Warriors: Divided Loyalty

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Nightshrike dreamed of something she hadn't expected in a long time. She was in a large den with three bundles of fur nestled at the curve of her belly. There was a gray tabby tom with black stripes and lighter paws, a golden-brown tabby she-cat with creamy paws, and a silver she-cat with black spots.

Nightshrike frowned and lifted her head as a shadow fell on the kits. It was Thorntail. Or, a dream version of the cat Nightshrike fell in love with. This Thorntail looked proud and affection swam in his blue eyes.

"They're beautiful, Nightstar." He purred and Nightshrike stared at him, though her dream self let out at purr. Nightstar? "What will we name them?"

"I'm not sure, Thorntail." Replied Nightshrike's dream self and suddenly, she was kicked out of her body and she watched as she smiled at the kits. Frantically, she looked at her paws and noticed they were see-through. What is going on? She wanted to screech but she couldn't form any words. "Why don't we name the silver and black spotted one Spottedkit?"

Thorntail nodded, eyes sparkling. "That sounds wonderful," he breathed and touched his tail to the gray tabby. "What about Larkkit?" He meowed, looking at Nightstar, and Nightshrike watched herself closely.

Nightstar closed her eyes and Nightshrike could sense the pain coming off her dream self. "Larkflight was such a noble deputy," the leader meowed after a long pause. "Whiteblaze and their kits haven't gotten over his death." She fixed Thorntail with a soft look. "That sounds perfect."

Thorntail purred and pointed with a paw to the golden-brown she-cat. "What about her?" He questioned, tail tip twitching as he looked down at his daughter.

Nightstar was silent for a moment before she replied. "Her name will be Leafkit." She meowed and Thorntail dipped his head. The tom padded around his mate and kits and curled around Nightstar, making Nightshrike relax slightly.

"Why don't you get some sleep, my dear." Thorntail licked Nightstar's head gently and Nightshrike nearly purred out loud at the action. "In the morning, I'll bring you the biggest piece of prey in the forest."

Nightstar yawned and Nightshrike watched as she nodded and laid her head on her paws, eyes closing. Thorntail licked her head once more before uncurling around her and padding out of the den without another word.

"Nightshrike!" An anxious mew roused Nightshrike from the dream and her head shot up, making her dizzy. She opened her eyes, blinking as sleep began to ebb away. Thorntail was in front of her, eyes wide and nervous. "Come on, Clearstar has called a meeting."

Nightshrike shook her head and rose to her paws, now fully awake. The remnants of her dream remained in her head as she padded into the clearing where everyone old enough to attend the meeting were gathering.

"Clanmates," Clearstar sounded tired and Nightshrike saw the Clan leader's tail droop as he spoke. "I have thought long and hard about this and I have made my decision." Nightshrike's fur prickled as every cat looked at her, making her press against Thorntail.

"Don't worry," purred the blue-eyed tom, licking her cheek lovingly. "Clearstar won't kick you out of the Clan."

"Nightshrike, do you promise to uphold the Warrior Code and protect your new Clan, even at the cost of your life?" Clearstar's question hit her hard, making her stagger. He's accepting me in his Clan. She gaped at the leader and fumbled for her answer.

"I-I do, Clearstar," she managed and looked at Thorntail, who looked happy and excited.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I name you a full warrior of DawnClan." Meowed Clearstar as he bounded towards her and touched his nose to her forehead. As he pulled away, he looked around at the rest of his Clan. "Nightshrike is one of us and she shall be treated as though she has lived with us the entire time." He meowed sternly and Nightshrike watched as the cats around them nodded.

"Nightshrike!" Yowled Thorntail, eyes gleaming with joy.

"Nightshrike!" Larkflight chimed in, sitting next to Whiteblaze.

Soon, every cat was cheering her name and Nightshrike lifted her head, soaking it all in. GlacierClan and OakClan will suffer. She silently vowed.