Briarthorn’s Leader Ceremony

However unfortunate it felt to the large, fluffy she-cat, she knew that it was time for her to journey to the moonstone. After she came back from this trip, her life would be changed forever. In some way, it already had been, but the act of receiving her lives and changing her name almost made it feel more surreal to her; more permanent. It solidified the idea in her head that this was truly happening to her, and that she could not turn back. Not that she wanted to- she’d never turn her back on the Clan- but if she could go back and change the way things were, she’d have done it in a heartbeat. The anxious, confused young apprentice that still shared a small portion of her heart and mind didn’t want this. The frustrated, lost queen who left her family behind to start a new and terrifying life didn’t want this. Most of her didn’t want any of this, not even a little of it. More than anything, the tired mother trying her best to make a good life for her children did not want this. However, a small and reasonable part of her knew that this was very nearly the only way she could ensure a safe, loving environment for her children, and in turn, the entire Clan. She was aware that there’d be bumps and bruises along the way, but if there was any chance she could protect them and keep them safe, she’d take it.

So, on not-so-nimble paws, she made her way into the medicine cat den, which was now populated by two young apprentices selected for the job. They were still in the very beginning stages of their apprenticeship, and she didn’t expect them to know entirely too much about the job. Briarthorn would still need to find a medicine cat from another Clan to assist in their training, but for now, she’d do the best she could. At the moment, that meant making sure they knew how to assemble a bundle of traveling herbs (which Dovefrost had thankfully taught her the very bare bones of- not enough to constitute real training, but enough to get them by until they could properly learn) and showing them how to navigate to highstones and venture into the mothermouth safely. Though this was for a rather momentous occasion, she figured she’d be better off to kill two birds with one swipe by taking Fogpaw along with her for the journey. He’d been for his ceremony, but this was for learning purposes. Ducking into the den, she gestured toward the bundle of herbs the two had created earlier on. She’d already eaten hers, so now it was Fogpaw’s turn. ”Eat those and we’ll begin the journey. We will have to travel through two opposing Clan territories, but they shouldn’t harm us at all, as we are making a sacred trip. That applies to any moonstone journeys you perform in the future, and any other trips you make as medicine cat. You have a protected status by virtue of your position. Remember that.” She mewed, pushing the bundle forward with a forepaw.

Briarthorn watched carefully as the tom quickly chewed and ate the bundle of herbs, ready to leave as soon as he’d finished. Was there reason to be so cold and unwelcoming? That was unbecoming of a medicine cat in training. Briarthorn dismissed the thought, though- he’d been going through a lot, recently. She wasn’t one to speak on such things, anyway. Turning and padding out of the den and soon enough, out of camp, Briarthorn walked in silence for a long while. This was a familiar journey for her, and it didn’t even take a second thought for her to know where her next pawstep lie. However, the thought had only just occurred to her that Fogpaw might need further instruction.

Once they reached the SkyClan border against that of ThunderClan’s, she stopped for a moment to speak. This… teaching thing was weird. But whatever. ”I’m sure you can tell, but this is the ThunderClan border. We’ll cross through ThunderClan and walk along the thunderpath, all the way into WindClan territory and eventually highstones.” She continued across the border, wrinkling her nose to acclimate to the new scents around her.

Briarthorn continued to travel through the territory, occasionally pointing out small details and things the tom might need to know in order to get comfortable with taking apprentices on this journey. Fogpaw’s words of appreciation, however brief, shocked her into silence for a moment. It hadn’t been something she’d thought about as an entirely personal choice, but rather that she was just doing her job… Er, well, it wasn’t her job, but it had become her responsibility, and she wasn’t going to neglect that. ”It’s… There’s no need to thank me. Your presence and willingness to learn is enough.” Her awkward nature had never really disappeared, it seemed.

As they finally neared the end of ThunderClan’s territory, Briarthorn made a point to recognize Fourtrees as they passed the outskirt of the clearing, sticking near the thunderpath as a pseudo shortcut. Once they’d made it past that landmark, WindClan’s moors were clear ahead of them, the scent quickly following the nearer the became. ”Just past Fourtrees is WindClan territory. It’s very open, and easy to feel vulnerable. Just be careful, though, and you’ll be alright. We’re almost there now.” She mewed, pace quickening and her strides seeming to lengthen. The molly was beginning to grow anxious and impatient, even if she didn’t explicitly say it.

Briarthorn continued her trek through the territories, keeping an eye on the nearby moors and thunderpath simultaneously. She wasn’t particularly expecting Fogpaw’s next question. She didn’t like it, either- feeling as if she’d almost been called out. ”I’m not on edge. I’m being cautious.” It wasn’t an entirely untrue statement, but it wasn’t the full truth, either. ”It cannot hurt to be too wary, but if you’re caught off guard, it can be the difference between life and death.” Again, not entirely untrue, but far from the true reason behind her anxieties. She simply wanted this to be over. Soon enough, they came to the base of highstones, and a quick moment later arrived at the mothermouth.

”You’ve heard this speech before, but when you accompany apprentices on their moonstone journeys, you will have to recite it. As long as you tell them to be careful, follow closely behind you, and what to do once you make it inside, it doesn’t matter how you say it.” With that, Briarthorn ducked into the tunnel, the pitch black oddly comforting to her. It reminded her of ShadowClan. Soon enough, they were greeted by grandiose hues of light, bouncing off of the cave’s walls. The moonstone. Briarthorn turned to face Fogpaw, settling down next to it. ”I’ve no idea how long this will take, so get comfortable. You may consult with StarClan yourself if you wish, I suppose. If not, I will see you soon.”

As soon as the molly touched her nose to the stone, she felt a wave of drowsiness overcome her, and she made no effort to combat it. A pit filled with anxiety and an odd sort of nausea had formed in her chest, tightening the longer she laid alongside the stone waiting for StarClan to greet her. When she finally slipped into a dream-like state, she could breathe a sigh of relief. Eyes fluttering open, she gazed out at the sights surrounding her. It was clearly someplace parallel to the SkyClan territory she was accustomed to, but this version had stars scattered along the terrain, sparkling brighter than Briarthorn seemed to remember.

Before the soon-to-be leader had fully taken in the sights before her, a group of star-pelted cats appeared before her, carrying themselves with all the grace and dignity expected of cats their rank. Some were grouped together, others remained on their own, awaiting their turns. Briarthorn couldn’t take in who each of them were before the first of them stepped forward, a petite she-cat dwarfed by Briarthorn’s size, a smile on her face as she greeted the fluffy she-cat.

Freckleface’s small form emerged from the gathering crowd of cats, the usual pep in her step boosted by the fact that she was getting to participate in such an important moment. It wasn’t something that she ever believed would happen, but here she was… And regardless of how little or well she knew the future leader before her, she was proud. Briarthorn was family, and that was all that mattered to her. With a polite dip of her head, Freckleface sat before her, tail wrapping neatly over her small paws. ”Heya, Briarthorn! I’m Freckleface. I remember when you were just a small kitten! Now, here we are. Crazy how times change, hmm?” The small she-cat’s eyes were pulled up into a bright smile, ears perked and tail tip twitching with excitement.

”Before we can bless you with the nine lives of a leader, you must give up who you once were for who you are destined to become. Leadership is a daunting and endlessly challenging task, and StarClan will prepare you as best we can. Briarthorn, are you ready?” She meowed, usually happy-go-lucky attitude shifting into a more serious tone as she awaited the larger molly’s response.

Briarthorn’s heart pounded against the confines of her chest, breath hitching in her throat with Freckleface’s words. Was she prepared for this? Could any sane, reasonable cat ever be? A strong-willed part of her wanted to protest and tell the little she-cat in front of her that no, she was not, in fact, ready for this. That they had the wrong cat, and she should turn back around and go home. The ancestors were intelligent, she was positive that they could find a suitable replacement.

A flicker of a memory appeared in her head, not long enough to savor the moment, but enough to remind her of her purpose. It was several moons ago, her newest litter of kits tumbling around in the nursery. Before they’d experienced pain or trauma; seen the nasty things that they would face for moons and moons to come. Their complete innocence was a stark comparison to the way that Moonlily shuddered whenever she entered the camp walls, or how Nightbird fought off tears and panic when he thought he’d behaved just a little too much like his father. The remembrance of that moment was all the reminder she needed as to why she was there- it was for them. For all the future kits, who she hoped to protect so that they’d never have to deal with the things she and the rest of the Clan had. ”I am.” She mewed simply, strengthening her resolve and lifting her chin.

Freckleface smiled, her gentle and upbeat nature returning. ”Fantastic!” On petite paws, she made her way over to where Briarthorn sat waiting. ”This next part… It will be unpleasant. But it makes way for nine lifetime’s worth of blessings. You will leave us a stronger, wiser, more confident leader. Go on and do great things, Briarthorn.” With those closing words, Freckleface waited for Briarthorn to lower her head so that she could reach up and gently press her nose onto the other molly’s, stripping her of her existing life.

The pain that followed was unimaginable- it was as if each and every nerve in Briarthorn’s body was aflame, spreading from her nose to the tips of her paws and tail, with no sign of extinguishing. Alight with the pain that felt as if her very soul was being ripped from her physical being, she opened her jaw but no sound came out- a deafening silence instead taking its place. It was over in a flash, but felt like an eternity to the molly. When, finally, the pain subsided, Briarthorn was left with an odd feeling of pure bliss; as if she were walking on clouds, her body utterly weightless. It was a relief unlike any other.



The ancestors left her with no time to recover before a smaller she-cat presented herself. Though there had been far too many moons to count since they’d last spoken to one another, Briarthorn did recognize the face of her former mentor, back in ShadowClan. Her gaze remained steady, but she tilted her head in greeting to the older she-cat, legs stiff and paws rooted to the starlit ground underpaw. She was still shaken from what had happened prior, but she had to focus.



Briarthorn’s heart beat faster with each word the molly spoke, praising her and guiding her pawsteps with each word. Her gaze fell to her paws briefly at the mention of her death. Briarthorn was ashamed of the fact that she was hardly present during that time period, not nearly enough to remember it clearly. Remembering just how horribly she’d withdrawn haunted her. There was no time for that, though, because her mentor quickly moved on. Rationality. The large tabby had to resist the urge to laugh. StarClan must have been watching during her… Conflict with Bloodstrike. Rationality on his part certainly might have delayed what happened, but it never would have prevented it. She supposed StarClan hoped to steer her away from a similar path.

When Shadestrike approached, Briarthorn leaned into her embrace, welcoming the first of nine lives. What she truthfully hadn’t expected was for it to be so incredibly painful. Did all leader ceremonies involve this much immense pain? Did StarClan truly reward the future leaders of the forest with this? It was absolutely absurd. Her face contorted to an expression of pain, eyes shut tight. There was no stopping the onslaught of stinging, burning pain that spread throughout her head. The pain of every irrational word she’d spoken, every dumb, thoughtless decision she’d ever made returned to her all at once. When, eventually, it faded, she was left panting, but she felt a new sense of light in its wake. Colors felt more sharp and vivid, and there was a clear path laid out before her. Things seemed to make sense. Briarthorn looked back to where Shadestrike had turned, joining the crowd of StarClan cats behind her. There was no time for words, but her gaze portrayed a clear message in response: Thank you.



Briarthorn nearly jumped as Mothglow leaped from the shadows, seemingly appearing from nowhere. Mothglow had always felt like a sister to her in the way of family, but Briarthorn was ashamed that she’d never truly taken the time to make a good connection with her… Or anyone in ShadowClan, for that matter. Briarthorn returned Mothglow’s greeting with a gentle smile, dipping her head out of respect for the older molly. ”It’s good to see you too, Mothglow.” Briarthorn meant it, but her tone still felt stiff. She couldn’t pretend as if she’d ever made any meaningful connections in her birth Clan.



Joy. That was certainly… Unexpected. The corners of Briarthorn’s maw lifted in a genuine smile. It had been so long since she’d felt joy. Pure joy, not tainted by the horrors of what lie outside her field of vision. In fact, she couldn’t be entirely sure she’d experienced it all. Despite the pain her last life brought her, Briarthorn found herself once again leaning into the StarClanner’s embrace. This life brought warmth to her chest, a gentle one that coursed through her veins and coated her entire being. It was pleasant, almost soothing. It was gone entirely too soon for the future leader’s preference, though. She opened her eyes to see Mothglow stepping away, and Briarthorn nodded in response to her farewell.



When Crowstar appeared next, Briarthorn bowed her head out of respect. Though she never knew the tom, his status and air of regality commanded respect. She sat, nervously waiting as he examined her. What was he going to say? Did he disapprove of her? Relief filled her form as the words began to spill out. She wasn’t seeking praise or approval, but just knowing that the former leader of SkyClan was alright with her stepping up to the position made her feel better, even if only slightly. It gave her confidence in her actions, that perhaps she truly had made the right decision, after all.



Perseverance. It was vital, that much Briarthorn knew. When the tom made contact with her, she suddenly felt as if she were back in the marshes. The feeling was akin to being up to your shoulders in the mud and muck, surrounded by nothing but deep marsh. The only way out was to continue pushing through until you found somewhere to regain your footing. It was a panicked, hopeless state, but it quickly gave way to relief as she received the life. In its place was a determination to get through it, to push until she simply couldn’t any longer.



Briarthorn nodded firmly in response to Crowstar’s advice. She intended to follow through with her commitment to putting her Clan first. She’d come into leadership that way, and she fully intended to leave it as such. The cat who followed Crowstar was vaguely familiar to Briarthorn, but she dutifully sat there as she approached and introduced herself.



The molly’s words hit Briarthorn like a thorn dug into tender paws. The ways in which they were similar weren’t lost upon her- their parents forbidden to be together by the code, leaving their home Clans, and taking on forbidden mates of their own- though Briarthorn wasn’t entirely aware of the last detail. In a way, it almost made her advice more applicable to certain aspects of Briarthorn’s life. Briarthorn had become aware of Birdsong’s heritage, if not for the spectacle it had caused, because of the obvious and uncanny similarities between them.



Honesty. Something one would think is obvious, but was often lacking in day to day life. Briarthorn didn’t need to lower her head for Birdsong to reach, she simply welcomed the next life as it came. This one was a sharp, stabbing pain that the bulky she-cat was absolutely no stranger to. In fact, she felt this one often, and deeply. It was a pain reminiscent of betrayal, of feeling lost with no direction. It reminded her of the pain she felt when, after so many moons of living in the dark, the sun arose on the truth- burning more than it might’ve if it weren’t for the lack of honesty. This was something she had been on the receiving and giving end of, and likewise, something she saw as a double-edged sword. Honesty, in most circumstances, was important to her, and she’d uphold that virtue the best that she could. If not for herself, for her Clan and for her kits. When the pain died away, she felt a sense of numbness. After. afrw brief moments, that gave way as well, and Briarthorn felt herself come alive with a new sense of truth- a hyper-awareness of everything going on around her, a very acute realization of the existence of each and every muscle her body housed. She was only able to nod in thanks to Birdsong before she retreated, and the next she-cat approached. This she-cat was one Briarthorn had met before, and someone that she instantaneously recognized. Whether that was good or bad, Briarthorn wasn’t entirely sure.



Ah, so Adderflare did recognize her. Not only that, she’d seemingly been keeping an eye on her from the stars. If Briarthorn was still who she was when she and Adderflare had their brief interaction, she might consider it charming. Now, though, she hardly had the energy to really consider it beyond a surface level sense of wonder. She was most certainly correct about the timing and circumstances of her ascent to leadership. If she had a say, SkyClan would be making no further enemies. That was why she was here, after all, wasn’t it? But she bit her tongue- she wasn’t willing to sacrifice it all to keep from conflict. It was a careful balance, and she was sure to make mistakes… Which Adderflare must have picked up on, because she granted Briarthorn the life of vigilance.

This life wasn’t necessarily painful to the large tabby, but it was far from comfortable. It sent a chill down her spine, almost as if there was an additional sense telling her something wasn’t quite right. No, something was far wrong. It wasn’t anywhere near her, not in the land of the stars, but somewhere, she could feel it… Something had gone wrong. Unlike the lives prior to this one, the feeling didn’t immediately fade away to nothing, or to something more persistent. It remained steadfast, the discomfort becoming a constant pit in her chest. Her gaze drifted down to Adderflare, confusion riddling her gaze. The once scar-ridden molly didn’t seem to have any idea what was happening. In fact, before Briarthorn could swallow the exponentially growing anxiety and question her about what in the name of the stars was happening to her, she turned and disappeared into the crowd of gathered cats. The feeling of absolute helplessness didn’t fade at all, but the presence of the next cat approaching her from afar was distracting… Rendering the feeling more of a nagging sensation. Still everpresent, but Briarthorn had to fight to maintain a sense of focus on what was happening.



The tom quickly came into view as he descended from the small hill, and the closer he came to the molly, the more details of his features she was able to make out. The way his fur was tabbied with dark stripes, the pattern in which they fell across his back and shoulders. The light spots on his face and chest… All things that he and Briarthorn shared. The way he carried himself portrayed a sense of regality; an elegant poise that commanded respect and displayed his authority. As he came to a stop in front of her, she noticed his webbed paws, and pieces of the puzzle began to come together.

This was a tom in a position of great leadership, a RiverClanner, and their resemblance in nearly all but stature was uncanny… Torrentstar of RiverClan, Briarthorn’s father. He’d died before Briarthorn had even begun training, but she wasn’t sure she’d ever get the opportunity to meet him in life even if he hadn’t. Until this moment, the tom was nothing more than an elder’s tall tale, a dream she’d conjured up when reality had no better option to turn to. Nothing more, Nothing less. Her heart-rate sped, a look of disbelief painted onto her muzzle.

His eventual introduction revealed her suspicions to be true. A flurry of emotions flooded her in that moment- frustration that this was how they‘d first meet, anger at the tom’s actions, anger toward the Righteous Few all over again, a general sense of loathing and sadness that he never had a prevalent presence in her life, aside from the hole he left in his and her mother’s absence. She was conflicted on whether to dash forward in a fit of kit-like desperation, maintain her composure, or return his almost warm greeting with a cold glare. Eventually, she settled on a polite, respectful dip of her head in greeting herself.



Right… She was here to receive her nine lives. The thought had escaped her, washed away in the flood of confusion and discomfort from the previous one. Peace. It was serene, almost comforting. The words of affirmation from her father (which felt weird to say in and of itself, but here she was) were more comforting than anything… She wasn’t a mistake. Her life held purpose, and there was a reason she was here tonight. The gift of peace was almost immediate in its effects, like a soothing rain while staying warm and dry inside your den. It was blissful, but it didn’t last long. In fact, when the stark discomfort from before returned, her heart ached for the quiet and gentle tranquility it offered. Much like the other lives, though, the next came far too soon for any of that to matter.



Briarthorn likely should’ve expected the giver of her next and seventh life, but through the exhaustion she was experiencing, she hadn’t truly considered it. When the large molly appeared, passing her father on her way down from the hill they’d both begun on, it all clicked. StarClan must have put this plan together specifically to tear at her heart, that was the only explanation that made any sort of sense.

’… little leech…’. Briarthorn hadn’t heard those words since she was merely a kit in the nursery. It was difficult to determine whether the words brought comfort or bad memories, or perhaps a bit of both. The other she-cat needed no introduction; Briarthorn knew exactly who she was the moment her eyes landed on her, even from afar. But even just hearing her name sent a barrage of muddled emotions through her, and a bit of a chill down her spine.



So, Briarthorn’s lack of brilliance with words had a source, it seemed. Perhaps she’d inherited that from her mother- formalities had never been her thing, even if she feigned them from time to time. Briarthorn would come to disagree, though, because Thornstar’s words made sense. Balance was something she focused on; tried as hard as she could to maintain. It wasn’t always about one particular thing, there was almost always a careful and steady balance between one or more that were important in each and every circumstance. Thornstar’s life was a great reminder of that… The life of resolve.

When their noses touched, this life was, like Torrentstar’s, much more peaceful than some of the others. It wasn’t gentle, like his, but it brought her a sense of renewed strength. Like a great oak burrowing its roots further into the ground, she could imagine herself growing more stable and secure. She felt stronger, more equipped to handle the challenges and hardships she’d soon face from the position of a leader. The feeling faded, but not entirely. Briarthorn soon realized that that meant her time with her mother was nearly over… And despite the resentment that she’d felt for moons upon moons in her younger days, she hated the notion that the next time she’d see her would be in death.



Thornstar was… Proud? Perhaps it was because more of her own mistakes were at the forefront of Briarthorn’s mind… Robinloft’s murder, her breach of the code resulting in kits and a new life in SkyClan… It had seemingly all come together, though, in a weird way. Maybe that was what Thornstar was proud of. Briarthorn’s gaze portrayed the words her mouth was struggling to say: ’I love you, mom. Thank you for everything.’



Robinloft’s appearance was the only one that truly took Briarthorn by surprise. The others, she could rationalize. Their presence had a clear reason, without much thought to come to the conclusion of why they were there. But Robinloft? Was StarClan going to turn her away, after all? It wasn’t something Briarthorn would find all-too-shocking, but why now, on the penultimate life before she was to return home? Her gaze remained guarded and steely, unsure of Robinloft’s intentions, even after all these moons. There was an apologetic undertone to it, which only made itself obvious after Robinloft seemed to show a lack of aggression. Briarthorn wasn’t entirely sure how- if the tabled had been turned, she couldn’t guarantee she’d be as peaceful as this- nowhere near it. The calm disposition of the other molly was another reason for her to deeply regret her actions.



A wave of emotions washed over Briarthorn. Sensations of claws grazed her pelt, fangs gripped around her throat. The feeling of wind in her fur and grief as sharp as an enemy's claw. It was sickening, like death was on the very verge of dragging her under. Emotions akin to defensiveness, panic, and desperation ripped through her, but they were gone as quick as they had come. They were quickly replaced with the feeling of clear sight; colors appeared more vivid, and she felt as if she had many more moons worth of knowledge than she possibly should have. Not just knowledge, but wisdom. Wisdom that might have prevented the tragedy she’d caused with her own teeth and claws.



As Briarthorn opened her eyes, the residual pain rolling off her pelt, she saw Robinloft skip away happily, a near smile on her face. Her expression melted to a combination of sorrow and grief, and she quickly called out to her, ”I’m sorry, Robinloft, deeply so. Thank you, for this.” She was, in her heart. Nothing would stop her from denying that it was entirely her fault, but Robinloft was aware of the part they both played. For now, she was simply apologetic.



The next and final cat to appear was a relief from the tension of the life prior. Her gaze instantly softened, tears pricking her eyes and threatening to spill over at any given moment. She leaned into Newtspring’s embrace instantly, not bothering for words at first. She cherished the moment, desiring to lean forward and prolong it when he finally pulled away from her. She offered him a genuine smile, the corners of her maw turned upward and fur fluffed up around her cheeks. ”Neither did I, trust me.” She mewed with a half-hearted laugh. These roles should be reversed- she should be giving her kit a life, granting him the advice and wisdom of the stars. There wasn’t a world in which a mother should outlive her kit like this, and it dug at her. Newtspring seemed to be thinking similarly, as his next words gave way.



Briarthorn watched, carefully analyzing Newtspring as he spoke. He reminded her of her brothers back in ShadowClan. In the way that he carried himself, talked, and looked at her. It was comforting, to know that a part of her was within him. A part that perhaps not many knew of, but it existed nonetheless. Her gaze and expression rose and fell at different points of conversation, and at one point she even managed a small chuckle when Newtspring mentioned his frantic fussing when he found out about her and Robinloft. It wasn’t funny at the time, far from it, but looking back on it now with him, she could see the humor in it.

Love. How very fitting, she thought to herself. Her son, despite their disagreements and hardships at times, reminded her of why she was her. Her kits down in SkyClan now had been the reason she’d pushed herself as far as she’d gotten now, but her love for Newtspring, of all her kits, for her Clan, would push her to make SkyClan a better place. To try with all her might to ensure that future generations didn’t have to endure the traumas and difficulties that she and her family had. That was her purpose.

”Well, ya’ve received your lives, ‘n’ now it’s time for the name.” Newtspring’s voice rose, proud and strong, carrying over the crowd. ”From now ‘ntil ya lose your final life- or retire -ya’ll be known to th’forest as Briarstar. StarClan supports ‘n’ honors this, your new place. Honor the memories of cats who’ve come before ya, ‘n’ follow the gifts we’ve bestowed upon ya today. Go home, ‘nd lead SkyClan out of these troubled times. Briarstar! Briarstar! Briarstar!” His voice rose into an echoing cheer, and the others around them soon picked up the chant, until the clearing was full of voices yowling her name in unison. As the others cheered, Newtspring lowered his voice once more, whispering, ”I don’t wanna see ya back for a long time, Mom. Wake up, ‘n’ go home. Make SkyClan better. I’ll be watchin’ ya; I love ya.” With those final words, he dipped his head and stepped back into the starry crowd, rejoining the resounding cries as StarClan slowly began to shimmer and fade, giving way to morning.

Briarthorn dipped her head out of respect when Newtspring switched back to more ceremonious words, granting her official leadership of the Clan and her new name: Briarstar. It sounded funny in her head, and it sounded funny on Newtspring’s tongue as he shouted it, giving way to a celebratory yowl. She wasn’t sure she’d ever grow accustomed to it. Nevermind that, though- as Newtspring said, she had a Clan to get back to, she and Fogpaw. ”I’ll try my hardest, Newtspring. I love you too. Watch over all of us- we’re counting on your blessings. Thank you.” There were so many other things she wanted to say to him, to tell him about his new brothers and sisters and everything that had happened since his death. As that familiar sense of drowsiness resurfaced, though, she knew there was no time for that. As the stars dimmed and eventually faded, she found herself back in the cave which housed the moonstone, Fogpaw waiting for her.

Muscles stiff and head still foggy, she stood to her paws and stretched out, shaking her head to readjust to the darkness. It was morning now, and they still had to journey home. There was something nagging at her, though… That feeling she couldn’t shake after Adderflare’s life of vigilance. It was discomforting, and her whiskers twitched in annoyance. She knew something was off, but there was no indication of what that might be. She couldn’t shake it, but she didn’t have time to ponder. With a small huff in frustration, she looked to Fogpaw and mewed quietly, ”Well, that’s that. We must return now.” Gesturing toward the tunnel in the cave from which they’d emerged, she quickly dived back in, paws guiding her through the same path thousands had traveled before her.

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Major thanks to the following RPers for helping me out during this ceremony by writing lives from their characters!

KittyKatz, Shadestrike - Rationality
Holly, Mothglow - Joy
Reaper King, Crowstar - Perseverance
kjSage, Birdsong - Honesty
Snickerdoodle, Adderflare - Vigilance
Transient, Torrentstar - Peace
Kari, Thornstar - Resolve
Cotton, Robinloft - Wisdom
Downfive, Newtspring - Love