Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors, but I do own the characters created for this story. Please don't steal any of them.

Chapter 24

As Rowanwind and Sly fought near the tree where leaders stood during Gatherings, on the other side of the clearing, another cat was fighting a short battle of his own. Tiger, one of RogueClan's members, was tearing at a DarkClan crow. His claws connected with the crow's chest, and it disappeared in a plume of gray smoke. Tiger lashed his tail in triumph. He looked around for another opponent, eager to keep fighting. Disappointment flared in his chest when he could find nobody who needed his assitance.

"You're an excellent fighter, young one," a voice mewed from the shadows.

Tiger turned to see a figure standing nearby. It wasn't a DarkClan cat, he was sure. This tom was a brown tabby with slashing black stripes and glowing amber eyes. Something was different about the tom, that much Tiger knew. There was a certain darkness about the tom that Tiger had never felt in another cat before.

"You need to learn manners, rogue," the tabby tom said, stepping out into the moonlight. "I gave you praise, and I get nothing in return?"

"Oh. Thank you," Tiger meowed. "I'm sorry, but who are you? You smell faintly of ThunderClan."

"My name does not matter," the tabby tom said. His amber eyes glinted intriguingly. "How would you like me to help you with your fighting skills?"

Tiger's ears perked in interest. "That sounds interesting. What can you teach me? I'm eager to learn."

The tabby tom walked closer to Tiger. "Oh, there is so much that I can teach you. But, first...I have to possess you!"

Tiger gave a cry of horror, but it was cut off sharply as the body of the tom with amber eyes touched him. Tiger's tabby body shivered from nose to tail-tip. A moment later, the tom blinked open his green eyes. An evil smile spread across his lips. He glanced around briefly before sneaking away, into the darkness...

"Sly is dead! Sly is dead!"

The call was screamed all around the clearing. More and more voices added to the noise, calling out that the leader of DarkClan was dead. Badgers and crows disappeared into plumes of smoke as their creators realized they were defeated.

The cats of ThunderClan, WindClan, ShadowClan, RiverClan, and RogueClan, as well as all of the kittypets, began to gather the DarkClan cats together in the middle of the clearing. The DarkClan toms and she-cats walked with their heads down and their tails dragging in the grass. It was clear that they knew they were completely defeated.

Rowanwind, who had climbed up into the tree the leaders stood in to speak, watched from above. He watched, cautiously, as the DarkClan cats sat, huddled together in the middle of the island clearing. Something needed to be done about them. But what could they possibly do with the cats, now that they were defeated?

A beam of moonlight suddenly came down onto Dusklight, who was still lying beside Ghostlight's lifeless body. Rowanwind heard a voice begin to whisper in his head. At first, he thought it might be Ghostlight's. But then, he recognized the voice of his first leader, Goldenstar.

"Attention!" Rowanwind meowed, loudly enough to get the attention of all the cats crying in triumph. "Attention!"

The Clan cats and their allies all fell silent and looked up at Rowanwind.

Rowanwind, listening closely to what Goldenstar was telling him, began to speak.

"Never again will this Clan before us be known as DarkClan! From this day forward, this Clan of dark-pelted cats will be known as LightClan! Your old leader is dead. He has no power over any of you any longer. StarClan chooses Dusklight as the new leader of DarkClan!"

Dusklight looked up from his brother's body with surprise. The DarkClan cats all stared incredulously at Rowanwind.

Continuing to listen to Goldenstar's voice, Rowanwind went on.

"All future leaders of LightClan will be given the name of star to signify they are leader of the new Clan. Dusklight will venture to the Moonpool to receive his leader name from StarClan. Any members of the Clan once known as DarkClan who refuse, leave us now!"

None of the DarkClan cats moved.

"Because of LightClan's past, a new deputy needs to be appointed. Dusklight, your first duty is to choose a deputy for LightClan. You must make your decision before moonhigh tomorrow night," Rowanwind went on.

"I do not need to think about it," Dusklight said. He rose to his paws and walked over to sit among the other cats who were once known as DarkClan. " I choose Snarl, my father, to be the deputy of LightClan!"

The black cat named Snarl came forward. "Are you sure, my son?"

"Of course," Dusklight replied. "I trust you the most, Snarl."

Rowanwind went on once more, telling the gathered cats what Goldenstar was saying to him. "Your next duty as leader, Dusklight, is to give each member of your Clan a warrior name. You may do this when you have settled into your new territory. Follow your brother's spirit. He will show you where your new home will be."

All of the cats gasped in surprise as a shimmering, white form appeared beside Dusklight. It was clear that the spirit was that of Ghostlight. Everyone watched as Ghostlight's spirit touched Dusklight's ear with his nose and whispered, "Fuhovoh, bhuthoh."

"May our ancestors watch over you in the same way that they watch over us," Rowanwind spoke up. "Go now, in peace, love, and faith. And remember, you are LightClan now. From this day onward, DarkClan is gone forever!"

The members of ThunderClan, WindClan, ShadowClan, RiverClan, RogueClan, and all of the kittypets, cried out their victory. Following Ghostlight's spirit, Dusklight and his new Clan left the island to find their new home. Rowanwind watched them go, feeling a sense of happiness and peace that he could never remember feeling once in his entire life.

"WindClan, ShadowClan, RiverClan...you all may return home! We of ThunderClan grieve for your losses, as we have lost many in this final battle, as well," Rowanwind meowed. "Good luck with your healing."

"Good-bye, Rowanwind!" Graytail meowed from where he stood beside Angelstar's lifeless body. "May StarClan watch over ThunderClan!"

"Yes, good-bye!" Featherstar called out. She was leaning heavily on Lionstorm's shoulder.

"Good-bye and good luck, Rowanwind!" Crimsonstar meowed, shocking many of the cats in the clearing.

"Thank you, all of you," Rowanwind told them. "I hope the next time we meet, everything will be back to the way it should be."

The cats of WindClan, ShadowClan, and RiverClan began to leave, the stronger cats carrying the dead bodies of their fallen members.

Rowanwind began to slowly climb down out of the tree. When he reached the blood-stained grass below, he looked up to see a familiar, black-pelted spirit sitting nearby. "Hello, Deathmask."

"I can't thank you enough, Rowanwind," Deathmask meowed. "I can finally stop worrying about the evil that DarkClan has been doing. My guilt for creating the Clan will never go away, but I knew it wouldn't."

"I'm sorry you feel that way, Deathmask," Rowanwind said. He walked up to the spirit and touched his shoulder with his tail-tip. "If it's any consolation, I forgive you."

Deathmask's bright yellow eyes gleamed. "Thank you, Rowanwind. That does mean a lot." He gave a rough purr. "You've grown into a fine, young cat, Rowanwind."

"Thank you," Rowanwind said as Deathmask's spirit disappeared into nothing.

A large, silver tom walked up to Rowanwind.

"Gloom!" Rowanwind purred. "How did RogueClan fare during the battle? Did you lose anyone?"

"Thank our ancestors in NightClan, no!" Gloom replied. "Nobody was lost. I actually came to say good-bye. With DarkClan gone, we can breathe easier. We want to go and look for our own territory to live in."

Rowanwind looked around and saw the members of RogueClan walking up together. Smutty, the broad-shouldered white and black tom, was leading the other members. Coal and Pidgeon were trotting side by side, discussing parts of the battle. Beauty and her mate, Slick, brought up the rear with their kits, Flicker and Flower. He couldn't see Tiger anywhere.

Gloom turned to his small Clan. It was evident he noticed Tiger's absense as well when he asked Smutty, "Have you found Tiger yet?"

Smutty shook his head. "No. We looked all over the clearing. I think he snuck away after the battle. He was always more comfortable living by himself, you know."

Gloom nodded sadly. "It still would have been nice to have another strong member to help feed and take care of us."

Smutty nodded in agreement.

Gloom turned back to Rowanwind. "Well, we'll be off. It was a pleasure meeting you, Rowanwind. You're a very strong-willed cat. I'm sure our future generations will hear all about you."

"I'm honored," Rowanwind replied. "Good luck finding somewhere to live."

"And good luck to you, as well," Gloom replied. "I guess this is good-bye. Perhaps I will come and visit sometime, when I can."

Rowanwind nodded. "Good-bye."

"Good-bye! Good-bye!" the RogueClan members called as they left.

Another group of cats walked up to Rowanwind. All of the kittypets who had been living in the forest came and sat in front of Rowanwind. Francis stepped forward to speak for them.

"We wanted to thank you for making sure we were all taken care of," Francis said. "But the forests and hills of your homes are not where we are most comfortable. It was enjoyable, but we're ready to go home to our Twolegs...our housefolk."

"I understand," Rowanwind said. "Will you be able to find your way back to your Twoleg homes? Or do you need a warrior to escort you?"

Francis laughed. "We've lived in the forest and the hills for moons, Rowanwind. We fought in battle after battle against DarkClan. I think we can take care of ourselves on our way home."

Rowanwind nodded. "I guess this is good-bye, then."

"It might not be the last time you see us," Lola said with a purr. "We plan on coming to see our kits often."

"I'm not sure how that's going to work out," Rowanwind said. "You can't live with one paw in both worlds."

Francis and Lola glanced at each other. "We understand, Rowanwind. Perhaps we can see our kits during your Gatherings? It is when you all come together in peace, isn't it?"

Rowanwind nodded. "That could work. But your kits won't attend every Gathering, you know."

Francis and Lola nodded.

"Thank you again, Rowanwind," Lola said. "Good luck."

"May StarClan watch over you on your way home, my friends," Rowanwind replied with a purr.

Francis and Lola led Violet, Tulip, Murry, Andy, Oliver, Rudy, Josephine, Doodle, Jenny, Casey, Neeko, and Franklin away, back toward their homes with their Twolegs.

Thunderstripe walked over. "Ready to go home, Rowanwind?"

Rowanwind cuffed Thunderstripe's ear playfully with a paw. "What, you think I want to stay here on the island for the rest of my life? Let's go home, Thunderstripe."

The next morning, Rowanwind dragged himself up onto the Highledge. He looked down at the camp, full of cats moarning over the bodies of Webpelt, Reedclaw, Crookedfern, and Clawstar.

"All cats old enough to hunt for themselves, gather beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!" Rowanwind shouted.

The ThunderClan cats all turned and looked up at him, their eyes full of sorrow over all of the loved ones they had lost during the war against DarkClan.

"This morning, the sun dawned on a new time for ThunderClan...for every Clan living around the lake," Rowanwind spoke. "Our war with DarkClan is over. We lost many cats, but so did the other Clans. We made many friends and allies because of a common enemy. Some of our Clanmates are here because DarkClan came to the forest."

He looked at Maggotstripe and her brother, Whiskerheart, and at Stormypelt as well. All three of them had been brought to ThunderClan because of the war.

"It is because we had such strength in StarClan, and in each other, that we were able to defeat DarkClan. Nobody can say that I defeated the darkness that was DarkClan on my own. DarkClan was defeated with the help of all of you sitting before me," Rowanwind said. "And I thank you for that."

He paused and took a deep, steadying breath.

"Clawstar lost his last life during the final battle against DarkClan. With a heavy heart, I take his place as leader of ThunderClan," Rowanwind said. "As leader of ThunderClan, I need a deputy." His yellow eyes gleamed as he turned to a dark gray tom with a white face and paws and light yellow eyes. "I say these words before all of StarClan, so that they may hear and approve my choice. Granitetail will be the new deputy of ThunderClan."

The morning sunlight shone bright down onto ThunderClan's camp.

Granitetail stared up at Rowanwind with surprise as his Clanmates all shouted his name in congratulations.

"Tonight, Frostflower and I will go to the Moonpool so that I may receive my nine lives," Rowanwind continued when the shouting had died down. "When I return tomorrow morning, I will no longer be Rowanwind."

"Rowanwind!" Stormypelt cried. "Rowanwind! Rowanwind!"

Other cats began to join in. Thunderstripe and Gingerheart, Frostflower and Maggostripe, Rainfur and her last two kits...one by one, all of ThunderClan began to chant his name. Rowanwind could hear other voices, voices of cats who had passed on to StarClan...Ashfang...Cottonbrave...Blackcloud...Meadowlark...Clawstar...calling out his name as well, until the entire ThunderClan camp was filled with the sound of his name being cheered.

Rowanwind felt his pelt warmed by the morning sunlight. That feeling of peace filled him again, until he felt that he could no longer contain the feeling inside of him.

ThunderClan was finally back to normal.

End of Chapter Twenty-Four