Chapter 20

"Darkshadow! Darkshadow!" The black tom's head rose a little from the spell that sleep had put on him, but he couldn't fight the waves of exhaustion that were crashing onto him. He tried to make the voice disappear, but when he recognized the low mew of his friend, his eyes blinked open slowly. At first all he saw was a blurry face staring at him, but as his mind caught up with his sight, Darkshadow recognized Birdheart staring down at him. Birdheart nudged Darkshadow up to his paws, nuzzling him affectionately with her muzzle, "Thank StarClan, Darkshadow. I thought you were dead. I hadn't gotten a chance to-"

"Where's my siblings?" Darkshadow cut across, his black eyes flashing with worry as they scanned the bloody SkyClan camp without any sign of his three Clanmates. "Did they-" Darkshadow couldn't finish, trying not to imagine returning to JayClan without his siblings. But... hadn't Jaystar said that they were all going to survive? Shouldn't he trust the StarClan warrior's words? Darkshadow knew that, despite respecting his warrior ancestors with his entire being, he wouldn't believe Jaystar until he had seen Airpaw, Waterpaw, and Cloudpaw.

"Dead? Goodness no," Birdheart purred gently, resting a comforting tail on Darkshadow's shoulder. "Your kin are probably the toughest cats I have ever met. Airpaw was everywhere at once, making sure that no rat touched us. Bit of annoying really, he wouldn't let us have a good fight. And Waterpaw led half a dozen attacks, charging into the direct center of the rats without a scratch on her. And Cloudpaw... Cloudpaw even helped bring down Sandfire with Mintstar and Ratpelt."

"Is Sandfire-" Darkshadow began and Birdheart nodded, her eyes flooding with warmth. "Ratpelt killed him."

"Did any cats on our side-" Darkshadow asked, afraid for the answer.

Birdheart's eyes lost their joy and she whispered, "Snakefoot died along with that kittypet, Stripes. It could have been so much worse."

Darkshadow nodded and before he could say anything three voices called his name, "Darkshadow!"

Darkshadow turned and saw his three siblings racing towards him, the signs of battle on all of them. Airpaw's left ear was torn badly and he was still bleeding above his right eye. Cloudpaw's eye was swollen and her throat was scarlet with blood, but at least she was still standing. Waterpaw looked the best only having a small cut on her shoulder. Birdheart was right. She hadn't gotten a scratch on her. Darkshadow took a step towards them, but stopped when Mintstar yowled loudly.

All the cats stopped and glanced up where the elderly leader was standing on HighStone, "SkyClan, JayClan, friends and allies, I thank you all for fighting tonight for this was one of the toughest battles SkyClan has ever had to face. We've fought the rats before, but this was the first time the real threat came from inside our ranks. Sandfire appeared to be a brilliant warrior, one of the best, but he only achieved his fame by killing those who had really succeeded. He convinced me that a SkyClan warrior was working with the rats and believing him, I falsely punished Ratpelt. Ratpelt, forgive me and there is always a place open for you if you wish to return."

Ratpelt nodded, "I shall return."

"Good, good," Mintstar purred while the three apprentices chanted 'Ratpelt, Ratpelt' quietly, "Ratpelt, you are one of our most experienced warriors despite your young age. I would be honored if you stood as my deputy and aided me in rebuilding SkyClan."

Darkshadow's eyes widened. Ratpelt was to become deputy of SkyClan?

From below Mintstar, Ratpelt took a step forward and meowed, "I am honored, Minstar, really I am, but I do not think I am the right cat to be deputy. I've seen what power can do to a cat and I don't think I'm ready for that kind of responsiblity."

Minstar nodded, "A wise response. Perhaps in time you will make a great deputy, but SkyClan doesn't have time. We need a cat now who is brave and reliable. Just the cat we need to rebuild our lives." Mintstar paused, "I say these words before StarClan so that they can hear and approve my choice. Jaggedclaw, will be the new deputy of SkyClan."

From beside Birdheart, Jaggedclaw's eyes widened and Darkshadow leapt to his feet calling, "Jaggedclaw! Jaggedclaw!" Darkshadow didn't know much about the tabby tom, but he knew that he was a good warrior and that was all SkyClan needed.

Jaggedclaw took a step forward and meowed, "Thank you, Mintstar. I am honored."

Mintstar nodded before glancing at the kittypets and loners, "Thank you, friends, for helping us tonight. I understand you have lost one of your own and we grieve for him alongside you. Perhaps we will meet again."

"Now hold on, Mintstar," Shark, the only rogue, growled, stalking so that he was directly in front of Mintstar, "SkyClan needs warriors. We may not fully understand the warrior code, but I know that I want to stay and help."

Mintstar's eyes widened, "Do any others feel that way?"

"I do," Hatchet murmured and Darkshadow's eyes widened. The nervous tom was asking to join SkyClan? "I may not be completely what you need, but I have to try and help you. I have to try for Stripes."

"I'm sorry, Mintstar," Singer meowed quietly, "I liked helping you all, but my place is with my housefolk." Singer than waved her tail and farewell and walked slowly away.

Smut stood up and Darkshadow was beyond shocked when the tom mewed, "I'm with Singer. I liked fighting the rats, but this is no place for me. Let's go home, Elmo."

Darkshadow was even more shocked when the aggressive tom whispered, "Um... well Smut, I liked the idea of cats helping one another. I... I want to stay. I'm sorry."

Smut's eyes widened, but he meowed, "You followed me when I wanted to fight. What type of brother would I be if I didn't do the same?"

"A smart one," Elmo purred.

Shark glanced back up at Mintstar, "What do you say? Will you accept four new cats?"

Mintstar nodded and purred, "Line up so you can earn your warrior names." The cats did as they were told. First was Elmo. Mintstar stood in front of the tom before meowing, "Elmo you have decided to join SkyClan and follow the ways of StarClan. Your new name is Birchfeather, SkyClan welcomes you." Darkshadow blinked in surprise. Such a calm name for an aggressive cat.

"Smut from now on you will be known as Smudgefur, SkyClan welcomes you."

"Hatchet from now on you will be known as Arrowface, SkyClan welcomes you."

"Shark from now on you will be known as Lizardfang, SkyClan welcomes you."

Alongside the SkyClan cats, the four JayClan cats called, "Birchfeather! Smudgefur! Arrowface! Lizardfang!"

*

It had been a long night full of celebration and Darkshadow was glad to be away from all the noise, walking alone with Birdheart. She had asked him to come with her and as he glanced at her, he noticed her eyes were troubled, "What's wrong, Birdheart?"

Birdheart stopped and looked at Darkshadow, making the dark tom stop too. With a sigh, Birdheart whispered, "I'm pregnant with your kit."

Author's Note: Cliffhanger ;)