Flashes

The pain. The terrible pain. Lionstar fought back the unending waves of pain as it crashed down upon him. How could this have happened? Lionstar flinched as another wave of pain hit him in his chest. All the while, his vision was ever so slightly fading away. He knew that there was no way that Petalheart would be able to save him. And that this was the last moment of his life.

"Lionstar!"

Lionstar didn't need to see the cat to know who it was.

"Russetpaw..." Lionstar managed to croak before being overwhelmed by a coughing fit.

"Lionstar! You're hurt!"

Seeing his apprentice, Lionstar couldn't help but feel liked he failed him.

"I'm sorry," Lionstar whispered.

"For what?" Russetpaw cried frantically, "I'm going to get Petalheart!"

"No. It's too late. I'm going to lose my life."

"Well, you'll need Petalheart after you lose your life. Having a few extra lives doesn't make you immortal."

"You are right, it doesn't."

Lionstar watched as his apprentice's eyes grew wide as realization dawned on him.

"This is your last life, isn't it." He asked, horrified.

Lionstar nodded, barely having enough energy to move.

"No! This can't be true!"

"It is. Nothing can last forever." Lionstar coughed and managed to crack a small grin, "Especially me."

"Please... don't leave me!" Russetpaw cried, burying his head head into Lionstar's long fur...

Lionstar padded back towards camp, jaw full of prey. It's not everyday that he got such good hunting. Starclan was definitely on his side today. Lionstar missed those times, when he could go hunting with Rushtail without a care in the world. Able to enjoy a day of hunting without having to send out patrols instead be on a patrol. But as lonely as the path of a leader was, the loyalty and respect that he gets from his clanmates makes it all worth it. As he walked through the two stone walls, he heard a loud shriek come from the camp. Hearing this, Lionstar rushed into camp, wondering what had gone wrong.

"What happened?" Lionstar demanded as he dropped his fresh-kill at the camp entrance.

"It's Robinwing, she just..." Rushtail drifted of, not wanting to deliver the grim news.

"She's dead." Tawnypelt stated bluntly from across the camp.

Lionstar rushed to the nursery, managing to push aside all the cats in front of the entrance.

"Petalheart!" Lionstar called, "is it true?"

Amid all the confusion and chaos, Lionstar could detect the sounds of a newborn kitten.

"Yes," Petalheart looked up from the kit. She looked like she haven't slept in days, with her fur all matted and dull eyes. "She died giving birth to this kit."

Lionstar felt his heart his heart wrench as he realized what his meant. It meant that this kit was an orphan. His father had died nobly a season ago, in a fight against Iceclan. A fight that he himself have led. Lionstar felt a twinge of guilt and responsibility. It was his fault that this kit does not have a father. And now that it has lost its mother, it is completely alone in the world. He padded closer to the kit and licked it to keep it warm.

"Does it have a name?"

"His name is Russetkit," Petalheart murmured solemnly.

"Russetkit," Lionstar breathed, "I promise you, you will never be alone."

Lionstar shook his head, trying to clear the memory from his head.

"Russetpaw," Lionstar murmured, "I am so proud of you. You will make a great warrior someday. Maybe even a great leader."

"I can, but not without you!"

"You have to let go. You'll do fine."

Russetpaw looked up, eyes watering, into his eyes. The look in his eyes was so different from when...

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the ledge for a clan meeting."

Lionstar could barely suppress his pride when he saw the clan, his clan, gather beneath the ledge. From on top of the ledge, Lionstar saw Russetkit walk nervously into the clearing beneath him. He could see that Russetkit's paws were shaking with excitement. It has been a long time since Lionstar have felt the excitement that Russetkit was experiencing. After giving some time for the clan to settle down, Lionstar opened his mouth and said, "As you know, Russetkit have just reached six moons old, and it is now time for him to be apprenticed."

Beneath him, Lionstar could feel the joy radiating from Russetkit below.

"From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be know as Russetpaw." Lionstar took a breath as he prepared to say what he had planned.

"I will be your mentor."

Lionstar heard a gasp of astonishment from his clanmates below. He could also see the shock in his future apprentice's eyes.

"I hope that I will, in turn, be able to pass on everything I have learnt from Addertongue to you."

Lionstar leaped down from the ledge, landing neatly near Russetpaw. Beckoning with his tail, he signaled to Russetpaw to touch noses with him.

"I hope that we will make a good team," Lionstar whispered to Russetpaw.

"Me too," Russetpaw replied.

As they withdrew from each other, he heard the clan chant, "Russetpaw, Russetpaw, Russetpaw."

After the ceremony have ended, he managed to hear Russetpaw's denmates whisper to him, "You're so lucky! I wish Lionstar is my mentor!"

"I'm sorry!"

Lionstar opened his eyes once again, meeting Russetpaw's bright green eyes.

"What for?"

"For being sure a bad apprentice!"

"Bad? Compared to me, you might as well have been an apprentice sent from Starclan." Lionstar said.

"Huh." Russetpaw half chuckled half sobbed.

"Lionstar."

"Adderfang?"

"It is time for you to join me."

Lionstar peered through his darkening vision. He could barely see the trees anymore. Looking past Russetpaw, he saw Adderfang standing next to a pine tree.

"I failed you." Lionstar could feel a bunch of emotions threatening to spill out of him.

"No. Look back, you have done what many other cats could not have done and more..."

"Iceclan! Listen to me!" Lionstar hiss fustratedly. "Do you want this to be the end of the clans?"

He heard the two clans below his murmur among themselves. Lionstar was well aware that this have never happened at a gathering before.

"What if I decline?" Riverstar answered.

"Why can't you see this?" Lionstar mewed, getting anxious, "If we don't work together, this might be the end of both clans. They will tear us to pieces. We won't stand a chance."

"Are you saying that we are weak?" Riverstar said with a glint in her eyes. "There are only about ten dogs. We can outnumber and outmatch them easily. We do not even need your help."

"No, that was not what I meant. Anyways, we do not know the exact number of the dogs. All we know is that we have seen about ten of them. One dog can take on about three cats easily. Do you have thirty cats in your clan? If not, I advise that you reconsider."

Iceclan murmured uneasily among themselves as they hear him. He could see Riverstar's eyes narrow as she thought out the idea. At last, as the moon was starting to wane, Riverstar spoke, "If I agree, who would lead the clan? Will it be you."

"No. You can lead the clans."

Lionstar heard a gasp in the cats as they heard his decision.

"There can't be more than two leaders in one clan or else we will constantly be arguing. And since you are more experienced then me, it is only right that you lead the clan."

"Are you sure?" Riverstar asked.

"Yes." Lionstar replied.

"So be it."

"But it wasn't even me who led the clans when we defeated the dogs."

"No, but you sacrificed your pride in order to save the clans. It takes a great amount of courage to do what you have done."

"Yes but..."

"Stop arguing, Lionstar." Adderfang said gently, "If your are still not convinced, just take a look at Russetpaw."

Lionstar looked at Russetpaw who was still bent over him. He seemed oblivious to conversation that was taking place right next to him.

"Look carefully," Adderfang repeated, "The cat who you are looking at is going to be the greatest leader in all of clan history."

"Really?" It was hard to imagine that the kit he had raised was going to be a great leader.

Lionstar licked Russetpaw on the head, and mewed softly, "I will always be watching you from Silverpelt. I will miss you, but you must be strong. For me and for your parents. You are destined for great things."

Looking back up, Lionstar whispered, "I'm ready, let's go."

Hope you enjoyed this. If you didn't know, Russetpaw is Russetclaw. Anyways, remember to leave a theme for next week in your reviews. Please review!