Chapter Text
The newly named leader of WindClan stared at his father as he fought to catch his breath. He had never imagined that the ceremony to receive his nine lives from StarClan could be so charged. Tallstar had felt love, courage, patience, and forgiveness in its purest, most concentrated forms. Mixed in with all of this was gratitude that he had at last found out the truth of the circumstances of Sandgorse’s death.
Tallstar felt as though he could truly begin anew. He had gained so much in his travels with Jake. He could bring those things forward with him in his new life as the leader of WindClan, and leave behind the bitterness of his youth. All that was left was love. Love for the way of the warrior, love for his Clanmates, and love for his kit. Excitement tingled in his paws at the thought of being welcomed back to his Clan as leader.
“Thank you.” Tallstar looked across all of the assembled StarClan cats and dipped his head. “I promise to lead WindClan to the best of my ability, carrying with me all I have learned from every cat I have ever known and loved.” Melancholy tugged at his stomach as he thought of Jake. Would the kittypet ever risk the visit, or would Tallstar never see his dearest friend again?
His father stepped forward and gave Tallstar a tender lick on his cheek. “I couldn’t be more proud of you, Tallstar.”
Palebird broke away from the other starry WindClan cats that had given Tallstar his nine lives, and came to stand beside Sandgorse. The pale ginger tom gave her a respectful nod and took a few steps back to allow the queen to have a moment alone with her son. It was clear to Tallstar that they no longer thought of each other as mates in StarClan, but they looked as though they had remained friends. It was better this way: Palebird’s eyes were shining and she held her head high. She licked the top of Tallstar’s head. “I know that I didn’t fully show you the love of a mother while I was alive. Forgive me.”
Tallstar’s throat felt tight. “Of course.”
“I am so proud of you, Tallstar,” she whispered. “Lead strongly. WindClan will need you to protect them from the storms that lie ahead. And they will come. As much as I want to shield you from them, StarClan does not have the power to prevent them.”
“I will,” Tallstar vowed.
Palebird’s gaze filled with love and pride. “There will be a kit, kin of your dearest friend, who will need your help more than he knows.” Tallstar’s ears pricked at her words. “Watch over him. Guide his paws, for he is important to all of the Clans.”
“Blackpaw?” Tallstar gasped. Could the young apprentice really be tied to the fate of all the Clans? Protectiveness burned within Tallstar’s stomach. He didn’t need to be told to watch over and guide Blackpaw; from the moment Tallstar had laid eyes on the tiny black kitten Jake had brought over to WindClan territory, he had treated Blackpaw like his own child. Tallstar even indulged himself in thinking that he and Blackpaw looked a bit alike—they both had black pelts splashed with white. Suddenly he could hardly stand being here with StarClan at all, so eager he was to get back to the WindClan camp and reunite with the young apprentice.
Palebird’s eyes clouded before shaking her head. “I cannot say more. Just remember: there is no need to be afraid of every flame. Fire brings life, warmth, and new growth. As well as death.”
Tallstar blinked at his mother. The sight of Palebird and Sandgorse began to blur into twin visions of streaks of glimmering light. Behind them, the starry warriors slowly faded like flames dying out. Tallstar closed his eyes as though to clear them and opened them to see the Moonstone in front of him, no longer gleaming with its otherworldly light. Above him, the moon had shifted out of view. He stared at the dark night sky sparkling with stars for a moment and stood.
Beside him, Barkface stretched awake and blinked at him with gleaming amber eyes. His whiskers twitched. “Well? Don’t you want to go back home and sit vigil for Heatherstar?”
“Oh!” Tallstar said. “Oh, right. It seems like a strange thing to do now. I just saw her—”
Barkface raised his tail to quiet him. It was clear that he was curious about what had happened in the ceremony, but Barkface had also told him that whatever transpired during the ritual was for Tallstar’s eyes and ears alone.
He didn’t know yet what to make of Palebird’s message about fire. Again, he thought of Blackpaw and his fierce passion to prove himself to the Clan. Many WindClan cats welcomed him, but others still were wary about a kittypet kitten joining their ranks to train as a warrior. Already Tallstar could see the change in some of his Clanmates; Blackpaw’s presence was bringing with it fresh perspective to WindClan. But Tallstar could see a similar potential in any of the other apprentices training with him.
He could not help but wonder if his mother had also been giving him a warning: not all flames should be feared, but fire would always bring death with it. If Blackpaw was the fire that Palebird spoke of, would he bring death to the Clans?