Moon's Rebirth

It had been three days.

Fallenstar hardly remembered anything the previous few days after losing most of his lives; Spiceshadow had insisted the leader stay within his den and rest and allow the Deputy to do his duties.

But this was one duty the Deputy could not do.

Though Fallenstar didn't technically possess the 9 lives a leader should, Cinderstar and the other leaders had explained what StarClan had told them to the awaiting MoonClanners after bringing Fallenstar home. Though most were alright with this, some were still very much against Fallenstar staying as a leader, let alone calling him with the sacred -star at the end of his name. Many of his warriors referred to him as Fallenshadow once again.

Fallenstar couldn't blame them.

Spiceshadow's voice was the one that rang out this time. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Moss Rock for a Clan Meeting!"

"Thank you, Spiceshadow," Fallenstar mewed to his deputy, dipping his head to the blue-eyed tom. Spiceshadow nodded in response, backing away to allow Fallenstar to begin the Ceremony.

"Um...I wanted to start off again with an apology. I'm sorry I dragged MoonClan into the place it is now. And I'm sorry that it cost so many lives to do so," the tabby looked at his paws, ashamed. Even though he knew Timidbreeze was alive, the thought of losing her made his heart ache still. He couldn't imagine how those who had lost loved ones felt right now. The burial ceremonies had been yesterday; Fallenstar was barely awake to oversee them.

"That being said," the MoonClan leader continued, "I do want to reward those who have proved themselves. War is a trying time for all Clans, and these cats have gone above and beyond what was expected of them." He looked out among the crowd of gathered cats; the Apprentices in question were in the front, beaming. They knew what was to come next.

"Sablepaw, Kestrelpaw, Mosspaw, Saplingpaw and Bumblepaw, please step forward."

The cats called did as they were told, stepping forward, heads held high. Even the shy Mosspaw was sitting with pride in her eyes, exchanging a glance with Scorpionfang before Fallenstar could begin their ceremony.

"I, Fallenstar, the leader of MoonClan, ask StarClan to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of the forest and the Clan, and I commend them to you as Warriors in their turn.

Sablepaw, Kestrelpaw, Mosspaw, Saplingpaw and Bumblepaw...do you promise to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your lives?"

The apprentices all nodded and spoke in unison, a resounding "I do!"

The tabby cracked a smile, continuing, "Then by the powers I have been granted as leader of MoonClan," he stressed the word leader as if it was a subtle reminder to some of his Clanmates, "I give you your warrior names."

He turned to the dark tabby tom, Sablepaw, first. "Sablepaw," he began, "You have had a trying time in your life due to the War and the outbreak of rivalries between the Clans. However, your steps never faltered, and you remained true to yourself and your Clan, setting an example and paving the way to everyone around you to follow in your pawsteps. Because of this, from this moment on, you will be known as Sablestep. This is to honor your forethought and quick reflexes, and we recognize you as a full warrior of MoonClan."

He stepped forward, placing his muzzle on the younger tom's head, and the new warrior licked Fallenstar's shoulder in kind. "Sablestep! Sablestep!" the Clan cheered for it's newest warrior, Applefall's voice sounding louder than the others.

After the cheers died down, Fallenstar turned to the three littermates. Timidbreeze was particularly close to them, and while Fallenstar himself was not, he still felt some pride for these three.

"Kestrelpaw," he called the brown furred she-cat, who stepped forward excitedly, glancing quickly over to where Birchpaw was sitting. He gave her a reassuring smile before Kestrelpaw looked back to Fallenstar. "Like Sablestep," he continued, "You have also seen the harshest of times as the Clans clashed, but despite all odds you remained positive and did your best. You were able to soar to new heights and become exactly the kind of cat that MoonClan needs. From now on, you shall be known as Kestrelflight, to honor your enthusiasm and friendliness, as well as your determination. StarClan honors you and welcomes you as a full warrior of MoonClan."

"Kestrelflight, Kestrelflight!" the somali she-cat's Clanmates chanted for her. Fallenstar completed her ceremony, Kestrelflight almost forgetting to lick his shoulder, before she was dismissed.

Fallenstar looked to her silver-furred sister, a renewed look of determination in her eyes. "Mosspaw," he began, "You never faltered to carry out your duties and perform your best, even in the harshest and darkest of trials. Like a flame of hope you shone on, leading those who were lost. Because of this, I give you the name Mossfire, and honor your kindness and devotion to others. StarClan recognizes you as a warrior of MoonClan."

Fallenstar placed his muzzle on her head gently, and could almost hear her heart pounding. She licked his shoulder with all the composure she could muster, too excited to say anything. "Mossfire, Mossfire!"

The golden tabby was next, his blue eyes shining with the excitement of his own warrior name. Fallenstar, out of the corner of his eye, noticed Barleyleap, her head held high as her kittens became warriors. "Saplingpaw," Fallenstar said loudly, calming the cheering MoonClanners and insisting their silence and respect. "You may not have been born into MoonClan, but you are just as much of a MoonClanner as anyone who has been. As many a great cat will tell you, it is not blood that makes a warrior, it is the heart. In light of this, and in honor of your warmth and loyalty to your family and Clan, I give you the name Saplingheart. May you prove yourself as a great Warrior of MoonClan, and welcome all who may feel the same in their hearts."

"Saplingheart! Saplingheart!" Fallenstar completed his ceremony the same way he did for the other new warriors.

The three littermates took their place beside Sablestep, nuzzling each other and purring at their accomplishments. It was only Bumblepaw who remained now, though the shy tom was obviously not used to being the center of attention, he held himself proudly and looked Fallenstar in the eye.

"Bumblepaw, though you may not realize it, you are the backbone of MoonClan. A single whisper can spark the inspiration one needs to become great, and I see this within you. From this day forward, in remembrance of your cleverness and your caring nature, I give you your warrior name. Bumblepaw, you shall be known as Bumblewhisper. StarClan honors and welcomes you as a full warrior of MoonClan."

Placing his muzzle on Bumblewhisper's head, Fallenstar heard the Clan shouting excitedly for their newest warrior. "Bumblewhisper! Bumblewhisper!"

The cheering continued, some of the previous names being rechanted in commemoration of their achievements. Fallenstar waited for a few moments before he held up his tail, silencing the Clan cats.

"It has also become apparent that we have some kits who have reached the age of six moons. I would like to give them mentors and begin their apprenticeships now."

It was no secret that Fallenstar's own kits were ready to be apprenticed. All of them--even those who did not belong to him by blood--were well-groomed and sitting neatly by a gentle-looking Timidbreeze by the Nursery. Wingkit and Clearkit were as well, obviously the other queens had gotten hold of them, and made sure they looked nicely.

"Wingkit, Clearkit, Cottonkit, Dandelionkit, Milkkit, Vixenkit and Morningkit, step forward."

The kittens made their way through the crowd to sit neatly in front of Fallenstar. "You have all reached the age of six moons and are ready to be apprenticed," he addressed the young cats. "From this moment on until you receive your warrior names, you shall be known as the following:

"Wingkit, you shall be known as Wingpaw. Your mentor will be Softclaw, a skilled warrior who understands the way of the forest and all it inhabits. I pray that she will pass on her skills to you."

"Wingpaw! Wingpaw!" the older Clanmates cheered as the young tom made his way through the croud to touch noses ceremoniously with his new mentor.

Fallenstar turned to Wingpaw's brother. "Clearkit," he said now, looking at the young tom. These two brothers had been through so much these last few days, losing both Sleetkit and Vinekit, their littermates, as well as their parents. "From now on until you receive your Warrior name, you shall be known as Clearpaw. Your mentor will be Burrowtoes, who was mentored by Nightfall. I know she will do well to pass on everything she knows to you."

"Clearpaw! Clearpaw!" the MoonClanners chanted as he and Burrowtoes touched noses.

Next, Fallenstar couldn't help but be proud--though they weren't his true kin, they were his adopted daughters, and he wanted them to do well. He focused on the three sisters first.

"Dandelionkit," he started with the boldest of the three, "From this day on til you receive your warrior name, you shall be known as Dandelionpaw. Your mentor will be Flashheart, who was mentored not only by Rustfall, but by Wintersoul as well. I know she will do well to pass on her knowledge to you."

"Dandelionpaw! Dandelionpaw!" her clanmates cheered. Flashheart bent down to touch noses with the she-kit.

"Cottonkit," Fallenstar called Dandelionpaw's sister next, "From this day until you receive your own warrior name, you shall be known as Cottonpaw. Your mentor will be Marigoldflame, an adept warrior who was trained by Mistpool. I know the two of you will get along, and I hope that you will learn everything you can from her."

As the cheering for Cottonpaw calmed, Fallenstar addressed the last of the three sisters. "Milkkit, from this day until you receive your warrior name you will be known as Milkpaw. I have assigned Leapfern as your mentor, and I hope you learn everything you can from her."

"Milkpaw! Milkpaw!" the MoonClan cats cheered, excited for the timid she-kit as she touched noses with Leapfern.

Finally, it down to his two daughters. The twins, still sitting beside each other, had requested the day before that they receive their names at the same time. Fallenstar had to oblige--the two did everything together.

"Morningkit and Vixenkit," his expression was gentle, a father who couldn't be more proud. "From this day until you both receive your warrior names, you shall be known as Morningpaw and Vixenpaw, respectively." They bunched up in excitement at this, StarClan! It was finally happening!

"Morningpaw, your mentor will be Skylily. I hope she passes on everything she knows to you. Vixenpaw, as per your request, your mentor will be Silversoul. I hope you study hard and do your best."

The twins excitedly congratulated each other before breaking apart and greeting their new members with the ceremonial touching of noses. Their Clanmates cheered for them, excitedly, and Fallenstar looked at Timidbreeze. The tuxedo she-cat couldn't seem more excited for her daughters...but there was a tinge of sadness there. Tornkit, unfortunately, had died during all of the fighting, passing away in the cold night before the War had ended. Fallenstar felt a bit of sadness as well, but cleared his throat, interrupting the celebration.

"As many of you may know," he announced, reminded when Frogsplash made her appearance beside Timidbreeze at the entrance of the Nursery, "Frogsplash and Silversoul have adopted a new litter of kittens and brought them into MoonClan. They told me they decided on their names today, and I would like you to join me in welcoming them to our Clan.

"Their names are Heatherkit, Lilackit, Coldkit, Berrykit, Fernkit, Spotkit, and Plushkit." The kittens in question appeared at Frogsplash's paws, climbing over each other excitedly, nearly bursting out of their fur as their new Clanmates welcomed them warmly to the Clan.

This was it, Fallenstar realized, This is how MoonClan will be reborn.