The Stone

Dreamstar gazed around the clearing. They had finally finished burying their clan mates, and it had hurt Dreamstar so much to bury her kin. The only thing that kept her in an almost emotionless state was fact she would see them in StarClan, in her dreams. She felt Rippleblaze press up against her. His scarred pelt and slightly smoky eyes all showed signs of past battles. He couldn't see clearly anymore since the dog attack, and still walked with a limp. If she had lost Rippleblaze in this battle, Dreamstar wouldn't have known how to cope. Rippleblaze was her rock. He kept her sturdy and was always there to help her. She padded away from him and leaped up onto the LakeRock.

"Cats of LakeClan! It is a fresh start. More snow should come soon, and it will wash away the traces of our battle. They were all brave cats. Falcon has luckily survived, and he wished to receive a warrior name."

Falcon was laying by the medicine cat den. He had come out for the announcement. She leaped down and padded to the tom.

"Spirits of StarClan, you know every cat by name. I ask you now to take away the name from the cat you see before you, for it no longer stands for what he is. By my authority as Clan leader, and with the approval of our warrior ancestors, I give this cat a new name. From this moment on he will be known as Falconstone, for his determination and fierce loyalty. Though you weren't born here, you came for your love for Frostysky. We all honour you as a warrior."

She touched her nose to his forehead and he licked her shoulder. She smiled and then saw Birchstorm walking over with a tom.

"Who's this?"

Birchstorm dipped his head.

"He won't say his name, but I don't know."

The cat looked at Falconstone, then at Dreamstar.

"My name is Bane, and you must be Dreamstar."

::---::

Ridgefeather tried to smile, but his heart felt weighed down. He only had his kits now. Nothing else. Maple had died, he had lost his position as a medicine cat. He had lost his whole being it felt like. He glanced over at Nestflame, the cat he could have considered his best friend. Could he still? After all that happened? He shunned me. He said I wasn't welcomed at the Mooncave... Ridgefeather closed his eyes, only wishing that maybe, just maybe that twoleg nest never did burn down. That it was all a dream, and he would wake up to warmth and the smell of Maple's fur. Then Ink and Oakpaw would wake up, and their usual day would begin. He shook his head quickly as he felt himself longing for the life he had come to know. The life with Maple, with safety for his family, for himself. The life of a kitty-pet. At first it was horrible, then he grew feelings for the tortoiseshell she-cat, and it was home. He looked again at Nestflame, feeling ashamed.

::---::

Crowpaw looked at Ivypaw.

"We could go hunting! The clan always needs food. We can try to find Ashpaw and Lotusmoon!"