Told you wouldn't have to wait long!
Silverpaw lay with some of the Thunderclan who had just come back from a hunt.
Blizzardstar had had Silverpaw run back to camp and gather some cats to hunt for Shadowclan. Silverpaw's paws ached from hunting all day and helping Willowleaf, Littlewhiskers, and Weedpaw give out herbs. She had been forced to wear a leaf around her mouth and nose while in camp so she didn't catch Neetle.
Silverpaw looked around camp. Most of the chaos was calming down. Weedpaw was curled up in a corner sleeping for the first time in three days. Willowleaf had told him to rest while Littlewhiskers and her finished up. Silverpaw had found out that seven cats had died, including Emberstar. One of the cats that had died had been Longwhisker. Silverpaw wondered what was going to happen to Honeypelt now.
But she didn't ponder to long on that. Her eyes flicked to Lurkingshadow. Littlewhiskers and Blizzardstar stood with him. Silverpaw turned her ears to listen in on the conversation.
"Are you sure you want to go tonight?" Littlewhiskers asked.
"Yes. These cats need to have a leader." Lurkingshadow said. His voice sounded confident, but Silverpaw could tell he was still weighed down with grief.
"Tonight would be a special night to go. The stars should be very active." Blizzardstar said.
"But he's still very weak and ill." Littlewhiskers protested.
"Please, Littlewhiskers." Lurkingwhisker pleaded. Littlewhiskers shifted his paws.
"I-I guess you could go. But you must take many herbs. If we are going we must leave immediately." Littlewhiskers said. He turned to his den and disappeared inside.
"Blizzardstar, will you come with me to the Moonpool? I really need your guidance." Lurkingshadow asked.
"Of course I'll come. But nothing will prepare you for what's to come." Blizzardstar said.
"What do you mean?" Lurkingshadow asked, fear creeping into his voice.
"Every leader experiences it differently." Blizzardstar explains.
A skinny queen comes up to Lurkingshadow. Two apprentices stumble after her and lean against her. They were obviously ill but they tried to look powerful and well.
"I can't believe you're becoming leader. Just yesterday you were a little kit calling for your father to play with you." The queen said. She pushes her head into his chest and purrs, "Your father would be so proud."
Lurkindshadow's eyes fall to sadness at the mention of his father. When his mother pushes away he nods agreement.
"Shadowstreak always knew you'd have a special role in the clan. When he died, he told me to always force you to do better. He regrets never playing with you as a kit. He told me someday you'd be a great brother…" Poolcloud said. "He loved you so much. You were his pride and joy."
Blazepaw and Dewpaw purred agreement. They nuzzled their brother and led their mother away. Littlewhiskers laid out herbs for my father and Lurkingshadow. A dark tabby stared at them. Poolcloud and her kits nuzzled up to him.
Silverpaw shook her head. She rose to her feet and padded toward her father. Silverpaw touched her to his shoulder with her nose and he turned his attention to her.
"Silverpaw, can you do me favor?" Blizzardstar asked. Silverpaw nodded. "Run back to camp and make a clan announcement that I'll be escorting Lurkingshadow and Littlewhiskers to the Moonpool."
Silverpaw wondered if she heard him correctly. Usually clan announcements could only be done by a clan leader unless there was some kind of emergency. Silverpaw nodded slowly and walked out of camp.
It felt great to be in the forest instead of the sickness infested camp. Silverpaw filled her lungs with the clean, warm air. Today would be a great day for hunting with her fellow denmates. Although it was still Newleaf, it felt as though it were Greenleaf.
Before Silverpaw knew it she was at the Thunderclan camp. She had sorted out what she was going to say as she was walking home. When she walked in many cats were laying in camp enjoying the beautiful day. Silverpaw leaped up to Highledge. She felt so tiny compared to the size of Highledge. She called out as loud as she could.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the Highledge for a clan meeting!"
Many of cats looked at her in confusion but they didn't hesitate to gather. Once they were all gathered she went on.
"Blizzardstar informed me that he will be escorting Lurkingshadow to the Moonpool . He asked me to pass on the message through clan announcement. He will not be home tonight and will probably be back following Sunhigh." Silverpaw called. The entire clan was silent. She wondered if they expected her to say something else.
"Um… Clan dismissed?" She said. Most of the cats purred in amusement and Brackenflame and Ashcloud nodded approval.
Silverpaw scrambled down Highledge. She went to the fresh-kill pile and picked out a plump mouse. She carried it to the apprentices den and begun eating it hungrily. She heard the entrance to the camp russle and watched Hollowpaw and Bluejay trot in their jaws full of prey. They deposited it to the fresh-kill pile and then Bluejay did something strange. She leaned forward and pressed her nose to Hollowpaw's cheek. Hollowpaw quickly backed away and bounded over to Silverpaw. Bluejay looked after him and glared at me.
"Hey Silverpaw!" Hollowpaw said.
"Hi."
"You want to go hunting?"
"Didn't you just get back?"
"Yeah, but hunting with Bluejay isn't fun." Hollowpaw says, with a glance back at her.
"Well, I think it would great to go hunting. I'll tell Hollyflower." She rose to her paws and bounded over to the warriors den.
"Hollyflower?" Silverpaw prodded her mentor.
"Hmm?" She mumbled, without opening her eyes.
"Can I go hunting with Hollowpaw?"
"Mmm hmm." Hollyflower mumbled again.
"Okay, thanks." I whispered and followed Hollowpaw into the forest.
By the end of the day, we had enough prey for the apprentices and elders. Silverpaw and Hollowpaw were padding through the forest to the lake. They had taken down a few water birds there. Silverpaw enjoyed strolling through the forest with Hollowpaw.
When they got to the lake the water was calm and inviting. Hollowpaw bounded out to the water and put his paws in. He quickly bounced back with a shriek.
"It's freezing!"
"Well, it's only Newleaf." Silverpaw mewed with amusement. Hollowpaw growled and lunged at Silverpaw. His wet paws soaking into her fur and she yelped. Hollowpaw rolled away from her and he laid on his back next to her.
"Isn't the sunset beautiful?" He asked.
"Yeah…" She breathed. They laid on the edge of the forest watching the sunset until the moon began coming up.
"You know, you look beautiful in the moonlight." Hollowpaw said. He caught Silverpaw off guard and she just stared at him. She remembered her words and decided to compliment him too.
"Your fur is really warm when it's cold." Silverpaw said and realized how stupid it was.
"Yeah, I know. My mother says I was built like my father, um fur wise." Hollowpaw said. Hollowpaw pressed up against Silverpaw, probably to warm her up.
When they padded into the camp, most of the cats were asleep. Silverpaw and Hollowpaw dropped off their prey and padded to their den. Silverpaw curled up in her nest and was immediately swept into her dream world.
Although, it wasn't her dream world. She was in a rock formation. Several rows of cats were above and below her. All the cats were glittery and transparent. Beside her was Dovewing and another Shadowclan cat. Dovewing's voice spoke in her head.
"Act like you're one of us. I'm showing this to you for a reason."
Silverpaw was very confused until she looked at her fur and realized she looked like them. Silverpaw looked down and saw a cat that looked like Lurkingshadow near a pool with nine cats surrounding him. Silverpaw realized one of the cats was a younger version of Emberstar and she figured out that she was at Lurkingshadow's leadership ceremony.
"Are you ready?" Emberstar asked. Lurkingshadow nodded.
"With this life I give you confidence. Use it well when you feel all has failed." Emberstar touched her nose to his head and said these words. Lurkingshadow suddenly stiffened up and his fur began bristling. Dovewing whispered to her.
"With each life he's given, he will experience what it's like to use it."
Emberstar padded away and sat with the other cats.
The same process went through for every cat in the group. When Lurkingshadow was down to the final two, Silverpaw was shocked to see Longwhisker step forward.
"Lurkingshadow, before I give you this life I need to confess something. I betrayed Shadowclan with a Thunderclan she-cat." Longwhisker confessed. Lurkingshadow nodded sadly and allowed Longwhisker to give him a life.
"With this life I give you loyalty. Use it well to stay loyal to your clan no matter what temptations you have." Longwhisker said. Lurkingshadow stumbled as the impact of the life seared through him. He regained balanced just as a large dark gray tom with amber eyes stepped up. Lurkingshadow's eyes were filled with many emotions as he stared at this cat. Love, sorrow, respect. Lurkisngshadow pushed his face into the cats chest.
"Father…" He breathed.
"I knew you would make it far, my son. I'm so proud of what you've done. I miss you and your mother so much…" Shadowstreak said.
"I was named after you, father. I requested it specially for you." Lurkingshadow said.
"I know I was so honored. Still am today." He said. He flicked his tail for no more conversation.
"With this life I give you love. Use it well to love your clan like a queen love's her kits. And use it to find yourself a mate you, looker." Shadowstreak purred. The entire lot of cats purred in amusement. Lurkingshadow reacted the most to this life. His claws slid out, his fur bristled, and he even collapsed. When the effects wore off, he stood up and faced his father.
"I love you." Lurkingshadow said.
"I love you too, Lurkingstar." Shadowstreak said, pride shining in his eyes.
Every cat rose into a chant for the new leader, Lurkingstar.
Suddenly the entire world began spinning and Silverpaw awoke.
"Welcome, Lurkingstar." Silverpaw breathed.
Phew! That took longer than expected. Anyway Lurkingshadow is Shadowclan's new leader now! SOOOOOOOO yeah. Expect new chapter soon… maybe. And if you haven't yet…CHECK OUT MY OTHER STORY I'M WRITING! I've been meaning to write it for a while and only just got around to it. It's called My Life. Anyway thanks for reading. Leave reviews too please!