Ravenpaw's farewell

When Ravenpaw woke up, Echosong was sitting beside him, tail flicking and flicking.

"Ah, you're awake." She meowed.

The sun had sunk behind the trees, and the shadows of evening had settled over the canyon.The scrubland leading to Twoleg territory was empty and quiet, but Ravenpaw could smell scent marks floating in the air.The cats circled the SkyClan camp restlessly.

"The new frontier is ready," Echosong told him as he descended. "My Clan cats are ready to defend it with their lives."

"I hope it doesn't need to be so tragic." Ravenpaw meowed vigilantly.

Riley and Bella jumped in front of him when he reached the boulder. "We're having a great day!" Riley announced. "I'm the best at moving rocks. Cherry Tail told me!"

"I also found the longest branch!" Bella meowed.

"Plum Blossom Claw helped me move it together." A tan tom called to them.

"That's Rabbit Leap," Riley explained. "We're on his patrol tonight. Just a minute, Ravenpaw!" The young cats ran off.

Barry walked towards Ravenpaw, the smell of fresh game still lingering on his fur. "They've made friends," he commented.

"SkyClan has a lot of good cats." Ravenpaw agreed, "How about hunting?"

"Very good. I caught two mice and a squirrel, and the cats I was with were finally able to keep their mouths shut." There was a tinge of humor in Barry's voice. "Haven't you eaten yet?"

Ravenpaw's stomach churned.A spasm ran through him again, and a shadow fell over his eyes.He felt Barry leaning against his side, trying to hold him.

"You need to lie down," his friend told him.He guided Ravenpaw to a patch of sand at the edge of the canyon.Ravenpaw lay down and hissed in pain.

"You can't fight tonight," Barry meowed.His eyes widened alertly: "Your current condition is not good."

Ravenpaw watched his friend. "Oh, Barry. You still know me so well. Know me better than anyone else." He nudged Barry's cheek: "I've been keeping a secret from you, not on purpose of course: I've always A warrior. I am loyal to these cats, and I must fight by their side, no matter what happens."

Tears welled up in Barry's eyes. "You're too willful." He murmured, "Can't I really stop you?"

"No. But you can fight with me." Ravenpaw replied, "Please."

Barry leaned on Ravenpaw's head: "It's just like before."

Ravenpaw struggled to his feet, and they joined the army of cats walking up the canyon.Sharpclaw wags his tail for them to patrol the new border, which is filled with stones and twigs to mark it.They've been working hard today, Ravenpaw thought.

On his side, the SkyClan warrior moved swiftly and steadily.There was no telling who the Solar Warriors were, if anything, it was the faint, unusual smell of their fur.But it was clear that no matter where the Celestial Clan recruited warriors from, they were all well-trained and had a heart for the Clan.

Ravenpaw and Barry sprawled on the grass next to Billywind and his apprentice Pebblepaw.Her white fur is speckled with white, which helps her hide better in the moonlit grass.Ravenpaw didn't see Riley and Bella in the procession.He wanted them to remember everything he had taught them.StarClan, keep them safe!

Sharp Palm's roar quickly spread throughout the entire array in the air: "Listen to my password, fight!"

After a month seemed to have passed, they heard rumbling footsteps coming from the ground, all the way here.Ravenpaw was tense.This time there are more pet cats, and they seem to have a lot of fighting spirit.They have no idea that we are waiting for them to take the bait.

Billywind next to Ravenpaw held out his paws to his chest, ready to jump out.Closer, closer, closer...

"Come on!" Sharp Claw yelled, and the SkyClan cat jumped out, shouting louder and louder.

The pet cat staggered and stopped, screaming in fear.They were clearly outnumbered, but bit the bullet and joined the fray, one cat fighting two or three SkyClan warriors, scuffling and snarling angrily.For a while, Ravenpaw was an apprentice again, recalling everything Tigerpaw had taught him.He jumped up to dodge and dodge, claws out.On his side, Barry fought like his shadow, matching his move after move, just like any other samurai.

In the faint moonlight Ravenpaw saw himself running into a distinctive silver and black she-cat.She was one of the pet cats that harassed them that night.

"Are you still here?" she spat.

"We're much more popular than you!" Barry gasped, rushing to her side.

The mother cat jumped aside, paws out, ready to pounce on them.Ravenpaw tightened its hind legs and jumped out of attack range; when the female cat jumped, he jumped up and grabbed her waist.She snarled and fell to the ground, then burst into Ravenpaw's exposed belly again.

A mad, tyrannical pain swept over him.He realized that Barry was dealing with the pet cat, smacking his paw on her back as she yelled across the lawn.Ravenpaw was left behind, panting on the ground, waiting for the spasm to pass.He heard Barry's footsteps chasing the pet cat.There was the sound of fleeing footsteps on the ground, and the pet cats were driven away by the neighing warriors.

Gradually, silence swept the plain.The cats backed away, some of them limping.Ravenpaw heard a cheer: "We've won! They're gone!"

The warriors raced back down the canyon, to the camp they had sworn to protect, to celebrate the victory.

Ravenpaw could vaguely see Barry's face: "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

Ravenpaw shook his head and struggled to his feet.Barry started to help him, but Ravenpaw gave her a glare.There will be time; now is the time to share the victory with SkyClan.He leaned heavily on Barry's shoulder and crawled slowly down the canyon.Ye Xing was standing on top of the rock, her creamy spots gleaming in the moonlight.

"Ravenpaw, you are here!" she called. "SkyClan thanks you for everything tonight! Kitcats would never have respected our boundaries without you."

The cats by the rock turned to Ravenpaw, their eyes shining like stars, and they howled in triumph.Ravenpaw closed his eyes easily.We did it!

There was a throbbing beside him, and Riley and Bella emerged from the crowd of cats.Their fur tangled, leaving a paw print on Bella's ear, but they were shaking with excitement.

"Oh wow!" gasped Riley. "That's exciting!"

"We used everything you taught us!" Bella meowed. "I knocked a pet cat down with a front paw pounce!"

"Nice job," Ravenpaw purred, trying not to show pain. "I'm so proud of you!"

"We all are." Barry meowed.

"Riley, Bella, are you there?" Ye Xing shouted from the rock, "I have something very important to tell you."

The young cats exchanged a look before walking towards the front of the group. "Here we are!" Bella meowed.

Ye Xing signaled them with his tail: "Here, stand by me."

Riley and Bella climbed onto the boulder with Ye Xing facing them. "You guys fought bravely," she praised. "Like every one of my Clan cats, I actually feel like I was wrong about this one, and I should have gotten to know you before trusting you. You've Proof that you belong here."

Bella let out a faint squeak.

Ye Xing lowered his head: "Riley, Bella, do you accept the honor of joining the Celestial Clan?"

Ravenpaw felt his heart pounding.Beside him, Barry was also purring so loudly that his beard was shaking.

The SkyClan patriarch nodded to her two warriors.

"Wei Yun, Nettle Ban, are you willing to be their mentor?"

"Happy to help," meowed Weiyun, a thinner white female cat.Beside her, a beefy brown tom nodded.

"Rileypaw, Bellapaw, StarClan welcomes you to become SkyClan's apprentices." Ye Xing started the ceremony, and Crowpaw seemed to have returned to the open space at the bottom of the canyon, listening to the name Blue Star gave him as an apprentice.

"You need to rest," Barry whispered to him.Ravenpaw didn't argue, and was pushed into Echosong's lair by his friends.His head was buzzing, but the cheers of the SkyClan cats could be heard, "Rileypaw! Bellapaw!"

A light silver figure met them on the path.Silver Creek?Ravenpaw wondered vaguely.

"Ah, Ravenpaw." Echosong murmured, "Come with me."

She turned and went back to the lair, but Ravenpaw stopped hesitantly. "I won't go in, okay?" His voice was hoarse: "I'd rather lie under the tree."

Echosong nodded, and she pushed him gently all the way into the woods.

"Wait a minute!" Barry meowed, and he trotted over: "He's very sick! Shouldn't you take him in and treat him?"

"It's too late, Barry," murmured Echosong. "We must grant his last wish."

They reached the rustling woods, and Ravenpaw slammed down on the soft, cool lawn.He felt the shadows loom over him, as if tugging at his limbs.But he needn't be afraid anymore; he knew this was the end.Rileypaw and Bellapaw are now living the lives of samurai thanks to him.But Barry...

His old friend curled up beside him, as they did every time they fell asleep.Ravenpaw could feel him shaking, and he wished something would comfort him.

"Everything will be fine," Barry whispered, his voice breaking the cat's heart. "I know you have to leave me this time. I won't forget you, I swear."

Ravenpaw struggled to catch his breath. "I'll wait for you. Wherever you are, I'll find you." He dropped his head into Barry's forefoot.Everything seemed very far away from him.He heard a cat approaching not far away.

"We will give him a warrior's farewell." Ye Xingmiao said: "Maybe he is in a foreign land, but the Celestial Clan is honored to watch over him."

Barry whimpered.

Sorry, my friend, thought Ravenpaw.He felt shadows filling his mind.The trees around him shone with starlight, and he felt his legs grow strong and young again.The pain in my stomach disappeared.Ravenpaw stood up and looked down at Barry.I will always watch over you, he solemnly swore.Then he turned and walked into the woods.His heart begged him to go back to his friend, but he knew he had to go.Shadows loom over him, but what awaits him ahead are warm sunlight creeping slowly through the trees, the scent of prey.

Goodbye, Barry, one day, I will see you again.

The author has something to say: There is a plain between StarClan and the earthly time, which is the beginning and end of his hesitation and belief