Эрин Хантер - Ravenpaw’s Farewell

Echosong appeared beside Ravenpaw. “Are you feeling up to a climb?” she asked. “It’s not far, and I promise it will be worth it.”

“Of course,” Ravenpaw meowed. He followed her along the gorge and up a path that wound back and forth at tight angles until it reached the top of the cliff. Ravenpaw scrambled onto the flat ground with a grunt of relief.

“It gets easier,” Echosong told him, hardly out of breath.

She pointed with her tail to a rocky slab that jutted out over the gorge. “This is a very special place for SkyClan,” she explained. “It’s where we gather at the full moon, and where I come to speak with StarClan.” She padded onto the rock and gestured to Ravenpaw to lie down beside her.

“I love it up here,” Echosong murmured, gazing out at the gorge and the woods beyond. “It’s so peaceful, and yet you can see everything that’s going on.”

Ravenpaw nodded. He could see Barley’s black-and-white shape leaping through the trees; farther along the cliff, Riley was rolling a stone with his paws. Then he heard footsteps behind him and turned to see three cats approaching. He was faintly aware that Echosong had vanished and he was alone on the rock.

The figures were so familiar that his heart ached and he had to blink to see clearly. Bluestar, Whitestorm, and Lionheart stepped onto the rock and stood in front of him, each one dipping their head in respect.

“We are honored to see you again,” Bluestar mewed.

“Don’t stand up,” she added as Ravenpaw struggled to get his hind legs under him.

“I am the one who is honored,” Ravenpaw purred.

“We have never forgotten you,” Whitestorm told him.

“We have watched over you, and rejoiced in the happiness you have found with Barley.” He dropped his head. “I am only sorry we could not spare you the pain you suffered in ThunderClan.”

“I wouldn’t change a thing,” Ravenpaw promised. “If anything had been different, I might not have had my life with Barley. I have been happier than I ever imagined a cat could be.”

Lionheart gazed at him, and Ravenpaw felt his pelt glow with warmth. “We have come to do something we should have done a long time ago,” the golden tabby explained.

“We would like to give you your warrior name. You have more than earned it, with the courage, fairness, and loyalty you have shown to these cats, and to every cat who has crossed your path.”

Ravenpaw took a deep breath. How often he had dreamed of this moment when he had been an apprentice, wondering what his warrior name would be! But he was no longer an apprentice, no longer part of ThunderClan or the forest. He looked at the noble cats in front of him.

“Thank you,” he purred. “But I already have a name. I am proud to have been Ravenpaw all my life, and I see no reason to change it now.”

Bluestar nodded. “I thought you might feel that way.”

She traced her paw across the stone. “You know that your time is drawing to an end, I think. Would you like to join us in StarClan? You would be very welcome.”

Ravenpaw turned and looked down at the gorge. He could see Barley standing at the edge of the woods, looking up at him. The black-and-white cat kinked his tail in greeting, and Ravenpaw waved his tail in reply. Then he turned back to the StarClan cats.

“I cannot join you,” he mewed softly. “There is someone

I need to wait for. I hope there is a place where we can be together, even though he is not a Clan cat.”

Lionheart nodded. “We understand. And rest assured, there is a place waiting for you both. But you are welcome to visit us in StarClan whenever you wish. You will find a way, I promise.”

He reached forward and rested his muzzle on Ravenpaw’s head. Ravenpaw felt his soft breath against his fur, and slipped gratefully into painless sleep.

When Ravenpaw wok e, Echosong was sitting beside him, her tail twitching.

“Ah, you’re awake,” she mewed.

The sun was sliding behind the trees, and dusky shadows were gathering in the gorge. The bare, scrubby grass that led to the Twolegplace was empty and quiet, but Ravenpaw scented fresh border marks drifting on the breeze.

Cats circled restlessly in the SkyClan camp below.

“The new boundary is in place,” Echosong told him as they made their way down the cliff. “My Clanmates are ready to defend it with their lives.”

“I hope it doesn’t come to that,” Ravenpaw meowed with a stir of alarm.

Riley and Bella bounded up to him as he approached the boulder. “We’ve had such a great day!” Riley announced. “I was totally the best at pushing stones. Cherrytail told me!”

“And I found the longest stick!” Bella mewed.

“Blossompaw helped me carry it.”

A brown tom called to them.

“That’s Rabbitleap,” Riley explained. “We’re in his patrol tonight. See you later, Ravenpaw!”

The young cats whirled around and raced off.

Barley padded up to Ravenpaw, the scent of fresh-kill clinging to his pelt. “They’ve made friends already,” he observed.

“There are some good cats in SkyClan,” Ravenpaw agreed. “How was the hunting?”

“Not bad at all. I caught two mice and a squirrel, which silenced a few comments.” There was a note of amusement in Barley’s voice. “Have you eaten yet?”

Ravenpaw’s stomach churned at the thought of food. A

spasm of pain racked his body, and shadows swam behind his eyes. He felt Barley press against him, holding him up.

“You need to lie down,” his friend told him. He steered Ravenpaw to a soft patch of sand at the edge of the gorge.

Ravenpaw sank down with a hiss of pain.

“You can’t fight tonight,” Barley mewed. His eyes were huge with alarm. “You’re not strong enough.”

Ravenpaw gazed at his friend. “Oh, Barley. You know me so well. Better than any cat ever has.” He nudged Barley’s cheek with his nose. “But there is a secret that I have kept from you without meaning to: I have always been a warrior. I have a loyalty to these cats, and I must fight alongside them, whatever happens.”

Barley’s eyes filled with water. “You’re so stubborn,” he murmured. “I really can’t stop you, can I?”

“No. But you can be at my side,” Ravenpaw replied.

“Please.”

Barley leaned his head against Ravenpaw’s. “Always.”

Ravenpaw stood up with effort, and they joined the other cats as they trekked in silence up the gorge and onto the plain of rustling grass. Sharpclaw signaled with his tail to send them out along the new border, the marks fresh and pungent on newly built heaps of stones and sticks. They’ve work ed hard today, Ravenpaw thought.

On either side of him, the SkyClan warriors moved quickly and efficiently. It was impossible to tell which cats were the daylight warriors, apart from the faintest hint of a different scent on their fur. It was clear that, no matter where SkyClan found its warriors, this was a well-trained and deeply loyal Clan.

Ravenpaw and Barley crouched down in the grass alongside Billystorm and his apprentice, Pebblepaw. Her white fur was dusted with brown speckles, which kept her well hidden among the moonlit grass. Ravenpaw had lost sight of Riley and Bella farther along the line. He hoped they remembered everything he had taught them. StarClan, keep them safe!

Sharpclaw’s quiet hiss traveled along the row of cats in the still air: “At my signal, fight !”

It seemed as if a whole moon passed before they heard paws thudding over the ground toward them. Ravenpaw tensed. There were more kittypets this time, and they were already shrieking with excitement. They have no idea we are waiting for them!