Firestar's Quest (39 page)

Redstar remained in front of Firestar as the other leaders turned away. “Your Clanmates are safe and waiting for you,”
he meowed. “Your work here is over. You can go home now.”

The four Clan leaders stepped back to the edge of the circle to stand close to Skywatcher, Spottedleaf, and Leafdapple's mother. The SkyClan ancestor joined them, and all eight starry cats seemed to grow tense and prick their ears, as if they were waiting. No other cat appeared through the mist.

Firestar's belly clenched. Where was the ninth cat to give Leafdapple her last life?

A breeze had risen, tearing the mists into ragged strands. The cats shone out more clearly, with glimmering eyes and pelts dusted with starshine. Beyond them Firestar caught glimpses of a vast expanse of moorland stretching into darkness. Above his head the moon shone fitfully, and stars glittered here and there before the mist drifted over them again. Every hair on his pelt rose.

Beside him, Echosong murmured, “Oh, come—come quickly!”

Then Firestar saw the cats parting to leave a straight path leading far over the moor. At the end of it he could see a single point of light; at first he thought it was a star low on the horizon. It steadily drew closer, and now Firestar could see that it was a cat, racing along with its belly fur brushing the rough moorland grass. Stars streamed from its fur and sparkled at its paws, and its eyes were a blaze of starlight.

The SkyClan ancestor took a single pace forward, his eyes fixed on the approaching cat with a hunger that spoke of moons of starvation.

The shining cat reached the circle, and Firestar saw her clearly for the first time: a beautiful long-furred brown tabby with green eyes fixed intently on the SkyClan ancestor. She padded up to him and lightly touched her nose to his.

“Birdflight!” whispered the SkyClan leader.

“Cloudstar,” she purred, twining her tail with his. “I told you I would find you one day.”

“And I told you I would wait,” Cloudstar replied. He closed his eyes. “I can't believe you're here!”

“I will always be here,” Birdflight murmured. “We will walk the skies together forever.”

For a heartbeat that seemed to stretch into seasons the two cats stood close together, drinking in each other's scent. Then Birdflight drew back a pace and beckoned with her tail to two other cats who had approached unseen. They padded into the circle and dipped their heads to Cloudstar.

“These are your children,” Birdflight explained. “Though they were too small to make the journey with SkyClan, and grew up in ThunderClan instead, Spottedpelt and Gorseclaw have chosen to walk these skies with me in honor of their SkyClan ancestors.”

Firestar stared in astonishment. Spottedpelt was a slender tortoiseshell, as like Spottedleaf as if the two cats had been littermates. Gorseclaw was a broad-shouldered tabby tom with glowing amber eyes; Firestar's belly churned at his likeness to his old enemy, Tigerstar. Birdflight had said that the two cats had grown up in Firestar's own Clan. Did that mean that SkyClan's blood ran in ThunderClan? Were Spottedleaf
and Tigerstar both descended from Cloudstar?

He caught Spottedleaf's eye and saw her gazing delightedly at the cats in the center of the circle. It must be true! No wonder he had been reminded of the SkyClan leader when she appeared. No wonder she had felt so involved in the destiny of the new Clan.

Cloudstar took a single pace toward his children, his legs stiff with shock. “When I left the forest,” he mewed hoarsely, “I vowed my Clan would never look to the stars again. Some of my warriors still followed the old ways, but as time went on and SkyClan was scattered, StarClan was forgotten, and our warrior ancestors were unable to walk these skies. Until now.” His brilliant gaze traveled from Birdflight and his children until it rested on Firestar and Leafdapple. “Until now.”

Birdflight paced across the circle to where Leafdapple still waited, her eyes filled with wonder, and touched noses with her.

“With this life I give you faithfulness,” she mewed. “Use it well to hold fast to Clan and kin.”

As the ninth life surged into Leafdapple, one more cat appeared from the starry ranks, a small tabby with a white front and paws. She padded across the circle until she stood face-to-face with Echosong.

“My name is Fawnstep,” she announced. “I was SkyClan's medicine cat when they fled from the forest. You have my cave in the gorge, and you find herbs in the same places that I once did. Your warrior ancestors have chosen you to be SkyClan's medicine cat from this moment on.”

“Thank you,” Echosong whispered. “I—”

Fawnstep silenced her by laying the tip of her tail gently over Echosong's mouth. “Peace, dear friend. From now on I will walk in your dreams and watch over you until you have learned how to be a true medicine cat.” Her eyes sparkled. “We shall travel far together, you and I.”

Echosong raised her head and looked deep into her fellow medicine cat's eyes. “I'll be ready for our next meeting,” she promised.

Leafdapple stood in the middle of the circle, a little unsteady on her legs, and looked around. “What happens now?” she asked Firestar in a hoarse whisper.

Firestar had no need to answer. While the new Clan leader was speaking, the last shreds of mist dissolved, revealing a sky where a full moon floated serenely. Stars blazed out as SkyClan's warrior ancestors returned to watch over their descendants who had been lost for so long.

His pelt prickled with recognition as he spotted a strong gray warrior among them, with stars in his fur and the shimmer of starlight in his eyes. Rainfur's gaze met his and he dipped his head.

His belly churning with grief and guilt, Firestar padded over to him. “I'm sorry, Rainfur,” he murmured. “If you hadn't joined SkyClan, you would still be alive.”

“It was my decision.” Rainfur gazed at him with clear eyes. “Now I'll always be part of a Clan, and have a place among the stars. The warrior code is worth dying for.” He hesitated briefly and then added, “How are Petalnose and the kits?”

“They grieve for you,” Firestar replied. “But they'll always
have the support of their Clan.”

“I know. I trust SkyClan to look after them.” Rainfur dipped his head again, and Firestar felt as though he had been forgiven.

The ranks of cats rose to their paws and sprang up into the sky, setting each star to shine more brightly. Their voices mounted high and tingling to the glittering swathe of Silverpelt. “Leafstar! Leafstar!”

“Leafstar!” Firestar and Echosong joined in to welcome the new leader of SkyClan. “Leafstar!”

The light around him grew so dazzling that Firestar had to squeeze his eyes shut. The voices died away, and when he opened his eyes he was crouching on the surface of the Skyrock, with Leafstar and Echosong beside him. The half-moon still shone in a frosty sky.

Leafstar rose to her paws, staggered to find her balance, and let out a long breath. “Thank you, Firestar,” she meowed. “I never imagined…” She blinked rapidly, while Echosong brushed her pelt against her flank and pressed her muzzle into the new leader's shoulder.

“You know you mustn't speak of this to any cat?” Firestar warned her.

Leafstar stared at him. “How could I? There are no words….” Shaking her head, she went on. “I understand now. And I promise that I'll be a strong and loyal leader to my Clan, until it's my turn to walk among the stars with my ancestors.”

She paused for a moment, then gave her pelt a shake. “Let's go down. My Clan will be waiting for me.”

“Let all cats old enough to
catch their own prey join here beneath the Rockpile for a Clan meeting!”

Leafstar's voice rang out over the camp as she summoned her Clanmates for the first time. Her body was outlined against a pale blue sky; the day after her leadership ceremony had dawned clear and cold, but now the sun was taking the chill off the rocks and sparkling on the surface of the river. Leafstar waited patiently as her Clan gathered around the foot of the Rockpile.

Firestar had discussed this meeting with her, making sure that she knew what she had to do, but she hadn't told him all the decisions she would make. Whatever they were, he hoped she would have the support of her Clan.

By now they all knew that Leafstar was their new leader; Firestar could see excitement in their pricked ears and shining eyes. Clovertail's kits were bouncing all over the place, getting under every cat's paws, until Bouncekit slipped on a damp stone; Sharpclaw grabbed him by the scruff just in time to save him from a dunking in the river.

“Now stay with your mother,” the ginger tom mewed
sternly. “Is that any way for an apprentice to behave?”

Instantly all three kits lined up at Clovertail's side, sitting up straight while their mother gave them a quick grooming. Petalnose and her two kits came to join them; Sagekit and Mintkit eyed the older litter enviously.

“We want to be apprentices,” Mintkit mewed to his mother.

“Yes, why can't we?” Sagekit asked.

“You're not old enough,” Rockkit retorted in such lofty tones that Firestar exchanged a glance with Sandstorm, sitting beside him, and saw amusement glimmering in her green eyes. “You'll have to wait for
moons
before that happens.”

Cherrypaw and Sparrowpaw emerged from their den and padded down the trail to sit together near the fresh-kill pile. Patchfoot joined them, and last of all Echosong appeared from the Whispering Cave, leaped lightly across the Rockpile behind Leafstar, and came to sit with Firestar.

“Cats of SkyClan,” Leafstar began when every cat was settled and gazing expectantly up at her, “my first duty as leader is to appoint a deputy.” She took a deep breath. “I speak these words before the spirits of my ancestors, that they may hear and approve my choice. Sharpclaw will be the new deputy of SkyClan.”

Firestar saw a look of pride spread over the ginger tom's face, along with a touch of uncertainty that was quite unlike him. The warrior rose to his paws, dipping his head to Leafstar. “Thank you,” he meowed. “I shall be honored to serve you and our Clan.”

Firestar flashed another glance at Sandstorm, feeling very
relieved. Sharpclaw had pushed hard for the post of leader when he hadn't completely understood the full meaning of the warrior code. He could have made Leafstar's life difficult if he had refused to accept her authority. But his fiery courage and fighting skills would balance well with Leafstar's more thoughtful personality. And one day, when he had lived enough moons by the warrior code, he would make a good leader.

“Echosong.” Leafstar beckoned with her tail, and the tabby she-cat rose from her place beside Firestar and padded forward to stand at the foot of the Rockpile. “Our warrior ancestors have chosen you to be our medicine cat. Now I give the care of SkyClan into your keeping. We trust you to use your skills for healing and to interpret the signs that the spirits of our ancestors will send us.”

A secret look passed between the two she-cats. Firestar guessed they were remembering their extraordinary experiences of the night before.

Echosong bowed her head. “I promise I'll do my best, Leafstar.”

“Echosong! Echosong!” The Clan welcomed her by yowling her name; the young medicine cat ducked her head in embarrassment and went back to sit by Firestar.

“My next task is one of the most important that a leader can perform,” Leafstar went on. “The making of new warriors.” She beckoned Cherrypaw and Sparrowpaw with her tail; the two young cats rose and came to stand side by side at the bottom of the Rockpile, their eyes shining. “Sharpclaw,” Leafstar asked, “has your apprentice Cherrypaw learned the
skills of a warrior? And does she understand what the warrior code means to every cat?”

“She has and she does,” Sharpclaw replied solemnly. “She fought like a seasoned warrior against the rats.”

“And I can say the same for my apprentice, Sparrowpaw,” Leafstar meowed. She leaped down from the Rockpile and stood in front of the two young cats. “I, Leafstar, leader of SkyClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these two apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn.”

A shiver ran through Firestar as he heard the familiar words. Not until today could a SkyClan cat have spoken them with certainty, for no cat knew what had happened to their warrior ancestors. But now he knew—and more important, Leafstar knew—that they walked the skies where they belonged, and would do so for all the seasons to come.

Leafstar went on. “Cherrypaw, Sparrowpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your lives?”

Cherrypaw's fur bristled and she flexed her claws as she replied, “I do.”

Sparrowpaw looked calmer, but no cat could doubt the sincerity in his voice as he also promised, “I do.”

“Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior names. Cherrypaw, from this moment you will be known as Cherrytail. StarClan honors your bravery and your enthusiasm, and we welcome you as a full member of SkyClan.”
Leafstar rested her muzzle on the top of Cherrytail's head; Cherrytail licked her shoulder and moved away to join the other warriors.

Leafstar turned to Sparrowpaw and repeated the same time-honored words. “Sparrowpaw, from this moment you will be known as Sparrowpelt. StarClan honors your courage and your strength, and we welcome you as a full member of SkyClan.”

She rested her muzzle on his head, and he too bent respectfully to lick her shoulder.

“Cherrytail! Sparrowpelt! Cherrytail! Sparrowpelt!” the rest of the Clan called to welcome the two new warriors. Cherrytail gave a massive, jubilant leap into the air.

Next, Leafstar beckoned with her tail to Clovertail's three kits. Trying not to wriggle with excitement, they padded up to their Clan leader. Clovertail watched them, looking ready to burst with pride.

“Patchfoot, you have shown courage and endurance,” Leafstar meowed. “You will be mentor to Bouncepaw.”

Bouncepaw let out a squeal, broke off almost at once, and pattered over to Patchfoot to touch noses with him. Patchfoot looked down at him, eyes glowing with pride at having been chosen as a mentor.

“Cherrytail, you are a new warrior,” Leafstar continued, “but the whole of SkyClan has seen your dedication. You will mentor Rockpaw.”

The black apprentice bounced up and went to touch noses with his new mentor; Cherrytail looked thrilled.

Leafstar looked down at the last of the three kits, who was hardly able to keep still. “Sparrowpelt, you are young too,” Leafstar mewed at last. “But you have excellent fighting and hunting skills. I trust you will pass them on to Tinypaw.”

The white apprentice sprang up and, obviously trying to be more dignified than her brothers, padded up to Sparrowpelt and stretched up to touch noses with him.

“For now,” Leafstar told them, “all warriors will work together to train the new apprentices. We are a new Clan, and we must learn to depend on one another. I have one more thing to do,” she added. “Before Firestar and Sandstorm came to the gorge, we lived separate lives. We were rogues and kittypets. We knew nothing of the life of a Clan, or of the warrior code. Now we belong together and we support one another. Firestar, Sandstorm, we thank you for all you have done for us. Your names will be honored forever by the cats of SkyClan.”

“Firestar! Sandstorm!”

Firestar felt himself swelling with pride. He remembered his worries about leaving his Clan, and the dangers of the journey upriver. Every pang of anxiety, every weary pawstep were worth it now that he saw the strong bodies and shining eyes of the new Clan members.

He felt Sandstorm's muzzle brushing his ear as his mate murmured, “It's time for us to leave. We've rebuilt SkyClan, just as we promised. Our own future is waiting for us in the forest.”

Firestar knew she was right, but a pang clawed him at the
thought of leaving these cats who had become his friends. They were unlikely to meet again until they walked with StarClan—and even then, would they share the same skies?

He rose to his paws to meet Leafstar as she padded over to him. “Was that all right, Firestar?” she asked anxiously. “I was afraid I wouldn't remember the proper words.”

“It was perfect,” Firestar told her. “SkyClan is yours now. You don't need us anymore.”

A shadow of sadness crossed Leafstar's face, but she didn't try to persuade him to stay. “Your own Clan needs you,” she meowed. “But SkyClan will never forget you.”

As the rest of SkyClan realized that Firestar and Sandstorm were about to leave, they gathered around, wishing them good-bye and good luck.

“Remember the first time we met?” Cherrytail meowed. “You told us off for making fun of Skywatcher. I thought I'd never seen such a dangerous cat!” Her eyes gleamed with mischief. “Now I'm dangerous, too!”

Sandstorm gave her an affectionate nudge. “I wouldn't be a rat around here for anything.”

“Yes, you'll have to keep an eye open for the rats,” Firestar reminded Leafstar. “And the kittypets in Twolegplace—Oscar might take it into his head to cause trouble. And—”

Sandstorm interrupted him by prodding him with one paw. “Leafstar
knows
all that,” she meowed. “They'll be fine. Let's go.”

Calling out more good-byes, Firestar and Sandstorm began to climb up the stony trails to the cliff top. Echosong
walked with them as far as her own den. When she reached it, she touched noses with Firestar, her eyes filled with regret. “Maybe we will meet again in the paths of dreaming,” she mewed. “But my heart tells me that this is farewell. Thank you, Firestar. You have helped me find my destiny.”

Firestar bowed his head. “SkyClan is lucky to have you as their medicine cat, Echosong.”

It was hard to look back and see the small tabby figure standing outside her den, watching them leave. Was Echosong
really
ready to take on the role of a medicine cat? Would Sharpclaw understand how a deputy had to support his Clan leader? Would the inexperienced mentors be able to cope with their apprentices?

Then as they paused at the edge of the cliff, Firestar caught sight of a SkyClan patrol among the undergrowth far below. Leafstar was in the lead, with Patchfoot and his apprentice, Bouncepaw, and Clovertail bringing up the rear. As Firestar watched, Clovertail pounced, and stood up with some tiny creature hanging from her jaws.

“See?” Sandstorm purred as she licked Firestar's ear. “There's nothing to worry about. Let's go home.”

Firestar let out a long sigh. His quest was over; he had walked with SkyClan to their journey's end—and a new beginning—and now he could go where his heart truly belonged. He pressed his muzzle against Sandstorm's shoulder, and they began to head toward the forest.