Chapter 7

Moon 24 | Crow

It was surreal. Gingerpaw stared in shock and horror as the cat she had known all her life suddenly was found dead in the most isolated den of all. Her pelt prickled uncomfortably as Rainstripe and Sleetcrash pulled Hazelstar's body out of the leader's den. She held herself back, pale green eyes stretched wide with worry as Haillaurel sat closer to her on one side.

"She lived a long life." Her mother murmured mournfully, "She led us as well as any cat could have. She will be with the others among the Sea of Stars now."

"Do we all go there?" Gingerpaw suddenly asked, feeling like a kit again.

"I believe we go wherever we believe we will." The pale gray she-cat answered softly, "Hazelstar will be watching over us from now on."

[ Hazelstar lost her remaining lives to old age. ]

After the death of Hazelstar came the rising fears of Rainstripe and Sleetcreash. None knew where to go to achieve a new name for leadership. For most of the moon, they searched and searched. In the meantime, Rainstripe made Rustyfeather, Gingerpaw's Mom, the deputy. As the healer and new leader sought for a place to converse with the spirits on their turf, Rustyfeather kept the patrols moving and oversaw the training of the apprentices.

"They will be back." Weevildusk told her, "Just give them time. They have to travel deep into the shared forest territory to find a place where the Sea of Stars can speak to them."

"It's just so strange without Hazelstar." Gingerpaw confessed, "I was the last kit she turned into an apprentice."

"And Seedblur was the last warrior she made." Weevildusk reminded her. "There is nothing to worry about. We will get through these trying times. Your parents had before, so we can do it as well."

As much as Gingerkit wished she could believe in those words, she knew it was even harder to do so. Rainstripe just may never become a true leader like Hazelstar and they would be struggling for many long moons.

.

As the days seemed to blur together, Rainstripe and Sleetcrash returned their eyes aglow with triumph. After nearly a quarter-moon of searching they found a cavern near the beachside where the water glows when disturbed. A place they claimed to be where the Sea of Stars could contact them and even gave Rainstripe, now Rainstar, her nine lives.

[ Rainstripe, traveled to Star Cavern and received her nine lives; she is now Rainstar. ]

To celebrate her rise into leadership and their major discovery, she called the summons that Hazelstar had once called only a moon ago. This time it was from the jaws of a younger and stronger cat.

"I ask our ancestors of the Sea of Stars to look down upon this apprentice. Slopepaw, you have learned the ways of our code and hunting; do you promise to protect StormClan even at the cost of your life?" Rainstar asked, her gray eyes seeming to glow like twin moons.

"I do." The young cat answered, her long fur seeming to billow in the wind.

Rainstar nodded, "Then from this day forward you will be known as Slopecall. The Sea of Stars and StormClan honors your passion." She rested her head on the brown and white she-cat's head, earning a lick on her shoulder in return.

Despite the pain, despite how shaken the Clan had been for a long quarter-moon; cheers erupted for the first warrior made under Rainstar's reign. Their sorrow and grief clung to their pelts, yet the survival of the Clan in growing warriors pushed them to blaze like stars in their own passion.

Gingerpaw even cheered, screeching Slopecall's name with all her might.

If only, for a moment, it felt even the cold specks of light that hung in the sky were also glittering with pride and promise.

Moon 25 | Fish

Almost half the moon had passed when she spotted Cavepaw having finally healed from being bitten by a dog. The older apprentice had been all sorts of impatient and now had a permanent limp. Gingerpaw couldn't help but feel bad for Cavepaw. Left behind to watch his litter-mates become warriors while he was struggling to heal properly. Not to mention sharing a den with Hazelstar even after the old leader had passed on!

Yet, she could only offer support by offering to do anything Cavepaw wanted her to do, like fetch food or line their nest with seagull feathers. Despite how grumpy the older apprentice was, he at least seemed touched that she wanted to help and accepted it when he felt ready to.

Sadly, even Sleetcrash had noticed the older apprentice limping a bit more than usual and showed him some ways to help strengthen it. Whether Cavepaw approved of the help or not, Gingerpaw wasn't sure. Still, she felt a little better in being able to help him. She had felt helpless and awful to see the jealousy in those mismatched eyes.

Moon 26 | Flower

Pride flowed through the camp once more as Rainstar stood tall on the Slanted-deck. Gingerpaw could only imagine how it must feel to be all the way up there, standing so tall and proud. They had been summoned for another meeting, this time Cavepaw was in the center of the clearing with Miyun, his mentor.

"I ask for our ancestors within the Sea of Stars to look down upon this apprentice." Rainstar began, her voice carrying powerfully. "He has worked hard to not only learn the code and our ways, but to heal from protecting our Clan from the vile dogs. Cavepaw, do you promise to continue protecting this Clan from danger even at the cost of your life?"

"It is my sworn duty." Cavepaw answered honorably.

The dark gray tabby she-cat nodded, pride glittering in her eyes. "Well said, my son. From now on you shall be known as Caveswoop. The Sea of Stars and StormClan welcome you as a warrior in honor of your strength. You are proof that strength isn't just from the outside, but also from the inside."

Gingerpaw blinked in awe, seeing how Rainstar leapt down deftly and stepped forward to Caveswoop. With such care and warmth, their leader placed her head on Caveswoop's head while earning a lick on the shoulder in return. It was a special moment for the Clan. Yet, it was only a small glimpse into their future. Their Clan was relatively small and the stories Gingerpaw had heard sounded unbelievable.

How could any cat survive a crash onto the shore? Yet, here they were thriving many moons after the fact and still going strong despite the recent loss of their first leader. In time, Gingerpaw was certain they would get past this and each leader would carve their own history into the minds of the cats to come. Hazelstar would never be forgotten, always remembered as the cat who was brought back to life and kept the cats around her in check.

.

It was half-way to the following moon when Sleetcrash made the announcement that Lowpaw's tail was healed. Rainstar summoned Rustyfeather and had the two stand before her in the middle of the clearing. Gingerpaw was lucky to have been nearby with Weevildusk after having done some training together.

"All cats old enough to fish and swim, gather around for a Clan Meeting!" Rainstar yowled.

Murmurs arose as the cats gathered, seeming to not know what was about to happen. However, Gingerpaw could make a guess on what was going on. She believed that Rainstar was making it official!

"Lowpaw, Hazelstar had offered you a place to stay and time to think about whether you wished to stay with us or not once fully healed." Rainstar started. "Have you made your choice?"

"I have." She meowed softly. "I wish to stay. She was like a mother I never had before, so I want to honor her by staying here."

"Well said." Rainstar purred warmly. "Hazelstar and I had thought long and hard since your joining. If you don't mind, we will do an apprenticeship ceremony. You are not quite of age to be a full warrior, so we wish to show you the ways of our Clan."

"Very well." Lowpaw meowed, "Carry on."

With a nod, Rainstar turned her gaze to the evening sky. "I, Rainstar, call upon my ancestors within the Sea of Stars to look down upon this loner. She has healed well among us and we wish for you to welcome her as one of us in turn." She lowered her gaze upon the golden tabby she-cat. "Lowpaw, your life as a loner is no more. From now on you will be an apprentice and work hard to learn our ways. Your mentor will be Rustyfeather. I hope her age will not fool you, she is still as playful as any kit."

Rustyfeather stepped forward, gently touching her nose to Lowpaw's. "I will teach you as much as I can. I hope you will be good friends with my daughter, Gingerpaw."

"I'll try." Lowpaw softly mewed, "I've never been around so many cats before, but I will try my hardest."

"I believe you." Rustyfeather vowed warmly, her pale blue eyes flicking towards Gingerpaw, making her pelt prickle in embarrassment.

Her parents were worried about her not having any siblings or friends her age. Lowpaw was still a moon or so older than her, but she was the closest to a friend she would ever have. Yet, unlike the golden tabby, Gingerpaw had her parents both alive and around still. It was only a wonder how much longer given how time had aged Rustyfeather after all these moons.

I'll make sure to spend as much time with Rustyfeather, if only to make sure I have plenty of memories with her. She promised herself.

Moon 27 | Meadow

The heat burned through Gingerpaw, she was curled in the medicine den, Sleetcrash carefully dabbing her pelt with cool wet moss. She had been training and following Weevildusk's lead until the blazing heat of greenleaf got to her. She didn't recall collapsing, she just remembered everything had gone dark and hot. However, here she was, curled up in the den waking up just enough to feel the cooling relief dampening her chest fur.

"Just rest." Sleetcrash murmured, "It's all you can do for now."

Gingerpaw couldn't fight it as her eyes slipped closed and she fell deep into the world of dreams.

.

Clan life slowly passed by as the heat of greenleaf raged, wilting the inland forest and making the sand scorching hot. For the first time since coming to this beach, it had grown nearly inhospitable. As though it was an omen of something even worse to come. Whatever it was, Rainstar's leadership could only be shaped by how she handled it.

And by the honor of being the first deputy of the first leader, Rainstar was going to see StormClan through it all.

Allegiances (as of Moon 27)

Leader: Rainstar - long-furred dark gray tabby she-cat with gray eyes

Deputy: Rustyfeather - dark ginger tabby she-cat with pale blue eyes
APPRENTICE: LOWPAW

Healer: Sleetcrash - long-furred pale gray and white tabby she-cat with pale green eyes

Warriors:

Haillaurel - pale cream ticked tabby she-cat with hazel eyes

Miyun - long-furred unusually spotted pale silver she-cat with warm gray eyes

Weevildusk - long-furred gray and white tabby tom with pale yellow eyes
APPRENTICE: GINGERPAW

Peakstreak - long-furred speckled black and white she-cat with heather blue eyes

Seedblur - long-furred gray ticked and white tom with slate gray eyes

Slopecall - long-furred brown ticked and white she-cat with bright gray eyes

Caveswoop - long-furred white and black tabby tom with heterochromia eyes (one cobalt, the other emerald)

Apprentices:

Lowpaw - long-furred golden tabby she-cat with bronze-colored eyes

Gingerpaw - dark ginger tabby she-cat with pale green eyes

Elders:

Darkwhisper - long-furred dark gray and white tabby tom with yellow eyes

Resident of the Sea of Stars

Hazelstar - long-furred light brown elderly she-cat with bronze-colored eyes

Author's Note:

It took two years, but Hazelstar finally died. With her passing, we give rise to Rainstar and a new perspective in Gingerpaw. I had decided to choose the youngest cat to follow, whether they become the next leader of not is up to the rng!

I got a new keyboard, so I should be able to write more. ;v; My bad for taking so long to update things, I just been losing track of what day it is a lot, so I will work on that better.

Thank you for reading, have a fantastic morning, day, evening, or night~! - NightSky