Super Edition: Briarsong's Renascence

Chapter 24

Berrypaw returned to her nightly trainings and as the snow warmed and turned into mud, the Medicine Cat apprentices proved every day their dedication and knowledge. Briarsong found herself getting antsy around camp and couldn't seem to feel at peace. The days went on as usual, kits were born, patrols went out, but she was stuck in a weird place where she wasn't a part of the clan, but wasn't an outsider. She longed to feel the safety and security of the Hay Barn and to lounge around in the sun without a care in the world. Sully came by every evening to drop off a mouse and say goodbye before she started training the apprentices, and these fleeting moments only made her long for more.

Fernwhisper was actively avoiding Briarsong but never hesitated to glare or made a snide remark if she was within ear shot. Lizzardkit was practically abandoned by his mother and Eveningmist took up the role as step-mother to the little grey and white tom, just as she had done for Cinderstar's kits. It was on the first day where there was no more snow on the ground that Briarsong approached Ivybranch and announced,

"The apprentices are ready."

"I think you are right." Ivybranch nodded in agreement. "We shall take them to the Seeing Stream for them to receive their Medicine Cat Names."

"Its strange to think its coming to an end." 

"Yes. Especially when we have spent so much time with them and yet they will not be cats we see day to day. I will enjoy seeing them at Gatherings and at the Seeing Stream in the future. They are all three absolutely wonderful."

"I think it will be really good for the forest to have united Medicine Cats." Briarsong said thoughtfully. "It's what the clans need."

"What about you?" Ivybranch flicked her tail and bopped Briarsong over her ear. "Are you and Sully going home?"

"Yes." Briarsong felt a wave of relief saying it out loud for the first time. "My job here is done and I am not ready to sit in the Elders Den until I die."

"I'll miss you." Ivybranch whispered. "You're more than a mentor, your my best friend."

"I'll miss you too." Briarsong licked her head and purred. "I won't ever forget you. One day we will see each other again in Starclan."

"It will be nice to be reunited with Flowertail, my siblings and you."

"Not anytime soon I hope?" Briarsong laughed.

"Not anytime soon." Ivybranch echoed with a laugh.

Briarsong pulled Sully aside with a flick of her tail and the long haired tom joined her, Ivybranch and Dawnstar in the leaders den.

"I want to start by saying thank you for your loyalty and friendship Sully." Dawnstar said to the tom. "You came into Moonclan and threw yourself into our ways. You hunted next to our best hunter, you patrolled a territory you knew nothing about, and you fed a clan of cats you had no obligation to feed. Briarsong is so lucky to have met such an amazing tom like you."

"Er...uh...thank you." Sully's voice caught in this throat and he looked over at Briarsong who smiled proudly back at him.

"Please know you are always welcome in Moonclan, should you choose to return. As a symbolic gesture of our appreciation and in hopes that when you pass on you can join us in Starclan, I would like to bestow on you a Warriors name." Sully let out a audible gasp and Briarsong's eyes opened wide. She looked over at Sully who held his head high, his tail wrapped firmly around his paws, and his chin forward. "I, Dawnstar of Moonclan, call upon my Warrior Ancestors to look down upon this cat as a friend of Moonclan. He has proven his loyalty and respect for our ways over six moons and it is my hope that by giving him a Warriors name he will be welcomed into Starclan as one of us. Sully, from this moment forward, I give you the name Kestrelmoon. Kestrel for your beautiful pelt and skill at hunting, and moon so that you remember the clan who loves you." she bent down and touched noses with the tom. "Briarsong," Dawnstar turned to her and Briarsong tried to hide her tears of pride for Sully. "I have already apologized for exiling you but if I hadn't, you wouldn't have met such an amazing tom. I know you love him but your loyalty to your clan never wavered for a second. I am so glad you came home and that I got to see you again. I miss you already but know I will see you again in Starclan."