Chapter 33
"Do you know when they will attack?" Mudstar asked.
Silverheart shook her head, "We'll need someone to keep a watch and alert us when they are here."
"Where do they live?" Honeystar asked.
Silverheart meowed, "Over Highstones. Windclan, Heatherstar, will you be ok with guard duty? You will need to send messengers to the three of us when we get here" Heatherstar dipped her head. Silverheart thanked her and added, "We should meet at the edge of your territory. If it is alright?" Another nod from the Windclan leader and the secured the battle plan was set. "Also, I think all of us should send some time working on our battle moves."
The other leaders agreed to this. It made sense.
"This Gathering is over. May Starclan watch over us all, and protect us in this dark time." Mudstar said.
The four leaders jumped to the ground, Silverheart landing awkwardly. Heatherstar nudged her to her paws and Silverheart said, "Thanks."
Heatherstar purred. "It gets easier with time." The lithe she-cat promised. Silverheart nodded and Heatherstar rejoined to her clan.
Watersong and Shadewhisper padded up to Silverheart. "You all right?"
Silverheart shrugged it off. "Yeah yeah. No big deal."
She led the clan home, with Watersong and Reedpelt at her side. Shadewhisper followed behind her mentor, and the rest of the clan pooled around their leader. Upon entering camp, Silverheart waited a few minutes, to see if any cat needed her, and then padded to the warriors den. But she stopped outside, realizing that it wasn't her den anymore.
She walked uncertainly to Rainstar's old den, the leader's den. It was concealed back behind the Mossrock. After hesitating, she entered the den. Inside there was a sandy ground and a nest made of moss and feathers. Rainstar's scent lingered on the walls and moss, and entered her nose. His scent saddened Silverheart, but she forced herself into his nest. Her sleep was peaceful, comforting. It had been awhile since she had such a restful night.
Dawn greeted her with rays of warmth. She stretched and padded into the clearing. Reedpelt was in the center, assigning patrols. For a second she was confused. Why was he doing her job? Mousebrain! You're the leader now, remember? You gave him the deputyship of Riverclan.
Watersong padded up to Silverheart. "Are you ready to go?" The silver tabby looked at her blankly. What was she talking about? "To get your nine lives and name from Starclan? Gosh, surely you haven't forgotten." The medicine cat was amused. Silverheart felt her head whirl. Everything was happening so fast! Rainstar picked you for a reason. He must believe you can do this.
Steadying her voice she meowed, "Yes." Watersong dipped her head and led the way out of camp.
The sound of running cats made Silverheart and Watersong stop. They turned and saw Oakstorm, Shadewhisper and Cloudfall. "Don't leave without saying goodbye!" Cloudfall purred. She pressed her cheek to Silverheart's, whispering "You're a wonderful cat, brave and strong. Rainstar couldn't have picked a better choice."
Silverheart choked out, "Thanks." Shadewhisper padded up next, and gave her sister a lick.
"We've been through so much. And I'm eager to see you follow Starclan's path." Silverheart nudged her sister, and looked into Oakstorm's eyes.
His love washed over her, cool and sweet as water. She pressed herself into his side, drinking in his familiar scent. His shoulder muscles rippled as he leaned down to give her a few licks. "Don't forget I'll always love, always be there for you, always. No matter if you're a leader or just a warrior. Come home as soon as you can." His eyes reflected love, but also sadness. She understood why. With the responsibility of the whole clan, they wouldn't be able to hang out as often. She was changing, and he wasn't. But Silverheart wasn't going to ever let him go.
"I'll always have time for you." Reluctantly, he stepped away, and Watersong and Silverheart left. The new leader forced herself not to look back. This was her destiny.
They made good time, passing through their territory, and WindClan's before Sunhigh. The thunderpath loomed before them, and Silverheart couldn't surpass her fear. She had no experience with these things. Watersong confidently padded to the edge of the Thunderpath, her experience easily showing. Silverheart padded up to stand beside her medicine cat. A monster flashed by, and then two more. "Now!" Watersong yowled. The two lunged forward racing as fast as they could to the other side. They pasted the barn where Barley and Ravenpaw lived before they died. Then they came to Mothermouth.
"When we get to the Moonstone, lie down, and press your nose against it. And from now till the end of the ceremony, neither of us must speak." Silverheart dipped her head, and followed the medicine cat into the dark cave. They went deep inside and it was so dark, Silverheart had to trust Watersong's sense of direction.
Finally, Silverheart saw a little light. It grew more luminescent as they got closer. Then she saw it. The beauty of the magnificent stone took Silverhear's breath away. How does it glow like that? Is it Starclan's power? Or something more?Watersong walked right up to it and waved her tail to Silverheart, indicating she needed to join her.
Slowly the new leader walked to the stone. Cautiously she laid down and softly pressed her nose to the Moonstone. She felt her eyes close without her telling them to do so. Everything was dark, the Moonstone and Watersong disappearing. Suddenly, she felt empty. Like there wasn't anything inside her. Silverheart tried not to panic. There was no pain, only an empty feeling where her heart should have been beating. Pain came to her in little stabs but they were easy to ignore.
Great Starclan! Am I dying?!Then her eyes opened on their own accord, and she found herself at Fourtrees. There were rows of Starclan cats, all from Riverclan and most of them unknown to her. A little closer, there were nine cats lined up. Her heart leaped with joy like a fish at the sight of her old friends.
The first cat walked over to Silverheart, her gracefulness making Silverheart jealous. The old deputy dipped her head to Silverheart.
Silverheart found her voice again. She willed the words to come out, "Oh Smallflower, it's good to see you." The former deputy smiled at her. She leaned forward, and touched her nose to Silverheart's forehead.
"With this life comes responsibility. Use this for all the cats in your care, because now you are responsible for all of them." Silverheart gasped as the life poured into her, seeing all the things that could happen to her clanmates, things she had the responsibility to take care of and save her friends. The intensity scared Silverheart. How will I cope with all of this? Cani even cope with it?
The next cat that bounded forward was Ferntail. "Ferntail! It's so great to see you! I've missed you." Silverheart exclaimed when her sister reached her.
Ferntail smiled at her sister and, like Smallflower, touched her nose to Silverheart's forehead. "With this life I give you humbleness. Keep it in your head and heart always." The new life seeped into her, and she was aware that even though she was a leader didn't make her more important than a warrior or kit or elder. A clan depended on all cats working together. Silverheart licked Ferntail's ear before she rejoined the Starclan cats.
A cream-colored she cat stepped forward. Silverheart knew that she had seen this cat, that this cat had been part of something significant but from where? It struck her in a second. This was Skyheart, the first medicine cat of Riverclan, who had helped to send her back to the forest after the fox killed her. Skyheart nosed Silverheart and said, "With this life I give you certainty. Never doubt your instincts, for they will always be right." Something changed inside of he; She could hear a voice, and she knew everything would be ok if she listened to that inner voice. Skyheart nodded to Sliverheart and took her place next to Riverstar.
The strikingly blue tom stepped up to Silverheart. "With this life I give you respect. Respect yourself and your clan, as well as the other three clans." Riverstar said as he touched Silverheart. Silverheart dipped her head to him, and felt the respect bubbling inside of her, bring pictures of her clanmates and of Thunderclan, Windclan and Shadowclan. Riverstar whispered to her, "You can do this. You were picked by Starclan because you're special." Smiling, he took his place in the ranks of the Starclan cats.
Furrypelt, the old Riverclan elder, was next. After touching his nose to Silverheart's head he meowed, "With this life I give you faith. Believe in yourself, and your clan. Starclan will always watch over you." There was a feeling inside her, making her feel warm and secure. Faith is strong. I can feel it. Faith can keep us safe.She knew Starclan would always be there. Furrypelt gave her a nudge before he stepped back.
Her heart ached with a fierce joy when Mosskit stepped forward. She smiled and Mosskit automatically smiled back, a mirror of her sister's expression. She gently nosed Silverheart and meowed, "With this life I give you love. Use this for Riverclan, the cats from the past and those to come, but especially for Oakstorm." A cooling feeling swept through her, reminding her of the feelingx that Oakstorm gave her. She felt her heart beat faster, making enough love to share evenly with the whole clan. She knew she would see the whole clan as her kits. Mosskit licked her sister lovingly and rejoined Starclan.
Frostspot took Mosskit's place. He touched his nose to Sliverheart's and said, "With this life I give you humor. Use it in dark times to lighten the mood, to make things easier." Silverheart felt a lightness enter her, make her tingle with happiness and laughter. She couldn't keep a smile off her face. Frostspot gave her one back, and turned back to his clanmates.
Fishcreek took his place in front of Silverheart. After dabbing his nose to her head, he said, "With this life I give you Forethought. Use it wisely and often, and don't ever make a decision in haste." Silverheart felt as though her mind expanded, scaring her a bit, to make room for all the choices she would have to make. the fear vanished and she felt in control of everything, sure she could make the right choice.
The last cat padded confidently up to Silverheart. It was, of course, Rainstar. No longer the weak and gasping leader, he was the powerful and calm cat Silverheart always knew him to be. "Awh Silverheart. I knew you would save us all one day and that day is approaching quickly. I give you a life for courage. Use it in the battle, and remember it is there when you're scared." Silverheart felt completely at ease, the bravery seeping through her muscles. She knew she could beat those cats. She could beat anything.
"I hail you by your new name Silverstar. Your old life is no more, you have been granted the nine lives of a leader. Starclan grants you the guardianship of Riverclan. Defend it well, care for young and old. Honor your ancestors and the traditions of the warrior code. Live each life with pride and dignity."
Silverstar wasn't sure who started the chant. She heard new name by called by her ancestors, and felt proud. "Silverstar! Silverstar! Silverstar!" Silverstar. Wow, that's me. Silverstar. This is the first step of my whole life. Lives."Silverstar, Silverstar!" Their voices echoed around Fourtrees.
A/N: Whew! I was so excited to write this chapter, but what I didn't realize was how hard it would be. But I'm glad she got her new name and lives. The next chapter will be the last, I'm afraid. Unless you count the epilogue. Anyway, the next chapter will be the battle, and will undoubtedly be super long. Thanks for reading! Please review!