Ravenpaw's farewell

Ravenpaw and Barry accompany Violet and the kits all the way to Reggae Road.Riley and Bella shuffled their feet, insisting on pausing to sniff every clump of grass and every rabbit hole. "You two come here!" Violet meowed: "If you can't keep up with me, I don't want you!"

"I'm kind of thinking about it," Riley muttered.

"Don't talk nonsense," Ravenpaw scolded, "She's your mother, she loves you so much. Of course she wants to take you home."

The clear blue eyes of the young tom stared at Ravenpaw: "There's something wrong with being a pet cat. But Bella and I are born warriors. Please help us, Ravenpaw! You're the last one left The samurai of the forest!"

"I'm not a warrior, and I don't live in the forest." Ravenpaw said, "I'm living with Barry now."

"But you can teach us! We can create our own clan!" Bella begged.

Violet turned back to them and licked Bella's forehead. "Stop disturbing Ravenpaw. Look, we've reached the tunnel. We have to get Barry and Ravenpaw home." She led them away. up.

Bella looked back at Ravenpaw and said, "Please!" She begged, "Think about it!"

She lowered her head into the tunnel and disappeared behind her brother.Violet followed them, her orange tail flicking out of sight.

"Consider what?" Barry whispered to Ravenpaw.

"Oh, nothing. Just some crazy idea of ​​being a samurai. They think I can train them."

Barry blew his nose jokingly: "Hey, cubs. Did you have such a mouse-headed idea back then?"

"I really want to be a warrior," Ravenpaw commented.

"It's different. You were born in ThunderClan." Barry waited for Ravenpaw across the hedge. "Shall we hunt here?" He sniffed the air. "I think it's going to rain." Not yet Ravenpaw answered, and he went back along the edge of the meadow, his white tail straight in the air.

Ravenpaw looked at him, lost in thought.Is training Riley and Bella to be samurai really a crazy idea?His memory had never been more vivid than it is now.On that trip before leafless season, Ravenpaw remembered a lot: hunting techniques, the best way to take down an opponent in a fight, how to set a mark.And last night he found himself thanking StarClan again.Is there still a warrior ancestor watching him?Of course they will follow the four major ethnic groups to their new homes.

Ravenpaw trembled, feeling suddenly very lonely.His Clancats were gone, and he wasn't a warrior anymore.But he also remembers hunting, fighting and patrolling.He was happy with Barry—much happier than he was in the forest—but he didn't regret being a Clan cat.How could he tell Riley and Bella that they couldn't dream of being samurai?Ravenpaw slept badly that night.There was a dull pain in his stomach.When I just fell asleep, I was woken up by the sound of an owl.He shifted and tipped into the hay, burying his nose in Barry's soft fur.But falling asleep was too far away for him, and his mind was full of Riley and Bella.Ravenpaw considered it a great blessing for either Clan to have them.They are brave and agile, and quick learners.He really wants to send them to ThunderClan, but he doesn't know where ThunderClan is now.

"You're right," he heard a breathing voice, "They are too far away from you now."

Ravenpaw sat up suddenly: "Who's there?"

The sweet and soft smell like water surrounds him: "Don't be afraid. I am Silver Stream."

"Silverstream?" Ravenpaw looked around.A silver tabby she-cat crouched beside him.Her blue eyes glowed faintly. "RiverClan?"

"Yes, a long time ago." Ravenpaw stared at Barry as Silverstream replied.He was still sleeping, and his abdomen was rising and falling very regularly.

"You're dreaming. We can't disturb him."

Ravenpaw tried to see better, but her fur was already reflected in the haystack, and he tried to touch her but the paws kept going through. "Why are you in my dream?" he asked.

"Because StarClan hasn't forgotten you. Not all the StarClan cats have left the forest. I've been watching you and Riley and Bella, and I can see you'll make them good warriors. But they need you help, Ravenpaw."

"You really think so?"

The she-cat winked at him, her eyes like shimmering blue moons: "Of course. You changed your life. There's no better choice for a cat to help Riley and Bella listen to their hearts." Yes. Every cat should choose its own path."

"But what should I do? There are no packs left in the forest."

Yinxi paused and cast his gaze to the shadow on the edge of the barn: "There is another group that is relatively close. Do you remember what Martian said?"

"SkyClan!" Ravenpaw nodded, "He and Sandstorm went there after the Battle of BloodClan. But I don't know where it is, I just know they walked along the creek that flows through High Rock. I don't even know SkyClan The clan survived."

"They're alive, and they can help these young cats find their destiny. Join them, Ravenpaw. Tell them they can be warriors."

"What if SkyClan don't want more warriors?" Ravenpaw argued. "What if we get lost? I'm not the best cat for this kind of thing."

"A true warrior will give his all for his Clan." Silverstream was growing dimmer now, like a gleam in the shadows.

"I'm not a warrior!" Ravenpaw retorted.But it's too late.Silver Stream is gone.

Barry moved. "What's wrong?" he said vaguely.

"Go back to sleep," Ravenpaw whispered, the soles of his feet brushing against his flanks. "It's all right." He lay down and closed his eyes. "I'm not a warrior anymore," he whispered.

The strong sunlight of the new leaf season makes the barn a little stuffy.The cats came out of the shelter.Barry stretched out, the tip of his tail wagging like flies around him.

Ravenpaw was not very comfortable.His mind was full of the dream about Riley and Bella, finding SkyClan up the river.

"Don't be idle!" Barley urged: "Do something useful, and catch me a thrush. I'm going to throw up from eating rats."

Ravenpaw brushed the sole of his foot across a branch: "I want to take Riley and Bella to SkyClan."

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"You remember that Clan I told you about that Firestar and Sandstorm found upriver? It was banished long, long ago, but StarClan sent them to reforge SkyClan and teach them how to live like warriors."

"Sky Clan, I remember."

"I think this is Riley and Bella's best chance."

Bella stood up: "But you have never been to Tianzu."

"I know where it is," argued Ravenpaw. "Probably. There's something else about SkyClan. Firestar told me their warriors have pet cats too, and they spend half a day in Twoleg territory. You don't think that would Make Riley and Bella more popular?"

Barry stared at him: "Is your brain stuffed with dandelions? You want to go on a journey like this because my sister's cubs don't want to be pet cats anymore? You must be kidding ,Right?"

Ravenpaw felt his heart beating faster. "I'm not kidding, I...I have to. For Riley and Bella, for myself, I owe ThunderClan this."

Barry lowered his ears: "You don't owe ThunderClan anything. ThunderClan doesn't need Bella and Riley either! Even if they did, Violet wouldn't agree."

"I don't think this is something Violet can interfere with." Ravenpaw meowed.

"Good luck convincing my sister to do it," Barry said resignedly. "They weren't born in the forest; they were pet cats. It wouldn't be fair to them to be encouraged to practice these crazy ideas."

"It's not a crazy idea."

Barry narrowed his eyes. "That's too dangerous. Riley and Bella don't know anything about surviving in the wild. Your shoulders are just right!"

"My shoulder is fine," Ravenpaw hissed.

"But I think you're happy here," Barry whispered.

The hurt in his old friend's eyes was too much for Ravenpaw.He averted his gaze: "I'm happy. I've been happy since the moment I got here. You made me choose too, didn't you, I live with you, don't you realize? Lai Leigh and Bella want to choose their own paths too. I'm the only one who can help them. I...I want you to come with us."

Barry walked to the edge of the log pile. "I think you're a complete fool!" he roared. "You three are going to die because of the stupid dreams of those cubs. I won't go with you, and I don't want to hear another one about it." word."

"We're going to be warriors!" Bella squeaked. "Thank you, Ravenpaw!" She threw herself at Ravenpaw, nearly pushing him off the wooden ledge.Riley cheered and purred loudly.

Violet's eyes behind them were wide with horror.

"What do you mean, you know a group that will accept them? I remember you don't know where the group went."

"That Clan is different," Ravenpaw explained. "It's closer, and it's better for the kitty." His fur slowly began to heat up under Violet's gaze.

"The Celestial Clan will decide where they go or stay. If they don't agree, I'll bring them back."

Sounds simple enough, but Ravenpaw still wondered if Barry was right, if his brain was really stuffed.He took a step back, remembering his old friend.They haven't spoken much since the quarrel, and Barley has found another nest to sleep in.Ravenpaw couldn't imagine that this was more painful than the physical injury.

He brought his thoughts back to Violet.He had to convince her that this was the best choice for her pup.Silverstream wouldn't visit him if he didn't believe him.

"You and Barry once lived in the wild, too," Ravenpaw reminded her. "You know what it's like to live free, to hunt for yourself, to find shelter for yourself. Why can't Bella and Riley know that?"

"Because I want to protect them!"

"Wait a minute!" Ravenpaw and Violet turned to look at Bella, who was watching them too, her green eyes wide open: "Riley and I will never be happy being a pet cat. You know .Please let us go."

Riley nodded. "We really want to."

Violet trailed her tail on the ground: "Oh, my dear children," she murmured.Her chin rested on Bella's head, and she met Ravenpaw's gaze. "You're right. I have a choice between two things, and pet cats are my choice. How can I deprive them of that right?"

"You mean we can go?" Bella gasped.

Violet nodded. "I miss you every day, my dear. Be the best warrior you can be. Remember me every time you have to make a choice."

"We won't forget you!" Bella's voice was trembling: "You are the best mother! I...I don't want to go if I never see you again."

Violet took a step back: "Be brave, little ones!"

Ravenpaw could see the sadness in her eyes, and was amazed at the emotion in her words. "Parting never fails to make cats sad, but the end means a new beginning!" She looked at Ravenpaw. Will make excellent samurai. From now on, please keep them safe."

"I will," Ravenpaw promised.He flicked his tail at Riley and Bella: "Let's go. We have a long march ahead of us."

He jumped onto the short green lawn.Bella followed him, but Riley paused for a moment, looking at his mother. "I miss you every day." He meowed.

"I will too." Violet responded, her eyes welling up with tears: "Go on, my dear children. Let us be proud of you."

"We will!" Bella yelled over her shoulder.

They trotted across the grass and wriggled through holes in the fence.A gust of wind pushed them sideways, flattening their hair and filling their ears with the smells of monsters and forests and hills.For a moment, Ravenpaw wanted to push the kits back into the hole.What is he doing, taking them to find an unknown group?Riley ran first, yelling, "We're going to be warriors!" Bella caught up to him, with Ravenpaw in the rear.The young cats had made their choices before Fate's Gate, and he had promised Silverstream to help them.