A New Profession

[Elkheart]

A lonely gray she-cat dragged her paws across the cold stone ground. She was exhausted and she had no where else to go now that she had left her home. No, she didn't just leave her clan, but she abandoned it, she vanished when they needed her most. How could she be so fragile and selfish? Thunderclan was where she belonged, but she left her only home for the life of a loner. Sure, she was shocked when her oh-so loyal deputy left Thunderclan and betrayed her, but that didn't mean it was okay for her to leave. The bottom line was that it wasn't right to leave her clan without any aid. It hit her, she was a traitor too. Elkstar, the former leader of Thunderclan, was a traitor.

Elkstar padded ever so slowly forward. She kept her head down, feeling uncomfortable being in the presence of Starclan when she was no longer a part of the clans. The she-cat pushed her guilt away and kept walking. Suddenly, she could see, an eerie glow up ahead. It was the legendary Moonstone. Elkstar had seen it before but it still left her awestruck every time she laid her eyes upon it. She lengthened her stride and reached it within a few heartbeats. Curling up against it, she pressed her nose to the cold, iridescent stone. A rainbow of colors and stars swirled around her until she found herself standing in the Thunderclan camp. All was quiet, the night air was crisp and not too hot or too cold, it was just right. A shimmer of sparkles formed into a cat before her. It was Bluestar, a former leader of Thunderclan, and one of the cats that gave her one of her nine lives.

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[Elkheart]

Elkheart's eyes widened, it was Bluestar! She hadn't seen her ever since she had received her nine lives. The she-cat knew there was something special about her when she saw her.

"You have come here today to find your purpose. Starclan has decided to open its gates just for you." Bluestar spoke slowly.

"Am I dead?" Elkheart asked in concern. She certainly didn't want to die even if there wasn't anything to live for. But, she still had her nine lives, of course she couldn't be dead. After all, what could've killed her and taken away every single life she had received? She blinked and looked around her, taking in the Thunderclan camp. It was beautiful, just like home should be.

"Of course you aren't dead, dear Elkheart! Starclan has a proposition for you tonight is all." Bluestar paused and waited for Elkheart to acknowledge her.

Instead of listening to Bluestar, Elkheart had zoned out. She was studying her camp and smiling. Oh, how she missed it so much, the only thing she wanted to know was who had taken over the clan and who had been chosen deputy. She caught the word proposition as Bluestar spoke. "B-before you tell me more of this position you're offering me.. I would like to known what happened to Thunderclan after.. after I left." Elkheart's voice cracked on her last word. It was powerful and enough to let down her guard. The word traitor, along with any other synonym that has to do with the word crossed her mind. She took a deep breath then steadied her gaze on the Highrock, also her old den. Elkheart knew she was crazy to do this, but she started padding towards it, in a trance. She couldn't hear footsteps but she was sure that Bluestar was following her. She reached her den and brushed aside the lichen and walked in. There, laying in her spot, in her moss, was Coldstripe.

"Coldstripe took over when you left. He has still yet to make the journey to the Moonstone. He's already decided on a deputy too. He chose Singedpelt."

"Thank Starclan," Elkheart sighed in relief, "It puts me at peace to know this, that Coldstripe, a loyal and trustworthy warrior has taken my place."

[/b] She smiled, truly at ease for the first time since she had left. "Now, what about that proposition you mentioned?" Immediately Elkheart went back to business, her old self was starting to return. Elkheart was no longer the helpless, young and inexperienced leader she once was. She was now a strong, independent loner.[/blockquote][/blockquote]

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