Hey everyone,
Its been a wonderful experience meeting you all and writing this story. I hoped you enjoyed as much as I enjoyed writing it.
** 9 months later**
Nightfang
"Alright is every cat ready to start?" I called out to group of restless apprentices, ever since the borders were taken down the clans changed the apprentices training to include exercises in all territories before they could become warriors. Today I and two warriors from the other clans were going to watch the assessment of their skills on Windclan territory.
The cats fell silent, looking at us with excitement and hunger in their eyes, my own kits among them. Along with them two other Thunderclan apprentices as well as seven from the other clans gave us a nice group twelve to assess. "Alright, Tigerheart and Lionblaze take three and go to our hunting course, every apprentice must catch at least three pieces of prey. With a nod the two warriors signaled for a Shadowclan and two Thunderclan cats to follow them. I turned to Shimmerpelt, "You and Snowstorm go to the slopes and asses their jumps, and test their ability to find prey hidden under ground. Snowstorm signaled for a River, Wind, and Shadowclan apprentice to follow them. "Crowfeather, will you and Raincloud watch them battle on the moors? We need to focus on defense and maneuverability." I gestured to the open grass lanes in the distance and the pulled away the other three apprentices, leaving me and Heronwing to asses my kits on their agility by the jutting stones.
"Are you ready?" I spoke firmly, the kits needed to know that this wasn't training anymore. This was a test and they needed to take it seriously, "Yes Nightfang." They responded in unison matching my tone, though I could see Wishpaw about to jump from her seat in anticipation. "Very well, follow me." I turned to lead them to the jutting stones where we had been drilling them on turns. While many apprentices showed difficulty changing their styles to adapt in other territories my kits had managed to adjust quickly. Silverpaw was surprisingly agile for a cat of his size, Wishpaw was unique as she altered our demonstrations to something more of a dance, making her weave in between the rocks like a leaf in a breeze. Ravenpaw not much to any cats surprise was a natural on the moors.
His long legs and sleek form let him change directions in the blink of an eye and his color blended in with any type of lighting making him one of the top hunters of the forest apprentices. I couldn't help but burst with pride for all of them, they were my kits after all and Morningdew had done well to train them in the analytics side of battles while I handled the movements. "They are doing well, Im not sure this assessment was even necessary." Heronwing nudged me with a shoulder, "Every apprentice is judged the same regardless of skill." I retorted sternly, but then I flicked his ear with my tail and said, "No matter how much they are more talented."
We both chuckled as we watched them do the first lap around the rocks. "Alright that was great, now do it again but this time Nightfang and I will be waiting to catch you off guard." Heronwing called, they nodded slightly winded and he and I went to hide. Heronwing waited on top of a rock and managed to knock Silverpaw off course for a moment when he jump in front of him. Silverpaw slid but quickly rebounded and dove around him using a rock for leverage. "Very good!" Heronwing called after him. I hid in some tall grass by a crucial turn that if was done properly would cause the cat to hit the point of a rock, I heard the ground rumble as one of them approached and with as much speed as I had I jumped in front of Ravenpaw who's sky blue eyes widened in surprise, I expected him to freeze but instead he jumped clear over me and the point of the stone to land hard on the other side never leaving the course. He looked back at me, his eyes still wide as if even he didn't know what he had just done, "Keep going son, or Silverpaw will beat you." I gestured for him to keep going and slid back into place as I waited for Wishpaw.
Wishpaw wasn't as fast as Ravenpaw and not as strong as Silverpaw but she was unpredictable, I was expecting her to appear in the same manner as her brother but before I could jump out and catch her off guard she disappeared, a dust cloud where she was supposed to be. Confused I looked around, smelling her all around me but not seeing here, before I could take another breath I felt a heavy weight land on my shoulders as I was pressed to the ground. "Got you papa." She laughed jumping from my shoulders and running after Ravenpaw. I shook myself of the dust and I couldn't help but laugh aloud, she had always been the best at sneak attacks.
***** Later that evening at the gathering clearing *******
"Cats of all clans! We are here to honor these apprentices and make them full warriors in the eyes of Starclan." Bramblestar addressed the crowd as the line of apprentices waited patiently to be called forward. I stood below the leaders on the tall root meant for the deputies. Sneakheart flicked his tail back in forth like he was swatting a fly but I have long since found out it was just a habit of his whenever he had to sit still, Reedwhisker looked straight ahead his whiskers twitched in irritation every time Sneakhearts tails swished by his shoulder. "Its funny isn't it? We were here just a short time ago as apprentices and now we are watching our kits become warriors." Morningdew spoke at my side, leaning in close to twine her tail with mine.
Squirrelflight had stepped down as deputy shortly after the borders were resolved and handed the position over to Morningdew, still a respected warrior she still had issues with her shoulder and spent most of her time in the sun to ease the tension in her muscles. "I couldn't be more proud of them." I whispered, giving her ear a locking nip. Rowanstar had just named his apprentices Brackenfoot, Frogpelt, and Goosefur. Mistystar praised her new warriors, Softwing, and Berryheart. I stepped in for Onestar who was had grown to weak to attend the gatherings as frequently. "May the cats of Starclan look down on these apprentices and approve my choice. I stepped over to Deerpaw and her brown eyes grew wide when I approached. Deerpaw, you have trained hard and your dedication will ensure you serve your clan with pride. From this day forward you will be known as Deertail. I then moved to our next apprentice Mosspaw, he puffed out his chest with pride. Mosspaw your hard work this winter was inspiring, from this day on I will call you Mossnose may you continue to serve your clan with the same passion.
Stepping back to my post I listened intently as Bramblestar approached their apprentices. Rainberry, and Bugnose were named but when he approached Silverpaw my breath caught in my throat. "Silverpaw, you are brave and passionate just like Scorchflame was before he let his anger get the better of him. With this warrior name I hope you will learn to forgive him and remember what he had once stood for, Silverpaw you will now be called Silverflame may you burn a bright path for Thunderclan." Silverflame nuzzled his leader fondly as Bramblestar moved to Ravenpaw.
"Ravenpaw, I have watched you grow and mature into a intelligent and bright young tom. Your assessment results were almost identical to Nightfangs I hear, so in honor of your speed I give you the name Ravenflight." Dipping his head, Ravenflight thanked his leader and looked to Wishpaw who now couldn't sit still when Bramblestar approached.
"Wishpaw, you have the same skills as your parents but have created an identity unique to yourself and can not be compared to any cat. I name you Wishsinger, may your courage and tenacity fill us all with confidence and hope in the darkest of times."
After he finished the clans erupted in cheers for the newest and first warriors to be named since the borders were dissolved. We joined our kits and before we could express our joy Mistystar let out a yowl, "Before we forget, this night is one to be celebrated that much is certain. So I would like to point out that there is a pile of freshkill that was contributed by all of the clans to express each ones continued commitment to our new ideals." She gestured to a leaf pile that was filled with fish, rabbits, mice, birds you name it, it was there. Every cats mouths watered as the feast of the naming began.
The kits chose to share their meal with their friends so Morningdew and I chose a quite spot by the edge of lake and watched the setting sun make golden stars appear on the water. " Oh Nightfang, I never believed I could be this happy." She sighed leaning into me as I separated the squirrel between us. "I agree love, the integration has gone smoother than any cat would have expected. Even Rowanstar seems ok with allowing more visitors into Shadowclan territory."
"Yes, did you hear that Blindstorm is expecting a litter of kits by Blizzardtoes? They will be the first half clan litter that will be born this coming winter." Her voice muffled by squirrel I licked a drop of blood from a whisker. "Besides ours." I said purring at her rounding belly, our second litter was less than a month away from being born and for once I wasn't filled with anxiety but pure joy as we discussed her giving birth in Windclans camp this time. "You will probably be clan leader by then." She said, and I nodded in agreement, "Yes, Onestar doesn't even leave his den much now. I suspect he may not make it to the end of the season. He was a better leader than I could ever be." She turned my head towards hers with her tail, "Don't be silly you furball, I couldn't think of a better leader." We heard a bout of laughter then and turned to see Lemonshade and Ravenflight sitting by a nearby tree.
"Well aren't they cozy." Morningdew purred.
My mind went back to the night when Ravenflight spent his first night in our camp, Lemonshade showed him around and they walked around the territory most of the day. My thoughts then went back to the morning I sat Lemonshade down for a talk since she had been a mindless husk ever since I rebuffed her affections. "Lemonshade, I know you are upset but just because I cant return your feelings doesn't mean you have to walk around acting like a rain cloud." I joked, trying to reach the old Lemonshade. "You don't understand Nightfang, I love you and seeing you with another she cat is more than I can bare." She whined, turning from me.
"Lemonshade, I know you think there is no other cat you can be with but I assure you that you are wrong. The borders are dissolved, there are so many other toms out there you can love." I tried convincing her but she remained a stone.
"I don't want you to give into despair Lemonshade, don't you see what it did to Scorchflame?" her eyes went wide at the memory of the fire and anger in his eyes. She shivered visibly, "No, I don't want that. I just cant forget how I feel." She whispered. I leaned in and put my tail around her, she pushed into my embrace. "I know Lemonshade, but even though I cant be your mate I can still be your friend and no matter what I will always be here when you need me."
After that she slowly returned to her old feisty, stubborn, and energetic self. Putting her heart into helping with the integration and was responsible for many of the testing and training ideas. She even worked with Morningdew during practice in Thunderclan and despite her jealousy she still looked up to Morningdew. When I started bringing Ravenflight around the camp more she seemed to forget about every other cat in the forest except for him. I still laughed when I saw them, young she cats and their crushes.
Ravenflight himself seemed just as enamored with her and for a while I had to keep them apart during training or they wouldn't listen to anyone. "Looks like we will have some grandkits soon." I chuckled, returning my focus to my mate. We sat in silence for a while and watched the sun set over the lake and when the noise of the feast died down I walked Morningdew to Thunderclans nursery and this time I didn't have to leave before any cat saw us together, in fact I curled up right next to her and slept next to her for the rest of the night.
***** 10 years later ******
Morningstar
I was awoken by the sweet spring songs of the birds and the sun peaking through my ivy covered den. Thunderclan was already wide awake and busy with their duties, going into a deep stretch I tried to shake my stiffness from my limbs. For moons now I felt like my legs were frozen in place when I woke up. Shaking myself of the drowsiness I poked my head out of entrance just in time to see the dawn patrol returning.
"Morningstar! Or should I call you Afternoonstar? My deputy and son Scorchwhisker joked coming to give me a nuzzle. "Why didn't you wake me up? Its way past sunhigh, I have slept almost the whole day! I could have helped with patrol?" he pulled away the humor faltering slightly,
"Mother you don't have to help with patrols, Silverflame and I can handle it. You should get your rest."
"Scorchwhisker, I may be old but I am still the leader of Thunderclan, you and your brother cant expect me to sleep all day."
"We don't, you can do anything you want mother. Do you want something to eat, I can bring you a mouse." He said, waving his tail dismissively, "No, I cant get it myself you furball, don't you have something important to do without me?" I scolded, batting him over the ear with a sheathed paw. Scorchwhisker has all of my humor and all of his father skill and that made him a slippery as an eel when it came to being in trouble. Even since he was a kit he was able to distract me from what I was mad at him about.
Moving to go hunt something myself I walked past the fresh kill pile, which was looking full already. Determined to prove I didn't need to be pushed into the elders den I strained to hear the prey moving all around me. Sounds muffled and smells faint I shook my had trying to clear the fog that lingered from sleep. "Mousedung." I cursed when after over an hour I was hadn't managed to track a single thing.
"Mother, are you alright?" a sweet voice said from above, in a low branch Wishsinger looked down on me, her orange eyes full of concern. "Yes, yes I'm fine. I'm just trying to find something to eat." I said, continuing my useless search, I felt her pelt brush mine and I inwardly screamed because I didn't even hear her climb down the tree. "How about we hunt together? We haven't hunted together in a while."
"I'd like that dear, Starclan hasn't been with me this morning." I said trying to play off the fact that I was loosing my senses. "I understand, I wasn't able to catch anything yesterday." She didn't know it but I knew she was lying, I saw her bring back a bird and a fish when I was sunning the ache out of my back.
She dashed off suddenly into the bushes and not soon after a frightened vole shot out and came right at me, I shot forward and grabbed it so tightly my claws tore straight through it. It was a sloppy kill, "Wow, mother. That vole was too fast for me." Wishsinger said prancing out of the bush. "Well I still have my speed at least." I huffed, irritated at the pulpy mess the vole had been turned into. "Well its ok, I hate vole. Want to try the lake?" Wishsinger suggested sympathetically. "That's nice of you dear but I think I will go back to camp and grab something from the fresh kill pile. I need to see Riverbreeze about a tick anyway." I turned abruptly and stomped off, my patience for the hunt gone and replaced by anger at my old age and the limitations it brought on my once impressive form. I don't even remember myself getting old, I just remember the days when I was able to run up a tree without stopping until I was at the top and now, well now I couldn't even smell a mouse for my dinner.
By the time I got back to camp the sun was starting to set and I was even crankier than I was before because now I hadn't eaten all day. Burnheart and Birdfur greeted me when I walked through the entrance and when I saw Nightstar waiting for me by my den I felt instantly better. "What are you doing here you old badger?" I snickered, rubbing my head in his chest. "Scorchwhisker said you were being a cranky elder again." He responded purring deeply and licking my head. "Here, I brought us some rabbit that Ravenflight caught, its your favorite." He gestured to the inside of my den.
The warm scent filled my nose and I felt like I would die if I didn't have a bite right now. Nightstar sat down stiffly as he let me eat my fill, out of the corner of my eye I saw that he was avoiding sitting on his haunches and he leaned most of his weight on the edges of the stone that made up my den. "Are your hips bothering you still?" I asked between bites.
"No more than usual, the cold this morning made my bones ache all over, even the extra lining of rabbit in my nest doesn't keep the cold out." He hissed as he repositioned himself in a more comfortable angle. "Hows Ravenflight? I don't see him much now that me moved to Windclan." I asked pushing the rest of the rabbit towards him. "Well, he and Lemonshade run the clan like a river over sleek stone. By the time I notice a problem its already been solved." He chuckled, his voice cracking with age.
"We must have raised them too well." I purred curling up next to him. We sat in silence for a while, listening as Thunderclan finished up the evening patrols and reports. Nightstar was so quite I thought he had fallen asleep and when I looked up at him his eyes were wide open and brightened with energy, energy I hadn't seen in moons. "Whats is it love?"
"Lets go for a walk, I bet the moon will be bright tonight." He uncurled himself and helped me to my paws. "Now that I have something to eat I am up for a run." I joked following him out. Silverflame and Scorchwhisker were laughing about the days apprentice training when they saw us approach. "Mother, Father what is it?" Silverflame asked, suddenly intent. "Don't get your tail in a twist son, we are just going for a walk." Nightstar chuckled, leading me to the entrance. "Let us come with you, you know in case a fox or something comes." Scorchflame said moving to follow but I fixed him with a stern look. "We will be fine you worrying porcupine." He didn't look happy but didn't argue as we pushed our way through the camp entrance and into the cool evening breeze.
Nightstar was right, the moon was bright in the sky even my fading vision could see it clearly. We walked side by side and kept close together giving each other warmth as we sloped along, Nightstars sharp hips and shoulders more visible when the moonlight filtered on him. As we enjoyed the songs of the crickets and birds I noticed something familiar about the trail we took, "Hey I remember this." I said pointing to a area that was overgrown with foliage, "That's where the log was that I pretended to have the kits in." Scorchflame had burned the log and over the years the forest reclaimed the area but I could picture that night clearer than any memory.
"Yeah, and here is where we met that first time on patrol remember?" Nightstar scratched at a faded line of grass and dirt that used to mean the crossing from Thunderclan into Windclan territory. We began talking about the memories from our early days of courting when we came to the slope that held our cave at the top. "Do you think you can climb up?" Nightstar challenged, old age may have taken my senses but I was still as stubborn as ever, "Of course." I said back walking up to the slope. With a sloppy jump I hung to the sides of the stone that had thankfully started growing moss and I was able to find some footing as I dragged myself to the top.
Breathless I sat there a moment as Nightstar followed, I could tell he was trying not to look so winded. "Show off" I gasped and he gave me one of his charming smiles that to this day still left me breathless. "Come on, our cave is over here." Following him I saw the familiar clumps of stone that formed the opening to our cave. Looking inside I could still see some of the things we had left here so many seasons ago, a few feathers, some dried lavender that had mostly turned to dust and a bit of moss here and there. I inhaled deeply and while I mostly smelled the musty damp I could swear I could still smell our scents still in it.
"Come look at the moon dear." I heard Nightstar call, laying neatly by the mouth of the cave. Sitting next to him I looked at the moon and for a moment I felt like a young warrior again, disobeying the warrior code and dreaming about the life I wished I could have with Nightstar. We didn't have to dream anymore, for many seasons we had worked together with River and Shadowclan to create harmony and peace that our ancestors had originally intended and now we could sit here where we first fell in love, gave birth to our kits, and spent many more nights together.
I turned to look at Nightstar, whos orange eyes reflected the moons glow and I was able to look past the gray fur around his muzzle and eyes and saw the young and handsome cat he was in his youth. "You still look as beautiful as the day I saw you." he breathed, I didn't answer as I was transfixed by his harvest gaze. Laying our heads down on the rocks we cuddled until I felt my eyes getting heavier and heavier, I felt the darkness creep up my limbs and I suddenly grew afraid, I had to hear his voice just once and then I knew I would be ok "Nightstar?" I whispered, "Yes Morningstar?" his voice was so faint I could barely hear it,
"I love you."
"I love you too."
Giving into the pull of sleep I took one more breath and I felt my soul leave my body in that final exhale.
Opening my eyes again I looked down and saw my body, stiff and old I couldn't barely recognize it. "Why didn't you tell me my face had turned into a gray forest?" I heard a clear deep voice say from behind me. Nightstar was next to me, looking at his body with the same awe I was. "Why didn't you tell me I looked like a brittle log?" I nudged his shoulder and he started laughing, my chest no longer tightened from the strain. Holding up a paw I could see that it wasn't cracked and twisted with age but clear and clean, I looked at Nightstar who had regained that beautiful black fur that made him look like the night sky, his amber orange eyes bright with energy and youth as we stared back at each other.
"You look….amazing!" he said, looking me over like he hadn't seen me in years. "Not so bad yourself." I teased wrapping my neck with his. Breaking the embrace I dashed out of the cave entrance and slid down the slope with a skill I had forgotten. "Think you can keep up with me you old badger?" I called up to him as he stared back in surprise. "Ha, you think I would let a cranky elder beat me?" he laughed and jumped of the ledge, landing a distance away. I took off after him, running side by side we ran across Windclan's wide and open moors, crisscrossing each other in a youthful dance as we relished in our freedom.
Crossing into Shadowclan territory we bounded up the thin pines never feeling a single bit of pain or strain as we flew through the branches like birds. Running next to Riverclan territory Nightstar jumped head first into the lake and swam lazily on the top, jumping in after him we swam deep into the lake, seeing fish bigger than anything Riverclan has ever caught we filtered through the water like otters laughing as we scared the groups of fish never once needing a breath of air.
On the bank of the lake I shook my fur out of habit but saw no water fall off my fur as we continued our race into Thunderclan territory, jumping over roots and limbs I turned our course to my favorite magnolia tree. "Last one to the top is a toothless badger!" I said pushing more strength into my limbs as I jumped from branch to branch, Nightstar hot on my tail. Seeing the moon at the opening in the top canopy I burst through, Nightstar coming up at the same time. "I won!"
"No way I won!" he laughed as we stared at the vast expense of territory that made up every clans home. "Wow, its beautiful." I sighed, "Not as beautiful as you." Nightstar nudged, leaning into his chest we sat in complete peace.
"Are you two going to cuddle all night?" a laughing, chiming voice said from a few tail lengths away. Feathertail was sitting there watching, her eyes bright with stars. "Feathertal! I haven't seen you in moons!" I gushed moving to greet her. Looking at us both she smiled, "Well are you ready to go home?"
I looked at Nightstar and then over our home again, I felt almost afraid to leave it. "We will still be able to watch over them." Nightstar said, clearly feeling the same reluctance. "Of course you will, but you both have done what you can in this life. Its time leave it in your kins capable paws." Feathertail said gesturing to a foggy slope that seemed to stretch all the way to the stars.
"Come, we are waiting for you" she said and bounded up the slope. I looked into Nightstars eyes again and together we walked up the slope and didn't once look back.