Chapter Thirty-Seven: In Which Our Heroes are Renamed

A/N: Just a quick note, this chapter is told from Lionpaw's mind and his thoughts are sprinkled throughout, mixing memory with action. My quirky title of this chapter probably gives a lot away with that first glance...

Life hurts sometimes. It's confusing, and complicated. And yet... there's beauty. Behind the beast, there is a flower. Below the darkness is a flame. I think that life is about looking for the beauty in things- no matter how terrible it seems.

"Lionpaw," Snowstar rumbled. "There's something I've been meaning to talk to you about."

I've learned a lot in my life as an apprentice; I've seen darkness that only I understand. I've heard stories only my ears have discovered. And I've felt things no apprentice has felt before.

"Yes, Snowstar?" Lionpaw flicked an ear, wondering what his father could possibly want.

The truth of Pebbleheart's story with Firerunner will forever be an unanswered question. Sure, I have some information. But it's not enough to stretch across the truth; there's too many gaping holes that I can't stop staring at. Sometimes, when I lay in the sun-kissed grass and think about her, I wonder about it. I have doubt. But I've realized something.

Snowstar gazed at his eldest child for a very long moment before answering. "It is time," he said quietly, eyes reflecting the hope kindling in Lionpaw's wide eyes.

The past doesn't define you; it doesn't tell you how to live your life. It's all about moving forward, and finding the future. The future that was meant to be, the destiny I will meet. I have truly let Pebbleheart go- she's a ghost who no longer haunts me. I've let her get the peace she so dearly deserves, and it's time I move on. Move on to the next step of my life.

The sunlight rained down on the clearing, turning the glittering snow to flames. All the eyes LightningClan gazed at the three lions standing on the High Rock, watching with pride. The three lions who had grown so much, who had become so well-known. One, the cunning lioness who stolen a certain lion's heart. Another, the striped child of two Clans who was destined to change the future. And the last, the golden-brown son of Snowstar, the lion who had a destiny that was coming closer with every heart-beat.

"I, Snowstar, call upon my warrior ancestors to look upon these three apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you are warriors in their turn." Snowstar paused, sweeping his wise gaze over the three apprentices. Lionpaw's chest swelled with pride as he met his father's eyes. Snowstar struck a powerful figure, his pale white fur trapped in a stream of golden sunlight, giving him the appearance of being encased in flame. One thing was for sure; Snowstar was back, and was never leaving them again.

"Frostpaw," Snowstar rumbled, turning his eyes on the beautiful lioness. "Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Lionpaw watched his love with joy tingling along his spine. She straightened her chin only slightly, and lifted her slender tail. "I do," she said quietly, eyes sparkling like the stars.

Snowstar smiled slightly. "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Frostpaw, from this moment on... you will be known as Frostcloud. StarClan honors your fire and compassion, and we welcome you as a full warrior of LightningClan."

Frostcloud shivered with delight, and Snowstar gently bent down to rest his muzzle on her soft head. Her pink tongue flicked out, and licked his shoulder in respect. Lionpaw burst forward and purred wildly, licking her cheek. "Frostcloud," he breathed. Their shining eyes met.

"Oh, brother," Brightpaw rolled his eyes, smirking.

"Frostcloud! Frostcloud!" LightningClan cheered. Everyone seemed to chip in; Frostcloud was pretty popular with the Clan. Lionpaw gazed at the chanting lions, and saw Rowanpaw cheering along with them, perhaps the loudest of all.

Snowstar flashed his tail, signaling for silence. Eventually the Clan fell quiet, and Snowstar cleared his throat. Slowly, he turned his head to gaze at Lionpaw. His heart skipped a beat, from sheer nervousness. This is my time.

"Lionpaw," he rumbled, "My son, my apprentice... and now, my warrior." His eyes shone with emotion, and Lionpaw swallowed hard, his eyes pinching at the corners. Lionpaw tried to stand still, but was buzzing with excitement. He could sense the waves of fatherly love radiating off of Snowstar. "Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
Lionpaw thought of all the warriors that had given their life for his beloved Clan... all up to Firerunner and Pebbleheart. Was he prepared to do that? "I do," he said at last, voice strong.

Brightpaw nudged him gently, and Lionpaw pricked his ears. The clearing was dead silent as they awaited Snowstar's next words. "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. From this moment on, you will be known as Lionheart. StarClan honors your bravery and loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of LightningClan."

The Clan went up in an uproar of cheers. "Lionheart! Lionheart! Lionheart!" they cheered. Lionheart stood, eyes wide with shock, the blood roaring in his ears.

I did it. I'm... I'm a warrior. I am Lionheart now.

He opened his jaws and let out a laugh, turning around to gaze fondly at his cheering friends and family. There was Bluefur, seeming to glow with pride from tail-tip to ears... next to her, jumping up and down in delight, was Cricketpaw, with Buzzardflight right beside her, chuckling in amusement at his love. Amberpaw was there too, not saying a word, but her shining eyes said enough. Rowanpaw stood a ways off from them, his mouth shut. But there was an emotion in his eyes, not hatred, not anger. Something different.

Once again, Snowstar rose his tail for silence. Lionheart pressed against Frostcloud, their tails twining, as the whole focus of the Clan shifted to the final apprentice. The one who had always been a little bit different from the rest... the one who had said more with his birth that anyone else possibly could. Silence fell like a shadow across the lions.

Snowstar appraised Brightpaw quietly for a moment. Here was the apprentice who he'd never quite trusted... quite understood... or, quite wanted to call his own. Mind drifting back to that night many moons ago, when he'd had the vision of a striped leader, Snowstar lifted his shaggy head. "The final apprentice who I will name tonight... is a unique one. He isn't LightningClan... he isn't WaterClan. His blood flows with both of these amazing Clans. It has taken moons for us to see him for what he truly is..." Snowstar's eyes flowed with warmth now. "A unique soul more than worthy of a place in my Clan."

Brightpaw's ears were flattened with embarrassment, and he sheepishly looked away from Snowstar. Lionheart grinned, unable to believe the miracle that was being born before them: Brightpaw, after many troublesome moons, finally had found a place.

"Brightpaw," Snowstar growled, "Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Brightpaw lifted his head. He'd grown so much... not a runt at all anymore, he was tall and muscular. His stripes had faded slightly into his unique golden fur, a beautiful cross between a lion's thick, golden-brown fur and a tiger's pelt of flames. He stood with a purpose now, a strength and pride in his eyes that had never been there before. Lionheart couldn't believe how far his closest friend had come.
"I do," he snarled softly, voice full of power.

Snowstar stood a bit straighter. "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Brightpaw... from this moment on, you will be known as Brightstripe. StarClan honors your nobility and courage, and we welcome you as a full warrior of LightningClan."

For a split second, there was silence. And then...

"BRIGHTSTRIPE!" LightningClan cheered, Blackscar perhaps the loudest of all. "Brightstripe! Brightstripe!"

The whole Clan seemed to burst into wild cheering and whistles. Brightstripe stood, shocked, for a full minute before slowly turning around to face his Clan. He gazed around at them all, slowly drinking in the fact that they were cheering for him.

Lionheart chuckled quietly, gazing at Brightstripe. He couldn't think of anyone more deserving of this.

For a brief moment, the supportive cheers of the lions faded out. Everything slowed down, and the only two souls in the entire world were Lionheart and Brightstripe. Brightstripe, standing on the very edge of the High Rock, slowly turned his head. His eyes met Lionheart's. The two friends stood, silent yet saying so much, in the midst of their golden moment. The corner of his lips curled up in a smirk, and Lionpaw returned the crooked grin.

We did it, mate. We did it, Brightstripe seemed to chuckle.

It was the happiest memory Lionheart had ever had, and swore to lock it safely away, forever.

Lionheart gazed around the cheering Clan as things sped up again, and his heart nearly missed a beat. His narrowed his eyes, but whatever he thought he'd briefly seen, was gone.

But for a heart-beat... Lionheart would have sworn he saw two shimmering bodies standing a ways off from the Clan- one, a striped tigress; the other, a slender lioness with eyes flaming in gentle pride.

This is my future now.