Mistystar's Omen Read Online Free

appeared, she pushed them toward her. “You take these,” she urged. “My kits and I can eat later.”
    Mistyfoot blinked. Was she so old that her Clanmates were worried about her ability to cope with becoming leader?
    Duskfur seemed to guess her thoughts. “Let us help you however we can,” she prompted gently. “We know the sacrifices you will be making for us from now on.”
    Mistyfoot didn’t argue. She couldn’t tell Duskfur how isolated she suddenly felt from the cats who had been her friends and denmates all her life. Leopardstar’s death had changed everything. Thank StarClan I have Mothwing, she thought. She’s the only cat who understands how it feels to be responsible for the entire Clan.
    As she chewed on the minnow, she watched the two medicine cats carefully pull Leopardstar’s body out of her den and cover her pelt with rosemary and watermint. The scent of the fresh herbs hung in the air, smothering the taint of death. Mistyfoot heard Willowshine warn Mothwing that they were using the last of their supplies of watermint, but Mothwing just shook her head and told her to keep going. “Leopardstar needs it more than we do now,” she insisted.
    Mistyfoot’s heart swelled with warmth toward her old friend. She knew how lucky she was to have Mothwing as her medicine cat. There was no way she could even contemplate the path ahead without her.
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    As the light began to fade, the cats of RiverClan gathered around the body of their former leader for the start of the long night vigil. The air was filled with the scent of herbs, and the wind had dropped so that the waves were little more than a gentle whisper beyond the bushes. Mistyfoot sat at Leopardstar’s head, watching her Clanmates file sadly past.
    Mothwing appeared beside her. “Are you ready to name your deputy? The moon is rising.”
    The cats closest to them pricked their ears, and Mistyfoot felt their gazes prick her pelt. She nodded and stood up. “Let all cats old enough to swim gather to hear my words!”
    At once the line of cats stopped moving and turned to face her. They all knew what was coming. Would they approve of her choice? Mistyfoot wondered. Once more she felt her legs tremble beneath the weight of new duties, and she took a step toward Mothwing so she could draw strength from the warmth of the medicine cat’s fur.
    â€œIt is time for me to name my deputy,” Mistyfoot announced, her voice sounding sharp and high-pitched in the cool night air. “Reedwhisker, I invite you to walk beside me and help me to lead this Clan. May StarClan hear and approve my choice.”
    There was a moment of silence; then the cats broke into cheers. “Reedwhisker! Congratulations!”
    Mistyfoot’s son stepped forward, his dark gray eyes shining. “I am honored to be chosen,” he purred. “And I will lay down my life to protect you and my Clanmates.”
    â€œHopefully it won’t come to that,” Mistyfoot told him. She stretched out her neck to rest her muzzle on top of his head. Reedwhisker’s fur still smelled as it had when he was her kit.
    There was a cross-sounding mutter from the shadows at the edge of the clearing: “I bet she only chose him because he’s her son!”
    â€œHush, Mossypaw!” snapped Minnowtail. “Reedwhisker is a loyal and brave warrior, and will make a great deputy.”
    I hope so, thought Mistyfoot. She had expected some criticism for naming her son as her deputy, but she wanted to believe that wasn’t the reason behind her decision.
    â€œA brave choice,” murmured Mothwing in her ear. “But the right one, I think.”
    Mistyfoot felt a bit better, but she would have been more comforted if Mothwing had mentioned some sign of approval from StarClan, or even an omen that foresaw her announcement.
    â€œExcuse me, Mistyfoot?” Duskfur was standing in front of her. “Is it