives - at least, not true ones," the former leader meowed solemnly. Nightpaw's jaw dropped.

"How?" she cried. "Is that even possible?"

Firestar sighed. "After the incident with Tigerstar, StarClan refused to give Hawkstar his nine lives. They weren't about to make the same mistake over again. So, Tigerstar gathered nine cats from the Dark Forest, and they gave him their lives instead."

Nightpaw's eyes widened so much they nearly bulged out of her head. This was almost too much to understand. "That doesn't explain why Hawkstar didn't get his nine lives," she meowed.

"Let me finish," Firestar said with a smile. "What Tigerstar and Hawkstar didn't realize, however, is that these lives were worthless in the eyes of StarClan. The cats of the Dark Forest were sent there for a reason - none of them are meant to meddle in the lives of the living. So, when the Twoleg shot Hawkstar, the nine lives he thought he had did nothing to save him. He died instantly, just like any normal warrior."

Nightpaw sat down and was silent for a moment, trying to take it all in. "Wow," she meowed finally before looking up at Firestar. "So he's in the Dark Forest right now?" she asked.

Firestar nodded. "He is. Hopefully he'll have enough sense to leave the living alone, unlike his father. If he does, both of them will have to suffer some severe consequences."

"What about ThunderClan's new leader?" Nightpaw asked. "Who should it be?"

Squirrelflight answered this time, a knowing glint in her eyes. "That is for ThunderClan to decide. Although I do think there is one obvious choice."

"Who?" the gray she-cat asked eagerly, standing up in her sudden excitement. Squirrelflight smiled.

"You need to figure that out for yourself," she said. Nightpaw groaned in frustration, but said no more.

"Is that all you wanted to ask us?" Firestar meowed. Nightpaw nodded.

"We'd best be going then," the orange tabby tom meowed. "If you ever have to talk to us, then all you have to do is fall asleep."

With that, the two StarClan warriors turned and began padding up the star path and into the sky. Nightpaw watched them wonderingly until they disappeared before laying down and closing her eyes.

Nightpaw opened her eyes in the waking world a moment later, her mind reeling from everything that she had learned. She had to tell her brothers about Hawkstar's nine lives, but when she looked up, their nests were empty.

Great, she thought. I slept in again.

Her jaws stretching wide in a yawn, the young she-cat pulled herself to her feet and padded out into the clearing. The morning sun shone brightly down onto ThunderClan's camp, and there wasn't a cloud in sight. The only sign of the fierce storm that had ripped across the lake the day before were the still-damp patches of grass that glittered in the sun.

Nightpaw's eyes scoured the camp for her brothers, but neither of them were in sight. They must have gone on patrol.

It amazed Nightpaw how quickly life had returned to normal. Brightheart and Cloudtail were sharing tongues outside the warrior's den, while Mousefur and Longtail sunned themselves on the rocks by Highledge. Sandstorm and Graystripe were eating together by the fresh-kill pile, and nearby Poppyleaf, Cinderheart and Birchfall were coming in from a hunting patrol.

"We need to choose a leader now! We can't seem weak to the other Clans!"

Nightpaw's head whipped around at the sound of Thornclaw's loud voice, and she spotted him sitting in the center of the hollow with Stormfur, Sorreltail, Dustpelt, Spiderleg and Honeyfur around him. Twitching her whiskers curiously, Nightpaw wandered towards the group, trying to hear what they were saying.

"We can't choose a leader until StarClan sends us a sign," Stormfyr meowed calmly. "If we were in any immediate danger from the other Clans, then they already would have told us who our leader should be."

Sorreltail nodded in agreement. "I doubt any of the other Clans would even think about attacking us. Everyone's too shaken up from Hawkstar's reign."

"Of course they would think about attacking us!" Spiderleg growled, his fur bristling. "We're weaker than ever right now! We're injured from the battle, and we don't have a leader or a deputy! Who wouldn't want to attack us?"

"But StarClan-" Stormfur began, but was cut off by a familiar voice.

"StarClan wants us to choose our own leader." Leafpool meowed, pushing her way into the circle of cats and staring levelly at every cat, as if daring them to disagree.

"How do you know?" Honeyfur meowed timidly, obviously not wanting to speak up against the medicine cat.

"I asked them in a dream," the tabby she-cat meowed, curling her tail around her paws. "They told me it was up to the cats of ThunderClan to decide who their next leader would be."

Once again Nightpaw found herself thinking about what Squirrelflight had said. Who was the obvious choice to become leader that she spoke of. There weren't very many cats in the Clan that had the right kind of experience, or the patience, determination and sense of responsibility to lead them...

And then it clicked.

"I think it's obvious who our leader should be," she meowed, stepping into the circle. Every cat turned to look at her curiously, but she didn't falter under their gaze.

"There's only one cat here who already knows what it's like to lead a Clan," she stated simply. Most of them continued to stare at her, uncomprehending, but a spark of realization appeared in Stormfur's eyes.

"You mean...?" the golden-brown tom meowed, a smile appearing on his face. Nightpaw nodded, her expression mirroring his.

"Graystripe."

Suddenly, every cat's eyes widened in understanding. "Of course!" Thornclaw meowed loudly, his eyes wide with excitement at his realization. "How didn't we see it before.?"

Nightpaw grinned happily. Obviously every warrior in the group agreed with her choice. Looking around, she saw Leafpool smile at her, a proud glint in her amber eyes.

"We have to go tell Graystripe," Sorreltail exclaimed brightly. Every cat grinned in agreement, and they began to rush towards the unsuspecting tom, who was just finishing up his meal. As he saw the large group of cats running in his direction, his eyes widened and he glanced at Sandstorm, who was just as surprised.

"What's going on?" the gray tom called as everyone stopped in front of him.

"We want you to be our leader, Graystripe!" Thornclaw announced, stepping to the head of the group. Graystripe's eyes widened as he looked from face to eager face.

"Are you sure?" he meowed apprehensively. "Isn't it up to StarClan to decide?"

"StarClan told me that we should decide who our new leader will be," Leafpool explained, stepping forward. "And we chose you."

Graystripe looked even more surprised at this, but he didn't show it in his voice. "Does the rest of the Clan agree?"

That made everyone hesitate. "We don't know yet. We were the only ones talking about it," Stormfur admitted to his father.

"Well then let's find out," Graystripe meowed. "Stormfur, come with me." The gray tom flicked his tail, and he led Stormfur towards the Highledge. The two of them bounded up the tumble of rocks and onto the ledge and gazed about the hollow for a moment.

Nightpaw knew what was coming, and she padded towards the meeting area below the Highledge just as Graystripe called out the traditional words.

"All cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather here beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting."

While his voice was still echoing against the stone walls of the camp, a patrol padded into the camp consisting of Firepaw, Blackpaw, Brackenfur and Millie. Firepaw and Blackpaw padded towards Nightpaw, their eyes flashing curiously.

"What's going on?" Blackpaw asked as he sat down next to his sister.

"You'll see," Nightpaw meowed impishly. Firepaw and Blackpaw stared at her apprehensively, but didn't say anything else.

Soon enough, every cat had gathered below the Highledge, muttering curiously to one another. The group of cats that had asked Graystripe to become leader were sitting in a group and staring up at the Highledge with eager expressions on their faces.

Up on the Highledge Graystripe muttered something to Stormfur, and the former RiverClan warrior stepped forward to face the Clan.

"We all know that we need a new leader," he began as the crowd listened intently below. "And StarClan has told Leafpool that we must decide who will lead us ourselves. A group of us were talking, and we agreed upon who the new leader should be. Now we want to know what the rest of you think about our choice."

The gray tom paused dramatically before asking loudly, "Do you think Graystripe should become ThunderClan's leader?"

There was a resounding yowl of agreement from the crowd below, and a triumphant smile spread across Nightpaw's face.

"Thank you," Graystripe meowed, taking Stormfur's place. "I promise to will lead this Clan as best as I can, and carry on the legacy that Firestar left behind."

The crowd yowled again as he stepped back, and a chant rose up from the watching cats.

"Graystripe! Graystripe! Graystripe!"

Firepaw and Blackpaw were staring at Nightpaw curiously once more. "Why do I have a feeling you had something to do with this?" Firepaw meowed.

Nightpaw grinned. "Oh, just a little bit."

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The next day Nightpaw lay by the fresh-kill pile with her brothers, contentedly gulping down a mouse that she had caught earlier that day. The sun was already setting over the forest, but Leafpool and Graystripe still hadn't returned from the Moonpool. The Clan was beginning to grow worried.

"I wonder where Graystripe is," Blackpaw meowed to his siblings. "What if he didn't receive his real nine lives, just like Hawkstar, and that's why he hasn't come back."

Nightpaw had told Firepaw and Blackapw about her dream the day before, and they had both been just as shocked as her. None of them had known that Hawksar's lives weren't "true" lives - or that the cats of Dark Forest could give lives at all.

"I doubt it," Firepaw meowed. "Graystripe is nothing like Hawkstar. He's a good cat."

Nightpaw nodded in agreement. "You worry too much, Blackpaw," she meowed, flicking her tail across his ear. "Of course StarClan will give Graystripe nine lives. How could they not?"

Blackpaw sighed. "I guess you're right," he meowed, relaxing.

The three siblings finished off their prey, and lay sharing tongues by the fresh-kill pile until the first few stars began to appear in the sky. Nightpaw felt her eyelids drooping as she slowly groomed Firepaw's pelt. It had been a long few days, and she was still tired from the battle against Hawkstar.

Firepaw noticed her condition, realizing that he was just as tired himself. "Let's go to sleep," he meowed. "Somebody will wake us up when Graystripe gets back."

Blackpaw and Nightpaw nodded wearily, and they were about to get up and head towards the apprentice's den when Poppyleaf's voice echoed across the camp.

"Graystripe - no, Graystar! You're back!"

Nightpaw's eyes widened and she leaped to her feet. Sure enough, Graystar was padding through the gorse tunnel with Leafpool at his side. His coat gleamed, and he looked more alive than Nightpaw had ever seen him.

"What took you so long?" Nightpaw heard Dustpelt ask, and Graystar laughed in reply.

"All the leaders decided to receive their nine lives on the same day," he meowed. "I ended up having my ceremony last."

Nightpaw blinked in surprise. She doubted anything like that had ever happened before. She actually felt sorry for the StarClan warriors, having to attend so many ceremonies in one day.

While she was lost in her thoughts, Graystar leaped up onto the Highledge and gazed out across the crowd. He had no need to call a meeting, as every cat had already gathered below him and were staring up at him expectantly.

"I believe it is time for me to name the new deputy," he announced, a smile crossing his face. Silverpelt twinkled brightly above, as if they had already approved of his choice, and the moon bathed the hollow in silver. Nightpaw couldn't help but shiver in anticipation. Tonight was an important night, and it would shape ThunderClan's future for a long time to come.

"I say these words before the spirits of StarClan, so that they may hear and approve my choice," Graystar began, turning his gaze to the sky above. "Stormfur will be the new deputy of ThunderClan."

Nightpaw grinned happily and let out a yowl of agreement, along with many other cats. She truly believed that Stormfur was the best choice for deputy.

As the Clan called out their congratulations, Stormfur joined Graystar on the Highledge once more, a happy, surprised smile on his face. "I am honored to serve as your deputy, Graystar. I promise that I will serve this Clan to the best of my abilities, and that I will be the best deputy that I can be."

Nightpaw surged forward with the crowd to congratulate her friend, Firepaw and Blackpaw by her side. Once they had paid their respects to the new deputy, they turned towards the apprentice's den, only to freeze when Graystar spoke again.

"Before you leave," the new ThunderClan leader meowed. "I have one more ceremony to perform. Firepaw, Nightpaw, Blackpaw, step forward."

Nightpaw's eyes widened in amazement, and she padded disbelievingly towards Graystar, who had jumped down from the Highledge to perform the ceremony.

"I call upon my ancestors to look down upon these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn."

Nightpaw shivered in anticipation as Graystar turned to the three new warriors and continued with the next part of the ceremony. "Firepaw, Nightpaw, Blackpaw, do you promise to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your lives?"

"I do," all three of them meowed, puffing out their chests with pride.

"Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior names. Firepaw, from this moment on you will be known as Fireblaze. StarClan honors your intelligence and your modesty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

"Blackpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Blackstorm. StarClan honors your courage and your strength, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

Graystar turned to Nightpaw, and she nearly started hopping from paw to paw in her excitement. "Nightpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Nightfrost. StarClan honors your bravery and your determination, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

Nightfrost felt ready to burst from pride as Graystar placed his muzzle on her head and ran her tongue along his shoulder. Nightfrost! she thought, a huge grin splitting across her face.

Nightfrost's grin grew even wider as the Clan began to chant the new warrior's names. For now, everything was good in the world. She and her brothers were finally warriors, there were four Clans instead of one, and Hawkstar was dead, never to bring his wrath upon the cats of the lake ever again.