Task 30: Giving a leader's life
Thistlestar watched from the back of the group of ancestors as Robinsong, his trusted deputy, accepted each life that she was granted. Robinsong had been by his side through his entire leadership, even if she hadn’t been his deputy, and Thistlestar was proud to call her his clanmate and friend.
As the ancestors began to disappear, leaving just Thistlestar and Robinsong, Thistlestar found himself begin to become nervous. When he threw himself into the fight with Duskstar, he had thought it was his duty as leader, but now he’s left his children alone, he’d left his mates alone too.
The leader of Thornclan stepped up to his deputy, ready to pass on the flame. “You weren’t one for traditions, so this is the last that you have to follow. Once you are leader, you get to make the traditions with the clan, choose which ones to follow. So, with this life, I give you the life of trust. Use it to trust in yourself and your heart. You know the right thing to do but you need to trust yourself with what you know. Don’t honour the past when you know it isn’t right. And, if you can’t trust yourself, trust your clanmates. They are there to help you, especially your deputy. Make sure your deputy is someone you trust, and you know you can rely on when it gets tough.”
Thistlestar pressed his nose against her head, a smile upon his face. “I hail you by your new name, Robinstar. Your old life is over. You’ve received the nine lives of a leader and the ancestors grant you the guardianship of Thornclan. Defend it well; care for young and old; live each life with pride and dignity; honour yourself, leave a legacy behind you’d be proud of, even if that means you have to abandon traditions, just remember the code, it is there to protect you.”
Thistlestar watched as Robinstar began to disappear, leaving him in the bright light alone. “Watch over my family, Robinstar. Watch over the entire clan. Protect them with your entire being; that’s your duty now,” Thistlestar whispered to the spot that once held the calico she-cat.
He turned around, walking away back to the paradise that was now his home, away from his friends and family that were still alive and living their lives.
As the ancestors began to disappear, leaving just Thistlestar and Robinsong, Thistlestar found himself begin to become nervous. When he threw himself into the fight with Duskstar, he had thought it was his duty as leader, but now he’s left his children alone, he’d left his mates alone too.
The leader of Thornclan stepped up to his deputy, ready to pass on the flame. “You weren’t one for traditions, so this is the last that you have to follow. Once you are leader, you get to make the traditions with the clan, choose which ones to follow. So, with this life, I give you the life of trust. Use it to trust in yourself and your heart. You know the right thing to do but you need to trust yourself with what you know. Don’t honour the past when you know it isn’t right. And, if you can’t trust yourself, trust your clanmates. They are there to help you, especially your deputy. Make sure your deputy is someone you trust, and you know you can rely on when it gets tough.”
Thistlestar pressed his nose against her head, a smile upon his face. “I hail you by your new name, Robinstar. Your old life is over. You’ve received the nine lives of a leader and the ancestors grant you the guardianship of Thornclan. Defend it well; care for young and old; live each life with pride and dignity; honour yourself, leave a legacy behind you’d be proud of, even if that means you have to abandon traditions, just remember the code, it is there to protect you.”
Thistlestar watched as Robinstar began to disappear, leaving him in the bright light alone. “Watch over my family, Robinstar. Watch over the entire clan. Protect them with your entire being; that’s your duty now,” Thistlestar whispered to the spot that once held the calico she-cat.
He turned around, walking away back to the paradise that was now his home, away from his friends and family that were still alive and living their lives.