Warrior Cats: Sky of Storms

Chapter 17

"Echostar! Echostar! Echostar!" The Clan chanted her name as she emerged from the reeds with Wavefire. She felt her pelt on fire with so many eyes watching her. Would she be able to do this?

Rockheart ran up to her and purred. "You're going to be an amazing leader." Echostar wanted to share his feelings, but she couldn't help but think about her ceremony.

Waterstar and Mudfur had been her most emotional lives, but hearing their words made her think that they lived within her. She felt as if their words were the most special, even if it seemed like every other cat should have those traits.

Mosspelt was staring at her most intently. Echostar wished she could tell her that Dawnflower was happy in StarClan, but she wasn't allowed to tell anyone her dreams, with the exception of a medicine cat.

 Echostar jumped up onto Highrock and called, "All cats old enough to swim please gather beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting!"

Almost every other cat was already here, besides Swallowtail, who sat just outside the elders den. Her eyes were shadowed, but new hope glimmered in her face. 

No surprise, Bluetail was at the back, glaring at her. Echostar wished they could have stayed friends. Hawkfrost and Blackclaw stood outside the medicine den. Blackclaw looked happy, but the tom next to him was lashing his tail.

Sunbeam sat with Rockheart and Pebblewing, who were trying to shush Sunpaw and Twigpaw. Their mentors, Blackclaw and Stormfur, sat behind them. Echostar's kits sat with Wavefire's, and she noticed Sunbeam casting a glance at Wishkit, who was playing with Splashfur's tail. 

Echostar took another moment to breath in her Clan. She still couldn't believe that she was the leader of RiverClan. From no name, to Echokit, to Echopaw, to Echowing, and now Echostar.

She smiled and called out her first words to the Clan as their official leader. "I am lucky to have such an amazing Clan. RiverClan has faced deadly challenges, and the leaders of our Clan fought to protect you. Now I will do the same. I grieve for Waterstar as much as any other cat; He was young, and could have served the Clan for many more moons, even if he didn't have nine lives."

She looked at her kits. Tidalkit and Hopekit were staring at her, for the first time since he died, with hope. And their feelings gave her power and she called again, "We grieve for our lost leader, but we also celebrate a new one. The prophecy that hangs above our heads threatens disaster, but with a Clan so strong as this one, we will make it out of anything."

RiverClan yowled to the stars. She had given them hope, she had given them courage, and she had given them confidence. Echostar yowled to StarClan. "RiverClan! RiverClan! RiverClan!"

Everything seemed to be perfect again, but suddenly there was a cry of pain. Stormfur, who had been sitting near the entrance to keep guard, suddenly disappeared behind the bushes. Echostar jumped off the Highrock, flying through the air, until she landed with all four paws, racing after Stormfur. 

Rockheart was right behind her, with Pebblewing close by. Stormfur's voice rang throughout the forest as if was carried farther and farther away, but it was soon replaced by the yowls of fighting. 

She could hear staggering behind her, and glanced back one to see Volelimp and Mosspelt struggling to keep up. Mosspelt left Volelimp after he said a quick word, and raced forward to run alongside her.

Mosspelt is his foster mother. She realized, using all her energy to run faster. I know a little bit about that. 

The yowls of fighting came closer, until she burst into the hollow used for training apprentices. Stormfur was fighting the dog! The very same dog that killed Waterstar! What did it take to kill it?