Next chapter: 26. Wow, I can't believe this is almost done, although I was planning on going for forty chapters. Don't worry, that's still my goal! Anyways, thanks Willowpool, Moonstreak1 and flareon200 for reviewing, and thanks to those who have so far voted on my polls!

~Chapter 26~

Excitement flooded through Reedstar as he followed his own Clanmates. They had decided that it was best to go off on their own. The four Clans would meet once more at the clearing on the full moon and decide whose territory was whose. Solar had chosen to wait in the clearing, saying that he had no place in the Clan. Part of it was true, but Reedstar had taken a strange liking to the strange golden tabby tom. Perhaps it was his own wisdom, or the fact that Solar had shown them the way to their new territory. Either way, the Clans were in his debt.

The trees that surrounded the RiverClan cats were very familiar to those that had grown around the Lake. Reedstar recognized a few willow trees, silver birch trees, and a few maple trees as well. He had scented water from nearby as well, and began to hope that a river or a stream might be nearby.

To the black toms relief, a large, swollen river roared next to them. Reedstar looked at it, and saw silver flashes go by. He realized that this could be the perfect hunting ground for RiverClan, if the river didn't flood. He shuddered as he remembered his own misadventure back in the old territory.

He had fallen in the river once when he was only an apprentice. His mentor told him to try fishing that day, and the river had been swollen from the rain that had fallen the night before. As naive as Reedstar had been, he followed his mentor's orders. Just as he had been about to catch a fish, he slipped on the shore and fell in. Luckily Mistystar had been there to save him, but he had still been unconscious. It was really thanks to Leafpool that he was alive today. Mothwing had frozen up with fear, according to Hawkfrost, and she wouldn't have been able to do a thing anyways.

"Reedstar, check this out!" Timberpaw mewed. He had just reached a large granite boulder. He gingerly placed his paw down on it, and let out a long sigh. "It feels so warm, perfect for the elders!"

"You're right," mewed Mosspelt. The tortoiseshell had pushed her way through the throng of cats and was now resting on the boulder. Her eyes closed and to Reedstar's amusement, she started to sleep.

"Timberpaw, why don't you stay here and protect Mosspelt," he suggested to the young apprentice. "I'm not sure what sort of enemies lie in wait here, so we'll need to keep a sharp eye out."

Timberpaw nodded and looked down at Mosspelt proudly. Stifling a purr, Reedstar led the rest of the Clan downriver. They followed the source of water until they reached what looked like an island in the middle of the river. Above the island were sand dunes, and Reedstar saw that beds of reeds grew around the island. It reminded him of the island back at the Lake, and he suddenly felt a pang of homesickness.

He and three other cats jumped from rock to rock. They were like the Stepping Stones at the old territory, only much wider and better. They weren't at all slippery like the old ones, and they all made it without getting soaked.

Reedstar looked around and spotted what looked like a good leaders' den. He padded towards it and stared into it. It was wide enough for two cats to sleep in, and it had a protective roof over it. The rock that hung over it looked like it might be a good place to hold ceremonies. And if the river ever did flood, the Clan could hide out in the sand dunes. It was like StarClan themselves made this island just for RiverClan.

"This is perfect," Grassfang purred. "We've got a warriors' den, the apprentices' den, and the elders' den, although Mosspelt herself can pick it out. And it looks like you found your own den," he added when he looked at the rock overhang.

"Yes," Reedstar replied with a flick of his tail. Contentment had swelled through him, and now, he looked at his warrior right in the eye. "Go and tell the others that we've found our home."

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"Let all cats old enough gather around the RockHang for a Clan meeting!" Reedstar's yowl carried around camp.

His eyes gleamed with pride as he watched the Clan gather around his den. A quarter moon had passed since they'd arrived in the new territory. During that time, they had seen little of the other Clans, and they had begun to pull apart from each other. Daisytail had given birth to three healthy kits: Otterkit, a ginger tabby tom, Swoopingkit, a black-and-white she-cat, and Brazankit, a dark cream tom. Now, Driftkit, Fallowkit and Berrykit were busy play fighting like the hard journey never happened. Even Mosspelt, who had sworn she was going to die, looked healthier than ever.

And best of all, Reedstar was about to name two new warriors. Timberpaw and Ryepaw had completed their training, and their mentors had told him that they were ready to become warriors. They were led to the clearing by Shellspots and Pouncetail.

"Shellspots, Pouncetail, do you believe these apprentices are ready to become warriors?" Reedstar asked, directing his gaze to the older warriors.

"I do," they meowed together in unison.

"Than I, Reedstar, leader of RiverClan, call upon my warrior ancestors so that they may look down upon these apprentices." He paused for a moment and looked down at Timberpaw and Ryepaw. Their eyes were glowing with excitement as he continued. "They have trained hard, and I now commend them to you as warriors in turn. Timberpaw, Ryepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and defend your Clan, even with your life?"

"I do," Timberpaw replied in a voice full of enthusiasm.

"I do," Ryepaw replied more quietly.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Timberpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Timberclaw. StarClan honors you for your enthusiasm and ability to reach out to younger cats."

Timberclaw bent his head proudly as Reedstar pressed his muzzle on the young warriors' head. In turn, he licked the leaders' shoulder out of respect.

"Ryepaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Ryepelt. StarClan honors you for your thoughtfulness and courage."

He used the same exchange with Ryepelt. Ryepelt's eyes had gleamed at the mention of his thoughtfulness. It was true, Ryepelt had grown from the spunky apprentice he had been to a wise cat. Reedstar guessed it was thanks to Shellspots, who was gazing after them with a look of affection.

"Timberclaw! Ryepelt! Timberclaw! Ryepelt!" The Clan chanted their name, and Reedstar joined in, suddenly feeling glad that he had been chosen as their leader.

Life had begun to go on, and soon, the Clans would meet again under the truce of the full moon. Reedstar had wondered how they were doing, and as he looked up, he guessed that they were doing as well as the rest of the Clans. He would miss Dawnstar and the way she had picked arguments with everyone, and Weaselstar who was quiet and not at all like Mudclaw had been. And surprisingly, most of all, he would miss Cinderstar. She was the most courageous of the leaders, and she had taken up the opportunity to lead them to their new territory happily. For once in his life, Reedstar suddenly felt very alone in the world of leadership.