Lightstar's Life - Crystal Chen (if you give a mouse a cookie read aloud .TXT) 📗

he has to say." I gave Darkcliff a tiny m=nod, indicating for him to go on.

"I know I was wrong to run away, and I am truly sorry." He began, his mew uneasy. "SunClan did welcome me, except for Magicstorm and Barkclaw. They'd claw my ears off if I even tried to approach them. One night I overheard them planning an attack on MoonClan, and I almost wanted to warn you. But I tried to believe my loyalties were to SunClan, but luckily Swallowstar vetoed the idea. Magicstorm and Barkclaw were really angry, and about two days later they woke me up during the night, ripping off a clump of fur from my flank. That's where I got this." He swept his tail over the wound. I winced in sympathy, then mewed, "Go on. What happened next?"

"Are you really going to believe this fox-dung?" Kestrelblaze called scornfully from the crowd.

I ignored him as Darkcliff went on, "I was irritated, of course, but I didn't know what they were going to do yet. So I went back to sleep. Later I found out that they had killed Swifttail, and stuck my fur in his claws! That was their plan, to blame his murder of me. As for Flamestar, I later heard Barkclaw bragging about killing Flamestar with deathberries, just after I left. He was saying, 'That mangy old fox won't do at all! Plus, That's what they get for destroying Swallowstar's plan for setting new borders!' I was horrified."

I nodded thoughtfully. The story seemed to make sense. "Do you wish to rejoin MoonClan?" I meowed, tail flicking at Kestrelblaze to keep quiet.

Darkcliff's eyes brightened like a lit candle. "Oh, yes! And I swear by StarClan's name that I will never leave again. I will be the most loyal warrior you could ever imagine!"

"Very well." I dipped my head, feeling a flutter of pride for the dark warrior. "Start cleaning up and repairing the camp. And," I added, turning to Frostfur, "organize patrols, keep an eye on him." I flicked an ear at Darkcliff.

"Yes, Lightstar." Frostfur mewed.

"I'm going to talk to Swallowstar." I told the Clan, "Go tend to your wounds at Sorrelsky's den. Kestrelblaze, Hareleap, Splashnose, come with me. If the battle patrols come back, tell them I'm at SunClan camp."

The three senior warriors nodded and followed me out of the battered bramble tunnel. I picked up my pace as we broke the trees. My shoulder throbbed, but I kept my eyes straight ahead, stone serious.

"What are you doing here?" A hiss exploded from the brush as three battle-worn SunClan warriors jumped out. I reconized Barkclaw, and a long-haired brown-white she-cat standing next to him. The third was a black and white warrior, sleek and well groomed, despite the missing clump of fur on his haunches.

I stood straighter, and forced my fur to lie flat. "We would like to speak with Swallowstar." I meowed.

"She's busy." The brown and white she-cat snarled, claws unsheathed. "Get out of our territory, or we'll rip your pelts off!"

I flicked my tail in warning at the two toms behind me, though I could feel their anger glowering off their bristling pelts. "We would like to speak with Swallowstar." I repeated, tone dangerously low.

Barkclaw's eyes widened. "Just let them, Magicstorm." He meowed casually to the she-cat. "They mean no harm."

Magicstorm? I wondered, that's the SunClan deputy!

Magicstorm narrowed her eyes to icey slits and let out an irratated growl. "Fine. But keep them out of my fur. And make sure they don't attack our camp."

I heard Splashnose hiss with annoyance. Kestrelblaze uprooted clumps of grass with his unsheathed claws, clearly angry. I flexed my own and padded confidently forward, Magicstorm, Barkclaw, and the other warrior trailing us suspiciously.

We entered SunClan camp. Cats with battle scars were working quickly and quietly on reparing the camp. Some turned to us, pelts bristling with suspicion. I ignored them and continued on to Swallowstar's den, where she was ordering cats on patrols.

"I thought the deputy did that, not the leader." Splashnose whispered scornfully. Magicstorm overheard and shot us murderous glances.

Swallowstar looked up at the sound of approaching cats. "What are they doing here?" She hissed, tail lashing.

"They said they wanted to speak with you." Barkclaw meowed.

"What do you want?" Swallowstar drew a paw over her ear, claws glinting in the sunlight.

"Can we speak in private?" I requested, glancing around at the cats watching us, eyes wary but curious.

Swallowstar paused, then meowed, "No. If there is something you must say, I think my Clan would want to hear it too." SunClanb cats murmured agreement.

I let out a soft hiss of annoyance. "Fine. As you wish, Swallowstar." I added a layer of ignorant empahasize over the Clan leader's name. She flattened her ears, but meowed through gritted teeth, "Go on."

"Darkcliff has rejoined MoonClan." I began. Cats yowled insults at the dark warrior; "I knew he was a traitor!" and "He never deserved to live with us!"

I raised my tail for silence, as I would have in a normal Clan meeting. Suprisingly, the cats quieted, causing Swallowstar to narrow her eyes, clearly irritated.

"Flamestar and Swifttail were murdered." I went on, shooting a quick glance at Magicstorm and Barkclaw, who both were bristling with aggression. "I first thought it was Darkcliff, since his fur was caught in Swifttail's claws, mixed with the scent of deathberries. Sorrelsky had confirmed later that Flamestar was killed with deathberries. I was sure Darkcliff was the killer." I sucked in a breath. All eyes were fixed on me. I had their undivided attention.

"After the battle, you raided my camp." I meowed, my voice echoing through the silent hollow, "We drove most of you out, but Darkcliff was included in the raid and was left behind. He hid in a crevice in the wall, but I found him. And then he told me the truth of the murders." The cats leaned in, anxious to hear my words. Only Barkclaw and Magicstorm remained looking unintrested, but I caught a flash of fear in their eyes.

"He told me that Barkclaw and Magicstorm did it. Barkclaw fed Flamestar deathberries, and I can prove it." My voice rose to a yowl, "Darkcliff would have taken them from Sorrelsky's storage, but she didn't miss any! As for Swifttail, Magicstorm and Barkclaw worked together to slice his throat, then stuff Darkcliff's fur in his claws. They were the murderers, not Darkcliff! They tried to pin it on an innocent MoonClan warrior, but now you can see that they have failed!"

Home Sweet Home

 The SunClan cats froze in shock. I stared truimphantly at the Clan. Swallowstar's expression was of suprise, and dismay.

"How could you believe such fox dung?" Barkclaw's yowl broke the silence. "Kill them! MoonClan liars don't deserve to live!" He sprang from the crowd at me, but I dodged his attack and spun around, bristling.

"We are not liars!" I yowled, "It's the truth, and you know it!"

The cats had broken up in a wild frenzy, crazed by Barkclaw's accusation. Swallowstar jumped to her paws and screeched, "Stop! There will be no blood shed today!" Then she turned to me, eyes wide and wild, "Leave! And don't come back!"

I was startled at her sudden dismissal, but dipped my head and obeyed. "Come on." I ordered my Clanmates, and leapt though the crowd of ranting cats toward the Clan entrance.

"I will deal with them!" Swallowstar's last promise echoed in my ears faintly. A glow of satisfaction flickered within me. Thank StarClan we're alive.

I pounded into camp, Splashnose and Kestrelblaze hot on my heels. "You're back!" Nightwhisker greeted me, the sharp tang of poultice hitting my nose. "You got you're wounds treated." I remarked, screwing up my eyes.

"Yeah." Nightflame padded over, laughing. "The whole Clan smells of chewed-up herbs now!"

Nightwhisker nudged him playfully. "How was your battle?"

I sighed with satisfaction. the Clan was getting along with each other again. I glanced behind me. Splashnose was gone, and I spotted Kestrelblaze running for the nursery. I padded toward the center of camp, leaving the boys to share tongues. "Where's Sorrelsky?" I asked Pepperpaw as she rushed by with a mouthful of herbs.

"Nursery." she mumbled, "Leafstream's having kits!"

I thanked her and bounded for the sheltered den. My pace slowed as I passed Dawnpaw's body, laid gently down in the middle of the hollow. Splashnose crouched there, his eyes shut tight with mourning. I gave him a tiny nod of approval, even though he wouldn't notice. Then I continued on, following the soft sound of groaning and mewling of newborn kits.

"They're beautiful!" I heard Kestrelblaze meowing in delight, "Two toms and a she-kit!"

I peered into the den. "What're their names?" I mewed, heart fluttering in pride as I watched the scraps of fur, one gray-blue, one calico, and the last one, the she-kit, snowy white.

"Stormkit," Leafstream rasped, nudging the gray tom, "Pebblekit, and Snowkit." Snowkit wriggled toward her mother's belly, and started suckling. Stormkit and Pebblekit crawled clumsily after their sister, and they all began drinking milk.

I sighed with pleasure, "They are beautiful. I'm sure they'll make fine warriors." Leafstream let out a purr and closed her eyes.

"She just needs rest." Sorrelsky murmured softly, and pushed her way through the curtain of lichen. I took one last glance at Kestrelblaze and his mate, then exited as well, happiness rising in my throat.

"How are they?" Pepperpaw bounded out from the dirtplace tunnel.

"They're good." I purred, swiping a paw over one ear. The medicine cat apprentice mewed with delight, then raced off.

I padded over beside Splashnose. "She was a brave apprentice. She fought like a warrior." I whispered to him, crouching down. the multicolored warrior didn't answer. I breathed in Dawnpaw's scent, mixed with the scent of StarClan. A wispy form drifted by my ear. I'll take good care of her. Willowsong's comforting meow echoed in my mind. A smile curved my lips and I stood, shaking my pelt. The sky had darkened, the bright half moon shining in the clear, star-filled sky.

I bounded up Highrock and yowled, "Let all cats old enough to hunt their own prey gather here beneath Highrock for a Clan meeting."

I watched as Frostfur shoved a final bramble in place, repairing the tunnel entrance. Nightflame and Nightwhisker padded, side by side, under the Hightrock. Leafstream poked her head out of the nursery. Kestrelblaze gave her a lick, then went over to join the other cats. Splashnose hefted himself up, eyes bloodshot with tears.

Once the cats had settled I mewed, "Today's battle has been a victory. We honor Dawnpaw, who gave her life to defend her Clan. If she were still alive, I would have made her a warrior. But StarClan now holds her in safe paws. May the prey be plentiful and the sun rest on her back." The cats murmured agreement.

I went on, "Leafstream has given birth to three kits, Stormkit, Pebblekit, and Snowkit. They will be apprenticed when they are old enough. Ripplepaw and Rushpaw will finish their training soon, and we will have new warriors in the warriors den before we know it." I blew out a breath of happiness.

"I would like to thank all you cats, for you all fought bravely in the battle. Thank you for giving me support in finding the killer of Flamestar and Swifttail. I have spoken to SunClan, and I trust Swallowstar to give fair