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| - "Is it your wish to give up the name of a warrior, and go join the elders?" "It is." "Your Clan honors you and all of the service you have given us. I call upon StarClan to give you many moons of rest." "Thank you." "Stonetail! Stonetail! Stonetail!" The light gray tom limped towards Ivypool and Halfleg, who beckoned him to their den. "We've already made a nest for you," mewed Halfleg kindly. She turned around to Pebblestar. "Pebblestar! I--my legs are all better now...and I was wondering...could I get my old name back?" Pebblestar smiled. "Of course, Rosepetal." Rosepetal beamed, and beckoned Stonetail. "I'm not sure how this shall work," he mewed. "I want to wait for a signal from StarClan to appoint my deputy. But there is the matter of my mate, Stormflight. She must be--be buried." It wasn't rain rolling down Pebblestar's cheeks. He padded towards the dark gray she-cat lying, frozen, in the medicine den, sheltered fromt he torrential rain. "I didn't want her to go," he whispered, as Rainsong neared him. "Why, Stormflight? You gave up your life in an act of bravery, to save me. I shall always honor that...but if you hadn't, you'd still be alive. I have so many more lives to live, Stormflight. You needn't have died for me. I would have died in a heartbeat for you, with all of my lives. I now have seven at my expense...you had none." Suddenly, a white shape burst into the camp. It was Smallfern. "Killer's dead, Killer's dead!" she shouted. "Rock and Flame have gone with BloodClan, and they've all left, and Strike is the new leader of ShadowClan!" Her voice was filled with happiness, and she sought out Rainsong...only to find her bent over a dark pelt with her father at her side, Smallfern could figure out the worst. "Congratulations," mewed Appleleaf tightly. "We have two dead warriors, and we're rid of Killer and BloodClan. Hooray."" Smallfern cowered. "We suffered losses too," she said. "Swiftnose and Tawnyfur were killed." Rainsong looked up, as Mossheart said scathingly, "You were fighting with BloodClan, so why should we care?" "Tawnyfur saved my life," Rainsong said quietly. "So?" "Would you rather not have me here?" growled Rainsong. "Would you rather I be dead, like Claw, or Swiftnose, or Tawnyfur? Like Pinewillow, Twilightstar, or Stormflight? Like Blackpelt?" Mossheart flinched at the mention of his former mentor. "Like Firepelt?" added Rainsong. Mossheart laid down, and put his chin on his paws. "No," he whispered. Rainsong sniffled, and buried her head in her mother's fur. "Rainsong. Pebblestar. I have to dress her pelt," Littlewing said, nudging away her leader and the warrior. "I'm sorry." "I don't want to leave her!" cried Rainsong, sticking close to her mother's pelt. "I don't want her to go! She might still be alive!" "She's not," said Littlewing softly. "I'm sorry, Rainsong." "You're wrong!" Rainsong hid her face in her mother's dark gray fur, letting her scent wash over her for the last time. "Don't change her." Littlewing looked helplessly at Pebblestar, who was staring at his mate in unimagineable grief. "Come on, Rainsong," he appealed. "Let's go hunt." "It's going to be okay, Rainsong," mewed a tiny voice. The sniffling warrior turned to see Wolfkit sitting next to her, staring up at her with wide eyes. "I know what it feels like, but it'll get better. If you just have a friend to help you. You helped me get through it. I'll help you. I promise." "Come on, Rainsong." Rainsong tore her gaze away from Wolfkit, and followed her father. *** "Who will be the new deputy?" asked Smokebreeze. A blanket of silence settled over the air, the rain continuing to pour. Pebblestar lifted his face to the cold drops, and sighed as a single, solitary bird began to sing. Lightning flashed. "It's an omen!" yowled the leader. He looked towards his daughter. "You will be the new deputy of ThunderClan."
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