Bluestar x Oakheart - What Could Have Been

Chapter 6 ~ Remembering

Bluestar didn't regret what she'd said to Oakstar - he needed to understand that just because he was a leader now, it didn't mean he could just pelt to ThunderClan to talk to her whenever he felt like it. She was glad she'd reprimanded him - if they met too often, their Clanmates might suspect something, and all those moons of keeping apart would have gone to waste.

'He kept our secret till the very end.'

Well, Oakstar, that secret might be out now.

Bluestar padded out of her den to sit atop Highrock and watch her Clan. She swallowed as she thought of Oakstar. She had given him and their kits up to become leader of ThunderClan. Was she now losing sight of that? StarClan didn't make me leader because of how great a warrior I was, she reminded herself. StarClan made me leader because they knew I would be able to save ThunderClan from Thistleclaw's destruction. And I have.

Looking back down into the clearing, she watched as the cats of ThunderClan mingled together as they went about their day: warriors filling the fresh-kill pile with mice and squirrels, apprentices practicing fighting moves in the clearing, elders mewing about the old days. She felt her chest puff with pride as a purr rumbled through it. ThunderClan was doing well — all because of her.

She looked up at the sky. If it were night, she could have been able to see StarClan's warriors shining above; forever watching over the four Clans living below. "Thank you, StarClan," she breathed. "Thank you for giving me leadership over ThunderClan." She stared at the sky for a few more heartbeats before looking back at the camp walls. Suddenly, she was surrounded by an achingly familiar scent: "Snowfur," Bluestar whispered. Her sister's voice weaved around her, echoing in her ears: "With this life, I give you pride, so that you may know your own worth and the worth of your Clan... You were chosen long ago, and StarClan has never regretted its choice." Bluestar closed her eyes, a mixture of pain and love filling her chest. Clearer, Snowfur whispered to her, "Don't forget who you are."

"Leader of ThunderClan," Bluestar breathed back.

She felt Snowfur's approval, and her purring rumbled through Bluestar's entire body. "I am leader of ThunderClan," Bluestar breathed to herself. Louder, she repeated, "I am leader of ThunderClan." She heard Snowfur's voice again: "I give you pride..."
"I am leader of ThunderClan," Bluestar mewed again.
"Pride," Snowfur whispered. Bluestar could feel more of her warrior ancestors gathering around her; their pride of their Clan filling her like rain fills a river. The fire she had had within her all of her life begin to burn brighter and fiercer than ever before. The battle cries of long-lost ThunderClan warriors resounded in her eardrums as they fought for their territory. For each other.

Bluestar threw her head back and yowled, "I am leader of ThunderClan!" She could feel and hear the StarClan warriors' yowls of approval all around her.

"Indeed you are, Bluestar."

The StarClan warriors' presence vanished. She whipped her head to the left to see Redtail staring at her in amusement. Bluestar shook herself, embarrassed and annoyed at the interruption. Looking down, she could see several cats looking up at her, confused. Redtail tilted his head. "Did you forget?"

You have no idea.

Bluestar gave him a look before padding to stand at the edge of Highrock. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath Highrock for a Clan meeting!"

The cats already in the clearing moved quickly. Lionheart and Tigerclaw emerged from the warriors' den and settled themselves near Whitestorm. Mousefur and Runningwind sat close together, and Willowpelt quickly joined them. The elders were all carefully sat outside the elder's den, and Spottedleaf was sat in the shade of the medicine cat's den. Redtail moved to sit beneath Highrock.

Bluestar raised her head as she spoke. "I would like to lead a patrol that covers the ground of our borders across all territories." Murmurs of dissent rose from the warriors.
"Bluestar..." Tigerclaw's smooth voice rose above the other cats'. "Not to overstep my boundaries, but I would like to say there is a reason we send out several patrols to our borders with the other Clans. If one patrol moved across the entire forest, those cats would grow tired, and the other warriors would sit and do nothing." He paused. "That is not how a Clan runs. Did Sunstar teach you nothing?" Murmurs of agreement and mrrows of laughter rose from some of the warriors. Bluestar felt her hackles rise. How dare he challenge me so openly!

"Tigerclaw," Bluestar began. "There is a reason that I am doing this. A reason you could not possibly understand." She leapt down from Highrock, stalking towards the broad-shouldered tabby. He drew himself up to his full height as she stopped in front of him. "Sunstar taught me many things, but challenging a leader's word without any real reason was not one of them." She stared into his amber eyes. "You, Lionheart and Whitestorm will accompany me on this patrol. Do you understand me?"

Tigerclaw stared back, distaste in his features. After a few heartbeats, he sighed, dipped his head, and grumbled, "Yes, Bluestar."

Bluestar straightened up. "Good." Turning to Redtail, she continued, "I trust you will organise the other patrols?"

He nodded, and beckoned the other warriors forward with his tail. Lionheart and Whitestorm joined Bluestar and Tigerclaw. Bluestar could feel that fire burning in her chest again. All the Clans will see just how strong ThunderClan can be. Lifting her head, she mewed, "Let's go." With that, the four cats moved towards the camp entrance.

A/N: it has been so long since i last updated!!! and i am so, so sorry for that. but now, i've finally gotten over my writer's block, and there are definitely more chapters of this story coming! thank you all for waiting for so long (sorry again for that 😂😬), & i hope you enjoy this chapter of what could have been!! 🖤