Warriors- Rise of the Guardians

Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Reunited

Wolfstrike wasn’t thinking clearly anymore; after all, he was hungry, exhausted, and wasn’t exactly in the best mood, since he’d given his first catch since three sundowns to Lionstar. They were alike in so many ways, yet different too. Vision flashing black and white, Wolfstrike could barely walk in a straight line.

His stomach was cramping badly, and his head spun with dizziness. The hunger was too much. The voices around him were muffled, and his ears twitched, trying to identify the speakers.

“Wolfpaw…hear…answer…”

The voice was familiar. He knew that voice. He blinked, but could barely keep his eyes open.

“Wolfpaw!”

His heart pounded.

“Wolfpaw! Please, Wolfpaw…”

He reached out weakly. That voice. That wonderful, amazing voice. He knew it, recognized it.

Craved it.

Struggling to place a name with that voice, and fighting to stay conscious, he tried to speak, but nothing came out.

“Wolfpaw, what do you need?”

Food. You. All I need is you…

Thunderpaw.

At last, at the thought of the female cat, his heart went into overdrive; and suddenly he was mewling and snarling at the same time, the hunger pangs forgotten. Yet his vision still swam. He reached out again, paw touching fur- no, muzzle. He memorized the shape, the feel, and leaned towards that warmth.

“Thunderpaw,” It was a pain to speak through the hunger, but he managed. He had to say it, before he missed this chance.

“I’ve missed you.”

He felt her tumble on top of him, licking him everywhere.

“I’ve missed you too, Wolfpaw! You stupid furball, why’d you come after me? And look at yourself. All fur and bones. You must be starving. Stupid, stupid tom.”

Thunderpaw’s voice was shaky and husky, but filled with concern and affection. Wolfstrike smiled weakly, and mustered up his last bit of strength to reply, and was finally unable to resist the strong pull of darkness.

“Because you’re mine.”

--

 “At last, my five guardians are present.”

Thunderpaw’s jaw dropped. Five? Looking around, she saw Eaglewing, Lionstar, Wolfstrike, who had told her his new name, Frost and Boomer. There were only three guardians.

“Aqua, Guardian of the sea. Show yourself.”

From near them, a patch of snow melted, forming a puddle. A beautiful, blue-gray pelted she-cat emerged, shaking water from her fur. When she finally turned to look at them, Thunderpaw was shocked to find her gaze icy and pale. However, when she smiled tentatively at her, the she-cat smiled back.

“Welcome, Guardians. The naming ceremony will now commence.”

Confused, Wolfstrike and Thunderpaw exchanged glances, each wondering who the last guardian was. Could it be Lionstar? Unanimously, both cats turned to stare at their clan leader, who was too busy staring into Eaglewing’s eyes. The young pair blushed and turned their attention back to the Guardian, who had finally materialized.

 And damn if he wasn’t big. He towered over the cats, a huge, formidable being, a true Guardian king.

“Aqua, Boomer, Frost. You have been through this, so you may be excused. Eaglewing, Lionstar, you are not guardians. Leave. Everyone else, stay.”

“Wait…Wolfstrike?!”

“Wait… Thunderpaw?!”

--

Wolfstrike couldn’t believe what he was hearing or seeing. Thunderpaw was a guardian, too? All that time he’d spent worrying; it had been useless.

“Wolfstrike, step forward.”

As he did, the air around them changed, and suddenly they were in a cave, with an altar in the middle. Steps led up to the middle raised platform, and Wolfpaw trotted up, fearful and excited at the same time.

“Thunderpaw, your turn.”

Gracefully, the she-cat bounded up the steps to stand beside him.

“Wolfstrike. You are courageous, kind, and a formidable warrior. You will fight to protect your loved ones, yet your heart is a closed door. Open it, let your mate in, and you will be a perfect guardian.”

The Guardian kind smiled kindly, and continued, “Thunderpaw. You are brave, kind too, and smart. Because many loved ones have disappeared from your life, you are unsure of loving again, but are willing to give it a shot. I admire you for that. Also, you have great skills, and I know you will be a capable guardian.”

“I have completed my assessment of you. Now, let the elements choose you.”

The ground shook, and somewhere ahead, thunder rumbled. It started to pour, heavily, even though they were in a cave. Thunderpaw felt refreshed, powerful. And she knew then, that this was her element. She would control the rain, the storms, thunder.

“You shall now be known as Thunder.”

As the ground shook, a huge cavity opened up, and from it bounded dozens of wolves. They leapt up to crouch at Wolfstrike’s feet. And he knew, that that was his element. He would control the wolves.

“You shall be known as Wolf.”

The guardian king smiled.

“Wolves are powerful creatures, Wolfstrike. They have never chosen a guardian before. Be honored. And Thunderpaw, your element is an incredibly dangerous and reckless entity. Tame it; learn its ways, before you attempt to use it.”

Then the Guardian King disappeared, and so did everything else.

 

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