Aww! A warrior is going to the elders' den; yet, she still has the heart of a kit!!!! ^^; Aww, how sweet. 3 Also, I got a Tropical Fish calendar, absolutely *perfect* for 2010. :3
100 Tales 98
Final
Goldenheart was resting outside the warriors' den one fine sunny morning in new-leaf. She didn't feel like going on patrol; and, as one of the eldest warriors, it was basically her choice on what she wanted to do, or not.
Redheart passed her. "You're getting' old, eh?!" he joked.
Goldenheart laughed. "Yeah, sure," she laughed. "I feel just, so…. so old! Oh, my frail old bones! Redheart, bring me some fresh-kill; now, will you?! My old frail old bones just can't manage it!" And then, she collapsed into a fit of giggles. "Honestly, Redheart; you are so nuts."
"Thank you." Redheart grinned. "It's what I do best."
Goldenheart had been trying for so long to hide it; but eventually, she just had to admit it…. She was getting old. She did want to move into the elders' den, and she would rather be there, safe and warm and dry through the scariest of storms, then out in the cold, being a warrior, and all that such….
"Smokestar!" Mousewhisker suddenly rushed into camp, panting, his ears flat, and his pelt bristling. "StreamClan have attacked the border!"
"What?" A warrior named Stormpelt began to pace furiously, his tail whipping back and forth and his pelt bristling in rage.
"That's unfair!" Reedpaw declared.
Yellowstar walked out of his den and jumped down Highledge. The leader of LightningClan was calm, cool and collected.
"Cats of LightningClan," he declared. "This wouldn't be the first time that StreamClan attacked our border, and it most definitely won't be the last. In the battle patrol will be Stormpelt, Reedpaw, Lionpaw, Tigerstripe, Goldenheart, Redheart, Appleleaf, Lilytail, and Petalnose! Mousewhisker, you can go, too, if you wish. Now.... go!"
The cats absolutely rushed out of the camp. They headed towards the StreamClan border, where they could already hear fighting and screeching.
Goldenheart leaped towards an apprentice. It cowered beneath her, barely dodging her blows, but not even harming her, either.
She gave it one last swipe with her claws, and batted it away into the river. It quickly swam over to the other side, drenched and gasping.
"Good job, Goldenheart!" Redheart had suddenly appeared at her side.
"Thanks." She smiled. "It's what I do best."
Redheart laughed. "You're a nut-case!"
But he didn't have any more time to complain, or to laugh, for a StreamClan warrior was prowling with her back to them.
"Let's go get her!" Redheart whispered, nudging Goldenheart.
"You're on!" the older she-cat replied.
As one, they pounced on the lithe brown tabby figure, and slowly drove her back towards the river. She glared at them one last time, and swam away.
"That's everyone!" Stormpelt suddenly declared. "Come on, LightningClan cats; we've won here, so let's head back to the camp."
Feeling happy at their victory, and not exactly too worse for wear, Redheart and Goldenheart trailed behind the other cats, as they went back to the camp.
After all the cheering back at the camp had been done, Goldenheart suddenly spoke up.
"Smokestar…." she began reluctantly. "I'm getting a bit…. Well, I'm getting a bit old for all this warrior life. I would like to move to the elders' den."
Cats gasped at this, but Smokestar just nodded. "I was expecting this," she murmured. "You were getting more tired and less active lately, and I knew that this battle, if not your final one, would most definitely be one of your last." And she looked to the sky, and performed the ceremony.
"Goldenheart, is it really your wish to give up your title as warrior and move to the elders' den?" she began; breathlessly, almost.
"It is, Smokestar." Goldenheart lowered her head, suddenly looking older than ever before.
Smokestar nodded. "Very well. May your moons in the elders' den be happy ones."
"Goldenheart! Goldenheart! Goldenheart!" cheered her Clanmates, as she slowly walked to the elders' den, flanked by her new denmates.
This had been her final battle.