StarClan isn't real..

Chapter 32

"Yellowpaw, Finchpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Yellowpaw nodded. "I do."

Finchpaw seemed hesitant, but answered with, "I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names." Applestar's voice was as smooth as water as he looked at Yellowpaw, eyes brimming with pride. "Yellowpaw, from this moment onward, you will be known as Yellowstrike. StarClan honors your perseverance and bravery, and we welcome you as a full warrior of WindClan."

Yellowstrike felt emberassment and pride wash through her as the Clan cheered her name. Applestar leapt down from the Tallrock and rested his muzzle on Yellowstrike's head; she licked his shoulder in return.

"And Finchpaw," Applestar stared down at Finchpaw with little to no pride in his eyes, just a cold disappointment, as if he was telling the gray she-cat that he had high expectations for her. "From this moment onward, you will be known as Finchscar. StarClan honors your honesty and strength, and we welcome you as a full warrior of WindClan." He blinked down at her with chilling eyes. "Serve your Clan well."

Finchscar? Yellowstrike thought. She had been named after how she had fought in the battle, obviously, and Finchpaw had been named after the scars under her eyes? That was awfully harsh, considering that Finchpaw had fought for the Dark Forest in the battle, and her name would be a constant reminder of that.

Finchscar looked saddened, and gave Applestar a lick on the shoulder as he came forward. She looked uncomfortable and sad.

Yellowstrike could remember her interaction with Tallspirit, and suspected that something was up with that. She couldn't help but wonder if Finchscar really meant the part of the oath, about staying loyal to her Clan.

Meanwhile, the moon was slipping out from behind the moor, it's silver rays turning the grass silver. It was time for Yellowstrike and Finchscar to sit vigil.

She nudged her adoptive sister. "We need to guard the camp tonight, remember?" She whispered. Finchscar nodded quietly. Clearly, she already knew, but was too sad to say anything about it.

The Clan was already heading towards their sleeping places in the clearing, with Greenfern's daughter, Talontail, leading him to the medicine den. Greenfern had herbs around his face, although he could walk perfectly fine. Yellowstrike sighed as she saw the droop of Talontail's tail and ears, as well as Greenfern. They had both lost so much in the battle; Speckleleg and even Sandleap, who had died avenging her son.

Yellowstrike sat down beside Finchscar in the middle of the clearing and looked up at the stars. Were one of those the only cat she wanted to see?

A few long moments had passed, and in what seemed like heartbeats, the cats' mingling turned to snores. Yellowstrike sighed as she looked up at the stars, and then heard Finchscar sniff. Turning, Yellowstrike saw in surprise that her adoptive sister appeared to be crying, her scars darkened with water.

"Um... are you okay?" Yellowstrike mumbled.

Finchscar turned on her with eyes filled with dread. "I miss him, Yellowpaw!" She cried, seemingly forgetting that they weren't apprentices anymore. "I'll never forgive myself for how I used him, and I never will unless he forgives me."

Yellowstrike didn't know what to say. He'll never forgive you, even if he would. She'll never hear him speak again.

"I just want to feel loved again. Trusted!" Finchscar cried. Yellowstrike hoped she didn't wake any cat up. "Blacktooth looks at me like a rogue. Beetleshine thinks I'm a disappointment. Logheart won't even look at me! Fallowpaw is always in my dreams, yowling at me that I should've joined his side! There's literally only one cat who still wants me near them, and that cat is in another Clan."

Yellowstrike sighed. "Finchscar, you mean..?"

"Tallspirit." Finchscar sighed, her voice dropping to a cracked whisper. "I love her, Yellowstrike." Her eyes glowed, and she cracked a sad but genuine smile. "I want to be near her. I want her with me, I want to share a nest with her, I want to twine tails with her... she's so beatiful and sweet. We trained together. She understands me."

Yellowstrike sighed, a bit too harshly, even for her own ears. "She's in another Clan, Finchscar. I'm sorry."

"I know that," Finchscar growled. "So there's only one thing I can do." She stared Yellowstrike coldly in the eyes, with a gaze that seemed to turn Yellowstorm's heart to stone. "I'm sorry, Yellowstrike, but I'm leaving the Clan for RiverClan."

She can't be serious. "But you took an oath!"

"And look what happened!" Finchscar snapped. "I took an oath, and got a terrible name. Why can't I just be normal? Forgiven?" She sighed. "I already asked Tallspirit to meet me at the bridge, so she could take me to RiverClan." She glanced nervously at the dark moor. "Could we maybe... walk together?"

Yellowstrike felt sadness wrack her body, but she just solemnly nodded. "Yes, we can. But be careful and quiet."

***

The night was silent as Yellowstrike walked beside Finchscar. Her sister seemed calm and anxious, her steps quiet and cautious. But she seemed more peaceful than Yellowstrike had seen her in a while. She had thought that after they became warriors, things would go back to normal, but she supposed she shouldn't have been foolish. Of course, Finchscar wouldn't be happy in a Clan with cats she couldn't trust.

When the two of them reached the bridge, Yellowstrike felt her paws go light. This wouldn't be an easy way to let go, but if it made Finchscar happy, who could complain?

At the bridge, a blue-eyed black and white she-cat waited, her fur outlined with silver in the moonlight. Finchscar was right; she was pretty. But Yellowstrike couldn't imagine having a mate, or kits, (the horror ), especially not one in another Clan.

Tallspirit sprang forward. "You came, Finchpaw!"

"Finchscar," The gray she-cat mumbled nervously. "My name is Finchscar."

Tallspirit tipped her head to one side. "Oh." She sighed, and then gave Finchscar a lick between the ears. "Well, I still missed you." She glanced at Yellowstrike, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. "Who is that?"

"My sister," Finchscar replied. "I asked her to come with me, but... I'm ready to go with you now."

Tallspirit nodded. "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Okay, then." With a sigh, Tallspirit nodded to Yellowstrike, then turned and hurried across the bridge. Finchscar began to follow, but stopped, turning around and waving to Yellowstrike with her tail. Yellowstrike blinked and watched her sister race away, vanishing into her new home; RiverClan territory.

Yellowstrike sighed and turned back towards the moor, beginning to walk back to camp. She felt rather peaceful, not sad. Fallowpaw was dead, but he would never be forgotten. Clan life would go on, with the help of StarClan.

Chuckling to herself, Yellowstrike remembered what had gotten her into this mess. The simple words that she hardly regretted saying.

"StarClan isn't real."

.End.