Chapter 31

Silverheart walked through the forest, missing her sister terribly. Oakstorm padded up to stand at her shoulder. "Six moons. Six moons since I've seen her." She said.

Oakstorm licked her ear, and murmured, "She'll be home soon. Whatever it is she has been doing it, it can't have taken her too long. She'll be back soon. Let's go hunt. It'll help clear your mind." He nuzzled her and, pelts pressing, they went down to the stream.

Fishing did help a lot, but she was still troubled as she followed Oakstorm back to camp. Night was falling quickly. It looked like Shadepaw wouldn't be back today. Quietly, the two cats placed their fish on the pile and headed for the den. Silverheart curled around in her nest, but sleep refused to come. She twitched, and turned over. Finally, she gave up on the whole idea of sleep, and carefully padded out of the den. Unbelieving, she stopped dead in her tracks. She stared at the three figures that were in front of her. Then she flung herself onto one of them.

"Shadepaw! Oh Shadepaw!" She exclaimed, tears falling from her face. "I've missed you so much!"

Her sister purred, "And I have missed you. I worried about you all the time. I'm so glad to see you're looking well." Silverheart had never felt so happy, the bliss of seeing her sister almost knocked her off her feet. As she looked at Shadepaw, Silverheart could see that she had changed dramatically. She was more serious now, more sure of herself. She looked older than Silverheart, wiser. Silverheart could only guess what Shadepaw had encountered on her journey to make her like this. For no matter what, Silverheart would never know what lied beyond her territory.

It didn't matter. Shadepaw was home. For a while, it had seemed like Shadepaw had died, she had been gone so long. Now for the first time, Silverheart felt uncomfortable around her sister, unsure of what to say. There were so many things that happened while she was away that changed her. Silverheart knew Shadepaw could say the same thing. Shadepaw meowed, "These are my friends, Knight and Shadow. They helped me so much. And Icewind too. I found him in the mountains, but he has returned to his true home at last. I'm sure ShadowClan will be excited to see him."

Silverheart stepped away from Shadepaw to greet the two cats. "Hi, welcome to Riverclan. It's really nice to meet you." Silverheart tried to be sincere, but she was hurt. Why couldn't Shadepaw makes friends with other cats while she was gone? Silverheart thought. This wasn't the homecoming she had imagined. But it still was her homecoming, and Shadepaw would never leave again. That's the important thing.Silverheart told herself.

"Come on, I've got so much to tell all of you. And then we can find Shadow and Knight nests in the warriors den. Then we should talk to Rainstar. Or maybe we should do that first?"

"Nah, let him sleep. I don't want to talk to him as much as I want to talk to you. How has the clan been doing?" Shadepaw said. Silverheart thought over the last haft-year, remembering everything clearly. She told them about the battle with Shadowclan, and how freely she let her bad mood flow. All four cats laughed at that. Silverheart sombered up when she got to the part about Rainstar losing a life. She hurried on to tell about the three newest apprentices, one of which her own. "I'm not surprised. Cloudki- er Cloudpaw was always following you around."Shadepaw purred.

Silverheart just snorted, "Actually, you won't believe how mature she is now. But Greencough struck the camp almost a haft moon ago. Rainstar lost another life and we lost Smallflower." Knight, Shadow and Shadepaw bowed their heads respectfully.

Silverheart was surprised at the behavior of Shadepaw's friends. They seemed clanborn. Of course, there must have been plenty of time to talk about the clans on the journey home. "Who is the new deputy?" Shadepaw asked curiously.

Silverheart became embarrassed. "Um… me." Shadepaw's head snapped up and her eyes glowed with pride.

"Silverheart that's wonderfull!" She nudged her sister, the deputy, happily. Then Silverheart went on to the last piece of news.

"Mother and Father are in the elders den now. Just old age, but their health is fine."

Shadepaw nodded slowly, and then said, "I'll see them later."

The Sun was just about up, and Riverclan was just beginning to stir. "Shadepaw!" Rainstar called loudly. He emerged from his den, and joined the four cats in the clearing. "It is good to see you at home where you belong. You look well." Shadepaw dipped her head to her leader.

"Thank you Rainstar. It is good to be back. Shall I get Watersong and talk to you about the threat?" Rainstar nodded, and the apprentice shot off to her den, eager to see her mentor.

"Rainstar this is Shadow and Knight. They are Shadepaw's friends. They met on her journey." Silverheart said. Rainstar turned his gaze to them.

"Welcome to Riverclan." He said formally.

Shadow dipped his head and said, "Thank you. My sister and I, if at all possible, would like to join Riverclan. Shadepaw has told us everything, the warrior code, the boundaries, about the other clans."

Knight added, "We don't know how to fish, but we can hunt other prey, and fight."

Rainstar looked over to Silverheart, who nodded. "I would be honored to have you in the clan," Seeing Shadepaw and Watersong approach he added, "Let's go into the forest where we can talk about your journey." The leader, medicine cats and the two new warriors left right away, but Silverheart paused. She went to Oakstorm who was just appearing and told him what was happening.

"Could you set up some patrols please?" After he nodded and nuzzled her, she ran out of camp to catch up with her clanmates.

"Ah there you are, Silverheart. What happened?" Rainstar asked. They were sitting beside one of the smaller streams, waiting for her.

"I didn't think we should the clan wake up to see the medicine cat and leader and deputy gone. I told Oakstorm what happened and asked him to set up patrols."

Rainstar gazed at her approvingly and said, "Well done. That was good thinking," He turned to Shadepaw. "Now, what happened?" Rainstar added.

Shadepaw began her tale, describing the fields she had to cross, and then the mountains she had to climb. Mostly it was her telling the story; only at the end did Shadow and Knight break in and say something. Shadepaw told of the cave full of cats, what happened to the tribe, even a bit of Knight's story. When she got to the plan they came up with to kill Blade, Shadow took over, filling in the details.

"We ran so fast as soon as saw Shadepaw come out of the sleeping chamber." He concluded.

"I wish to thank all three of you for your courage. Riverclan won't forget this. Come, we have to tell the clan your story. And then there's a warrior ceremony to arrange." Rainstar announced. Knight and Shadow exchanged excited glances and dashed back to camp. Rainstar chuckled and followed them.

Watersong meowed, "And you have earned your Clan name long ago. You have proven yourself many times over. I'm sorry I couldn't have done it sooner." Silverheart watched her sisters eyes light up, thinking that she had never seen Shadepaw so happy.

She pressed her pelt to Shadepaw's and meowed, "Congratulations!" Shadepaw was purring too much to reply properly.

When they got back to camp, the meeting was already underway. The clan all turned to look at them, and then their cheers for Shadepaw interrupted Rainstar. They pressed around her, welcoming her and thanking her, telling her she was much missed. Shadepaw was overwhelmed.

Rainstar called for order, and the cats settled down. Silverheart took her place at the base of the rock, but didn't listen to the story she had heard twice already. Looking at Shadepaw, Knight and Shadow, it was easy to see all the memories clouding their eyes. When Rainstar finally got to the warrior ceremony, she listened. Shadepaw walked with her friends up to Mossrock, escorting them as a mentor would have.

"I call upon our warrior ancestors to look down on these two cats. They have learned the skills necessary and I commend them to you as warriors. Knight do you promise to uphold the warrior code and defend this clan, even at the cost of your life?" The she-cat dipped her head and her voice rang out confidently across the clearing.

"I do."

Rainstar went to give her the name of Nightfur. "Starclan thanks you for your courage and sacrifice." The clan cheered her as she licked his shoulder and backed away.

"Shadow, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and defend this clan, even at the cost of your life?"

He, too, answered with conviction, "I do."

Rainstar continued, "Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you the warrior name of Shadowfoot. Starclan honors your thoughtfulness and intelligence." The clan cheered him as well. Shadowfoot licked Rainstar's shoulder before going to stand by his sister. "Watersong will govng Shadepaw her full name as soon as the next haft moon arises. You are dismissed."

Cheers broke again before he could finish talking, and one cat yowled, "Bout time!"

Silverheart had never been so happy. The days grew too short, merging together again. It only seemed like only two days had passed, but tonight was the night Shadepaw would get her full name. It was the haft moon. Silverheart bounded up to her before she left and said, "Have fun. You really deserve this. I love you." Shadepaw pressed her muzzle to her sister and nodded. She hurried to catch up with Watersong, who was waiting at the camp entrance.

Silverheart watched her go, happiness swelling inside. "There isn't a more deserving cat." Oakstorm said, echoing her thoughts. He had padded up to her and sat down. "I suppose you're going to wait up for her?" A yawn answered him. He chuckled softly and led her to the warriors den. Darkness spread over her quickly. Rainstar's call awoke her the next morning. She slipped out, not bothering to groom, to see Shadepaw on Mossrock. "It is my duty to announce Riverclan's newest medicine cat: Shadewhisper!"

A/N: DONE FINALLY! Anyway, I owe an apology to Gingersplash of Time. I really like the name Shadefall, but I just felt Shadewhisper was better suited. I'm sorry. But the name will get used I promise. And if it seemed rushed at the end, that's cause it was. From now on, I think the chapters are going to be a little longer than usual. Maybe. Thanks so much for reading. Please review