Chapter 23

                Crazyflame stood by her leader’s body for a few long moments, frozen in shock. Then, Honeywhisker was marching towards her. “Crazyflame, if we leave now, we can reach the Moonpool tonight,” the medicine cat meowed.

                Crazyflame looked stubbornly into her eyes. “I am going to sit vigil with my leader,” she meowed.

                Honeywhisker sighed. “Fine,” she responded.

                Crazyflame helped drag Cloudstar’s body to the center of the clearing. Tonight was one of the nights I was supposed to meet Stonestream. He’ll wonder where I am, but he’ll hopefully show up the day after tomorrow.

                 She pressed her nose into her deceased leader’s white fur, which was so unnaturally cold, and then the next thing she knew she was opening her eyes as Morningblaze tapped her on the shoulder. She was instantly ashamed. Sorry, Cloudstar, if you can hear me, I didn’t mean to fall asleep.

                “You must appoint a new deputy,” Morningblaze whispered, pointing with her tail towards the sky.

                Crazyflame was startled to realize it was almost moonhigh. She scrambled up onto the Highledge. Who will I choose? I haven’t even thought about it at all! But…I suppose there is one cat…

                “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!” she yowled loudly. “I know some of you are doubtful about how good of a leader I’ll be, but I will do my best. I wasn’t prepared at all or anything, but I will defend this Clan with all nine of the lives I’ll receive.”

                “I say these words before StarClan, and the spirit of Cloudstar, that they may hear and approve of my choice,” she recited the words of the ceremony. “The new deputy of ThunderClan will be Liontail.”

                Liontail stood and looked excited. “Thank you, Crazystar,” he began.

                “Not Crazystar yet,” she corrected. “Crazyflame for now.”

                “Well, then, thank you, Crazyflame,” he tried again. “I’ve been waiting for this opportunity for a long time now and am pleased to have reached this goal. I hope to be your deputy for many long seasons and to help guide the Clan for the rest of my life.”

                She nodded quickly. “Thank you, Liontail,” she meowed. “Remember to organize all of the patrols tomorrow.”

                “Of course,” he responded instantly.

***

                Crazyflame returned to sitting vigil with Cloudstar until dawn. She watched as the elders carried his lifeless body out of camp to bury him.

                Honeywhisker marched up to her once more. “We’ll leave for the Moonpool at sunhigh,” she announced.

                Crazyflame watched as Liontail easily handled the task of organizing morning patrols. Hopefully, he proves to be a good, trustworthy choice. He seems to have natural leadership skills and good experience.

                The morning passed quickly. As the sun was at its highest point in the sky, Crazyflame padded into Honeywhisker’s den.

                “Are you ready?” Honeywhisker asked. “You know you can’t eat or have traveling herbs before visiting the Moonpool.”

                Crazyflame nodded, ignoring the hunger that was already gnawing at her stomach.

                Honeywhisker led the way out of camp, heading in the direction of the WindClan border. Forest turned to moorland as they followed the Moonpool stream up towards the hill where the sacred pool was.

                The hill was rocky and slightly steep. By the time the two cats reached the top of it, Crazyflame was panting and the moon was just starting its climb into the dark sky.

                Not needing Honeywhisker to tell her what to do, Crazyflame lapped at the water and laid down, closing her eyes. Instantly, a frigid blackness engulfed her. What’s wrong? Shouldn’t I be seeing StarClan?

                She opened her eyes, expecting to see the Moonpool and Honeywhisker. Instead, she found herself standing on the Gathering Island in front of the Dead Oak. The stars seemed to be growing larger and closer until they landed, forming a circle around her. She could see the shapes of cats and see their faces, some familiar. Cloudstar, Redshine, Smallpaw, Berrysplash, Leopardstorm, Flowerpetal, Stormpool, Sootsplash, Ashtail….

                A silver-furred she-cat that Crazyflame didn’t recognize stepped forward. “Don’t know me, do you?” the StarClan warrior purred with amusement. “I’m your mother’s mother, Silverstorm. With this life, I give you courage, so that you may lead your Clan bravely into battle.”

                Silverstorm leaned forward and touched noses with Crazyflame. She felt the feeling of anticipation right before a battle, and knowing that you’re completely outnumbered. I will protect my Clan. Fight until they’ve killed me nine times…

                Suddenly, the feeling faded and the silver-furred she-cat stepped back. A light brown she-cat replaced her. “I am Poppystar, and your leader, Cloudstar, was my deputy,” she introduced herself. “With this life, I give you love.”

                Crazyflame waited eagerly, and was surprised at the burning, agonizing sensation. Must protect them…

                Poppystar trotted away. Crazyflame was shocked. Is that the love a mother feels for her kits?

                A dark gray tom approached. “I am Mintstorm, Splashheart’s brother. I was falsely accused of a murder I didn’t commit and exiled from the Clan, leaving Splashheart to grow angry and turn evil,” he meowed in a deep voice. “I give you understanding, so that you can try to see a situation from everyone’s point of view and help guide your Clan.”

                A strange calmness and desire to help filled Crazyflame’s brain. Just tell me what’s wrong and I promise to do my best to help you…

                Mintstorm returned to his place in the crowd. An orange-furred she-cat stepped forward. “With this life, I give you determination and perseverance, so that you will never give up on anything or anyone,” Redshine meowed as she touched noses with Crazyflame.

                The situation was impossible, but she couldn’t quit. Always possible…must keep going….

                The next cat to come forward was a reddish-furred she-cat Crazyflame wasn’t expecting to see. “Salmonpaw?” she asked.

                The she-cat shook her head. “Salmonstorm is my sister and thankfully is still alive. I drowned as a kit when Marshkit dared me to swim across the stream surrounding camp. My name is Foxkit,” she responded. “With this life, I give you honesty. Tell the truth even when it is the most difficult option of all.”

                Crazyflame knew something was wrong, and she had to tell her Clan, even though she was certain it would have consequences for her and possibly her friends…

                Foxkit left. Stormpool took her place. “My brother Oakstream is in love with you. I thought you should be warned,” he whispered, then spoke louder. “With this life, I give you tireless energy. Use it to serve your Clan through the most tiresome of days.”

                Crazyflame felt like she could run anywhere and that she was stronger than anyone. Try to challenge me, Splashheart, and you’re going down!

                The seventh cat was Sootsplash. “I used to tell you stories when you were still in the nursery, didn’t I?” the she-cat chuckled. Crazyflame was surprised at how young she looked. “With this life, I give you hope. Even in the darkest of situations, hope shines through.”

                It was unlikely, but Crazyflame was certain they could do it. My Clan and I can survive anything…

                Only two cats left. A white-furred tom smiled as he walked towards her. “Cloudstar!” she exclaimed.

                He nodded. “With this life, I give you loyalty,” the former leader meowed.

                I cannot abandon my Clan. I will protect them, and serve them, and make the best decisions…

                Cloudstar was gone. Crazyflame wondered who the last cat would be. She was surprised to see Thunder pushing his way through the crowd. “I taught you much, but perhaps you taught me the most important lesson of all. I was wrong, revenge wouldn’t have helped any cat,” the first leader admitted. “With this life, I give you forgiveness. Learn from my mistakes and never cling to hatred, for hate never has helped any cat.”

                Crazyflame had never been so angry. But she knew somehow that revenge was not the answer…

                The warriors of StarClan chanted her new name. “Crazystar! Crazystar! Crazystar!”

                She felt as exhausted as if she’d just fought a battle, but also proud at the same time.

                Thunder dipped his head to her. “You’re a true warrior, Crazystar,” he meowed. “You no longer need my training or help. And one other thing…I just thought I owed you the truth and that is that I’m not your kin.”

                Crazystar nodded. “I figured that out,” she responded.

                Thunder sighed regretfully. “I only wish you were,” he told her. “But something else I have to tell you. Splashheart is coming back and he’s not going to be alone.”

                Before she could ask any questions, the Dead Oak and the cats of StarClan began to fade.

***

                Splashheart led the way through horse-place, a group of cats following him. “When will we attack, Splashheart?” a black-furred tom with a long scar down his face demanded.

                Splashheart spun around and pinned him to the ground. “It’s Splashstar!” he snarled. “And you know how large the Clans are! We’ll attack when we’ve gathered enough cats! Now show me where I can find more cats!”

                The tom scrambled up quickly and led towards a big red-and-white Twoleg structure. “This old barn has been unused by Twolegs for seasons,” he meowed. “Rogues and loners share this place and use the hay as bedding. I’d say at least twenty cats live here.”

                Two red doors blocked their entry. “How are we supposed to get in?” Splashheart growled.

                The black-furred tom led to the other side of the “barn” and pointed to a large hole in the wood. Splashheart walked in and the other cats exchanged glances before following.

                “Do you all know of the Clans?” the gray-and-white tom asked.

                The responses of these horse-place cats all seemed the same.

                “Yes!”

                “We hate them!”

                “They stole the whole forest and left us here to live a pitiful life!”

                “We’d have a nice home if they didn’t live here!”

                “Would you like to destroy them?” Splashheart asked, knowing the answer.

                “Of course!”

                “Yes!”

                “They’re too big, but if we could…”

                “Take over the forest!”

                “Then follow me!” he shouted, beckoning for them to follow with his tail.

                The majority of these horse-places rogues dashed over to Splashheart’s group excitedly, asking questions about how they’d attack…

A/N: I love summer! I've got so much time to write these days...

A lot of you can probably guess what Splashheart is doing from the last part of the chapter...

Also, hope you enjoyed the naming ceremony of CrazySTAR(finally!) and her quick conversation with Thunder! And what do you think about Liontail being deputy?

Thanks for reading, I'll have the next chapter done soon(probably tomorrow!) :D