Warriors: Ashfur's Insanity

Chapter 49

Ashstar opened his eyes to see that he was in den, his half-ear wrapped with cobwebs. It had been three days since that hawk attack. Yesterday, they had found a great place for a camp in ThunderClan territory. WindClan was already settling well in their new territory; they had found a small ravine where they would make their camp. ShadowClan had a great camp being built for them. Rust would be the leader for ShadowClan along with Flower becoming the leader for RiverClan. Ashstar had so badly wanted to go to that Twoleg place to search for kittypets that might be interested in joining the Clans, but they'd been lucky when a patrol carving out borders spotted a rogue cat that was nearly starved. And that cat was being cared for right now, yet Ashstar wasn't sure which Clan he'd go to. Maybe RiverClan or ShadowClan, or maybe WindClan or ThunderClan. And that cat was given the name, Ebonyfur, for his thick black fur.

He was in the medicine den with Ashstar, sleeping. 

Ashstar limped from his den, watching as the sun was about to set. He limped over to the short stump of the tree that he'd started to have Clan meetings on. "Cats of ThunderClan!" He called. "Please join me for a Clan meeting," He meowed.

His Clan gathered around him, their paws shuffling.

"Today, we will gather at the bottom of the mountain trail," He meowed. "And meet up with WindClan," He announced. "But before we head there, I'd like to announce something. Sootpaw, come stand up here."

Sootpaw's eyes widened. The gray apprentice rushed forward with delight and stopped in front of Ashstar, her eyes shining like bright stars. 

"Sootpaw, you have trained hard to understand the ways of the warrior code, and now you shall receive your warrior name," Ashstar meowed. "Sootpaw, do you wish to protect and defend your Clan by the cost of your life?"

"I do," Sootpaw meowed in a proud voice. 

"Then by the powers of StarClan, Sootpaw, you shall now be known as Sootwing, StarClan honors your strength and skill," Ashstar purred.

"Sootwing! Sootwing!" The Clan cheered. 

"You shall sit vigil tonight," Ashstar told the new warrior. "And I shall pick warriors for the gathering."

"WindClan, ThunderClan, we have gathered here tonight for a special reason," Ashstar called. 

Harespring nodded. He looked at Ashstar, his eyes shining. "We've decided that for now, Clan meetings shall be held here until we can find a perfect spot."

Ashstar flicked his tail and twitched his whiskers. The moon was high in the sky, casting long shadows on the ground. Its silvery light turned Ashstar's gray pelt silver. "Jaywing, I'd like you to come up here," He meowed. 

Jaywing stared at him, an expression of surprise on her face. As soon as his daughter had padded up beside him, he looked up the mountain trail. He leaned down. "Jaywing, remember that cave we found behind the waterfall?" He whispered.

Jaywing nodded. "Yes," She told him.

Ashstar looked up. "Alderheart, Mothpaw, Kestrelflight, Rabbitpaw, and Harespring," He called. "Follow me," He ordered. 

Harespring stared at him. "Where are we going?" He asked, his tail lashing.

Ashstar purred. "You'll see," He meowed. 

Jaywing and the others sat in the clearing; they were going to wait for them to come back.

Ashstar padded up the mountain trail, feeling small pointed stones dig into paws. His shadow stretched before him, like it, too, was walking with them to the cave behind the waterfall. The roaring of the waterfall soon blasted in Ashstar's ears. The moon was higher in the sky, its silver light lighting the path ahead of Ashstar. He padded more confidently up the trail. 

Finally, he reached the waterfall and saw the skinny path that led under it and behind it. The moon's silver light blasted the water, turning it a silver-white color. 

"This is it," Ashstar called to the group.

Harespring padded up to stand beside him. His eyes caught the path and he followed it, where it snaked behind the waterfall.

Ashstar padded forward on the small path, feeling the light spray of the waterfall. He ducked under the water and then went behind it, stepping into the glowing cave. It was beautiful now. The cave was drenched in silver light, and the moss and small puddles glowed. 

Harespring stepped in the cave, staring around in awe. The others padded in, and they, too, seemed surprised. 

"It must have a connection to StarClan!" Alderheart gasped, his eyes reflecting the silver light.

"Indeed it does," A voice meowed. 

They all turned to see a faded flame-colored cat. He padded towards them, his green eyes shining. It was Firestar. 

Stars twinkled around his pelt and paws. Firestar stepped forward. "This is the place for StarClan," He meowed. "I'm glad you found it, Ashstar," Firestar purred.

Ashstar dipped his head. "Greetings, Firestar," He meowed. 

"Harespring's 9 lives ceremony must begin," Firestar meowed. "Kestrelflight, stay with him. The rest of you, go."

Mothpaw looked hurt. "But what about me? Sootwing got her warrior name! Why can't I have my full medicine cat name?"

Firestar didn't flinch. "Tonight, it is not half-moon, but tomorrow night is," He meowed. "Mothpaw, you must wait, your ceremony is a lot different than other ceremonies," He told her, his pelt starting to fade. 

Mothpaw stared at him, her amber eyes glowing, her ears twitching. "I'm sorry," She muttered.

Ashstar tapped Harespring's shoulder lightly with his tail. "It's time for your ceremony," He meowed. "And then you can become a real Clan leader."