I'm the hero. But how? How can I save the clans from darkness? The clan gathered around us with proud mews. "Congratulations!" Frostfur purred. Goldenflower licked our ears.
"I'm so proud of you three!" she exclaimed. Tigerclaw nodded and nuzzled my chin.
"You three came a long way and I'm proud to see this day." he meowed. I purred with happiness. Bluestar walked up to us.
"Tonight you three will hold your vigil. I'm proud of you three." she mewed. I smiled and lifted my chin higher. Tawnypelt flicked my ear.
"Let's go hunting. As warriors." she meowed. I nodded and followed them out of the camp. Brambleclaw pulled beside me and we ran to Sunning Rocks.
"The gathering's tomorrow night! I can't wait to see Windclan again." Brambleclaw said. I nodded in agreement. "I wonder what Riverclan and Shadowclan has to say about the battle." I froze as Riverpaw flashed in my mind and I growled.
"Well they better come up with a good excuse." I spat. Brambleclaw and Tawnypelt looked at me in confusion.
"Are you alright, Leopardstorm?" Tawnypelt asked. I shook my head and fluffed out my fur.
"Sorry. I was just thinking that what the clans did to Windclan was wrong. They just got home and they're already fighting them!" I mewed. My siblings nodded.
"You're right! Windclan needs time to settle down in their home and the clans knew that!" Brambleclaw agreed. I heard a snap of a twig and I pricked my ears.
"Hush! Did you hear that?" I asked. We turned our gazes to the bank of Sunning Rocks. A Riverclan patrol padded over on their side of the bank. We glared at each other with tension and watched as they placed their scent marks. A dark brown tom snickered.
"Sorry, Thunderclan cat! Riverpaw's not on this patrol right now!" he sneered. I flared with anger and ran to him. Tawnypelt held me back. Brambleclaw stood beside me with his lip curled defensively.
"Say that to our claws, fishbreath!" he snarled. The tom scoffed and flicked his tail.
"Besides, I think Riverpaw already found another she-cat. Goldpaw and him are getting real comfy with each other." he snickered. I froze. What? Who is Goldpaw? I staggered back onto my haunches. Was I that easy to replace? Did I mean that little to him? A silver she-cat looked at me with sympathy and she glared at her clanmate.
"That's enough, Loudbelly. We didn't come here to start a fight." she snapped. Loudbelly rolled his eyes.
"Oh come on, Silverstream. You know it's true." he muttered.
"I don't care. Leave them alone. We came to set our borders and that's what we did. Now let's go." Silverstream snapped. She gave me one last sympathetic look then led her patrol away from Sunning Rocks. Brambleclaw bristled as he watched the patrol leave then he turned back to me.
"Don't listen to them, sis." he murmured. Tawnypelt nuzzled my shoulder.
"You told me nothing was going on between you and Riverpaw." she mewed. I closed my eyes.
"I lied. I was scared of what you two were going to say." I whispered. My siblings wrapped themselves around me comfortingly.
"Well Riverpaw is a stupid tom. Why would he give up a she-cat like you for some silly old apprentice?" Brambleclaw scoffed.
"Yeah! You're a great she-cat! And if he can't see that then he doesn't deserve you." Tawnypelt murmured. I smiled and looked at them.
"Thanks." I murmured. They're right! I don't need Riverpaw. I stood up and sniffed the air. "Now let's go hunting. I smell a rabbit over there in the bushes." I meowed.
We walked back into camp with our jaws full of prey. I carried a rabbit and a squirrel on my back while a couple of mice and a vole were in my jaws. Tigerclaw purred when he saw us. "Looks like the clan will eat well tonight." he observed. I smiled and placed my prey down on the fresh kill pile. The sun was going down and the cats in the clearing were starting to yawn. Tigerclaw looked at the sky then back at us. "Your vigil is starting." he mewed. "Now remember, you must be quiet all night. I'm talking to you, Leopardstorm. Not a peep." My siblings snickered and I rolled my eyes. Tigerclaw chuckled then nodded to us and walked to the warriors den. I led my siblings to the entrance and we sat down in silence. I looked at the sky as the sun went down. A warm breeze ruffled my fur and I closed my eyes as I breathed in the fresh night air.