Chapter 36

"The Littlest Leader."

4/24/17

~ Littlefalcon ~

His paws were beginning to betray him, Littlefalcon tries to keep up his strong façade in front of the ThunderClan cats watching and waiting for him to depart. Duskshade pads out of the den with tired eyes.

Littlefalcon eats the traveling herbs laid out before him. Ivyheart touches Littlefalcon's shoulder with her nose. "Good luck."

Littlefalcon nods and stands up. "I'm ready." He told Duskshade.

Littlefalcon and Duskshade approach Moonpool, and Duskshade instructs him to sleep near it. The small black and white tom sleeps next to the water and falls asleep.

He took a sharp breath and opens his eyes to see countless of cats watching him.

"Welcome to StarClan, Littlefalcon."

Their voices were in sync, tom and she-cat, with one voice and not missing a beat. The first cat steps out, and Littlefalcon almost lost the will to stand and cry.

A very dark grey she-cat pads toward him as her fur ripples, revealing faint tabby stripes, and emerald green eyes that sparkle when she laid her gaze on him.

"Whisperclaw." Littlefalcon whimpers, pressing his head on her chest.

"Littlefalcon. Stand up straight."

The small black and white tom looks at his mother, hearing her stiff tone. Whisperclaw's eyes were, instead, filled with warmth and pride. Littlefalcon removes himself from her and stands up to look her in the eye.

"For you, I give you the life of understanding. Even if a cat is strange beyond understanding, try and make a connection with them."

Whisperclaw touches Littlefalcon's forehead. He is instantly taken back to his nursery days. Whisperclaw grooms his fur thoroughly, Littlefalcon knew this as the only way Whisperclaw shows her affection due to her dislike of being touched without warning.

Whisperclaw steps back and turns away.

"Mom!"

Whisperclaw smiles to Littlefalcon and vanishes in the crowd. The next cat only made him even more somber. It was Tigerflame. The big, muscular tabby tom approaches Littlefalcon and smiles at him.

"You've made me more proud than you imagine." Tigerflame said.

"I give you the life of persistence. Just like you never gave up in your apprenticeship, never give up on your Clan."

Tigerflame touches his head, and Littlefalcon feels a sharp pain rip through his body. Through Tigerflame's eyes, he sees harsh judgement in cats eyes, the sense of loneliness and despair. He then sees a golden she-cat talking to him, or whispering to him, and feeling enlightened by her support.

Littlefalcon returns to reality as Tigerflame pads away from him. A blue grey she-cat with mint green eyes pads to him.

"Thanks for taking care of Ivyheart. I guess she was right about you." Said Bluejay.

"With this life, I give you the life of selflessness. Always put your Clan first before yourself."

Littlefalcon endures another painful exchange of life, and Bluejay goes to Volefang and Jaystripe, and a newborn kit who is with them.

A skinny white tom skips over to Littlefalcon with a huge grin on his face. His blue eyes and white fur, Littlefalcon knows where Cloudwind and Snowpelt got their looks from.

"Helloooo again! How's my favorite grandson?"

"Good."

Stoatfrost nods. "Nice, nice. Stealthfire told me about your kits. I'm glad the Nightheart and Stoatfrost handsome gene are still being passed down to the toms and she-cats."

"Would you get on with it?! We haven't got all starlight!"

"Hold on to your pelt, Mooneye!" Stoatfrost rolls his eyes and looks at Littlefalcon.

"I give you the life of integrity. Be sure to speak with honesty even if it hurts."

Stoatfrost touches Littlefalcon's forehead and electricity pulses through his body. Stoatfrost pats his shoulder. "Knock 'em dead, buddy."

Stoatfrost prances away as another white tom pads from the crowd with a tortoiseshell and white she-cat.

Cloudwind stands in front of Littlefalcon. "It's nice to see you again. I give you the life of intuition. Just like you stood up for me when the truth came out, I want you to do the same for others who can't, with clarity and fairness."

With his fifth life, Cloudwind pads to Petalsong and melts into the crowd. A light silver she-cat pads toward him. Littlefalcon squints.

"I don't think I know you."

"Of course you wouldn't. I'm Seabreeze, and I'm Goldflame's grandmother."

Seabreeze touches Littlefalcon's forehead. "I give you the life of rejuvenation. With all the kits you have in the Clan, you will definitely need this life to keep up with them."

Six lives down, three lives to go.

A light brown she cat steps forward. Something about her reminds Littlefalcon of someone…

"Hi, I'm Cookie, Driftcloud's mother. I'm glad Driftcloud has a friend like you, and that he helped you through a tough time."

Cookie touches Littlefalcon's forehead. "I give you the life of protection. Like a mother cares for her kits, do the same with your Clan."

Not long after Cookie left, Darkstar takes her place. Ravenwing watches her mate from the crowd.

"Heh. We're not so different after all, huh? I give you the life of strength. And I don't wanna hear you cry about your size, you already showed us that it doesn't matter."

Littlefalcon feels his skin bursting with burns. Darkstar steps back and pads to Ravenwing, looking the happiest he's ever been. A dark brown tom with dark red stripes over his eyes and tail pads to Littlefalcon.

"Greetings. I'm Addertail, a ShadowClan warrior."

"... Are you, like, a distant relative of mine?"

Addertail shakes his head. "Not necessarily, but do you know Daisyleaf? She's my sister."

"Sister, really? She never mentioned a brother."

"That's because I died before she got kicked out." Addertail explains. "We were close. I wasn't paying attention when that monster… If I had, I would have left ShadowClan with her and help raise the kits. So I'm glad you helped her with her kits, even when it wasn't your call."

Littlefalcon looks at Duskshade, who is also in awe of his newly discovered uncle.

"They kinda picked me."

Addertail touches Littlefalcon's forehead and said, "I give you the life of dedication. Continue to work hard and make your Clan great under your leadership."

Littlefalcon braces for the quick pain to bare. Addertail melts into the crowd.

"Littlefalcon. You're life as a warrior is no more. From now on you are Littlestar, leader of ThunderClan!"

"Littlestar! Littlestar! Littlestar!"

~ Nightsong ~

Ivyheart paces back and forth. Acornfall and Fishleap were anxious and Morningfire distracts himself by playing with his tail tip.

"Look! He's back!"

Nightsong sees her father return with Duskshade smiling with pride.

"Littlestar! Littlestar! Littlestar!"

The small black and white tom pads underneath Highledge as cats gather around their new leader.

"Darkstar was a brave cat, a cat who brought glory to the 'Dark name that will last for generations to come. And I hope to be the leader you can be proud of. And now, I have to choose who will be my deputy."

Nightsong heard every cat hold their breath. Littlestar smiles as he approaches his chosen cat. He touches the cat with his paw.

"Lightstripe will be deputy of ThunderClan."

The bright ginger tom blinks in surprise and looks at cats behind him, who were purring with approval. Graystream bumps heads with her father. Nightsong knew her great-uncle had a dream as a small kit to be the deputy of ThunderClan, before his affair with Graysky the RiverClan she-cat and the birth of Graystream.

He obviously didn't expect his dream to come true.

"Littlestar." Lightstripe said softly. "I'm at a loss for words. I promise you I won't let you down."

"Lightstripe! Lightstripe! Lightstripe!"

Nightsong sees one cat standing alone, Snowpelt. She pads to her cousin and nudges her shoulder.

"Holding out okay?"

"I guess." Snowpelt looks over Nightsong's shoulder. She follows her gaze to Thistlefang, who is greeting Littlestar.

"It'll get better. He can't stay mad with you forever."

Snowpelt sniffs. "I have a feeling that it's going to get bad before it gets better."

~ Snowpelt ~

She couldn't sleep. Thistlefang's nest is right in front of her, and she can't shake off the lingering disappointment in his eyes. Snowpelt gets up and leaves her nest to go to the lake. Snowpelt watches the full moon reflect off the water, and she hears paw steps approaching and sees Beechclaw.

"Why are you here?" She asks him.

Beechclaw kicks a pebble with his front paw. "Loki came by and apologized. I was wondering if he spoke to you, too."

"He did. But I doubt that's the reason why you came out here."

Beechclaw sighs. He pads closer and sits down next to her.

"You didn't answer my question. I mean, I know it was bad timing-."

"No kidding." Snowpelt says stiffly.

"But I was afraid to die and never telling you. I love you, Snowpelt. I never met a she-cat who has compassion for cats, especially over a prey's injury. Will you please be my mate?"

Snowpelt raised an invisible eyebrow. The idea was attractive. Forbidden romance always was. But in the core of her being, in the back of her mind, she sees herself with a tom in her future. It didn't involve a thick furred, black tom from RiverClan.

It was dark brown, a tabby, who is right in her Clan. Snowpelt saw Thistlefang in her future.

"No. I can't do that."

Beechclaw recoils as if she struck him. "Why…? I love you! If it's about the Clan thing, I could join ThunderClan or you can come to RiverClan."

"That's a bad idea no matter how many theories you can come up with."

Beechclaw's amber eyes hardened.

"Is this about Thistlefang?"

Snowpelt looks away.

"I don't understand. We traveled together, and we fought side by side."

"Thistlefang was there since I was a kit. He taught me how to fight and he supported me and my meetings with you guys when he could have reported me to Darkstar. Beechclaw, you have to understand, I only care for you as a friend."

Beechclaw could hear his heart break. His broken promise to Bearskip rings in his mind.

"What do you expect me to do now?"

"Find love in RiverClan." Snowpelt replies honestly. "I'm sure there are she-cats your age who you can have, no dangers or risks. Just don't get hung up on a relationship that would never last."

Snowpelt briefly touches Beechclaw's cheek and pads away. The RiverClan warrior is rigidly standing like a statue as the white-silver flecked she-cat left him in the night. He swallows his sorrow and pads back to his territory, dragging his tail in the ground.

Two gold eyes were watching the exchange. Thistlefang sighs with relief and quietly sneaks back to his nest without waking up Snowpelt.

Mistleaf suggested for Whisperclaw, Tigerflame, Stoatfrost, Darkstar, Cloudwind Seabreeze, Bluejay and Addertail to give Littlefalcon his lives, I think I only came up with Cookie's appearance. It's almost nine. I'm tired. Sorry for the lackluster author's note, but…

*Kyubi suddenly passes out and falls asleep. Decidueye peers from the left corner and drags Kyubi away as Incineroar writes down a note and shows it to the reader*

"Be sure to review and have a nice day."

~ Incineroar and Decidueye