Warriors: Beetlestar's Path

Chapter Five

     Come on, come on! You'll be okay! You have to be okay! 

     Beetlewing stood frozen in the center of the den, taking quick, shallow breaths as he loomed over Brookstar. Her small body seemed so frail, like it would crumble to dust if he touched her. Her chest fell one last time before she went still. Beetlewing's eyes snapped to Dustfoot, who sat in utter silence beside the leader's nest. 

     "I brought that wet moss you wanted!" Called a voice, and Littlestep began to poke her head in.  

     "Just leave it outside!" Dustfoot called, voice wavering a bit. "You can go now." 

     Beetlewing clamped his jaws shut, turmoil bubbling inside of him as the black-furred warrior left. How could Dustfoot be so calm? She sounded upset though. She's not as calm as she seems. The medicine cat brushed past him and returned to Brookstar with the wet moss ball.  

     "She'll come back in a few minutes. She's probably communing with StarClan right now." Dustfoot patted the nest with one paw to fluff up the moss and feathers. "I'll stay with her as often as I can. But there isn't much I can do." 

     How long does it take? What's StarClan telling her? 

     "How many lives does she have left?" Beetlewing questioned, locking his gaze on Dustfoot. His sister glanced away and shifted her paws.  

     "It's not your business to know," she mewed, "but... she should have five left. This is the fourth one she's lost." 

     Redstar died with three lives left. Brookstar doesn't have as many. But she still has two more than he did, so maybe there's a chance, even if she only has one when it's over with. 

     "You should go do that ceremony, like you said you would." 

     Beetlewing started to object. "I want to be here when-" 

     "You can come visit once Heronpaw and Fawnpaw have their names, okay? It'll be alright. You don't have to hang over her." Dustfoot purred, but it crackled in her throat, a false show of hope and proof that she hardly believed her own words. There was no way of reassuring either of them. 

     Unwilling to argue, Beetlewing padded outside of the den and towards the Flat Rock. He lingered beside it, hesitant to jump onto it. The Flat Rock is only for leaders. But I'm the acting leader, aren't I? And I have to go through with this. 

     He leaped onto it and stood at the ledge. Taking a deep breath, he called out. "All cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather before the Flat Rock for a Clan meeting!" 

     His Clanmates began to gather. Many bore expressions of worry and concern. They think Brookstar's gone, don't they? Beetlewing lifted his tail and bent the tip to show that things were okay. He even let out a fake purr. And the tension melted away. He could see Heronpaw and Fawnpaw watching with wide, hopeful eyes, and memories of his own warrior ceremony flooded over him. I was so excited then. 

     He caught a glimpse of the elders as they gathered in the back. Clamshell scowled, as did Flutternose. Some other warriors, like Shatteredstone and Reedtail, also curled their lips and flattened their ears. I'm just the deputy to them. They're not going to accept this ceremony. Will Heronpaw and Fawnpaw even be real warriors if I do this? But they look so excited about it. 

     "Fawnpaw, Heronpaw, come forward," he began. Anxiety clawed at him. He tried to remember Brookstar's style of doing things, but his brain only drew a blank. "It's- The time has come for you to be made warriors." He tried to puff out his chest a little, to show his Clan that he had at least a little confidence. "You two have worked hard, and-"