Swiftstar's body was beginning to breathe for the last time as the ginger-and-white tom coughed in his nest, reaching his paws out towards Scorchclaw. Scorchclaw sat at his father's side, while Sunleaf nuzzled his cheek and Russetstripe sat at the foot of his paws, still as a stone. Scorchclaw couldn't read the expression on his sister's face, but it was the last thing that mattered to him in that moment. He gazed at his father, trying to memorize his features – this would be the last time he would see him in the physical world.
"Scorchclaw," Swiftstar gasped out. "You… you will be… a great leader. One… that the Clans… have not known before."
"Father…" Scorchclaw whispered. "I could never be as great as you." I don't want you to die. How am I supposed to lead on my own? He had always looked to his father for inspiration, he had admired his leadership skills and the respect he commanded. Even though his father had made several mistakes, Scorchclaw knew he would never make the same ones. I can't lead on my own! "Tell me… how can I lead without you?"
"You… have learned all you can…" Swiftstar choked out. "It is your turn now." His amber gaze flashed towards Sunleaf, and he used the scraps of remaining strength he had to lick her cheek as she bowed down. "Sunleaf… I love you. Thank you… for giving me… my kits."
"Go to her," Sunleaf murmured, and Scorchclaw flinched as he realized she was talking about Petalspring.
"I… will always… love you, Sunleaf," Swiftstar gasped, clearly trying to argue with her veiled statement. "Never think… that I didn't."
Happiness shone in Sunleaf's eyes as she nuzzled Swiftstar, seeming to need the validation he gave her. "I love you too, Swiftstar."
Swiftstar's amber gaze darted to Russetstripe, who stared at her paws, not saying anything. Swiftstar coughed again before addressing her. "Russetstripe… you are my daughter. Make… me proud."
Russetstripe flinched. She nodded slowly but said nothing else to Swiftstar. Swiftstar turned his gaze away from her and towards the roof of his den. Swiftstar let out a sickening breath as he murmured, "I'm ready, now."
With those words, Swiftstar's head gently fell backwards, and his yellow eyes clouded over. His sides ceased to rise, and his eyes shut for the last time, as if he was sleeping peacefully. Scorchclaw's stomach started to churn as he stared at his father's dead body. He had seen this before. Many times. But each of those times, Swiftstar always woke up again. Scorchclaw focused his gaze on his father, but it didn't matter how long he stared at him – he didn't wake up. And he never would.
"Oh, Father," Scorchclaw murmured, touching his nose to Swiftstar's shoulder. Grief swamped over Scorchclaw and threatened to knock him off his paws with its severity. His heart raced in his chest and his throat started to close. His father was dead. He would never see him again. The father who had raised him from kithood, who had always supported him when he needed it, who had seen his potential as a warrior, encouraging him to grow stronger and then making him deputy. Then, he had taught him how to lead, to prepare the Clan for the next generation. Father, I'm going to miss you, so much.
Scorchclaw looked up to see Sunleaf's choking wail as she nuzzled her ginger head into Swiftstar's unmoving body. Scorchclaw walked over to his mother, touching his nose to her cheek. Sunleaf swallowed another sob, choking back the tears in her eyes. Russetstripe's face was still unreadable, and she gave Scorchclaw a slow nod. Scorchclaw dug his claws into the ground. It wasn't the right time to scold his sister. But it was over, anyway. Scorchclaw brushed against her and left his father's den, greeted by a sight of WindClan cats crowding around the Tall Branch.
Scorchclaw took a deep breath. His Clanmates watched him, and their burning eyes scorched his ginger-and-white fur. How could he face them? How could he deliver this news? I've got no choice. Saying it out loud made it more real. He swallowed, trying to gain the strength that he didn't have. He'd have to tell his Clanmates. "I have news for you all. Swiftstar is dead."
Yowls of grief rung through the WindClan cats. Waspberry's blue eyes clouded with sorrow, and Sandfall hung her head to the ground. Aspenstep clenched his teeth, and Lilystream glanced down at her paws. Thrushwing padded over to Scorchclaw, meeting him with hard blue eyes. Even the wind, which had whistled so violently in the past few days, had subsided, as if to mourn the dead WindClan leader. Grief welled in Scorchclaw's eyes and he blinked back tears.
"Swiftstar trusted you with WindClan," he said. "Make him proud."
"I will." Scorchclaw dipped his head in curt acknowledgement of Thrushwing's words. I'm going to be the leader of WindClan. The realization hit him like a rock. Oh, no! What if I'm not ready? What if—
"Scorchclaw." Wildheart walked over to Scorchclaw and touched her nose to his. "You're ready. You've learned so much from your father, and you're ready to lead. You need to have faith in yourself, because soon, you're going to have kits in the nursery that'll need your protection."
"Wait… what?" Scorchclaw stared at Wildheart, his amber eyes as round as two moons. "What did you just say…?"
"This may not be the best time," Wildheart purred, nuzzling Scorchclaw's cheek, her sweet scent comforting him and taming the anxiety he had felt, "but I'm expecting kits."
Scorchclaw froze in his tracks. "Kits…?" he echoed, meeting Wildheart's gaze that glittered with excitement.
"Your kits," Wildheart said, a smirk crossing her face. "You're going to be a father."
What? Suddenly the grief he had been feeling for Swiftstar died into a tiny pinprick in his heart, and Wildheart's news gave him the strength he needed to go on. Excitement kindled in Scorchclaw's stomach as he took in Wildheart's news. Kits! I'm going to be a father! Oh, gods, I'm going to be a father to my kits! And Wildheart's! Scorchclaw wreathed around Wildheart, his purr so loud that it shook the rocks on the floor.
"It'll be so natural," Wildheart murmured to him.
Kits… Scorchclaw thought. "Wildheart, that's amazing news!"
"I plan on continuing my warrior duties as long as I can," Wildheart meowed, and Scorchclaw glanced at her swollen haunches. I should've known earlier… was she expecting during the battle with Gorseflight? "When I'm ready, I'll join Sandfall in the nursery. You'll be an amazing father. I have faith in you."
Everything Scorchclaw said and did would have a lasting impression on his kits. Could he really make a good father? The slightest twinge of uneasiness climbed up his throat, but he immediately batted it away. Relax. Wildheart is going to be an amazing mother, and she has faith in me.
"You know, we're still here…" Heathercloud's voice made Scorchclaw turned around, but he couldn't feel any embarrassment. The joy at Wildheart's news gave him the strength he never knew he had. He had never felt as elated before. Scorchclaw couldn't kill the smile on his face as he swung his gaze across his Clanmates.
"Ah, right," Scorchclaw said. He cleared his throat. "Ahem. So… uh…" He had no idea what to say next. He had been so distracted by Wildheart's news – and her scent – and her pelt, and…
"By all the gods, Scorchclaw." The disappointed voice came from Violetheart as the gray medicine cat walked over to him. "You know what you have to do next, right?"
"I need to receive my nine lives at the Moonpool," Scorchclaw realized.
"So drag yourself away from Wildheart, and let's go." Violetheart's eyes flashed with impatience.
"Right." Scorchclaw turned to address his Clan once more. "Swiftstar is dead. Russetstripe and Sunleaf will bring his body out for burial. He was an amazing leader, a great father, and a proud warrior. I'm proud to have served as his deputy, and even prouder to serve as your leader." With those words shot over his shoulder, he followed Violetheart as the medicine cat started to lead him out of the clearing and towards the moor.
There was silence between the two cats as Violetheart led him through a twisting path he had never been on before. Scorchclaw had only really talked to Violetheart a couple of times, and that had been the rare times she addressed him while treating his wounds when he had been injured by Brambledusk and Adderstripe. But now, she's going to be my medicine cat, and she'll be my right hand, even moreso than my deputy, Scorchclaw thought. That's what Father said. I trust her. She's been serving WindClan since the days of Cloudstar.
Violetheart said nothing as her gray legs kicked up the grass in front of her. She was much stockier than a regular WindClan cat, and her gray fur had tinges of white to it. It made Scorchclaw realize just how old she was, and concern pricked at him when he realized that Violetheart didn't have an apprentice. If Violetheart died, who would succeed her? Will it be one of my kits?
The two cats ran towards open hillside, and the faint scents of ThunderClan trickled across the border as Scorchclaw realized they were coming across the stream that was the old ThunderClan border. The stream slid over its stony bed, the water dark and rippling. As the stream continued to travel through the moorland, it suddenly began to get louder, gurgling and bubbling. Surprise flashed through Scorchclaw as Violetheart led him towards a cleft in the hills. The land dipped down towards a massive hollow, speckled with moss-covered rocks, and just above the hollow, the stream had morphed into a waterfall. The water trickled softly into the small pool below, glittering with stars and moonlight as the moon slowly began to crawl into the sky. Scorchclaw let out a small gasp.
"It's stunning," Scorchclaw whispered.
"Try seeing it twice a moon," Violetheart remarked dryly. The medicine cat skillfully picked her way down the hollow, towards a deep channel in the rock where the stream poured down. Scorchclaw followed her much more carefully, but finally landed next to the medicine cat. Out of the corner of his eye, he could spot a multitude of dried pawsteps, illuminated by the soft glow of the moon. I wonder whose those are?
Scorchclaw put the pawsteps out of his mind and walked over to the pool, studying his reflection in its glimmering water. He looked so much like his father, he realized. The same stocky shoulders, the same amber eyes, the same ginger-and-white fur. Sunleaf and Russetstripe looked nothing like him. Was he meant to lead WindClan just the way Swiftstar did? Or could he take it in a different direction, without having to resort to violence all the time?
Violetheart's words knocked him out of his thoughts. "Drink from the water, Scorchclaw. Only then will you see our ancestors."
Scorchclaw gave the medicine a small nod and bent his head over, lapping up water from the Moonpool. The water was frigid as it bathed his tongue, and Scorchclaw quietly winced. But as he tucked his paws underneath his chest, he could feel sleep slowly starting to lull him in its tight grasp. I will see you, StarClan. His eyes heavy, he allowed them to close.
Just as Scorchclaw opened his eyes once more, he spotted himself in WindClan territory. The moor stretched out for miles and miles, never seeming to end, save for the peaks of the mountains in the far distance. The moonlight dappled the tips of the grass, and although it was leaf-fall, Scorchclaw was hotter than he had ever been before. He looked around and spotted Violetheart, sitting a few fox-lengths away from him, drawing her paw over her face.
Scorchclaw opened his mouth to say something to her, to ask her where they were, if they were lost, if they would see any cat, but he was interrupted by a commanding, albeit quiet voice. Scorchclaw turned around to see a tom with black splotches on his white pelt and a long tail, twitching from behind him. Scorchclaw gasped as the stars speckled his short pelt and shone in his amber eyes. A StarClan cat!
"Scorchclaw," the tom said, his amber eyes soft with affection. "We have been waiting for your arrival."
Scorchclaw kept his mouth shut, too in awe of the StarClan warrior to say anything to him.
"My name is Tallstar," the tom went on. "I led WindClan a very long time ago, back in the old forest. I led them on the journey to the lake, but I had a deputy with me at the time… the most unexpected deputy I could pick, because I needed him by my side." His whiskers twitched with amusement. "Maybe that'll happen to you, too."
"What are you talking about?" Scorchclaw asked, confused. I don't even have my nine lives yet.
Tallstar flicked his tail, and in seconds, several StarClan cats gathered around him. Scorchclaw peered his head to study the crowd, and in the group of cats he could make out Berrysplash, Smokebelly, Tinybird, Hawkfeather, Hollyfrost, Spottedwing, Oakcloud and… his father. Swiftstar looked stronger than he had in his life, stars littering his fur and his chest puffed out. But there were some cats in the crowd giving him venomous glares. Who was the cat with the gray-and-white fur who was staring at Swiftstar as if his eyes could strike him dead?
But there was one question Scorchclaw was begging for an answer to. Is Adderstripe here? He examined the crowd of cats but couldn't find any sign of Adderstripe's ginger-and-white striped pelt. What about Rabbitfur? Just like Adderstripe, Rabbitfur's gray-and-white pelt was nowhere to be seen.
"With this life, I give you patience," Tallstar meowed, bending his head over to touch Scorchclaw's nose. "Use it wisely. Think before you leap."
The electricity that pumped from Tallstar to Scorchclaw immediately made Scorchclaw stagger on his paws as it raged through his entire body. His heart pounded faster than a running cat in his chest, to the point where Scorchclaw thought it was about to explode. His head spun with a thousand thoughts, and then it slowly began to ebb away, one thought after another until he finally was able to regain his bearings. He nodded at Tallstar as the tom slipped back into the crowd.
Spottedwing padded over to Scorchclaw, waving her tail in a greeting. Scorchclaw watched the she-cat approach him, remembering how she had died in the battle with ThunderClan. He opened his mouth to apologize to her, but Spottedwing shut it with her tail and touched her nose to his. "With this life, I give you a mother's love. I loved my kits with a strength I could never have imagined until I gave birth to them. You must love your own kits – and your Clan – with the same strength."
If Scorchclaw thought that Tallstar's life was bad, it was nothing compared to the fire that Spottedwing sent blazing through Scorchclaw's body. His claws unsheathed instinctively, and even though he tried to sheathe them, they refused to budge. Strength flowed into his muscles and hardened his resolve. A mother would do anything for her kits. I must share the same sentiment when it comes to mine, as well.
As Scorchclaw recovered from the ferocity of Spottedwing's life, the spotted tabby headed back into the cats, and a dark gray tom that Scorchclaw didn't recognize took her spot. His face was narrow and elongated, and his entire body was slender with long limbs. His blue eyes were piercing, as if they could see inside of Scorchclaw and pry out his feelings. Scorchclaw tried to put a name to this cat, but nothing came to mind.
"My name is Crowstar," the smoky gray tom meowed. "I also hailed from the old forest, and I traveled to the sun-drown place with cats from other Clans. This is a warring period of the states, but there are times when you must cooperate with other Clans. I give you a life for unity. If one Clan falls, the rest will, as well." Crowstar touched his nose to Scorchclaw, and a magnitude of thoughts flashed through Scorchclaw's mind.
Scorchclaw gritted his teeth as the history of the Clans replayed in his mind. The founders of the Clans, fighting underneath a massive oak, the flame-colored pelt of Firestar defeating Tigerstar. The six travelers leading their Clans to the mountains, the Great Battle and the death of Firestar, the betrayal of the ThunderClan cats that led to the war. And then, some more recent memories – the battle with ThunderClan that killed Hollyfrost, Emberpaw's abduction and the fight following it, and the battle against the rogues. Crowstar stepped away, leaving Scorchclaw to heave as he tried to recover from the intensity of the life.
When Crowstar joined the StarClan cats, he motioned to the dark brown pelt of Oakcloud, and the former WindClan warrior padded through the moorland, walking over to Scorchclaw and leaning over him. Pride glittered in his eyes. "With this life, I give you compassion. You will come across cats who don't see life like the sacred gift it is. But you must."
Scorchclaw shut his eyes as Oakcloud's nose touched against his, and a warm light basked over him, bringing love and light into his heart. It was a much welcome change from the other lives that had sent him nearly off his feet. Life is beautiful, he thought to himself. Never take another cat's life unless yours is threatened.
Oakcloud turned on his heel and joined the group of cats with their starry fur and moonlit eyes. Following Oakcloud was Hawkfeather's mottled dark brown pelt. Scorchclaw watched Swiftstar's oldest friend, WindClan's strongest warrior, and Blackdove's father approach him. Hawkfeather bent his head over to touch Scorchclaw's nose.
"With this life, I give you strength," the old warrior meowed. "You will need it if you are to live in this turbulent life full of war."
Scorchclaw gritted his teeth as Hawkfeather's life sent a magnitude of strength through his body. Similar to Spottedwing's life, every muscle in his body tensed, and he felt as if he could lift mountains and fight lions. Just as he calmed down from the height of the life, Hawkfeather walked away and joined the StarClan cats. Scorchclaw's head pounded with pain as he felt the strength slowly start to leave his body, despite it being the life Hawkfeather just gave him. Can I even continue? he asked himself miserably. I'm so tired.
Berrysplash trotted over to Scorchclaw, her blue eyes glowing as she met Scorchclaw's gaze. A purr rumbled from her chest. "My apprentice."
"Berrysplash," Scorchclaw croaked out, glad to see her after so long.
"With this life, I give you perseverance," Berrysplash meowed. "There will be times when you think you can't go on. But you are strong, Scorchclaw. Find the perseverance inside you and use it to keep going." The former WindClan deputy bent over and her nose brushed against Scorchclaw's. Like a fierce buffet of wind, Scorchclaw felt the life of perseverance melt into his body, emboldening the courage and willpower that Berrysplash had taught him when he was just a young apprentice. The stars twinkled in Berrysplash's pelt when she gave him one last glance and walked away.
Hollyfrost walked through the crowd and approached Scorchclaw. Hollyfrost? Scorchclaw thought as the soft gray-and-white she-cat approached him. But we sent you off as a rogue. He wanted to ask her the question, why she was here, but it felt wrong to ask. She was here as a warrior, and that was what mattered. The last time he had seen Hollyfrost was when she had died in the middle of ThunderClan's camp, and Hailstep mourned her heavily.
The she-cat touched her nose to Scorchclaw. "With this life, I give you love," she said. "Wildheart is your mate now, and soon she will be the mother of your kits. Now that she is your mate, she is your other half, the cat you trust with your life. Don't let her down, Scorchclaw. She needs you. That is what love is for."
Scorchclaw shut his eyes, and for a moment, he thought that Hollyfrost's life would be as soft as Oakcloud's life had been. He was completely unprepared for the pain that ripped at his stomach and his chest, agony striking through his body and making his fur burn, as if he was being ripped alive. Is love supposed to hurt this much? he asked himself, shutting his eyes as he tried to bear the brunt of the pain. Or… is this what your love felt like, Hollyfrost?
His unspoken question was answered when Hollyfrost gazed at him with sorrow glittering in her blue eyes. The she-cat walked away, and Scorchclaw expected her tail to trail downwards, as a signal of her sorrow, but it twitched back-and-forth. I can't seem to figure out how she feels. Maybe I never will.
A new cat came from the crowd, a cat Scorchclaw had never seen before in his life. She had a light brown tabby pelt, and the scent of hydrangea drifted off her in waves. She's beautiful, he thought as she approached him much more closely.
"I am Heathertail of WindClan," the StarClan cat introduced herself. "I fell in love with one of the Power of Three, Lionblaze. We broke it off, and I thought that, deep in my heart, I could never forgive him. But… I realized that forgiveness is the best form of love in every relationship. It takes a strong cat to say they are sorry, and even a stronger cat to forgive." She touched her nose to Scorchclaw's. "With this life, I give you forgiveness."
Scorchclaw shut his eyes as the warm life of forgiveness danced its way into his body and lightened its hold on his heart. Always forgive, a voice whispered to him. In doing so, you let your demons free. The ginger-and-white deputy allowed the voice to repeat itself, and then it gradually died out as Heathertail left. Scorchclaw kneaded the ground in excitement as he watched his father walk towards him.
"My son," Swiftstar purred. "I always knew you'd make a good leader. Not once have I ever regretted picking you as my deputy. You will bring WindClan to greatness. I just know it." His father bent his head to touch his son's nose. "With this life, I give you pride. I heard you once… you said that I was a good Clan leader because I had pride, unlike Adderstripe and Rabbitfur. So, I am giving you my pride. WindClan is the most powerful Clan by the lake, don't you forget that. Continue to make it so that it flourishes, even in the coldest of leaf-bares."
Scorchclaw let out a nod as his father's life flooded his body. His father's pride caused Scorchclaw to puff out his chest, and confidence that melted away his worries and fears. I'm going to be a great leader, Scorchclaw thought. I won't let any cat weigh me down. I'll make my father proud.
"I hail you by your new name, Scorchstar," Swiftstar said when the life had fully made its way through Scorchclaw's body. "Your old life is no more. You now have the nine lives of a leader, and StarClan grants you the guardianship of WindClan. Defend it well; care for the young and old; honor your ancestors and the traditions of the warrior code; live each life with pride and dignity."
"Scorchstar! Scorchstar!" the StarClan cats cheered, his name ringing through the crowd so loudly that it made Scorchstar's ears pound. Scorchstar shut his eyes as the cats cheered his name. Pride swelled in his chest, just like the last life Swiftstar had given him. He had been so afraid that WindClan would fall without Swiftstar, but with the lives each cat had given him, and the support he provided, Scorchstar knew that he would make WindClan stronger than it ever had been. He would never let it down.
Yes, he thought. I am Scorchstar, the leader of WindClan.