Эрин Хантер - Bramblestar’s Storm

Bramblestar blinked. Until now he hadn’t thought about what it would be like if Jessy stayed in the Clan forever, as a warrior and his mate. Is that what I want?

He looked at Squirrelflight, who had gone back to struggling with the branch. Behind him, he could hear Lionblaze talking to Cinderheart. “How many kits do you think we’ll have?”

Then Jayfeather’s voice, raised in annoyance, drifted across the camp. “How many times do I have to tell you apprentices? Watch where you’re putting your paws when you come into my den. That’s a whole bunch of yarrow crushed!”

My sons are so grown up, so confident and talented. How could I have regretted raising them for a single moment? Grief surged up inside Bramblestar. “I miss Hollyleaf,” he blurted out.

Squirrelflight let the branch drop. “So do I.”

She looked so heartbroken, her eyes wide and full of sorrow as if the pain had never left, that Bramblestar choked on the words he would have liked to stay. Instead he rested his head against Squirrelflight’s, hoping that the touch would bring her comfort.

Neither of them said anything more about Jessy.

As the sun reached its height, Cloudtail appeared at the entrance to the hollow with Blossomfall, Dovewing, and Berrynose. All four cats were loaded with prey.

“Hey, Bramblestar!” Cloudtail dropped his catch in the middle of the clearing and waved his tail at his Clan leader. “We brought our fresh-kill so we can eat here!”

“Good idea,” Bramblestar agreed.

Cheerful yowls rose from his Clanmates as they converged hungrily on the pile. Bramblestar chose a thrush and settled down to eat. As the noise died down while the cats gulped down their fresh-kill, he heard Blossomfall and Rosepetal talking together beside him.

“What’s this I hear, that Bumblestripe and Dovewing aren’t mates anymore?” Rosepetal asked.

Surprised, Bramblestar flicked a glance around the clearing and saw that the two warriors were eating on opposite sides of the group, about as far away from each other as they could get. Both of them looked downcast, and kept their gaze firmly fixed on their prey.

“That’s right,” Blossomfall replied to Rosepetal. “But I never did think Dovewing was right for my brother. She’s always been a bit… different, hasn’t she?”

Rosepetal murmured agreement. “I’m sure Bumblestripe will find another mate soon,” she mewed. “He’s so nice.”

Blossomfall gave her a friendly prod. “I’ll put in a good word for you, if you like!”

Bramblestar was distracted from the conversation as Jessy came to sit beside him and tucked into her mouse. He studied her warily, still not sure about what their future might be. Squirrelflight’s comments had confronted him with something he had been aware of for a while. He was finishing his thrush when his deputy approached, picking her way through the crowd of feeding cats.

“Hey, Squirrelflight wants you,” Jessy meowed, springing to her paws as she gulped down the last of her mouse. “I’ll talk to you later.” Resting her tail on Bramblestar’s shoulder for a moment, she headed for the nursery.

Bramblestar noticed that Squirrelflight’s gaze followed her, but he said nothing. “Did you want something?” he asked.

“Yes,” Squirrelflight mewed. “I thought we could celebrate the return to the hollow with a warrior ceremony. Lilypaw fought well against the badgers, don’t you think? I know she hasn’t had a formal assessment, but she’s more than proved her skills.”

“She sure has,” Bramblestar agreed. “Let’s do it.” Glancing around, he saw that most of the Clan had finished eating. He rose to his paws. “Since we’re all here,” he began, “I’m going to hold a Clan meeting. I’ve got something important to do. Lilypaw, come here.”

The apprentice’s eyes widened with shock and she almost tripped over her own paws as she joined Bramblestar. The rest of the Clan moved into a ragged circle with Bramblestar at its center.

“Am I in trouble?” Lilypaw whispered.

Bramblestar shook his head. “Quite the opposite.” Raising his voice, he began, “I, Bramblestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn.”

Lilypaw looked astonished as Bramblestar spoke the words of the ceremony. Every hair on her pelt fluffed out, and she was trembling. A stir of excitement ran through her Clanmates as they realized what was happening.

“Lilypaw,” Bramblestar went on, “do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?”

Lilypaw’s jaw’s opened and for a moment Bramblestar thought nothing would come out. But her voice was clear and confident as she replied, “I do.”

“Then by the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Lilypaw, from this moment you will be known as Lilyheart. I give you this name in recognition of your courage, and because Seedpaw and Sorreltail will live forever in your heart. ThunderClan honors your bravery and dedication, and we welcome you as a full member of ThunderClan.” He rested his muzzle on her head, and Lilyheart licked his shoulder in response.

“Lilyheart! Lilyheart!” the rest of ThunderClan called out in welcome.

Under cover of the jubilant cries, Lilyheart whispered to Bramblestar, “Thank you for my name. It’s beautiful.”

Poppyfrost bounded forward to congratulate her former apprentice, while Brackenfur padded up to Bramblestar’s side. “Thank you, Bramblestar,” he meowed, his eyes shining with pride as he gazed at his daughter. “You don’t know what this means to me.”

“She deserves it,” Bramblestar meowed. “You both deserve it.”

Before the circle of cats could disperse, Graystripe and Sandstorm stepped forward together to stand beside Bramblestar. Each of them dipped their head to him with great dignity.

“Bramblestar, we want to ask if we may enter the elders’ den when the Clan returns to the hollow,” Sandstorm mewed.

“We feel it’s time to let the younger cats take over,” Graystripe added. “Though we’ll still be watching them!”

Even though he had been expecting this for a while, Bramblestar felt a pang of sorrow. Firestar and Dustpelt were dead; Graystripe and Sandstorm were the last remaining cats of their generation. “Of course you may join Purdy,” he agreed. “If you’re sure, we can hold your ceremony now.”

Realizing that something more was about to happen, the Clan fell silent again, Lilyheart, Brackenfur, and Poppyfrost withdrawing to stand in the circle with their Clanmates.

“Cats of ThunderClan,” Graystripe began, sounding slightly awkward but determined to have his say, “I’m so glad that I came back to find ThunderClan. I could never have made the journey without Millie, and I was so blessed by StarClan to have a second chance to raise kits.” His glance traveled around the clearing, resting on each of his friends in turn. “I’ll never forget Silverstream or Stonefur,” he went on, “and I can scarcely believe that my daughter Mistystar is now leader of RiverClan. But I have no quarrel with StarClan for the path they chose for me, and I’m proud of all my kits. Blossomfall for her courage and skill in battle; Bumblestripe for his loyalty and compassion; and Briarlight for her bravery, her humbling spirit, and her hopefulness. I shall be watching all of you from the elders’ den; you can be sure of that.”

“I won’t be long behind you, Graystripe,” Millie purred, giving her mate a loving look.

Graystripe blinked at her. “I will wait for you, my dear.”