Warriors: A Dark Sun

Chapter 45

Lilymist looked back at Echomist, who nodded and sat down beside Lilymist. Lilymist closed her eyes and pressed her nose against the Moonstone. The stone was smooth and rough at the same time, ice cold and boiling hot. When she opened her eyes she saw cats. More cats than she had ever seen at a gathering. She stood up nervously and looked around her.

"There is no need to be afraid." She heard a voice behind her and spun around.

"Icestar!" Lilymist mewed in joy. She had missed the blue eyed she-cat.

"Yes I am Icestar." The StarClan warrior purred in amusement. Icestar leaned forward and touched her nose to Lilymist's head.

"I give you the life of leadership. May you use it to make RiverClan strong." Icestar gently mewed. Energy fizzed through Lilymist.

"Thank you." She dipped her head to Icestar. The black she cat was already walking away. Skygaze took her place.

"Oh Skygaze, I'm sorry." Lilymist quietly said. The blue eyed warrior just shrugged. Skygaze was killed in a battle with ThunderClan by the warrior Foxbelly. Adderblaze had been heart broken when his sister didn't return from the battle.

"It wasn't your fault. It was my time to join StarClan. I give you the life of training your apprentices well." Skygaze touched her nose to Lilymist's. Lilymist nodded and stepped back to steady herself. Skygaze padded away to sit beside Icestar. The cat who stood there surprised her.

"Grassheart?" Lilymist ventured carefully.

"Yes Lilymist. I'm here to give you the life of forgiveness. Please use it wisely my kit." Grassheart ducked his head down to reach Lilymist's head. She felt a calm and easy feeling fill her. She looked back up at her father. She saw pride in his amber gaze. Before she knew it he had turned and walked to the ranks of StarClan. A small black kit came forward.

"Hi! I'm Ravenkit!" The small kit was so cheerful. "I'm here to give you the life of trust. Trust those around you when they say it will all be alright." Ravenkit balanced on his hind legs to touch his nose to Lilymist's nose.

"Do you want me to tell Duskflower anything?" She asked Ravenkit. The little kit looked back with sadness at hearing his mother's name.

"I miss her." He mewed quietly before turning and sitting beside Icestar. She felt sadness at hearing what Ravenkit had said. She looked up, hoping to see someone she knew. Before her, stood a large gray tom she didn't recognize.

"I see you are confused. My name is Stoneshade." The tom introduced himself. She dipped her head in response. "I died serving my Clan in battle. With this life I give you loyalty to the warrior code. Follow the code and you will be strong." He touched her forehead with his nose. She had a feeling of strength and power run through her veins. When the feeling had left her body she saw a she cat with fur as white as fresh snow.

"Snowbreeze." Lilymist dipped her head to the StarClan warrior. Snowbreeze smiled.

"Lilymist I now give you the life of happiness and humour. When the Clan seems dark, happiness and humour will make it seem bright." Snowbreeze licked Lilymist's forehead. It felt like she was a kit and she was bouncing around with joy. She thanked the white she cat and awaited her next life giver. A red tom walked up to her.

"I am Mapletail. I died before you were born. I was the mate of your mother's sister, Icestar." She dipped her head to Mapletail.

"With this life I give you strength, use it to defend your Clan from any threats." He touched her forehead and pain jolted through her. It felt like Lilymist was in battle and sharp claws were slashing her pelt. She staggered after the pain was gone. She looked up and almost yowled in joy.

"Mintfur!" Lilymist lifted her head to lick the elder's cheek. When she did Mintfur let out a purr.
"I never could have predicted you becoming leader." Mintfur purred.

"I promised I would make you proud." Lilymist mewed.

"And that you did Lilymist. I now give you the life of controlling your grief. I hope with this life you will be stronger than I was." Mintfur whispered, regret faintly flashing in her blue eyes. The gray cat touched her nose to Lilymist's chest. She was filled with a feeling she could only describe as pain and then relief. Lilymist felt a pang at seeing her go.

"Your last life is mine to give." Lilymist turned around and saw the cat she thought about almost every day.

"Owlheart." Lilymist breathed. She didn't hesitate to run up to her sister. She rubbed her chin along Owlheart's face. They were both purring so loud it sounded like a Twoleg monster. When they were done the greeting Lilymist looked down and saw a golden brown kit hiding under Owlheart's belly. Oh sweet Tigerkit.

"My sister, I have been watching over you. I have watched you and you have strength, courage and loyalty, but there is one thing you don't have." Owlheart mewed with a voice as soft as kit fur.

"What is it?" Lilymist asked curiously.

"Hope. With this life I give you hope. When the times seem dark, hope will guide the way." Owlheart rubbed her chin along Lilymist's jaw. Lilymist saw a bright light ahead of her while darkness tried to swallow her. That is true hope.

"Please tell my daughters I miss them. And tell Sunfrost I love him." Owlheart quietly mewed. "We welcome you as the leader of RiverClan! Lilystar! Lilystar! Lilystar!" Owlheart yowled. Lilystar basked in the yowls of approval. I am Lilystar leader of RiverClan. One by one the StarClan warriors disappeared. She woke up and saw Echomist staring at her with sadness.

"What's wrong?" Lilystar asked. The old medicine cat took a deep breath.

"I watched your leader ceremony. I saw some cats I thought I would never see again. I saw my family all right there, a couple tail lengths away yet I felt farther away from them than ever." Echomist drew a raspy breath. She was already retired, but she wanted to see Lilystar's ceremony.

"What is wrong with me is not important. RiverClan has a new leader and the Clan will want to know who their new deputy will be." Lilystar nodded.

"But who should I choose?" Lilystar asked. She wanted to have Echomist approve of her choice.

"I cannot help you with that decision, Lilystar. That is your own choice, but I know that deep down you know who should be your deputy." Echomist said as they started the long walk home.