SURPRISE! IT'S THE LAST CHAPTER OF THIS BOOK! But don't fear, there will be a new book in about a month or earlier. Why so long? Because I am going to try to finish the book before I write it, and since I'm now on vacation, it might be possible!
I also have a poll on my profile now. Please vote on it! If you can't see or vote on the poll and you would like to do so, here is the question- Would you like me to do a story on the lives of Cherrypaw, Dapplepaw, and Whitekit from the time they were born to the time they were apprenticed?
You can answer "yes" or "no".
I also have another question- Would you like me to do just a short-story on how Whitekit died?
I would like to thank everybody who has ever reviewed here! You guys are the reason that I am writing this chapter right now!
Special thanks to brightpath123, books are awesome699, Wolftacox, Neonluminosity, Mossystar, I-ship-ConKriKarKri-at-1-time, for following and favoriting this story! You guys are AWESOME!
Now onto the chapter.
(Dovewing POV)
The Clan's attention moves from this strange group of cats, I call it 'The Rescue Party' in my head, to something behind us. Slowly I turn around. Two cats I have never seen before are in the camp entrance, staring at all the cats in wonder. "Ravenpaw! Princess! You guys are okay!" Firestar is leaping down the Highledge and lands lightly on the ground, running our way.
"Mom! Dad!" Lilypaw and Larkpaw emerge out of the apprentice den to see what all the commotion is about, and see their parents finally. Before I can even blink, they are rubbing against their parents like they will never see each other again.
"Firestar!" Ravenpaw and Firestar touch noses in greeting again. "I'm sorry to interrupt this… event," His eyes scan our group in obvious bewilderment. "But Princess is finally better, and we were wondering if we could join your clan?"
"Of course you can!"
"Firestar, do you really think it is a good idea to take in a rouge, a kittypet," Princess' fur ruffles in anger at the word. "And their kits? What will the other leaders say?" Spiderleg asks arrogantly.
"Shut your mouth, Spiderleg!" All of Ravenpaw and his kits' friends meow in obvious resentment. I don't really know what to make of Ravenpaw since I never knew him, but I know from stories that he was loyal to his clan before he went into hiding, and his kits are loyal too. If her family is loyal, Princess will be loyal to. I sense Jayfeather moving beside me, and Lionblaze walks carefully to the medicine cat's den with Ivypool and Cherrypaw on either side of him.
"Firestar, can we talk to you in your den?" Our leader seems to pull himself out of a daze when I meow quietly to him the question.
"Of course. Follow me. Ravenpaw, Princess, you can stay in the clearing until I am ready to discuss with you what is going on." At a trot, Firestar leads Fallenleaf, Hollyleaf, and I to his den on Highledge. Once we get into his den, Firestar gestures with his tail for us all to sit down. He sits in his own nest and watches me expectantly. I sigh and decide to get this over with.
"Firestar, Fox is innocent. What you think she did was an accident- a phenomenon. You can't-"I start but I am interrupted by the cat sitting right in front of me.
"I know this already." Surprise and rage flare throughout my body when he admits that he exiled a cat he knew to be innocent. I say nothing though, because this is the clan leader and we have other topics to discuss.
"Ok then." I know some agitation must of gotten into my voice, but I just plow on. "Fallenleaf" I indicate the male cat next to me. "Arrived while we were trying to figure out how to rescue Fox. He told us that the tunnels were flooding and that one of our apprentices was in there and that she couldn't swim. We sprinted towards the tunnels and then I had to find out where Fox was located. Once I found out where she was in the tunnels, Fallenleaf jumped into the tunnels and pulled her out with the help of Lionblaze. Jayfeather gave Fox some herbs to help warm her up and other stuff. I think she will get sick though because it is Leaf-fall right now and she was drenched. While Jayfeather was fixing her, Hollyleaf appeared. Shortly after that, we came back to camp. And here we are now." I take a deep breath because I said all of that in three breaths. After I regain my breath, Fallenleaf asks my leader a question.
"May we join your clan?" Firestar looks very hesitant so I help.
"They did save an innocent cat's life."
"Alright, they may join. Now please send Ravenpaw and Princess up." We take the dismissal and leave to get some rest.
(The next morning)
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting." Everyone heads into the camp clearing to see what our great leader wants. Once everyone is assembled, Firestar begins. "We have five cats wanting to join the clan. Ravenpaw, Princess, Hollyleaf, and Fallenleaf, please step forward." They oblige. "Warriors of Starclan, these cats would like to join our clan, and they have proven themselves worthy of it."
"Not the kittypet." Whispers Spiderleg under his breath.
"Ravenpaw, please step forward. I, Firestar, leader of Thunderclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. Ravenpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
Ravenpaw's eyes twinkle in excitement because he has waited countless moons for this. "I do."
"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Ravenpaw, from this moment you will be known as Ravenheart. Starclan honors your courage and intelligence, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan." Firestar rests his head on Ravenheart's.
"Ravenheart! Ravenheart!"
"Princess, please step forward." Her fur is ruffled in excitement also. "Spirits of StarClan, you know every cat by name. I ask you now to take away the name from the cat you see before you, for it no longer stands for what she is. By my authority as Clan leader, and with the approval of our warrior ancestors, I give this cat a new name. From this moment on she will be known as Softheart, for her kind heart and willingness to love."
"Softheart! Softheart!" Only part of the clan cheers, but Lilypaw and Larkpaw cheer the loudest like they did on Ravenheart's ceremony.
"Fallenleaf, please step forward. Warriors of Starclan, this cat has shown courage and he now wishes to join our clan. He has saved one of our cats, so I deem him worthy. Please accept Fallenleaf as a full member of Thunderclan."
"Fallenleaf! Fallenleaf!" Again, only part of the clan cheers.
"Hollyleaf, please step forward. Warriors of Starclan, this cat has shown courage and she now wishes to join our clan. She regrets events of the past and is ready to serve my clan once more. She has saved one of our cats, so I deem her worthy. Please accept Hollyleaf as a full member of Thunderclan."
"Hollyleaf! Hollyleaf!" Part of the clan cheers.
"Even though Fox is thought to of attempted murder, we are wrong. What happened that night was a phenomenon that only Starclan can explain. From this moment on, she is Dapplepaw once more."
"Dapplepaw! Dapplepaw!"
(Firestar POV)
After the cheers have stopped, I descend the Highledge and trot towards the medicine cat's den. I push my way through the lichen covering the entrance.
"Firestar? What are you doing here?" Jayfeather asks. Cherrypaw looks up from sitting next to Dapplepaw's nest.
"I have come here to do a ceremony for Dapplepaw. I know I announced her name to the clan outside, but this will make it official. Spirits of StarClan, you know every cat by name. I ask you now to take away the name from the cat you see before you, for it no longer stands for what she is. By my authority as Clan leader, and with the approval of our warrior ancestors, I give this cat a new name. From this moment on she will be known as Dapplepaw, for her courage in hard times and her honesty."
"Dapplepaw! Dapplepaw!" Cherrypaw whispers.
"How is she?" I address the medicine cat.
"She has a shattered leg and greencough." I glance at the sleeping cat and she coughs feebly in her sleep.
"Will she live?" I ask timidly. If she died before I could apologize, I would never forgive myself.
A new light is ablaze in Jayfeather's pale blue eyes. "Of course she will. She has already proven herself to be a stubborn cat."
;( I will miss this book and all of my fans, but I am glad that this series is not yet over! Keep checking my profile for the next book!
Now for the last time on this book- the disclaimer. ;(
Disclaimer: jayleaf1 does not own Warriors, but she does own these stories. ;(